Black Moon (13 page)

“Please
stoppp
!” she howls through a mess of tears. “I’ll do anything. Whatever you want. Don’t do this, Candra. Please!” Her nose and cheeks are inflamed from crying, matching the color of the blood pooling at her sides. If I don’t end this, she’ll continue to come back. Next time, it may not be me; it may be a family member, or Jana and Blake. I don’t know where she’ll draw the line.

An overwhelming hunger swells from within, coaxing me to finish what I started.

So, I do.

With one final plea for life, I deny her. My paw plunges through her chest, stomping the very organ that grants her existence. Ali coughs and sputters, blood spilling from her mouth and dripping into a puddle beneath her head. The heat radiating from her body—which was bright oranges and yellows just a few minutes ago—has now darkened to shades of blues and purples.

She’s gone . . . forever.

And I killed her.

Chapter Nine

I
stare for a long time at the mess I’ve made. This could’ve been avoided if she listened to me. Too stubborn and selfish, Ali brought on her demise, and I was just the messenger.

Okay, focus. You have GOT to get out of here before they find her. Or Ben.

Attempting to peek around the openings of the hidden door are pointless; I can’t see anything. There are several people wandering outside, voices transmitting straight to my ears. If I have any opportunity to bust this exit down and flee, I better do it fast—before they, or anyone else, catches me. That leaves me with a short window, one that I need to use to my benefit.

Backing up about five feet, I prepare to charge the passage.

“Stop her!” cries Mrs. Conway from the top of the stairs.

Oh no.

Glancing over my shoulder, I notice they all freeze at the bottom—when they see Ali’s body. Cameron actually looks scared, for once, but then his face reverts to the same threatening scowl it always carries. Ethan covers his mouth and attempts to head back upstairs, but his mom grabs him by the shirt collar, turning him around.

“Let it be known that she’s a menace to our society. She’s killed one of our own,” says Mrs. Conway.

I release a fierce snarl. One of our own? Ali and I couldn’t have been
more
different if we tried. Just because she was a werewolf like me doesn’t mean we were friends, or even blood relatives. I guess the rule wouldn’t have applied to them had I stuck around and they stole my power, and then murdered me. Glad I’ll be missing that tragedy.

Without additional hesitation and before the Conway’s stop me, the stone outlet crumbles as I breach the wall. Above, there’s a tiny opening between the house and the yard, which light slips through, but it’s not large enough for me to fit. I run the length of a dirt tunnel ahead, which will lead me God-knows-where. At this point,
anything
is better than that dungeon.

Run faster!
I say to myself. It doesn’t seem like I’m escaping quickly enough. I can’t wait to be purged of that stingy place and be home, finally. The soil underneath my paws reeks of a negated odor, which comes close to burning my sensitive nose, and the further I scurry into the burrow, the more claustrophobic I become. The walls are decreasing in size; the gap around me now is smaller than the opening. At this rate, I may not fit through what’s left.

Then, at last, air replaces the horrible smell in my nostrils with something new, something
fresh
. Grass. Oh so close, too. And pine trees; I catch their woodsy aroma.
 

Sunlight is ahead, glowing brighter and brighter the closer I am. Not far are wooden boards covering the way out. Bursting through the exit of the tunnel, I don’t think to look where I am; I continue to scamper. I’ll stop when I know there’s distance between myself and the Conway household. Their voices distantly rise in alarm behind me, but I’m covering a lot of ground, zigzagging through the trees so they won’t know where I am. Ultimately, I tire of this plan and head straight through the woods to the other side of town. Humans can’t see us when we’re in darting at a high rate of momentum, as we’re nothing more than a blur. The hard part is trying not to smack into something—cars, buildings, trees. We have to think with speed.

I haven’t been able to place my location just yet. More and more, though, familiar buildings pass by, until I learn where I am.
Don’t stop, Candra,
I think. Even though my muscles grow tired from traveling too rapidly, I must visualize the bigger picture here—arriving home, safe and sound. Which, lucky for me, isn’t too far ahead. I’ve passed the shopping area where
Livia’s
is, and now I’m in a park a few blocks from Randy and Beth’s.

Out of my peripheral sight, I detect one werewolf on either side of me, both about thirty yards out. My best guess is: they aren’t from our side of the forest. They’ll probably follow me home, causing more problems, maybe even a fight. I have to stop them, stall them—anything!

I veer toward the one on my right, whose coat is as tan as California girls. He spots me, changing direction to rush. As the saying goes: go big or go home. We meet in midair, fangs bared, claws swiping. Neither of us gains a strong hold on the other. He’s the first to sink his teeth in and not let go, so I pull the same trick Ethan did with me—I roll around until he loosens his grip, even if it’s just a little. Hurts like hell, but it works. As soon as he releases, his twin from my left side decides to join in. Two against one, huh? This ought to be fun.

Everything inside me is screaming to run, run for my life and don’t look back. But I can’t lead them directly to Randy and Beth’s doorstep when they’re looking for a fight. Who knows what they’ve been ordered to do. For this reason, I’ll stay here and do battle.

Unexpectedly, blurs flash by us. Two, at least. I’m dizzy just trying to make out their shapes. The two I’m prepared to duke it out with have stopped combating so they can watch, too. If anymore Followers gang up on me, I’m screwed. It’ll be back to the dungeon for me.

One of those hazy figures whizzing by circles around and rams the haunch of the Follower on the left, toppling him and his friend like they’re dominoes. Had I been one foot closer, I would’ve been hit. When the Followers stand up, the next figure makes a beeline for them from the right, triggering them to tumble again. I’d laugh if I were human right now.

Apparently, the Followers don’t like to be mocked, because they run off with their tails tucked between their legs. I wish I could be a fly on the wall when the Conway’s hear about this.

The shadowed forms crisscross the park once more, and then come to an abrupt stop not two feet from me. Whoever these two are, they’re a team . . . and they just saved my life. Both have mixed coats. The male’s is golden in some places, brown in others. The female’s is black, white and grey.

Candra, is it you?

I lied. I KNOW THEM!

Jana? Blake?
My eyes dart back and forth between the two. I don’t wait for confirmation before leaping on top of Jana and tackling her to the ground. If I had the capability of hugging her right now, I’d do it.

It’s us!
Jana cries out, as happy as I feel.
Oh, Candra, we were so worried about you. We’ve been working on a plan to get you out, even surveying the area near the Conway residence, but they have scouts
everywhere
.

It’s okay,
I tell her.
How’re Mom and Dad? Randy and Beth? Your parents?

Blake snarls, and Jana and I stare at him blankly.
Just clearing my throat,
he says.

Jana rolls her eyes along with me.
Everyone’s been concerned about you,
she responds.
They’ll be so excited to see you again.

I heard you guys got banged up during that brawl on my birthday. I was nervous the fight was worse than the Conway’s let on.

We heal quickly, remember? We’re fine. Really.

I nod my head, acknowledging I understand.
Oh, and that reminds me,
I add.
Thanks. Both of you. Yet again, you saved my life. I owe you BIG.

Yeah, you
kinda
do,
says Blake. His lips pull back, revealing sharp incisors. I guess it’s his way of smiling.

We have strict orders to get you home,
Jana says in a rush,
and I’m not about to disobey.

The three of us embark on the journey to Randy and Beth’s. Feels good to be free at last, able to roam the wild and breathe clean air. I can’t wait to not only see my family, but also eat, sleep on something that’s not hard and cold, and take a hot shower. Teeming with glee, I force my muscles to move until they burn, even though they’re crying out for me to slow down.

Wanna
race?
asks Blake.

Sure, why not?
I duck my head against the wind and push my body to the max. Blake’s side by side with me, so this competition will be a close one. Rounding the corner of the subdivision, we’re only a block away. Such a long distance for someone who’s never wanted home more in her life.

Ohhhhh
,
Blake draws out, challengingly, upping the anticipation.

He beats me by a millisecond, though. Thankfully, we didn’t wager a bet.

Nice job,
Cee
, but you still have some work to do,
he says, joking, of course.
 

Jana catches up to us, frustrated that we sped off and left her behind. Normally, we don’t have to worry about the Conway’s and their Followers near our property; there’s a mutual understanding that we don’t trespass on their land, or they ours. In light of recent dealings, however, the rules have changed.

Blake and I apologize for our egotism, explaining we wanted to have a little fun.

I wanted to get her mind off where she just came from, that’s all,
Blake tells Jana.

It’s just . . . things aren’t like they used to be,
Jana says.
We need to be careful. If we’re out together, they could ambush us. What if we were outnumbered? What then?

Sorry,
I say.
Won’t happen again.

Looking at them now, I wonder why I never noticed what they looked like as werewolves. After all, they did rescue me from Ethan in the woods. The pain I experienced could’ve factored into me not knowing up from down, left from right, therefore unable to discern their coats, or it could’ve been because the encounter was at night.

The front door opens as we near the house. Mom, Dad, Randy and Beth, and even Mr. and Mrs.
Rendall
, stand aside to let us in. Their ecstatic expressions and teary eyes comfort me. They shut the door behind us, and we all unite in the living room, where space is available.

First order of business: transforming back into my human self. The process is turning out to be easier and easier, although the strange numbness left in the aftermath is something I’ll have to get use to. Since Randy can make things materialize using his power, we don’t ever have to worry about seeing each other unclothed after a shift.

Mom’s the first to reach me after I’m, well,
me
again, encircling her arms around my torso and squeezing until I can’t breathe.

“Oh, Candra,” she chokes out, “we were so fearful of what they might do.”

“I’m okay, Mom.” I bend my arms so I can pat her back. “When they told me some of you were injured during my capture, I had hoped it wasn’t as bad as I led myself to believe.”