Rise of the Moon (Moonlit Series Book 1) (9 page)

“Errand, huh?” I rested the paper plate with the green onion cake on my lap, along with my cookies as I opened the milk carton. I took a small drink. “For what?”

“My father,” his answer was vague.

“Why didn’t he ask you?”

“Jason and Dante live with us rent free. They both hate it –so they don’t mind doing a little work here and there for him. This one was small; just picking up a small package from the post office,” he said.

“And you? Do you steer clear of helping your dad around the house?” I inquired.

“I handle a lot of his business labour. You could say I’m the muscle,” he joked.

And muscles did he have. As he said it, I glanced towards his biceps, hating myself a little for being so shallow. I changed the subject. “Who hates living rent free?”

“Right?” He chuckled. After a moment, he frowned a little at me and then asked, “Are you okay?”

“Dandy. Why?” I ripped the green onion cake into quarters before I began eating it. With the first bite I was content. I don’t know what it was about these things.

“You keep rubbing the back of your head.”

“Oh, that. I, uh, slipped on the stairs earlier,” I told him. “Caught myself, but the back of my head met the railing. It’s just a little tender.”

“You’re not worried about a concussion?” he asked.

“I don’t think I hit it that hard,” I said. “I feel fine. But it happened only… seven minutes ago? So, I guess, if I do have a concussion we’ll have to wait and see. Anyway, what do you think of your green onion cake?”

“It’s good. Surprisingly good,” he answered. “I wonder if Carlos could make these.”

“Carlos?”

“My father,” he answered.

“Do you call him by name?” I asked. “Like, to his face?”

“Well, yeah,” Blake finished his last bite, crumpling the paper plate in his hand. “It’s been that way for as long as I can remember –but he’s my adoptive father.”

“Oh,” I took another sip of my milk.

“I’ve never known my biological father, so Carlos might as well be my actual father,” he went on.

“And why do Jason and Dante live with you?”

“Business –”

“Right,” I interrupted, remembering what he’d said at the ice cream parlour. “Live-in staff, and the like. But what kind of business is it?”

“We lend our services to people across Canada. If a person in Nova Scotia is selling something valuable to someone in BC, we’ll pick it up and deliver it personally to make sure it doesn’t get damaged or stolen along the way. Sometimes people need protection –Dante and Jason’s father are pretty knowledgeable with security. Basically it’s a lot of travelling.”

“That’s… actually pretty cool,” I admitted, glancing at my phone to check the time. I should probably start heading towards my locker to get my things. I got to my feet, picking up the cookies and dusting any crumbs off my lap. He, too, got to his feet.

“Evelyn,” Maddie called as she hiked up the steps. “There you are. Did you get your cookie?”

“Sure did,” I told her. I glanced at Blake, giving a small wave as he nodded, heading down the stairs to go to his locker.

“So you’re warming up to Blake, huh?” Maddie elbowed my side as we stood there on the stairs. “Have you gotten your things yet?”

“No, and no,” I told her. She nodded, beginning her descent once more down the stairs. “I was just being polite.”

“Liar,” Maddie laughed. “What makes you so special, anyway? The girls are right –he doesn’t really talk much to anyone but you.”

“Maybe he has a complexity when it comes to strangers,” I suggested. “And the only way he can overcome it is to put his sole focus on getting to know one person at a time.”

“That seems a little far-fetched, don’t you think?” she said.

“To me, far-fetched would be the implication that you think he possesses even the slightest interest in me,” I scoffed. I opened my locker for what felt like the millionth time that lunch period.

“I wish you could see you the way that we all see you.”

“Cliché much? And don’t take my negativity for lack of self-confidence. I’m just a realist,” I told her.

“Realistically dumb,” she muttered under her breath, closing my locker for me after I’d grabbed my things. She also ripped off a piece of my cookie. “I don’t have ugly friends, Evelyn. Just… keep that in mind, or something.”

I rolled my eyes, laughing as I pushed her shoulder. The bell rang. “Let’s take a moment to get back to reality –and reality involves English class. Let’s go get your things.”

“Aye-Aye, Captain,” she saluted me half-heartedly.

We gathered her things, then headed for class, making it moments before the second bell. The teacher wasn’t in the room, so Jenna gave me back my notes, thanking me again. Blake sat behind me, the place he’d been assigned the day before. He was silent throughout the period, though Maddie often leaned over to whisper to me. My headache worsened during class, and I began counting down the minutes until it was over.

“Are you sticking around until the end of the day?” Maddie asked me as we gathered our things at the end of class.

“No, I was supposed to go to work, but this headache is killing me,” I told her. “I think I’m going to call in, then go home and take a Tylenol, maybe take a nap.”

“If it’s a concussion, you shouldn’t sleep,” Blake said, following Maddie and I out of the class.

“Wait, what happened?” Maddie asked.

“I fell down the stairs,” I dismissed it with a wave. “I’m fine for all but this headache.”

“No dizziness?” Maddie asked. “Nauseous?”

“No,” I told her, glancing down the hallway only to see Cole talking to Philip and Evan. “Well, now I am. I hate him.”

“Philip?” Blake asked.

“Cole,” Maddie and I said in unison. She gave me a small smile, patting me on the shoulder. “Hope you feel better –but I got to get to class.”

“Bye, Maddie,” I called after her.

“What’d this Cole guy ever do to you?” Blake asked, trailing behind me as I headed to my locker to retrieve my gym clothes so I could wash them tonight. I tried to wash them every day, if I remembered –which I was usually good for.

“Just about everything. He and I never got along. Same with Marissa –well, no. Marissa wasn’t as bad as he was at first. But the two just seemed to team up against me, for whatever reason. Philip’s cool, though. It’s weird to think that he and Marissa are related.”

“Is that so?” Blake said slowly, processing it.

“Sorry –I’m so used to people knowing everything I’m talking about. You’re new. Well, Blake, here’s something to know. Stay away from guys like Cole, because he only ruins your mood instantly. Philip and Evan are pretty cool guys, in case you ever need someone to hang out with when Jason’s not around,” I told him.

“I’d rather be alone,” he said under his breath.

I just laughed. “Yeah, you’re the talk of the school. You and Jason: the new guys who distance themselves from everyone else. Except me –thanks for the attention, by the way. Nothing like some good old drama to spice up your final year of high school.”

“That was never my intention,” Blake said.

“And just what are your intentions? Blake? Because I’m not really having fun trying to figure you out,” I told him. “We met two days ago.”

“I just act on instincts,” he replied. “Jason, too. You’re easy to talk to. And funny.”

“How vague,” I spoke dryly. We’d reached my locker. My headache was making me debate getting my clothes. I didn’t feel like they’d get done tonight. I could leave with what I had in my hands –my English binder and the current book we were reading. “So I’ll tell you what I told Jason. Screw your intentions.”

Blake paused for a moment before laughing loudly. A few heads turned our way as students slid into their classrooms. “Jason told me you said that, but I didn’t believe him until now.”

“Yeah, well… whatever. Anyway. I’m leaving, so I guess I’ll see you tomorrow –mostly because I’m feeling like I don’t have a choice,” I pulled out my cellphone. “I just hope my mom got off work early today.”

“I can give you a lift,” he offered.

“It’s fine,” I told him.

“Let me drive you home,” he persisted.

“And what do you want in return?” I asked sceptically.

“Your company is just fine with me,” he shrugged.

I frowned, trying to read his facial expression. I was never good at it. I made a mental note that I still had to call Harry, but nodded. “Fine. Thank you.”

“You are most welcome,” he grinned.

“You might be taller and more muscular than me, Blake, but I will kick your ass if you step out of line.”

He just chuckled. “Believe me. I don’t doubt that you would.”

Chapter 11: Blake

“So, what do you really want?” she asked as she undid her seatbelt.

“Nothing,” I answered, debating whether I should turn off the ignition or let it run. She had her guard up again. The way it went up and down, the uncertainty that she took the world in with… I didn’t understand it. Since I was a child, the world had always seemed black and white.

“Well, I don’t want to be indebted to you,” Evelyn rubbed the back of her head again as she spoke. I really was worried that she had a concussion, but she still refused to admit that it was a possibility.

“Then… go on a date with me,” I suggested. My heart rate jumped up another notch –a fluctuation that I’d grown used to around her. What was this feeling? Was I nervous? Before her, I had never felt anxious a day in my life –that came with the world being black and white. “Just one. You can show me all your favourite places around town.”

“How about I buy you a cookie tomorrow at the cafeteria,” she proposed instead.

“That works for me, too,” I chuckled. Well, at least it was more time spent with her, regardless.

“Bye, Blake. Thanks for the ride home,” she hopped out of my truck, closing the door behind her. She unhitched the gate, scolding the dog when he leapt at her, but bending down immediately to scratch the back of his neck. She locked the gate behind her again, though I doubted the dog would run far even if he did get out. He looked content and loved in his surroundings.

When she got inside, I put the truck in reverse and pulled out of the driveway. I had to go and pick up Jason from school, since he didn’t have a fourth block spare like Evelyn and I. But I wanted Dante to check something out, too. I debated it for a moment in my head, whether it could wait or if it should be pursued immediately, and while I didn’t feel like Evelyn was in danger, it was better to be safe than sorry. So I got Dante on the phone.

“What’s going on?” he greeted.

“Did you find anything out about the foxes?” I asked.

He sighed, like most did when talking to me. I didn’t care much for idle conversation; unless, of course, it was with Evelyn. Though, that was mostly due to the fact that I could listen to her talk all day. “Nothing definite. And nothing that really feels like the Fox Clan should have any reason to be involved. At least, not from what Jason and you have gathered on the supernaturals that are here in town, anyway.”

“Can you look into something for me?” I asked.

“A lead?” he asked.

“Well, just something Evelyn said today,” I responded. “She said she felt like she was a target of Cole’s and Marissa’s harassment –though not in so many words.”

“Isn’t she just a human though?” Dante questioned. “The last time the foxes went after a human was when one of them found out their secret. Does it seem like she knows, well, anything?”

“Not really,” I admitted.

“Although she seemed timid at the ice cream place, from what Jason’s told me, she seems like a pretty bold person. Maybe she just didn’t take any crap from the two of them. She certainly isn’t taking any from you –and she’s supposed to be your mate.”

“Whatever,” I muttered. It was true that things were falling short of any expectations I’d had. I thought she’d fall for me as instantaneously as I had for her. It was disappointing that I had to play this out –but it was starting to look a little brighter. Already she seemed to be a little more open to my company.

“I’ll look into if you want –” he began, but I cut him off.

“No. It’s fine. You’re right, it’s probably nothing.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“I haven’t witnessed anything myself,” except for those few moments in the ice cream parlour. But even that wasn’t concrete enough, really. “I’ll wait it out and see if it’s worth investigating.”

“If you say so,” he said. “You picking anything up to eat on your way home?”

“I’ll grab some groceries with Jason,” I said, then promptly hung up.

Jason had math right now. Evelyn lived twenty minutes from the school, so driving her there and back had taken only half of a class period. Maybe I’d go shopping before I picked him up. Or maybe it was time to go and chat with the vampire from the ice cream parlour.

When I reached the town, I made the decision to go to the parlour. I had nothing better to do for forty minutes anyway. Perhaps the two of us could be civil.

I parked the truck outside the parlour, immediately seeing him through the windows. He saw me, too, and I saw his face fall a little. I guess civility wasn’t going to happen.

I didn’t want to stay long, so I got out of the truck, not lingering for a moment as I walked up and opened the front door.

“I heard you gave Evelyn a ride home,” was the first thing out of his mouth.

“She wasn’t feeling well,” I responded curtly, crossing my arms over my chest. I looked him over, trying to guess his age, but feeling like I was nowhere close. Evelyn had said his name was Harry –and his nametag confirmed it.

“So she just told me moments ago,” he said. “So, what brings you here? I gather that’s not the extent of your visit. Though, how kind it would be to come in and tell me that my employee was not going to make it in.”

“I just wanted to ask a few questions about the supernaturals in town,” I got straight to the point. “It’s a small town, so I figured you knew most, if not all, of them. Particularly, the foxes.”

“They stop by often enough. Some supernaturals like to have a vampire on their side,” Harry said.

“Are you sided with the foxes?” I asked.

“Not in the least. But they tried to pay me off once. I’ve had over a hundred years to make money –why else would I be enjoying my time leisurely by running a place like this?”

“Do you know what they want, then?” I eased up a little, knowing that he wasn’t aligned with them.

“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “All I know is that they go out of their way to make Evelyn have a bad day. It’s why I’ve never liked their kind. You never know what their intentions are. Even if you think you do.”

“Let me rephrase that –what do you imagine they’re here for?”

“It could be anything, I guess. I may know the supernaturals here, but I don’t know their origins or lineage. They might be trying to locate an item in this general area –it doesn’t even have to be in town.”

“Their visit to us makes it feel implied that whatever they’re here for is in town,” I told him.

“Foxes are, essentially, spies. I doubt every tale they spin. But I believe every tale they spin, just the same –there’s a little truth in every lie.”

“I didn’t come here for riddles,” I spoke dryly.

“You didn’t come here for ice cream, either, but I feel like you’ll buy some before you leave,” he pointed out. “A werewolf’s infamous stomach.”

“Ice cream’s best served by Evelyn.”

“Too bad she’s taken,” Harry said.

I narrowed my eyes at him, “What are you saying?”

“A friend of mine knew her in her last life. He’s in town, courting her,” Harry grinned a little –a smile that said there was no chance for me. “He’s here to claim his soul mate once more.”

“She’s my mate.” There were no ifs, ands or buts about it. And she, although visibly denying it, felt it, too. She had to –that’s how this worked, according to Carlos. “Tell your friend not to get too attached. He already lost her once. I’d hate for him to lose her again.”

“To a werewolf, of all things, hm?” he snorted.

“If you have nothing more about the supernaturals, I’ll be on my way,” I told him.

He rubbed his forehead. “Talk to the necromancer. Um… Kristy. Evelyn’s friend. She has a ghost companion. Maybe it’s seen something. Or maybe it could see something.”

“Ghost trumps fox,” I said slowly.

“In some cases, yes,” he said. “Just… keep in mind that they don’t focus on small details, but rather the big picture. You’re never a step ahead of them.”

“Don’t underestimate my Pack,” I warned.

“I’m not underestimating the Pack. Your Alpha doesn’t need a warning, young pup, but you and your pals do. I hope you know what you’re doing when you’re dabbling in their affairs, because they won’t forget. What goes around will surely find its way back.”

“I’m not too concerned.”

“If you say so,” he shrugged.

I doubted he had anything else to say about them, or anything that could help figure out what the foxes were up to. I headed for the door. “I’ll see you around.”

“You’re welcome,” he said sarcastically. I just nodded my thanks at him as I left.

There wasn’t too much time left in class, so I headed back to the school to wait for Jason. I would talk to Carlos before asking anything of Kristy. I wasn’t about to involve outsiders unless he felt they needed to be involved.

I waited outside in the truck, parked at the curb in front of the school behind the buses that waited for their haul of kids to take home. I shot Jason a text so he didn’t waste time trying to find me. Fifteen minutes later, Jason climbed into the front seat.

“For someone who drove their mate home, you sure look grumpy,” he said. Jason didn’t bother with the seatbelt as I pulled onto the road –though it wasn’t like I was wearing mine either. With healing capabilities like ours, it wasn’t a major concern; however, I had worn it while driving Evelyn home. “What happened?”

“Evelyn’s great –that ice cream sucking vampire, on the other hand…”  I let my voice trail off, wondering who the other vampire –Evelyn’s supposed ‘soul mate’ from another life –was. “In any case, he didn’t know anything either.”

“Hmm,” was his only reply. Jason wasn’t one to pry, unlike Kaya. It was a blessing, really, that she wasn’t around.

“I told Dante that we’d pick up groceries on the way home,” I told him.

“That’s fine. So how was Evelyn doing when you dropped her off?” he asked.

“She seemed fine,” I replied. “How’d you –?”

“Maddie was at Kristy’s locker, telling her and Chantelle what she’d heard from another girl named Jenna. She was pushed down the stairs? Do you think it was the foxes?”

“I don’t know,” I frowned. Evelyn had said she’d slipped down the stairs –nothing about being pushed. “I don’t like this.”

“What?” Jason asked.

“Not knowing what’s going on in this town. We need to get to the bottom of it,” I murmured, turning into the parking lot.

“Are you thinking Evelyn’s a part of it?” Jason asked.

“Are you?” I countered.

“It’s just weird, because this school is pretty tight knit –everyone knows her. And I’ve seen her walk down the hallway and greet almost everybody. And she’s on good terms with Philip, even if she isn’t with Marissa and Cole.”

“What if Philip’s playing an angle?” I asked. “What if he’s purposefully getting close to Evelyn?”

“What would he be trying to achieve?” he waited for me to park the truck before getting out.

I wasn’t far behind, “That would depend on Evelyn, I guess.”

“But she’s human,” Jason pointed out as we headed into the grocery store.

“That’s the thing that doesn’t make sense,” I shook my head.

“I think you’re overthinking it,” Jason said. He grabbed a cart, pushing it towards the produce section. “Evelyn’s your mate –not the missing piece of a puzzle.”

“And she can’t be both?” I threw fruit and veggies into the cart, knowing that no matter what we got, it would find its way into our stomachs over the next few days. Carlos was a wiz with homemade dishes.

“She could be –that doesn’t mean she is.”

“You’re saying I’m too close to this?”

“I’m saying that she’s already an incredible girl. It doesn’t mean she has incredible secrets, too. The foxes are probably just a coincidence. You’re just protective because they’re getting too close to her,” he shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about it. Or, if you are, get Dante to do a background check on her. But that might come around to bite you in the ass one day.”

“You think?” I asked, grabbing some bread as we bypassed the bakery. I figured we could do with some bagels and buns, too. Maybe we could have a barbeque this week, while the weather was still nice.

“Somehow or another, it’ll come back around to her. Things like that always do,” he shrugged.

I didn’t say anything. He had a point, I’d give him that.

“Anyway, Evelyn looks like she packs a decent right hook. I bet if one of the foxes attacked her, she’d give him a good wallop.”

I just chuckled. She was definitely a fighter. “Evelyn aside –how’s Hayden?”

Hayden was Jason’s pregnant girlfriend from back home. It’d been an accidental pregnancy, despite the use of condoms and birth control. Six months later, and he was preparing himself to come to a final decision: to fake the happy family –like Michael had with Kaya –or to just take the baby and disappear completely out of her life, like his own father had done with him.

“She’s getting bigger,” Jason said slowly. He picked up some ground chicken and chicken breasts. I picked up a couple of steaks. Jason nodded, approving as he went on. “The pregnancy was going well the last time I checked. She hates that I moved away.”