Haunted Moon (42 page)

Cobra Verde:
“Play with Fire”

Cynthia Smith & Ruth Barrett:
“Faerie’s Love Song”

David Draiman:
“Forsaken”

Death Cab for Cutie:
“I Will Possess Your Heart”

Dragon Ritual Drummers:
“Black Queen”

Eels:
“Souljacker Part I”

Fatboy Slim:
“Praise You”

Faun:
“Punagra,” “Konigin”

Fleetwood Mac:
“The Chain,” “Gold Dust Woman”

Flight of the Hawk:
“Bones”

Foster the People:
“Pumped Up Kicks”

Gary Numan:
“Dead Sun Rising,” “When the Sky Bleeds, He Will Come,” “The Fall,” “The Angel Wars,” “Hybrid,” “Halo,” “Walking With Shadows”

Godsmack:
“Voodoo”

Gorillaz:
“Demon Days”

Gypsy:
“Spirit Nation,” “Morgaine”

Hanni El Khatib:
“Come Alive”

Heather Alexander:
“The Garden,” “March of Cambreadth”

Hedningarna:
“Tuuli,” “Ukkonen,” “Raven,” “Gorrlaus”

Hugo:
“99 Problems”

In Strict Confidence:
“Silver Bullets,” “Forbidden Fruit”

Jay Gordon:
“Slept So Long”

Julian Cope:
“Charlotte Anne”

Kirsty MacColl:
“In These Shoes”

Lady Gaga:
“Paparazzi,” “Born This Way,” “I Like It Rough”

Loreena McKennitt:
“Mummer’s Dance”

Marc Lanegan:
“The Gravedigger’s Song,” “Bleeding Muddy Water,” “Judas Touch,” “Riding the Nightingale,” “Miracle,” “Phantasmagoria Blues,” “Because of This”

NIN:
“Deep”

Orgy:
“Blue Monday”

People in Planes:
“Vampire”

Puddle of Mudd:
“Psycho”

Róisín Murphy:
“Ramalama (Bang Bang)”

Rolling Stones:
“Sympathy for the Devil”

Stone Temple Pilots:
“Sour Girl”

Sully Erna:
“The Rise,” “Avalon”

Thompson Twins:
“The Gap”

Todd Alan:
“Gently Johnny,” “We Are the Walking Breath”

Transplants:
“Diamonds & Guns”

The Verve:
“Bittersweet Symphony”

Warchild:
“Ash”

Woodland:
“Rose Red,” “First Melt,” “I Remember,” “The Dragon,” “Morgana Moon”

Zero 7:
“In the Waiting Line”

Dear Reader:

I truly hope you enjoyed
Haunted Moon
, the thirteenth book in the Otherworld Series. I love writing this world; it expands and grows with each book, and I see so many possibilities ahead for the Sisters. The next book in this series will be
Autumn Whispers
, book fourteen, coming in October 2013. But before then,
Night Vision
, book four of the Indigo Court Series, will be released in July 2013.

And so, I’m including the first chapter of
Night Vision
here, to give you a taste of what’s coming up in Cicely’s world as she battles Queen Myst for control of the Golden Wood.

For those of you new to my books, I hope you’ve enjoyed your first foray into my worlds. For those of you who have followed me for a while, I want to thank you for once again revisiting the world of Camille, Menolly, and Delilah.

Bright Blessings,
The Painted Panther
Yasmine Galenorn

As I stepped out from the forest, under the open stars, the dark silhouette of the Veil House warmed my heart, but it was a bittersweet moment. The house stood silent against the night sky, but signs abounded that it was slowly returning to life. The walls had been rebuilt, the roof repaired, and it was beginning to look like a house again rather than the bombed-out shelter that it had become. But it would never again be my home. After too many years on the road as a child, I’d returned to New Forest, Washington. I’d come home to my aunt Heather and the Veil House, only to lose both of them for good.

So much had changed over the past few weeks since I’d rolled into town. And so much was still in flux. Literally caught up by a whirlwind, I barely recognized myself now. Everything I’d ever thought about my childhood and heritage had been turned upside down.

A light flurry of snow fell softly, drifting flakes clinging to my shoulders like frozen butterflies. It was still cold, my breath a pale fog in front of me. Over the past weeks, I’d
learned to hate the snow. Myst had destroyed my love for the icy months of the year.

“You’d better learn to love the cold,” I whispered to myself. “Soon enough, winter will be your permanent home.” I was standing on the precipice of a transformation, but for today, I was still Cicely Waters, Wind Witch and Owl Shifter. But soon, I’d be…

Who am I becoming, Ulean?

Are you afraid? Do not worry. The initiation will change you—make you stronger.

Again, I shivered.
That’s exactly what frightens me. Will I still be me afterward?

Ulean’s laughter surrounded me, a gentle breeze that swept by, almost warm in its touch. The Wind Elemental had been with me since I was six years old. We were bound, and she guarded my back.

You will always be who you are. You’ll just…know more about yourself—you’ll learn to control your emerging powers better. You’ll be you, but you’ll also be a queen. And I will always be with you. Lainule bound me to your service before you ever knew who or what you were to become. Her visions guided her. I will not leave you.

And then she fell silent, leaving me with my thoughts again.

I kicked a pile of snow, wishing for spring. Wishing for any season that involved green growing things. Myst, Queen of the Indigo Court—the Vampiric Fae and upstart winter queen—had brought the eternal winter to town, determined to spread her ice and chill across the land. Her Shadow Hunters fed on bone and gristle and marrow and life force. Once we finally defeated Myst, the seasons would return to their normal ebb and flow, but until that day, we were caught in her unwavering grasp, even though we’d driven her into hiding.

“Any sign of Shadow Hunters?” Rhiannon, my cousin, emerged from the wood to stand beside me. “I’m sorry I’m late—the Summer Court has been keeping me busy.” She sounded less than thrilled, but I knew that it was just her nerves acting up, the same as me.

I shook my head. “I don’t see any. But they’re out there, somewhere. I doubt if they’ll show themselves until Myst regroups her forces. Who knows how many of them managed to escape? And there were plenty of others scattered around the country. And you know that they will come to her aid when she calls. She’s just biding her time until she rebuilds her army.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Rhiannon glanced over her shoulders. “I wish I felt it was safe to go out alone. Do you think we should go back, bring a couple of the guards?”

I glanced back at the trees. They were back there, hiding in the woods, ready to join us if we required. But I’d managed to convince Lainule that—with Myst currently out of the picture—we really didn’t need them, especially when we were headed to the Emissary’s mansion. Myst couldn’t get through their defenses—not when she was at the peak of her power, and not now.

“I think we’ll be fine.” I paused, then added, “But soon enough, they won’t allow us to go out alone. Although, come to think of it, Lainule does. So, maybe…maybe…they won’t be on our tail every place we go.”

As the dusk fell across the snowbound evening, Ulean whipped around me. She seemed agitated.

Trouble. There is trouble in the Veil House.

Fuck. Maybe we
did
need the guards.
Shadow Hunters?

No, not Shadow Hunters. Vampires, and they have Luna with them. She’s afraid and she’s hurt. I can feel her fear.

I turned to Rhiannon. “Luna’s in the house and Ulean says she’s hurt. There are vampires in there with her.” I rushed forward, now hoping the guards would follow. I had no idea if they could see us from where they were in the forest.

Rhiannon plunged through the snow after me. “Damn it! Lannan promised allegiance—”

I raced through the snow, slipping on the icy crust a couple of times. “I don’t think it’s Lannan.”

“Then who?”

“I don’t know, but Lannan wouldn’t do this, even as perverted as he is.”

A sense of dread seeped through me. We’d gotten cocky and we’d gotten careless. Luna had gone to the market, assuring us she would be fine, and stupid us, we’d let her go.

As I bounded up the back porch of the Veil House, I saw that it had been fully repaired. I glanced over my shoulder. No sign of the guards.

Ulean, please warn Lainule we need help?

I will. Be cautious, Cicely. I do not know what’s going on in there.

With Rhiannon right behind me, I slammed through the door and into the kitchen, skidding to a halt, but it was empty. Nothing but a silent room.

The kitchen had been entirely rebuilt. The new color was chiffon yellow, pale as the cool morning light in early spring, and it spread across the room, a gradient of apricot blushing toward the ceiling. The trim had been replaced, and all the cabinets and cupboards. The workmanship was meticulous.

I glanced around, trying to decide whether to go up the back staircase to the bedrooms or—

A noise from the living room caught my attention and I slowed, motioning for Rhiannon to keep behind me. I felt for the sheath hanging off my belt, gripping the hilt of my new dagger. Lainule herself had given it to me, and it was fit for a queen—wickedly sharp, made from a magical silver alloy, and deadly. Behind me, Rhiannon drew her matching blade.

We crept to the edge of the living room and peeked in. Here, where the smoke had damaged furniture and wallpaper but not the actual structure, the walls had been stripped, and now a pale green illuminated the room, and new furniture.

Standing in the middle of the room were two men—vampires by the looks of their eyes—wearing dark suits. Between them, they had hold of Luna, each holding one of her arms. They were ignoring her as they talked in soft whispers.

Luna was crying, softly, and I saw her shiver as one of the vamps reached down and tipped her chin up to stare him in the face. He said something and she let out a whimper, then fell silent.

“So, what the fuck are you doing with my friend?” I stepped out from around the wall. We needed more backup but we couldn’t wait. What if they tried to kill her?

The vamps glanced over at me, then one snorted.

“Took you long enough,
witch
. We’re here to deliver a message.” He let go of Luna and shoved her forward with so much force that she went sprawling at my feet.

She landed hard on the floor, and I quickly bent to help her up. Struggling, she looked up at me, dazed. Her eyes were wide, and two ragged punctures marred her neck, dried blood from them coating her skin. I knew exactly what that meant.

“You fucking perverts, you fed from her.” I whirled on them. “You’d better not be aligned with Lannan or I swear, I’ll—”

The first vamp sneered. “Are you talking to us, little girl? Try being a little more respectful. You see, we don’t give a fuck about your powers or your lineage or the fact that your oh-so-fragile neck is going to be used to hold up a pretty little diadem.”

“Shut up,” his partner said. He pointed to Luna. “The
girl
is your message.” They turned to go, then glanced back. “Next time we meet, the warning will be harsher. You might caution your friends about being so carefree. We could have broken her neck without blinking an eye and left her on the street. We could have turned her and taken her with us.”

“Who sent you? Who are you working for?”

They laughed. “You’ll find out soon enough. We’re just administering a not-so-gentle reminder that not all vampires in New Forest are as entranced with you as is that sycophant Altos, and his bitch whore sister.”

I drew back my dagger, knowing it was a foolish move. But I had to do something. I couldn’t take them down with it, but I could do my best to protect us—at least for a while. I moved in front of Luna.

“I don’t care who hates me. Just don’t take it out on my friends—” And then, I paused. Crap. I knew who had sent them. At least, I was pretty sure. “Geoffrey and Leo sent you, didn’t they?” Behind me, Rhiannon gasped. “Get back, don’t
let them near you,” I warned her, glancing over my shoulder to make sure nobody was behind us.

The larger vampire snorted. He cocked his head to the side, his obsidian eyes gleaming. “Don’t worry. We’re not out for the win. Yet. Just consider this visit a promise of things to come. Geoffrey likes the chase and the hunt. But you’d better prepare yourselves. Because when it’s time to get real, little girl, you can be sure there won’t be any place to hide.”

And then, in a blur so fast I couldn’t see them move, they were gone.

I stared at the front door. It was open, blowing in the wind.

“We’re in deep shit, aren’t we?” Rhiannon leaned close to me.

I nodded, staring at the snow that swirled in on the wind. “Yeah,” I said softly. “And somehow, I don’t think anything’s going to get easier. Not for a long time.”

Rhia and I managed to get Luna onto the sofa. I was attending to her wounds—the punctures were jagged and deep, and she’d lost a fair amount of blood—when Grieve burst through, followed by Kaylin and several guards.

Kaylin took one look at Luna, on whom he was crushing bad, and rushed over, sliding to the floor beside the couch. “Is she—” He glanced up at me.

“I’m not dead, if that’s what you’re asking.” Luna groaned and sat up, pressing her hand gently to the bandage on her neck. “But damn, I hurt, and I’m dizzy.”

“She’s lost a lot of blood.” I glanced around. “And there’s no food in this place. We need to get her something to eat.”