Moonlight and Magick

by Isobael Liu

  Lilian found herself blushing, yet again.

  “Thank you. Now, let me go.”

  He chuckled before changing the subject. “What’s your name?”

  The distinct sounds of fighting emanated behind her, but a quick glance over her shoulder revealed nothing. Deciding they must have dragged the fight into the alley, she turned to look back up at the man.

  “Lilian Quinn. Who’re you?”

  He grinned at her. “Matthias.”

  She heard a loud snarling sound from the alley, but when she turned to look, Matthias used his hold on her and kept her from looking. Was he trying to distract her from seeing something?

  “Why are they harassing you?”

  Lilian looked back at him, frowning. “Why do you want to know?”

  He lifted a brow at her. “I asked first.”

  She studied his face. Every logical fiber told her not to trust him. Still, he and his friends did come to help her when she needed it.

  “I can’t tell you. I don’t even know who you are. Please let me go.”

  Matthias released her and she took a step back from him.

  “Thank you.” She rubbed her arm.

  “You know why those men are after you, don’t you?”

  She sighed. The man is infuriatingly persistent.

  “Yes, but I’m not going to tell you why.”

  She could feel him studying her, but those sunglasses hid his eyes. What color were they? Lilian tilted her head slightly as she studied his face.

  “Why are you staring at me?” Amusement colored his tone.

  “You were staring first,” she said.

  “Was I?”

  “What color are your eyes?”

  A faint sense of satisfaction came over her when she saw his brows lift over the rim of his shades.

  He was spared from answering by the return of his friends. The men joked a bit back and forth, teasing one another about their lack of practice, but the words didn’t sink in. Instead, her attention was drawn to the crimson color. A couple of them had bloody noses and others had scraped knuckles. Even from where she stood, in the darkened parking lot of the diner, the blood stood out like a bright beacon. Time seemed to slow, and then stop as she stared at them.

  Long buried memories crashed down on her and she couldn’t help but relive the night her stepfather had murdered her mother. All she could see was the crimson splatter left in the wake of his brutality.

  Lilian backed away from the approaching group, but ran into Matthias. Feeling weak and lightheaded, she turned to face him.

  Her knees threatened to buckle and she stiffened her muscles. She had to get out of there, away from the blood and the reminders of her past.

  Matthias reached for her, but she jerked back from him. He frowned, but before he could speak, Lilian turned and bolted for the entrance of the diner.

  * * * *

  It had taken a couple more hours before she braved leaving the diner to head home. She’d gotten a ride with a customer who lived near her home. As they left the diner, she glanced around for signs of the suited men or of Matthias and his gang, but neither were to be seen. Overly cautious, Lilian knew, but she had to remain vigilant.

  Once home, she checked and locked the doors and windows before taking a hot shower to soothe her frazzled nerves. She took her time, washing off the taint of fear and loathing from her skin. By the end she relaxed, her mind clearer.

  Twenty minutes later, she was enjoying a cup of chamomile tea when her phone rang, shattering the peaceful silence.

  “Hello?”

  “My pretty Lilian. I’ve missed you.”

  Lilian’s heart jolted and then pounded back to life as pain coursed through her chest.

  Stephan.

  She didn’t believe in coincidences, just as she didn’t believe Stephan’s call had nothing to do with the presence of the suited men in Hawk’s Point.

  “Miss me?” he asked.

  Goosebumps rose along her skin and the hair on the back of her neck tingled with chilling fright. Lilian said nothing in reply. She couldn’t. There wasn’t enough air in her lungs to say anything.

  “Do you remember the last time we were together, my darling? Do you remember how much I hurt you? Do you remember the blood?”

  Lilian slammed the phone down. Her stomach heaved and threatened to empty its contents as she struggled to breathe, to keep from panicking.

  Memories flooded into her mind’s eye, reliving every moment in supersonic speed. Stephan’s smile, cold and unfeeling, superimposed over the memories, the physical abuse, the hospital visits, the blood stained towels. He’d been so kind in the beginning, but slowly changed. He’d begun to abuse her, mentally, verbally, and at the end, physically. She had planned to run away and leave him. Once he discovered her plans, he took away all her money and the ID she had, and threatened to turn her over to the police for murder.

  The final straw had been when she found the printed email giving him directions of how to hold her for the agents to pick her up. It had been a shock to her and the idea of returning terrified her. In the many times her mind accidentally brushed against his, never once did she pick up the thought of him knowing the truth about her. Lilian didn’t know how he’d found out about her past, or if perhaps he’d been a trap set by them all this time, but after two years with Stephan, she left that night.

  She went through her house one more time before she retired for the night. She was tempted to pack a bag and head into town, just in case, but her own home was her haven, for the moment, and so she stayed. When she lay down in bed, curled up beneath the covers, Lilian knew sleep would be fleeting, if it came at all.

  * * * *

  She could hear the hounds baying in the background. Looking around, she saw no trail, no landmarks she recognized, but knew she had to run. Lilian had already been running, her heart beating hard in her chest, and was out of breath. Still, she knew if the hounds caught up with her, they would tear her apart.

  She crisscrossed the ground quickly, her feet barely touching the soil, leaping over fallen logs and ducking low branches in order to escape the death at the jaws of the hounds and spear of the hunt master.

  How did she know this?

  Even with her speed and agility, Lilian knew the hounds were gaining on her. It was only a matter of time before they caught her, and when they did, they'd tear her apart. She stopped and looked around, for a way out, a place to hide; anyplace she could wait out the hunt. There was nothing, only the dark forest which stretched out before her in every direction.

  Suddenly, there was a flash of white in her peripheral, a glowing white, almost ghostly. She turned her head and saw a white stag. It stood tall, the top of her head reaching its shoulders, and had a proud head, heavy with antlers as wide as the beast long. As she watched, it pawed the ground and waved its great head at her.

  “There is not much time, my child. Come with me.”

  She was surprised when the stag spoke to her, not aloud but in her mind. Even though she hadn’t heard its words, there was an urgency and she nodded.

  It turned and ran, Lilian following behind it. As she did so, she heard the baying of the hounds and the enraged bellow of the thwarted huntsman.

  Lilian jolted awake, heart pounding.

  Chapter 2

  Lilian slept little. Going through the motions of starting her morning, she was anxious and jittery. After the umpteenth time of reminding herself to breathe and calm down, she plopped herself onto the floor and sat cross-legged. She cupped her hands together and brought them to chest level, as though holding a book. Looking into her palms, she mentally focused on the issues at hand.

  The Custodes Secreti agents were a problem.

  She’d have to go away again. If they found her here, they wouldn’t leave her alone until she disappeared or joined them.

  Ever since her first experience with them, Lilian had managed to keep her abilities reined in and under strict control. She didn’t
want to alert anyone sensitive enough to pick up on psychic vibrations, nor did she want to alert CS agents of her whereabouts. Her gift to sense when someone nearby used their abilities was another reason why CS wanted her on their side.

  What about Stephan? His re-entry into her life was definitely under the heading of “not a good thing”. She was certain the sudden appearance of the CS agents and Stephan was no coincidence. How did he get her phone number, anyway? However much as she hated speaking to the local law enforcement, she knew she’d better do it soon, before things escalated.

  Lilian stood and stretched; her mind more organized than earlier. She still had to address the nightmare and what it meant, but she’d need the library.

  * * * *

  Armed with notebook, pencil, and a stack of books on dreams, Lilian tackled the project like a defensive lineman on a quarterback.

  Her first entry was the white stag. She looked it up and found the stag symbolized male sexuality, virility, grace, agility, regeneration, and growth. She scribbled the info into her notebook.

  The next entry was forest. She went over the notes and tried to put them into perspective. It could mean she wanted to escape to a simpler life, which made sense considering the agents and Stephan were after her.

  Again .

  However, when she looked up the entry for woods, Lilian found it signified a return to an aspect of oneself which was innocent and spiritual. Hounds, in dreams, indicated something or someone may be “hounding” her and being unable to run away from it until the issue or person is confronted.

  Hmm. This most assuredly fit s my life right now.

  To hear howling referred to loneliness or solitude. Ahh. Now that was interesting.

  Lilian sighed and sat back in her chair. So, what did it mean? What was it supposed to mean?

  * * * *

  Matthias was waiting for her at the diner when Lilian arrived for her shift. Anticipation fluttered through her at the sight of him, but she nixed it. She wasn’t here to date, nor was she looking for any attachments.

  He met her at the entrance, still wearing his sunglasses and dressed in black jeans and a t-shirt.

  She saw his lips tighten as she chose to ignore him, walking past him to the door of the diner. He reached out and touched her arm.

  “Lilian,” he said, “what’s wrong?”

  Well, gee, where to start? “I’m going to be late for work.”

  “We need to talk about what happened last night.”

  “Look, thank you for helping me out—” she started.

  “But?” he interrupted.

  “But I like my life the way it is, peaceful and without…” She tried to find the right words.

  He drew back a bit. She didn’t need to see his eyes to detect the surprise that came over his face. Lilian turned and reached for the door, but he grabbed her hand and turned her around to face him.

  “Those men, what do you know about them?”

  The blood rushed from her face and her heart stuttered. “Why?”

  “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re going to answer my question.”

  She tensed and narrowed her eyes on him. “I don’t have to answer any question you ask me, Matthias. Now, either release me, or I’ll start screaming. You can deal with the police.”

  A black eyebrow quirked up over the rim of his sunglasses at her outburst and his lips tilted in a smile. She couldn’t help but glance at his lips, just like she couldn’t help the little tingle of awareness which shot through her when she did.

  “I don’t know why that amused you.” Lilian tried to pull her arm from his grip. “Let go of me!”

  “Answer my question.”

  She pressed her lips together and fell still, glaring up at him. She could see in the reflection of his sunglasses how her eyes darkened to stormy gray. As her anger grew, she watched her eyes darken even more, until they were almost black. She closed her eyes, and dragged ragged breaths in to try and calm herself.

  Must not lose control.

  “You have to let me go,” she whispered. “Please.”

  His grip loosened and she backed away until she hit the diner’s wall. She leaned back, laying her hands flat against the wall so her palms were pressed against the bricks. She concentrated on the tactile sensations, of the rough edged clay blocks, the coarse mortar which held them together, the overall warmth from the sun’s rays.

  When Lilian opened her eyes once more, she was much calmer. Matthias stood nearby. He must have watched her the whole time because she could read the suspicion on his face.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Yeah.” A weak smile followed her reply.

  “You don’t look it.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You aren’t human.” He studied her eyes.

  “I am too!” She stood up from the wall.

  Before she could try to get to the door, Matthias used his body to pen her, crowding her until she was pressed back against the wall once more. While he didn’t pin her to the wall, Lilian couldn’t escape either.

  “You’re not human,” he reiterated.

  “Don’t be an idiot. What else would I be?” She cringed at the sound of her breathless voice.

  “Those two men are after you for a reason. You’re something more than human.”

  He really is rather handsome, in a nosy, pain in the ass sort of way. She couldn’t stop herself from watching his lips move as he talked.

  “Stop that,” he growled under his breath.

  Lilian jerked her eyes up from his lips to his concealed eyes. “What?”

  “You’re staring at my mouth.”

  She was aware of the sudden warmth in her face and knew she was blushing.

  “If you wanted to kiss me, all you had to do was say so.”

  Lilian pushed at him. “You’re a jerk. Move.”

  He leaned his head down toward hers but she jerked back, only to crack her head against the wall.

  “Ow!”

  Matthias pulled back from her to stand upright and reached for her head, his fingers delving through her hair to feel the back of her head. His touch was incredibly gentle, and, damn it, she liked it.

  “Want me to kiss it and make it better?” he asked.

  “Stop it. I’m going to be late for work and you’re not helping.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll pick you up after your shift.”

  “No need.”

  “You think those men are finished with you?”

  “Did your gang kill them?” she asked.

  “No.”

  Not that it mattered. The organization would send others.

  Matthias must have read something in her face because his fingers tightened in her hair, holding her in place.

  “You know more than you’re letting on.”

  Damn, damn, damn!

  “Lilian, you have to let me help you. Those men weren’t just human. How do you fit in with it all?”

  Lilian sighed. “This isn’t the place to talk about it—”

  Matthias suddenly kissed her. Her eyes widened and her breath caught in a soft gasp. His hands tilted her head a bit. His lips moved over hers and her eyes fluttered closed as she gave in to the gentle demand. Her hands moved up of their own accord, her fingers slid through his hair to his ponytail, pulling it free from the binding. One hand remained holding him by the hair, the other came up and pulled his sunglasses up and off. He growled then, and used his body to pin her to the wall. Fire exploded in her veins and she moaned as he deepened the kiss, his tongue delving into her mouth to caress her tongue.

  Matthias tasted wild, reminding her of pine forests and the earth. Lilian loved the taste of his mouth, his kisses. She squirmed against him, and he pulled her closer so that his arousal pressed against her.

  This time, when he growled, she not only heard it, but it reverberated through her. In her mind, she heard the howl of a wolf.

  “Hey, get a room, will ya?”

  Ice water co
uldn’t have been more effective than hearing the amused tone in Maria’s voice.

  Lilian jerked her mouth from Matthias’s, her eyes flying up to his. Gold! His eyes were a molten gold color, heated with passion and possessiveness.

  “Lily, come on! You’re gonna be late!”

  Lilian released his hair, and tried to push him back, but he was an unmovable force.

  “Please,” she whimpered.

  He laid his face against the crook of her neck and with a languid inhalation, dragged in a breath through his nose. He exhaled and stepped back.

  “I’ll be waiting for you after your shift.” He gave her a pointed look.

  Lilian nodded and rushed toward the diner door where Maria waited.

  * * * *

  Lilian wasn’t sure if her shift took forever to end, or went by way too quickly. Either way, she was very aware of Matthias’s presence—watching her. He took a seat in the outside dining area and positioned himself so he could watch her, as well as their surroundings.

  When her shift did end, she wanted to crawl into a dark corner and breathe. The butterflies in her stomach didn’t just flutter; they staged an all-out air raid. So much so, breathing became difficult, made even harder whenever he looked at her. Even with his sunglasses on, she knew when his eyes fell on her. It made her edgy and nervous. Her tray would shake, the ice in the pitchers rattled, and he’d smile.

  Those were the times she imagined his reaction if she dumped the ice water over his head. The image made her smile and put her back on track.

  But, all good things must come to an end, she told herself.

  Wait, this wasn’t good. Matthias was waiting for her.

  She sighed and clocked out. Maria, still in the kitchen, grinned whenever she looked at her, but said nothing. Of course, Maria didn’t have to say anything. Her expression said plenty. Lilian blushed and looked away.

  Matthias met her at the back door to the diner, and she tried to ignore the way her breath caught in a soft gasp at seeing him there, but wasn’t very successful.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  Lilian nodded and looked around the little lot. After the previous evening, she was a bit leery of the agents returning.