Hour of the Moon

Chapter 26: Brink of Evil

In the eerie embrace of night, tranquility eluded me, my heart racing in tandem with the racing thoughts in my mind.

The soft glow of my necklace traced a delicate pattern against my flushed skin as I drew a steadying breath. Longing to believe in the ancient power of the amulet around my neck, I grappled with an insistent feeling that malevolence was silently weaving its way into my haven.

A disconcerting blend of odors – reminiscent of rotten eggs and decay – assailed my senses, propelling me to cast off the comfort of my bedcovers.

There was a chill from the windowsill as I threw on a pair of sweats and a sweater and my slippers, slipping my phone into my pocket.

Tracking the unsettling scent, my journey brought me to the front door, where an unmistakable sense of foreboding hung in the air.

An eerie silence clung to the other side of the door, momentarily quelling my trepidation. Yet, this fragile calm shattered when a low, guttural groan echoed through the hinges, violently shaking the door. Fear, cold and biting, surged through me, prompting a swift retreat from the encroaching malevolence.

In a sudden symphony of terror, the creature beyond the door articulated my name with a haunting resonance – "Keiran." Panic seized me, propelling a frantic effort to fortify myself against the imminent threat. I quickly divert my attention to one of the chairs at my table and place it against the door, pushing all the weight on my shoulder as the creatures strength doubled mine.

Beads of sweat trickled from my temple to my neck, and realized I needed something heavier to guard the door.

The growling grew louder, and I realized that was a terrible mistake. I was only on the second floor, and if I jumped it wouldn't be much of an impact.

Mustering up the energy, I take a step back from the door and sprinted towards the window, unlocking it as I didn't even think before I jumped. A sharp impact with the pavement reverberates through me, and fear floods my veins, unlocking an endless reserve of adrenaline. With my heart pounding, I dash towards the main road, propelled by an instinct to flee my apartment, seeking refuge in the nearby wooded expanse.

Call on the power of the moon! Kamari's voice rang like a warning bell in my mind. The sky was an expanse of darkness, the moon nowhere in sight.

" What do I even say?" I harshly whispered into the night, panicked.

Taking deep breaths, I focus on the sky closing my eyes. White light floods my vision as an ancient chant comes to my mind. Kamari is in a royal courtyard, beautiful as ever, putting her hands up in the air as she set her pale gaze on the sky.

Ancient earth from blood and bone
I obey the moon alone
Primordial Gods of Africa
Lend your power to me
Pass on your wisdom and set me free
Grant me the illumination of your ways
And I will serve you to the end of my days

The words of the chant fell upon my lips, as my heart thrummed in anticipation.

I felt the earth tremble beneath my feet, as if an earthquake ripped under the surface. Steadying myself against the tree, wisps of cloud parted way to a full luminous moon that was blood red.

The necklace around me glowed with hot white light, almost scorching my skin.

" Ahh!" I yell trying to pull the necklace off me, but the amulet embedded itself into my skin, creating what looked like a tattoo around my neck.

The moons scarlet light shone down upon me as light from the moon entered my body, filling me from the inside out. I was glowing and illuminated as I soaked in the moons power.

Overwhelmed, I kneeled into the ground, weighed down by the light.

Rise, my child. On wobbly legs, I try to stand up.

All of my power belongs to you. May you one day inherit the throne.

In the distance, I could hear the footsteps of the monsters grew nearer.

The giant wolf in front of me was monstrous, with brimming red eyes and long canines. His lackies were a hybrid human hyena mix that were made of madness and nightmares.

Nausea coiled in my stomach from the foul stench.

" Child of the moon," The wolf said without moving its mouth, " Keiran."

" How do you know me?" I asked, my voice sounding deeper, as if someone was speaking through me.

" We mean you no harm, you see," The wolf strategically circled around me, sizing me up.

" We are here to collect a debt, and Cherokee will come to an end."

" What do you gain from destroying Cherokee?"

For a moment, the wolf looked pained, a deep sorrow that was unmistakable in those glowering red eyes of terror.

" My freedom. I would like to very much not kill you, moon-child."

In breakneck speed the wolf charged towards me, and my body became paralyzed in fear.

What happened next, I couldn't have imagined or prepared for.

Hey loves! It's been forever and a day since I uploaded and I struggled with the direction of this chapter! Eventually I want to write at least five more chapters and finish this story (let's see how that will happen).