Moon Of Gold

Epilogue

A woman in a long black lacey dress walks down a hallway. She stops and looks through one of the windows and sighs. She continues to walk down the hallway and finally reaches her destination.
      She pulls a chair out and sits down at the table. The woman brushes a hand to her long dark brown hair then taps her red painted fingernails on the table.
      A man well dressed in a gray suit and tie sits down next to her. His hair is black and nicely combed back.

      "Eva, what's wrong?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.

      Eva sighs and looks down at her hands. "Have you heard the mauling recently? There's someone out there using necromancy. Not just any kind. Blood necromancy. The worst kind..." she says.
      The man cocks his head to the side. He places his hand to his head and groans. "My dear sister you act like they think we have something to do with this. You know no one in this family has been taught that" he pauses for a moment then continues, "Not even I know how to do that. What makes you the town is that gullible?" He adds.
      Eva turns her head and glares at him. She gets up out of her seat and locks eyes with him. "Victor, that's not the point. Your nephew is going to be coming soon and there are killings happening. I don't want him to be a target! It's not safe" she says, balling her hands into fists.
      Victor blinks then turns his body away from her. He sighs and scratches the back of his head. "You do realize that your own son can fight? It's not like he can't. He's just a little odd" he states.
      "You mean to tell me my own flesh and blood can take on a few necromancy victims? Victor, these undead things aren't even people. They're either humans cursed with Lycanthropy or something else. They're basically super werewolves. No, they're monsters!" She shouts, raising her hands in the air.
      Victor hushes her and two more people come out. A woman with a purple dress exposing her shoulders and a man wearing a red suit with a white vest.

      "Ah, auntie Eva. Are you being hysterical again?" The man teases. "You know nothing will happen to us, right? Everything is under control" he says.

      The woman in the dress scoffs and flips her black hair. She turns to the man and glares. "She has every right to be worried! This is are cousin you're talking about. You known Julian can be jumpy!" She says, pushing him to the side.
      Eva gives her a small smile and Victor silently stands there. He looks to his sister then back to his children. He frowns and shakes head. "Lilly...I thought you are your brother had to go do something?" He asks.
      Lilly opens her mouth then closes it. Her eyes shift to her brother then back to their father. "Well, we do. We just heard you both talking about the murders. Darren wanted to see" she answers, eyeing her brother.
      Darren snorts then turns his attention towards his aunt. "Never mind her. We were just going to go for a stroll but since these things are happening I guess it's to the garden" he pauses then looks up at Eva "Oh, auntie Eva, you didn't tell us did you?" He says, grinning at her.
      Eva stares back at him then laughs nervously. "Oh...right" she looks to her brother who raises an eyebrow "Um...Julian is in a relationship finally" she says. Her eyes dart to her niece and nephew. She looks back at her brother and sighs.
      "He's in a relationship? Are you sure you're not just making that up?" Lilly asks, suspiciously.
      Darren laughs triumphantly and Victor frowns. "If you're so sure about this, then what is her name?" Her brother asks, folding his arms across each other. She groans and rubs her forehead. "Why are you all like this? He hasn't even told me yet. I sent a letter to him months ago. Either it hasn't gotten here yet or he won't send one at all."
      "You realize he doesn't have a messenger raven, right?" Lilly says with a sigh.
      Eva stares back at her niece. "Oh...I never gave him one before he went off. Well, hopefully, they come soon. Maybe when this freight train is over."

***

      I roll to the side and leap on top of the griffin. It roars and thrashes around, trying to throw me off. I dig my claws into its back, ripping into its wings. The griffin screeches and brown werewolf digs his claws into its flank.
       I leap off and Julian rushes in. He thrusts his sword into its neck. Blood gushes out of the griffin's neck and it staggers back. He slashes at its talons and the griffin rears up and I go for its throat. I tear my teeth into its feathers and rip my claws into the wound. It shrieks agony.
Julian moves behind the griffin and leaps into the air, cleaving its tail off. It roars and swipes a talon at me. I dodge and another swipe comes at me. I grab on to its talon and a gray werewolf leaps on to its back. He sinks his jaws into one of its wings and tears it off.
      I lift the talon up and roll underneath the griffin. I spot Julian hacking his sword on the other wing. The griffin let out a shriek and rears up on its hind legs. I reach my arms out and dig my claws into its stomach. Then it races off.

***

      I rush after the griffin with the other werewolves following behind. Oh god, Ophira is underneath this thing. It would be only a matter of time until she was crushed.
      We finally corner the griffin and she falls off and crawls from underneath its body. The griffin still has a bit of fight left in it but it's drooling and out of breath.
      A brown and black werewolf snarls and runs towards the griffin. With its side, it slams into her, and Ophira snaps her jaws around its leg. Then I take a step back and charge.
      My sword stabs through its head and the griffin staggers to the ground. After a few minutes, it falls to the ground and twitches. Its eyes fade out and Ophira gets up.
      Her muzzle is covered in blood as well as some of the other werewolves. She reaches a claw over to my arm and raises it up. The other werewolves howl in glee and I turn my head to her. "You act like I did all the work," I say, frowning at her.
      She shakes her head and laughs. "No, I know we all did. You just got the finishing blow. You know this is your second griffin right?" She says, smiling at me with her lupin lips.

***

      We sit on the couch and Julian turns his head. I frown and silently observe him. He turns his head back at me then looks down. "Sorry, my mind's been all over the place" he apologizes. I frown again and furrow a brow. Ever since he got that letter from his mom, he's been a little tense.
      "I know you're worried. She wants to see us but how do we even proceed with that? Is there a ticket or something for transportation?" I ask, putting a hand on his shoulder.
      He looks up and sighs. "Kind of but my family's how you say a little odd. I don't want them to make you feel uncomfortable. Well, maybe not my one cousin but still. I don't have a date to go by" he says, narrowing his eyes.
      I hear a knock at the door and get up to investigate. I open the door and a small white package sits there. I pick it up and close the door. I walk over to Julian whose eyes widen. "That's it! Its the Phantom Carriage coin!" He exclaims. I stare back at him. "The what? What nonsense is coming out of your mouth this time?" I ask, frowning at him.
      Julian clears his throat, "No, it's a coin we use to got to certain places" he looks back at the small packet and tears into it "I don't who sent it but I believe we have to make arrangements soon" he adds.
      The coin is silver and has the head of a horse on the front. It's rather large compared to the first dollar coin I had seen years ago. Julian takes it out and weighs it in his hand. "Oh god, it's heavy," he says in amazement, placing his other hand underneath it.
      "How do we use it? Does it need something from you?" I ask, watching him in amusement. He smiles up at me "Take a wild guess" he says. I stare at him for a second then facepalm. Yes, it had something to do with his blood.
      He places the coin down and sighs "We can't make them wait too long."