Moon Rising: A Wolfland Novel: Four - Book Part Vampire and Wolf series. (The Wolfland Saga)

by E. S Night

  “You are welcome. Her name is Anna Landon, the writer of Apprehension and reasoning of –”

  “The mind.” I interrupted. “I can’t believe it, she’s one of my favourite authors, what is she doing here? Thank you so much Claire!”

  “No problem.” Claire chuckled at my eagerness. “Yes, so no need to come into college this week, just go straight to her address from 11am to 3pm. She will expect you. She lives at 23 Clementine walk on St Mary’s island. I hope you have a great time, although I'd better be going now Abigail, good luck and I can’t wait to read your work.” She said, sounding late for something.

  I couldn’t believe it! I would meet Anna Landon today and work with her on MY

  coursework. Nothing this good ever happens. I fixed my eyes on the alarm clock and crap! It was quarter past ten. I grabbed all the paperwork, attempting at the last minute to arrange my coursework into some kind of order that would impress Anna. It was a lost cause; I didn’t have the time to do it after the aftermath of last night. I didn’t want to barrage her with excuses about my lack of organisation, I only hoped that Anna would be gracious enough to not criticise my shortcomings.

  Irritated by my lack of preparation I hurled my coursework into my shoulder bag and left my mobile phone in my room. Sprinting down the stairs, I informed my uncle about my meeting with the author, it was clear from his face he didn't understand who she was, but he still congratulated me with enthusiasm and knew I needed to go. He agreed to update my mum as soon as she got home. After what transpired last night I’m sure my mum would rather I’d have stayed home, but I wasn’t about to contemplate missing this opportunity.

  I was running late, too late. I used the shortcut through the woods again. The wind was much gentler today; a soft breeze blew through

  the olive painted trees. The leaves danced in the warm air, drawing them away from the late autumn ground. The picturesque scene of the woods failed to distract me from the constant paranoia that someone, something was still tracking me. Wickedness lurked deep within the trees, watching my every step or at least that's how it felt. I reached the top of the road and I felt safer knowing the cars passing by would see me.

  Hiking further up the precipitous hill, I saw what was the most beautiful house. The building was incomparable to any other I had ever seen. I saw the soaring columns at the front of the house, friezes and curved windows twenty feet high. The garden was impeccable regardless of winter descending. As I walked forward stillness echoed in the landscape, it brought tears to my eyes. This garden was trying to talk as if it held a profound secret and now wanted to tell someone, and that someone was me.

  I approached the front steps of the house gasping at the entire peaceful environment, it seemed like a dream. I knocked at the heavy, wooden door and questioned my sanity, I knew I'd been here before. In my mind, I'd already

  experienced this; I’d been here thousands of times before this moment. My fear had grown too much, and I became terrified of what was behind the door, was I losing my mind? I fired up to run and got as far as the shrubs near the steps when I heard a soft tender voice speak from the porch.

  “Hello? Can I help you?” The Irish voice mumbled.

  I don’t know what happened, but I stood still, not knowing why I was so afraid to turn around. I found the strength from somewhere to move my body towards the door. My pulse stopped, I'm sure of it as I gazed upon the man’s face. I wished my mind would tell my mouth the words to say. I stared into his eyes for what felt like hours, still not moving an inch.

  My lips whispered. “It’s you.” I said upset. “Grayson?” I asked mystified at the name I’d just said aloud. It wasn't the man I had all those dreams about, it couldn’t be, this wasn’t real.

  Grayson frowned confused by my behaviour. “Yes. I’m Grayson, do I know you?”

  I answered him with the truth as I knew it. “I think we’re supposed to meet, my name is Abigail.

  Chapter Four

  Impossible

  ​

  Grayson’s face was even more impressive in reality. Unbelievable. It was him. The person who had been haunting my nights with his beautiful presence, the man I had fallen head over heels in love with was standing right in front of me. He was how I pictured him, the roguish man with a rebellious untamed lock of hair and a soft Northern Irish accent.

  Standing outside with him, I must confess, he made me anxious. There’s a strong sense of pain behind his eyes, it's captivating, his stare makes you feel like he can see straight into your soul. He has the strongest eyes I have ever seen and much like in my dream; he has one green and one blue. There’s a sense of danger that completes Grayson, a flawed character with a definite arrogance and superiority complex. A person who seems to have forgotten what it’s like to have any humanity, but still there’s something beautiful in that. I had met him for only a few minutes, but I learned so much.

  “Who is it? Is it Abigail?” Another voice

  through the hallway asked.

  “Yeah Anna, she’s here.” Grayson said, appearing to struggle for words.

  She sighed. “Hello! Welcome Abigail, why didn’t you invite her in?”

  “Oh, it was my fault, I tripped on the step, I was just getting up.”

  Anna's polite expression turned to concern. “Are you alright?”

  “Erm. I'm fine.” I smiled, glancing down at my shoes, trying to turn my face away from Grayson.

  “Good, come with me; we have a lot of work to do, don’t we?” Anna made me feel like she was excited to be working with me. I pushed past Grayson as he stood in the doorway; it was as if he wanted me to touch him. I felt his frustration from not being able to continue our conversation. I yearned for him to talk even though the thought of it sent a chill all the way through my body.

  I entered the house and my eyes searched the spectacular entrance hall. The space was bursting with large, brown boxes, they had after all only moved in yesterday. I couldn’t believe Anna had agreed to have me over; things must

  be so hectic around here.

  My tutor had most likely begged Anna to do this for me. I diverted my thoughts to the panelled library. The door was wide open, giving me a remarkable view of the overflowing assembly of books. Downstairs the house had a double reception room and I could just about peer into the two oversized dining rooms. This building was colossal. The hallway alone was almost the size of my entire upstairs and that was including the B&B. Anna and Grayson sensed my admiration for the house which must have prompted Anna’s scheming.

  “After our get-together Abigail, Grayson should take you for a tour around the house?” She suggested.

  He looked at me. “Yes, I can do that.”

  “Sure, I’d love that, your house is beautiful.” Anna nudged me into another hallway, which meant that I was heading further away from Grayson. I turned my head back to see him and he was still standing in the same spot intent on following me with his eyes.

  “I’m sorry about Grayson, Abigail. He is an acquired taste if you catch my drift. Socially handicapped the family call it.” She expressed,

  annoying the hell out of me, although her Irish accent was making listening to her a little more bearable.

  “He seemed nice.” I said scrunching my face at her impoliteness. A slight snigger from around the corner echoed. Anna and I both aware that it was Grayson laughing at my inability to keep my feelings to myself.

  “Come along Abi, we can work in here.” She explained, gesturing to the glasshouse attached to the living room. It was a beautiful day, so I understood why she wanted us to work in here. I was waiting for the seconds to pass, eager to have my tour with Grayson.

  However, a few minutes into the session I found that Anna’s guidance was priceless, her opinions were amazing, and she extracted information from me like the pro she was. I stopped thinking about Grayson for like fifteen minutes, so that alone means she’s good at what she does. Her red pen took a battering too, my coursework looks like it's take
n a right old beating. Full of helpful tips I'm sure.

  “Grayson!” Anna shouted as I collected my things.

  He must not have kept much distance

  because it only took him seconds to enter the room. “Are you ready?”

  I smiled. “Yes.” I turned back to Anna. “Thank you so much for helping me, I mean it. It was amazing meeting you.” I babbled.

  She beamed. “No problem Abigail. You're a joy to work with. Same time tomorrow?”

  “Yes. Definitely.” I said, prompting Anna to leave the room. We paused for a moment, both waiting for the other to speak first.

  Luckily for me it was Grayson. “So, how was it?” He smirked.

  “You should know? Weren’t you listening to half of it?”

  “What do you mean?” He said, knowing exactly what I was talking about.

  I sighed. “Oh, so that wasn’t you going into the kitchen like eight times for a glass of water?”

  He smiled. “So, you were keeping tabs on me then?” That was the first genuine smile I’d seen from him and he was directing it at me.

  “Don’t flatter yourself.” I moved in front of him in the hallway. I had barely reached the staircase when a voice startled me from the balcony.

  “Hello. Now who would you be?” An elderly man appeared. Before Grayson had a chance to

  answer, I interrupted, proving my nerves.

  “I’m Abigail.” I hoped that he would forgive my boldness.

  “Do you have a last name Abigail?” He said snapping at me.

  I cleared my throat. “It’s Lawson. Abigail Lawson sir.” I attempted to show him some respect.

  He grew more angry by my presence. “Oh dearie, please don’t call me sir, I’m an old man, but I’d prefer it if you didn’t make me feel like one.”

  “I’m sorry. I think I’d better go.” I stuttered like an idiot - trying to save myself from any more awkwardness.

  “Grandpa behave, I apologise for him Abigail, he’s just sharp sometimes, and he doesn’t mean to offend you.” Grayson spoke.

  Something seemed to bother his granddad. “Offend her, she offended me!”

  “Enough!” Grayson roared guarding me.

  “No, it’s fine. I should go anyway. Erm, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  I scampered out of the house, drained from the experience. I could still hear Grayson’s granddad talking about me from behind the door.

  I didn’t want to get into a dispute over nothing with what appeared to be a close knit family. I understood that Grayson and his family were from Northern Ireland from what Anna was saying earlier. I've visited Ireland before on a school trip when I was sixteen and there's a certain charm that exudes from the locals. I have no clue where Grayson’s grandfather fitted into that positive stereotype, but he wasn’t being very pleasant to me.

  “You would take her round the house. What is wrong with you boy!” He yelled at Grayson.

  I didn’t understand what had just happened. I needed to go home and make sense of it all. How could I be seeing him in the real world? I wanted to talk to my mum about the whole thing; she would help me try to understand what was going on. My mind was exploding with logical explanations of how all of this was possible when I heard Grayson’s sweet voice calling after me.

  “Abigail, wait!”

  I looked back. “Grayson, what are you doing?”

  He caught up to me. “I wasn't just going to let you leave like that. I am so sorry about him. I’m sorry just please come back.” Grayson begged.

  “I can’t! I should get home. There was a break–in yesterday at my house, my mum’s probably going insane as we speak, I need to go!” I said, trying to push him away.

  Grayson pressed. “A break–in, are you serious! Who did it?”

  “I don’t know! I’m sorry I have to go!” I shouted, trying to run faster so he wouldn’t follow me any further.

  “Abigail! What’s wrong?” he screeched from behind me. “When you first saw me, you knew me! How did you know my name?” Grayson continued to yell at me until I moved out of sight.

  I should have been moving towards him not running away in the opposite direction. Grayson’s granddad intimidated me and then it all sank in, snapping me back into reality. It wasn’t a dream any more. I was incapable of staying there for even a minute longer. How could I even have gone in that house!

  That’s what I do, I run away from the things that scare me, I always have. My ex–boyfriend Jackson understood this better than anyone. I was with him for a long time, four years, long enough to make me think I knew what love was, anyway. Things became more serious. Four

  years Jackson waited for me and I'd decided that he would be the one.

  In spite of my decision every time we planned for it to happen something always went wrong, like my mum would come home out of the blue or my brother would bring friends round. The number of signs telling me not to do it was ridiculous, it became a long–standing joke that my mum found hysterical. I decided that he wasn’t right for me; I'm one of those strange women out there that believes in the notion of soul mates. A crazy idea that there is one person out there made for you and only you, it's ludicrous, trust me I get it!

  I mean, everything about the phrase, soulmates is stupid. I’ve always considered what happens if the person you're meant to be with dies, what happens then? Is there a second person you're meant to be with? And if there is, does that mean the person who died was ever your soul mate to begin with? I get confused even contemplating the different reasons the term soulmates is idiotic – but still, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was a plan for each of us.

  I questioned whether our souls were entwined with that of another. I understood real life didn’t

  work out this way for most people. After my parent’s separation and witnessing heartache first–hand, I thought I’d given up on my silly fairy–tale expectation of life. That was until I had the dream about Grayson Hale.

  I realised that everything I had ever hoped for was in my reach. I couldn’t comprehend the impossibility of what I’d experienced in this last month but I knew Grayson was the one for me. I was certain of that one thing – He. Was. Made. For. Me.

  Chapter Five

  Imagination

  ​

  I heard my mum’s voice as soon as I walked through the door. I wanted to tell her everything that had happened in the short space of time she’d been away. I hoped that she would never leave me again. I needed her to give me some advice – she usually points me down the right path.

  I imagined our conversation, and it sounded ridiculous. I wanted to tell her about the whole thing with Grayson, but every sentence I rehearsed in my mind fell into the class of fiction – she would think I was making it up and who would blame her? My mum would think I was on a one-way train to crazy town, which at this point wasn’t too far from the truth. I was getting myself all hot and bothered about the whole situation and I forgot that all I needed in that moment was a big hug from her telling me everything would be okay.

  She rushed over. “Abigail! I’ve been so worried!”

  “I’m all right mum.” I said realising that was a

  lie.

  “No, you’re not. I cannot believe this happened! I’m so sorry for leaving you alone – from now on I’m never leaving this island again!” Mum pulled me into an embrace.

  I tried to assure her with my head resting on her shoulder. “Don’t be silly, I’m fine.”

  I never lied to my mum - but the second I saw her face, I felt the sheer shame she was harbouring for leaving us here without her. The last thing I wanted to do was add to that. Over the last 24 hours, we all had enough to deal with.

  I squeezed my mum close hoping to unburden some of her suffering. I hated seeing her in tears; I even volunteered to cook a family dinner to help relieve everyone’s stress. I don’t know what I was doing - I despised cooking! I wanted to hold it together for everyone.

  I was the kid, and they were th
e adults, shouldn’t they be trying to help us feel better? My teenage years should be about enjoying myself, not spent worrying about what bizarre thing might happen next. I loved meeting Grayson, but it also terrified me. I couldn’t help but think about the ordinary pressures of teenage life. Right about now I should decide what university I’m going to

  attend. Instead, I'm spending my time figuring out why the guy I've been dreaming of this past month is here, on my island. The ground beneath me was falling away. I swear I would erupt, spill everything to mum – I had to.

  I wondered how she would deal with what I had to say. She treated every worry as a big problem, like any, little issue required professional help. Although, this time - the current situation might just call for outside help.

  “I’m just nipping upstairs, I forgot my phone.” I wanted to see if I had any texts from anyone. I ran upstairs and unlocked the door. I decided that after the stranger broke into our house, what better time to take my safety a little more seriously. I grabbed my phone from the bed and backed out of the room locking the door for a second time. I headed back downstairs still keen to talk to mum.

  Instead of sitting down on the sofa with her, I tried to stop myself from pacing the room. I left my phone on the arm of the couch, trying to build up the courage to talk.

  “Mum, I have something to tell you.” I continued. “I’ve been having this dream – it’s about a guy, his name is Grayson. I’ve had it

  every night for about a month now and I can’t seem to –”