The Shadowed Hearts

Chapter3

Luna rose to the gentle light of dawn that touched her little house on the outskirts. Purring contentedly, Shadow lay curled at her feet giving the only sound in the silent morning rest. As she arched her back and stood up, memories of the night before flooded back to her; of Eric and his confessions, of the mysterious artifact they found, and of the connection that had somehow come to exist between them.

When she made it back to the cabin, she discovered Eric was already up, sitting at the corner of the little wooden table, looking off into the distance. She spoke quietly, "Good morning."

Eric looked up, softening as he saw her. "Good morning, Luna. Did you sleep well?"

Luna nodded and settled opposite him. "I did, thank you. And you?"

Eric smiled. The day is better than I have had in years.

They drifted into a comfortable silence, each lost in their heads. Some strange and powerful things that had happened in the last few weeks had drawn them more closely together than they had ever expected. Not only because of their bond, but because he was strong and kind, and seemed to see her better than anyone else. Luna was drawn to him.

The simple breakfast had been largely finished when there was a knock on the door. Luna gave an inquisitive nod to Eric and went to stand up to take the call. The devil impasse, his features evergreen, his massive frame radiated a silent, malevolent power. Wrapped in some shimmery cloak beneath the growing sun, he held an air of ageless wisdom.

The voice, so gentle yet so commanding, said, "Good morning, Luna." "I am Lucas Moonstone. May I come in?"

Luna shivered from the sensation. She had heard of Lucas Moonstone, the enigmatic seer who seldom visited the village. Visits from him were said to foretell something, and his wisdom in the occult was unheard of. She moved out of the way and he came in.

Lucas reached his hand to help the older person be brave off the couch as he gave the small cottage a quick scan and came to rest on the dirty man on the floor with his gravelly voice, "Thank you. "Ah, Eric Storm. Well, what can I say but that you look alive and kicking?

Eric simply nodded his head in acceptance. "Lucas. What brings you here?"

For the first time, Lucas looked over to Luna with an expression that neither of them could decipher. Invalidate I was here to talk to Luna. She needs to know things, truths of her lineage, of her past.

Luna's heart skipped a beat. "My past? What do you mean?"

Lucas waved for her to sit down, and she did, nervous and curious all at once. Eric stood close by, and his presence was a calming one.

"Luna," Lucas began, "you are not a normal girl. A line of werewolves that had long been forgotten by most, you were born into one of the strongest lines. Do you know why you are the way you are and how you can turn into a wolf, Amaterasu-of the Sun, child, because your ancestors were guardians of the Moon Cave, protectors of its secrets and its magic?

Luna simply blinked at him, as her mind tried to process what he just said. "But… I don't understand. How can this be? I have never seen any type of werewolf.

Lucas smiled gently. Your power has been numb, sealed with ways that you have learned to dissociate, and the ways you were taught to deteriorate. But now that you are going through all the things with Eric by your side, your true side, your vamp side, is waking up.

Eric grabbed her hand and she felt his warmth, his confidence. "Luna, you are stronger than you think. We are the reason we met. This was something we were supposed to experience at the same time.

Luna felt a mix of emotions…fear, and confusion, but also hope. "But what does this mean? What am I supposed to do?"

Lucas's gaze was steady. Embrace your ancestry, Luna. Discover how to master your skills and the power of the Moon Cave. With the help of Eric, you too can rise to be the guardian you were born to be.

Luna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The idea of possessing such strength, such cognizance, was intimidating. But in her heart, she knew she could not ignore it. Not now. Not for such high stakes.

Finally, she spoke, her voice quaking as yet uncompromising: "I (pauses for a brief second) (pauses again) I will try." I will do what is required to keep our people safe and take back what has been stolen).

Lucas nodded approvingly. "Good. It will not be an easy road ahead, but you are not alone. Eric and I will guide you."

Finally, Luna began her training with Lucas in the days to come. He had shown her how to meditate, how to feel the energy of the Moon Cave, and even how to use her latent powers. He was always there to encourage and support her.

While they were busy dancing the night away in the clearing of the cave and the moonlight, one evening, Luna felt different. A surge of heat and tingling swept through her, and she knew for the first time the warmth of her true strength. And she opened her eyes to see Eric watching her and light flooded past the ache and weariness in her body, pride and affection shimmering in his gaze.

Beneath his palm, he whispered, "You're doing it, Luna." You are who you are.

Luna stood in the soft glow of her moonlight and smiled for several minutes, feeling that strange serenity of things finally settling. Without you, I couldn't :*Eric: You have made me stronger than I thought I was.

His hands absorbed her cold ones, and her wrists tingled for the sparks of heat that followed these? v? as. "Luna, you gave me hope. And It was the first time since Lyra died that I felt as if I had a future worth fighting for.

Tears welled in Luna's eyes. "I feel the same way, Eric. You are my second chance, too.

With each passing day, her mind, body, and soul, to the being known as Niflixher's power and ability waxed and deepened not long before she wyldniflix was able to call. Luna felt something deep inside. Her moonlight was different. It was a full moon, and it had been weeks since she felt this, and it was not normal. She looked above the trees and toward the night sky. It was as if She could reach for the stars themselves and pull them down from the sky and strew them from here to there and back to there again. Againemons were all around her, but she did not care. She. She. The light entered. She felt it cover her in warmth and understanding. She launched herself skyward and cried out in joy and gladness and reached for the sky and felt land on her side with a thud and a jolt, a surge of loving energy. His energy was prodding and urging her to relax and, above all, listen to him what had waxed and waned this time, and he fell into the role of the princess of the night and all the world under her control. Her ability and ability were even greater than hers. She couldn't pull the next sunrise or sunset and scatter it across the sky until it covered everything as well as every being’s animal, and all their life force. She looked up at the moon and smiled in happiness and then looked at the sun and knew that tomorrow was the day with her eyes. She knew with fullness and resolution that tomorrow was the day of the solstice her needs would be fulfilled. It was her destiny. She took to understanding the power within the cave, the flow of energy through stones and minerals, drawing upon its magic for healing and protection. With the help of Lucas, he taught her how to hone her abilities and appreciate the power of the heritage that she had.

As they sat by the flames one night, Lucas talked to him about the ancestry of Luna. Your great-grandmother, Selene, was a werewolf of old blood. She made a pact with the very moonlight she drew on for strength. The power that runs in your blood, Luna.

Luna listened, fascinated. "What happened to her?"

Lucas's face went dead serious. Look what happened to Eric and her... Along the way, they were both betrayed by those they trusted. A rival clan desires the powerful magic of the Moon Cave for themselves. Selina put in a valiant effort but proved no match. She had been lost to history, to the vast multitude of her offspring.

A sorrow for the grandmother she never met pinched in Luna's soul. But now I have to take that legacy back.

Lucas nodded with a heated stare. "But you are not alone. Selene may have failed, but with you and me at your side, you have the strength to make it happen, Eric.

Weeks turned into months as Luna's courage grew. Together, she and Eric dug into the cave for hours, discovering its secrets and (potentially) its power. Their bond grew stronger than just friends. As she healed, the wounds of the past sealing shut in the warmth of his love, Luna found herself opening her heart to Eric in ways she could have never fathomed.

But even Luna's newfound prowess brought troubles. Over time, the villagers began to grow suspicious and there were words behind their backs. Talks of witchcraft and dark powers spread, and Luna was made their scapegoat.

That night, as Luna and Eric returned from the cave, they were ambushed by the villagers. The torchlight cast eerie expressions on the group before them, led by Thomas, the beefy farmer with an insatiable appetite for conflict.

"Luna, darling, we know what you have been doing," sneered Thomas. "Trafficking in black magic, inflicting the village with danger."

Luna's heart beat faster, but Eric's aura held her up. I'm not breaking any rules, Thomas. I am just trying to protect all of us.

"Protect us?" Thomas sneered. "Or doom us? We've heard the wails in the dark, and seen the odd lights. Your trouble is just like your parents.

Luna felt a surge of anger. "My parents were good people. They did not deserve to die.

Thomas stepped forward, his expression contorted in anger. "And neither do we. "Get out of her, Luna, before you cause any more damage.

The growl rumbled from Eric, deep and primal enough that the crowd hushed. "Back off, Thomas. Luna is under my protection."

Thomas halted, trepidation flashing in his eyes. Speak for yourself, I thought; how does a werewolf expect to frighten me? We outnumber you."

A look of resolve passed over Eric's face. Don't think only about the numbers. real power will f**k it all up Back off or suffer the consequences.

But the villagers hesitated, their fear of Eric's wrath greater than their anger. Gradually they withdrew, talking quietly to each other. Giving Luna a last look of contempt, Thomas walked back into the common room.

Relieved, Luna sagged and faced Eric. "Thank you. In the New York Times, she wrote, "I had no idea I would say thank you to the internet for this one... I would have been lost without you."