Only By Moonlight

by Emery, Lynn

  “Afternoon,” LaShaun called as she approached.

  “Hi there,” Betty Marchand said before her husband could reply.

  “How you doin’ today, LaShaun.” Mr. Marchand pulled off work gloves and stuffed them in the back pocket of his blue jeans.

  “I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind me taking Sunflower out for a little exercise before the sun goes down. Won’t be gone long.” LaShaun enjoyed riding the calm chestnut Tennessee walking mare. In return, LaShaun paid for bales of hay to feed Sunflower.

  “No problem. My boy just finished grooming her matter of fact,” Mr. Marchand said referring to Xavier, Jr. and headed into the shadowed barn interior.

  “Great.” LaShaun smiled at him.

  Mrs. Marchand studied LaShaun. “Why don’t you buy yourself a horse? We’ll stable it for you, no problem. Life gets mighty complicated sometimes. Riding is a good way to settle your mind and work out problems.”

  LaShaun ignored her attempt to probe. “I’m thinking about it, but I’m not sure I’d get much time to ride. Didn’t this day turn out beautiful?”

  “Yep, warmed up real nice. Should be even prettier in time for your wedding. How’s the planning going?” Mrs. Marchand’s eyebrows went up.

  “Fine, but it’s not that big a deal. We have the flowers and food nailed down. Since we’re getting married outside, decorating is easy.” LaShaun smiled at her.

  “I hear the Broussard land out there is beautiful. Lots of history,” Mrs. Marchand went on. “His mama probably told you about it.”

  “I know about the famous oak tree planted over two hundred years ago, yes ma’am.” LaShaun almost laughed when Betty Marchand blinked rapidly at her.

  Disappointment creased Mrs. Marchand’s brow, but she gamely tried again. “I’ll bet you’re having a good time with his mama. She’s helping you pick out your dress and the bridesmaids dresses, huh?”

  “I’m wearing a lace gown my grandmother wore when she married my grandfather. The sleeves are handmade of Alencon lace from New Orleans… A lot of family history is attached to it from what I understand,” LaShaun said in a dramatic tone, intentionally feeding into Betty Marchand’s fertile imagination.

  “Really?” Mrs. Marchand’s eyes went wide.

  “Here we go, LaShaun. Hope Betty didn’t bend your ear too much.” Mr. Marchand cast a knowing glance at his wife.

  “We were just chatting is all,” Mrs. Marchand replied, a bit on the defensive.

  “Uh-huh.” Mr. Marchand let his tone communicate how much he believed her protest. “Now you have a good time with Sunflower. Be careful to get back before dark though. We don’t wanna have to send a search party in them woods at night.”

  “I’ll be fine, Mr. M. The moonlight will lead us. Isn’t that right girl?” LaShaun gave the horse a pat of affection on her flanks.

  “Yes, I’m sure being in the woods at night isn’t scary for her at all,” Mrs. Marchand mumbled aside to her husband.

  “Shush,” Mr. Marchand hissed at her.

  “No, ma’am, Sunflower is the brave one. Aren’t you sweetie?” LaShaun said as she smoothed a hand on the horse’s long head.

  “I, uh…” Mrs. Marchand stuttered. She glanced at her husband who crossed his arms. His expression clearly said, “Serves you right!”

  LaShaun mounted Sunflower. The soft leather of the saddle felt good. She waved to the couple and set off at a leisurely trot. “I’m going to stop neglecting you my friend.”

  For the next thirty minutes, LaShaun let herself get lost in the pleasure of riding. Sunflower seemed to be enjoying the ride as well. They followed a well worn riding path through prairies and around the occasional oak tree. After a time, LaShaun circled back toward her property. She reached the outer limits of her property line. A movement to her left caught LaShaun’s attention. Long shadows fell. Almost four o’clock, evening still came fairly early. Still LaShaun estimated she had another twenty minutes before dark. As if to back up her words to Mrs. Marchand, the moon shimmered in the early evening sky. LaShaun softly pressed her right knee against Sunflower and tugged on the reins. Sunflower turned west smoothly as though she and LaShaun were of the same will.

  Following the movement she was sure she’d seen, LaShaun guided Sunflower into a sparsely wooded area. Tall pine carpeted the ground with soft needles. The scent seemed to please Sunflower. After another few yards, they came to woods with trees closer together. Massive oak trees that had to be well over a hundred years old stood as if they were the elder statesmen of outdoors. Just as LaShaun had decided she’d seen a fox or a rabbit, a distinctly human like form separated from a large tree trunk and darted into the brush.

  “Now that can’t be somebody running around in the palmettos and palms, can it Sunflower?”

  LaShaun smiled when the horse gave a spirited snort as though agreeing with her. The sharp, spiny leaves of the palmettos alone would discourage romping around. Yet there it was again, someone moving through the brush. With a soft reassurance that she wouldn’t be long, LaShaun looped the reins around a small tree branch. Sunflower gave a shake of her head, which LaShaun interpreted as “Take your time”. The horse nipped at blades of grass as LaShaun walked around the low bushes. There were signs that something heavier than a rabbit had crossed the ground. In just a few steps, LaShaun had left behind the relative light of late afternoon and entered the dusky world of a Louisiana forest. Someone or something circled behind her once she got deeper into a thickly wooded area. After few seconds LaShaun heard a low growl and her heart rate jumped. Suddenly her surroundings seemed foreboding. She could only see tiny patches of dark blue evening sky through tree branches overhead.

  “Why do you keep interfering?” a whispery female voice said it from somewhere to LaShaun’s left.

  “Because she’s a nosy old witch,” a squeaky female voice replied from behind. Giggling followed.

  She recognized the scent of pubescent females, their hormones signaled they were excited. And dangerous. LaShaun had been like them at that age. At fourteen, suddenly the smell of males slammed into her, giving her heated dreams. That they found her attractive made LaShaun feel powerful. That was the time she’d opened herself to her gifts in all the wrong ways. The belief that she could have whatever she wanted was like a potent drug. Like any junkie, her addiction led LaShaun to death. Not hers, but the death of someone else. Now these kids were on the same road.

  “You girls don’t know the rules of the game you’re playing,” LaShaun shot back.

  “You’re the one who doesn’t know the fucking rules, old lady.”

  “I’ll just have to show you who you’re dealing with, Becky.” LaShaun barked out the name. The rustling stopped.

  “How did she know?” the squeaky voice whispered.

  “The same way I know your voice, Regan Williams,” LaShaun snapped.

  The stunned quiet that descended in the brush confirmed her guess. Chase told her that Regan and Becky were best friends since the fourth grade. LaShaun figured Jenna, the other member of their circle, was too terrified from her ordeal with Greg. She no doubt had abandoned the clique. One other boy’s parents had shipped him off to a fancy boarding school. Only Becky, Regan and Greg remained of the original clique.

  Becky emerged from behind a tree. She wore a long-sleeved black t-shirt under a black denim jacket and tight blue jeans. “Don’t be too impressed with her psychic skills, Regan. Her boyfriend is that hot deputy running for sheriff. He told her.”

  “My grandmother says when Rousselle women speak folks just shrivel up,” Regan’s voice became even more high-pitched, and seemed to grow fainter.

  “Don’t you dare leave,” Becky commanded. “Regan, do you hear me? I summon you to step forward. If you face her we’ll be the strong ones.”

  “Haven’t you had enough of running around wild? You better quit this mess before you end up like Elliot or Greg.” LaShaun took a quick look around and then back at Becky.

  “See, Regan
? If she was so psychic she’d know about Greg.” Becky smiled at LaShaun. “He’s out of intensive care. I saw him last night. He even got a hard on when I stroked him good.”

  Regan squealed and giggled. She stepped into the clearing. Her dark green over-sized sweater matched olive green cargo pants. “Becky, you’re so terrible. I wish the boys were here right now. We could all party. Hey, she doesn’t look that old.”

  “Shut up, Regan,” Becky shot back. She put both hands on her hips. “Now what should we do with you, huh? Out here snooping around where you got no business.”

  “Thanks, girls. You just told me something important.” LaShaun grinned at Becky.

  “Not really.” Becky’s voice didn’t sound quite so confident.

  “Sure you did. I’m close to your gang’s hang out,” LaShaun replied mildly. “All I have to do is follow your trail. I hunt you know, so I can track.”

  “Too bad you’re not hunting today.” Becky pulled a long leather sheath from inside her jacket. Then she removed a wicked looking knife from it. “You showing up is perfect now that I think about it. I’ll bet your blood will make our elixirs even more intense. What ya think, Regan?”

  Regan giggled again, but stopped when she glanced at Becky’s intense frown. “You’re foolin’ around to scare her, right?”

  Becky moved forward but stopped when LaShaun took a fighting stance. “No, I’m not ‘foolin’ around’. After we had the last gathering things started to happen. Your daddy bought you that snappy sports car. My parents put a deposit on that condo for us to have our graduation trip down to Florida. Just think of what we’ll have if—”

  “You used poor Elliot’s blood?” LaShaun stared at Regan.

  “We didn’t mean to hurt Elliot. That was an accident. And anyway, my daddy had already promised to buy me a car, and your parents,” Regan whined.

  “Will you shut the hell up? Keep talking too much and I’ll leave your ass out here.” Becky took a step toward LaShaun. “Now back me up. Get behind her.”

  “You girls really don’t want to do this,” LaShaun warned.

  “Yes we really do, Miss LaShaun,” Becky said in a sing-song voice. “I’m going to have a baby, a special child. My little boy will be even more powerful with your blood. He told me about it.”

  “Who told you?” LaShaun grabbed at the clue.

  Becky shook her head. “Enough talk. You’re tired. Feeling your eyelids get so heavy, so heavy. Just lie down on those soft leaves to take a little nap.”

  LaShaun gazed at Becky for a few moments. Then she burst out laughing. “Somebody lied to you, sweetie. That hypnosis trick won’t work on me.”

  “Let’s see how funny it is when I cut your ass!”

  Becky lunged forward swinging the knife as she came. LaShaun moved fast and the blade missed her midsection by a few inches. Snarling like a feral cat, Becky ran full force toward LaShaun with the knife raised. LaShaun took off in long strides through the trees. In minutes she’d put distance between them. Becky screamed at Regan to go in a circle to cut off LaShaun. When LaShaun tripped, Becky cackled. LaShaun jumped to her feet again before either of the girls could reach her. Pain shot through her left ankle.

  “Hey old lady! You can’t out run us.” Despite her glee, Becky panted. “Jump her from behind, Regan.”

  “If you stop right now before things go too far I won’t press charges,” LaShaun said. She grimaced as pain stabbed through her ankle again.

  “We have big plans for this world, and I’m going to play the most important role.” Becky still held the knife firmly in her right hand. She rubbed her belly with the left.

  LaShaun’s arms tingled so intensely she forgot the throbbing that spread up her leg. She stood straight and pointed at Becky. “Silly little girl. You’ve been fooled. Greg isn’t some kind of demi-god with special powers.”

  Regan stepped forward. Her eyes seemed to glow in the dim light as the sun set. “Becky was chosen to give birth to the next ruler of the…”

  “Be quiet,” Becky said with force.

  “I deserve to know why I’m about to be killed,” LaShaun shot back and faced both girls.

  Regan seemed to blink back from the high of the chase. “No-nobody said anything about killing anybody.”

  Becky gripped the knife handle though the blade still pointed at the ground. “You’re going to hold her down for me.”

  Regan backed away from LaShaun. “What for?”

  “The others will know you’re weak if you don’t help me. And you know how we deal with the weak,” Becky spoke in a deadly calm tone. “Remember who I am.”

  Reagan took a tentative step forward but stopped. She swallowed hard. “Mother of the new age, I know. But… her boyfriend is a head deputy or something.”

  “The ground is nice and soft here. Great place for a grave, Miss Rousselle.” Becky’s eyes narrowed. “She does have some kind of supernatural abilities. Maybe we better burn her body.”

  “She-She’s not gonna tell anybody she saw us out here, are you lady? I mean it’s not like she knows where…”

  “We can’t let her leave here, Regan. You know that, right? I mean, with her skills she’s probably figuring things out right now.” Becky gazed at LaShaun, her young face transformed by malevolence into something terrible. “She knew we were out here.”

  “But I’ve never…” Regan wavered when the reality of murdering another person hit home again. “I was so drunk that night when Elliot…”

  “I know,” Becky broke in quickly to cut her off. “Just hold her down and I’ll do it. You can close your eyes.”

  “Okay.”

  But for the fact that they were discussing how to murder her, LaShaun would have laughed. They were like two ten year olds discussing chores they’d been assigned. As the girls talked, LaShaun grimaced even more to make them comfortable that she was no threat. Meanwhile she got a firm grasp on the thick length of wood that she’d tripped over. Pretending to move in pain, LaShaun kept it hidden beneath the leaves.

  Becky nodded to her friend, and Regan circled to LaShaun’s right side. LaShaun stood straight and hefted the old broken axe handle. The jagged edge of wood would have to do since the blade was missing. Becky hesitated then took another step.

  “Grab that bitch,” Becky screamed.

  Regan rushed LaShaun, swinging both fists. LaShaun shoved Regan to the ground hard with little effort, but Becky closed in with the knife. Grunting, Becky tried to get close, but LaShaun drove her back with a swipe of the pointy wood.

  “We got you now,” Becky crowed.

  “Should you be getting into brawls with a baby on the way?” LaShaun snapped. “One kick to your tummy and no new world order.”

  “Blood and battle feed my baby. He’s born for destruction. Let’s get her, Regan,” Becky replied with a snarl.

  LaShaun’s mind worked fast to make a decision. She ignored Regan. Instead LaShaun sprang toward Becky. The offensive move surprised Becky. The split second of uncertainty gave LaShaun time to land a solid blow to the girl’s head. Stunned Becky stumbled, but she still held onto the knife. LaShaun kicked to her right fast and hard. Her boot connected to Regan’s knee with a loud pop. The girl screamed as she went down. Becky struggled to recover, but LaShaun struck her arm with all her might. The knife fell from Becky’s hand.

  “LaShaun. LaShaun!” M.J. shouted.

  LaShaun still held the old axe handle as she backed away from the two girls. Regan tried to stand but stopped when LaShaun raised her weapon. Becky lay on the ground. She rocked back and forth moaning.

  “Over here. I’m in the woods,” LaShaun yelled. Her voice came out weaker from exertion than she wished.

  “Coming from the north,” a male voice said.

  Gun drawn, M.J. reached LaShaun first. Deputy Toni Ferdinand and a male deputy flanked her. Both cautiously approached the two girls. Becky spat profanity as the female deputy kicked the knife farther from her. Regan whimpered like a toddler when t
he male deputy walked over to her.

  “She’s not armed,” LaShaun told the deputy. He nodded and holstered his gun securing it with several leather snaps before he helped Regan to her feet.

  “Get your stinking poor white trash hands off me. You know who my daddy is? He’ll have all of you fired. Fucking morons,” Becky shouted.

  “Becky says she pregnant,” LaShaun gasped out as the pain in her ankle came back.

  “I called for an ambulance crew to come out just in case,” Deputy Ferdinand told M.J.

  “Y’all can ride in my ATV to meet ‘em on the highway,” Mr. Marchand said.

  “Pregnant? Damn, this just keeps getting better and better. All right then. Just keep me updated,” M.J. replied and tapped the walkie-talkie on her hip.

  “Will do, chief.” Deputy Ferdinand hoisted Becky up with Mr. Marchand’s help. They ignored her verbal abuse as they got her into the ATV. Moments later they drove off.

  LaShaun swayed a little and leaned against a tree trunk. “How did y’all know to come out here anyway?”

  Mr. Marchand’s youngest son, Xavier, Jr., approached and offered her a canteen. “Here Miss LaShaun. I brought some water just in case.”

  “You’re a good man to have in crisis, Xavier.” LaShaun smiled at him in gratitude and accepted the canteen. Once she’d had enough, she handed it back to him.

  “Thank you, ma’am,” he said with a shy grin. He hopped on his ATV and followed his father’s trail between the trees.