Luna Lost

17. Breaking Point

Luna knew within the first ten minutes that training was going to be bad.

Her father moved through their familiar routine with the same clipped instructions and watchful expression, correcting her footing and making her repeat movements she had known for years. Her mother sat nearby, pretending to occupy herself while watching them from the corner of her eye.

“Again.”

Luna reset her stance and tightened her grip on the training staff. When he came at her, she blocked, turned with the impact and brought the end of her staff toward his ribs. Her father barely moved in time.

“Got you,” she said, smiling.

“You almost got me.”

“That counts.”

“It doesn’t.”

“It does in my heart.”

Something softened around his eyes. There he was. Her dad. Then he raised his staff and told her to go again.

For a while, it was almost fun. Luna anticipated him twice and nearly tore the staff from his grip. The third time, she swept his leg hard enough that he stumbled. Her mother laughed from nearby.

“I didn’t say anything,” Mom said when Dad looked at her.

“You laughed.”

“I’m allowed.”

Luna grinned. “She’s proud of me.”

“You’re getting distracted.”

“You’re just mad I’m getting better.”

His mouth twitched. Luna almost left it alone, but the questions that had been bothering her were becoming harder to ignore.

“What am I getting better for?”

The warmth disappeared from his face. “Focus.”

“I am focused. Why do I need to be this good?”

“Because someday you may need it.”

“For what?”

Her father attacked instead of answering. Luna blocked, but the force shoved her backward.

“You always do that. You train me like someone is going to try to kill me, but you won’t tell me who. You told me you hunted animals. You told me a dog bit me. Why won’t you tell me anything else?”

“Again.”

He struck harder. Luna blocked high and barely caught the next blow from the side.

“Dad.”

“Pay attention.”

“I am paying attention.” She jumped over a low sweep and stumbled when she landed. “Hitting me harder isn’t an answer.”

He stopped.

Something changed behind his eyes.

Then he came at her.

The impact jarred through Luna’s wrists. He attacked again before she regained her footing and swept her legs from beneath her. Luna hit the ground hard enough to knock the air from her lungs.

“Get up.”

She stared at him.

“Get up, Luna.”

Anger got her moving. She pushed herself upright and raised her staff, but he attacked immediately. Luna blocked twice before the third strike caught her across the ribs.

Pain exploded through her side.

“Again.”

“Dad, enough.”

“Again.”

He moved before she was ready. The next strike caught her shoulder and dropped her to one knee.

“No.”

“If you were being attacked, do you think they would stop because you were tired?”

Luna looked up at him. “You’re not an attacker. You’re my father.”

Something flickered across his face and disappeared.

“Get up.”

Luna hated him for making her do it, but she stood. Her legs shook and every breath pulled at her ribs, but she raised the staff again.

Her father came forward. Luna’s block was weak, and he knocked her weapon aside before driving the next blow into her middle.

She dropped to both knees, coughing violently. Something warm filled her mouth, and Luna spat into the dirt.

Red.

She looked up, certain that would stop him.

“Again.”

Luna’s stomach dropped.

For the first time, she looked at her father and couldn’t find him. His eyes were on her, but there was no concern in them. He looked empty, like some other version of him had taken his place.

Still, Luna planted a hand against the ground and started to rise.

A metal cup crashed behind them.

“Enough!”

Her father froze.

Mom stood several yards away, pale and shaking. “I said enough. Look at her.”

Dad looked down, and Luna watched him come back. His gaze moved over the blood at her mouth, the arm wrapped around her ribs and finally the staff in his own hand.

For one terrible second, he looked frightened of himself.

“Luna…”

“Don’t.”

Mom hurried toward her and reached for her face, but Luna pulled away.

“You’re bleeding.”

“I bit my cheek. I’m fine.”

Dad lowered the staff. Luna waited for an apology that never came.

“We’re done for today.”

She gave a disbelieving laugh, picked up her staff and walked away. When she glanced back, Mom was staring at Dad differently than Luna had ever seen before.

The drive home was silent.

Luna stared through the passenger window while every bump in the road reminded her of her ribs. She couldn’t stop seeing her father standing over her, telling her to get up. He hadn’t looked angry. Somehow that was worse.

“Luna—”

“Don’t.”

Dad tightened his hands around the steering wheel and said nothing else.

They were rounding a curve through the forest when something burst from the trees.

“Dad!”

He slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. Something struck the front of the vehicle with a heavy thud before rolling across the road.

Luna stared through the windshield.

A massive dark wolf lay ahead of them, blood staining the fur along its side as it struggled to stand.

“Oh my God.”

She reached for the door.

“Stay here.”

“It’s hurt.”

“Luna, stay in the vehicle.”

Dad got out. Luna waited approximately two seconds before following him.

The wolf tried to drag itself toward the trees. Luna’s attention caught on the wound along its side, and she stopped.

The bleeding was slowing.

The torn flesh was closing.

She knew that healing.

She had watched the same impossible thing happen beneath her fingers.

Damien.

Luna looked at her father, expecting confusion. Instead, she found recognition.

He knew exactly what he was seeing.

Without a word, Dad walked to the back of the vehicle and opened the trunk. Luna followed, watching him reach for a dark, heavy case she had seen countless times throughout her childhood.

It had always been locked.

She had always been told not to touch it.

Her father pulled a key from his pocket.

“Dad, what are you doing?”

The lock clicked.

He opened the case, and Luna stared at the neatly arranged weapons inside. Silver, blades, restraints and equipment she didn’t recognize filled the compartments. None of it looked forgotten or unfamiliar to him.

Her father reached inside without hesitation.

Luna looked from the weapons to the injured wolf, then back to the man who had spent her entire life refusing to tell her what he was preparing her for.

For the first time, she was beginning to understand.