by J. B. Garcia
Rain is pouring down from the sky and every drop that hits me beats me further into fear. My inner wolf is stronger than ever and it’s becoming hard and hard to ignore her. Travis stays by side as we all stand on the dock staring out towards the island. No one wants to get in the boat. Asclepius is the first to step in. “Come on we have to get over there soon.” The lake is so choppy that it almost throws her out of the boat. My father is the next to jump in, then my mom and Travis. They all hold on to the edge of the boat trying to steady it. Travis extends his hand to me and I am frozen in fear. You are nothing without me. You fear your own destiny. I hear my wolf taunting me and it snaps me out my trance. I reach to Travis and grab his hand. He pulls me onto the boat and it rocks back and forth. This boat was not meant for five people and trying to row it across this lake is going to be a challenge. The freezing gust pushes us all to the side and we try to sit down without flipping the little boat. Travis and my dad both grab an orre and dip them into the water. My mom unties the rope holding the dock and I feel like the last shred of my old life has just been severed. Panic rushes through me and the only thing I want right now is to get off this boat and run as far away as I can. Asclepius wraps her arms around me and tries to calm me, “I can take away the fear if you want me too.” She practically has to shout just to get her voice over the wind. I look at her and shake my head no. This is the not the time to not feel fear. The moment that I don’t feel the fear is the moment that I lose, stay alert stay alive. I repeat in this over and over in my head trying to keep myself held together. With every pull of the orres the boat inches closer to the island and my inner wolfs voice is getting louder and louder. Its my time! Time to give yourself over to me! I will make you stronger than you could ever imagine.” I cover my ears trying to ignore her words but they just keep getting louder.
The wind is ripping across the lake pushing the small boat back with every gust. My father and Travis have been pulling for over 30 minutes and we still are only half way. The sun has completed set and darkness has enveloped everything, The only light is the striking of green and pink lightning. I look out towards the island as white lightning cracks across the sky revealing the dark woods and sandy shore. I look up to the sky and let the showers of rain fall on my face. I feel a hand on my shoulder and look to see my mother trying to bring me back into reality. Steam is pouring off her as the rain beats against her body. “Mom...are you ok?” I try to shout over the wind and she tries to answer, “Yes honey! I am trying to summon fire through the rain so we can see.” FInally the boat crashes against the sand and both Travis and my father try to catch their breath. One by one we jump out of the boat and into the shallows of the lake. The has rain has drenched us completely. We all jump out of the boat and the water is all the way up to our knees. We all grip onto the edge of the boat begin to pull it out of the lake and up onto the shore. The freezing water from the lake and the freezing rain falling from the sky chills me to the bone. I feel as if my bones are creaking with every step. Travis rushes to me and wraps his arms around me. His warmth envelopes me and me pulls me into the woods. I turn to see my mother, father and Asclepius jogging after us. Once in the woods, the rain seems to lessen as it fights to get through the tree tops. Finally the wind isn’t beating against and we can hear each other talk. The first to speak is my mom, “So where are we supposed to go?” Travis releases me and points towards where the group of redwoods that conceal the flat stone. We all jog over and as soon as I get close to the grouping of trees the ground begins to shake. We all stop and hold on to each other. The ground rumbles and the leaves begin to fall all around us. The trees are shaking and as the lightning cracks again I look to see the roots of the trees are ripping up from the earth. I can’t believe what I am seeing. The trees begin to pull themselves from the ground. Once they are above ground the roots wriggle and the trees pull away from each other. Everyone stands still as we watch these trees move away from the flat stone and form a perfect circle. It leaves a clearing about 50 feet all the way around the stone. One by one the redwoods drop back down to the ground and the roots dig into the earth. The middle of every tree begins to bend and the huge tops of the trees create a canopy over us leaving a circle in the middle directly above the flat stone. The rain has stopped falling on us accept for the hole above the stone. Rain pours onto the stone and there is nothing I can do to get my body to move. Travis finally grabs my shoulder, “Are you ready? Its time.” Nausea begins to crawl up into my throat and I try to swallow it away. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and leads me to the flat stone. The closer I get to the stone, I can see the engravings around the stone begins to illuminated in a bright red. The markings of the rulers who have come before me.
I look back to everyone behind me and my mother holds out both her hands conjuring fire in her palms. The small amount of light that it produces gives me some comfort. At least we can see our surroundings. I look back to the flat stone and the rain is still pouring down on it. Travis leans over the stone and looks up into the small circle clearing. He looks back down to me and grabs my hand. “It’s time Niki you need to lie on the stone. Remember when the red glows comes down every part of your body needs to be covered. Once it starts, we cannot help you.” Hearing that makes my heart quicken. I slowly walk over to the stone. I touch it with my hand and its warm. I begin to hear whispers though I cannot understand what they are saying, I can tell that its not my inner wolf. It must be coming from the stone. I turn and to see my mother and father standing close to me. THey both rush to me wrapping their arms around me and give me a tight hug and kiss me on either cheek. They release me and i sit down on the stone. My body begins to warm slightly and i swing my legs over onto the stone and lay down flat on my back. THe rain is beating down on me and i shield my eyes trying to look into the sky. There it is.... the Blood Moon. It has covered half of the small circle clearing and every second it inches closer to filling it completely. I look to the side to see Travis, mom, dad and Asclepius standing close by. Having them with me gives me some comfort but fear has enveloped me and the anticipation is killing me slowly. I look back to the sky and the moon has almost completely covered the small opening. The rain abruptly stops and everything is silent. No wind, no birds...nothing. My breathing quickens as I watch the moon move, covering the clearing completely. A crimson glow begins to illuminated from the moon and drifts slowly down from the sky. It creeps through the clearing and it is only a few feet from from my body. My blood begins to boil, it stops inches from my face. I can smell a metallic tinge to the crimson mist and tears begin to stream from my eyes. I am so scared and there is nothing I can do but wait. The mist floats above me and I hear my mom talking to Travis, “WHat is going on why is it just hovering?” I can’t move any part of my body and then i hear Travis respond, “It’s looking into her soul. There is a mark on the soul that it ment to determine royal blood from everyone else. If she were not royal the blood moon would turn on her.” RIght after his words stop the mist pushes aggressively down onto my body. Pain ripes through my body and it feels as if a thousand knives are ripping into my flesh. I scream out in pain and try to lie still but it is becoming increasing difficult. Images of my life flash through before my eyes. Everything that has ever happened to me is running through my mind. My skin is burning and my bones contort. I can hear my mother screams and I fight to turn my head towards them. Its as is my bones has been fused together and the force I have to apply just to get my head to turn emits the worst pain that I have ever felt. Tears are streaming down my face and finally my head moves to see my family. My dad has his arms wrapped around my mom as she fights him trying to get to me. “Something is wrong! Why is she is in pain?! We have to stop this its killing her!” I feel warm liquid run from the nose and down the side of my cheek. Travis is trying to help my father contain my mother but her anger and fear is making her body steam and small sparks begin to fly from every part of her body. Travis shouts at her, “If you stop it now, you will kill her for s
ure!” Every slows down. It seems as if everyone is moving in slow motion. I watch as my mom falls to her knees reaching out for me screaming out into the darkness. Her entire body bursts into flames and I see my father try to console her but Travis is now trying to hold him back. Asclepius is staring at me without blinking. Travis falls to the ground releasing my father and begin to contort on the ground. My heart best begins to slow and everything start to fade into blackness. The last thing I see before I pass out completely is TRavis change completed into a midnight black wolf. He raises his head and a deafening howl rips through the screams from my mother. THe pain that was crippling me slowly subsides. I look up and the crimson light begins to release me and i fade I submit to the darkness.
“Awaken Queen.” I hear a soft familiar voice and my eyes flutter up. I look up to see Renee leaning over me. I sit up to see a group of people dressed in the most elegant clothes I have ever seen. I seems like each one has been plucked from a different time period. Each one has a grown glittering on there heads. I sit up and try to get to my feet. Renee grabs my arm and pulls me to my feet. “Welcome Queen Niki.” All at once each male bows and every woman curties. I look to Renee, “Am i dead?” She laughs and everyone else joins in. “No darling you body is trying to accept everything that the Blood Moon has gifted to you. You are unconscious.” I look around and then down to my feet. There is a pair of glittering silver heels on my feet and a floor length silver dress covers my body. I run my hands over the dress and feel and the diamonds and are sewn onto it. My hair is now past my breast and silky to the touch and perfectly curled. I reach up to my head and feel a metal object on my head. I grip it and remove it placing it in front of me. It is the most glorious crown that I have ever seen. It sparkles like nothing I have ever seen. Even more than Renees. Its the purest silver with diamonds and rubies.“Renee what happened?” She walks over to the strangers that have circled me. “You have been awakened Queen. You are now a royal. Everyone that has come before you is here to welcome you. Shortly you will be taken back and you will have to face Khan. We will be watching over you, be brave Queen.” Before I can respond they all seem to be drifting away from me into darkness and I am ripped back into the forest. I flutter my eyes open and see the small opening where the moon was. The storm has dissipated and there is nothing but bright stars twinkling in the midnight sky. Slowly the trees bend back to their erect stance and the sky opens completely. If I wasn't so terrified I would enjoy the view that is before me. I slowly move my arms and regain feeling in the rest of my body. My hearing returns and I sit up. I hear the cries of my mother and father. I look to the where they were before I passed out and see them hugging each other tightly on the ground. “Mom…” She whips her head up and when she see’s she tears of joy fall from her eyes. “Oh my god Niki, Are you alright?” She rushes to me and then stops in her tracks. “Honey you look...amazing.” I look down and realize that I am still wearing the diamond dress. I feel the top of my head and feel the crown is still sitting on my head. My mom walks towards me and I can’t help by cry. SHe runs her hands through my hair and wraps her arms around me. She pulls me back and i See Travis laying in a motionless lump on the ground. I rush over to him and fall to the ground. He is not moving and I look to Asclepius, “Come here now!” She rushes to me and places her hands on top of his body. She looks to me and smiles, “He is fine. He shifted during the awakening and you dad had to put him down. “Now that you're stronger than Khan you control the race and he shifted back. He can control it now!” He begins to stir on the ground and rolls to his back letting out a grown. He opens his eyes looking straight up to the sky. He sees that the trees have opened back up and he sits up, “Niki!” I put my hand on his chest and he realises that I am sitting right next to him. He looks to me and I have never seen a man look at me the way he did. “Niki, you look...amazing.” I begin to blush and look towards the ground.
“Well isnt this just a picture perfect family.” There is a deep booming english voice coming from the darkness that surrounds us. We both get to our feet quickly and look around searching for Khan. We all group together and then from the deeps of the darkest part of the forest Ares, Aaren and the two men I saw from earlier in the day step into the clearing. My mother rolls her hands over and ignites flames in her palms giving us some light. I look up to the sky and the moon is finally uncovered by the clouds and it’s bright white light illuminates the clearing. I can clearly see the two men that I dont know. There is one man that is dressed in tight fitting black pants and long sleeved shirt with a red silk robe that drags across the floor. The wind blows back his robe and I see a dagger tucked in his belt. He walks slowly to me and I stand erect, this must be Khan. The last thing that I want is for him to know that that I fear him. “Well Well Well.” he bows sarcastically, “Royalty suits you well Queen.” I nod my head back at him. “We have been expecting you King Khan.” He throws his head back laughing. “Oh my Queen I am sure that you have. I am sorry to say that your royalty will be short lived so enjoy it while it lasts.” I look to my side and see my family standing strong beside me. My mother has flames illuminated in her palms ready to strike. I look back to Khan, “King Khan step down from your throne and I will spare your life.” He smug grin fades and he takes a few aggressive steps towards me. “How dare you speak to me that way.” I feel my palms burning and without hesitation I raise my hands and a white pulse of energy pushes from my palms. Khan is knocked back a few steps and his subjects who stand behind him fly back and hit the trees crashing into the ground with a loud thud. As they slowly get to their feet Khan holds his glare on me. “Well Queen you have gained some new talents.” I had no idea that I could do that. Its like my body knew what to do before my mind. I have no idea the level of power that I have and this must be a small sample of it. For Khan to only move back a few steps but everyone else fly through the air must prove how strong he is. Travis takes a step forward and stands close to me. Khans glare ripes towards him. “This must be your mate. He is very protective of you, I can smell anger radiating off of him.” Travis tries to take a step forward but I raise my hand motioning for him to stay where he is. “Khan this is your last chance to step down. I know what you're planning to do and I cannot let that happen.” He crosses his arms and looks around. “Is that so Queen and what is it that I am going to do?” I let my arms hang delicately in front of my body with my hands gently placed one atop the other. “After you murder myself and everyone I love, you plan on destroying the entire human race and I cannot let that happen.” He walks towards me circling me with anger. I never let my back face him and I turn with him. “You think you’re smart Queen. I am sure that Renee told you everything. She never understood my vision.” He stops in front of Asclepius. “Well once this is over, you will die with them traitor.” She takes a step away from him and moves towards my mother standing behind her. He turns his gaze to my mom and his face loses some color. “You have a Pyros for a mother. You are very lucky to have hidden her for all these years. I should have killed you along with the rest of your race.” Her body begins to steam with anger and flames illuminate from her shoulders. He backs away from her and walks back to his group. “Queen, you already know Ares my General.” He points to the second man he is with, “This is Troy he is...how do I explain it…” Asclepius interrupts, “Your assassin!” He points to her, “Thank you girl! That was the word I was looking for.” Anger is building inside of me and it takes everything that I have just to keep me standing where I am. I want nothing more than to run to him and kill him where he stands. I have never felt this type of anger or confidence before and I have to say that I am enjoying my new power. He walks to Aaren, “And lastly this is Aaren, my transporter.” I cut him off, “Khan cut the pleasantries let's get down to business.” He turns to me and smile sadistically “As you wish my Queen. Where is Denise?” He looks around our group and realizes that she is no where to be found. “She is dead Khan.” My words are broken as the wound is still fresh in my mind,
He puts his hand over his mouth to stop his laugh from escaping. “Well I am glad you did it for me, one less thing for me to do.” Travis is starting to lose control of his anger and his body heat is rising next to me. I grab his hand and I can feel his heart beat in his palms.
“Well Queen, If you want me to step down you must take it by force, but since you have taken a mate, your mate must take my place.” He looks to Travis and runs his hand through his dark hair. I bring the attention back to myself, “Yes Khan we are aware of the rules. Is there somewhere more formal that this should be happening or just out here in the darkness.” He looks arounds, “I think that this is good enough Queen. That way the animals can pick at your bones once you’re dead.” I nod my head and move to the side. Travis is fully ready for this battle and I can hear him growling deeply in his throat.
Khan stands at one end of the circle of trees with his subjects behind him. We stand on the adjacent end of him with my family behind Travis and I. “Stand aside Queen, this is between me and your mate.” I look to Travis and pull him into me kissing him passionately on the lips and he wraps his arms around me and deepens it. I can hear Khans disgust and it only makes me want the kiss to last longer. Travis pulls himself away from me and gives me a playful wink. He turns to Khan and pushes me behind him. Khan removes his robe and throws it on Ares. Khan looks at us in disgust and takes a step forward. Travis does the same until they meet in the middle of the woods.
