The Lunar Destiny Series

Chapter 6

My house was a disaster. All right so just the kitchen leading to the front door was a disaster. But at least both doors were fixed. The back and front doors had been replaced. Vasilios's friends told me that both doors had been reduced to mulch. There were pieces of wood, mud, and what looked like dried blood on the carpet in the hallway. It wasn't a large pool of blood, but it wasn't small either. There were sprinkles of blood on the walls also but nothing as bad as the carpet. I tried not to think of whose blood it was. It would make last night's events even more real to me.

Vasilios's two friends were currently getting rid of the bloody carpet, putting down new carpet, and cleaning the walls. I owed Lio big time. Lio had sent Kyra and Githinji to protect me until he had a chance to meet with the wereleopard's clan leader. When I asked if he thought that would settle things he replied with, 'If things don't go over well, you won’t be the only one who's in danger.' I did not like the sound of that.

The three of us sat in my living room watching the news. We had been discussing what I'd tell the police when they came to get a statement, which I knew they would. I wasn't here when the incident played out so we came up with our best legitimate story.

"Let's go over this one more time. You went out with a friend for the night, when you came home you found your house this way." Githinji said.

I nodded. "I'll remember, don't worry. If I give them Celeste's name we'll have to run the story by her as well. I don't want to involve her in this mess."

"Just let me handle that part, I can play along." Kyra said smiling. Looking at her devious expression, I wondered how often she had to lie to the local authorities.

"All right, that's settled then. Now, can we discuss the need for clothes in my house?"

I asked as politely as I could.

Kyra rolled her eyes and Githinji just stared at me blankly.

"Naremi made it crystal clear that we have to be good little humans and keep our clothes on at your house." Kyra said.

“Not just my house, but anyone's house we might visit." I said.

I instantly sensed her offense but it was too late to take it back.

"Who do you take us for Astraia? We know better than that. Why do you think we only go naked at home? People would start asking questions." She said looking back at the TV.

I sighed heavily and got up from the couch. No use in saying anything after that. I went to my room and started cleaning up. I always started cleaning manically when I was stressed out. I picked up the stale bowl of popcorn and sat down on the bed. My life had been normal, good. I could sit in bed on the weekends eating popcorn and watching drama movies without worrying about werebeasts trying to erase my existence. I don't think I'll ever have a normal life again.

For now though, life still goes on. I worked at Jeante's Art Gallery downtown in our more luxurious part of the town. I was in charge of showcases, what pieces of art went on display and when, even what the menu for refreshments would be. We were also unique in the art market because we allowed people to rent the fine art that they couldn’t afford to own. Yours truly was in charge of sales and price negotiations. I was able to pay the bills and more here, it was a peaceful job. I'd been working for Jeante's Art Gallery for about seven years now and I was well known around town. I wasn't a celebrity or anything but people knew who to come to if they wanted to schedule tours or have me as their hostess for a private showcase.

I had to host a grand opening tonight for a rising star painter, who of course did not show up to talk about his work. He couldn't bother mingling with the peons I guess. I stood near one of his latest paintings; his name was scribbled on the bottom right corner of the canvas. 'Martino Lavardi'. The painting was of a woman with the physical features of a peacock. Instead of a nose, she had a light gray beak. She had full pouty lips colored blue-green. Her hair was in a curly up-do of black ringlets and from her chest down to her feet, her body was covered in blue and green feathers. It was very elegant yet odd at the same time.

The entire room was painted a pale white and the floors were a polished black tile so that the art in the room got the attention it deserved. My all black skirt suit somewhat matched the decor, plainly so. I brushed my hair back into a smooth ponytail with a little hair gel for that clean cut conservative look. I wore some flat sole shoes that had a polished shine, almost lost in the black tile of the room. Of course my body guards were secretly among the art viewers. I saw them standing not far from me pretending to admire a painting as a happy newlywed couple.

Kyra was wearing a slim-fitting, yellow spaghetti strap dress that came down to mid thigh. There were slits on the sides but they didn't go too high. She complimented the dress with yellow four inch heels; they had a single strap that went around her ankle. Githinji wore a black tuxedo with a white dress shirt underneath and black gators, I felt under dressed.

My view became blocked when a woman three inches taller than me stepped in front of me. Her hair flowed down to her hips in golden blonde waves and her eyes were the darkest green I had ever seen. Her lips pressed together in a thin line of pink lipstick. She was wearing a tight fitting, strapless, black leather dress with a built in corset. Her breasts were pushed up so hard it looked painful. A set of black stiletto pumps matched the dress. There was a distinct mole on top of the left one, but I couldn't tell if it was natural or not. She had one hand on her hip and a faint smile as she looked at me. I put on my best professional smile.

"Hello, and welcome to Jeante's Gallery. We have some very beautiful pieces on showcase tonight, please enjoy." I said.

"Thank you, what a wonderful host you are."

Her smile widened a little more. The woman held out her slender hand to me and I shook it.

"Lolita Nohemi, It is a pleasure. And you are?" She asked, letting go of my hand.

"Astraia Ilithyia." I replied, still smiling.

"Hmm, nice name. It suits you."

"Thank you." I said.

This Lolita person was being really friendly to me, and she hadn't asked about the art at all. I was hoping she was just a friendly person and not hitting on me or something.

Kyra and Githinji approached us and from what I could tell, they didn't look happy. Lolita stepped back from me suddenly and turned to the side as if she knew they were coming. Kyra stood in front of Lolita and they stared each other down like they were longtime rivals. Githinji came and stood next to me protectively. They obviously knew something that I didn't about this woman.

"What are you doing here Lolita?" Kyra asked none too nicely.

"I'm here to enjoy all of the beautiful art of course, nothing more." She said.

"You're a horrible liar. I'll ask again, what are you doing here?" This time around, each word was hot with anger.

"There have been some rumors floating around lately. I was very curious to see if they held any truth. Now that I see the two of you here, the rumors have been confirmed." She said with her charming smile fading into a sinister grin.

"What's going on? I'm a little confused here."

I said looking at the two tense women in front of me.

They looked at me, Lolita glared, then they looked back at each other.

"I thought a chat amongst ladies would be all right." Lolita said.

Kyra slowly shook her head, smiling. "No, I doubt 'chatting' was all you had in mind Lolita. What would Vasilios say if he knew what you were up to?" Kyra said.

Lolita blinked those big emerald eyes at Kyra as though she spotted something in the middle of her face that didn't quite belong.

We were starting to get unwanted attention from the other guests and I refused to lose my job over this cat fight.

"Maybe we should take this outside; the guests are paying more attention to the two of you than the art." I said.

Lolita and Kyra took a few steps back from each other.

"That won't be necessary Miss Ilithyia, we're done here. However, I do intend to speak with you again in a more private setting. Very soon in fact..."

Lolita looked over at me one last time before she took her leave. Kyra and Githinji watched her leave.

"What was all that about?" I asked.

Githinji stepped from my side and over to Kyra's side.

"We'll tell you later. You still have a job to do." He said.

For the remainder of the showcase, Kyra and Githinji never went further than an arm's length away from me. Whoever Lolita Nohemi was she knew the werewolves. For some reason the mention of Vasilios's name changed her attitude for a split second. I couldn't tell if it was fear or what but she knew him somehow.

After we got back to my place and we changed clothes, Kyra, Githinji, and I sat down in the dining room to eat dinner. I cooked Salisbury steak, corn on the cob, pasta salad and dinner rolls. Lio isn't the only cook around here.

"Alright you two, spill. Who was that woman?"

I asked them before taking a fork full of pasta into my mouth.

"Lolita is the Alpha female of the Bloody Slayers pack outside of Delwyn. The Queen wolf if you will." Kyra said.

It figures.

"So, how does she know you two? Have your packs met before?"

She glanced over at Githinji, before she looked back at me.

"Lolita and Vasilios almost became mates to bind our packs together. More power, more territory. But Lolita was very controlling and greedy. She betrayed him..." Githinji said, devoid of emotion.

Kyra nodded before she took a sip of her orange crush pop.

"She was plotting to dethrone him and take our pack for her own. When Vasilios learned of this, he nearly killed her. Instead of killing her like pack law says, he kicked her and her pack out of our territory without safe passage should she return." Kyra said with a sigh.

I had a feeling she was leaving something out, just the way she said that last part.

"But that's not all. Is it?" I asked.

"No, it's not. How do I say this, Vasilios didn't kill her because part of him still cared about her. Now, every chance she gets she torments him." She said, setting her fork down on her empty plate.

This new information was upsetting. Not the fact that I'd crossed paths with another one of his past lovers, but the fact that she'd betrayed him. In a way, he probably had more trust issues than I did. Not many people can say that their ex had plotted to kill them.

"...Is Lolita the reason he hasn't chosen a mate?"

The question came out of my mouth faster than my thoughts could put it together, but Githinji answered it.

"Lolita has a lot to do with it, yes. The fact that he's taken such a shine to you is surprising. I think he really believes you are his true mate." He said.

"She does have the eyes though. Kind of hard to discredit him." Kyra said, smiling at me. I was forced to look away to hide my embarrassment.

The phone rang and I gasped. Why was I so jumpy? Surround yourself with werewolves, Two of which want to kill you; tell me you wouldn't be a little 'jumpy'.

I went into the kitchen and answered the wall phone.

"Hello?"

"Astraia? It's Lio, are you all right?" He asked in a panic stricken voice.

"I'm fine, what's the matter?" I asked, becoming concerned.

"Thank God...I need to speak with Githinji, can you put him on the phone? I'll explain everything to you soon." He said.

I walked to the archway of the dining room which was close enough to the phone that I didn't need to put him on hold.

I looked into the dining room at the man in question.

"It's Lio, he's asking for you Githinji."

He got up from his chair and came into the kitchen. I handed him the phone and stepped back a little. I tried to contain my anxiety but I wanted to know what had gotten Vasilios so worked up.

"How did this happen...? Where do you want us to meet you...? With all due respect Alpha I don't think it's wise to...Sure, as you wish..."

Githinji put the phone back on the receiver and looked at me with rage filled eyes. I was scared as if I had done something wrong.

"What is it?" Kyra asked as she entered the kitchen.

"The wereleopards have one of our pack members." He said.

"Who? Who'd they take?" Kyra's nostrils flared and her magenta colored eyes widened angrily.

"One of our youngest wolves, Priam. I can only imagine what they've done to him." He said with a sigh.

Kyra left us alone in the kitchen, to try and calm down I think. Githinji looked at me then, I saw deep worry in his eyes.

"We have to go. He's waiting for us."

"Go where?" I asked. He didn't answer me, however he did escort me outside to their car and told me, 'You'll see soon enough.'