Silver Moon

Niva

Three weeks later, one day before the ball

He was persistent. I was sitting in my favorite chair in the library, with Paige, Eldora's lady-in waiting telling me how Ashton had been chasing me through the castle. He had been talking so much with Kenzie and Derek, who I told were to find me. Derek found it so amusing, telling me to make a grand escape plan if he did find me, and Kenzie who insisted on me talking to him. Well, Kenzie did talk to me when he was not trying to win Eldora over. His heart was going to be broken.

Eldora had already concluded that none of the men at the ball was the man she was looking for, and she was extremely disappointed. Kenzie did not have a chance in hell. He might as well find someone else. The same went for Ashton to find me.

I knew I was being a wimp hiding, and that you cannot hide from your problems. However, I was going to try my best. The night on the piano still haunted me, when he played, and the kiss I gave him. I had no idea how I was going to explain that. I was not the one to give kisses out randomly. Just that I did unsettled me.

Then of course, there was the second full moon. Two Full moons in one month's are Blue Moons, and this one seemed different. It was on my 16 birthday. There was a tension through me muscles, ears and eyes open, jumpy and smelling things. In addition, she was active. I could feel her moving, shifting, howling when Ashton gets near. Her total activity is strenuous and weird. Paige finally got exasperated at my unemotional stare, and left the room to go find Eldora.

Hey! No its not, you are the one keeping me from what is mine, and it is almost your birthday! You are the weird one!

Shush! I whispered to my head. I started to get annoyed, at just calling her the "voice inside my head".

Then name me! Came her harsh reply, annoyed to the brim. Fine! I cried, and started to think of names. She blissfully stayed silent. I came up with a brilliant idea, and found a name. This time trying to speak to her directly, I said

How about Niva? Does that suite your purpose?

I heard a happy yip, followed by Niva repeating the name in my head. Sighing at the sound, I went back to reading. Niva finally stopped, and she must have learned to stop the pull she forced on me, because I did not notice Ashton.

"Luna, is that really you? I cannot believe I finally found you. It was a very difficult task indeed as none of your friends would give me where you have been."

I looked up shocked. How did I let him find me! I could feel the flight instinct in me starting to take over, until Niva fought her way to the surface.

NO! We are talking to him! I could feel her trying to take control, trying to talk trough me, but she was not strong enough, and with my last thread of strength I pushed her back. I heard a strangled whimper from her, but I ignored it.

"Luna come on, talk to me, I won't bite!"

I turned my head to him, as I had briefly ignored him to fight with Niva, and the look in his eyes broke my heart. There were purple bags under his eyes, his hair ruffled, clothing sloppy, and eyes desperately pleading at me. I whimpered like Niva, trying hard not to run and smooth down his hair, fighting to fill that emptiness that was in his eyes. I was going to lose this battle, the one between from not helping Ashton. The yip from Niva seemed to confirm my suspicions.

"You look awful Ashton. What happened?" I whispered, scared about his answer. He stepped closer, and surprising me, he wrapped his arms around, and buried his face in my hair. I initially stiffened in his hug, but let myself relax. Niva purred, happy that I had allowed Ashton close to us. I felt so safe with his arms around me.