“What on earth?” She heard the teacher cry as Alexa stumbled to her feet.
She heard the 'oh my God's' of everyone, even some snickering, but they were all staring at her like she’d gone mad.
“Caia Ribeiro, what has gotten into you?!” The teacher was shrieking.
“I have to go,” she mumbled, ignoring Alexa’s snarl of her name as she fled past her classmates and out of the door. Her eyes never left her hand as more and more of her pelt started pushing through. She swallowed a groan at the feel of her muscles burning, readying themselves for the change.
“Watch yourself, young lady.” She looked up as someone steadied her, and realised that there was a small crowd in the hallway. “The water.” The janitor pointed to the floor a few feet from her. “The pipes in this place have all went crazy... water getting everywhere...”
Caia didn’t stop to hear him finish. The water was her fault again, but with the change coming fast that was the last thing on her mind. Her pelt was pushing through her legs now, her feet shifting in her shoes. Holy Artemis, she wasn’t going to make it out of here.
“Caia!”
Sebastian? She heard running footsteps and turned to see him running towards her. He stopped and tried to halt her too, locking onto her elbow. “Caia, I need to talk to you about Saturday night.”
“Sebastian,” she growled, her voice changing, too.
His eyes widened, and he gripped her tighter. “Caia?” He looked terrified.
Tears started rolling down her cheeks as she leaned into him, pleading with her eyes. “I’m changing, Sebastian. I can’t stop it. I didn’t... you have to get me out of here.”
She was never so thankful for his quick thinking. He didn’t say another word, just grabbed her, and started running with her towards the car park. She tripped as her left foot completely changed inside her shoe and he swung her up into his arms, running towards his car. She was aware of him almost ripping the car door off, and then he was none too gently throwing her into the backseat. The door shut behind her and she clawed onto the leather seats as her back rippled. She heard Sebastian getting into the front seat, and then a blanket was thrown over her, launching her into darkness as she changed completely, her clothes tearing and ripping painfully. Her heart slowed, somewhat, as she realised they had made it, and she sat panting as the car spun around and sped off at high speed.
“Lucien,” she heard Sebastian say, and realised he must be on his cell, “We have a problem. It’s Caia. It’s happening, man. Meet me at your house.”
What is happening? She screamed inwardly, and let out a low growl of anguish. Did they know already?
Daddy, she thought for the first time since she was a little girl and she used to speak to him in her thoughts, Daddy I’m scared. But, unlike when she was little when an imaginary strong voice would always reply, Caia heard nothing; nothing but the steady thud of her heart and the squeal of Sebastian’s tyres.
15 - Time
Lucien flew up his driveway, the gravel rioting against his paintwork as he skidded to a stop two seconds behind Sebastian’s car. His heart was hammering in his chest and pounding blood in his ears as he jumped out of his car and strode towards an anxious and flustered-looking Sebastian. He knew it, he cursed inwardly, he had known yesterday something was wrong with her, it was just he had been self-absorbed enough to think it had something to do with the kiss they’d shared.
“What’s going on?” He managed, as he reached the young male, looking beyond him and into his car. He could see a lump under a blanket in the back seat. “What the...”
Sebastian raked his hands through his hair and Lucien noted how they trembled. “I caught her in the hallway. She was so scared, Lucien... and she was changing.”
Lucien flinched at the thought of that. She must have been terrified. Growling, he brushed past Seb and pulled the car door open with enough force to unhinge it. He ignored Sebastian’s squeak of protest and pulled the blanket out of the car. Caia was revealed, lying towards him in her lykan form, her snout nestled between her forepaws, her large green eyes staring up at him, blazing with fear.
“Caia,” he whispered, reaching for her. At the sound of his voice, she stood up and leapt out of the car, running past him and up into the house.
Sebastian shrugged nervously at his questioning look, and then followed Caia inside. Lucien took a huge gulp of air, feeling his own hands tremble a little. Guilt pounded along with each step he took as he followed the two inside, trying to focus enough to form an explanation for her. Inside he found Sebastian in the sitting room, his neck craned back as he stared at the ceiling. Lucien frowned, and then understood as he heard the noise of Caia’s movements from above. She was obviously trying to change.
He waited tensely in the sitting room, his heart thudding louder and faster, his jaw clenched in self-directed anger, his brain refusing to formulate the explanation he knew Caia deserved.
“Do you think this is it?” Sebastian asked in hushed tones.
Lucien threw him a look that clearly said ‘you think?’He growled again and threw himself into his armchair. “We need to ask her what triggered it.”
“Should we call anyone else?”
Lucien nodded. “Call Magnus. My mother will be with him. And Dimitri.”
Sebastian nodded back distractedly, and then wandered into the kitchen to use the phone. Lucien shook. If it was happening, he had left Caia scared and unprepared. Magnus was right; they should have told her as soon as she had arrived. How would she ever trust him now?
His gaze shot back to the ceiling at the sound of a thud and he was out of his chair within seconds, pounding up the stairs to her bedroom. At the sight of her crumpled on the floor he drew in his breathe and rushed to her. He pressed his fingers against her neck and sighed in relief at the healthy pulse he felt there. She had changed back, and had obviously been in the middle of getting dressed when she had passed out, no doubt from the shock. She had thrown on a long t-shirt and had been pulling on her jeans, so Lucien, trying to be as much of a gentleman as possible, pulled the jeans back off of her, and quickly picked her up with the intention of sliding her under her covers and into bed. But as he did so, she unconsciously snuggled her head into his chest, making mewling sounds that sent his heart hammering. He held her like that for a while, knowing that this was probably the last time she would accept his touch for a time. His eyes drifted over her peaceful face as he pulled her tighter into his chest. When had she become so vital to him? He sighed deeply, and was finally able to let her go, laying her in the bed and pulling the duvet over her. He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. She had no idea what was to come. The guilt he felt for having not told her sooner was burning in the back of his throat. He’d done what he thought was best for the pack at the time; Dimitri his voice of reason, telling him that no one knows what the deep darkness can do to a person. But now he felt sure of Caia. Sure that she was good, that she wasn’t a danger.
“Is she OK?”
Lucien turned to find Sebastian standing gazing at her, worry tormenting his young face. An image of a drunk Sebastian leaning in towards Caia on Saturday flitted across his mind, and he realised he wasn’t the only one who was worried that they wouldn’t be forgiven for their deceit when she woke up and learned the truth. He didn’t want to think about that; on the one hand he could empathise, but on the other he didn’t want this stupid kid anywhere near her in that respect. He was beginning to understand the possessiveness of the mated guys in his pack. “I need you to call Ryder,” he ordered gruffly, turning to look back at Caia, his hand involuntarily brushing her hair back from her face. “He’s on a job for Marion.”
He looked back at Seb, whose eyes were round as he watched Lucien’s behaviour with her. His face crumpled as if he understood. “Are you-”
“Call Ryder,” Lucien demanded, making it clear his private business was exactly that. “And tell him to bring Marion back with him. Tell him... tell him it’s time.”
***
Magnus, Dimitri, and his mother had all returned home. Ryder was already on his way back with Marion, Sebastian had related. Apparently they had news of their own. Lucien wasn’t sure he could take any other news at the moment. He had sighed and told Sebastian not to tell his parents anything yet, but to go home and get some sleep. He would call him when it was time. His mother was trying to ease his guilt, assuring him they had all done what they thought was best.
But none of them knew what had been happening to Caia lately. None of them knew the extent of her fear.
Lucien could feel Magnus’ disapproval rolling off him in waves. He deserved the Elder’s anger; he relished it at the moment.
As for Caia, she made no move towards waking. They checked on her regularly, until Dimitri assured them it was just exhaustion that was keeping her in bed.
Finally Lucien had sent them all to bed, whilst he himself hadn’t been able to sleep, at all. And that was why he found himself alone in his kitchen at 5am, dressed and drinking coffee, his stomach roiling at the deed that was to be done, as soon as Caia woke up.
At 6am he heard the sound of a car approaching, heavy feet on the porch steps, and the front door swinging open. Lucien trudged out to investigate.
There before him was Ryder, his face tight with anxiety, and next to him Marion. She was a small woman with flaming red hair that reached her buttocks. She had the largest pair of violet eyes Lucien had ever seen, and pixie features that gave away her heritage as a magik.
“That was fast,” he said in appreciation.
“It sounded urgent.” Ryder grimaced.
“It’s time.”
“Apparently so,” Marion’s voice was like a wind chime, a tinkling, musical sound so in contrast to a husky lykan’s. Lucien watched in bemusement as she looked around the home, wandering from room to room, and eventually falling into an armchair in the main sitting room. “I can feel her.”
Lucien was unsurprised by her comment, having expected that kind of power from her, and from the little he knew of magiks. He turned back to Ryder. “Why were you already on your way back? Seb said you had some news.”
“That would be because of Saffron,” Marion replied instead.
“Saffron?” His face was scrunched in confusion. When no answer was forthcoming he turned to Ryder with a growl curling his lip. He wasn’t in the mood for a mystery. Sleep deprivation and his worry for Caia didn’t exactly bring out his good side.
Ryder sighed. “Saffron. She’s Marion’s faerie.”
“And?”
“She was the one who came for me to tell me about the rogue. Well, she waited until we got back to Marion to tell us that she had felt energy in our town!” Ryder’s eyes snapped to Marion in irritation. Lucien could feel an argument brewing between them and managed to refrain from yelling at them to explain to him what was going on. Instead he said it slowly and quietly, with a growl coiled around the last few words, “Would someone please explain to me, in full detail, what the hell is going on?”
Marion’s eyes flashed. “There’s no need to be rude, Lucien.”
He growled again.
“Oh, alright.” She sighed. “Saffron, my faerie,” she now spoke slowly as if to a moron, “She came to get Ryder for me because we’d encountered another pesky rogue lykan, and when she came back with him – after some ill-treatment from your lykan there by the way -” she gestured to his friend with a look of reproof, “ - she told me that she had sensed the energy of another faerie in town.”
“Another faerie?” The blood drained from Lucien’s face. “As in an enemy faerie?”
Her face was grave now. “Well, the Daylight Coven would know if we had a faerie in town with you.”
“You’re sure this Saffron is right about this?”
“Of course I’m right!” A voice squeaked from behind him. He whirled around but could see no one. He looked at Ryder in confusion, but he only rolled his eyes and shrugged.
“Where are you?” Lucien snarled.
“I’m right here,” the voice answered just as testily. His lykan ears strained, swearing the voice was coming from the window, but he could see nothing.
“Marion,” he growled, warningly.
She sighed again. “Saffron, stop playing games. I’m afraid our young friend is in no mood for it.”
“The window!” The voice cried.
Lucien took tentative steps towards the large window in the sitting room, his eyes straining to see anything.
“Here!”
That time he caught a flicker on the pane and his eyes narrowed on the small face smirking at him. He should have known. The faeries’ face was in fact a spot of sun dapple filtering onto the window through the branches of the surrounding woods. “Goddess,” he muttered, amazed by their abilities and how treacherous they could really be as spies. Turning back to Marion he glared. “Make her appear.”
“They do like to show off, don’t they.” Marion chuckled and then turned to the window. “You heard him, Saffron.”
He heard a weary sigh, and in the matter of a few blinks a tall, willowy blonde stood before him, her hands on her hips, her ice-blue eyes glaring between him and Ryder. “Your kind needs to learn patience.”
Lucien let a warning rumble sound from the back of his throat. “Patience? I think I’ve shown quite a lot of patience considering I’ve just been told there is an enemy in my town, and no one will get to the point and tell me exactly what is going on.”
Saffron shrugged gracefully and walked over to stand beside Marion’s chair. “Faeries have an energy, like all of us beings-”
“Trace.” Lucien nodded. Everybody knew about trace, it was a part of their energy, their existence.
“Yes. Trace. Only a very, very old faerie can mask their trace. I’m talking half a millenia old, and there are only a few of those old spies kicking around, not to mention that every single one of them works for Daylight.”
Lucien nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. “So this Midnight faerie... it can’t mask its trace, so you sense it here?”
“Exactly.”
“Yeah,” Ryder growled, slapping at Lucien’s shoulder to get his attention. “The dumb tree sensed it, and didn’t say anything until we were at the Coven with Marion!”
“Am I the tree in that sentence?” Saffron hissed, her eyes narrowing on Ryder dangerously.
“Children, please,” Marion sighed, rubbing her temples at their exchange.
“Yes. Children,” Lucien agreed, smirking at Ryder and turning back to Saffron. “So, can you follow this trace?”
She quirked her lip, shaking her head softly. “Unfortunately, only the Head of either Coven is blessed with that ability.”
His gaze snapped to Marion who was already shaking her head. “Nope, no Lucien. My sister and brother-in-law are in the middle of their own little mess at the moment. Marita does not have time to come down here, I’m sorry. At times like these you’re lucky to have gotten me and Saffron.”
“Lucky isn’t the word I’d use,” he heard Ryder mumble under his breath.
“Lykans aren’t the only ones with good hearing,” the faerie snapped at him. He smiled innocently, which seemed to annoy her more.
Usually their childish banter would have amused Lucien, but now he was too nervous. Spinning around to face Ryder he let his emotions play on his face, as he only could with his closest friend. “This is about Caia.”
“I tend to agree with you there,” he could hear Marion whisper, and so turned back to her carefully.
“I need your help with Caia, she’s showing the signs.”
“Have you told her the truth yet?”
“No.”
“Well, I can’t help until you do so.”
He was irritated by the demand in her voice, not used to having his decisions made for him, especially when he’d already decided on that course of action. “I’m going to,” he growled lightly. “But only about The Hunter and her heritage. Th
e other... well... she needn’t know about that just yet.”
“You’re sure?”
He felt his shoulders tense, his teeth clenched. “Yes,” he managed.
“OK then.”
***
Her eyelids felt as if a pile of lead had been piled on top of them, keeping them closed. Come to think of it, her face felt pretty heavy, too. Slowly, Caia managed to open her eyes, the sleep easing from them until she had focused on the ceiling. Ugh, what a weird, deep sleep she’d had. She felt her right arm lying across her stomach, but her left one, she couldn’t. Groaning, Caia turned and used her right arm to pull it out from under her pillow. Numb. She used her right hand to shake her left into waking, until gradually she was moving each finger. Flexing it, she sighed as the sharp burning tingles brought it back to life. Flopping back onto her pillow, Caia’s gaze found its way back to the ceiling, her mind assailed with images. Her fingers unconsciously went to her lips as she remembered Lucien’s kiss. It had been a great kiss. Her first kiss. At the mere memory, an eruption of butterflies exploded in her stomach, their little wings flapping rapidly against her heart, and kicking it into an erratic speed. And then memories of the day before intruded, obliterating each and every one of those butterflies with the force of a shotgun.
Alexa taunting her about having slept with Lucien.
Caia cursed them both, groaning at having stupidly fallen for Lucien’s easy charm. And that hadn’t been the worst of it. Her heart sped up again, remembering how she’d had no control over her change at school, at Sebastian having saved her ass and the pack’s, from exposure. She felt like she was going to be sick. Climbing out of bed, she dozily made it into her bathroom and breathed with relief when the nausea passed. She braced herself against the sink and stared deeply into the mirror above it, hoping to find answers to the questions she saw in her eyes. But none were forthcoming. Instead she ran the cold water, and cupping a handful of it, threw it up and into her face, enjoying the icy rivulets running down her skin. And then an invisible hammer hit her head as she glanced back at the mirror; the conversation she heard between Sebastian and Lucien yesterday, when she’d been changing in his car, rang in her ears.
Moon Spell: Part One in the Tale of Lunarmorte Page 15
