The Demons of Shadow Moon

Part 13 - Eclipse

The dairy Luna had just picked up was shot out her hands in an instant. Words set ablaze as the book crumbled into ashes on the floor.

The words. The answers. The one chance she had of finally understanding what Akira had been hiding from her.

Gone.

Luna's hands remained suspended in front of her, as though she were still holding the book. They trembled violently.

For a moment, she couldn't move.

But in a flash, her ocean-blue eyes snapped towards Echo.

"Echo! Explain!" she demanded, her fists clenched at her sides.

Echo stiffened.

Luna spun around fully to face her, hurt quickly burning into anger.

"What lies was Akira talking about?!! Have you both been lying to me?!" Her gaze locked with her sister's, desperately searching her expression for some sign that she'd misunderstood.

"Ah...! No, well- ... y-you have to trust me on this. It's not the right time to tell you," Echo stumbled over her words, raising her hands as though she could somehow calm the situation.

"Tell me what?!! What have you been keeping from me?!" Luna ranted, stepping closer.

Echo took a small step back.

"He... well, the thing is, he... ok, look, Akira... he had a secret, ok? But I can't tell you. I'm sworn to a promise..." she dragged a hand through her hair, visibly struggling to find the right words.

"A secret? To do with me?? Why can't you tell me?? Is it something to do with my memories?!" Luna desperately sought to know. Her voice cracked slightly on the final word.

Echo's hesitation only made the panic crawling through Luna's chest worse.

"Look, it's... kind of a long story..." Echo added.

"He's keeping something from me and you knew all this time?!!" Luna crossed her eyebrows and pushed her lips together, causing her face to go red.

"I'm so sorry, Luna. I told him he needs to tell you!" Echo insisted, trying her best to justify herself.

"Tell me what?!!" Luna yelled, eyes searching desperately for answers in Echo's withdrawn expression.

Her voice echoed through the house. Dust drifted lazily through the shafts of sunlight spilling through the cracked windows. The old wooden walls creaked softly around them, and somewhere outside, the distant voices of the others carried faintly through the trees.

But inside, neither sister heard anything but the other.

"I can't say...! It's bigger than me, ok?! Akira promised he'd tell you one day!" Echo tried to excuse, stepping forward, but Luna immediately backed away from her.

"Why can't you just tell me now?!! What is it he's been lying about?!" Luna demanded to know.

Echo opened her mouth...

Nothing came out.

Luna stared at her. Seconds passed. With every one, the hurt in Luna's expression grew. Luna's frustration grew, seeing Echo's reluctance to be honest with her.

"Uh!! I can't believe this!! Out of everyone, I never would have thought you'd lie to me, Echo!!" she stormed towards the staircase.

"Uh! Luna, wait, just hear me out!" Echo ran after her.

Luna's footsteps thundered against the old wooden steps as she hurried downstairs, wiping furiously at the tears beginning to sting the corners of her eyes. Echo chased after her, though she wasn't sure what to say.