Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
“ W hat?”
It was the only thing I could manage. My mouth bone dry, I picked up the glass of water and gulped half of it. I heard his question but it shocked me into silence. Emoni had relayed that social media had been inundated with reports of a werewolf sighting that created a whirl of speculation about the existence of magic and its creatures. Since all evidence of the video had disappeared with the help of a techno-witch and the supernaturals having implemented processes they’d used in the past to remain hidden, I thought Forest’s curiosity would have been squelched. That day, I did my part to downplay the alleged sighting. Forest’s interests tended to be fleeting. I left my parents' home believing I had successfully convinced Forest that werewolves were just an entertaining idea. I was wrong.
“You heard me, Luna.” His usual playful, breezy demeanor was gone. His tight, jagged voice was the result of a restless worry. I couldn’t imagine how unsettled he was, speculating whether magical creatures existed. His brows knitted together as he waited for me to answer.
Since he hadn’t modulated his voice, Emoni could hear the conversation. Her stern, earthy brown eyes locked on me, awaiting my response. The answer was stuck in my throat. Even if I managed to say something it would be a jumbled mess since I hadn’t sorted the stream of thoughts running through my mind.
I sighed and picked up my glass of water again. Withholding information and skirting around the truth was getting to me. Could Forest handle the knowledge that magical beings lived alongside us, albeit unnoticed? People always believed in their self-resilience and ability to handle almost anything. And Forest had always been optimistic and open minded, but this might be too much for him.
“No,” I managed. Emoni’s jaw dropped before she ushered the shock away and replaced it with a scowl of disapproval.
“You’re a terrible liar. Not only can I hear it in your voice, but I can see it in your face, Luna,” Forest scoffed. Being an adept liar wasn’t something to be proud of, but I thought I was adequate at disguising the truth. But not from my brother, who knew me too well.
While I debated how to respond, Forest eliminated the need to come up with a convincing lie. “I saw you. And them . The man being stabbed by the claws. You running those people over with the car. And another man disappearing. There were things that definitely weren’t human there. Don’t give me any bullshit excuse about it being costumes, make-up, cosplay, or any other sort of make-believe. I know what that looks like and what they can do, and this wasn’t anything like it. Luna, I need the truth.” It wasn’t a request but an order.
I couldn’t breathe. Disclosing the information meant I was putting another person I loved in danger.
“I’m coming over there,” he said.
“No!” Emoni had joined my objection. Him coming over meant I’d have to break the ward to let him in.
Telling him the truth and withholding information both filled me with anxiety and dread. Each action had repercussions.
“It’s…complicated,” I whispered so softly that Emoni moved closer so she wouldn’t have to strain to hear me.
“I saw things…things that aren’t supposed to exist,” Forest said, his voice heavy with confusion and angst.
The tension in the room could have been cut with a knife between Emoni and I. Because she had been on the other side of the fabrications and lies of omission, I knew she was reluctant to have the same done to Forest. Emoni broke the silence.
“Luna, tell him.”
I swallowed hard and tried to determine how to reveal the information. There wasn’t a way to sugarcoat it or deliver it in a way that wasn’t troubling.
“Secrecy is important to them, and they go to great lengths to maintain it,” I said, gravity threaded in my words.
“I gathered that. When you left, I wasn’t too far behind, but when I approached, I felt an unease and didn’t want to go in that direction. Something didn’t sit right with me. Your demeanor was off when I told you about the video, and you seemed anxious to leave. Anytime I moved closer, I got a sickening feeling. Weird anxiety and fear over nothing. Everything just felt wrong. I took another route. Parked and moved toward the nature reserve. I saw a man turn into a wolf…” His voice trailed off as if he was trying to assure himself that his eyes hadn’t betrayed him. “I had to use my phone to get a better look because every time I approached the area, those strange feelings would hit me again.”
“It was a spell to repel people,” I provided.
“Magic,” he whispered.
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t see everything, but enough. I saw enough. And glimpses of you. When you disappeared with that…that…man?” There wasn’t certainty in his use of the descriptor “man” because Forest knew Dominic was more but had no idea what.
“You have a video?”
“No. I couldn’t get it to work.”
If nothing else, techno-witches were efficient and by far the most essential member in maintaining their secrecy.
“Forest, I’m going to tell you everything. And then you must behave as if you know nothing. Don’t investigate. If you suspect someone is off, not quite human, don’t let on that you do. Leave it alone.” If the magnitude of the danger wasn’t infused in my voice, it was definitely in my face.
“I know.”
He was given all the information while Emoni sat in silence, an indecipherable look on her face. The emotionless mask she wore didn’t provide any feedback on whether I should change my delivery. Did I need to soften, ease him into it? He’d seen it. Nothing could be more traumatizing than seeing that unprepared. I knew from experience. So, I opted to be candidly direct.
“Am I like you?” he asked. Horror had swept over his face when I told him of the discovery of the mark on me.
“No. I checked.”
Realization lifted his lips into a smirk. “I knew there was more to you being so overly affectionate that day at dinner.”
“No, I meant it. It had dual purposes. I missed you!”
The boom of laughter was infectious even if I knew it was a response of learning the horrid information and the betrayal of my mother’s friend. I continued filling him in on the rest of the information.
“You died!?” Of course, I couldn’t slip that in as an afterthought. Ileana recreating me wasn’t something minor. For a brief moment, I’d had magic. Wielded power that contended with some of the most powerful beings. It was so short-lived, and I couldn’t believe I actually missed it. It wasn’t the magic. Nothing compared to the confidence I felt having the ability to truly protect myself.
“Not really,” I said.
“Sounds like you did. I’m not sure why you keep brushing over it like she did some minor spell and bam, you were a magical entity or whatever. You were made into a new person,” Emoni piped in from the sidelines. I could have done without her commentary.
“I’m the same person.”
“Now. Because your magic was stolen.” Her interjection opened the door for me to proceed to tell Forest about my interaction with the Dark Caster and her proposal. The ball that had settled in my chest tightened at my brother’s calm demeanor. Had he descended into a fugue state? His glassy eyes connected with mine before he closed them and took a deep breath.
“Gloria was a Dark Caster?” he asked.
“We’re uncertain. She was either a Dark Caster or an acolyte. I believe there are some humans that aren’t as oblivious to the existence of the supernaturals as they’d like to believe. Nevertheless, I was a contingency plan.”
“You need to get out of there. Come stay with me or our parents.”
I explained the ward to him and that I was safest in my apartment.
“Emoni’s with you, too?”
“Not by my doing or desire,” I said.
“Hey! Harsh,” she blurted.
“I’m not trying to be, but you realize if I could have protected you from this, I would have. The more people at risk, the more difficult things are for Dominic.”
“Dominic.” Forest said his name with a hint of aversion. He’d definitely attributed him to being the problem.
“He was just doing his job. Don’t blame him. If anyone is to blame, it’s Gloria. If I’d never been given the magic and marked, none of this would have happened.”
“What can I do to help?” he asked. I knew telling him to do nothing wouldn’t sit well with him, but that was the only thing he could do.
“Keep this information a secret and go on with your life as usual. Anything else would be suspicious.” I took out the phone Dominic gave me and sent him a text message so he’d know how to reach me. It eased the crease of worry on his face.
“Don’t worry. This will be over soon and everything will go back to normal.”
“Normal?” He didn’t believe that for one moment.
I shrugged. “As normal as it can be.”
“Don’t let anyone do anything to me,” he blurted.
“Like what?”
“Take my memories. If they’re able to erase videos and prevent recordings, I’m sure a person’s fragile mind isn’t hard to fuck with.”
“No one will do anything to you. If they try”—I turned the phone toward Emoni’s bag—“they’ll have to deal with Emoni and her bag of weapons.”
He was frowning when they came into view. Brow raised, his eyes migrated to the side, hoping to get a glimpse of her. I wondered if he was trying to imagine Emoni’s vision of herself as the kick-ass, weapon-wielding vigilante.
“Does she know how to use any of that?”
“I’m assuming she knows how to use zip ties. And our Lady of Wrath and Fire informed me that she can debone a chicken, and apparently that’s all one needs to fight shifters, vampires, and witches. Well, that’s what she believes.” I grinned at Forest’s thundering laugh, fully aware of Emoni’s intense glare drilling into the side of my face.
“Okay, now that I know you’re truly safe, I’ll worry a little less.” He wouldn’t. We said our goodbyes, but before we ended the call, he said, “Answer my texts. No matter what. I need to know you’re okay.”
It was the only compromise he’d give me, and I knew if I missed any messages, he wouldn’t abide by his agreement. It was understandable. If things were different and he was the one providing this information, I’m not sure I’d be as generous and understanding.
I agreed.