The Blood Moon

The first time Elena Vale saw the moon turn red, she thought the sky was bleeding. She stood barefoot on the cold balcony outside her bedroom, staring at the enormous crimson moon hanging above the mountains. Its light covered Blackthorn Village in an eerie glow, turning the rooftops silver and the trees almost black. She should have been asleep. Everyone in the village was supposed to be indoors tonight. Every door had been locked before sunset. Every window had been covered. Even the church bells had stopped ringing. Her grandmother had called it an old tradition. Her mother had called it a warning. Elena had called it nonsense. Until the howling began. One long howl rose from the forest. Then another answered. Elena's fingers tightened around the balcony railing. She had heard wolves before. The mountains surrounding Blackthorn were filled with them. But these howls were different. They sounded almost as if they were calling to one another. “Elena!” She spun around. Her mother stood in the bedroom doorway. “Come inside.” There was something frightening in her mother's voice. “Mom, look at the moon.” “I know what it looks like.” “Have you ever seen it like this?” Her mother didn't answer. Instead, she crossed the room quickly, grabbed Elena's wrist, and pulled her away from the balcony. “Don't look at it.” “Why?” “Because tonight isn't an ordinary night.” Elena frowned. “Everyone has been acting strange all day. Grandma wouldn't even tell me why we had to stay inside.” Her mother closed the balcony doors and locked them. “You don't need to know.” “That isn't an answer.” Her mother looked at her for a long moment. There was fear in her eyes. Real fear. Before Elena could question her again, something struck the front door downstairs. Boom. The entire house shook. Elena froze. Her mother immediately turned toward the hallway. Another impact came. Boom. “Elena, stay here.” “Mom—” “Whatever you hear, don't come downstairs.” She hurried away. Elena waited for several seconds. Then curiosity defeated fear. She followed. When she reached the staircase, she saw her father standing in the entrance hall with an old silver blade in his hand. He was staring at the front door. “Dad?” He turned sharply. His expression changed when he saw her. “Go back upstairs.” “What is happening?” “Now, Elena.” A low growl came from outside. Elena's heart began beating faster. Her father stepped toward the door. “Stay behind me.” He opened it slightly. A massive black wolf stood on the other side. Elena stopped breathing. The animal was enormous. Its golden eyes glowed beneath the red moonlight. But it didn't attack. It simply stared into the house. At her. Elena felt something burn against her skin. She looked down at her wrist. A strange crescent-shaped mark had appeared there. “What is that?” Her mother rushed into the hall. The moment she saw Elena's wrist, all the color disappeared from her face. “No.” Elena looked at her. “Mom?” Her father closed the door. “We have to leave.” “Leave where?” “Anywhere but here.” Elena stared at both of them. “You're scaring me.” Her father looked at her as if he wanted to tell her something. Instead, he said, “There are things about our family you were never supposed to discover.” A sudden crash came from the roof. Everyone looked upward. The black wolf outside began growling. Then another sound came from the forest. A man's voice. “Jonathan.” Elena's father went completely still. He knew that voice. A shadow appeared beyond the doorway. Then a young man stepped into the moonlight. He looked no older than twenty-five. Dark hair. Pale skin. Sharp features. His clothes were completely black, and his eyes reflected the red moon. He looked directly at Elena. Something inside her chest tightened. The stranger smiled faintly. “So she survived.” Her father raised the silver blade. “Stay away from my daughter.” The stranger's smile disappeared. “I didn't come here to hurt her.” “Then why are you here?” “To warn you.” Elena stepped forward. “Who are you?” The stranger looked at her. “My name is Adrian.” “Adrian what?” “Adrian Blackwood.” Her father immediately whispered something under his breath. Elena noticed. “You know him?” Her father didn't answer. Adrian's attention remained on Elena. “You have no idea what you are.” Elena felt anger replacing her fear. “I am human.” Adrian's expression became unreadable. “Are you sure?” Before she could answer, another howl echoed across the mountains. The black wolf outside suddenly turned toward the forest. Adrian did the same. His entire posture changed. “They're here.” “Who?” Elena asked. “Those who have been waiting for the Blood Moon.” Her mother grabbed Elena's hand. “We need to go.” But Adrian shook his head. “It's too late.” The lights in the house suddenly went out. Elena gasped. Darkness swallowed the hallway. Then came the sound of breaking glass. Her father shouted, “Get down!” Something moved across the ceiling. Elena heard her mother scream. Her father's silver blade flashed through the darkness. A loud growl followed. Elena stumbled backward. Then she felt someone grab her arm. Adrian. “Don't run.” “Let go of me!” “If you want to live, stay close.” She pulled against him. “How am I supposed to trust you?” “You shouldn't.” His voice was calm. “But your parents can't protect you from what is coming.” A shadow moved behind them. Adrian turned. His eyes suddenly changed. For a moment, Elena saw something impossible in them. A faint golden glow. “You're one of them,” she whispered. Adrian didn't deny it. “What are you?” He looked at her. “A werewolf.” Elena stared at him. Then she laughed nervously. “This isn't real.” Another crash came from upstairs. Her father shouted her name. “ELENA!” Adrian pulled her behind him. Three figures appeared at the end of the hallway. Their movements were unnaturally fast. Their eyes were dark. Their faces were pale. Elena's mother whispered one word. “Vampires.” Elena's stomach dropped. She looked at Adrian. “You said you came to warn us.” “I did.” “Why?” He looked at the mark on her wrist. “Because they aren't here for your family.” His eyes met hers. “They're here for you.” The mark suddenly burned brighter. Elena cried out. Adrian grabbed her hand. The pain immediately disappeared. Both of them stared at each other. Something strange passed between them. A warmth. A pulse. Almost like a heartbeat that didn't belong to either of them. Adrian released her hand. His expression had changed. “What?” He stared at the mark. “The prophecy.” “What prophecy?” He looked toward the red moon through the broken window. “The one that says a child born beneath the Blood Moon will bring an end to the war between vampires and werewolves.” Elena shook her head. “No.” Adrian continued. “And the same prophecy says that the person destined to stand beside her will come from the enemy's bloodline.” Elena looked at him. “What does that mean?” Adrian's eyes darkened. “It means you and I were never supposed to meet.” A vampire suddenly lunged toward them. Adrian moved faster than Elena could see. A roar filled the house. The creature was thrown backward. Elena stared at Adrian in shock. His eyes had turned completely golden. His hands trembled as he fought to control whatever was awakening inside him. “Stay behind me,” he said. Outside, the black wolf howled again. The red moon shone brighter. And for the first time, Elena understood why everyone in Blackthorn Village feared this night. The Blood Moon wasn't simply a legend. It was the beginning of something. Something that had been waiting for her. And whatever happened next would change the lives of vampires, werewolves, and humans forever.