Ties to the Blood Moon 2nd Edition

by Robin P. Waldrop

  It was much shorter than the last, which was good, but since he wouldn’t tell me where we were going, I was still a little anxious.

  We drove away from the mountains and into the woods. The road grew dark, but beautiful with the tall redwoods lining both sides of the road. Small yellow and purple flowers dotted the sparse grassy areas. William finally took off his sunglasses, and I stared at his eyes. Not because they were so magnificent —which they absolutely were—but because their color kept changing. I remembered them being a bright sea-green color, but now they were a much deeper emerald color.

  I was so happy to be with William I didn’t let the fact I had snuck out again take over my thoughts. My cheeks were starting to hurt, I’d been smiling for so long. “This is all so beautiful.” I looked over at him and yelled. He didn’t scream back a comment, although he did smile. He reached across the seat, taking my hand in his and interlaced our fingers. His hand was super cold at first, but quickly warmed, which I found quite odd. Every few minutes he’d gently squeeze my hand, and I would squeeze back.

  He suddenly whipped the car off the road onto a dirt drive surrounded by tall trees and shrub bushes partially growing over the path. My heart raced and fell at the same time, and I grabbed my chest. When I looked over at him, he had that crooked grin going on, and I felt a hot sensation go through me.

  It wasn’t all bumpy and filled with ruts like a four-wheel drive path would be. Obviously, this one had been traveled much less.

  William turned down the stereo. “We’re almost there,” he said warmly.

  “You think?” I teased. “Now will you tell me why we are having a picnic in the middle of the dark woods?”

  “We’re not … exactly.” He smiled mischievously, and drove around a large boulder. Behind it the woods opened into a small clearing. He stopped, and turned the ignition off. I was in awe as I looked through the windshield. We were in the middle of a small clearing next to a creek bed. The grass was a light green, like newly planted grass when it first starts to grow. Except it was taller, six or more inches maybe. Scattered around were patches of the same flowers I’d seen along the road. When we opened our doors, I heard rushing water close by. I stood up and stretched my arms over my head while standing on my tiptoes, and that’s when I spotted a small waterfall.

  I looked at William and smiled brightly. “This is the most perfect place I’ve ever seen.” I sighed happily.

  “I thought you might like it,” he said, smiling proudly.

  I strolled over to the creek to look around. When I turned back to see were William was, he had spread a large blue and green quilt on the ground and at one corner had placed a large dark brown wicker basket. He stood beside it with his arms spread out to the sides.

  “Mademoiselle,” he said, smiling, and bowing. “Lunch is served.”

  “Why, thank you, kind sir,” I replied in my best southern accent, which I’m sure sounded nothing like a southerner. My curtsy skills also left a whole lot to be desired.

  “What did you bring us? I’m starving.” I sat on my knees and lifted the top on the basket.

  William had thought of everything. He had packed gouda cheese and crackers, roast beef sandwiches, potato chips, and of course, a bowl of cut up fresh fruit. While I was setting out everything, he went back to the car and brought two soda pops.

  I was so hungry I’d eaten half of my sandwich and a huge handful of chips before realizing William wasn’t eating. He was lying on his side with his head propped up on his hand. Even though he had pushed his food around his plate a little bit, he hadn’t taken a single bite.

  My smile faded. “Why aren’t you eating?” I asked earnestly.

  “I had a really big breakfast this morning.” He patted his perfectly formed six-pack abs. “I’m not hungry yet. But go ahead. Eat all you want.”

  William’s eyes were on me and I suddenly felt self conscious. I took a few sips of my drink, then pushed it to the side so I could lie back. Storm clouds were gathering overhead causing it to grow darker. It was like twilight, but at two o’clock in the afternoon.

  I rolled onto my side facing William, mirroring his position, and matching his smile.“So … you never did tell me how you knew what room my aunt was in.”

  “I didn’t,” he laughed.

  “No, you didn’t tell me.” I tilted my head, unable to figure out what was so funny.

  “I mean, I didn’t know what room she was in. I made it up just to pacify you.” He laughed loudly, his wonderful laugh echoed through the trees, sending waves of warmth over me.

  “You,” I shouted, laughing too. I rolled over on him pinning his arms to the ground.

  Our laughter gradually eased off, and we were left staring intently into each other’s eyes.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he said, and again, I found myself slowly lowering my lips toward his, when a splashing sound broke our concentration. We both quickly looked toward the water, then I promptly rolled onto my back. William sat up to see if he could spot where the noise was coming from. When he didn’t lie back down right away, I also sat up.

  “What is it? Is someone out there?” My eyes shifted between William and the woods.

  “Nah. I think a rock turned loose from that cliff over there and hit the water at the bottom of the falls.” He tried to keep his tone light, but was clearly struggling.

  We sat facing each other, my feet crossed under my legs, and William was scooted close to me with his legs in, like, a horseshoe around me. He reached out, wrapping a few strands of my long hair in his fingers. “You have the prettiest fire red hair, but what happened to all the curls? He pushed the strands of hair behind my ear. “It’s not as curly as when I first saw you, is it?”

  I shot him a puzzled look. “Really?” I pulled some of my hair forward. Although it still had soft waves, the kinkiness was gone. I laughed nervously and shrugged. “I guess it has something to do with the fact there is no humidity up here.”

  William gazed at me, taking my hand in his. Again his hand was colder than the air outside, but quickly warmed to match the temperature of mine. His expression said he wanted to ask me something.

  “Go ahead … ask me whatever it is you’re dying to know.” I smiled slightly.

  “Okay, I will.” He paused before continuing. “ Um … so … what do you think about everything that happened the other night in the cave?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” I started fidgeting with my hands when I noticed my nails were a good bit longer that they had been the previous day when I’d filed them. I tucked my hands under my legs.“Ask me something else.”

  “Okay …” William’s eyes narrowed a bit, not unkindly, and he rubbed his chin with his thumb and index finger.

  “Why did you come here?”

  “You asked me to, silly,” I laughed hollowly.

  “Clever, but I think you know what I meant.” He pulled me a little closer, looking deep into my eyes. His smile faded into something more serious. “Do you believe in vampires?”

  I cocked my head, furrowing my brow. Why did he ask me about vampires? I thought this whole thing was about werewolves. I bit my lip a little harder than I intended to and immediately tasted blood. I felt it and wiped my finger across my lip and smeared the blood. William’s features stiffened to a painful mask, and I could have sworn his eyes turned black, but only for a second.

  He turned his head away, and reached inside the basket, handing me a napkin, but still not looking at me. I thought maybe the sight of blood made him sick or something, but then he frightened me when his voice changed.

  “Get in the car,” he said in a low throaty tone. He was already on his feet. I had not seen anyone move so fast before. With lightning fast reflexes, he jerked me by the wrist and pulled me to my feet. “Now! And lock the doors.” He had spotted someone or something through the trees, and without looking at me, he shoved me behind him in the direction of the car.

  The wind shifted and I smelled th
em coming. I don’t know how I knew what it was, but I did. It smelled like rotting blood and wet fur. Then suddenly, I felt a strange sensation throughout my body. When I tried to lift the door handle, something kept getting in the way. When I took my eyes off of the woods and looked down at my hands, I screamed. “William, what’s happening?”

  William’s eyes were black as night when he turned to face me. His features had turned hard, making his mouth appear wider. He only glanced at me briefly before shifting his gaze from my face to my hands. In a flash, he had moved the twenty or so feet from the creek bank to the car and threw open my door.

  Chapter 17

  An eerie calm filled the air, causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand up. William shut me inside the car making me promise to stay put. I locked the doors and looked on helplessly. It suddenly sounded like a stampede of elephants coming toward us, but it wasn’t. I gasped when a pack of large wolves charged out of the woods, heading straight for William. He ducked just as one leaped toward him and it flew into the windshield of the car, shattering the glass.

  The remaining wolves snarled and growled as they slowly drove William backward. I held my breath, but was unable to look away. I couldn’t sit by and just watch them tear William to shreds. With my eyes fixed on William I felt around on the door until I found the lock button. When I hit the switch unlocking the doors another pack of wolves emerged from the woods, they were even larger than the previous pack. I thought for sure William and I were going to die. Then they did something shocking. I don’t know if they were there to help us or not, but they tore into the smaller wolves.

  William joined in the fight, moving incredibly fast, much faster than humanly possible. My eyes couldn’t keep up with him. Most of the time he was nothing more than a blur. Between the shattered glass and the muddy fur mixed with blood, I was having a hard time seeing out the windshield. At one point, I saw William tear into a wolf’s throat, and I swear it looked like William had grown fangs.

  Some of the wolves made it to the car, but the larger wolves kept circling, keeping them from getting in. That didn’t deter them, though. They kept lunging at the car, the sound of their bodies slamming against the metal was terrifying. And they were biting at the glass, each time cracking it more.

  The larger wolves were stronger, but the smaller ones were faster, and finally broke through the back window. I had to run. That was my only chance to live, and … the only way I knew to save William.

  Adrenaline surged through my body, as I crawled across to the driver’s seat since my door was too smashed in to open. After a deep breath I threw open the door at the same time one of the wolves lunged through the back seat. I slammed the door, but I knew it would only deter him for a few seconds.

  As I ran toward the path we’d drove in on, I heard William scream my name, but I didn’t slow down. My heart pounded erratically in my chest, forcing the blood to rush through my veins. I ran as fast as I could, but when I glanced back I saw one of the wolves gaining on me. I tried to be smart thinking maybe if I kept changing directions I could keep the wolf from catching me. I ran faster than I ever had before. Maybe it was because in the past I hadn’t been running for my life. I was starting to tire quickly, which slowed me down.

  When I glanced behind me again, I didn’t see the wolf. Relief set in, and I slowed even more thinking I’d outrun the beast. That was a stupid assumption on my part. Wolves are silent hunters, and just because I didn’t see him that particular time didn’t necessarily mean I’d out run him.

  When I turned started to leap over a rock, I felt something grab at the back of my leg, and then a sharp pain burning pain filled me. I fell to the ground, my face hitting the muck.

  At first, I thought I’d pulled a muscle in my leg. When I reached bag to rub the tightness out, I heard a series of low growls, and I scrambled to turn over. Four huge wolves were inching their way toward me. I promptly pulled my hand back and looked down at it. Blood dripped through my fingers and onto the ground. The light blue jeans I wore were muddy and my left pants leg was shredded and bloody. I swallowed hard, trying to fight back the tears. The pain in my leg was intense, but I managed to slowly inch my way backwards away from the wolves. I only made it a few feet back when I bumped into the base of a large tree.

  I was injured and trapped. The wolves had won. It would only be a matter of time until they tired of staring at their prey, and pounced. I closed my eyes tightly, not wanting to see their fangs tear into me, ripping me apart.

  I screamed when I felt something touch me.

  “Everything’s going to be all right, Genevieve,” William said softly.

  My eyes shot open, and William was scooping me up into his arms. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and squeezed. “But … but, how? I thought for sure you were dead,” I said sobbing into his chest.

  “Shh,” he whispered softly. “I’ve got you. Everything’s going to be all right now.”

  Even though William had me and I knew I was safe, my heart still raced with fear, and the tears kept coming.

  “Your leg is bleeding out. If I don’t slow it down, you’ll bleed to death before I can get you somewhere.”

  He stooped down, and tried to set me on the ground, but I was still terrified and shaking violently. He pulled my hands from his neck, pushing me back enough where he could see my face. “Gen, you’ve got to let me sit you down for a minute, so I can wrap your leg.” He spoke sternly, but not unkindly.

  “But, where are those wolves that had me surrounded?” I frantically look all around us, but saw no sign of them.

  “They were protecting you. Not trying to hurt you.”

  I didn’t have time to think about what he’d just said. He pulled off his tee-shirt, and I swear every muscle in his chest bulged when he flexed to tear a long strip of material from his shirt. I couldn’t help but stare at his honey colored skin, so firm and buff. William captivated me and I completely forgot about the pain in my leg, until after he wrapped my leg and pulled the material extra tight, causing me to scream out in pain.

  “We’ve got to hurry. Your leg is still bleeding pretty bad.” He scooped me up effortlessly.

  “How are we going to go anywhere? There’s nothing for miles and the car is trashed.”

  “I’m going to carry you.” William gazed at me. “Do you trust me?” he asked earnestly.

  I brushed my fingers gently across his cheek. “You know I do,” I whispered fiercely staring into his eyes. I had such a euphoric feeling whenever I was with him, and I couldn’t explain how I knew, but I knew he would always protect me, even if it meant him giving up his life to save mine.

  Chapter 18

  William ran so fast I had to press my face against his chest to keep my neck from snapping. I thought he would be growing tired, but the truth was he had an extremely slow heartbeat and it hadn’t wavered. I was freezing and growing weaker by the minute.

  “William, I’m so cold and tired. Can’t we stop and rest?” I asked, my voice low and faint.

  “Tired?” I heard him laugh. “I’m the one doing all the work.”

  “My arms are so tired,” I moaned. When I opened my eyes William was moving so fast, everything we passed by was a blur. The best I could tell we were still in the woods somewhere.

  “We’re almost there. You’ve got to hang on, just another minute.” His tone was calm and even. He didn’t even sound winded, and I don’t know how that was even possible.

  I was so weak I could barely manage to open my eyes. The trees were thinning out and we were coming up a small hill just behind a large cinder block building. I peered into his eyes. “Wh … where are we?”

  “The hospital,” William said, smiling proudly.

  “That’s … impossible. We were …” I floundered and trailed off as everything around me faded to black.

  ***

  When I woke up, I couldn’t yet open my eyes, but heard William’s voice whisper from somewhere in the darkened abyss.
>
  “Genevieve, You have to wake up.” William’s whispers were stern. My guess was I didn’t open my eyes quickly enough, because he resorted to shaking my arm, and I cracked my eyes open a tiny bit, but they closed again quickly.

  When I was finally able to my eyes, the whiteness of the room made it hard for me to focus. The bright lights directly overhead didn’t help either. William was standing beside me wearing a blue scrub shirt, which confused me even more than I already was.

  “Where am I?” I tried to sit up but my arms were like limp spaghetti.

  “Whoa, now,” William smiled crookedly. “You lost an awful lot of blood.” He pointed to a pole on the other side of the bed. It had two bags of clear fluid, and a half empty bag of blood. My eyes followed the tubes, which lead to both of my arms.

  William leaned down close to my face. “As soon as this bag of blood is empty, we have to go,” he said gravely. “It’s not safe here.”

  I closed my eyes and thought about what he’d said, and it all started coming back. We were at a picnic when a pack of werewolves attacked. I couldn’t believe that I, Genevieve Labreck, said werewolves. No matter what I wanted to believe, that’s what they were. What I couldn’t wrap my head around was why some of them had attacked us, and the others had protected us. It just didn’t make sense. I could see them fighting over us, but not for us.

  My eyes shot open when all the lights went out. It was pitch black for a moment and all the normal electronic sounds of the hospital had stopped. As the emergency lights flickered to life, I saw William unhooking the still half full bag of blood from the IV pole.

  “What are you doing?” I asked perplexed even further.

  “They tracked us.” William spoke with a sense of urgency. He help me slide off of the bed.

  “Who?” I asked, frantically searching his eyes for an answer.