Blessed By The Moon

Chapter 18

IMPORTANT ! 

Author's note :  After the Lost Memories chapter we'll get back to the original time line.

Lost Memories part 2

Skye's- No, May's pov :

### One Year Ago

**Five hours into Jordan's birthday party.**

Laughter filled the air, floating on waves of loud music and the scent of fresh cake. We were only five hours into Jordan's birthday party, but it felt like it had been going on forever in the best way possible. We'd gone through every party game we could think of—Truth or Dare, I Spy, even a rowdy game of Never Have I Ever. The whole place buzzed with excitement, an endless rotation of dance-offs, snacks, and spontaneous sing-alongs.

Jordan was at the center of it all, grinning ear to ear as everyone sang him "Happy Birthday." We piled our plates high with cake and cheered him on as he blew out the candles. I couldn't remember the last time we'd all had so much fun. It was a perfect night, and I could almost forget the weight of the real world outside these walls.

But then the crowd swelled, and the energy shifted. The whole high school seemed to pour in—people I barely recognized, strangers from different grades, faces I'd only ever seen in passing. It was still fun, but now there was something chaotic in the air, a restless excitement simmering under the surface.

I laughed it off, dancing with friends and sneaking bites of cake between songs. The punch was sweet and tangy, and I didn't realize until I'd downed half a cup that it was laced with something potent. My head spun a little, and my laughter came out just a touch louder, but I brushed it off.

Somewhere along the way, Jordan was dancing with some classmates, and by the time I asked around, the last anyone saw him,  he was sneaking off with a girl to a room. But I tried not to let it bother me. After all, he was allowed to have fun, too.. Even though taking a girl to a room, in my own house, during the party I threw for him, was a little disrespectful.

Then things got hazy. People started pushing the limits—more drinks, louder music, couples slipping into dark corners. When I saw Katie locking lips with someone she barely knew, it struck me just how out of control everything had become. This party had somehow twisted, slipping from innocent fun to an all-out, anything-goes frenzy.

The buzz from the punch had worn off, but I felt something else, something darker. I stumbled toward the bathroom, nausea rising like a wave. I barely made it to the sink before everything came back up, my stomach churning with a bitterness that felt far too intense for a few sips of punch. This wasn't normal. Something was off, and a chill ran down my spine.

As I straightened up, trying to pull myself together, a pair of arms slipped around me, steadying me before I could fall.

"Whoa, there, sweetie," a girlish voice said, a little too sweet. "Let's get you cleaned up."

She helped me sit down and crouched next to me, a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Looks like you partied a little too hard," she chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "You look like me after my first bottle of whiskey."

I managed a small laugh, studying her out of the corner of my eye. There was something about her that made me uneasy. She didn't look like she belonged here; her face was unfamiliar, and her scent was just... off.

"Could you get me some water?" I asked, the words almost stumbling out of my mouth.

She flashed a grin and darted off, returning with a cup of water and a few cookies. I took a sip, though my stomach twisted in protest. She watched me closely as I ate, and I couldn't shake the feeling that her eyes were just a little too calculating, her smile a little too forced.

"By the way, I'm Serene," she said, a playful smirk on her face.

I arched an eyebrow. "Serene as in the one who slapped Jerry, or Serene as in the one who screwed a teacher for an A in Math?"

She laughed, her voice high and casual. "The one who slapped Jerry. He totally had it coming."

My mind raced. The real Serene had slapped Hudson, not Jerry. And then it hit me—she wasn't a friend from school. This girl was a stranger, and she was lying. The strange crowd, the spiked punch, the wild spiral of the party... she was behind it. My pulse quickened.

I forced a smile, leaning against her. "Can you help me get to the balcony? I think I just need a little fresh air."

She gave me a bright, eager nod, and together we made our way through the crowd, weaving past groups of people who were lost in their own little worlds. I scanned the room for Jordan, for anyone who might be able to help. But no one met my eyes; everyone was lost in the frenzy.

As we reached the most crowded part of the house, I pretended to stumble.

And then I spotted him—Jordan, wrapped around some girl in the corner, completely oblivious to everything happening around him. My heart twisted with frustration. I needed him, needed him to see what was going on. But he was lost in his own world, blind to the danger.

I swallowed my disappointment and turned back to Serene. But she had caught on, her gaze darkening. Realizing the gravity of the situation, I acted. Using my full weight, I yanked Serene down, kicking her hard in the stomach.

What was in the punch, why do my powers feel so muffled?

This time, I got a reaction. The music faltered as people turned their heads, startled. I scrambled to my feet and swung my fist at her, but she was quick, dodging and pulling my hair, yanking me backward until I was pressed against her.

Her grip tightened, and before I could react, she dragged me back, one hand reaching into her pocket. A glint of silver flashed before my eyes, and suddenly, a gun was pressed to my head.

"Everyone stay where you are!" she shouted. Her voice sliced through the music, and the room fell silent as everyone turned to see her holding me captive.

"Move, and I'll shoot," she hissed, her eyes flickering with something far darker than mischief. "These are silver bullets, and I'm not afraid to use them."

The crowd froze, eyes wide with horror. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Katie push her way forward, her face etched with determination. Her gaze met mine, and I saw the silent promise there—a glimmer of bravery.

"Let her go, you freak," Katie spat, her voice steady and strong. She lunged forward, throwing a punch aimed directly at Serene's face.

Serene moved fast, quicker than I thought possible, and the gunshot rang out before I even realized what had happened. Katie fell to the ground, her eyes still defiant even as the life faded from them.

The room erupted in screams. My oldest friend, the girl I'd known since kindergarten, lay dead on the floor.

Serene chuckled, a twisted smile spreading across her face as she looked down at Katie's lifeless body. "I told you I wouldn't hesitate."

My heart raced, tears streaming down my cheeks as Serene pulled out a silver knife, slicing a thin line across my arm. Pain shot through me, and I felt the warmth of my blood trickling down. She leaned in, savoring it as if it were the finest wine.

"At least you'll make a good meal," she sneered, her voice dripping with malice.

And then it clicked—she wasn't human. She was a vampire.

Just as the realization dawned, something sharp sliced through the air, embedding itself in Serene's shoulder. She screamed, her grip on me loosening, and I glanced up to see Jordan standing there, his face pale but resolute, another knife clutched in his trembling hand.

"Let. Her. Go." His voice shook, but he held his stance, his eyes fierce.

Serene sneered, seeing the tremor in his hands, the fear in his eyes. With a sick smile, she raised her gun and aimed. For a second, everything slowed, time stretching unbearably as Jordan's hand faltered.

Both their weapons fired at the same time.

The knife hit Serene in the shoulder.

But the bullet—oh, God, the bullet ... found its mark, driving straight into Jordan's chest.

The world stopped.