《Moonlit Blood》


 The Falling of a God

    It was cold, damp and dark. It reeked of blood and betrayl and dark magic. In the cool mist the streets were empty and the homes around the tiny gathering were locked and silent. No one even knew what was going on while they celebrated their families. His body language was that of slight begging while trying to hide the body that lay behind him. The man tried to touch his charge with a small smile of guilt laced with greed. To her, he looked twisted as his oath between them started to disappear. Her pale body fridged, but not from outside, but from the anger and disappointment she had of him.


    "I do not believe you!"She shuddered at his touch and smacked his hand away then swung her body so her back faced him. "Do you remember who I am? You may be immortal to them!" She twisted her body and pointed a finger to the human who just had their life taken from them, "But you are still mortal to me and I can take everything away from you!"


    "My Lady," His deep voice purred, looking at his hand with slight disappointment, "I merely took what I needed for the price of his favor, a life for a life. This is what you taught me, yes?"


    The woman froze for an instant, mulling over what he had said, thenthe already unusual cold summer night got colder as she drew on the air around her, freezing the ground underneath her feet and creating frost and ice where her feet fell on the cobblestone. They reflected the fog and clouds from above that turned darker and dangerous.


    "A life for a life you say?" She turned to him with an eyebrow raised. The man got up from the ground and started to back away from her, tripping over the bloodless husk he left behind. "That is not what a god told two humans who took what what his, he had cursed them. You could''ve done the same,we are not supposed to dwell in the lives of humans like this!You were once human yourself!"


    "My Lady," His slightly begging voice turned desprate as she towered over him, raising his hands over his face. Goosebumps ran over his hero-like body like a nightmare,"I do not wish to be human again..."


    "Oh, of course you do not!" She laughed, her white glowing hair as bright as the moon that hung in the air, hidden above the clouds, started to lift as her bell-like laugh turned to dark and wicked. The blood that the man had drank eariler started to seep out of his body and around her hands,he screamed in pain. The scream echoed off the houses but it was not heard by anyone around them. She lifted the hands and watched the blood wiggle as she tainted it with her curse.


    "No, you will not be human again, my retired champion." She spoke, "As you were plucked from one of the first and have been loyal until now. But you may know a dark hunger dark as your deed." Whispers curned around her as she spoke, "I call on the Vampire Goddess, the Lady upon the Moon, to lift this man up and turn him into one of yours."


    The blood shot to the man who shouted for forgiveness. He groveled on the lifeless body but he was ignored. He felt another presence around them as the fog cleared and the clouds moved so the moon was in view of the dark ritual. He shuddered and fell quiet as he started quietly accepting his fate which he did not blame on himself.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "I call upon the Dark Thirst!" She shouted, lifting her hands in the air while a strong was summoned, lifting her off the ground, her eyes glowing silver, her full moon mark between her breasts glowed through her silk dress. "You shall know a hunger which you cannot sate," She snapped her words at him like a wolf to it''s prey, "You will only be strong when you are full, weak when you are not. But you, my darling, will never know the burn of the sun... But those you turn will, your kin and your decendents. They will die when they are exposed. Let the Lady of the Moon hear my call! May she witness and seal this man''s life! May this cursed blood of this oath-breaking guardian remind him who he will forever-more is!"


    Lightening crashed down on the woman, flinging the blood to the guardian. It seeped through his skin like needles and changed him like a virus. The woman fell from her perch in the air and onto the cobblestone when she was hit and she had quickly recovered looking over her body. The full moon was blue and decorated.


    He wiggled in pain, screamed as he started to bare fangs and his skin turned from a beauitful tan to a bleached white. He bleed tears as he clentched his torso and hissed until he stopped breathing. He looked at the woman who he thought had betrayed him.The witch! He growled and gave a weak lunge to what he thought was the witch.


    The Goddess gave him a sour look at her newest charge as she tossed him away from her, "A cursed vampire, not a real one." She huffed in disappointment, "At least your handsome." She talked with the witch''s mouth. "Maybe I shall still have you under my wing."


    "You witch!" he shouted, grabbing for the cobblestone ground, "I shall kill all of your followers and then you! I shall never be under what ever wing you''ll have me under! I will be me again... I will... kill... you..."


    The Lady raised her eyebrows, amused, "The woman who cursed you is dead, but since you decided to turn me away I won''t give you the chance for help again. You may eventually... one day be stronger than my vampires, but your will is going to be your downfall. When you decide to seek me out and be my champion, then I will offer you mercy." She raised her hand and elevated him above the cobble stone to the air. "I won''t be waiting." She flung him into a well and sealed him off from the outside. "When the time is right, I''ll let you out, until then..." She huffed and pouted at the man, "Think about what you did."The Lady''s spirit left the woman''s body to go back to the moon.


    While reaching to the border of space and the Earth, the Lady was slowed down and then stopped, only able to touch the possibility of space. She cried as she tried to pass the barrier and then after one final ludge she felt the teether to the Earth that wasn''t there before. Soaring down wasn''t hard, especially when you''re a Goddess and when you''re bored you do crazy things, but finding the Lunar Witch''s spirit was slightly troublesome. After looking on the border of a forest filled with willows that bloomed stars instead of flowers the Goddess eventually found the witch. Her spirit had waited with a seductive smile that wasn''t amusing the higher power.


    "Oh," She giggled, "Did I do a double curse? I''m sorry, My Goddess, my only wish was for you to seal him and then you could depart. I guess you need some time to see your subjects grow and prosper as well."


    "You shall hide me," the Goddess exclaimed, pointing a finger at the witch. "You shall never be free from me until I wake from false memories... But our time is not now." She gripped the witch''s ghostly throat, "Let''s go make you a new body, but you shall roam and learn new magic until then."


    The witch snarled but nodded her head.A life for a life then, I guess I should''ve seen this coming.

 The Shepard

    The well collasped many years later, so long so that the well itself was forgotten and buried under new soil and floarl. The cursed guardian held himself captive in a blood orb that he had created from victims that he had lured to him or those that fell to their death of other''s greed. His cocoon pulsed under the weak seal, ready to break free and live for revenge of the witch and the Lady of the Moon.


    Name...He thought to himself,I need a name.


    He had met so many countless people he couldn''t pin-point one for himself. So he let his thoughts break through a creak in the seal into the minds of the small town by him. So many thoughts and lists he could chose from.


    From the people he had learned that they had just appointed a new god but they could not completely trust this new outsider. The man snickered. They had appointed a man who calls himself a priest which he had hunted down through thoughts.


    The purest man I''ve met!One man thought.


    If only he could marry...An unfaithful woman saw the priest''s face in her head,I could have it so much better than what I do now.


    He found a small temple in the minds of the people and glided his spirit towards it, cautioned that it might be too pure for him to cross. His spirit had stepped onto the holy land and it did not hurt him, it did not burn his inside. Curious on why this was, he let his spirit venture around the area.


    This was no holy temple nor priest, he chuckled to himself.


    A dozen curvy, naked women lined themselves the inside of the church. Some of them talking to another, some engaging in their piped curiousity of each other.


    The man they called priest was on the alter with the most beautiful of them all, the vampire thought. The brightest blond hair he could tell, almost to be mistaken for white, her skin so fair and smooth he noted as the priest ran his fingers along her back and then gripped her hips as he thrusted into her. The woman''s moan...This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The man''s spirit found a way to get out of the dreaded place after all... All he needed was this tarnished man who wore a crown, he humored as the priest gave one more deep thrust and let the woman quiver and take him all. She looked up at him tiredly and smiled.


    As the priest slipped out of her and walked away, the sealed allowed his spirit to enter the priest''s mind.


    This is your god... He whispered.I know all... I see all...


    The priest looked around and then moved into a dark hallway out of sight of the women, "My Lord, they..."


    Chuckling quietly,I am not here to punish you, my shepard... I am here for you to serve, you want more yes? I will allow your sins to go on if you do as I say.


    The priest looked at his dwindling manhood and thought to himself. The priest was already corrupt, if he did what the Lord - or what he thought was the Lord - said, he could have this whole town. The men could probably allow him their wives.


    Yes,the vampire egged on,I could allow you anything. All you need to do is dig up my avatar''s crystal and worship me until I wake and that is soon.


    The priest''s lips started to tremble. He had no real knowledge of the god he was supposed to be teaching these people but he did know the Lord was supposed to talk to those who he thought were esteemed. Oh, but he wanted power. But then again, what if this voice was just part of his hopeful imagination? What proof did this bring him? A sad, one woman night when there were still dozens he promised to satisfy?


    You wish for proof?The vampire''s spirit pressed his mouth to the back of the man''s neck and willed power to the man.


    The unholy priest went from flacid to horny in a small amount of time without pain, his energy surged throughout his body.


    "If I last the night, I will serve you." The man excitedly proclaimed and strode to the closest woman. She eyed him and lifted an eyebrow at him. "Are you ready to recieve your punishment?"


    "Oh yes," the woman purred then got on her knees to lift her back side and opened her legs, ready to take him on. She gasped suddenly as he pounded himself into her.


    He rejoined in this god and sung his name after the women were on the floor, unable to take any more, breathing heavily and moaning in each breath.


    "Dominic, my lord," He sung as he sipped on whiskey to an old family''s drinking song, "You may take my wine and my soul, just give me your favor..."


    The vampire''s spirit had wandered home, rejoiced that the seal that kept him for so long had disappeared. He also had a shepard that his sheep will flock to.


    He also had a name.


    Dominic.

 The Sheep

    It took several months to dig Dominic out of the collapsed well. His blood orb had ceased to drip or ooze blood and gleamed in the sunlight like a true crystal. All was going planned and the priest was happy that he was starting to gather his people to his world.


    The town that was filled with farmers, hard workers and slightly up-tight people had started to crumble into gambling, sex and sin. The darker side of magic started to flock there as well; dark witches on the out skirts of town started to appear, mean and nasty sprites started to fill the forest and ghosts started to linger just a bit longer than they had to.


    Every now and then another priest or an exorcist would drop by to check on the semi-quiet town and everything would be cleaned up but no sooner then they would leave would the town fall back into its dark corner. The people built a brothel that gave money and sometimes it¡¯s whores to the priest. A bar now stood just a few houses down the road, out of sight.


    When Dominic¡¯s orb felt air, the ground shuddered and the people went quiet.


    The priest swung open his arms and shouted, ¡°People of Drastvis, I give you your Lord and Savior! He came down here in this crystal long ago after the heroic fight with the White Devil and now needs to be awoken in the church! Quickly now!¡± He jumped into the hole to help the men lift it, ¡°We do not have much time before others seek to harm Him!¡±


    They had taken little time to lift the orb with ropes and wood, then took the men out of the pit and filled it.


    ¡°Get Him clothes to wear! He must awaken soon!¡± The priest ordered and several women dashed to their sewing needles and fine fabric.


    A woman in the back of the group walked behind them cloaked in a dark brown robe, her hood up and had the illusion of a man. She had saw this orb in her nightmares and saw no savior, no solace for this town. Even some of the darkest witches left as soon as the orb breathed in the new air. But this town was past saving, they had dug it up even after protests of other lands. This town didn¡¯t believe in the superstitions that came from the nobles.


    Her dark hair was tied in a pony tail to help with the illusion of her being a man but small actions would¡¯ve given her away if it was noticed; she still swayed like a woman except she had a grace of thousands of years to her, she walked lightly and the way she held her robe over her naked body was positioned like a noble trying not to break her nails. But she was a Witch of the Moon and had to warn the others of what was to come.


    She tried to slip away unnoticed until an order for her to help lift the orb onto the church¡¯s alter was shouted. Hesitating and whispering a prayer, she did as she was told and then fled to the dark hallways of the cobblestone building. The orb had broken her illusion but she was grateful that it faded completely when she entered the hallway out of eyes.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re a woman all along,¡± A dark whisper from behind her stopped her, a hand slipped on her shoulder and the grip was strong. ¡°Jason isn¡¯t your name I guess, it is?¡±


    The priest quietly walked around her as she looked to the floor. ¡°No, my priest, I am one of the witches around your town.¡± She tried crackling her voice, trying every bit of her quiet magic to make it sound older. ¡°I had to see for myself and the others if the rumors were true that you found the Dark Guardian.¡±


    She¡¯s lying! Dominic whispered to the priest, I must have her blood¡­ But she must not die until I wake¡­ I have no power until the¡­ sun sets. I must have a sacrifice! This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    The priest found the woman¡¯s neck with his free hand and lifted her head with slight force. ¡°I do not have any such young and beautiful witches here,¡± He chuckled. The priest rumbled into a bag that he kept on him and pulled out shackles that had runes glistening, ¡°I had been learning from my master about magic and what to do with these.¡±


    The witch breathed in with fear as she eyed the shackles. She had to warn the others to flee, to run back into the trees and caves.


    ¡°What¡­¡± The priest gripped her fighting arms closed to his chest and pressed a shackle closed around her wrist, ¡°Are you to make my lord so interested in you?¡±


    She cursed at him and raised her free arm and pressed it against his face, ¡°They will find you out and you will suffer as you will make me! Pain and pleasure we share once the sun sets! You will die laughing, Jandison!¡±


    He laughed as she flung her hex at him, ¡°I am immune, you whore! I was not told not to keep you pure!¡± He shoved the last shackle onto her wrist and dragged her to the closest room and tied her to a wall where she had to be on her knees.


    Shoving the door closed he tore at her robe until her gave up and flipped her over and swung it open, looking at the witch¡¯s soft, pure body. A star and a crescent moon birthmark hung above her belly button just between her breasts.


    ¡°A Witch of the Moon,¡± he ran a study hand over the birthmark, ¡°Your Lady won¡¯t win this war, my dear.¡±


    He eyed her and reached back into his pocket for rope and tied her legs open to pillars on either side of the room. As the door swung open from the men that had dug the orb up, Jandison was standing welcoming them in as guests.


    ¡°My lads!¡± He said lifting both eye brows to them, he was holding a knife, ¡°I was told by the Lord when I had touched Him that we had a traitor amongst us. I had kept this quiet until I knew who it was, and look! It is a woman!¡±


    There was quiet among the dirty, dirt covered men. Jandison eyed them with a frown, ¡°What shall we do with her?¡±


    You could hear shuffles of feet, some whispered about killing her. Some said just banish her and some eyed her quietly as she stared darkly at the wall. She covered herself in a layer of protection, if anyone dared touch her while she laid there helpless¡­ There was a kick against the wall, it was quiet so she could only hear it against the restless of the men. She looked up to the window and saw a flash of red hair dart by and smiled. A child of the night, a true child.


    She closed her eyes and whispered for forgiveness as men descended upon her. She whimpered in weakness and after the sun had set, she thanked for the quiet before her end.


    Dominic¡¯s orb cracked and rumbled the town. Those that feared something dark was gone; Those that knew of the Dark Guardian were already gone thanks to a risk of a man had taken. The once tan hand of a man slid out of the now liquid shell.


    Dominic was tall and rough to look at; he was thin and skinny but power, even though weakened, still called for attention. His face, once square and handsome, was washed of all of its color. His dark hair looked dry and made the dark rings around his eyes look endless.


    The priest had locked the doors as requested and the main hall was filled with people. The people of the town were rounded up; Women, children and men stood or sat quietly looking at their new god.


    In his deep booming voice, ¡°Bring me the witch.¡± He turned his head to the priest.


    Nodding, Jandison quickly fetched her and she looked at Dominic without remorse. Dominic frowned darkly and looked at her. She was naked and washed but he could see the bruises that would be there if she were not a witch. He also saw the hex that he could not save his puppet from.


    There were more people he could turn, such a pity he couldn¡¯t save his most loyal human.


    Dominic¡¯s dark eyes lingered on the mortals he once swore to protect, hating them all because he was now this. He turned and walked steadily to the witch and gripped her throat.


    He hated witches the most.


    ¡°The slaughter of the sheep.¡± She whispered before he opened his mouth and revealed his fangs and pressed them against her neck.


    He revealed in the fact he was getting two for one; He could taste Jandison¡¯s blood as he shared the witch¡¯s fate. The man screamed, cursing at the woman, at Dominic. Dominic looked at him and felt more power and with a thought, snapped Jandison¡¯s neck as he finished both of them off.


    And the town became deserted just in one night.

 Onward into Sanity

    Yawning as the sun peeked through my curtains, I rub my eyes and look at my door.School,I think to myself as I toss my blankets to one side of my bed and start walking towards my dresser,How dreadful.Picking out a matching pair of purple underwear and bra, I go back and sit on my bed to put them on. Slowly.Hate bras... I think to myself.


    I only wear them because I don''t want the pervs of my school "accidently" brushing up against me and I embaress myself. I can do that just waking up and not brushing my hair. I brush my white hair from my shoulder as I recall the last time someone tried that stunt. Yawning again I stride to my closet for a purple, loose fitting, long sleeve shirt and light blue skinny jeans.


    Figuring out the amount of rolls I''ll have to do later on the sleeves, I went about my normal, quiet daily routine.


    Brush hair, eat, brush teeth, make sure hair didn''t get in my teeth, armpit stick... I look at the lipstick I left out last night and think about it. Should I try the ruby red again? Chad seemed to like it. Blushing and grabbing the hard plastic tube of lipstick I open it and put it shyly on. Maybe... I look at the time to see if I had enough to put on the rest of the container of make up my mom bought me for an early birthday present. I had an hour and I already ate.


    I regret putting on my make up. I''m not bad on it, just a simple winged eyeliner, mascara and some white cover-up and fluffing up my hair a little I look alright. Walking past the pillars of the school''s yard to the front doors, I heard giggling, boys trying to show off and drama addicts rehearsing their next scene. None of the voices reminded me of Chad.


    Where I was thin, naturally white haired, super blue eyed and slightly short, Chad was ruby haired, lean on the slightly muscular side and green eyed. He looked like a natural red head where I looked like I try to pretend to be normal. But at least the other kids are at the age of dying their hair odd styles was in right now.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Looking around the main entrance of Glossar High I found myself second guessing my make up again.


    "Sanity!" I hear Chad''s voice behind me, which then I spot him running towards where I am and waving. "Hey, sorry I''m late!"


    Huffing and blowing (well placed) bangs out of my face, I give him a smile, "For what? Since when did you apologize for coming to school early?"


    "Well, I promised I''d pick you up remember?" He chuckled a little, "Ah, you forgot a jacket again! Do you ever get cold?"


    "I uh..." I look away from him, "I don''t anymore. It''s weird, ever since break some strange things have started to happen. For instance," I turn towards the doors before the first bell, "Mom started coming home more often from work, talking about how my 18th birthday is my most important one."


    Chad playfully punches my shoulder, "It is! You''ll be pretty much an adult! Anything you want!"


    Chad opened the door for me and I quietly thanked him. We get to our lockers that have been next to each other''s since we''ve been kids. We kind of requested it and did a small essasy. I more or less did it because I started to have a crush on him around middle school. I pout and unlock my locker, it was pretty bland; a tall footlocker with books on the top shelf and coats hanging in it. I''m sure I didn''t leave anything in here but my books.


    Chad peeks into my locker, "I thought you emptied your locker?"


    "I thought so too." I turn to him, "But anyways, Mom has been hanging up strange plants upside down around the house, salting stuff. Weird stuff."


    His face turned dark, "I guess... Um.." He turns away from me and starts walking to his first class, then it seems like he remembers what he was going to say, "Until your birthday, just stay indoors, okay?"


    "Okay..." I was left dumbfounded by his response at my locker.


    The world itself was flipped upside down thousands of years ago when there was a plague that instantly wiped out a town. It kept spreading until towns close to the original town were burned down with people alive in it. Then just over 300 years ago mythical creatures came out of the wood work because a war that humans had caused. It was killing the Earth. But it took some decades to come up with some kind of truce... then peace.


    No other creatures wanted their young mixed with humans - it was too dangerous since they were also getting to know themselves, evolve and mutate. The only creatures no one has seen were vampires, witches and the dead really don''t like being bothered. (Last necromancer was killed by the mob they conjurered and has been illegal since.) Upper powerful beings also haven''t made their appearance but I''m sure they have their reasons.


    I believe aliens exist controlling our world for funzies. I could be proven wrong but who knows?

 Fighting for Nothing

    The rest of the day went as normal but Chad was no where to be seen. Sometimes this was normal; he would play hooky but usually to be seen by the end of the day to tell me what he saw on his adventure. Did I say something to piss him off? I counted down how many days it was to my 18th birthday which was 4 - not including today. I huff at his locker at the end of school. I am so bummed that I couldn''t joke about the whistle the our history teacher has every time she pronounces words with ''s'' and ''c''. But it wasn''t the same without him there. This was unbearable.


    Closing my locker and turning around, two cheerleaders pin me to the locker. Not any of them, the leader of the cheer squad, Jessica, and her right hand bitch, Tammie. Both blond, lean and a bit taller than I am. Tammie was black with long hair which curled in braids to her breasts and jessica was white and her eyes were green. They both wore matching lip glossed, twisted smiles. Jessica was also chewing spearmint gum.


    "Where''s your boyfriend?" Tammie taps my shoulder with her thin hand, "I don''t see him anywhere, he''s not even answering his phone about practice."


    This was a shock to me, so I look around to see if there''s a mistake. A crowd starts pooling around us and I really hope my make up stood the test of time.


    "P-practice?" I stammer back to Tammie who was shoving gum in her mouth. "Are you sure we''re talking about Chad?"


    Jessica smirks and then laughs, "Oh, I don''t think she knows, Tammie?" She purrs out in a sickly sweet voice.


    "Oh, my, cheer! And he''s not even here to explain." Tammie snaps her hip to the left and looks at me with a mean smile.


    "Chad isn''t my boyfriend..." I get out. It was a more of a one-sided crush on my side anyways but I do my best to not make it obvious but I guess today was that day I get called out.


    The girls wore purses on their arms besides their cheer uniforms. "You know," Jessica plays with a bit of my hair, I pull away, "No one thinks you''re pretty, and now that you''re wearing make up and trying to impress him I think you''re even uglier."


    "What has gotten in you all of a sudden?" I ask, trying to push myself into the crowd and out of the situation. This was odd, like extremely odd. They never even acknowledge my excistance, this has to be a nightmare. Though Chad is one of the popular guys in school...


    Someone pushed me back in front of them, one of the football players. The team acted like body guards around the cheerleaders, ready for me to escape. Oh jeez... I think to myself. I close my eyes and hope that either I can produce a magic shield out of the blue or Chad appears and explains everything.


    But I''m just a normal human... I think depressingly to myself. Sanity Moone, the only non-magical person in my family. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Sanity!" I hear Chad''s voice behind the crowd. "Move!"


    I open my eyes just in time to watch Jessica throw a punch to my face and Tammie lunges at me with clippers. I duck from Jessica''s punch as if she was in slow motion and push Tammie away gently but she flies back into a jock. I hear gasps and cursing.


    "Sanity!" Chad starts to push people away as he tries to swim in the sea of people.


    "Sanity! Girls!" I heard a teacher as well running down the hall.


    The crowd stayed and started cheering to me. Tammie and Jessica ludged towards me again and dropping my books I start running to the football player behind me and hope that the shove wasn''t a fluke. I was smiling when the other students parted away from him before I shoved him down the hall. He groaned as she slid into unconciousness and I kept going through the exit of the school with people cheering for me.


    I cursed at myself as I remembered I had to go back tomorrow and that I left my books but I will deal with that later. I stop when I felt the clean air of the outdoors. Home? No, Mom would be waiting for me furious at me and then wonder if I had hidden my magic away from her. Then where?


    There was a park with swings in the middle of town so I headed there.


    Glossar High was on the edge of Tonoro, a town that grew and rose after the 300 year war. It was nestled just at the bottom of Mt. Rainer in Washington where I guess a town called Sumner was. Most of the humans lived on one side of a river and magical creatures lived in the more country part of it where the trees and another giant river flowed through. Tonoro was the human portion of the city and Glossar High was just before the monster part.


    I walked down a path that led me towards an average park in the corner of the human part of the city just before it turned into woods. It over looks the river that splits the two sides of the world and is one of the best co-creature park. Yeah, I live in a world where there are flying cars (but they can only go so far up) and hovering skateboards and what not but I preferred the old fashioned swings where I had to do all the work. (The self swing ones were on the other side.)


    Facing the river I saw mermaids and sierns in the river, some woodland animals taking a drink and some other creatures peeping out of the woods. Chad never came to check on me but I never really let him know I come here often without him.


    It was starting to get dark when I hear a faint voice from my right, "You do know you''ve been here for a few hours now."


    Startled I look up and see a handsome man standing not far from the swings. I give him a glare and turn away, "What''s it to you? Not like I''m harming anyone unless I''ve angered the park guardian."


    I give him a once over; Tall, handsome, kind of on the pale side like me but he looked like he had an allergy to the sun. He wore a red button up shirt that was tucked in some black slacks. Wouldn''t be surprised if he was some manager or something. I noted the sunglasses and a silver watch, which was rare since no one has wore those metal versions for years. Expensive.


    "No," He said, lowering his sun glasses. So cliche, I thought to myself, "I was just concerned. I passed this was not too long ago and it seems you haven''t moved."


    "Well..." I said as I start to turn away from him, "I''m fine as you can see." I say as I start the walk home and wave back to him. It was starting to get chilly and I bet mom was starting to get worried. I forgot my backpack with my phone in it... I slip my forhead mentally.


    I felt his stare in my back as I walked away like I was prey.

 A New Star

    The next day everyone acted like nothing happened; When asked how some of the football players got bruised ribs they said they were practicing too hard last night and Jessica and Tammie said they kicked each other during a private cheer practice. They wore more make up than usual and hoodies.


    None of the teacher''s bothered me either through the day other than the usual pop quizzes and occasional questions to answer. Chad acted normal as if we didn¡¯t have the most unusual fight in the morning yesterday.


    Luckily Mom didn¡¯t come home last night.


    I closed my locker just before the last bell of the day and Chad bumped his hip to mine in a dance-like fashion and hugged me from the side. ¡°You¡¯ve had this concerned look on your face all day.¡±


    I give him a pout on my naked lips and tried to pretend to almost cry, ¡°Yesterday we got into a random match and then I was almost jumped just the cheer twins and their posse of stone walls which I ended up knocking down.¡± I fling my arms in a dramatic gesture into the locker after putting my books in a safe place, ¡°Teachers were involved and then my mother wasn¡¯t notified because I talked to her this morning about how she¡¯ll make pancakes for me tomorrow morning. And now everyone is acting like nothing happened!¡±


    ¡°Maybe you had a bad dream,¡± Chad gave me this bored look of disbelief. ¡°The girls just hurt themselves and the -quote- stone walls -unquote (he did air quotes too)- hurt themselves during practice.¡±


    I shot him a look then recalled something Jessica had accused him of, ¡°Are you sleeping with the cheer twins?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± He looked at me with utter surprise, ¡°Who said I was with the twins?¡± Chad ran a hand through his red hair. I had this urge to kiss his cheek to really throw him off his game¡­ Too bad it¡¯s one sided. ¡°No, who ever said that probably tried to get to you. Not like anyone can get near enough to them right now before they flinch away.¡± He pointed with his thumb in their direction as a group of people unknowingly almost walk into them. Jessica and Tammie hissed at them and walked around them. Everyone who was around giggled at them.


    ¡°Anyways,¡± Chad looked at me and smiles with something that made my heart flip a little, ¡°You need to go to the Center, you promised your mom would help today, remember?¡±


    No, I didn¡¯t remember. But it doesn¡¯t surprise me that I didn¡¯t with what happened yesterday.


    ¡°Hey¡­¡± I start before I grab my books, ¡°Chad¡­¡±


    ¡°Hum?¡±


    I was going to tell him about the strange man at the park but then I remember the dark look from yesterday¡­ if it ever happened.


    ¡°Oh,¡± I sigh brushing my hair out of my eyes after I toss my bag over my shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to do your homework tonight, and 3 more days before my birthday. No presents remember?¡±


    I get the sly smile I was trying to coax, ¡°Yeah, sure Sane. No presents. Now hop to it before your mom calls you.¡±


    We both chat until the end of the road where he had to turn to his house. For the longest time as I could remember I never met his parents. I made a mental note to ask him about it tomorrow.


    Tonoro¡¯s Center for All was really a place for extremely old witches who couldn¡¯t even stir a spoon in a cauldron anymore. Since they still fall under ¡°human¡± but still are ¡°magical¡± the center is almost at the border. Sometimes we get a lot of magical visitors asking for favors. A lot of the other humans that don¡¯t work or come here are ignorant of the fact that this place is filled with witches. Sometimes they even put up a Fa?ade here to keep the appearance.


    Once my mother spotted me, she smiled and walked quickly to give me a big hug. She smelled of cinnamon and cookies. She wore a sweater under a white apron and some simple jeans and white tennis shoes. I wrap my arms around her and breathe the smell in.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She asked me, her dark brown was in a tired ponytail.


    ¡°I said I would help remember?¡± I squeaked questioningly, she gave me an odd look, ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t remember either.¡±


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.¡°Well, since you¡¯re here go see Grandma Luna.¡± She pushed me towards the old witch¡¯s room. ¡°I know you don¡¯t really like to, but she¡¯s only got a few days left, her owl died last night.¡±


    Lunar Priestess have an owl to raise and keep for their whole lives, no matter how long their lives are, but once they pass the witch passes a few days later. Grandma Luna is the oldest Priestess to have walked this earth. She said she started the deadliest war but would never tell me what. She¡¯s supposed to be my grandmother, but I don¡¯t see the resemblance, nor do I have a Priestess mark. It¡¯s a crescent moon with a star somewhere on the body. The fuller the moon and the more prominent the star the more magic. Mom¡¯s is a strong Priestess, but she doesn¡¯t have the full moon. Grandma Luna does but she¡¯s never been concerned about my mark.


    I huff and then start walking slowly to the room, greeting all the magical women and some men along the way. I¡¯m at least going to say good bye¡­ I thought with a grim frown. I push open the door with a fake smile and see Grandma Luna on a chair looking out the window. She¡¯s skinny with long white hair from age. She looks like one of those rich grandma¡¯s with higher standards than her children. A warm smile was on her lips and the night sky was dancing outside of her window.


    ¡°Grand¡­ma?¡± I try to push out of my throat. This was the only time I¡¯ve seen her like this; without her owl and the knowledge of something otherworldly. She turned to me and motioned to the chair next to her.


    ¡°Close the door dear,¡± She said, her blue eyes glittering, ¡°I have something important to tell you.¡±


    I close the door quietly and sat next to her. I look outside the window and watch as the stars disappear, and I see a woman in the distance. Her figure was in white.


    ¡°This world has started over before, long before magic and the moon were restored, but no one knows this.¡± She started. ¡°I was one of the few Lunar High Priestesses to roam this world, and as required, accompanied with a guardian.¡± I saw a man that was also shown by white next to the woman.


    ¡°Normally,¡± She continued after placing a fragile hand over mine, ¡°We would be in the heavens by our Goddess. I was so restless, I should¡¯ve stayed there. We were dying up there, never mating with new blood. We could never mate with our guardians because they were just stars themselves. Just over a hundred years before the world started young again, I had a clash with my guardian.¡±


    The angelic man turned red as a man in black appeared on the floor, the woman angry and had her hands raised. ¡°He had killed someone outside of his purpose, with no intention of harming me or our goddess. The guardian was just¡­ bored I assume. I had cursed him, forever to roam this world lost in his thrist, had brought our goddess into it. I had never¡­¡± I saw a dark woman with a star on her forehead take over the white woman¡¯s body and twist the red man¡¯s body and into a hole.


    I stared at Grandma Luna, ¡°You see, when I had cursed him, our Goddess heard my call and laid a more powerful one on him. Unlike her children, he could not see the sun without burning, could not live without thirst and never mate. Forever stuck in a well. I died, a life for a life I supposed. But I had trapped her here.¡± She squeezed my hand. Somewhere deep down I knew this was true.


    ¡°Grandma,¡± I whispered, ¡°Why are you telling me this so suddenly?¡±


    She turned to me as if I offended her, ¡°Well, I promised when I trapped my Moon¡¯s soul here that I was to protect it until she awakens again¡­ When the world renewed, the line of Lunar Priestess¡¯s and High Priestess was restarted, children of the Dark was reborn, magic came back. She did it to become stronger again.¡± She patted my cheek, ¡°My child, my Goddess, when you turn 18, when I die, this will be the deadliest war because of one man¡¯s greed. And he¡¯s already out there and coming to kill you.¡±


    Dominic Shepard huffed in the cold night air as he watched a star shoot up into the sky a few days later. He lifted his dark eyebrow and lowered his sunglasses. Red eyes glowed under the dark tint with laughter after he replaced them.


    May the odds be in your favor Goddess. He thought to himself as he slid into his car.

 Alter of the Astral Church

    I have never been to a ritual, this was one of the grandest ones that most of the witches have been to. Even the spirits of previous witches and Lunar and Solar Priestesses and Priests where at this gathering. Solar Priests were the day equivalent of the Lunar Priestesses, just male and are stronger in the day time; Both serve the gods and goddesses of all cultures of the world.


    It was the funeral of the First High Priestess and the Awaking of the Moon Mother.


    I was adorned in white though my veil was a light grey lace with diamonds, amethysts and sapphires sewn into the veil. I felt like I was getting married with how beautiful this dress was; I had a white collar that was connected to the rest of the dress with a see-through material on my chest, the rest of my dress was a simple dark blue silk with carefully thinned moonstone sewn into the skirt of the dress. I wore a light metal underneath the dress for what I was told, ¡°For my own and the Goddess¡¯s protection¡±.


    I looked down to the alter and saw my Mother, who looked too tired and old for her own health. She let me know that things that she didn¡¯t want to happen come to light and I was going to be thrown into things far too quickly that she couldn¡¯t protect me from. Mother was not enjoying this anymore than I was, but maybe less than anyone here.


    We were in the forest behind Torono, all the other creatures and animals were along the outer ring of the ritual acting as a barrier against those who chose to intrude. Lanterns strung along the forest on the higher branches of the trees, candles floated safely away from the wood. As many times as I explored this area, I never encountered this giant clearing. I looked around the crowd and saw a swarm of beautiful people at the back of the clearing. Smooth skin and ruby or sapphire eyes depending on gender (Males have red as they are Solar Children; Blue for females as they are Lunar Children. Though there is a few that have Amethyst eyes for those who go between the lines). It was all one race but their skins where all different, all shades of life but they all looked human.


    The amount of power that was felt tonight was enough to cleanse radiation from the world but decided to be kept in this small spot of the world. Well, I guess it¡¯s not a school night, I thought to myself as I sat in the back. I turned back to the alter and saw a glimpse of red hair which had familiar spikes poking in random, wonderful directions. My heart sank, Chad?


    ¡°My Lady, High Sanity,¡± One of the Priestesses touched my shoulder, ¡°May you walk in the grace of your future.¡±


    The others that surrounded me chanted the same. I hesitated and looked at my Mom whose moon filled right in front of everyone and shined.


    I see, I frowned some more, my dark red lips not hiding the curves, She was chosen¡­ Poor Mom.


    I took in a deep breath and held my head high. Luckily my feet were bare and the ground free of clutter. The train of my dress was enchanted to show the cosmos and have a light purple fog flowing from it as I walked.


    It is not time for you to fret, a soft voice spoke in my head, I will be here to help you, my little life.


    And you are...? I asked in my head and kept walking.


    You will see in a bit, She spoke again and I could hear the smile in her voice, We will meet soon enough.


    I couldn¡¯t get to the alter slow enough for my Mother to look any less sad. She whispered for permission to touch me one last time (her daughter one last time) and I involuntarily nodded. I would¡¯ve told her to just whisk me away if I could but something, not the voice, kept me here. My mother took my face in her hands and cried, pressing her forehead against mine.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± She cried, ¡°I should¡¯ve been around more.¡±


    ¡°Mom,¡± I wanted to cry too but I held it down, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mom.¡± I lied, I lied so hard but I choked on it.


    ¡°I wish we had a little bit more time, a few more hundred years¡­¡± Mom hugged me, a gasp rang out from the crowd. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡±


    I hugged my mother back and then we pulled away from each other. I glared at Chad and she turned to him too, ¡°Please, Savros, please take care of her like you have.¡±


    ¡°Savros?¡± I whispered to him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain later,¡± He replied.


    I kept glaring at him until my mom raised her arms and gathered attention. All of the whispering and chanting had stopped and it felt like a larger surge of power held at the center of the clearing. A form started to appear from above the alter and it formed into a younger version of my Grandma. By the time she had touched her feet to the ground she was completely physical and naked. Her body decorated with stars and moons and planets that shifted with every movement.


    Grandma turned to my mom and touched her shoulder with both hands and shouted, ¡°Do you have the dagger?¡±


    ¡°I do!¡± My mother grabbed a knife from the table behind her.


    ¡°May I this life?¡± Grandma shouted.


    Before I knew what that meant, Mom plunged the knife into her Moon, ¡°Yes, you may!¡±


    I shouted and tried to charge the astral woman, Chad ¨C Savros ¨C had gripped me and stopped me. I started crying into his chest. I felt the merge of two bodies and when I looked at both my grandmother and mother, I saw a most beautiful celestial form ever; It was both my mother¡¯s body and grandmother¡¯s shifting yet they both shown like a star. A crown of suns rotated around their head and when they spoke, they spoke with both voices.


    Chad had helped me up but tears kept flowing.


    They raised their arms up with the dagger in their hand and so did the rest of the crowd other then those in the back of the room.


    ¡°We have lived our lives, we knew the stars were granting us one last chance to right our wrongs,¡± The Grand High Priestess shouted, ¡°Once a Guardian had fell from grace and I had trapped ¨C unknowingly the Goddess of the Night ¨C into a feud. I had promised to protect her soul and spirit. I had almost failed, and in doing so destroyed and recreated the world anew. Our Guardian is alive and walking, breaking his seal in this second chance. My Descendant took my charge as my life dwindled as a foreshadowing what was to come. Her human Avatar has come of age to waken!¡±


    If I was standing a bit further away I wouldn¡¯t have seen the streams of tears coming down the crystal cheeks of both of the women in my life.


    <u>We are so sorry,</u> they chanted in my head, <u>Sanity, we have loved you for such a long time as our own. Please forgive us¡­</u>


    I nodded and stood up. I patted the dirt and leaves from my dress and walked to the alter.


    ¡°Sanity Moone!¡± They shouted, ¡°Look around you! These are the people who are giving up their life to restore yours! To restore their Goddess!¡±


    I looked around and saw them starting to fade, felt even the ones that couldn¡¯t make it join their power here.


    ¡°This generation refused to mate to not take new lives as the Goddess wished it!¡± The Grand High shouted. ¡°Please do lay on this alter if you accept your fate!¡±


    I turned quickly to the being, looked into their eyes and into Chad¡¯s. I have never seen him heartbroken, he mouthed, ¡°Refuse.¡±


    <u>Refuse!</u> They shouted in my head.


    If you refuse, you can live for you¡­ The voice came back, slightly pleading, But another will die in your place until someone accepts this fate.


    If I accept, I stood mentally against the light in my head, Will you protect my family and those that gave their life for your resurrection tonight? Will you give them a new, free life?


    The voice was quiet as if she mulled this deal over, I am not trying to trap you, I am trying to give them freedom.


    I promise as my oath as a Goddess. Her form slipped out of the mental orb of light and crossed her heart. She looked like me with a dull gray glow. The Goddess looked sad and old in her eyes, and she shared her feelings of trapped. At least that¡¯s what we both felt.


    I breathed in, both physically and mentally, ¡°We have a deal.¡± I said out loud as I laid onto the alter.


    The Celestial High Priestess hesitated before continuing, she ran a warm hand over my head brushing a strand of hair out of my face before kissing my forehead. ¡°Blessed Be.¡± She whispered before plunging the knife in my chest. I heard an echo of the phrase as the rest of the people disappeared and left the non-astral witches, animals and creatures in the clearing. The gem-eyed people surrounded me, Chad¡­ Savros being at my head. My mother and grandmother flickered away like a bonfire that died out, both crying, both whispering good-byes. My grandmother left after my mother, and she had the relief of finally dying.


    I started feeling cold as I touched the blade and felt my blood oozing out of my chest. I lifted it up weakly and watched as my blood turned from red to silver and slither down my arm.


    ¡°Chad¡­¡± I was slipping, dying took a while I noted, ¡°I¡¯ve had the¡­ biggest crush on you¡­¡±


    ¡°I know¡­¡± He said, his red eyes showing his broken heart. Before I could hear what he was going to say after I slipped into darkness.

 The Cavern

    I woke up in a cave with a gaping hole in the center of the ceiling. It didn¡¯t feel familiar nor did I know where I was either. Staring at the edges, the grass waved to me as the wind blew gently in the dark abyss above me. I saw each blade sway, the little bits of flower and dirt float by undisturbed. Further up there was the moon, full in all her glory and dusted with red. My heart ached and longed for home, to be back in the stars and be with those that have left me behind.


    Well, it was more of the Goddess of the Moon that longed for it. It was more of a sharp pain in my heart, longing for my mother¡¯s arms to take the nightmare away. Blinking back tears, I recalled that night¡­ Had it been a few hours since the ritual? Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be the Lady Moon waking up not me? I felt around me without moving, without taking my eyes off the starry night sky. There was only one old soul, though many others stood or sat outside, waiting for me.


    I started feeling warm and wet as my senses started to come back to me. Moving my arm once I regained control of it and moving it around me quietly, I confirmed I was in water¡­ Or something wet. I closed my eyes and breathed in to smell around me. Something wonderful padded the air¡­ Something amazingly familiar to my memories¡­ Chad. Flowers surrounded me too; carnations, lavender and lilies.


    Blood.


    I opened my eyes and lifted my torso out of the moon-soaked lake in the cave. My hair was heavy, my body oh so much heavier. Welcoming the feeling and ignoring Chad, I looked around me; there was lavender, lilies and carnations. They sat in the pool with me with traces of blood that seeped to me as if inviting me to taste it, however when the liquid touched my body it glowed and disappeared. My hair was still white I noted as I pulled it closer to me, wrapping it around my chest and felt it warm my body. It was longer though, soft but it had been wet for so long. I also noted I didn¡¯t feel cold, just warm.


    ¡°You know,¡± as I touch a purple lily from under the water, ¡°it isn¡¯t polite to stare from the darkness.¡±


    My voice sounded like mine, but it had this underlying echo of a much more seductive edge. A little deeper and much more adult. If I remembered correctly, I only turned 18 earlier tonight but I felt so much older.


    ¡°My Lady,¡± I felt his footsteps as well as heard another¡¯s come to me, ¡°You should be resting- ¡°


    I lifted my hand up to silence Chad and looked back up to the gaping hole above me. I heard his laughter before I saw him. I felt this presence before, but without seeing him I couldn¡¯t put the pieces together. He peeped over the hole as if he was judging his next prey like an ill-trained cat. Once he spotted me, he showed me more of himself, smiling darkly to me as if there was a joke I missed.


    ¡°Oh good,¡± He chuckled deeply, ¡°You¡¯re awake. The Lady has finally woken up from her nap! I love this!¡± It was the man from the park. ¡°Oh, and you¡¯re so weak, I can feel you shivering from here¡­ How about I make you a deal, highness?¡±


    I glared at him showing him openly how displeased I was. Displeased, what a royal emotion. I wanted nothing to do with him, except maybe throw his heart into the oven and have it for dessert.


    ¡°Oh good, you remember me.¡± He lifted himself off the dirt and sat on the edge of the hole. Dirt and grass slipped down into the pool, interrupting the flow of blood coming to me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t come down,¡± I shot him a deadly glare, ¡°I may not be at full power but I still am a Goddess.¡±


    He chuckled to himself again, which was getting annoying, ¡°My Queen,¡± He mockingly said, ¡°Marry me and I shall spare you the war. We¡¯ll create so much together, rule the world. You know,¡± He glanced in the dark towards Chad, ¡°Create what we want.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Lies, Lady Moon snapped to me, Refuse! The Guardian will never touch me so intimately! The defiance!


    ¡°And if I refuse?¡± I showed him my teeth. Nearly growling out my words.


    ¡°Then I shall kill you,¡± He said, ¡°Free you from this world and I will go about how I please without being stopped.¡±


    ¡°You are very forward,¡± Chad¡­ Savros appeared out of the shadows. ¡°I have not kept the ladies safe from you to have it thrown away!¡± He turned to me, his wonderful face twisted, Savros¡¯s eyes lit up ready for a fight, ¡°He killed your priestess, crowned himself a god and deemed himself Dominic Shepard! He has created a following, Mother Moon!¡±


    Rage fueled my body and the man started to get up from the hole and slipped and tumbled down into the water. The water cleansed the illusion and showed a weaker vampire. Pity filled me, the emotions from my other side going around inside me like a rollercoaster was driving me insane. The man looked up at us and hastily kneeled and grabbed my shoulder. His blood matted his mousy brown hair. Looking over him he seemed like he was just a homeless guy who was plucked from the streets, rose to power and fell again. His clothes weren¡¯t bad but they seemed haggard.


    What do you wish to do? I felt the Lady¡¯s presence again as if she was right next to my body.


    You¡¯re giving me the choice? I froze, I have no idea¡­


    We will discuss this later, she warned. Decide now and it should show me everything I need to know, which would be the amount I will tell you.


    Cha¡­ Savros stared at us for a but while I fought internally on what to do.


    ¡°Sa¡­ Savros,¡± I called him, ¡°Give me a good reason not to end this poor creature¡¯s existence?¡±


    I felt the man froze.


    ¡°You will be in more danger than you are now if you do not.¡± He answered.


    ¡°Is he safe?¡±


    He moved as if to get more comfortable, ¡°I have had my fill of these creatures, they neither do harm or help to consume them if that is what you mean, my Lady.¡±


    I put my arm around the man¡¯s neck and pulled him closer, ¡°Child,¡± I started, and he seemed to relax, ¡°I will release you from your bindings and commitment to your master, I wish you well on your next journey.¡± And as I pressed my mouth to his neck, I let instinct do the rest. I tasted his last human, his last real solid meal. His life before and after. The man was nearly a century old and was pretty much bait his whole vampire existence.


    After Savros pulled the husk from the pool, I motioned him to me.


    ¡°My Lady..?¡± He started and looked me over and then away. I realized I was still naked.


    ¡°You realize I¡¯m still Sanity right?¡± I touched his face to have him look at me.


    Surprise riddled his face. ¡°How? What?¡± He started moving quickly, so much so if I was human I wouldn¡¯t have seen him move. But now it¡¯s like he was just gliding then stop, then gliding again. I stopped him again except this time with a kiss. I was met with so much flare from him I almost ignited from the inside. He gripped my head from the top and I pulled him to the water with me. So much emotion and stress had hit me I needed a way to get it out, and I had always wanted to touch him.


    His clothes clung to him, I never noticed how Savros¡­ Or was it Chad? Gosh I was so confused¡­


    I parted us with a heavy breath, ¡°Chad!¡± I begged and he froze. There was such yearning in his eyes that they looked almost cloudy. ¡°Wait, I have an important question!¡±


    When he shook his head, his red hair flipped water everywhere, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°What do I call you?¡± I huffed, wanted to finish this huge urge full of hormones. ¡°Are you still Chad? I want¡­ I want to know how you feel about me still being me and not¡­¡±


    The cloud had gone, I felt the yearning for that rollercoaster drain away as quickly as it came. ¡°Call me Savros, and you being Sanity or Lady Moon makes no difference of your stance and our relationship. Now I must find your maidens. We have to move you to somewhere safer.¡±


    I felt like I had a huge bucket of ice-cold water dumped on me as I watched him walk away. My mother and grandmother gone, now my crush gone and rejected me. The ritual went wrong somehow and now I¡¯m in danger. I splashed water around me, flung my arms out as if to throw water with magic, and to my surprise, did. Petals floated back into the pool around me. I was soaking wet but I wasn¡¯t cold. But I wasn¡¯t the goddess and that¡¯s the problem.


    ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be with my family ¨C dead!¡± I shrieked. Energy, so much bad, raw energy that I couldn¡¯t hold but wanted to do something about.


    The ladies that came into the crater of the cave screamed when I tossed a flower stem into the wall like a throwing needle, flower sticking out then turning inside out with petals going out. Once I realized they were there I gave them a sheepish grin and waved. Each slowly peeked from under the grey silk they all clung to like it could shield them.


    ¡°Ready, My Grace?¡± One of them whimpered after they could hold themselves still long enough to aske the question.

 Vial of Silver

    I stared at the blue-eyed and purple-eyed vampires that looked between me and Savros nervously, ¡°Is everything alright, My Grace?¡± One repeated.


    I tried to not look at Savros as I passed him to get to the women. My heart broke when I snuck a peek and watched him lean away from me. I saw a small vial in his hand before he could be out of the corner of my eye. I looked back to the weary group with a some-what confident smile.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I was able to hide the hurt and steady my voice enough to speak to them, ¡°I just had a small matter to deal with.¡± I looked at them with a small confused look on purpose, to give me a little bit of¡­ reassurance that I was not going to hurt them, ¡°Though do tell me¡­ How long was I out for? A night, yes?¡±


    They seemed to relax as they giggled to each other. ¡°My Ladyship, it has been a month since your ritual.¡±


    A month. I was out for a month. I guess I froze just a little too long because the group of silk-covered bodies started to tense. Turning away from them and paced past Savros ¨C this time not glancing his way ¨C and looked into the shallow pool that I had awoke from.


    ¡°Please leave,¡± I said finally. They were gone quicker and quieter than when they entered. Directing my voice to Savros who I heard still slightly moping around, I tried to not to sound too upset. ¡°A month? And how much longer am I supposed to be here?¡±


    I heard him shift, it was like I could hear every movement and thought as if I¡¯m looking at him and reading his thought bubbles. ¡°Another month after you take her blood from this vial¡­ I was supposed to¡­¡±


    ¡°Supposed to what?¡± I turned to him, flung my arms wide and heard the water rise above me. I looked behind me and saw the petal-covered water turn into a giant wave and then watery spears. Losing my focus and anger had the water return to the pool in a blast of water. I looked back to him and he had a flicker of fear in his eyes but then sighed.


    ¡°I was supposed to give you the vial so you could recover normally but there was too many people and it was too unpredictable. Your guardians agreed that you weren¡¯t exposed early enough so they decided against you getting it at the ritual.¡± He rubbed his face in his hand, ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d still be resting before the blood pool ran out, it was keeping you alive.¡±


    I just stood at him like I would if he told me he wanted to break our friendship. I had the blankest face as he explained how the water helped us recover since it was one of the original pools of the world after it was renewed. The High Lunar Priestess and the Moon Goddess blessed this place so Dominic couldn¡¯t enter on his own, and none of his people should¡¯ve¡­ But its been eons.


    ¡°My last act,¡± He sighed, and looked at the empty ceiling above us. At this point I was dry again and all the water had flowed back into the pool. We both were sitting but on the opposite sides of the pool. ¡°I had tried to save a Priestess from being devoured from Dominic, but I couldn¡¯t. After she cursed herself and another man, she sealed her fate, but gave me a warning to deliver to the other dwellers around. She was the sign that you were on the way. I was ordered by the Goddess¡¯s will to protect you, but you still got attacked by him, even if it was indirectly. Such a coward¡­¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Let¡¯s¡­ Just get this over with.¡± I sighed myself, I couldn¡¯t stop looking at his face. ¡°Just toss it in the water.¡±


    He frowned, his red eyes showing his disbelief as he held the vial in his hand in front of his face. ¡°No, you come and get it.¡±


    I glared at him and walked on the water (I didn¡¯t do it on purpose, but I wanted to walk not swim) and grabbed the vial. Savros grabbed my wrist and pulled me down to kiss me. It felt sad and like a good-bye. I pulled back slowly with the vial in my hand and watched his face turn from cold to somewhat of a sad look.


    I stayed with in tempted range, I still wanted to kiss him back, but I didn¡¯t want to push him into something he didn¡¯t want to do.


    I sighed heavily, ¡°I guess that was my last one, huh?¡± I let a tear fall, ¡°You must really love your Goddess.¡±


    ¡°Sanity,¡± I heard the hurt in his voice, ¡°I love you, I just¡­ I¡¯m supposed to be a guard and nothing more. If we were normal humans; I¡¯d totally date you and maybe just run away with you. I thought about it every day but I knew you had to do this.¡± He gripped my arm back and pulled me back in for another kiss.


    I didn¡¯t stop and neither did he. I let the vial drop in the water and it popped open. He flung me into it and I gripped him in with me, nearly ripping his shirt off with a growl. I swallowed a large mixture of water and blood which seared my senses. The rest of the silver liquid pierced my skin, rejoining with the body it came from. I snarled and kissed him harder and Savros pulled me closer. The pain was horrible, I couldn¡¯t focus on him. I let him go and heard the echo of a whine and something else splashing into the water.


    ¡°So,¡± It was a deep dark voice, the scent was a mixture of deep dark and honey. I screamed in pain as the blood changed me.


    ¡°Get out!¡± I roared with her, gripped him with what power I could and flung back out of the cavern. ¡°You are not yet strong enough, Guardian!¡± My voice had an echo, it was beautiful and seductive.


    ¡°Calm down,¡± I felt Savros trying to pull me back from the fringes of darkness like a bad fighting scene. I was just underestimated and burning from the inside. He touched my face as I flailed in the pool. It felt like it had gotten deeper and I was going to drown. ¡°Breathe Sanity, damnit.¡±


    ¡°He was just¡­¡± I shuttered through the pain, this wasn¡¯t going well. I was on fire in water and hallucinating. ¡°He was just here.¡±


    Savros gripped my head and made me look at him, ¡°No, he wasn¡¯t. Maybe in your head but he¡¯s not here. The blood must be playing tricks on you. Look,¡± he said as he pulled a petal from the water. It was glowing in the water. ¡°You put the seal back. Goddess, and I almost made you mad.¡±


    I stopped flailing and finally took a deep breath in and then sighed. I leaned back and realized again I was naked with the guy I had the hugest crush on. My mind didn¡¯t care. I took a look at his ripped shirt, I was too tired to even fathom on what I could do with the skin underneath.


    What is wrong with me?


    ¡°Now can I go to sleep?¡± I said as the pain started to throb away. ¡°Actually, can you give me some space please?¡±


    Savros looked at me like I hit him with a truck and stepped back. I had a lot to think about and someone to talk to. I heard him get out of the pool and he didn¡¯t hide the fact that he wanted to come back. Savros paused and looked back to me as I went under water and looked at the flowers. He padded away in his soaked clothes.

 Faded Ties

    It was a good ten minutes before I couldn¡¯t hear the groggy footsteps of Savros, the wet sound of his pants disappeared as I also sensed his presence fade from the cave. I sat up in the water, listening to the sound of excess water pouring off me and back into the pool. Now it felt lonely, it was quiet and¡­ I can¡¯t feel cold but I am in a way.


    Looking down into the pool I saw my reflection; I was still me, but I had silver eyes and beautiful blue lips with glitter twinkling. My hair was brighter and glowing, it has this extra soft look to it as if every time I moved it would wisp to the side as if there was a tiny bit of wind. Hesitating, I pulled my lips up showing what I feared; two sets of two sharp teeth. One smaller than the other but they were both pearl white while the rest of my teeth were snow white.


    Closing my eyes I breathed in the air around me, still smelling the flower infused water even stronger now, Savros and a group of other vampires down the hall of the cave. I feared them; they had more knowledge of who they are and how to use what ever power they have. I was still a¡­


    ¡°Fledgling,¡± I heard the dark, sexy voice of the Lunar Goddess sliding into reality and out of my head. ¡°Only you can see me Sanity. Open your eyes.¡±


    I opened one silver eye to look around. Once I spotted her, she seemed heavenly; Glowed a soft white, her skin pale but not the extreme pale of her children, and she too had white hair and silver eyes. Her appearance reflected mine but her face was less heart-shaped than mine.


    ¡°Can you at least give me a name what to call you?¡± I whispered, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to be rude or anything ¨C¡±


    ¡°Destiny,¡± She quickly replied, ¡°Just call me Destiny. Seems a bit ironic but it should be something that fits right?¡±


    Destiny walked ¨C more like floated ¨C her way to me. She looked down the hallway and gave a soft smile, ¡°So conflicted, it is so amusing to watch.¡±


    I frowned, she was talking about Savros and I.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it will fade,¡± I had opened my other eye to hide them and watch the flower petals sway in the water every bit I moved. ¡°I think he just doesn¡¯t want to anger you; I think his attraction is more for you than me.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Her laugh was like bells, it echoed the walls but only for me. ¡°He doesn¡¯t want o anger me, that is correct, my Reflection, but he is still is and always has been attracted to you, Sanity. We may be the same being but we are different goddesses. Both of us are the Goddesses of Death, the Moon and the Soul, but you are just the current version of me. I have been freed since the vial has been opened; that was my victory against the vicious Guardian. I finally had my avatar live to the point of this moment. Now you must kill him in order to be free yourself.¡±


    ¡°So your war is now mine?¡± I glared at her, I felt her shiver.


    She nodded slowly, carefully it seemed. ¡°Yes, but you are stronger than I am since my soul is powered by the moon. Your¡¯s was born on Earth and then Moon. I am you, your mother and your ancestor, not the Lunar Priestess.¡±


    She spat out ¡°Lunar Priestess¡± as if it had sickened her. To be fair, my¡­ The High Priestess did trap her here for eons.


    ¡°That is another lesson to be taught later,¡± She turned and looked at the moon with such lust and hope it hurt my chest. ¡°I need to tend to those that died tonight.¡± With a heavy sigh, she turned her head so I only saw half her face and the frown, then tears slid down her face like wishing stars, ¡°I am sorry for your loss in such a short time. Kill him, I shall empower you and help you, just save this world from him.¡±


    Her anger was felt in the water as it started to boil and heat up, the air filled with mist as it met the cool air.


    ¡°I have my promise to keep since you kept yours, but if you need me,¡± She pointed to the moon, ¡°Just pray for me.¡±


    I watched her walk to the moon and as she passed the border of space and this realm, I felt the relief and freedom that Destiny did. My life was now more confusing, but some answers were answered.


    I am the new Lunar Goddess, of Death, the Moon and the Soul. There is two of us, one taking the Earth and one the Moon.


    I am stronger than the older one, it seems she plans on me taking over. What do gods become once they die? Would she be a star?


    Savros likes me, but what am I going to do with this new information? It was such a small amount, but it was revealing a lot. I was just a human adult not too long ago and now I¡¯m stuck in a cave for a tiny bit of time before I must kill someone to save the world (kind of clich¨¦). And what does Destiny mean that she was sorry for my loss? I put my hands over my eyes and dunk my body into the water and will the pool to be deeper.


    It did so suddenly I breathed in water. I was screaming and swimming franticly to get to the top so I could get air and then realized before I hit the crest of the water¡­ I can breathe in the water. I smiled at myself, I was so silly. I felt alive as I swam back deeper into the pool.


    I know all too well that I would have to discover the worst part of the recent past soon but I needed to straighten out my emotions first. I felt like I was going through puberty twice. A new rollercoaster and this one is deadlier than before.

 Gems and Curses

    "Savros," I called for him after a few days of thinking of my next action. I had to see if Tonoro was gone, I had lived there my whole life... Well, in this life.


    "Yes, My Goddess?"


    "I want to see Tonoro," I had stood from one of the darkest corners of the cave, trying to concentrate on everything but that pain I was in. Tattoos had shown up in black; phases of the moon down my collar bone to the middle of my chest. Tiny silver stars had started glowing around my body but they would flicker away when it was day. Growing pains of a new goddess I suppose. "I want to go home."


    The look on his face said he disagreed, that he had already sent scouts and wanted to stop me.


    I sucked in a little bit of air and looked his straight in the eyes, "I need to see Tonoro and I am not going to be stopped. Get our best vampires, I will see you at dawn."


    Savros hesitated, what ever had stopped him making his arguement also made his head bow, "Yes, I will get them."


    He turned away, his red hair swung back and forth and almost looked like a flame in the dark before he disappeared outside.


    Sighing, I stand up and look at what phase had decided to show up. Looked like a waxing moon, tomorrow it shall be the new moon. I had talked to some of the maidens who tend to me to learn how this whole thing works.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    There are two kinds of vampires; First they talked about the Gems. Unlike what I had been told before, Gems have gem-like eyes that reflect what their power is related to. It could be a wide range of anything but I was the only holder of white which was the Goddess color. We do not need to eat or drink, but drinking blood heals us quickly but any blood can do. Usually the more powerful of blood can heal us the best and powers could mutate into something better. They do not need to sleep or cower from the sun because in my past life, the Sun God was my husband and he had given my children the gift of walking in the sun. Gems can be created or born, but they get more powerful if they are born. All are considered pure bloods since they all started created. Though they like to be called Gems, they still prefer to be called vampires.


    They fretted over the Cursed; Dominic''s children, the ones that had started by him which was cursed by me and my Grandmother. He has to drink blood to survive, he couldn''t walk in the sun, but he can walk out when the sun is setting but it has to be mostly set. They have to be created and once they are created become sterile. They have amazing healing powers but they do not get any benefit from anything but human blood. There has been times when another creature has been ''cursed'' but since it conflicts with their magic they tend to not last long or they find a way to off themselves.


    Dominic''s greatest weapon so far is a Cursed Mountian Giant, though a werewolf or something silver could still easily kill it. Gems are hardest to kill because you pretty much have to banish their heads.


    I had written it down somewhere but it ended up in the lake. All of the ink was gone and paper ruined. I still had until dawn to figure out how to approach Tonoro, and with my own family''s souls protected and safe on the moon with my Ancient Half, I don''t need to worry about family. I hoped there was some surviviors amoung the possible wreckage. Burying my face in my hands I fought the urge to scream. Mostly because I didn''t want the cave to collapse on me and figure out if I really am immortal.