Of Sun & Moon (Midnight Guardian Series, Book 1)

by Bryna Butler

  Chapter 24: The Birthday Party

  Keira worked her way through her crowded backyard with a platter full of raw hamburgers. For every person she knew, there were at least three that she didn’t know. Yet, they all seemed to know her and call her by name. A white-haired man stopped her at the back door to congratulate her on completing her first year of high school. A skinny blond stopped her at the garden gate to ask where she could find Nana. Finally, Keira could see her goal. August was standing at the barbeque, clad in a “Licensed to Grill” apron, waiting for her arrival. He was excited to take on this fatherly tradition, a perfectly normal human duty.

  Keira rushed toward him, hoping to not be stopped again. Two excited boys, playing tag, ran past her and she lifted the platter above her head to avoid an incident. The younger, an especially mischievous sun kissed-blond, grabbed onto her waist and tried to use her as a human shield. As the other boy came close, he pushed her, which threw her out of balance and launched the tray full of burgers into the air. She twirled around and caught herself, the tray, and the food. When she came to a stop her nose was just inches away from Colby’s face.

  “Smooth.”

  Keira straightened and handed the platter to her father.

  “Thank you, sweetheart,” August said.

  “Where’d you come from?” Keira asked Colby.

  “Oh, I’ve been here for a while, just catching up with your Dad.”

  “See you later, Colby,” August nodded, giving them a convenient exit.

  Colby took Keira’s hand. The half moon hung high in a cloudless sky. The backyard was magic and full of life. White lights twinkled in the shrubs and trees. Little magical beings that looked like pinpoints of blue light (Nana called them will ‘o wisps) danced and chased each other above the crowd. A few guests brought guitars and assorted alien-looking instruments. They started an impromptu jam session on the back porch. Their music filled the air. Colby was dazzled by all that surrounded him. He hadn’t even noticed that Keira had led him back to the house. They walked inside and sat at the kitchen table, overlooking the backyard crowd.

  “I can’t believe there are so many people here,” Colby commented. “Oh wait, that sounded bad. I didn’t mean that Nana doesn’t have any friends.”

  “Don’t worry. I was thinking the same thing. I think that most of them are of the magical variety. I don’t know any of these people.”

  “Really? They know you. I heard several of them talking. They’re very complimentary. If they don’t even know you, you must be developing a stellar reputation.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, I suppose you are becoming sort of a warrior princess of the tooth fairies,” he laughed.

  “Shut up, someone is going to hear you. Anyway, they should be here for Nana. It’s her birthday after all.”

  “Speaking of Nana, how old is she?”

  She had been waiting for him to ask. “Five hundred and she just earned her fifth tail, so it’s a big deal.”

  She meant for her response to jar Colby. She enjoyed seeing him squirm. Behind his composure, she could almost see the debate raging in his head…should he shrug it off or should he ask? Finally, his curiosity gave in.

  “Tail, huh?”

  “Yeah, it’s not her ninth, but five are still very powerful.” She wasn’t going to help him out on this one.

  However, Colby was not so quick to give up. “So she’s a…”

  Keira didn’t respond. She just sat smiling.

  Colby could see that trying to solicit the answer from her was useless. He mulled it over. “She’s a tooth fairy too?”

  “Try again.”

  In his head, he rummaged through stories of fictional characters…ones with tails. “Is she a werewolf?”

  You’re getting warmer.”

  “Ok, maybe not a werewolf, but a were-something?”

  Keira was enjoying this a little too much. She knew that the perfectly normal Colby would never identify the perfectly abnormal and rare creature that she called Nana. So, out of guilt, she decided to help. “You’re pretty much right. She turns into a fox.” She quickly corrected herself, “Sort of a magical fox.”

  “Magical fox,” Colby repeated thoughtfully.

  “She’s actually a kitsune. She can turn from fox to human as she likes and she has some other awesome powers.”

  “Okay, now you’re just pulling my leg.”

  “No, it’s true. In her fox form, she has five tails and with each new tail, she gets a new power. Nine’s the most I’ve ever heard of.”

  “So she just got a new power?” Colby asked, allowing himself to believe Keira’s explanation.

  “Possession. I’m hoping it’s not as creepy as it sounds.”

  “Sure.”

  “That was a little too fast, wasn’t it? Too much information?”

  “No. It’s just really different. I guess it doesn’t come as a complete shock that a prodigal guardian would have a magical caretaker,” he validated, trying to shake off his uneasiness. “She’s five hundred, huh?”

  “Yeah, cool huh?” Keira said, but she noticed Colby’s expression change. “Why the face?”

  “Sorry. That’s great for her, but…”

  “But?”

  “I was just wondering if you will leave me behind when I’m tottering along with a walker and you’re still young and beautiful.”

  Keira couldn’t help but blush at the word ‘beautiful’. Even with all her confidence, she had never thought of herself that way.

  She took his hand across the table and stroked it a couple of times. Then she turned it over, palm up. She traced the lines of his palm slowly with her finger as she spoke. “Remember when we were three and we got into your mom’s makeup?”

  He nodded.

  She continued, “Remember when we were five and I dragged you into the classroom on our first day of kindergarten?”

  He nodded again.

  “Remember when we were eight and we had our first camping trip in the backyard?”

  He nodded again, this time with a chuckle.

  “I’m not a kitsune. I age the same as you, the same as any human,” she smiled and looked up into his eyes. She took one hand away and reached in her pocket before continuing, “But guardians have access to a place where time moves slower. A guardian can even take a human there, although it’s sort of frowned upon. Anyway, guardians aren’t immortal, but spending some time across the barrier has an advantage.”

  She held up a leather cord bracelet with a dime-sized, stamped copper piece dangling from it. The pseudo coin had strange markings and the universal symbol for eternity etched upon it.

  “Hey, that looks like the good luck charm that your Mom gave me before the showdown with Bov.” He examined it, “But this one’s a little different.”

  “It’s called an Atlantis token.”

  “Oh, so it’s magically lucky?”

  She laughed. It felt good to laugh, but she felt it most prudent to continue. “Well, you’ve heard of Atlantis, right?”

  “Sure, the lost city of Atlantis. The city was, I think, swallowed up by the sea, or something like that.”

  “The version that I was told goes a little differently, but it starts the same as any other bedtime story…”

  Once upon a time…

  A band of explorers were returning home after a long journey. Their expedition had taken more than two decades to complete. They now were making their way through Greece. Once they reached Athens, it would only be a few days more by ship to reach their homeland. When they, at last, reached the city, the weary travelers sought supplies and a night’s refuge before embarking on the final leg of their journey.

  They found the city of Athens to be glorious and progressive. The citizens welcomed the strangers with open arms, even though they were creatures, like none they had ever seen before. Mogdoc was the name they grunted. The guttural name bubbled up from the primordial mud out of which they craw
led. Of course, that’s not how they made their first impression.

  They looked like monsters, but they were not judged on appearance. The kind-hearted people embraced their differences and took them in. They gave them warm food, cold drink, and soft beds. The mogdocs, no longer thinking of home, found excuses to stay first one night, then another, and another.

  On the third night, the mogdocs were the special guests of a general in the Athenian army. The youngest female mogdoc, equivalent to a human of 6-years-old, had become fast friends with the general’s daughter. They spent every waking moment together. They skipped arm-in-arm, shared toys, and even played tea party with sweet drink and cake. On that night, the third night, the young mogdoc snuck out of bed for a midnight snack. She crept down the stairs, stole an apple from the kitchen, and slipped into the rose garden. To her astonishment, her friend, the general’s daughter was already there. The young girl was seated on a concrete bench at the garden’s edge. As the mogdoc got closer, she could see that the girl was crying. A rose thorn had pierced her finger. The tiny mogdoc took her finger, pulled out the thorn, and sniffed the blood.

  In those days, mogdocs carried pouches of healing herbs. The elder mogdocs still carry them today as a reminder of this story. This young mogdoc had one and immediately delved into it. She pulled out some sweet smelling herbs and wrapped them around her friend’s finger. This made the young girl feel better. She hugged her mogdoc friend before returning to bed.

  The next morning, the girl told her father of how the curious stranger had nursed her finger. The general was delighted and in gratitude invited the mogdoc clan to extend their stay. So, over the next few days, the mogdocs continued to stay at the general’s home. The children’s midnight meeting in the garden became a nightly occurrence. On the sixth night, the mogdoc was the first to arrive in the garden. The human girl skipped to the bench. The young mogdoc smiled at her friend and offered her a bite of her midnight snack. The general’s daughter screamed in horror. There was no apple. That night’s midnight snack was a human infant, blue and drained of blood. The young mogdoc took delight in the girl’s fear. She slashed the girl’s neck and fed from her friend until she was no more.

  This story has been handed down from generation to generation as a testament to the manipulative nature of the mogdocs and the evil found in even the youngest of their kind. The mogdoc child had befriended the human girl to gain access. She had played tea party to sweeten the blood. She had healed her a few nights before out of greed, in order to save every drop of blood until the time was right.

  The next morning, there was no way to cover up the sins of the young mogdoc. The creatures were expelled from the city and fled into the sea. However, the mogdocs were not humbled by their punishment. When they reached their home port, their story only fanned a flame of contempt. Mogdoc hatred for humans and lust for human blood soon grew out of control. A great naval power, the mogdoc city of Atlantis amassed their fleet on a mission to destroy humankind, starting with the city of Athens.

  Thankfully, the Athenians won the battle and successfully defended their home, but at great cost. The beautiful city was left in ruin. Many died that day and it was certain that the beasts would try again. The few survivors gathered at a fountain near the heart of the city. That is when the surviving guardians made the drastic decision to stop the spread of the mogdoc scourge and protect the human race at all cost. It was a decision that would change the world forever. They cast a spell. It was magic so epic that it had never been performed successfully before or since. With the spell, they banished Atlantis and the entire continent upon which it stood; effectively sealing off humans from the Mogdoc Empire. Only the guardians could walk on both sides of the barrier that separated the two.

  Keira held the coin up to the light.

  As the last word of the spell was spoken, the city of Atlantis shook and the waters of the Atlantic swirled above the highest tower. Fear rocked the citizens for an entire day and into the night. By midnight, it was over and Atlantis was gone. Knowing that the empire was forever banished from the Earth into its own realm, the Athenians took a cleansing breath of relief. But it didn’t last.

  The strongest magic is based in passion, so the survivors cast their spell in haste while emotions were still running high. They did not immediately foresee the consequences of their actions.

  As they began to assess the damage done during the great battle; they quickly realized that there was more missing than dead. The mogdocs had taken prisoners. These humans were now trapped by the magic intended to save them. The survivors were lucky that the banishment spell worked the first time. There was no guarantee that they could do it again. Knowing that it would be too dangerous to re-introduce the Mogdoc Empire back into the world, the survivors cast a second spell. This time they used the only thing that had not been destroyed by the attack. It was the only thing they had in abundant supply, the coins from the fountain at the city’s center. They charmed the coins; allowing any human who holds one to pass through the barrier between this world and Atlantis. Then the guardians, who could pass between the realms, seeded the coins in the mogdoc dungeons. They weren’t able to free everyone, but many were saved by their efforts.

  Keira held the coin still. Colby couldn’t help but notice that it didn’t shimmer or sparkle or really do anything significant. From afar it just looked like an old, smashed penny.

  “On the continent of Atlantis, time moves slower. It’s a side effect from the spell. Some guardians even have homes in the mountains above the city; allowing them to avoid mogdocs, but still get the anti-aging benefits. Mom and Dad live in a village near one of the peaks. From what I understand, humans, especially charges, are not usually allowed because of the danger, but it seems that Dad is really good at getting what he wants.”

  “I can’t argue that.”

  “Yeah, well, even though you didn’t know what it was at the time, Mom let you borrow her token so that you could cross the barrier to meet Bov.”

  “But we went to Dubai, not to some banished magical city.”

  She nodded, waiting for him to catch up.

  “Oh, I get it. When we started out, we didn’t know where we would end up.”

  “Yeah, we didn’t know where the threshold was going to lead. If you tried to go through the mogdoc’s threshold and it led to Atlantis, you wouldn’t have been able to pass through the barrier. You would have been stuck in between.”

  Colby very visibly gulped. “Wait a sec, if nothing but guardians and coin-holding humans can get through, then why do we have a mogdoc problem?”

  “Bo Gammen, Bov’s father, found a way around the spell so that Bov could pass through. There are those that have kept an eye on him, but it was only him that could cross the barrier. One mogdoc wasn’t enough to cause worry, but it looks like he has improved upon his father’s design. He pulled the whole Sect of Low through the barrier like it was nothing. If they figure out how to transport an army or even destroy the barrier entirely…”

  “It won’t come to that. Wait,” he stared away thinking, focusing on the picture in his memory.

  “What?”

  Colby shook his head. “He didn’t pull the Sect through. He just pulled me and I was wearing your mom’s token. She brought the Sect through the barrier. They were holding on to her as they passed through.”

  Keira hadn’t realized it before, but he was right. Yet, in her mind, it didn’t change anything. “Now is the time to put an end to it.”

  Colby lowered his head. He knew immediately where this conversation was leading. “Go ahead, I know there’s more to it,” he mumbled.

  “They know who I am now and they’ve attacked. My parents are going home so that they can rally support in case we need it. They plan to leave in three days. ”

  “And you’re going to miss them?” Colby suggested hopefully.

  “Having the warrior princess of the tooth fairies pleading her case in person is bound to solicit better re
sults, don’t you think?”

  “You’re going with them?”

  She ignored the question and concentrated on the coin. “Like I said before, these coins are very rare. Two nights ago, Dad gave me this one. It belonged to my great grandfather,” she said dangling the flattened coin. “This is the only one I’ll ever own. And now it belongs to you.”

  “I…uh…,” Colby stumbled.

  “Speechless?”

  “Keira, I can’t…”

  She looked deep into his blue eyes. “I want you to have it,” she said slipping it into his palm. He held it tightly and nodded.

  “Whew,” she jumped up from her chair. “Too much drama, bring on the birthday cake!”

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  Bryna Butler – Midnight Guardian Series

  SNEAK PEEK

  Keep reading for a special sneak preview of Book 2 in the Midnight Guardian Series coming Summer 2011.

  Someone had left the window open. The warm, summer air wafted through the darkened bedroom. An overstuffed teddy bear was the only witness as the light grew brighter and brighter.

  “And then you lift the child like so,” he placed a hand under the child’s back and elevated her slightly.

  “Or like this.” Keira took hold of the sleeping girl’s wrists and waved them side to side, mimicking hula dancing.

  Arden glared at her. She rolled her eyes, but lowered the girl’s arms. Keira stood up and moved away as he continued.

  “Then in one hand, you hold the vox and position it directly in front of the sternum. Hold it against the charge’s body.” A thick British accent lent his speech a condescending edge.

  “Yeah, I got it,” Keira whispered as she wandered absentmindedly to the window.

  He looked to her. “Are you even paying attention?”

  “Kid. Vox. Coil. I said I got it,” she huffed without a look at him.

  “The vox takes several minutes to pass. However, after it completely dissipates, do not dilly-dally. Release the child for the coil will manifest itself promptly.”

  “Duh.”

  Arden jerked his head up. “What the…”

  Keira thought he was responding to her comment until she turned to see the glowing green eyes and a burst of crimson. A mogdoc, hidden within the canopy above the bed, had lowered itself and surprised Arden. It slashed his cheek, causing him to drop the vox. Arden smacked the creature into the wall with so much force that its head broke through the drywall. The commotion woke the child. Startled, she screamed and knocked the vox from the blankets onto the floor. The mogdoc seized her and scrambled up the bed post. It dangled her by the neck from its perch on the canopy crossbeams. The girl kicked the air, gasping for breath. So strong, the creature held her neck in a single hand as it clung to the canopy with the other.

  Keira could hear worried shouts as rushed footsteps hit the hallway. She leapt to the door and locked it. “Hurry, Arden. The parents are coming!” She braced the door as the girl’s parents started to beat against it. Their frantic voices were muffled; Keira turned her attention back to the bed.

  Arden, with a dagger in hand, stood on the mattress. His dark brown eyes were locked on the mogdoc, waiting for an opening. Seeing that he had the upper hand, the mogdoc wickedly smiled. It pressed its thumb into the girl’s neck. The sharp thumbnail pierced her skin. The girl’s eyes widened as the creature lowered its head to lick the drops of blood that escaped. Keira felt as though the world fell into slow motion, but only seconds passed. The mogdoc tightened its grip and a tear ran down the girl’s cheek. She stopped struggling and gasped one last time. Satisfied, it dropped her limp body. The creature shrieked triumphantly and dove out the open window into the night.

  Fury flamed in Keira’s eyes. She pulled a dagger from her boot and rushed after the creature.

  “Wait,” Arden ordered.

  The door was quiet. The parents probably went to get help or find an ax or something, Keira thought. She didn’t want to be there when they came back and saw that their daughter was…no, she couldn’t even think it.

  “It’s getting away,” Keira pleaded, but instead of following, she stopped, fixed by the sight of the child in Arden’s arms. She looked like a doll with eyes closed and mouth open.

  “There’s a pulse and she’s breathing again. There’s still time,” he said. “Get the vox.”

  “It doesn’t heal,” Keira said as she reached under the bed and lifted it to him.

  “I know.”

  He placed the vox to the girl’s chest. Its light slowly disappeared and the wind picked up. He lowered the girl to the bed.

  “What are you doing? We have to take her with us.”

  “That is not permitted.”

  “She needs help. She’ll die.”

  “I said no.”

  He grabbed Keira’s hand. She kicked him, but he was stronger. He yanked her into the coil and they were gone.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  After graduating with the honor of Outstanding Communications Student from the University of Rio Grande in southeastern Ohio, Bryna Butler settled down with her high school sweetheart on their family farm along the banks of the Ohio River. Life on the farm is never dull, especially with their two young sons who fearlessly provide constant entertainment.