Liar's Moon

by Kate Sweeney

  Neala suddenly rolled over and laughed nervously. “You have wayward hands, Miss MacCarthaigh.”

  Grayson laughed along. “Sorry.” She raised her left hand, examining the palm. “It’s this damned birthmark. It has a mind of its own.” She was a little surprised when Neala laughed and got out of bed. “I-I meant no disrespect.”

  “No, no. It’s just I have an appointment in an hour, and if we keep this up…” She laughed again and shook her head.

  “Another time?”

  Neala smiled and leaned down to Grayson, gently touching her cheek. She then placed a brief kiss against her lips. “Definitely,” she said. Grayson’s grin spread across her face as Neala ruffled her hair, then grabbed her robe. “Now go make coffee.”

  As Grayson drove back to Corky, she thought of the dreams she had the night before and of the soft kiss from Neala. She smiled as she slowly licked her lips and looked forward to what might lie ahead for them. Grayson wished all that had happened was behind them so she and Neala could really explore any feelings they might have. It was so hard to be normal now, but perhaps she and Neala could find the time together. It was a bright light at the end of this convoluted tunnel in which Grayson found herself.

  And speaking of which, Grayson remembered the dream she had the night before. Corky was in her dream as was Neala and for some reason Elinora. During the night, she had a vision of Elinora, telling her to go to the cliffs and wait for her that morning. Grayson figured she meant the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic, a few miles out of town. So she headed out and started to walk the few miles, hoping it would ease her uneasiness—it did not.

  Thinking of the immortal, Grayson laughed and scratched the back of her head. She wanted to believe Elinora was here to help her hone her newfound powers, but there was something in the back of her mind that made her uneasy. Perhaps Elinora was the reason for her restlessness. Grayson didn’t like the way this immortal got under her skin and into her mind as if she knew what Grayson was thinking, which of course she did. It unnerved and irritated her. If she were honest with herself, she’d admit Elinora captivated her. Her beauty was obvious, but the way she seemed to look right through Grayson unnerved her; it was downright intimidating. And with all this talk and dreams of a liar’s moon, Grayson didn’t need to feel any more daunted than she already did.

  She had walked nearly the entire way to the coast. The morning was overcast and damp, and with the low fog that hovered over the ground, it didn’t help her feeling of dread; she shivered and pulled the collar of her jacket up.

  You think too much.

  When Grayson heard Sebastian’s voice in her mind, she looked up to see her standing in the road, the fog swirling around her feet. Grayson thought she looked remarkably sexy in her black leather coat. The ghoul, she thought.

  I am not a ghoul. I’m a vampire.

  “Where have you been?” Grayson walked up to meet her.

  “I’ve been hanging around,” Sebastian said. “And I see we’re not alone.”

  Grayson followed her gaze to see Elinora sitting by the cliff’s edge. She looked back at the sexy smirk on her vampire friend.

  “Hey,” Grayson said to Sebastian. “What are you staring at?”

  Sebastian was indeed staring at Elinora, who was sitting in a yoga position and meditating, her eyes closed and her dark hair blowing in the wind. When Sebastian didn’t respond, Grayson poked her hard on the arm. What neither vampire nor immortal expected was the force behind the poke. Sebastian reeled backward, completely caught off-guard, as she stumbled over the rock wall.

  Grayson was stunned. She watched Sebastian tumble, her long coat flapping in the breeze, then looked down at her index finger. “I’ll be damned. I do have it.”

  In a flash, Sebastian was nose to nose with Grayson, her eyes glaring and her fangs protruding. “Not amusing in the least.”

  “You vampires are all alike.” Grayson tried not to laugh at the flustered posture. “You were staring.”

  Sebastian took a step back as they glanced at Elinora, who seemed oblivious. Sebastian opened her mouth.

  “Oh, yes, you were,” Grayson leaned in and whispered.

  “I cannot believe they made you an immortal.”

  “Just keep your fangs to yourself,” Grayson said, becoming very serious.

  Sebastian grinned, exposing said fangs. “It’s not good form for an immortal to show jealousy.”

  “I am not jealous. I’m in my protective mode.”

  “Ladies, please,” Elinora called out, her eyes still closed. “I’m trying to find my center.”

  Sebastian raised a devilish eyebrow. “Perhaps I can assist?”

  Grayson glared at her rakish pose. “You are one disgusting vampire. Don’t make me poke you again.”

  “You were extremely lucky. It will not happen again.”

  “Grayson, I am ready,” Elinora said, suddenly standing next to them. “I hope you are, as well. There is much to do.” She looked at Sebastian. “Are you going to watch, vampire?”

  “I thought I’d stay, perhaps I might help.”

  Grayson ignored her. “Okay, what’s first?”

  “I must evaluate you physically. You seem to be in fit condition.”

  Grayson sported a jaunty grin. “I try to keep fit.” She ignored Sebastian, who rolled her eyes and sat on the stone wall.

  “Very good. Let us begin. Prepare yourself.”

  What happened next was quite embarrassing for Grayson. One minute she was grinning, the next, she couldn’t breathe and was staring at the sky, flat on her back.

  “I said prepare yourself,” Elinora said, her hands on her hips.

  Grayson rolled onto her side and groaned. As she stood, she dusted off her hands. She tried to breathe but only wheezed painfully.

  “Are you all right?” Elinora asked.

  Grayson waved her off. “Fine, fine. Let’s go.”

  “This is going to be harder than I imagined. You are far too mortal and not nearly immortal enough.”

  Grayson glared at her. “Well, pardon me for being human.”

  “You cannot help it. It is not your fault. But you must use your being differently now, Grayson. Now, again.”

  It was the same. But at least Grayson got a glimpse of Elinora before she nearly sent her into another dimension.

  As she lay on her back, staring at the sky and wheezing, Sebastian’s face came into view as she bent over Grayson. “Best two out of three?” she suggested.

  “If I could get up,” Grayson said in a threatening whisper.

  Sebastian offered her hand, which Grayson took.

  Elinora shook her head. “This is going to take longer than I expected. Too human,” she mumbled.

  “I cannot watch the bloodshed.” Sebastian started to walk away.

  “Where are you going?” Grayson asked, still flexing her back.

  “I want to talk to your historian and see if he can shed some light on the book.”

  As Sebastian walked away, Elinora said, “Good, the vampire was a distraction.”

  “For whom?” Grayson asked.

  Elinora watched Sebastian’s exit. She turned to Grayson. “For you. I sense the camaraderie between you but also a competitiveness that is not productive for you. So it is a distraction.”

  “Hmm. I thought maybe you thought she was attractive.”

  Elinora sighed. “Emotions again. They will be your downfall.”

  “Not in the human world, goddess.”

  “I am not a goddess. If I were, I would not have to be here trying to get a human to act like an immortal. You understand this is a gift, do you not?”

  Grayson looked at Elinora. She was certainly attractive. Her brown hair was long and shiny, and her eyes matched that coloring.

  “We will not have sexual relations.”

  Grayson laughed nervously. “I’m only human.”

  “A major point, unfortunately. I can see I need to take a different tack. Come with me.”
/>
  Elinora walked back toward the cliff’s edge. Grayson followed without a word. She watched as Elinora walked to the edge and closed her eyes. Grayson stood behind her, noticing how her feet were precariously close to the edge. Below was the Atlantic, a sheer drop of six hundred feet or so. When the tourist season starts, this area would be flooded with people getting a glimpse of the Cliffs of Moher, but now, they were alone.

  Grayson said nothing as Elinora inched her way to the edge. She extended her arms, and it struck Grayson that she looked like the woman on the bow of the Titanic in the movie.

  Grayson’s body tensed, ready to leap and save this eccentric goddess, immortal, whatever she was, before she went over the cliff.

  Elinora turned around and opened her eyes. She looked at Grayson and gave her a challenging look. “Would you save me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Even if it meant you might die, as well?”

  “I wouldn’t.”

  “Save me?”

  “I wouldn’t die and neither would you.”

  “And how would you be so sure that would not happen?”

  Grayson thought for a moment, glancing at her feet still at the edge of the cliff. The wind whipped around them, but something deep in Grayson knew. “I just know.”

  Elinora smiled. “The knowing.”

  Grayson remembered how not long ago she stood in that dark dwelling, hearing the whispers of all those who lived before her. All of them telling her of what was and what happened to bring her to this point. She remembered the voice telling her about the knowing. She remembered seeing her mother and Vic, both telling her how she must go on. It was her destiny, she was the true descendant. That all those who lived before her paved the way for this moment. God, how she missed her mother and Vic and the life she knew before all this Celtic mythology and true descendant destiny bullshit.

  Elinora shook her head and walked away from the cliff. “You are a stubborn mortal, Grayson MacCarthaigh. It is not bullshit, as you put it. But you have to realize it yourself and believe it. Until then, you a mere mortal who doesn’t have the strength or courage to accept the gift that has been given to her. You are a coward.”

  Grayson grabbed her arm as Elinora started to walk away from her. “What the fuck do you know about this? I lost my wife and my unborn child when Vic gave her life for me. I lost my mother, who gave her life for me.” She grabbed Elinora by the shoulders. “I don’t want this, do you understand me? I want my fucking life back.” She shook Elinora and continued. “And I’m not a coward. So fuck you!”

  Elinora, with lightning quickness, pushed Grayson’s hands off her shoulders and made an offensive move to strike Grayson, who with equal quickness, fended off not one but two, three, and four blows.

  Without Grayson knowing it, Elinora had backed her up to the cliff’s edge. For each attack Elinora started, Grayson defended herself. Grayson was not thinking; she was reacting to Elinora and aware of how her heart pounded in her chest, how her muscles and entire body seemed on fire and liquid at the same time, as if she had no body mass at all. Everything was reeling in her mind, but she continued to fend off each blow. Elinora sent a sweeping kick toward Grayson, who sidestepped and blocked it with her forearm. Again and again, they sparred at the cliff’s edge.

  Finally, Elinora backed off and grinned. Grayson felt like her heart would explode; sweat poured off her body as she stood, feeling the sweat drip into her eyes. Suddenly, she felt her legs shaking with fatigue and fell on all fours, gulping for air.

  Elinora reached down and grabbed a handful of Grayson’s wet hair, roughly pulling her head back. Grayson swallowed, still trying to catch her breath as she looked up; she didn’t like this vulnerable position, but she was too exhausted to fight. She looked into Elinora’s deep brown eyes and tried to breathe.

  “You are not a coward. Though you have known much pain and loss, you will know more, I am afraid. You are of noble birth. I see the pain, the sorrow, and the joy you have known in life. For some reason, the gods and goddesses have allowed you to keep your mortality. I do not know why, but it is not for me or you to ask. All will be revealed to you in time. But for now, you have done well.”

  Grayson blinked the sweat out of her eyes. “Can you let me up now?”

  Elinora raised an eyebrow; she still had hold of Grayson’s hair. “I do not keep you on your knees.” She knelt in front of Grayson, who sat back on her heels, her hands resting on her thighs, which were still burning. Elinora smiled. “You are limited by one thing. Yourself.”

  Grayson ran her fingers through her wet hair. “I know I need to accept all that has happened. It’s just so much so fast.” She stopped and shrugged. “I’m not feeling sorry for myself.”

  “No one would blame you if you did. The unfortunate situation for you is you have no time for self-doubt or pity. And for that I am sorry.” Grayson looked deep into Elinora’s eyes as she leaned forward. “You must go on.”

  Grayson nodded and grinned. “So I did good?”

  “Yes, for a mortal.” She stood and offered her hand, which Grayson took.

  Grayson groaned painfully and flexed her shoulder.

  “You are injured?”

  “No,” Grayson said and laughed. “I just have never had a workout that intense.”

  “Stand still.” Elinora rubbed her hands together. “Take off your sweater.”

  Grayson hesitated but did as she was told.

  “Now unbutton your shirt.” Elinora was still rubbing her palms together.

  Grayson looked around but complied. She gasped when Elinora stuck her hand in her shirt and rubbed her shoulder; her hand felt red hot on her skin.

  Grayson winced. “Hey, for chrissakes!” She writhed beneath Elinora’s healing hands.

  “Do not be such a mortal,” Elinora said and continued.

  Suddenly, the pain was gone and her shoulder tingled. Elinora pulled her hand away. “There is no more pain.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Miyagi.” Grayson flexed her shoulder and laughed at the confused look from Elinora. “It’s from a movie…” She saw the befuddled look and waved her off. “Skip it.”

  “This is sufficient for now. You have done more than I expected. Perhaps your human emotions will not be such a hindrance.” She stopped and put her hand on Grayson’s arm. “But make no mistake, you must try and think more like an immortal for your powers to work for you. You were angry when we fought, and you did well, but you must learn and focus your anger and make it work for you. Do you understand?”

  “Yeah, I get it. It’s just so foreign.” Grayson shrugged. “Thanks for helping me.”

  Elinora cocked her head. “I see an unassuming charm in you. Not the arrogance of the vampire.”

  Grayson laughed openly. “Well, you know vampires.”

  “Yes. Although I have not encountered that many in my travels through the centuries, I find them to be very arrogant immortals. It comes from not having to ask for anything. They take whatever they want.”

  “You sound as though you speak from experience. What has your life been like? Can we sit?” Grayson rubbed the back of her thigh.

  “Are you still in pain?” Elinora reached around to touch Grayson.

  Grayson scooted out of the way and felt the color rush to her face. “No, no. I’m fine.”

  For a moment, Elinora seemed confused, then she nodded. “I see. You are attracted to me and are having sexual thoughts.”

  “Well, you are beautiful,” Grayson said, feeling very uncomfortable and not from the pain in her ass. She sat on the stone wall and let out a sigh of relief.

  Elinora stood in front of her. “Yes, you are of noble birth. The vampire would be naked by now.”

  “Well, don’t hold that against her.” Grayson gingerly sat on the wall. “Where are you from, Elinora?”

  Elinora smiled. “And why do you want to know?”

  “Why not?” Grayson countered with a shrug.

  “It is not a good idea to become
familiar with mortals.”

  “But I’m not just a mortal.”

  “True, but right now you are more mortal than immortal, and that is a dangerous thing.”

  “Why?” Grayson picked up a stone and absently threw it down the dirt path.

  “You mortals are far too emotional. But what I find odd is the vampire.”

  “This whole thing is odd,” Grayson said. “But why do you find Sebastian odd?”

  “For an immortal and the undead, she exhibits human qualities. This is completely reverse behavior from their kind.”

  “Honestly, I have never come across one, and I thought there was no such thing. Only in the movies and books.”

  “Oh, there is a whole new dimension you do not even know exists.” Elinora waved her hand around. “You must be prepared to believe that which will not come easy to you.”

  Those words made Grayson stop and think; she heard them before. When she realized, she smiled. “Sister Daniel said those words to me as a young girl when I left Ireland for America.”

  Elinora nodded in agreement. “In the Celtic universe, she is the mother of us all. Before Brigid, Morrighan, Bran, and the rest known only as mythology, Danu was the first.”

  “I had no idea Sister Daniel was a goddess all that time.”

  “You were chosen long, long ago, long before all of them. Sister Daniel was here to see the prophecy unfold. Even she was not sure about your destiny.”

  Grayson took a deep breath, still trying to absorb all of this. “Will there be more? I mean prophecies?”

  “Your historian has the key in the book that was entrusted to him. You must protect him, as well. He has no idea how valuable he is to you and to Ireland.”

  “Was he chosen, as well?”

  “No, Corky is a true believer as was his father and throughout his lineage. We may all have our destiny, but your historian has made his own destiny.”

  “That’s what I mean. Corky loves this shit and lives for it. Why not have him be the true descendant?”

  “It is not a popularity contest.”

  “And what about Neala? You haven’t met her yet, but—”

  “She’s the curator of the National Museum in Dublin. When you met her, you considered her a suspect in a murder case in which you were working. You believe it is all related to this, and she protected the stone, like your mother.”