Beneath a Moonless Sky - Book One (Moon Child Series)

Chapter Three

Elaina POV

I felt a cold breeze against my back, making me wake from my pleasant dreams of my future with Lucian. My eyes fluttered open. Light filtered in through the open curtains making me blink. I groaned at the clock blinking 00:00, not much help telling me what time it was. Rolling over and reaching for Lucian I felt nothing but quilt and the spot where he was supposed to be was cold. Sitting up in confusion I looked around the room searching for Lucian. Maybe he went downstairs to get something to eat? I asked myself. Knowing in my heart that wasn’t the case I humoured myself and head down to the kitchen. Nothing. I felt my heart sink. He was gone. Maybe he went home, his parents would have been worried if he’d stayed out all night during the storm. I sprinted up the stairs to check my phone, knowing there wouldn’t be any texts or calls. I felt sick. Why had he left? He said he loved me. Tears streamed down my face as I fell to my knees. I dialled his number. An automated message spoke to me through the phone. ‘The number you dialled is no longer connected. Please check the number and try again.’  Again. Same message. I couldn’t accept this. He wouldn’t just up and leave me without a trace. He was my best friend for 18 years, he said he loved me! I leapt to my feet and grabbed my car keys. I was not accepting this. He did not leave me. He loved me damn it!

My car screamed out of my driveway, headed to Lucians house. My heart dropped into my stomach as I pulled in front of Lucians house and saw a moving truck and a small grey van in his driveway. A man walked out from behind the grey van and I leapt from the car towards him. The poor man had the shock of his life as I ran up to him. I probably looked like a mess. Bed hair and tear stained face, red eyes, and nose in baggy pyjamas.

“Excuse me sir. Sorry to bother you.” The man looked about 25, strong build, dark brown eyes, and kind blue eyes. He placed what he was carrying on the floor near his feet, it looked like a canvas wrapped in brown paper.

“Yes love? Are you alright?” He had an Irish accent that I normally would have loved but right now I’m on a mission.

“No. No I’m not. Do you know where the people who lived here went?” Tears were streaming down my face and my throat was so tight I could barely get the words out. The man shook his head, gazing at me sadly.

“No. I’m sorry love. I’m just delivering these prints for the new owner.” I nodded slowly. My world collapsed around me and I felt numb. My tears stopped. And my body felt like lead.

“Thank you.” Smiling sadly, I turned to leave. But the man stopped me.

“Wait love.” I turned back to him and he smiled sadly at me. “My names Fergus.”

“Elaina. Ell for short.”

“Elaina. Ell. I don’t know what you’re going through right now but if you ever need a place to go or a shoulder to cry on please don’t hesitate to call me.” He handed me a business card. Blue Moon Art Gallery and Photography. The image of a blue moon and a howling wolf stood above the beautiful text. I looked up at Fergus and smiled.

“Thank you, Fergus. I will keep that in mind.” Giving him a wave, I got back into my car and blindly drove home. I don’t remember how I got home or how I didn’t die on the way. It didn’t matter. I was all alone. Lucian had left me. He was gone. I thought he’d loved me. I crawled into bed and pulled the covers over me. His scent clung to them and I breathed it in. I would mourn him for a little while then get out of bed, I told myself. I knew it was a lie. But I didn’t care. Drifting off to sleep I thought back to last night. And how the man I loved abandoned me without even telling me why.

Hands groped at my breasts, stirring me awake. I kept my eyes closed in case it was just my imagination. It wasn’t and another squeeze confirmed it. I spin around joy filling me until I saw who it was. I shoved him back making him fall off the bed.

“Liam! What the hell are you doing in my room!” I screamed at him. He dusted himself off and stood to his feet.

“You hung up so abruptly last night I thought you were upset with me. So, I came by to allow you to make up with me. When you didn’t answer the door, I let myself in with the spare key.” He shrugged as is it was no big deal that he’d broken into my home. Like we’d had a fight last night and not that I’d broken up with him. Which I had!

“I am upset with you Liam! You broke into my house! You touched me inappropriately while I was sleeping! And I broke up with you!!” Liam just smirked and rolled his eyes, waving his hands at me in a dismissive gesture. I was fuming.

“Oh please. Nothing a little makeup s*x won’t help.” He approached me and I reacted with instinct. Blood gushed from his nose and I heard a solid crack as my fist connected with his prim and perfect nose. “b***h!” He cried clutching his face in his hands.

“Get out Liam! Now! Or I’ll call the cops!” He headed towards the door clutching his probably broken nose. “If I ever see you again, I’ll break more than just your nose!” I screamed after him as he ran down the stairs and out of my house. I collapsed on the floor tears consuming me once again. How had my life fallen apart in so little time? I hugged my knees and just let myself cry, eventually finding the strength to crawl into bed again and when I feel asleep, I didn’t dream. It was just blackness.

***

The earth began to rumble, rain began to pour. Wind so strong it could take you to Oz blew around me. My eyes flew open as my hands burst into flame and a whisper called me forward, singing in my ears ad surrounding me with warmth.

Come my child.

Your time is now.

Hear the call.

Take your vow.

 I was levitating above my bed, my feet grazing the sheets beneath me. I didn’t think. I just acted. The voice continued to call to me. It’s soothing tone relaxing my sore body that had laid in bed all day not wanting to move. I felt no longer hungry, no longer tired. I was rejuvenated as I floated forward, the voice still chanting.

Come my child.

Your time is now.

Hear the call.

Take your vow.

I floated out of my bedroom door but instead of being met with the hall I was in a round chamber. I stood on a black marble floor, with white and silver specks amongst the galaxy of colours. It looked as though I stood in the nights sky itself.

Above me lining the walls were desks and tables like that which would appear in the parliament cabinets. There were at least ten rows of these desks and chairs all filled with people. Among of which were my parents.  In front of me was a closed set of double doors constructed of heavy looking black wood. There are no door handles on this door. The walls beneath the rows of desks was made of a liquid like substance, pitch black and reflective. I could see myself in the surface. I was no longer tear stained and haggard. My fiery red hair cascaded down to the middle of my back, with soft curls. My green eyes were accented by smoky eyeshadow and my lips a striking red. My baggy pyjamas had been replaced with a long sleeved dark green velvet dress. The sleeves were bell shaped and draped down to meet the floor, the bodice tight against my body and cinched at the waist to flow down my hips and spill around me with a long train behind me. A silver belt with crescent moons facing each other pulled the dress together. A simple twisted diadem sat on my forehead and disappearing into my hair. I looked like a goddess.

Banging made me look up. An older man in a crimson red robe stood with a gavel in hand banging it on the desk in front of him. All attention turned to him and silence fell in the room.

“Witches of the East! We are gathered here today at this the witching hour to welcome another into our coven. Elaina Jade Callaghan, as is the tradition of our people, on your eighteenth birthday the moon goddess has gifted you with your powers. Each witch is gifted an element to wield in her name, which element she or he wields is determined at the end of their training.” A witch?! This had to be some dream. My brain had finally shut down from grief and lack of food.

My attention goes to my parents who just smile proudly down at me.

“Elaina Jade Callaghan step toward the council to claim your birthright.” With a shrug I did as I was told. What the hell? If this was a dream I might as well just go with it. As I stepped forward the floor beneath me began to swirl and the wind picked up swirling around me. I felt my body begin to levitate; water began to fall from the sky drenching those in the podiums. Looks of concern surrounded me and the men and women in red robes began shouting at each other. I just closed my eyes and let whatever happened happen. The earth began to rumble and again my hands lit on fire.

Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Spirit. A sweet voice whispered around me. I felt a surge of power in my chest and then it exploded outward. Glass shattered around me and joined the raging tornado. You are to be their balance my sweet child. Others may try to use you for their dark purposes. But I know they will fail. I have chosen you for your pure heart and pure soul. Make me proud my sweet moon child. My body filled with warmth and the wind and rain around me began to die down, the earth stood still once more, and my hands were now fire free. I landed gently on my feet and looked around me. Chaos everywhere. The council members were still shouting at each other, the room was a wreck. Chairs were scattered all over the room, some sticking from the walls. Water flooded the floor I stood on and everyone but me were drenched.

The council member stopped screaming at each other. They glanced down at me their eyes clouded. An ethereal voice came from their mouths as they talked in unison.

My will is true. Elaina Jade Callaghan has come into her powers. She has joined many of you who have done the same. Train her in our ways and treat her as a sister, as a daughter. My children. So mote it be! The council raised their arms in the air and thunder rumbled through the sky. Their bodies no longer occupied by the Moon Goddess collapsed. People ran to care for them and I turned to the doors, walking towards them. No doorknobs, no problem. The doors opened as I approached them. And I was back in my room. The dress still remained, and I removed it carefully, hanging it in my wardrobe. I hopped in the shower and contemplated what had just happened. I was a witch. It seemed right. If I questioned it, I would go insane. Getting dressed in track pants and a tank top I head downstairs to where my parents stood in the living room, drenched, and covered in wooden splinters.

“So, I guess this is why you guys never told me about your jobs, huh?” They smiled and opened their arms to me, hugging me tight.

The next day a council member appeared in kitchen as I ate my breakfast. They informed me that my training would be Monday to Friday from 8-3 and all the reference books I would need for my lessons were now in my bedroom. And then they were gone. I just stared at the space they stood for a minute then shook my head. Goddess, being a witch was weird. Finishing up my breakfast I ran upstairs to find my room covered in books. Every surface covered in books. A list was taped to my mirror of the order I had to read the books in. With a sigh, and nothing else to do with my life I grabbed a handful of books and stacked them neatly in their order in the corner of my room until there was a massive pile taking over the entire left side of my room next to my desk. Finished with my cleaning task I grabbed the first book on the list and sat in my window seat, settling into reading about the art of magic.