The Last Moon Goddess

Chapter 2

Chandria's heart raced as she pushed Vince away and frantically scanned the alleyway for any signs of danger. But it seemed empty. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she listened intently, trying to identify the source of the loud howling that had caught her attention.

"Hear what?" Vince replied, his tone laced with a hint of mockery as he attempted to pull her closer and grope her. Chandria's irritation flared, and she forcefully pushed his hand away.

"What's the matter with you?" she snapped; her voice tinged with a hint of fear. Something about the dark, empty alleyway sent shivers down her spine, and she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

Despite her pushing, Vince persisted in trying to get close to her. His kisses were sloppy, his hands roaming where they shouldn't. He thought she wasn't just having a good time that was why she was making up hearing things.

But Chandria smelled something strange - a sweaty, pungent odor that she recognized from her dreams. The smell of a werewolf.

"Vince, just stop!" she yelled, shoving him away with all her strength. "I think we should go home now." She tried to fix herself and even attempted to help Vince, but he was already in a bad mood.

She suddenly had a bad feeling. It was just like being in her dream – except she knew she wasn't dreaming this time.

"Why? We're having such a great time," Vince replied, confused. He had clearly expected to get what he wanted from her, and now that he was being denied, he was at the point of lashing out like a wounded animal.

"I don't feel well. I want to go home," she said firmly, hoping to reason with him.

"Are you just making an excuse because you don't want this?" Vince said, his voice rising.

"No! I really heard something," Chandria snapped back, her frustration and fear making her voice louder.

"It's very quiet,” Vince dismissed her. “I thought you wanted this. Do you know how much I spent on that restaurant for a first date?" he added, trying to guilt-trip her.

Chandria's frustration boiled over into anger. She had held out hope that Vince would be different from the other men she had encountered on her travels, but it was obvious now that he was just another jerk.

"You think that I'm just some cheap woman you can buy with your money? That's not how it works. I'm not interested in your money, and I'm certainly not interested in you anymore," she said, grabbing her wallet and throwing him cash. "You're boring anyway. Here's your money. And oh, don’t expect a tip," she added sarcastically, before turning to leave.

She initially found him attractive, drawn in by his striking brown eyes, dark hair, and olive-toned skin. However, after he revealed his true colors, her perception of him changed completely. The once-handsome Romanian man now appeared unappealing and ugly to her.

Vince's face turned red with anger. "You're just a tease! No wonder you’re single!" he yelled after her, waiting until she was gone so he could pick up the bills scattered on the ground.

Chandria quickened her pace, feeling relieved to distance herself from Vince, and the alleyway where she had heard the howling. She wondered if it was a sign that he wasn't the right man for her. She had experienced similar situations in the past where she imagined hearing werewolf sounds during dates with jerks, just like in her dreams.

With a sudden burst of clarity, Chandria had a thought: maybe her disastrous date with Vince was just her attempt at leaving a "romantic footprint" on the eternal city before moving on to her next destination. Though now she was regretting the muddy mess she left behind.

As Chandria walked home alone, her heart felt empty, and a cool breeze wrapped around her like a blanket. She strolled past the majestic structure of Trevi Fountain in Rome, a sight usually packed with tourists, but now serene and undisturbed. It was the perfect place to rest her weary soul. She settled on the edge of the fountain and was instantly soothed by the gentle sound of water flowing.

The Trevi Fountain was a true masterpiece of art, every inch adorned with intricate carvings and lifelike statues. The centerpiece was a magnificent sea god from whose mouth the water flowed, surrounded by majestic figures of horses, tritons, and other mythical creatures. She couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of having a giant monument of her failed date looming over the city for centuries to come.

Chandria couldn't help but recall the belief surrounding the fountain that tourists cherished. She heard that if you threw one coin into the fountain, you would return to Rome one day. Two coins meant you would return to Rome and find love, and three coins promised a return to Rome, a chance at love, and marriage. Though she had never tried to throw a coin before, the emptiness of the night made her reconsider.

She took out her purse and dug around for some coins. When she had a handful, she approached the fountain, determined to make her wish. However, as she was about to toss the coins into the water, she heard the chilling howling sound once more. It made her jump, and she dropped more coins than she meant to. They clinked against the fountain, and Chandria couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping over her. Was it a bad sign?

She wondered what throwing more than three coins would mean. Would it backfire, and she wouldn't be able to return to Rome again? Or would it bring her more than what she was wishing for?

Chandria decided to leave the fountain, not wanting to tempt fate any further. She began to walk back to her apartment, the howling still ringing in her ears, but she ignored it. Her focus was solely on getting to safety as soon as possible.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she hastened her steps towards the street leading to her building. But just as she was about to reach a safe spot, a shadowy figure caught her eye at the end of a dark alleyway. Her heart dropped as she realized it might have been the same man who had been watching her earlier that day.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she felt compelled to confront him. She cautiously followed the figure into the darkness of the alleyway. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice laced with a mix of fear and boldness. "Are you the one watching me this morning?”

The figure remained silent, causing Chandria to feel a cold sweat break out on her forehead. She rummaged in her bag, her fingers closing around the handle of her camera. She pulled it out, her hands shaking, and aimed it at the figure.

Suddenly, the figure turned around, and Chandria caught a glimpse of his eyes. They were a bright, golden color that made her heart skip a beat. The figure was a man, and he was fast. He darted away, and Chandria began running after him, clicking her camera like a madwoman.

"Come back!" she shouted, but the figure disappeared into the shadows.

She raced back to her apartment, panting and her mind filled with questions. Was he the man who had been watching her at the coffee shop? What did he want from her? Could he be dangerous?

As she checked her camera, she realized she had forgotten to remove the lens cap. "Great, just great," she muttered, feeling like a total amateur.

She collapsed onto her bed, her heart still pounding, and tried to calm herself down. But as she closed her eyes, the image of his piercing golden eyes lingered in her mind, making her feel even more unsettled than before. "Note to self: take the lens cap off next time," she grumbled.

***

Standing on the rooftop of a nearby building, he watched her window below with a gaze so intense it seemed to pierce through the darkness. He scanned the streets with an air of authority, as if he were on a mission that only he knew about. His heart raced with a sense of urgency, not just to protect her, but for a reason unknown to anyone but himself.

As he observed her from afar, a flicker of a smile crossed his lips. "How could she be so fearless even in this lifetime?" he wondered as he recalled their amusing encounter - how she had chased after him with determination in her eyes. It was the first time that he had been chased, and by a mere human no less. He was fascinated by her sharp instincts, and he couldn't help but wonder what other surprises she held.

He knew that her camera was a poor weapon against his kind or the men who didn't deserve her. But he admired her bravery, her tenacity, and the way she seemed to light up the dark corners of the world with her presence.

Suddenly, he sensed a presence behind him, the wind picked up and howled around them. His instincts kicked in, and he spun around with the force of the wind, grabbing the intruder and taking him down in one swift move. Pressing his knee into the man's back, he growled, "Why are you here?" his voice laced with a menacing undertone.

"They want you back--"

"Did you watch her this morning?" His words were sharp, and his energy was dangerous.

"No, I swear--"

Releasing the man, he remained on high alert. He knew that someone else had been watching her, someone who could be a friend or foe. "I'll return to the village in a few days," he stated firmly, his eyes flashing gold in the moonlight.

"But you need to come back now--"

"I'll return when I want to," he commanded, silencing any further protests.

As the man retreated, he stood tall, his muscles coiled and ready for anything. He was a werewolf, and the secrets he kept were as dark as the night that surrounded him.