Blood Moon (A Louisiana Demontale): Book 1 of the Crescent Crown Saga

by Schuyler Windham

  Athena’s nostrils flared, her eyes fiery as she interpreted the images on Arachne’s tapestry. She ripped through Arachne’s tapestry with her spear, and then turned on Arachne. She grabbed her weaving shaft and began to strike Arachne over the head with it.

  “The pain of that beating was harsh, but worse was the curse that would befall my household . . . all because of me. I was reviled by the gods for my deeds. I could not dishonor my father’s household with my hubris. I couldn’t let his name be smeared over the hills of Ionia.”

  Leo watched in horror as Arachne ran from the cottage with a rope in her arms, tears streaming down her ruddy face. She tied the rope from a tree at the bottom of the hill and solemnly hung herself.

  Leo blinked his eyes open. Arachne’s eyes were wet with tears, and she tentatively exposed her neck from the collar of her blouse, revealing the jagged white scar.

  “Arachne . . .” Leo gasped.

  “You wanted to know. You need to know.” She bit her lip. “This isn’t easy to show you, but it’s necessary.” Then Arachne pointed to the tapestry hanging on the wall. Leo glanced up at it and recognized it as the one from her memories, the tapestry which bested Athena in a duel. Leo hesitated a moment before nodding, meeting her gaze again.

  “So, I expected to die,” Arachne murmured as she wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand. “The worst part is, though I thought I was bringing honor to my father’s household, all I did was break his heart.”

  Leo grasped her hand and squeezed. She sighed morosely and then said, “Athena was jealous and spiteful. On some level she pitied me because of her own rage, but she also didn’t think death itself was punishment enough for my arrogance. So, she revived me and turned me into a spider, cursing me and my descendants to continue weaving forever.”

  “. . . You’re a spider?” Leo said with wonder. Arachne scrunched her eyebrows together and bobbed her head back and forth in a half-yes, half-no kind of way.

  “I didn’t want to remain a mere spider, weaving webs in the corner of my father’s house for the rest of my life. And I wasn’t alone . . . I made a friend in the corner of my home . . .” Arachne smiled faintly. “There was another spider who spun gorgeous webs. In fact, when I was human, I had often watched her work as I did, diligently spinning her web to catch flies. She was Keres.”

  “Keres?” Leo bit his tongue before he said anything to make Arachne suspicious. She nodded and resumed her story.

  “Again, I didn’t want to be a spider, I wanted to be human again. One day I came across a powerful demon, Vrykos. We struck a deal that with our combined powers, we would create a new creature of the night, and I would become a demon myself with the ability to change my form. I have a new line of descendants now . . . vampires. So, while I suppose I technically am the first vampire, my powers are far greater than that of a mere vampire. I am a spider demon. Keres was the first vampire I created, and the only spider I ever transformed.”

  Leo thought back to the masquerade ball the night before, to the imposing bat demon, the gangly frog demon, and the petite butterfly demon.

  “Is this why you need the crown?”

  “I am a powerful demon, but my power is inherent in a blood contract with Vrykos. He doesn’t like meddling in the affairs of his descendent creatures. Though he doesn’t care what I do with the vampires, he also never conceded autonomy to me as a demon in my own right. I am bound to him.”

  “Have you tried to change the contract?” Leo asked.

  “Yes, of course!” Arachne exclaimed, clenching her fists. “The original contract stands, and without consent from both parties, all I could do is break the contract and lose all my powers. Vrykos is sympathetic, but isn’t willing to renegotiate a contract from thousands of years ago. It would be difficult now that I have so many descendants. It makes the bond that much harder to change. He also doesn’t understand why it’s such a big deal to me when he is so careless toward his own creatures of the night. He thinks he was generous enough with our original contract.

  “So, if I get the crown, the vampires should swear fealty to me like other creatures do with their siring demons. Vrykos is apathetic to our plan, but is doubtful we would be successful in the first place. He was, however, concerned that we may attract other dangerous demons to the vicinity to stop me from retrieving the crown. Or, if we do get a hold of it, other demons will definitely want to steal it for its powers.”

  “Great.” Leo rolled his eyes. “Like you said, it could be anyone out to get us.”

  Arachne suddenly became rather serious. She placed one hand to her heart and grasped for Leo’s hand.

  “The reality is, I’m unsafe to be around. I’m dangerous, and I’m attracting danger.”

  Leo’s heart sank. This was the moment he feared the most.

  “They’re targeting me, too.” He frowned.

  “I know,” she breathed. “I just have to keep you safe, with or without that protection spell.”

  “Are you going to tell me to leave?” He sighed. “That we shouldn’t be together to protect me?”

  Arachne blinked, tears welling up in her eyes.

  “This is dangerous,” she murmured. “But I can’t do that. I won’t do that. The reality is, I care about you. And now . . . I’m the only one powerful enough to keep you safe.”

  She leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her, softly stroking her hair. A spider demon, who seemed to him more human than anything.

  Chapter 12

  Arachne and Leo sat on the sofa, silently intent on their own projects. Arachne examined a long list of names on a sheet of paper Saint-Germain had given her the week before, while Leo messed around on his acoustic guitar. Arachne scribbled notes in the margins of the paper about each person they were trying to court to their cause. Until they had a lead on where Lilith’s relics were, Arachne and Saint-Germain spent most of their time attempting to recruit creatures of the night around New Orleans.

  As Leo understood, several factions of the city’s vampires were interested in peaceful governance, but others enjoyed the freedom to prowl the streets at night, and weren’t too keen on being told what to do. Leo often thought of Nathan and his crew doing just that. But as Arachne explained, there were many vampires who fell somewhere between and could be persuaded. If there was a critical mass of interest, Saint-Germain and Arachne speculated that those that wanted to stay and adhere to the new rules would do so, and those that didn’t, wouldn’t.

  Leo still worried about vampires like Nathan. He wasn’t so sure they would simply leave if they called New Orleans home. There was something enchanting about the city, and he doubted a vampire would leave if they didn’t want to. That was also why Leo wasn’t allowed to go with Arachne and Saint-Germain to recruit. Arachne reminded him every time he asked if he could go with her that, to most vampires, he was just a walking blood bag.

  Leo tried not to think about Arachne’s mission, and focused on writing a new song and putting together his own list—a set list for his solo act. His focus was broken by a knock on the door. Before Arachne bothered to look up from her list, the door slammed open.

  Keres burst through the door with a vibrant bouquet of purple flowers and squealed with delight. “Arachne! Tonight is the night!”

  She was halfway across the room in a flash, the bouquet landing on the coffee table with a soft thump. Her slender arms wrapped around Arachne and twirled her in the air.

  “Keres!” Arachne huffed, though she did not fight Keres’ embrace.

  “It’s your birthday!” Keres laughed. She ignored Leo on the sofa.

  “At midnight,” Arachne corrected. “March 14th.”

  Keres nodded enthusiastically in agreement. “We’re going out on the town! Like the good old days . . .”

  Arachne hopped down from Keres’ embrace and put her hands on her hips. “I have work to do.”

  “Then I will help you!” Keres flashed a fanged grin. “Then after work, we play . .
.”

  “I can’t leave Eshe for that long,” Arachne said dismissively. “I usually don’t leave her alone but a few hours at a time.”

  “She’s fine on her own, very mature.” Keres frowned, as it seemed her plans were being dashed. “You’re just trying to make excuses not to go!”

  Arachne shook her head and opened her mouth to protest once more.

  “I can watch Eshe,” Leo blurted out.

  Arachne and Keres stared at him. Then they burst out laughing.

  “Silly human!” Tears welled up in the corners of Keres’ ruby eyes. “You can’t handle Eshe.”

  “I wouldn’t ask you to do that, Leo . . .”

  His face warmed with embarrassment. Eshe was a sweet child. Powerful, yes. But he was sure he could babysit her. Wouldn’t she sleep most of the night anyway?

  “I’m offering to do it,” Leo said firmly as he rose from the sofa. “I want you to get your recruiting done. I want you to have fun on your birthday.” He nodded in the direction of Keres.

  “Are you sure?” Arachne asked demurely. She bit her lip, deep in thought.

  “I know Eshe matters a lot to you. I won’t let you down.” Leo squared his shoulders and raised his chin like he was preparing for a mission. He speculated that was more accurate than he first understood.

  Arachne took a deep breath and then waved her hand in front of her face. “Fine.”

  Keres looked from Leo back to Arachne and then she squealed once more, bouncing on her feet. She grabbed Arachne in her arms and twirled her around a few more times. Then Keres strolled to the door. Arachne followed.

  “Wait . . .” Leo wavered. “Do you have any instructions for Eshe?”

  Arachne turned slowly back toward him. A wry smile touched her pink lips. “No. Good luck.”

  With that, the door shut behind them, and Leo stood alone in the living room. Shit . . . what did I get myself into? He paused, glancing around the living room. He noticed the bouquet on the coffee table and went to grab it, bringing it to the kitchen.

  Leo explored the cabinets, mostly sparse, with a few pots and pans or a handful of silverware. One drawer was full of magic ingredients and daggers. Remembering the protection spell, he carefully closed that drawer. Finally, after a few more cabinets, he found a vase. He filled it with water and turned back to the bouquet.

  He looked up as he heard Eshe’s feet padding down the staircase. “I heard Ari and Keres went out!” She grinned, her deep magenta eyes wide and bright as she skipped toward the kitchen. “I heard you were watching me tonight!”

  Leo swallowed and nodded. “That’s right.”

  He pulled the wrapping paper off of the bouquet and set the flowers in the vase, the royal purple petals curving elegantly.

  “Very pretty,” Eshe said as she eyed the flowers, then her eyes set on Leo once more. She stared up at him intensely.

  What did he get himself into? He barely knew how to take care of human children, let alone vampire-witch hybrid children. Maybe it really was more a job for a demon.

  He scratched the back of his head awkwardly and cleared his throat.

  “So, Eshe . . . what do you like to do for fun?”

  Eshe’s eyes widened, and then a mischievous grin erupted on her face. “Magic.”

  Of course . . .

  “You wanted me to dissolve the protection spell?” She raised her eyebrows expectantly.

  Leo rubbed his fingers over his stubbled chin, considering the spell. He remembered Serafine and the tarot card reading, and thought about her words: Only the caster could get rid of or transfer the spell. Sure, he didn’t want the spell on himself. He couldn’t bear it if he was the cause of injury to Arachne. But he thought about the Casquette Sisters attacking Monette, the scar on her arm from the animal attack . . . Maybe he could justify transferring the spell. Monette shouldn’t get into any more trouble, not like him right now, but just in case . . . like an insurance policy.

  “I don’t know if this is a bad idea . . .” Leo sighed. “But, can you transfer the spell to someone else?”

  Eshe grinned and nodded. “Yes. Who is it?”

  “My sister, Monette.”

  Eshe’s breath hitched, and she clasped her hands in front of her. “You must love her very much.”

  “Yes . . . I do.” He smiled slightly.

  “I wish I had a sister!” she exclaimed as she shuffled past Leo toward the drawer filled to the brim with magical items. She dug around in the drawer, plucking ingredients up and placing them on the counter.

  “Sisters are more trouble than they’re worth,” he chuckled.

  “Are you so sure?” she glanced over her shoulder at him, curiously. “If I had a sister, we could paint each other’s nails, and talk late into the night, and go swimming at the beach together, and do each other’s hair . . .”

  “Woah . . . you’ve got this all planned out! Doesn’t Arachne do that stuff with you?”

  “Sure,” Eshe shrugged. “But she acts like a mom. Not a sister. Sisters are special . . . like a friend. At least, I think so.”

  Eshe scooped all the ingredients in her arms and led Leo to the living room. She sprinkled black glittering sand onto the floor.

  “How does it work?” Leo asked. Then he worried—did Monette have to stand in the middle of the star like he had?

  “I need something meaningful that your sister has touched,” Eshe said.

  Leo sucked in a breath, thinking. He wasn’t sure he had anything Monette had touched, other than his car.

  “Wait . . .” Leo raised a finger, thinking of the box Monette had brought into his apartment on his move that day. It was still unpacked, in the corner. He jogged out the door and went home to grab the box from the corner near his sofa. He carried it back and set it down in the middle of the black dust star.

  “It will be destroyed in the process,” Eshe warned.

  Leo balked and shook his head. “Can I take the CDs and video games out of the box?”

  “The box itself is the vessel for these meaningful things she held in her hands,” Eshe frowned. “The spell won’t work if the item isn’t meaningful. I don’t think a box is important.”

  Leo sighed as he stared at the items peeking out from the flaps of the box. Maybe Monette was right. If he hadn’t unpacked the box in the several months since he moved in, maybe he didn’t really need those things anymore. And in this moment, what was more important? A box of stuff, or his sister?

  A pang went through his heart as he knelt to open the flaps of the box and stare at the items inside. Goodbye CDs. Goodbye Mario Bros. I love you well.

  He kissed his index and middle fingers and softly touched the box with them.

  “Humans are weird . . .”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “Ready?” She glanced up at him.

  Leo sighed once more and nodded. Eshe muttered a spell under her breath. She held out her hand, and Leo tentatively gave her his palm. She quickly pricked his palm with the tip of her blade. He winced, but kept his hand held out so she could sprinkle his blood onto the box. The black sand and box burst into flames, and in a few moments, disappeared without a puff of smoke.

  Leo gawked at the floor. No char marks. No fire alarms signals.

  “Is it done?” He looked down at his hands. He didn’t notice the wavering aura around him anymore, but he looked back to Eshe for guidance.

  “It is done.” She grinned cheerily at him. “The protection spell is now on your sister.”

  Leo let out a sigh of relief. They stood there silently for a few moments, Eshe continuing to smile dreamily up at Leo.

  He shrugged tentatively and motioned toward the kitchen. “What do you want to do next? Are you . . . hungry?”

  Eshe shook her head. “I already ate. Not hungry.”

  Leo glanced out the window; the sun was starting to set, but there was still plenty of light. It wasn’t late enough to suggest she should go to bed, was it?

  “Come upstairs a
nd see my room!” Eshe grasped his hand and tugged him toward the staircase.

  “Oh, uh . . . okay . . .” Leo reluctantly followed her upstairs. He glanced into Arachne’s room as they walked down the hall. Her bedroom was sparsely decorated with a simple black bed set. Golden-pink sunlight shimmered through the terrace windows facing out toward the courtyard. A stack of books sat on her bedside table, but he couldn’t read the titles as they passed by.

  Eshe pulled him past the bathroom door and to her bedroom. Like Arachne’s room, she also had her own set of terrace doors. But what Leo noticed the most was how pink her room was. She had soft pink curtains, a hot pink lamp, and a throw rug to match. Ozul was curled up at the end of Eshe’s bed, a black fluffball in a sea of baby pink. Magenta lantern lights the color of Eshe’s eyes were strung across her headboard. In the corner, a tent hung over another throw rug, which Eshe immediately ducked into. Leo crawled after her into the tent, ducking low and staying near the entrance to give a few feet of distance between them.

  “Do you like it?”

  “It’s very . . . pink . . .” Leo smiled encouragingly.

  “Thanks! Ari let me design it however I wanted. Pink is my favorite color!”

  “Matches your eyes.”

  Eshe peered over at him coyly. “Ari says our eyes are beautiful, even though we are different. She says they are the windows to the soul, that they reflect our inner being. I wanted my outer being to reflect my inner being.”

  Leo laughed, reflecting on this. “I guess my soul is just brown.”

  Eshe shook her head vehemently. “Have you really looked at your eyes? They are kind and warm, like a hearth.”

  “I never thought about it like that,” Leo said as he leaned back against the wall. His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and recognized the phone number from the bar.

  “Hello?” he answered.

  Marguerite’s voice yelled over the crowd in the background. “You’re thirty minutes late!”