Song of The Moon Artemis Lupine

by Banks, Catherine

  She was still as beautiful as I remembered and still as scary. She smiled. “Welcome Artemis. I have been waiting for you.” She waved her hand at the table, which was covered in food like a buffet.

  I licked my lips hungrily and shook my head. “No. What do you want Isabella?”

  She laughed, making me shiver in delight. “Straight to the point. I like that.” She walked to a small living room and sat in an overstuffed chair. I sat on the chair opposite her and frowned. She smiled wider. “As soon as I heard that Ares had a match, I knew it must be you. Your father disappeared so long ago, that it was apparent that he failed in his duty and kept you alive. I guess it worked out for the best, because now you are here.”

  I shook my head. “Why do you want me? I’m not special.”

  She frowned, somehow making herself even more attractive. “But you are special and that’s why I went through so much trouble to get you away from that horrid Ares. He wouldn’t use your abilities like he is supposed to.”

  She was confusing me. “Abilities? You mean changing to a wolf?”

  Isabella gasped. “You do not know? You are not simply a wolf, but also sidhe.”

  I frowned. “What’s that?”

  She smiled. “The humans call them fairies, I believe.”

  I stared at her in shock. “Fairies? Like, wings and magical powers, fairies?”

  She nodded her head. “Yes. Your mother is a very powerful sidhe warrior. I knew when I saw your eyes who you were and I knew I had to have you.”

  I glared at her. “Why would you want me? You’re a woman.”

  She laughed again, making me think of nefarious things. Vampires’ voice powers are no joke in real life. “I do not want you for children, silly girl, but for your powers. You are going to help me take over this pathetic planet and push the wolves back to their proper place of servants.”

  I stared at her in shock. “Does Maurice know what you are doing?”

  She waved her hand dismissively at me. “Do not worry about the King. Francois here will be working with you on your powers. As soon as you have gained them, we will move to the next step.”

  The second vampire brought in the man who had attacked me and threw him down on the ground between Isabella and me. I snarled at him and she smiled. “You seem displeased with this man.”

  I nodded my head. “He tried to rape me.”

  She hissed. “I gave them specific instructions not to harm you.” She stood up and picked the man up off of the floor. I stared in shock at her strength, as she easily held him with one hand, and stared into his eyes. “Did you harm her?”

  The man whimpered. “Please beautiful Queen, do not kill me.”

  She frowned. “Your lack of denial is an omission.” She stood him up and smiled. I felt her power pulsating against him and groaned. She ran her fingertip along the man’s cheek. “You disobeyed me wolf.” The man smiled happily, as though she called him her favorite pet name. She kissed his cheek then leaned his head back. I watched in horror as her fangs extended and she plunged them into his neck. He stayed still as she drank from him. I put my hand over my mouth to keep from vomiting and forced myself to watch. The man’s eyes grew dimmer and dimmer until, with one last suck, the light disappeared from his eyes. I gasped as she let his body ago and it crumpled lifeless to the floor. “Clean that up, please Francois.” She turned back to me and smiled, showing her bloody fangs. “Consider that retribution for the stress and pain he caused you. Now I must leave, but you must work hard and focus on your powers.” She started to walk away and I cleared my throat.

  She turned around and frowned at me. I asked, “What if I refuse to help?”

  She laughed making me think of nefarious things. “That is not an option. You will help me or you die. It’s as simple as that, mon cheri. Adieu.”

  I watched her retreating back and felt hopeless. How could I have powers besides my werewolf ones? Could I really be a fairy? I looked over my back and frowned. No wings. The second vampire took the dead man’s body out of the house. Francois smiled at me. “You should eat Artemis.”

  I glared at him, but walked over to the table no longer able to resist my hunger. I ate the food quickly, then folded my arms on the table. “What if I don’t have powers?”

  Francois frowned. “Then you will die. For now let’s think positive thoughts.”

  I scoffed. “Positive? Like I might escape and get to watch Victor tear you into pieces?”

  Francois sighed. “I know you do not understand about my kind, but we have no choice but to do as our maker tells us. I am sorry, but we must begin your training.” He sat across the table from me and frowned. “Put your palms face up and focus on them. You should be able to put energy in your palms and make fire.”

  “Fire in my hands?” I asked doubtfully.

  He nodded his head. “You should be able to make fireballs.”

  I smiled and then frowned. Why didn’t I get to learn the cool stuff when I was with Ares? I stared at my palms and pictured a flame. I clenched my eyes tight and wished for warmth or fire to my hands. I sat still for a few minutes, but nothing happened. I exhaled and looked at Francois. “Nothing’s happening.”

  He nodded his head. “Perhaps fire is not your element.” I was beginning to hate hearing French accents. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Try picturing the ocean and see if you can make a water ball.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “A water ball? How is that useful?”

  He sighed. “Just do it!” I frowned at him, but focused on my hands. Then minutes later, I groaned. He frowned in thought. “Hmm…maybe too much has happened today. Perhaps you should go to bed and try again tomorrow.”

  I sighed. “Great.” I walked up the stairs and then stopped at the top. “Uh, where’s my bedroom?”

  He smiled. “Second door on the left.” I nodded my head and started up again when he called to me. “And Artemis, don’t even think about trying to escape. Andre and I have excellent hearing and are very light sleepers.”

  “Whatever. Stupid bloodsuckers.” I mumbled the last as I walked into the bedroom that served as my prison. I plopped down on the bed and stared at the wood ceiling. Would Ares find me? Would he even be looking? I heard the front door open and shut, but ignored it. I rolled onto my side and closed my eyes, finally getting a peaceful night’s rest. I awoke the next morning to the front door opening and closing again. I sat up and stretched my arms over my head. What now? Go downstairs and try to gain powers I don’t have? Perfect. Maybe death would be better. I walked down the stairs and sat in the head chair of the dining table. “I’m hungry.”

  Andre frowned at me, but went into the kitchen. Francois sat down at the table wearing a new pair of clothes. He smiled. “How are you feeling this morning?”

  “Like a captive who’s hungry,” I grumbled. Andre walked back into the room carrying a large tray of pancakes and bacon. I smiled. “Andre, if you weren’t one of my prison guards, I would kiss you.”

  He set the tray on the table, flashed his fangs at me and walked away. I ate the food until I couldn’t eat anymore and relaxed against the chair. Francois smiled. “Ready to begin your lessons again?”

  I sighed. “Wouldn’t it be better if someone with experience helped me? You know, someone who was also sidhe?”

  He frowned. “The sidhe are not exactly friendly with the vampires. Besides, you can do it without their help. Just focus.”

  Although I didn’t think I had the powers they were talking about, I was curious to try. Darren should have taught me about this, or Ares. Why did the bad guys have to be the ones to teach me?

  I put my palms face up on the table. I focused on them and thought of fire, but after an hour with nothing happening I grew tired. “I can’t do it. Maybe I don’t have magic.”

  “Well, it is lunch time, so maybe you just need food.”

  I groaned and stood up, stretching my body. Andre walked in carrying a tray of food and two wine bottles. Although by now I
knew it wasn’t wine in the glasses. I ate my food in silence and stared at my prison guards. “How long will she keep me alive, if I don’t have magic?”

  Andre shrugged. “Your fey magic isn’t all that she wants.”

  I frowned. “What did you call my magic?”

  Andre looked at me as though I’d just asked what a foot was. “Fey is another term for the sidhe or fairies. I can’t believe Darren never told you about all of this. It is somewhat important.”

  “You knew my father?” I asked in shock.

  Andre nodded his head. “I fought with him in a battle once. He was a good fighter, but a bastard.”

  I scoffed. “Tell me about it.”

  Andre looked at me then and studied my face. I squirmed in my chair at his inquisitive stare. “Did you live with the humans like they say?” He asked.

  I nodded my head. “I did. I went to school with them and played with them. I thought I was one of them.”

  Andre asked, “What are they like?”

  I shrugged. “Most of the other students didn’t like me. Ares said it was because they instinctively knew I was a predator. But there were a couple who accepted me for me and were great.” I sighed remembering Bret.

  I finished eating and leaned back in my chair. I snapped my fingers and imagined a flame like a lighter. Nothing happened though and no matter how good my imagination was I just didn’t feel magic in me. My wolf stirred inside me, making me gasp. Francois frowned. “None of that.”

  I shook my head. “I can’t control her yet.”

  Francois frowned. “I forgot you have only changed recently. Your wolf needs an alpha to control her.”

  I frowned. “What? Why do you need Ares to control me? He hasn’t yet.” My wolf stirred harder in me and I felt her trying to change me.

  Francois hissed. “Stop it!”

  I screamed in pain as a few of my bones separated trying to remake my shape. I yelled, “I’m trying! But I can’t stop her!” More bones and muscles separated and expanded. I fell to the floor screaming in pain. The change hadn’t been this painful before. Andre jumped over the table and grabbed me, throwing me on the ground and pinning me. I snapped my teeth at him and shook my head. “You aren’t helping Andre! She doesn’t like you.”

  He got off of me and my body finished the transformation. I lay still on the ground panting and hurting. The pain started to subside and I rolled over. Francois and Andre’s faces were now that of the vampires I had nightmares of. Their fangs extended and their fingers turned into daggers. I growled at them softly, but stayed back. I suddenly knew how I could tell Ares I was captured. I ran to the front door and burst through it. I knew Andre and Francois were right behind me, but I had to do it. I stopped outside the door and raised my snout to the sky and howled as loud as I could. Andre reached for me and I jumped to the side, continuing my long howl. Dogs in the neighborhood near us began howling with me, and soon our songs filled the night air.

  Within seconds I lost my breath and Francois tackled me. I didn’t fight him and instead submitted to him. He frowned down at me, and then the faintest howl drifted on the wind to my ears. Ares had heard me and he was answering my call. He was coming for me. The thought made me happy and sad at the same time and if I had been in human form I would have cried. Francois dragged me by my scruff back into the house and hissed at me. I laid on the ground averting my eyes and staring at his shoes. He had on running shoes that were covered in mud.

  Francois hissed again. “Change back.”

  I tried to change, but my wolf wouldn’t let me. She liked being in control and didn’t want to go back. I whimpered and Andre sighed. “Dammit. She doesn’t have control over the wolf to change. You should have warned us that she was so new!”

  Francois sighed. “The mistress did not care about her being new. Neither of us foresaw this as a possible reaction.”

  I watched them bicker and relaxed on the ground. Ares had heard my call and answered me. He was coming for me. I just had to wait for him. Andre grabbed me by my scruff while I was lying down and threw me across the room. My instincts kicked in and I pushed off the wall with my feet and landed on the ground. Andre’s fangs were extended past his bottom lip and he screamed at me. It was a scream so full of rage and fury, that I flinched. He started towards me, but Francois stood in his path. “Our mistress ordered us not to kill her.”

  Andre hissed. “I won’t kill her, but I’m going to make her wish she was dead.”

  I remembered Koda telling me that they would do that and I growled softly. Apparently rape hadn’t been the only thing they’d been worried about. I started moving around the table so it was between us, and Andre followed me. Francois let Andre go, and then began to come at me from the other side. It seemed that he liked Andre’s reasoning and the thought of causing me pain wasn’t a bad one. His fangs extended and he hissed at me. I snapped my teeth at them both and prayed Ares would come sooner rather than later. Andre jumped across the table at me. I had a second to decide my course of action and the wolf took over. I dove under the table and out the other side, while Andre tried to reach underneath.

  I ran for the stairs and up into my bedroom. I focused on my human form and my body transformed faster than I had ever been able to before and with no pain. I ran forward and shut the bedroom door and locked it. I knew it was silly to think the small wooden door could keep the vampires out, but it was all I could think to do. I heard them move up the stairs and smelled them closing in on me, but the door didn’t open. I curled up on the bed and waited for what they would do to me, because there was nothing else I could do. A few minutes passed and nothing happened. I listened harder and heard fighting downstairs. Had Francois come to his senses and begun to fight Andre? I strained to listen, but all I could hear was the thudding sound of fists hitting each other. I started to walk towards the door and decided it was better to stay here, until I knew who the winner was.

  Five more minutes passed and then I heard footsteps up the stairs. I frowned because they were heavier than the vampires had been originally. Could they only float when using magic? I waited tensely as someone stopped in front of my door and inhaled. I suddenly wished I was in my wolf form, but she was too scared to move. There were soft whispers, then a knock on the door. I frowned. Why would they knock on the door? A familiar male voice asked, “Artemis? Are you in there?”

  I jumped off the bed and ran for the door, throwing it open. “Victor!” I ran into his arms and hugged him. “Oh Victor you’re here.” Victor patted my back, then pushed me away. I felt something hot and wet on my face and put my hand up to feel blood. I looked at Victor and gasped. “Are you hurt?”

  He shook his head. “It’s not my blood.”

  I looked around. “Where is Ares?”

  He smiled at me. “He is not as fast as me, but he should be here in a moment. He wanted me to come ahead and to ensure your safety.”

  I nodded my head then turned to my left to see Jean Pierre’s sad face. I reached my hand out to him and he took it pulling me against him in a hug. “I am sorry for the pain my brother caused you mon ami.”

  I shook my head. “It is not your fault. You came to save me.”

  He pulled back and I saw the tears running down his face. “I had feared the dark mistress had taken control of him, but I had not dreamed he would do something so despicable.”

  I shook my head. “He did not hurt me. He was probably the only reason Andre did not hurt me.” I frowned then. “Are they…”

  Victor nodded his head. “They are dead.”

  I exhaled in relief and began to shiver, thinking of what Andre had wanted to do. I heard someone come in the house and pressed myself against Victor, praying it wasn’t Isabella. Soft bone popping sounds traveled up the stairway and then loud footsteps followed. I inhaled and smiled wide. I ran from Victor’s arms towards the man I loved. I frowned at the realization and then quickly smiled again. Ares held his arms out to me, a look of relief on his face as I jumped
up on him. He held me against his body and I kissed his lips. I felt his tense body and remembered what I had done. I pushed away from him and knelt on the ground in front of him, with my head turned to the side offering my neck. I whispered, “Please forgive me. I did not go with them to betray you.”

  Ares squatted down and lifted my chin up. “There is nothing to forgive. What you did was stupid, but I did not think you betrayed me.”

  I felt the tears falling down my face and asked, “You aren’t angry with me?”

  He nodded his head looking very serious. “I am angry with you.” I let a few tears fall down my face and he sighed. “But I am more happy that you are alive and that my brothers are alive, as well.”

  I gasped. “Are they okay?’

  Koda and Matt walked up the stairs naked and smiling. I only glanced at their lower bodies because the nakedness was still so new to me, then ran to them. I hugged them at the same time and kissed each of their cheeks. Matt kissed my cheek back and Koda licked the tears from the side of my face he could reach. “Don’t cry, Darling.”

  I shook my head. “I’m sorry Koda. I know I am supposed to listen to you, but they wanted to kill you. They didn’t even know who you were. I couldn’t let you die for me. Please forgive me.”

  Matt put his hand on my cheek softly. “How could we not forgive you when you saved us? We are in your debt it seems now.”

  Koda snorted. “Don’t tell her that.”

  I kissed Koda’s cheek and whispered, “Now you’ll never hear the end of it.”

  Koda sighed. “At least I’ll hear it. We were so scared that you were…” Tears ran down his face and he dropped to his knees. “Forgive us for failing you.”

  Matt dropped to his knees beside Koda. “Forgive us our Prince and Princess.”