The Runaway Luna's Daughter

And The Murderer

Laura's POV

Maybe I had forgotten what it was like to be in love. Not that I missed it, I only felt for Jenine. A feeling of restlessness washed over me as she left with Elisha.

I wasn't fully in support of whatever it was the both of them had going on, but I couldn't stop them. I couldn't stop her from seeing him. I could only watch from the sidelines praying and hoping he doesn't hurt her cos if he ever did… I didn't want to think about it.

My fears increased in no little way when she called me saying not to wait up for her. The f**k? My heart literally froze in my chest. I tried to speak but my mouth wouldn't move.

“Okay,” I replied when I finally found my voice. I wrung my fingers nervously pacing the room. Had I made a mistake letting Jenine leave with him?

“Calm down Laura, calm yourself,” I breathed deeply. “She'll be fine. She'll surely be fine.”

I forced myself to believe it even when I knew it wasn't true. With Elisha, you could never be too sure. But what could I do?

“Hike,” I heard my wolf say.

Unbelievable. Barely 24 hours after we'd almost died and she was already up and raring to go. My eyes glanced at the clock.

12:48 AM. The night was still young.

I stalked out of the house pushing the fear into the back of my mind.

“Death is an illusion,” I mumbled, hopping down the stairs. I'd already died before but here I was, hale and hearty.

I trusted only my instincts now, only they didn't say exactly where I was to go. My instincts led me deeper into the woods until a shadow came into sight, his figure swaying under something slung over his shoulder.

My curiosity got the better of me. I stalked him cautiously making sure to stay out of sight as he slithered through the shrubbery like a serpent. There was something familiar about the way he walked.

The wind blew gently and with it, a whiff of scent came. Blood. Why was I scenting blood?

“Here goes nothing,” I heard him say as he heaved the weight on his shoulder into the river. That familiar voice. Elisha.

I saw his back freeze when I asked what he had tossed. He couldn't be trusted. For all I knew, he might have killed someone. Like he always did.

“What are you doing here?” my eyes glared. Jenine wasn't here. “What was that you dropped in the river?” I asked again.

“You ask too many questions, Laura and they're really starting to piss me off,” his voice came, a low, threatening growl. “Stay out of my business.”

He sauntered away brushing against my shoulder as he went. I scented it again. I was sure of it. It was blood. Definitely blood.

********

Author's POV

“I need you to promise me again.” His hands held her shoulders as he gazed into her eyes.

“I… I promise,” Jenine slurred. “You have nothing to worry about.”

She placed her hand on his as they caressed her shoulders.

“Let's get you home then. I wouldn't want Laura to bite my head off.”

Jenine's lips twitched. Why was he so scared of Laura? And most importantly, why did Laura never let him off the hook any chance she got? It was some sort of toxic relationship at this point.

The door groaned as she pushed it open. The aroma of cooking food hit her nostrils as she stepped into the house.

“Nuh uh,” Laura stopped Elisha. “My house is off limits.” Her hands folded across her chest.

Elisha smiled faintly, a little smirk passing his face. He leaned to Jenine.

“This is as far as I go.”

“It's cool. I'm safe now.”

Elisha gave her a knowing look.

“Don't worry. My lips are sealed,” she mouthed.

Laura drew her aside into the house as Elisha left. “Goddess, Jenine, are you okay?”

“I am. Is something wrong?”

“I don't know, you tell me. What happened?”

“I… I don't understand,” Jenine stammered.

“Did anything happen between you and Elisha?”

“Well, it depends on what you're asking about.”

Laura saw the mischievous glint in her eyes.

“You know what? I'm not even going to ask. You're back home safe and that's all that matters.”

Her feet slapped against the floor as she headed to the kitchen. Jenine followed.

“You know, you have to stop worrying about me at some point, Laura.”

“Sure. Whatever you say, hotshot. I will when Elisha isn't in the picture anymore.”

“I honestly don't know why you keep at it. He's been nothing but good to me. I haven't had any reason to complain about him.”

The steak sizzled as Laura tossed it into the pan of hot oil. She jumped out of the way as some drops splashed towards her.

“And he'd do anything to protect me,” Jenine continued.

Laura shook her head.

“You don't understand. That's the part that scares me the most, Jenine. You don't know the lengths he'd go just to do that. It's cute now but eventually, he starts hurting people to protect you. Would you still think it to be cute then?”

She flipped the steak over.

“I mean well for you, Jenine. That boy is bad news. Take my word for it.” She turned to face her. “You know last night, I saw…”

A low rapping on the door stopped her short.

“I'll get it,” Jenine cooed swirling and heading for the door.

Laura removed the steak from the pan into a plate. She wiped her hands with a napkin.

“Jenine? Who's there? Is everything okay?”

She heard voices, low. Whispering.

“...yes, tell her I'm here.”

She strode quickly out of the kitchen. She bumped into Jenine.

“Who was that out there?”

“Come see for yourself,” Jenine nodded towards the door.

“Could you stop playing around and just tell me who's there?”

She grabbed the doorknob pushing it open.

Her back was turned to her. She turned around as the door opened. Her face looked the same, dulled a little by age. But her eyes… they were the same.

Laura's eyes darkened. “What are you doing here, mother?”