Moon's Call (Sample)

Chapter Twelve

Theresa stirred in her sleep, groaning. She fluttered her eyes open slowly and discovered Elaine peering down at her. She tried to sit up and discovered that there were a lot of people in the room and Astrophel was sitting on the bed beside her. She saw Darius at the foot of the bed, arms folded and Herrick standing next to him and she cringed inwardly, sinking into the bed. Had she done something wrong? They all didn't look too happy.

"Theresa?" Elaine called and Theresa turned her gaze to her. "Are you okay now?"

Theresa stared at her, confused. "Um...."

"You passed out in the Meadows." Elaine quickly said. "We were so worried."

"I'm fine." Theresa swallowed hard.

"Where did you learn to do all that... The flying thing and the earth rumble stuff?" Darius asked and there was silence in the room as if everyone had been waiting for that particular questions to be asked.

Theresa glanced at Elaine uncertainly and Elaine took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, reassuring her. "Darius is not going to hurt you, Theresa. We all need to know the truth."

Theresa hesitated. "Um... I...um... didn't learn it."
She said. "I don't know how it happened. I'm surprised myself.

Darius exchanged looks with Herrick and turned to look at Theresa again. "Are you certain that this has never occurred before?"

"No... I... I didn't kill anyone, did I?" Theresa asked in fear.

Darius shook his head. "Rest, I'll speak with you later."

All the people in the room began to leave and Darius left with Herrick. Elaine raised a brow at her son who was still sitting on the bed but Astrophel intentionally avoided her gaze. She knew that Astrophel had brought Theresa into her room and had made her sleep in his arms throughout until his father and the people came in. Theresa stared at the furry bed and glanced at Elaine. "Am I in trouble?"

Elaine smiled and shook her head. "No... We are all just surprised because we have never heard of nor witness anything like what you did before. You run almost as fast as we do in your human form, you leap into the air, defying gravity and you cause earthquakes. We don't even know the extent of your powers yet."

"She's doing just fine without her lunar call." Astrophel said quietly.

Theresa cleared her throat softly and muttered. "Thanks."

Elaine glanced at her son, looking for a way to get rid of him. She was worried that people would start suspecting that he was rather creating a bond with Theresa. "Astrophel, could you go see how your sister is doing?"

Astrophel hesitated, aware of what his mother was trying to do but he got up anyway. "Fine." He said and with a longing look at Theresa, then exited the room.

Elaine smiled and turned to Theresa who had watched him leave. "He's nice...but too quiet." Theresa said and Elaine smiled again.

"He has always been the quiet son but he has quite an anger." Said Elaine and stood up. "I should go see if I could tend to the injuries of any of the injured men, Medea is making you some broth, just rest and get enough sleep and we'll talk when you are well rested."

Theresa sighed and nodded while Elaine turned and exited the room.

                          ***
Claire stood by the window, staring out, arms folded while Stella sat on the chair.