MoonFall: A Paranormal Werewolf and Urban Fantasy of Suspense (Supernatural Siblings Series Book 2)

by Drew VanDyke

  Just then, I felt an overwhelming urge to sneeze. I stifled it, and Mom laid a diaphanous hand on my shoulder. The feeling subsided.

  Sierra lifted her head, defiant, to stare at Shelby. I guessed that meant he was the one who’d decide her fate. “I only tried to do what should have been done at the outset. That bitch,” she pointed her whole arm at me without looking my way, “isn’t lycanthrope. She’s lupine, unnatural. For thousands of years we’ve been the keepers of the wolves. Our blood and our uniqueness are passed by birth or bite, while hers comes from some freakish accident of the hidden realms. Bringing her into our pack won’t cleanse her; it will corrupt us!”

  Shelby lifted an eyebrow, and there was nothing of the vaudevillian or the entertainer in his demeanor. “This is not about the lupine. She is ours to decide her fate. This is about your disobedience to your alpha and your repeated disregard for pack law. Were this only one instance, you would be forgiven, but this is the third time you have inconvenienced one of us. Master Fontaine sent your pack here from his Montana demesne to assist me with mine, but also in hopes your troublesomeness could be curbed by a change of scenery and some hard work. Evidently this was a vain hope.”

  “Wait. What the hell does that mean, she is ours to decide her fate? I’m not nobody’s to decide anything. Anybody’s, I mean,” I said.

  “Be silent,” Shelby snapped, raising a hand. “You will be dealt with anon.”

  Anon, huh? I felt some kind of inhibition fall on me then, but my mother’s steady hand seemed to dispel the charm. “Thanks, Mom,” I mouthed silently, and she squeezed my shoulder. I decided to deal with this Master Shelby later – anon? – after Sierra’s trial was decided, but I’d have to be careful. He obviously had power of some kind.

  Shelby went on, “Therefore, for the safety of you as an individual and your pack as a whole, we banish you from the Knightsbridge Canyon territories. If you are wise, you will hurry back to Master Fontaine and beg his forgiveness.” The circle parted as he stepped off the dais, allowing him to mark Sierra’s brow with a transparent substance that blazed briefly on her forehead, and then faded to a dull glow.

  I don’t know how I knew it, but somehow I realized that the symbol would be like a beacon to every supernatural creature that saw it, a Scarlet Letter, a Mark of Cain.

  Shelby spoke. “With this spell of abjuration, I brand you. Your life is forfeit in the territory known as Knightsbridge Canyon. You have one hour to get beyond the markings.”

  “How do I get beyond the markings when it’s on my head?”

  I had to admit, she had a point.

  “When you pass the border stones, the glow above your eyes will fade and you will know that you’ve departed my demesnes.”

  Turning away from Master Shelby – apparently even she wasn’t ready to piss him off further – she stared at her pack. “You all suck, you know that? You’re fawning over the new bitch in town while turning your back on your own. And what about my stuff at the lodge?”

  “Are you friggin’ kidding me?” I said, appalled at her narcissism and lack of remorse at hurting Will. Me, sure, whatever, but Will wasn’t supposed to be a part of all this, though I shared the blame. I should have kept him away from the construction site.

  Jackson held out a hiker’s fanny pack. “Put your personal things in this. We’ll box up the rest and have it shipped.”

  “And chances are, I’ll be waiting when you get there,” added Sully. “I’ll be carrying the report. If you ever want to be part of us again, you’ll shut up and go, before you say something that can’t be forgiven.”

  At least they weren’t casting her out of their lives forever. They were just making her run home. Or hitchhike, whatever.

  “She got off easy, don’t you think?” Mom whispered to me.

  “Maybe so.” I muttered. “But if she’s anything like me, she’ll be stewing over the situation all the way back to Montana. Serves her right.”

  “You know sometimes dear, your compassion for others amazes me.” I wasn’t sure if she was being sarcastic or not. She kissed my cheek as she faded away.

  I fought back sudden tears at her departure as Sully stepped through my vanishing mother and moved in front of me, placing his hands on my shoulders.

  Looking up at him, I saw resignation in his face. “My daughter may have her issues, but she has a good heart,” Sully said. He dropped his hands and went over to Sierra.

  “Wait. Daughter? What?”

  “I was wondering when that was gonna come out,” Jackson deadpanned. “Reality bites when your intended mate turns into your stepdad.”

  Yikes, no wonder she’s messed up. I said, “Sounds like one of those bad step-family erotica ebooks. Sorry to be so much trouble.”

  “Not your fault. She has to realize she can’t avoid consequences forever.”

  “She’s a pain in the butt, but I’m glad you left the door open for her,” I said with a sudden attack of sympathy.

  “That’s better than she deserves from you.”

  I shrugged. “Has she ever killed anyone?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Then I’m still worse than she is.”

  Jackson’s eyes widened. “I’d like to hear that story sometime, if you’re up to telling it.”

  “Maybe. Not now.”

  He gave me a hug and walked away.

  I was left to hug myself, until a voice behind me made me bristle.

  “Nice to see you again, Miss Scott.” It was Master Shelby, of course, turning on the charm.

  I rounded on him, jabbing my broken-nailed pointer finger into his face. “You need to leave me alone, you retro fruitcake. You may think you’re the big cheese around here, but you ain’t the boss of me. And stay away from Peg! Whatever your game is…”

  Shelby smiled, seeming not in the least discomfited by my outburst. He backed away, bowed, and with a nod at Jackson left the room by the door he’d entered.

  “Ashlee, what’s wrong?” Jackson placed his hands on my shoulders like Sully had done just moments before.

  “That vampire is dating Will’s mother.”

  “Oh, you figured it out?”

  “Figured what out?”

  “That Shelby’s a vampire.”

  “No, I meant…Wait. What? I meant it as a figure of speech. He’s really a vampire?” I put two and three together, coming up with five. “The paleness. He really is sucking the life out of Peg! And, oh my God, Will too!”

  “And that’s a problem?” Jackson bent down and peered into my eyes, which were trying not to look into his.

  “With Will, of course it’s a problem. He’s mine, and he’s injured, and doesn’t a vampire taking blood from people turn them into his slaves or something?”

  “No, that’s only if the blood exchange goes the other way.”

  “Then it had better not.” I could hardly believe I was calmly discussing real actual no-shit yes-I-believe-in-them vampires. I guess once you take the first drink at the supernatural bar, the next few go down more easily.

  “Also, don’t vampires sleep during the day?”

  “More often than not, but they can stay up late just like anyone, if they need to.”

  “And as for Peg,” I went on, “it’s a problem because she doesn’t know who he really is.” I was getting into full-on righteous indignation mode now.

  “Being a vampire – or any kind of supernatural – isn’t something you tell someone right away.”

  “Well, it should be.” I then had to eat my words.

  “You haven’t told Will yet. How’s that any different?”

  Ooh, and he was right. Cornered – just like I always felt with Adam and my Dad. I tell you, they used to run circles around me when we were having family debates. Always left me feeling like my logic was irrational and my critical thinking skills were at the mercy of my emotions. And maybe they were. But I was trying, dammit!

  As for Amber, she mostly decided not to play, even though
she seemed better at it than I was, but I wanted more from my family than conversations that could fill a greeting card. I wanted intimacy. As in, into-me-you-see. Get it? Sigh.

  I called Will’s cell phone, which went to voicemail. Oh well. I knew where he could be found. Then I dialed Peg, who picked up on the second ring. “Hi Peg. Will still doing okay?”

  “Samantha’s keeping him one more day at the hospital to run some tests, and I’ve got Sam’s daughter Siobhan for the evening.”

  “You shouldn’t be alone. I’ll come over.”

  “Oh, I won’t be alone. Con’s coming over later.”

  Son of a biscuit eater. “I’ll be by before dark. See you.” I ended the call before I could hear any of her protestations.

  “Ashlee, where are you going?” Jackson said as I passed him in the parking lot, on the way out to my borrowed truck.

  I stopped under an old tree. Knightsbridge’s downtown was very old-towny, with shade and buildings dating back to the late 1800s. “Home, lunch, rest, visit Will, and then to Peg’s to keep my future mother-in-law from becoming a mortal blood slave, or whatever you call it.”

  “They’re called intimates, and they have good, long lives with most masters.”

  “Most?”

  “Well, some are fiends, but only in parts of the world where they can get away with murder. In the realms covered by the Conventions, they’re circumspect, and Shelby isn’t a bad guy, given what he is.”

  “Given what he is? I thought weres and the undead didn’t like each other.”

  “You’ve been watching too many Underworld movies. We have a symbiotic relationship.”

  “I don’t see him calling you Master or Alpha or any other title.”

  Jackson bared his teeth. “We let him think he’s in charge. It lets us keep an eye on him, and he can do things we can’t. But lycanthropes outnumber vampires ten to one. If we wanted to, we could kill him and take over, and he knows it.”

  “I still don’t like him.”

  “I hear you don’t like magazine editors much, but you write for them.”

  I sighed. “Okay, I get it. Everybody’s got a boss, unless you want to go pure freelance.”

  “Well put. You must be a writer.”

  I kicked him in the shin. “Bite me.”

  “On the Blood Moon, bet on it.”

  “Don’t push me, Jack.”

  He held up his hands and backed off. “Sorry. I’ll catch up with you at the site.”

  “The pool house?”

  “Still work to be done.”

  I turned my back on him and left without further words. The more I talked with him, the more I was inclined to agree with him, and I didn’t want anyone to pull my strings. Alphas have a way of making everything seem reasonable, that the only sensible thing is to go along with their schemes, to accept their viewpoints.

  Not me. This wolf-girl thinks for herself.

  I awoke from my nap around sundown, which meant after nine this time of year. “Dammit, slept through my alarm,” I mumbled, scrambling to throw on something decent and settling for putting the same clothes back on. I still had the keys to the truck with me, so I shrugged and went for it.

  Jackson spotted me. “I’d better come with you.” He yelled something at Sully and climbed into the passenger seat as I started the engine. “Now, before you go off all Buffy on the man, you might want to give him a chance to talk. Vampires of the Conventions have strict protocols when it comes to dating humans.”

  “Yes, well she hasn’t been looking very healthy lately, and pardon me for being concerned that she’s turning into a Scooby Snack!”

  “He won’t take too much, and if she does become his intimate, he’ll feed a little of his back to her, which will extend her life, even restore some of her youth.”

  “So of course she’ll do whatever he says. It’s a payoff.”

  “No, it will be her choice.”

  “Like she’s going to refuse.”

  Jackson shrugged. “It’s a good deal for both of them.”

  “Is it just you men that stick together, or does that go double for male supernatural types as well?” I swerved to avoid hitting a grocery truck that was in my way.

  “All I’m saying is hear the guy out and think it over before kicking up a ruckus. It’s better to live in peace, and there are worse than Shelby around.”

  “Sounds like you’re eating out of his hand.”

  Jackson growled, clearly annoyed. “I’ve known him for the last year and a half, from even before he came here to set up shop. He was sent here by Fontaine, the master of the Montana Grade, to take over Knightsbridge. This is his first territory and I think he’d be damned before he messed things up. Besides, that’s what we wolves are here for: to report on him and make sure he stays in line.”

  “Fine. I’ll defer judgment until the facts are all in.”

  “Good girl,” He tried to pat my head.

  So I bit him, drawing blood.

  “Ow. Bitch.”

  “Master of the obvious.”

  He wrapped his hand in a bandana and followed me onto the porch.

  I knocked and opened the door. “Peg, it’s me.” The French doors were closed and I could hear Siobhan’s voice in the kitchen.

  The barrier slid open and Shelby stood in front of me. I bared my bloody teeth at him and the vampire smiled, his fangs suddenly clicking into place.

  Shit.

  “You two, knock it off,” Jackson said.

  Shelby narrowed his eyes. “Who are you to command me?”

  “I’m the guy who’s reporting to Fontaine,” Jackson said mildly. “And the guy who’s going to make sure you have wolves. Won’t be much of a demesne without them, will it?”

  The vampire’s face smoothed. “Of course. My apologies. However, I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your bitches on a tighter leash.”

  “Point taken. Ash, back off.” Jackson put his bitten hand against my chest, pushing me back with inexorable strength.

  “I’m not one of your bitches.”

  Shelby eyed Jackson’s hand. “What happened there?”

  “Nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Now, now. We’re all friends here. Let me help.”

  Jackson shrugged, removed the bandanna and lifted his bleeding fingers. Shelby licked his thumb and slid it across Jackson’s wounds. They closed immediately.

  “Ew, gross.” I turned to Shelby, glared and made the I’ve-got-my-eye-on-you sign with my pointer and middle finger. Then I went to the kitchen.

  Peg was looking remarkably healthy for someone who had seemed so pale earlier on in the day, and though she seemed to be wearing a scarf tucked into her collar, I figured he’d probably licked away the evidence if he was feeding on her anyway.

  I looked carefully at Siobhan. It’s one thing to do mutually consensual blood suckage on an adult, but I’ll be damned if he was going to be vamping out on a six year old. She seemed okay to me if a bit tired around the eyes, but how was I to know? I was getting that feeling that I was way out of my depth, and I was the only one who seemed uneasy with the situation.

  “Siobhan honey, it’s past your bedtime.” Peg sent her off to brush her teeth.

  I took her hand. “You were asking me before about how soon to expect a move from a guy. Do you still want to have that conversation?”

  “No dear. It’s nothing. Although I might give your stepmother a call if you don’t mind.”

  “Oh please don’t do that.” I told her. “She already has way too much ammu-…I mean, information.”

  Shelby and Jackson entered the kitchen, both of them looking composed and pleasant. The vampire moved to Peg, took her right hand in his left and placed his other hand on her right cheek. “You look tired, my dear.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. “Why don’t you get yourself to bed. We’ll let ourselves out.”

  “Actually, I’ll be crashing on the couch.” I made mine a statement as well. “Peg, we’ll go
visit Will first thing in the morning.”

  “Suit yourself.” Peg yawned and headed for her own evening routine.

  Once she was out of earshot I aimed a finger at Shelby. “And leave Will alone. He’s mine.”

  Shelby merely smiled with false pleasantness, bowed and stepped out on the front porch.

  Moments later, I walked Jackson out the door and looked at the half moon hanging over us. I wouldn’t normally go outside alone at night in this neighborhood. It had gone to shit in the last ten years as the money fled to the new developments and seedier types moved in, but if I wasn’t safe with a vampire and an alpha lycanthrope by my side, I guess I wasn’t safe with anyone.

  Safe from anyone else, that is.

  We sat on the front stoop and I got comfortable. Down the block, salsa music competed with gangsta rap, and other front porches held men and women, sitting in chairs or on the stoops, drinking from bottles or cans, calling to one another.

  “So, spill it.” I told the Con-Man. That’s how I was thinking of him right then. “And drop the glamor or whatever mojo you got going. I can feel it like sinus pressure right above my eyes. It makes me sneeze and it pisses me off.” I lit up a clove to keep my head clear.

  “Interesting. I’ve never seen that particular manifestation of power before.”

  “Yeah, well, there’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

  Shelby cleared his throat, and the pressure seemed to diminish. Hopefully that meant he was backing off on his attempts to influence me. “Jackson’s told me about your concerns, and normally you would be right. I am feeding off of her, but she’s feeding off me as well.”

  “You better not be turning her, and you’d better not even think of touching Siobhan.”

  “I’d never harm a child, Miss Scott. As for Peg, I’m not turning her…yet. But if I do, it will be consensual.”

  “Please tell me she knows you’re a vampire, or I just might have to stake you myself.”

  “Ashlee, shush,” my mother’s voice admonished me. I wasn’t sure if mom was really there, or it was only my subconscious, but I throttled back. I could feel my PTSD like a chained dog barking to be let off the leash, and I worked hard to control it.