Luna

Chapter 7

“Auntie Zee it’s me, Luna. Open up, open up please.” I desperately shout as I frantically bang on her lilac door.


My heart pounds as fast as my fist as I restlessly wait to be rescued. The wolves stalk closer, ready to charge. So much for Vivian’s distraction.


“Please be home.” I pray as they surround me.


My hand raises to pound at the door again when it suddenly flies open. Before Zeva can get out a word I lunge forward and spill onto the floor.


“Luna?”

“Help me.” I beg.


Before she can bend down to check on me the sound of howling pulls her attention away. Her gaze turns to the relentless wolves charging towards the house then back at me.


“Wait here a moment.” She says with a gentle grin. Without hesitation, she steps outside to face the snarling pack.


I watch on nervously. Zeva is a talented, powerful witch. But if she makes the wrong move the pack will overwhelm her and another life might be weighed on my conscious.


She takes a calm, deep breath and with a gentle wave of her hand creates an expanding wall of thick, purple clouds. The group stops in their tracks. Wolves hate magic. Zeva explained it to me long ago. Despite such skills being lost to time, they will always fear that the magic that created them will undo them. Apparently being human is a fate worse than death.


I take some satisfaction in watching their fur stand on end and the anxiety in their eyes.


It’s too late to turn back now. Before they can make a move, the pack is enveloped and pushed back as the clouds continue to stretch and grow. Eventually, the whole house is surrounded by it. And when the haze is lifted a light, shimmering, protective dome is left over our heads.

The agitated pack paces around hoping to find an opening but Zeva’s shield is solid. A desperate few begin trying to dig under it while one brainless, white wolf charges in headfirst. Of course, he doesn’t make it in. The second he makes contact the dome zaps him and he backs away yelping.


“Get off my property and don’t bring that nonsense to my doorstep.” Zeva demands. “Go back to where you belong or we will have an issue. I promise you don’t want that.” She calmly advises before returning to the house.

Zeva’s warning goes ignored as they continue to pace, growl, snarl, and snap. I shrink under the gaze of their dark, hateful eyes.

I wonder about the other vampires. The others whose destruction I unknowingly cheered for. Are those the same spiteful looks they had to cower under? Is this the same heart-wrenching fear they felt before falling prey to the Blood Pack? I may have gotten away tonight but what about tomorrow and the days after that? How long will I have to keep running?


Thankfully some of my worries dissipate as the wolves disappear behind a locked door.


“Come on, sweetheart. Let Auntie take care of you.” Zeva whispers tenderly as she gathers me from the floor and guides me to the couch.


“They won’t get in, will they?” I ask nervously as she sits me down. “The shield won’t hold forever.”


“They won’t, I promise.” She assures. Zeva grabs a blanket and wraps it around my shivering shoulders. “Hopefully they get some sense and move on by the time it falls.”


She briefly walks off into the kitchen. Then after a few minutes returns with a tray holding a porcelain cup, bandages, and a small jar of what I’m assuming is medicine cream. She places the steaming cup in my shaking hands.


“Drink it. It’s going to calm you down and handle those cravings of yours till I can get you something else.”


I take a few hesitant sips as Zeva kneels down to wrap the numerous wounds on my legs and arms. With each sip, my body starts to warm and I feel a little bit better. My tears dry and the stinging in my eyes stops, the pain and aches fade, and my shaking hands gradually settle.


While Auntie Zee does her work I search for a distraction. Not much has changed since the last time I came here. Crystals, herbs, and colorful potion bottles take their place on the many shelves on the walls. Nearly a hundred books sit on others. The last light of the moon shines through the stained-glass window. Hanging from it is a dreamcatcher Mom helped me make for Zeva’s birthday when I was six.


I always feel so calm here. Other than home it’s the safest place I know. The thoughts of home suddenly flood my thoughts and I gulp down more tea wishing it all to melt away.


“Thank goodness you heal quickly. This could have been quite the mess.” Zeva notes dabbing more cream on my arm before wrapping it.