Moonkissed

Prologue

Allara’s P.O.V. (seven years prior)

As the ancient tradition persist it a custom to have a ritual on the eve of your thirteenth birthday, for me that day, is today. The ritual was considered a coming of age ceremony, where you would meet with the ancestors and ask them anything you like, doesn’t matter if its future, past or present. The thought of meeting them, of getting to ask them anything in the world frightened me, for you only get one chance, one question that’s it. In my opinion it was too much to ask of a thirteen-year-old, what if I asked them the wrong question?

“Allara!”

“Yes, Miss Debreu?”

“I would appreciate if you could at least try and pay attention in class.”

If only she knew, I swear these human teachers have absolutely no idea of what I’m going through. I should have tried harder in trying to convince my mother to home school me rather than letting her send me to public school. At least this was the last class, after this I need to start getting ready for tonight.

***

As the beating of the drums intertwined with the chant of the elders, I knew it was time to meet with the coven, bloodstar’s ancestors.  Staring out in front of me the path was clearly marked by the ritual drummers placed on both sides of the road leading to the three elders dressed in blood red cardigans that engulfed their frail little bodies, as they guarded the entrance to the small white tent. The closer I got to them the more I felt restless, something inside of me didn’t trust them, their frail bodies, crocked smiles and hollow eyes send shivers down my spine for I knew that though they might look old and helpless their tongues were laced in the poison of knowledge, after all spells out rank brute strength nine times out of ten.

“kneel!” They shouted in unison.

I did as I was told and sank down on both knees before the elders. The elder on the left stepped towards me, considering her eyes there was nothing but a dark abyss, no emotion what so ever. She dipped her hand into a bowl of liquid red, before splashing it onto me.

“The blood of a child, to symbolize curiosity for our craft.”

As the elder stepped back the next one came forward dipping her hand within another bowl of red liquid and splashing it onto me as well.

“The blood of an adult, to symbolize your coming of age.”

Finally, the last elder stepped forward, as her sisters before her eyes were black as the abyss, they were barely more than a shell that harbored magical energy, there was no humanity left in either of them. Splash!

“The blood of an elder, to symbolize the knowledge you will gain.”

After this the elders parted ways signaling me to go into the tent, heart racing I stood on wobbly legs as I approached the tent. No turning back now. Inside the tent, the walls seemed to be made of mirrors and at the very center stood a scepter made of silver balancing a crystal ball on it.

 Glancing at myself in the mirror before heading towards the crystal ball to make myself more presentable, but what could be done? I was splattered in blood from head to toe, my white dressed was surely permanently stained, they would have to live with it I suppose. Picking up the ball I started my chant.

“Me cantum…”

I froze, what did I want? There are too many possibilities… Why on earth am I such an indecisive person. Maybe that’s it, if I were to know what the future holds surely, I wouldn’t be as conflicted to make decisions right?

“Me cantum, destiny!”

As soon as the words left my mouth fog started rolling in engulfing me, suffocating me yet I felt at peace. There was something soothing in the weightlessness of it all.

“Come to me, my child.”

A voice as soft as summer rain bought me out of my daze, there she stood as pale as the moonlight, hair black as night and eyes shimmering like the stars above, she was beckoning me to come closer.  Standing in front of her I was in utter awe of her beauty, who was she? I was completely speechless as she dipped down, kissing my forehead.

“The change starts with you, now run before they notice, I’ll show you the way.”

Notice what? As the fog disappeared I was left standing in front of the mirror, I could barely recognize myself. My dark brown hair was now completely platinum blond. What on earth happened to me? Suddenly realization dawned on me, as I reminisced her words ‘run’, my coven is not one who enjoys change this could get me killed, I have no choice but to run. Looking round the small tent I see a back way where I could exit unnoticed, but I would have to be quick any minute now an elder would come looking to see why I was taking so long. 

Dashing through the woods I had absolutely no idea where I was heading my brain was no longer in charge, my heart had taken over the moment I left the tent, somehow it knew where the lady from the tent wanted me to go.

After what felt like an eternity of running, I finally stopped to take a breather near a stream. The overbearing feeling of exhaustion flooded my mind, every muscle seemed to scream even my lunges felt as if they were disintegrating into dust, the only thing that kept me going was fear, fear of the unknown. What was to come of me? I asked myself this almost repetitively. My absentminded rant had led me to walk even further upstream, the sight in front of me was truly mystifying, twin waterfalls gently crashed into the stream. It came across as though the mountain itself was crying. The cascading shadows even highlighted several facial features giving the mountain the illusion of a water-eyed-maiden. Had it been an illusion or simply the effect of exhaustion, it compelled me towards it, it wasn’t until I felt the crisped air of the night change that caused my rationality to come crashing back, I had just trespassed into werewolf territory.

I barely had time to turn before the snapping of twigs caught my attention, within seconds I was surrounded. Gleaming yellow eyes stared at me, here and there several growls slipped into the silent night. Why are they starring? I thought to myself not even one has moved, it started to dawn on me they were waiting for orders, they were waiting for their alpha.

Moments later they started clearing a path allowing a pitch-black wolf to emerge into the clearing where I stood. Heart pounding, my world started spinning as the weight of this night’s events started crashing down upon me.

***

Several rays of sunshine pierced through the c***k in the curtains, I felt myself relishing in the comfort of my bed, completely engulfed by the cloud-like texture. As I tried drifting back to sleep, the sudden unfamiliarity of my comfort lead to my eyes snapping open, this was not my bed.

“She’s awake!”

A girl possibly my age came into view, light brown hair framed her face, her smile seamed pure yet her eyes held what could only be described as an undetermined form of judgement. In one sift movement the room’s large oak doors swung open to reveal a couple dripping with authority. The man’s face held a stern look, which send shivers down my spine, as soon as our eye’s met I recognized him as the alpha I met last night, thus I dipped my head to show respect. Soon after I felt the smooth warm hand of a woman edging me to look up into her forest green eyes.

“What is your name, darling?”

Her voice was as sweet as honey and as comforting as a warm cup of tea, she seemed genuinely like a caring individual. Try as I might, I remained frozen in uncertainty, captured in the fear of what’s to come. Before I knew it, tears started cascading down my cheeks, my life was falling apart. Without hesitation, she embraced me, her warmth felt soothing like the touch of a mother. My sobs started to fade, giving me the courage to speak.

“My name is Allara Walker, I’m a witch of the bloodstar coven or I was, I’m not sure anymore.”

“What do you mean, with you’re not sure?”

The man’s voice seemed to boom, bouncing of the walls as his irritation to my answer grew. I found myself spilling my life’s story right then and there, making their eyes gleam with fascination, when I finally finished it felt as though a weight has been lifted ever so slightly. What happened next, practically blew my mind, they invited me to stay as long as I needed. I searched their faces for any sign of ulterior motive yet none seem to surface. After the couple’s departure, the girl started brimming with excitement, she grabbed me by the hand, tugging it so that I would follow her out of the room.  Practically skipping with joy, she led me down the corridor to a room where a boy and girl sat playing cards.

“You just couldn’t help yourself, could you Chelsey?”

The girl next to me who I now knew as Chelsey smiled coyly at the boy’s remark. Then his eyes flicked over towards me and a could have sworn time stopped, when he smirked at me. Bashfully I turned my gaze towards the girl instead, who just sat there assessing me with her large green eyes.

“Do you play?”

For a moment, I was completely shocked by her question yet I regained my composer soon enough and nodded yes. Both me and Chelsey sat down to join in on their game of go fish.

“We're the alpha triplets by the way, I’m Aiden and these are my sisters Bethany and Chelsey.”

With introductions, out of the way, the game started along with the beginning of our friendship.