A Moon Of Blood • Paul Lahote

Chapter Seven

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

She stared out at the sun setting over the water. Once blue now a painting of purples and oranges. Paul sat beside her, his hand resting on her knee. She played with his fingers, drawing swarirls over the back of his hand. His breathing was steady, his breath warm against her temple. It was peaceful. The first moment of peace she had felt since her father's death. 

"I don't know what I would have done without you," Her voice was weak. Like her mind was in some far away land. Paul smiled, resting his forehead against hers. "Thank you,"

"Any day, any time," Cerise laughed pulling away, not realising how true those words were. She shuffled closer, leaning into his side. He wrapped his arm around her, placing a small kiss tot he top of her head. It had moved fast. In any other relationship, Cerise would have been scared by the speed that it had happened, but with him it felt right. Like a hole had been filled. And under the sunset, with him, she was complete.

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

Bella had come home. She had returned soon after running off. She had tried to talk to Cerise. But the girl had shut her out. Not that Bella could blame her. Cerise had been grieving her father, someone who had died because Bella was close to them, not that Cerise knew that. She just knew that in the moment she needed her best friend the most, she drove off, leaving her with nothing.

Edward had felt guilty too. Knowing that the pain was because of them. Due to the Vampire's affiliation with Bella, Cerise and Rhys were now orphans. And there was nothing that Edward could do to change that. Bella had wanted to tell Cerise the moment she knew. Edward was the one that stopped her, claiming it would keep her safe. Something that seemed to be a reoccuring pattern. 

Bella had been trying to make it up to Cerise from the moment she returned. Bringing flowers, chocolate, planning meals and theatre visits, and supporting her at work. Cerise wanted to forgive Bella. The girl had definetly put in the effort. But a small part of her wanted to slap her across the face. Especially as she stood there as Mike and Jessica's third wheel, most of her prom had been planned with Bella. With her plans out of the window, she stood by the food. Shoving cake in her face whenever a boy would approach.

Should I have asked Paul to come with me? she thought. Standing there alone felt more embarrassing than that one time she had puked on her teacher in front of the entire class. She wished he was there. That they were dancing in the middle of the floor like there was no-one else around. Instead she stood alone, eating everything that was set out infront of her. Filling the gap in date with mini sandwiches.

"Is there any way I can make it up to you," Cerise had ignored her approach. Paying Bella no attention. Sighing as the brunette spoke. A small part of her was thankful that Edward hadn't followed Bella over. Leaving the two to themselves. Cerise thought for a moment. She could keep it going. Push Bella further and further. Yet, she could imagine her father scolding her for not giving Bella a chance. For pushing away her best friend. Her sister.

"You left me. My father died, and you drove off. It'll take way more than an I'm sorry to repair that," Bella nodded, lowering her head to the ground. Playing with a bracelet. Despite their argument, the two still donned the friendship bracelets they made before Bella left the first time-a promise never to forget one another. "But we can work on it. I won't be able to hate you forever." the corners of Cerise's lips turned up slightly. Bella broke out into a wide smile, pulling Cerise into a bone crushing hug. Cerise was the first to pull away, but dragged Bella to the dance floor. She was getting one dance out of the night.

⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

Cerise walked into her home. Looking around at the mess that had accumulated. Her brother was off work for bereavement. He locked himself in his room. The only time he opened it was when Cerise knocked on the door with food. Between school, working as a singer in the local bar and caring for her brother, she hadn't had time to clean. Yet she looked at the house and had no idea where to start. She had no energy for it, still grieving herself.

She squeezed her eyes closed, taking a deep breath. Walking past the piles of plates, clothes and other items. She stopped briefly looking at the 'World's Best Dad' mug that still sat next to the sink. The empty cup a reminder of the whole in her heart. She opened the back door and slinked out. Pulling a cigarette and lighter out of her pocket.

The eyes were gone. The beedy red ones that reached into her soul. Since that night when Bella left, she never saw them again. The predator finally leaving the prey alone to smoke in peace. 

She placed the cigarette between her lips. Her thumb brushing against the en, a warmth pulsing through it. A tiny spark caught her eye, and she moved the thing from her mouth. As she twisted it around she saw it. The end of it lit. The tobacco inside burning away. She looked at the lighter, which sat firmly in her hand, by her side.

How did that just happen?

That's the end of book one! Twilight is finished, and it is on to New Moon next. Which means Cerise is probably gonna get dragged even further into the supernatural world. See you soon with a Moon of Stars.

Updated: 04/02/25
1st scene added. Few sentences changed and added.

Thank you so much for reading this! I know it's short but I didn't want to completely rewrite it and add too much to it that it feels completely different. If you did enjoy feel free to leave a vote and let me know what your favourite part was. Moon of Stars will be getting a complete rewriting, so any suggestions/ideas are welcome! see you soon <3