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

control is in the hands of the wisest and strongest. Although you get rulers like Khan who lose their mind with power, you also get rulers like Renee who have more compassion than Khan could ever have. There is a reason for everything in our world and you will learn them soon enough.” I can tell that she is getting annoyed with all my questions  but I cant help it. She looks back to me, “Queen, I cannot return to the palace, may I stay here with you?” I can't help but be confused by this, “Why can’t you return to the palace you said that you lived there?” She sits all the way up from the same brushing the dry sand from her body, “I do live there, but Khan told me that if I were to ever come to you when you called me would kill me. This forest is filled with Scouts and I am sure that he already knows by now. So can I stay here with you?” I place my arm around her shoulder and give her a gentle squeeze. “Of course you can stay here.” She giggles with excitement and gets up from the shore. “Well what should we do?” I tilt my head to the side, “What do you mean?” She puts her hands on her hips and responds, “What do you mean what should we do!? This is your last day of freedom before you have to become Royalty and there is nothing that you have planned to do?” I shake my head no at her and she throws her hands in the air. “Where is Travis?” I point towards the house and she storms of towards it. I get up and chase after her, “Wait please! He is sleeping!” She ignores my calls and stomps up the stairs. I jump up the three steps and into the front door. Asclepius is standing in the entryway staring at my mother, “You never told me that your mother is a Pyros!” She runs to my mother and grabs her wrists gently, running her fingers down the palms of her hands. She has no fear of anyone I swear. My mother is speechless and she stares at me confused. “Ummm Niki, who is your friend?” Asclepius drops her hand and takes a step back. “I’m sorry, I lost my manors in all this excitement. My name is Asclepius I am the Queens Healer.”

 

“Its nice to meet you dear.” Asclepius turns back to me and whispers, “Ask her to make the fire!” I look to my mother who could clearly hear what she said. She turns her palms face up and Asclepius was drawn in like a moth. “Mom do the dancers!” I holler over to her. She rubs her fingertips together and them the smoke begins to rise. Small flakes of red and orange flames pop and spark. Within seconds the two tiny fire dancers are floating across her palms. Asclepius gasps with excitement, “You can make fire people! This amazing! I have never seen this before!” My mom looks down to her as she stares at the flames,  “You seem very young dear, how old are you?” Without missing a beat she responds, “I know, I am very young, only 230 years.” She looks up to my mom and gives her a smile. “I know what everyone thinks of me. They think because of the way I talk I am stupid or I am a very young but what people don’t understand, is the reason why grown ups are no longer carefree and speak as though they no longer have fun in their lives is because they have had situations that have wounded their hearts and made them that way. That is why they are so sensible and no longer any fun. But I am a healer, so when my heart gets hurt in those situations, it heals to its original state and I get to keep my spirit. Does that make any sense?” She looks down to her, “More than you know.” I never thought of her childish behavior that way but now it all makes sense. When she removed all the pain that I had from Derek, I felt like a different person. There are situations in life that change us forever, but she never has that. She doesn't have to deal with heartache, disappointment or any of the other harsh things that this world has to offer. Every Time that something like that happens she just healers herself. Like rebooting a computer. She remembers the event, but doesn't experience the pain that goes along with it. I dont know if I would want to have that ability. I would rather grow into who I am supposed to be then to stay carefree forever.

 

Asclepius is entranced by what my mother has created. “How did you hide from Khan all these years?” Mom looks down to her confused by the question. “What do you mean? I thought that Renee only wanted Niki?” She extinguishes the flames to get the full attention Asclepius. She looks at her almost annoyed that she stopped the show. “Well many years ago Khan told everyone that all the Pyros were to report to his Army. This is a huge honor for anyone in the Realm. Of course they all flocked to him to join.” Both my mother and I listen closely, anything that Khan comes up usually ends in death or there is something that benefits him in the end. She continues, “Before all the Pyros were summoned to join, there were only a select few that actually knew what he was doing and Renee was one of them. SHe told me that Khan was terrified by all Pyros because they held the power to end an immortal. He believed that none of them could be trusted.” It seems like he would want to banish them instead of welcome them into his Army. “Khan rounded them all up in the Great Hall.” I interrupt her, “Wait, what is the Great Hall?”

 

“The Great Hall Is where the king and queens thrones are. It’s also the room where all the Monarchy makes their decisions in regards to the Realm. Anyone who needs help in the Realm can come to the Great Hall on select days to consult with the them. The room is so beautiful. Its great stone walls seem to never end, the walls are lined with gold candlesticks that never go out and never burn down. Its a little spell that an elder placed on them long ago. You will see it for yourself after all of this is over.” This palace sound more like a castle. I dont know if i want to live in a castle. I mean as a girl I always wanted to live in one and be a princess but now I am old and things have changed. She looks to me with wide eyes, “Oh sorry go ahead.”

 

“Well, He rounded them up in the Great Hall and murdered them all. Men, women and he even went to their homes where their children were and murdered them also. It was an awful day and the whole Realm mourned. He had most of the subject convinced that it was for the greater good and that they had a plan to overthrow him. I never believe it and Renee had a hard time being around him after that. She told that is when she knew that she had to give up her life the save the lives of billions of people. Not only the people in our Realm but the Human Race as well.” I look to my mother whose face has drained of all its color. She swallows deeply, “Does Khan know that I am a Pyros?” She squints her eyes and looks up the the ceiling racking her brain, “I really don’t know. Since Renee has been gone I don’t get to hear very much monarchy dirt.” She looks around the room and then down the hall, “Where is Travis we must get him.” I point down the hall and she runs down it. I can’t believe that Khan killed all those people just for his own security. He has gone mad with power and now I feel compelled to stop him. “Travis why are you sleeping in the middle of the day!” I hear Asclepius yelling at him in my room. I don’t hear Travis respond just the door closing and both of them walking down the hall. He is trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes and Asclepius is skipping behind him. “Now that we are all awake I think that we do something together.” Denise’s bedroom door opens and she walks out. Asclepius turns and sees Denise standing in the hallway and spits venom in her direction, “What are you doing here traitor? The woman who would defile her own Queens wishes just to be on the Court.” Denise starts to back away from all of us. Denise still has no idea that we already know that she was trading information with Khan to gain a spot with the Royal Court, Denise looks to Travis with dread on her face. She just made progress with him after all this crap started and now she thinks that everything is going to be ruined. “Travis please I can explain..!” Travis raises his hand to her, “Mom stop. We already know. You were helping Khan we have known the whole time.” She looks so confused its almost amusing. “How could you possibly know that?” Travis lets out a deep breath, “Dad was here and he told us...” She begins to get angry at hearing this. “I can’t believe he knew too...Well if it is any consolation I do not plan to aid him any further.” Asclepius chimes in, “Well it doesn't make much of a difference anyways you know the awakening is tomorrow. It is a good thing that you changed your mind because Khan was not going to let you live past tomorrow anyways.” The air goes stiff and everyone stands still waiting for Denise to respond. She looks to the ground and rubs her hands together. “I dont know why I thought he would have mercy on me. I have been such a fool...Travis can you ever forgive me?”  

 

Travis walks to her placing his arms gently around her and hugging her tightly. A sob escapes her lip and she looks up to me with tears in her eyes. “I am sorry Niki. for so many years I have thought of only myself and it is time that I change.” She lets go of Travis who has also began to cry. I can’t stand to see him like this but at the same time I feel joy for him. I know what it feels like to have to a difficult relationship with your mother and the moment I am watching in front of me reminds me of the changes my mom and I had. I am happy that he gets to have this reconnection. Denise starts to walk towards me. Fear jumps through me out if instinct. I really don't know if I can trust her but at this point I have no choice. The floor creak as she stops in front of me. “I hope that you believe when I say that I am truly sorry and for this moment forward I stand with you, not against.” Slowly I feel the fear dissipate and I get the burning sensation of tears welling up in my eyes. I quickly wrap my arms around her shoulder and for a moment she is still. I feel her arms slowly reach up around my waist and then the quick stab of cold steel through the back of my rib cage. Pain rips through me and my body crumbles. She holds onto me whispering in my ear, “Long live the Queen.” I