Rise of the Moon: Arcana Book One

by JB Caine

  I gave my hair a quick brush and pulled my hair into a high and glossy ponytail, painstakingly applied my eyeliner (four times) and red lipstick, and stood back to take in the overall effect. I came to two conclusions: one, that I looked really good, and two, that I looked more like I was going to a concert than a football game. I decided that, given my wardrobe choices, that was inevitable. Still, something was missing.

  I started digging through my jewelry drawer when I heard a tapping sound. At first I couldn’t find the source, but then I spotted Selene’s misty face reflected in my full-length mirror.

  I wanted to wish you well tonight.

  I caught my breath. I hadn’t seen her or heard her voice since the night at the beach, though I had looked for her every evening. “Thank you...for all of this. I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve taught me.”

  She smiled softly. Your strength gives me strength, she said, as if that explained everything. I am glad to see you making the most of your wish.

  “I’m pretty nervous. I’ve liked him for a long time.”

  I should think so. He walks close to the veil. It makes sense that you’d be drawn to him.

  I looked at her in alarm. “What does that mean?”

  He is close to the spirit world, as are you. It’s natural you should sense that in him.

  “I still don’t understand.”

  You will, in time. Have fun tonight. She winked. Oh, and I thought I’d share one more little tidbit with you...as we near the full moon, your power grows. It will wax and wane with the lunar cycle. You might like to try one of your other skills as you get stronger.

  My interest was piqued. “There’s more?”

  Oh, so much more, she laughed, and the sound was like the tinkling of silver bells. Look up into the moon and tell me what you see.

  “It’s really bright tonight,” I began. “I can see the craters and…”

  Ah, and there it is. One of your greatest powers. The light you see is not that of the moon. The light you see is that of the sun...it only appears to be the moon. There is really no such thing as moonlight, but everyone knows what moonlight is. The moon holds the power of illusion, and so do you.

  I had known that about the moon’s light, of course, but I had never really thought about it. “I have the power of illusion?”

  Yes, Lia, you do, and you will learn to use it with increasing skill. To begin, though, you might want to start with something simple. Do you know what a glamour is?

  “Making something look more beautiful than it is?”

  Not exactly, just making it look different than it truly is. It’s easiest to begin with something you know well, like your own appearance. Why don’t you go give it a try before your date? Start small, then keep practicing when you have more time. Like this. She crossed her hands in front of her face in opposing circles. When her hands parted, her black hair and grey eyes had been replaced by red hair and green eyes. She repeated the movement, and her familiar coloring returned.

  “Whoa…” I sputtered.

  Now, go play, she chuckled. I blinked, and found myself suddenly alone.

  I looked at my reflection and imitated the hand movement Selene had made.

  Nothing happened. I tried again, with the same non-result.

  I blew at my bangs in frustration. Concentrate, I thought. Start small. I thought about what she said about the moon, picturing it reflecting the sun’s rays. I felt that non-familiar prickle across the surface of my skin and closed my eyes, focusing on the feeling. I kept my eyes closed and repeated the casting gesture slowly. When I pulled my hand away and opened my eyes, my bangs had gone from a glossy black to a glossy wine red. I yipped in delight.

  Somewhere in the echoes of my mind, I heard Selene’s musical laughter.

  I watched out the window until Alex’s Jeep pulled into my driveway, then went through a quick check of the contents of my purse. I didn’t usually carry one, so I was pretty sure I’d forget something. Wallet, check. Comb, check. Cellphone, check. I heard the doorbell ring and started for the stairs. My mom answered the door, and I could hear her talking to Alex, introducing herself. I got about halfway down the stairs, then ran back up, grabbed my copy of The Crucible with the tarot card in it (for luck?), and headed down to meet my date. Alex. My date. I shivered with excitement.

  He looked up as I hit the bottom three steps. He looked a little confused, and I make a note to ask my mother what she’d been telling him when I arrived on the scene.

  “Hey,” I smiled.

  “Hey yourself,” he replied, and a warm smile spread across his face. I was somewhere between wanting to scream and faint. I couldn’t believe he was looking at me like that.

  We stood in semi-awkward silence for a moment.

  “Well,” my mother broke in, “you two have fun. Be back by 11:30. Be safe.”

  “You bet,” Alex said, and stepped past my mother to open the door for me. As soon as his back was to her, she silently pointed at him and shot me a grin and a thumbs up sign.

  My eyes widened, and I stepped between them, desperate that he not see her cheerleading me on a date I’d been dreaming of for years. I wrapped her in a quick hug. “See you later, Mom!” I said a little too cheerfully, and then we were out the door.

  As Alex drove inland toward the school, an awkward silence fell over us. I guess first dates are always awkward, but somehow, as much time as I had spent thinking about Alex over the past four years, I felt woefully unprepared for this moment. I realized I didn’t really know that much about him outside of what classes he took and who his friends were.

  “So,” I began, attempting to break the ice, “tell me a little about yourself outside of school. Do you have a job or anything?”

  “Yeah,” Alex responded. He seemed grateful for something to talk about. “I mean, I kind of just work when I want to, but my folks own one of those ghost tour companies in the historic district. Sometimes I guide the tours, and sometimes I work in the office selling tour tickets.”

  Close to the spirit world, that’s what Selene had said. “Oh, that’s a great job!” I exclaimed. “Have you ever seen any ghosts on your tours?”

  “Nah, not really,” he replied. “I mean, I’ve had some creepy feelings sometimes, but I don’t want to jump to conclusions. Most of the time, people see what they want to see, you know?”

  “So you don’t believe in ghosts?” I felt a glimmer of disappointment.

  “Ghosts are good for business,” he said matter-of-factly. “I’m open to believing in them, I guess, but I’ve never actually seen one. I know some of the good stories about St. Augustine’s ghosts, though.”

  “Oooh, tell me a story!” My disappointment faded as he told me stories about the light on the widow’s walk of the Casablanca, and the lady in white at Harry’s Seafood and Grille. By the time he finished those two stories with tour-like flair, we had arrived at the school’s parking lot. Frankly, I was much more interested in his ghost stories than football, but I wasn’t going to complain.

  I honestly didn’t pay much attention to the game. We’d watch for a few minutes and then I’d catch him staring at me as if he were hypnotized, and I’d grin and blush, and we’d go back to watching the game. Several people walked by and said hi, either to Alex or to me, and then raised their eyebrows in surprise when they realized we were there together. I wasn’t sure if I should be proud or offended by that.

  It was about halfway through the third quarter when I realized he had scooted just a little bit closer to me, and our pinkies were touching. Call me sentimental, but that tiny touch sent my heart fluttering much more so than if he had presumptuously walked into the stadium with his arm around me. That would have been a possessive move, perhaps endearing in its own way, but this was unsure, sweet, vulnerable. I felt like I was living in a dream.

  I absently slid my pinky over his and left it there. I tried to make it seem nonchalant, and after a moment, I turned to look at him, only to find him staring at
me with an unexpected intensity. I couldn’t stop myself...this should have been a tender moment, but I felt an enormous grin spread across my face. I tried to look away, but he bumped me with his shoulder so that I’d look back. He was grinning just as ridiculously as I was. As we looked at each other, he re-positioned his hand and interlaced his fingers with mine. Neither of us seemed to know what to say, so we turned back toward the game. I don’t remember a single play from the 4th quarter. All I remember is that his hand never let go of mine.

  We left the stadium hand-in-hand when the game was over. We sat on the same side of the booth at IHOP. We shared a pancake stack. I swear, throughout it all, I expected to wake up at any second. At 11:27, he escorted me up the walkway in front of my house, and my face hurt from smiling.

  “I had a great time tonight, Alex, thank you.”

  “Me too,” He looked down at me, holding my hands lightly in his. “Are you going to Trina’s Halloween party next week?”

  “I’m planning to, yes,” I replied.

  “So, do you want to, you know, go together?” He actually sounded nervous, like there was some condition in the Universe under which I might say no.

  “I’d like that.”

  And then he reached up and laid one hand against my cheek. My heart was thudding so loud, I was surprised that my mother couldn’t hear it from inside the house.

  Slowly, as if giving me the opportunity to change my mind, he leaned down and, just like that, his lips were on mine, soft and warm. I slid my arms around his waist, partly to be closer to him, and partly to hide how much I was trembling. He pulled his head back reluctantly and looked at me, almost like he was searching for something in my face. He must have seen what he was hoping to, because a smile spread across his face. That troublesome lock of hair fell forward into his eyes the way it so often did.

  And I reached up and brushed it back, because now I could.

  Chapter 14

  I had one goal for the remainder of the weekend: figure out an earth-shaking Halloween costume. It wasn’t like me to be a week out with no plan, but at least I had a little time to prepare. I called Treigh and begged him to come over and help. Plus, I couldn’t wait to tell him about the date I’d been waiting for since 7th grade. He showed up as Mom and I were finishing lunch, and banged into the kitchen without knocking, kissing my mom on the cheek and snagging a clean spoon out of the dishwasher she was unloading as he slid into a seat at the table.

  “Hi, Treigh,” Mom greeted him over her shoulder. “Here for the romantic update?”

  He took a scoop of mac and cheese out of my bowl. “Definitely. Spill it, sister.”

  I had just shoved a bite of mac into my mouth, but I gave a closed-mouth grin and blushed.

  “Oh, that’s promising,” Treigh noted.

  I swallowed and then smiled for real. “It. Was. Amazing,” I breathed. “He was so sweet, and a total gentleman. We watched the game, we actually talked about stuff, we held hands, he even walked me to the front door! Did you know his family owned a ghost tour company? He’s totally perfect.”

  “Well, well. I guess it was worth the wait, then,” Treigh smiled and continued helping himself to my lunch.

  “Absolutely.”

  “When are y’all going out again?” he asked.

  “Um, Trina’s party, I guess. I don’t want to jinx it, but I think he had as good a time as I did.”

  Treigh raised his eyebrows. “Well, of course he did. You’re awesome. Has he texted you yet today?”

  “Well, no,” I began, “but he might be sleeping in or working or something. Or maybe he doesn’t want to seem too eager. I don’t know. You know how boys are. No offense.”

  “None taken. But if he’s into you, he won’t wait too long.” He reached over and patted my hand. “Don’t worry. You’ll probably hear from him while we’re out today.”

  “Where are you off to?” Mom asked as she scooped the last of the mac into my bowl to compensate for the bits Treigh had consumed.

  “I know this will come as a shock, but I have no idea what I’m wearing to Trina’s costume party. I’m really at a loss. So we’re going to hit the party stores and maybe even consignment shops for inspiration.”

  “Sounds like fun! Have a great time! Do you need any money?”

  “No, I’m good. I still have some of my birthday money. Besides, you know me, I’m more likely to buy the actual costume parts at the consignment shop, so they won’t cost that much.”

  “Alright, then, be safe! I’m driving out to a client site this afternoon, but I’ll be back by six or so. Text me if you won’t be back by then, okay?”

  “Will do,” I said as I spoon-battled Treigh for the last bite. “I should be back.”

  “Yes, well, just in case you hear from Romeo.”

  I grinned and blushed again as I got up and put my bowl and both spoons in the sink. “I’m sure he won’t ask me out again for tonight,” I tried to sound cool, like my emotions were under control. But they weren’t, not even close. My heart was racing at the thought of it, but I didn’t want to get my own hopes up. I hugged my mother and grabbed my purse. Let the hunt for the perfect costume begin.

  On the drive to the party store, I gave Treigh more details about how the date had gone, and to his credit, he listened and commented on the whole thing. I think it was almost cathartic for him, since he’d heard me coo on about Alex for years. Treigh was genuinely happy for me, but his question about the text haunted me, and I kept checking my phone repeatedly, and every time I checked, there was no notification.

  We wandered down the costume aisle, which had very little inventory left, to be honest. It didn't really matter, though; I was looking for an idea, not a store-bought costume. I went through every costume from Aphrodite to Zombies, but nothing was striking a chord. Nothing seemed quite right.

  “Seriously, Lia? Nothing? There are, like, a hundred ideas here.”

  “No, nothing. None of these FEEL right, and this Halloween is important! I’m going to be at a party with Alex! I have to make a good impression!”

  “Girlfriend, he’s already kissed you. Impression made.”

  “I know,” I conceded, “but I want to look awesome. Unforgettable. What are you going as?”

  “The Bachelor. I’m wearing my good suit and bringing roses for all the hotties.”

  “That’s not even a costume. You really are that smooth.”

  “You know it. Look, this place is a bust. Where to next?”

  “Let’s try St. Vincent de Paul, and if there’s nothing there, we’ll go to Goodwill.”

  “It’s a plan. Let’s go.”

  We made our way to the tidy little thrift store and I greeted the nice lady at the counter. I recognized her from prior shopping trips and she acknowledged me with a smile and a nod. Treigh and I wandered around for a few minutes, and I found my way over to a small section with previously-owned formal dresses. Most of them seemed to hail from the 80’s, and didn’t really inspire me, but as my hands brushed over the satins and velvets, an idea began to form in my mind.

  I abandoned the dresses and began perusing the jewelry cabinet. Mostly, it was large cocktail rings and colorful pierced earrings. And then, amongst a section of truly bling-y rhinestone chandelier earrings, a pair that stood out from the rest: a pair of two-inch dangle earrings, a single vertical line of tiny clear crystals with a larger round pseudo-sapphire and the end. There was nothing about them that was my style, but for what was taking shape in my mind, they were perfect. I gave the nice lady my $7, and we were out the door.

  “So, is that it, then?” Treigh asked as he looked at my tiny shopping bag.

  “Yep. I already have everything else I need.”

  “Do I get to know what this brilliant idea is? I know every item of clothing you own. What are you planning to wear?”

  “It’s nothing you’ve seen before. My aunt gave it to me. I’m going to keep it a surprise, but I’ll tell you this much: it’s velvet.” />
  “Ooooh, velvet. Alex will like that.”

  Alex. I hadn’t checked my phone in nearly an hour. My heart rate quickened as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. Maybe I hadn’t heard the ping while we’d been driving? Maybe there was no signal in the consignment shop? Or maybe I’d missed it while I was paying for the earrings? But no. The reason I hadn’t heard the ping alerting me to Alex’s message was that there hadn’t been one.

  “Maybe he had to work?” Treigh offered.

  “Yeah, maybe.” I smiled wanly. Or maybe he just wasn’t thinking about me.

  I didn’t hear from him Sunday, either. Friday’s elation turned to misery and doubt. My mom suggested that I should just text him, but I rejected that idea. He knew I was crazy about him. I wanted HIM to text ME. That’s the only way I’d know it was mutual.

  I sat by my open bedroom window, staring out at the waning moon. It would be nearly invisible by Friday’s party. My eyes began to droop.

  I am sitting on the beach, looking out at the ocean.

  “Why the long face?” I jump, startled to find Selene sitting beside me, studying me intently.

  “Oh, hi! It’s nothing, really. I just didn’t hear from Alex all weekend, and I don’t get it. I really thought our date went well.” I sigh and wrap my arms around my knees.

  “I’m sure he’ll be very pleased to see you tomorrow.”

  “Do you think so? Because I would’ve thought I’d have heard something this weekend, even if it was just ‘hi, I’m busy, but I'm thinking of you,’ you know? Just a token contact?”

  She shrugs. “I wouldn’t worry. He is yours.” She seems so certain.

  “Really? I’m glad you’re so confident. It makes me feel better. I don’t know how I’d handle it if I wanted him for so long only to lose him after just one date.”