My Moon Luna

Chapter 7 (Walls of truth)

My head was spinning from the impact. I was trying to understand the words James had just spoken. Werewolf? What kind of creature is that? Are there more of them? I put my hands on my head, trying to calm the pain that was wracking my body. I was running away from one problem, but I literally ran into another. Life really can be so unfair sometimes. That huge brown werewolf looked so impressive when it was standing in front of me, I have never seen such a creature. It was strange that it did not seem aggressive and didn’t attack me, even when I ran.

"Amelia, we're going home. I need to check your wound, you've had a big bump." James held out his hand to offer his help.

"Sure, but you'll have to explain everything to me." I gingerly hobbled over.

Small drops of rain fell from the sky, making my clothes soak through. After a small step, I carefully climbed up the terrace's cables, holding tightly to the railing. I didn’t want to fall again. James stepped forward, opened the front door wide and I kicked off my shoes as soon as I went through it, heading straight for the sofa. I really need to sit down, this is not a pleasant experience. I looked towards James who was closing the front door of the house hard. I saw his eyes turn towards me and a few small wrinkles appeared in his forehead.

"How are you, Amelia?" James walked towards the kitchen cupboard, pulling out a first aid kit.

"It’s just a scraped knee. Now off the subject, what's that about werewolves?" I wrinkled my forehead as I followed James' every move.

My head was just spinning with questions. They all roared loudly in my head, giving me a bigger headache than before. I turned to look at the torn trench coat with blood rushing through it. My body is probably still in a little shock, that's why I don't feel much pain.

James soon sat down at my feet. He stared for a few seconds at the bright red blood that was gushing from the wound. He shook his head as if trying to get some thoughts out of his head. His face looked much whiter than before. Was he really all right? Maybe he'd had a run-in with one of the creatures before, that's why he knew about them? For a moment I thought that Jame’s eyes had changed colour. Perhaps my battered head is going completely out of its mind. Come on Amelia, stop banging away, it's just a little bump. You're not a little kid, I'd shake my head at the thought.

"Let's take care of your wound first, it’s more than a scraped knee. Then I can answer all your questions." James took a pair of scissors to widen the hole in my boxers.

I looked at the blood that was trickling down my bare leg. James opened the medicine cabinet with one hand. He took a piece of cotton wool and moistened it with the liquid. He gently applied it to my leg, and my face twisted in pain as it tingled unpleasantly.

"I'm sorry." James looked up at me.

"It's ok, it's necessary." I managed to squeeze a small smile through the pain.

James took out a small box of white ointment from the medicine cabinet and made sure the whole wound felt like it was set on fire by rubbing it in. He then took a bandage and wrapped it around my leg several times, finishing with a firm clip. With a quick movement, he returned all the medical tools to the box. I noticed that James was concentrating harder and was a little paler during this whole process.

"Afraid of blood?" I questioned as I followed James, who was on his way to put the supplies back in its place.

"No, I just don't like it." James smiled as he turned over his shoulder.

"So what's the story? Who is this werewolf?" I raised my eyebrows as I made myself more comfortable on the sofa.

"I'm not sure I should be the person to tell you everything." James knelt beside me, looking in my direction.

"Everything? Are there any more of you around?" My lips formed into a small 'o'.

"I'll tell you, but you can check with Brook for more details." James rolled his eyes and smiled.

"Brook? She knows about werewolves?" I shot my eyebrows up in surprise.

The front door banged sharply, drawing my attention. Brook was standing in the doorway with Nathan, both of them completely wet. Surprisingly, their clothes weren’t the same. Brook's confused stare went to James first, then to my leg.

"Amelia, are you all right?" Brook took a quick step towards me.

"James, get back." Nathan's angry voice filled the air.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have scared you like that." Brook squatted down next to me, looking concerned.

"Scare you? Brook, what are you talking about?" I frowned.

My mind couldn't comprehend what was going on at the moment. What does she mean by saying she didn't want to scare me? I looked at Brook questioningly. Come on, can somebody finally tell me what's going on here? Everybody seems to know something, but won’t say anything. For a moment the room was silent, none of the roommates dared to speak.

"What is going on here? Explain now." I looked at all the people standing nearby.

"I'm Brook, a Werewolf. We’re all so much more than we look. Nathan is just like me, James is a vampire." Silence hung thick as the incredible words left Brook's lips.

"You were the big wolf in the forest?" A few lines creased my forehead. “And James, you are a vampire? You said you don't like blood, but you drink it?" I looked at the guy sitting next to me.

"We wanted to tell you. We were afraid you wouldn't understand, that you'd think we were lunatics." Nathan crossed his arms and smiled.

"How can such a small girl turn into such a gigantic wolf?" My gaze returned to Brook.

"Believe me, it's very painful." Brook rolled her eyes. "You're not angry?" Brook's eyebrow rose.

"Angry? Are you insane? Supernatural beings are my roommates. It's like I'm living in a book." I grinned as I looked at my friends.

"You're not going to try and run away from us?" James's face was beaming with surprise.

"I'm convinced that's what other people try to do when they see your true forms. But how is that possible?" A million questions rattled around in my head.

"Well, first of all, it's not our choice. It's just something that's passed down from generation to generation." Nathan sighed as he looked at Brook.

"Do you have to be like that? Is it possible not to be a wolf? Or not to drink human blood?" I glanced at James.

"Personally, human blood is like food to me. If I don't drink it, I die." James shrugged as he explained his situation.

"You kill people?" I covered my mouth with my hand, walking away from James.

"Amelia, I don't kill people. That's what blood banks are for, to steal from. Of course, not everyone is as nice as me. That's why I don't advise you to walk the streets late at night by yourself." James warned.

"The missing girl was probably eaten by a werewolf or a vampire." I covered my mouth in horror.

"Amelia, werewolves don't eat people." Brook laughed at my reaction.

"I'm pretty sure that not a single person on campus is to blame for the missing girl." Nathan looked at James with a small smile on his face.

"How can you be sure of that?" I looked with disbelief at Nathan.

Now I understand why James didn't eat the pancakes I made. It probably wouldn't have filled his stomach - he needed blood. It all sounds really disgusting. My head still can't digest all the information. Are there more like them in the world? I'm caught up in the adventures of a real trio. The most important thing is not to panic and stay alive.

"Barewood University is an art college for supernatural beings and humans. Each student signs a strict contract with the headmaster. By their signature, they certify that they will not harm any living creature that walks the halls of the school or outside the boundaries." James briefly explained the true meaning of the college.

"How can Issac be sure of that? Guarantee that everyone will get along fine? Vampires, werewolves and humans?" I turned my head to the left to glare at Brook.

"I'll correct, Alpha Issac." Brook smiled. "Those who break the rules face extreme punishment and expulsion from the college." The smile on her face disappeared.

"Alpha? What does that mean? You call him that? I mean, supernatural beings call Issac that?" I cupped my chin with my hand, trying to make sense of all the information.

"How do I explain this to you? It's the highest title a werewolf can have. Anyone lower than that feels respect and obedience towards them. We have no choice but to obey Alpha Issac's instructions. The little wolf living inside me feels that the Alpha is older, stronger, superior, and more powerful. Not addressing Issac by his true title, Alpha, causes an additional moment of fear and discomfort."

"Is that your personality split? Do you have any other super powers?" I gave Brook a surprised look.

"Super powers?” Nathan laughed, repeating my question.

"Well, we don't call it a super power." Brook gave Nathan an angry look as if to tell him to shut up. “It's more like abilities, which are perks of being a werewolf." Brook brought her dark eyes to my face.

My mind was racing like a whirlwind. Little by little, all this information was seeping into my brain. I tried to put all the dots together. I want to know as much as I can about who the people around me are. Although right now the names of people don't really fit them. Now I understand why they all bow their heads down before Issac, but James? He doesn't have a little wolf inside him. So many unanswered questions.

"One of the best things about it is the unusual power that humans don't have." Brook looked up from the couch at Nathan.

I saw Nathan's furrowed brows and confused face. Brook grabbed Nathan's waist with both hands and lifted him off the ground. My eyes must have popped out of my sockets at this point. I am well aware that looking at Brook, she looks like she’s just a girl who shouldn’t be able to lift Nathan off the ground. Now I know what kind of strength she’s talking about. Well, that's really cool, that would be handy for defending yourself against guys.

"Get your hands off me." Nathan was squirming trying to get his feet back on the floor.

"And here's a disgruntled werewolf." James laughed as he watched the small scene before his eyes.

Instantly, Brook released Nathan to the ground. I could see Nathan's eyes were yellowish, which are definitely not his usual colour. Is this one of the signs that a werewolf has become enraged? The more I learn about the strange world around me, the more questions arise in my mind. Werewolves can turn into large wolves, have strong physical strength, and sometimes have yellowish eyes. Well, one of the facts is that it's better not to annoy them. I don't think my fragile body could withstand even one attack from them.

I turned my head to the right, looking towards James. What special qualities does he have? Brook knelt beside me with a small smile in her hands and Nathan took the couch opposite ours. There was a small pause of silence in the room, which I really needed. There is so much going on around me at the moment that my head seems its about to explode.

"Well, ask me." James smiled when he saw that my gaze was fixed on his face.

"So what makes vampires so special? I know that drinking human blood isn't a very good quality." I rolled my eyes, watching the owner of the yellow hair intently. "Aren't you afraid of the sun?" The unexpected question escaped my lips.

"The biggest advantage that I like to have is the power of persuasion. It's a pity it only works on people. That's why that woman walked away after the accident. For me, it is enough to look into a person's eyes for a few moments. No matter what words follow, the person will follow my instructions." The corner of James' lips turned up.

"That's scary, you're a real manipulator." Nathan glanced at James.

"It's better than turning into a giant wolf or submitting to someone older." James rolled his eyes. "The next thing that often comes in handy is the ability to move quickly." To prove his point, in the blink of an eye, James was standing by the kitchen cabinet.

I was slow, my brain didn't understand what had just happened. James had just sat next to me and now he was at the other end of the room leaning against the kitchen cabinet. So my segway eyes weren't playing tricks on me that night when I nearly fell over and lost my balance, he used his vampire powers. Although he seemed to risk being spotted, he still kept me from falling. Spotted? Come on Amelia, just twenty minutes ago you didn't know they were all so different.

"I wish I had that advantage." Brook looked in James' direction.

"I prefer people's persuasion ability. Just think how much easier it would be to graduate from this college." A wide smile appeared on Nathan's face.

"Do all the people at the college know about the other beings?" My gaze went to Brook.

"Have you lost your mind? If they knew, not one person would go there." Brook laughed out loud at my question.

"What reason is there for me to know all this?" I turned my eyes towards Nathan who looked bored.

"Well you saw me in the woods in my true form. We had no other choice than to tell you the truth." Brook shrugged as she stood up from the couch.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell someone?" I frowned as I looked at Brook.

"You try, there won't be any blood left in your body." James was sitting next to me in a flash.

The sudden action made every hair on my skin stand on end. Was James really considering the possibility of wronging me? I remember that hurting people is not allowed on this campus. I'm sure it's just a stupid intimidation tactic.

"Do you really see me telling my classmates about vampires and werewolves? I'm sure I'd be taken away to a psychiatric facility." I smiled broadly at the thought.

"I think that's enough chatter for today. It's about time to get a grip, first lectures are tomorrow." Nathan got up from the couch and walked towards the stairs.

"I think I might go have a rest and wrap my brain around all of this, thank you for trusting me with this information." I stood up from the couch, slowly limping towards the stairs.

"If you have a question, always ask." James waved goodnight.

I reached the last step and sighed deeply. This leg wound is really going to wear me out tomorrow during lectures. I pushed open the door to get into the soft bed as quickly as possible. Brook walked behind me in silence, not rushing me anywhere. Although the questions were still roaring in my head I tried to ignore them. Time to rest my head from the amount of information. I easily slipped out of my clothes, and made myself comfortable in bed. Brook lay down on her bed next to me, her eyes staring at the ceiling.

"How do you know if you are a werewolf or not? Perhaps you can tell me more about it?" I lay on my side, focusing my attention on Brook.

Even though I know my injured body needs rest, my brain isn't going to shut up. I put my hand under the pillow and got comfortable. I waited patiently for Brook's answer, I can see that she’s pondering something carefully in her mind.

"The first signs of a werewolf appear before your eighteenth birthday. Sight, hearing and smell are especially heightened. The only thing that fascinates me about who I am is that creatures like me dedicate their lives to one person. We don't have a second or third chance to find a boyfriend or girlfriend. Our heart belongs to one person, the pieces of our heart are like our destiny." Brook lay on her side facing me.

"How can you pick out the one that's for you from all the werewolves?" The corner of my lips turned up at the thought.

"I can't say for sure, I haven't met one yet. From the stories my mother used to tell me, the feeling is unique. The other half, the one destined for you, you'll know the moment you meet them. The person destined for you will smell incredibly wonderful, you will feel pleasure when their fingers touch your skin. When he or she embraces you, you will feel happy, full and strong. The wolf inside you will feel safe and loved. Of course, there is a bad side to this coin." Brook's eyes left my face for a moment.

"It sounds like a fairy tale of course, just being a werewolf. What is the bad side? What could be so bad about talking about the one person who is meant for you?“ I frowned slightly.

"Not all werewolves give in to their true feelings. When your other half gives up on you, you're left hurt. To put it mildly, of course - it's agony, weakness, they say some can even die." Brook furrowed her brow into a pile.

"That sounds really tragic. Thank you for your candour Brook. I should probably get some rest though." I smiled as I looked into my roommate's eyes.

"Sweet dreams Amelia, dream of werewolves." Brook's smile lit up the room.

"It's so sweet that I'm having nightmares." I winked, lifting the corner of my lips.

I rolled onto my side, getting more comfortable in the soft bed. I closed my eyes, hoping it would help to distract my mind. After some time, Brook slowly tiptoed out the room to go about her day. With my eyes closed, I could see a big brown wolf staring right at me. I opened my eyes, sighing deeply. I probably wouldn't be able to fall asleep or distract myself that quickly.

The silence in the room was absolute and the only thing I could hear was the harsh wind outside the window. Autumn can indeed be unpleasant, but I like it. I could feel the temperature in the room seeming to drop. Rolling over on my other side, my eyes went to look towards the window. Of course no one had closed the window throughout the whole day.

No big deal, I'll have to do it myself. I put my bare feet on the ground and headed straight for the window. With a cautious movement, I closed the window and turned my eyes towards the full moon that was shining brightly in the sky. My gaze drifted towards the shadows in the forest. Are my eyes deceiving me or am I really seeing it? A large black wolf sat somewhere in the distance looking in my direction. Is this another werewolf?