Under the Blood Moon by Jenny Garcia (latest books to read TXT) 📖

Niki I should have told you but this is the first time that you have been awake since it happened.”

 

I look out the window in the living room. I can see the lake glittering in the sun. I don’t want anyone to get hurt. “Travis is he alive? Is he ok?” He pulls me into his chest and hugs me, “Yes Babe he is fine. A few cuts and bruises but he is going to make a full recovery. It was hard keeping him away from the Lake House he wanted to come back and be with you. He loves you so much. I am sorry I made him stay away but it’s for the best I swear.” I know that Travis is trying to help but I can’t help but feel angry that he made my father leave. I need him here. I am stuck with crazy Denise and mother needs just as much protection as I do. This is my entire fault. If I hadn’t of run out of the house he would have never came looking for me. How can I ever forgive myself for putting my father in that situation? I can’t imagine the fear and pain he went through. My mind stops, my mother, why didn’t he have my mother leave. I look back at Travis, “Why didn’t you send my mom away? Isn’t she is danger by being here?” Travis looks to my mother and motions her to come into the living room, “Do you want to tell her Michelle?”

 

She looks to me and walks back into the dining room. She grabs a chair that was broken in tussle the other night and places it in front of me. She says nothing and raises her hand at the chair. Her glare is locked on it. I try to speak to her but she lifts her other hand signally me to be quiet. I think at this point that she has lost her mind. I look at Travis he grins at me and looks back at my mom. Turn my head back to her and the chair is beginning to smoke. Her face begins to turn red and the chair bursts into flames. I jump back and push myself down the couch, “Oh my god mom! How did you do that?” She closes her hand and the flames disappear. She looks as me and smiles “I thought that I lost my gift. But last night after Denise…well you know…tried to kill me, It felt the old sensation I used to get when I would start a fire. I thought that it was just because I was angry but it wasn’t.” Travis looks over to me and says, “When the gifted ignore their ability they loss it and can never get it back under normal circumstances, you know that. But since you were made the next heir to the throne, your parents will be given gifts for the great sacrifice of losing their child. Your mothers’ gift was the return of her Pyros gift. She is being given the chance to learn how to control it and embrace who she really is. I think that it’s fantastic.” He looks to my mom and then back at me. I really don’t know how to react to this. “Well what about my Dad? What gift was he given?” Travis looks to my mom, “You know… I don’t know. We took him to the hospital and that is the last time that I saw him.” I look to my mom and say, “Mom, how do you feel about this? You hated your gift and now you have it back.” She comes and kneels in front of me placing her hands on my knees, “Niki, for so long I was afraid of what people would think about me if they found out about my gift, but seeing you embrace your gift and responsibilities has shown me that I don’t need to be afraid of who I am or what I can do. I am so sorry for the hell I put you through when you were younger. Can you ever forgive me?” Everything that I have ever wanted her to say to me was crammed together in one sentence. Over whelming joy fills my heart and tears of joy flow down my face. She reaches up and wipes them away with her thumbs.

 

“Of course I forgive you mom. I love you.” She takes me in her arms and gives me a hug. I don’t mind the pain that it causes me because this is the first time in a long time that I have felt close to her. I wish that it was under different circumstances but I will take it. I feel her love envelope me and I accept it with open arms. She lets me go and the tears falling from her eyes and land on my knees. I take Travis hand and say, “So if I am a mystic and she is my mother, does that mean that I have some of her power too?” He thinks for a moment and replies, “You know I am not sure but my dad would know.” He immediately stops talking realizing that Denise is in the other room and Charles doesn’t want her to know, that he knows they’re here. Footsteps ring through the house and Denise comes into the living room. My anxiety and anger immediately returns.

 

Denise is a lot stronger than I am and I am sure that she isn’t happy about me beating her the other night. Denise looks at my mother and fear covers her face. Is there something that I missed? Why would she be scared of us? She came to this Lake House with the intent to murder me and now she is scared of us? She takes a step towards me and Mom springs to her feet standing between us. Denise looks up to my mother and says, “Don’t worry Michelle I am not going to hurt her. I just want to talk.” Denise takes another step forward and Mom puts her hand in the middle of her chest, “You can talk from there.” Denise takes a breath and steps back. “Niki, I am sorry about the other night. The story of how I was awakened is not pleasant and I don’t like to talk about it. There is a lot about that night that Michelle doesn’t know about and when it gets brought up I cannot control my temper.” Mom turns back and looks down at me. I motion her to move from between us. I place my hands to my sides and push myself up from the couch. The pain in my shoulders is almost too much to bear. I try and keep the look of pain out my eyes. The last thing that I want is for her to know that I am weak. I straighten up and take a few steps to her until we are inches apart. “Denise, I forgive you but if you ever put your hands on my mother or anyone else in this house there will be no stopping what I do to you.” She gives me a sadistic half smile and replies, “Yes your highness.” She turns away from me and walks out of the house. I don’t know why she would even apologies when she is trying to kill me, maybe to keep the illusion that she is here to help me through the awakening. Remembering that the Blood Moon is less than 5 days away sends shivers through my body. I am really ready for this?

Chapter 5

 

-Denise-

 

            “Denise hurry up we are going to be late for the Full Moon Festival!” My mother yells up the stairs. She is always trying to rush me. It’s my birthday, it’s the most important night of my life and all she can worry about is the damn festival. Tonight is the night I become my true self. A woman came to me in a vision and made everything so clear. It wasn’t like the normal visions I have where I am basically a spectator watching someone else’s life unfold. This woman looked into my eyes and told me my purpose. Her name was Katarina and she was just like me. She told me that she was a guide. Katarina explained the secrets of the Mystic’s and that we are valuable to the Werewolf race. She told me that after I awakened my abilities would be assessed and then my duty would be assigned to me. After she explained everything to me she gave me a warning, “Beware child, if you have a dark heart and your intentions for life are not honorable then our great Queen Renee will not have you. King Khan has given her the power to choose which Mystic’s are accepted into our race and her word is final. If you are not chosen, you will keep your gift, as it is your birth right and will be immortal, but you will never ascend to the Royal Court and you will live in the human realm forever. Immortality is a gift but when you are banned from our world immortality can be a curse. Watching loved ones grow old and die over and over can cause one to turn mad.” I take her warning into consideration. I believe that my intentions in life are good, but there is so much anger I have towards everyone that has caused me pain. I hope that it doesn’t affect the Queens decision.

 

I finally have a name for my gift, I am a Mystic. The years of being called crazy and being treated like garbage are over and now it’s time for everyone to see that I am not a liar or crazy. My gift is real and I am going to prove it. I will finally be around other people like me and my life will have meaning and purpose.

 

I walk to the bathroom and look into the mirror. My red hair is so frizzy and untamable. I run a brush through it trying to get it as flat as I can and apply what little make up my mother allows me to wear. I can’t stop the feeling of excitement that is growing inside me. It’s going to feel so wonderful to finally be accepted. My whole life while be changed forever. After looking myself over once more in the mirror, I walk out of the bathroom and head down stairs. My mother is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs tapping her foot with her arms crossed. “Finally! Are you ready?” I nod my head yes and we head out the front door. We load up into the car and drive to the Town Square. Night has already fallen and the full moon is out. The whole town is in the square celebrating. It’s an age old tradition that was started when the town was founded. It’s the celebration of the beginning of summer. My mother parks the car and we step out. Everyone walking to the Festival from the parking lot turns back and stares at me. Whispers break out in the crowd.