Stellaluna

Ghosts

Selene

I paced back and forth in the Alpha's private dining hall, glancing at Evangeline, who stood by the window staring out at the moon, still undressed and dripping, standing in a puddle of the seemingly endless amount of water that fell from her body. Everyone who had seen her was here, sitting at the table and throwing furtive looks her way. Thankfully it wasn't many, and Alpha Ryder had sworn them to secrecy. Hypatia hadn't said anything since we came inside. Nobody bloody had, and it was driving me insane.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead. Hypatia had thought the waters would help her fatigue. At least that's what she told me. But she had seen the memories I shared. She knew it was something else. I guess I was curious too. I hadn't seen her do it in years and wondered if it had changed. Evangeline had told me about her powers, but never explaining the extent of them.

When she had undressed, and stood at the edge of the lake, I couldn't contain my gasp as the air rushed out of my lungs. Her skin started glowing as she stared up at the moon, and a tattoo shimmered like sparking silver on the back of her neck. It was the symbol of the summons. Hypatia shushed me, and we watched as the lake went eerily still, no sounds from the forest or wind blew. We watched as she walked out ON to the water. She WALKED on WATER. I started feeling anxious, and looked at Hypatia when her eyes got wide. I had turned back just in time to watch as the lake exploded around Evangeline. I ran to her, but Hypatia held me back. Then she was just gone. I thought she'd died. But still, Hypatia wouldn't let me go to the water. We searched for her, for three days straight. I nearly lost my mind with grief and worry. First Donovan and now Evangeline. Was it I that was cursed? But I wad not the only one frantically searching.

Poor Ryder, the boy obviously had feelings for her. He assigned his Guard to look nonstop the entire time. Even the visitors, as they called them helped search. Tonight, was the third night. I wouldn't give up. Though Hypatia forbid anyone from entering the waters, we still found flash lights and tried to look for her under the surface.

The full moon had just risen to its highest point when the waters of the lake started to glow a faint purple. Evangeline rose from the water, her long pale hair down, and her violet eyes glowing, matching the swirling waters around her. I was so happy I ran to her, unable to contain my joy, but again, Hypatia stopped me, pulling me behind her. I peeked around her, as Evangeline stood there in the water, shimmering, almost flickering like she wasn't fully in our world. Then I saw them. The phantasmic, wraithlike people rise from the depths all around her. Men, women and children of all ages. Just like when she was a little girl.

Hypatia said something to her, but I didn't catch what it was. I did however, feel her cold, sweet echoing voice whisper through the air, but her mouth never moved. I shivered at the memory.

"Is someone going to explain what all that was?" I looked and it was the blonde girl, Alana, one of the visitors. She waved her hand in Evangeline's direction. She had been kind enough to help search but had not stopped complaining. Though I was happy for the interruption of the silence, I was tired of her grating voice.

"Yes, I think it's time for answers," Alpha Ryder agreed, looking from me to Hypatia. Besides Ryder, who sat at the head of the table, everyone else had taken residence on the right side, farthest away from Evangeline. I cleared my throat,

"Dear, why don't you come over here and have a seat?" I asked, offering the towel I was holding for the third time. She turned, and allowed me to wrap it around her small shoulders, and guide her to the table. But she did not sit, instead she stared at a guard who sat near the Alpha. She tilted her head, her eyes growing a bit brighter and asked

"Tommy? Billy says not to be mean to everyone else because you are mad at yourself. It wasn't your fault, and as long as you go visit him like you used to, he won't be mad at you." He stood up immediately, looking angry, but slowly sank down and put his head in his hands.

"Evangeline, what happened? Where did you go?" Hypatia asked.

"I was there." She said, as if it was that simple.

"No. You were gone for nearly three whole days. Where were you?" I held her hand, trying to get her to focus. She seemed not all the way here, ever since she got back.

"I was there," she repeated. "I saw you. All of you." She looked around the table, meeting the eyes of every person there. "I don't know why The Goddess has blessed me with this power, but She has. And those past have not forgotten you." She answered eerily.

"What is this power?" Hypatia asked, leaning forward. But Evangeline only looked at her.

"I think it's been a long enough night for everyone," I interjected. "Why don't we call it a night?"

Everyone murmured their agreement and left, Alpha Ryder reiterating that what happened tonight, stay between those inside.

Evangeline sat at the table, however, unmoved. I turned to her, but Hypatia dragged me out.

"She'll be fine. You must rest. Go check on your mate" I nodded and left, doubting I'd get any sleep at all.

—————————————————————

Ryder

Evangeline sat at the table, lost within her own mind, not seeming to notice everyone around her had left. I got up and walked to her side, crouching down so she wouldn't have to look up at me.

"Hey there, are you okay?" She turned her head and met my gaze. Goddess, one look from those pretty purple eyes of hers could stop my heart. Even soaking wet, she was beautiful. Like a siren. She smiled and my heart skipped a beat.

"You look tired.." she whispered, reaching out a cold, gentle finger and touching the dark bags under my eyes. I chuckled at her concern. She was worried about if I was a tad sleepy? She was missing for days!

"I was worried about you."

"Don't be." She said, and I laughed outright

" 'Don't be' " I mimicked her. "You are absolutely infuriating." She laughed. Her laugh was music to my ears. "You don't have to be so strong," I gently picked up her hand from the table, it was so cold. She smiled and looked at the window again,

"Ryder.. I saw Marina-" my heart clinched at her name.

"No, not tonight. I don't want you to push yourself." I interrupted her. "Lets get you to bed."

I gently grabbed her arm and helped her up, she stood and the towel covering her fell to the ground. As I bent over and picked it up, she crumpled, losing her strength. I quickly caught her

"Woah woah, easy. Don't push yourself."

"I'm sorry, I guess I'm a bit spent." She murmured, her eyes closing.

"Shh no don't apologize. I've got you." I picked her up bridal style, easily carrying her. She had the audacity to frown at me. I shook my head, smiling. And walked out of the dining hall, heading to her room.

"I'm not a child," she said,

"No, you're not," I agreed, pulling her cold body closer against me. "But it's not a bad thing to need help sometimes." I climbed the stairs and walked down the hallways.

"You've got to remember that too," I smiled down at her as she fell asleep in my arms, rounding the corner and almost ran into Sebastian, who was pacing the walkway in front of the stairs and their rooms.

"What are you doing to her?" He asked, nearly growling, and walking up to me. What the f*ck?

I stepped around him, ignoring him and walked to her room, shifting her in my arms, so I could hold her with one, and open her door with the other.

"Hey! I asked you a question!"

I walked inside, taking note of the knives on her bedside table with a smilr, and carefully placed her on the bed. I sensed movement behind me and without turning around spoke-

"If you set one foot in this room without Evangeline's permission, I will have you beaten and banished by dawn."

I turned to her closet and opened it, blanching at the two pairs of black shirts and pants hanging in there. Is that all this girl has? I went back and closed the door, shaking my head. I stripped the t-shirt I was wearing off and walked back over to her. It was better than nothing, and still warm from my own body heat.

"Alpha Ryder-!"

I gently lifted her head and slipped my shirt over her, fitting her arms through the holes. It looked so big on her, I smiled down at her, then carefully tucked her into her bed. Beautiful, I thought. I sighed, hearing that annoying little sh*t about to say something else.

I whirled around to see him in the hallway. I locked her door and closed it on my way out.

"Why are you so worried about her? You don't even know her!" I growled.

"And you do?" He scoffed,

I grabbed him by his collar, shoving him against the wall.

"Who do you think you think you are? I suggest you think very carefully about what you say and how you act for the next few days." I pushed him away, and walked upstairs to my room and promptly threw myself on my bed.

You've got it bad, Ember, my wolf laughed at me.

You like her too, so be quiet.

She does smell nice..

And she's so funny, and smart..

And beautiful.

Yeah.. I thought dreamily.

But my warm feelings faded, as I remembered what else I'd seen tonight.

"Mom," I whispered. And the pain was back, nearly as fresh as the day she'd died.

My mother and father had a bond like no other. Fated to be mates, they were everything I looked forward to in my own mate. Everyone always said how strong their bond was. So when my father disappeared, I knew it wouldn't be long. My mom wouldn't sleep or eat. She wandered the castle, looking for him. Thinking he'd turn up soon, because she knew he wouldn't leave her. She would always visit that d*mn lake, where they constantly spent their nights star gazing. That's where they had first felt the mate bond, and that's where she was when it broke. I remembered that day, I was just trying to go through the motions after he left. Going to meetings and stuff. But then I'd heard the screams, as they spread throughout the castle. I knew then that they were gone. They must have mass executed them, because it all happened so fast. My mother was gone before I could get to her. I heard her last scream as I ran. The sound of a heart broken. And then I felt them. As Alpha, you have a connection to every single pack member. You could feel it, when they died. And I did. I felt every single life string snap all at once. The pain.. I closed my eyes against the chill that crept over my body and covered myself in my blanket. I sighed and turned over, seeing my mother's ghostly image smiling at me from behind Evangeline's shoulder. It brought back all the pain. The feeling of being alone, helpless in a world where everyone looked to you for answers.

Evangeline's sweet words echoed in my mind, its not a bad thing to need help. And I did need to remember it. I fell asleep, thinking of her laugh, her smile, and the way she felt in my arms, how much I liked seeing her in my shirt, and how she looked like an angel.