Moon Chosen

  A figure stepped from the shadows and revealed himself as Muridae, son to the king, and leader of the Digger guards. The rat prince was flanked by a dozen of his soldiers. His red eyes glanced over us and his long snout curled back into a snarl.

  "What do you want here?" he questioned us.

  Erik stepped forward and dropped to one knee as he bowed his head to the over sized rodent. "We beg a great favor from you."

  Muridae glanced down at Erik and frowned. "What sort of favor?"

  Erik grace to sit and looked into the princes face "My father's lordship has been stolen by my cousin, and we need the assistance of your people to get into the castle and take hold of the gate."

  Muridae sneered at my mate. "Why should we help one who has murdered hours on people?

  Erik shook his head. "It is not our doing, but that of my cousin. He is one who ordered the murder of your guards and created those earthquakes."

  "For what purpose did he do this to us?" Muridae questioned him.

  "To separate those of us who would go against him," Erik revealed as he climbed to his feet. "He did not want his enemies to be a united front against him."

  Muridae eyes flickered from Erik's face to ours. After a moment he jerked his head behind him. "Follow me. We will discuss this with my father."

  I breathed a sigh of relief. It was my first breath since the rat guards made their appearance. Muridae led us down one of the many tunnels, and after a few minutes of walking we arrived at the throne room of the Diggers. It was crowded with citizens, and on the throne sat the king himself. He raised himself as we entered and frowned.

  "What is the meaning of this?" he asked us. "You are not welcomed here."

  Muridae stopped us before the large throne and gestured to our little group. "They bring news from above, my king, that I believe needs your attention."

  The king turned his attention to us. "Speak, and we will see about this."

  Erik prostrated himself before the king. "King Murinae, both of our kingdoms are in grave danger."

  King Murinae frowned. "How so?"

  Erik looked into the royal's red eyes. "We have every reason to believe my cousin has stolen the lordship from my father, and seeks to control all of the islands."

  The king scoffed and gestured to our surroundings. "What is that to us who live down here?"

  "My cousin is a danger to all who do not wish to follow him," Erik insisted. "IF he cannot enslave you then he will destroy you."

  Muridae stepped forward and nodded at Erik. "He has proclaimed that the earthquakes were caused by this cousin of his blood."

  The king stood and a murmur arose from the crowds gathered around us. Murinae's eyes fell quickly on Erik. "This is true?"

  Erik stood and noted "It is. My own cousin is responsible for the earthquakes. He stole explosives and planted them in your tunnels. No doubt some of your men discovered his cohorts and that is why they were killed."

  "And this monster intends to rule everyone?" the king asked him.

  Erik gave a nod. "He does, and he does not tolerate those not under his control. When he has consolidated his power above ground he will move on to your people."

  The king turned his attention to his son. "Move the people into the deepest caverns and ready your men." Muridae bowed his head and hurried to obey. The king turned his attention to Erik. "We will assist you in defeating your cousin, but if this proves successful we have much to speak about regarding our two species."

  Erik bowed his head. "If we successfully defeat my cousin, then we will grant you at least that much."

  "Then I will personally lead you to the foundations of the Old Den," the king offered.

  "I know an entrance into its lower depths," Erik revealed.

  A wide grin slipped onto the king's lips. "And my people know of many passages that will lead us higher than that,"

  Erik blinked at him. "Higher passages?

  Yes, and many rooms through which to enter," the king revealed. "But we haven't time to stand here and discuss secrets. If the Den is already taken then we will have much work clearing out these insults to vermin who follow your cousin."

  Muridae returned with several dozen guards behind him. He walked up to the king and bowed his head. "The evacuation is taking place, and these men-" he gestured to the guards behind them, "-are prepared to follow your orders, my king."

  "They will follow, and I will personally lead them," the king insisted. "Bring me my armor."

  Muridae's eyes widened, and he took a step forward and held out his hand. "But Father-"

  "There will be no arguments," the king insisted as some of his guards brought him up chest plate and us soared and discovered. "This is a battle against those who tried to crush us beneath the very rocks of our home. I will not stand by and allow anyone else to take on the responsibility of the dealing with them."

  "Then I will go with you," Muridae insisted.

  The king, availed of his armor, walked up to his son and placed his hand on the other's shoulder. He looked Muridae in the eye and smiled. "We don't need to have two kings to sacrifice themselves. If this doesn't succeed it will be important that the line continue. That is why you must stay here and oversee the evacuation of our people to the lowest depths."

  "But-" The king shook his head.

  "There'll be no arguments, my son. As your King and father I order you to do this for me." The king raised his hands and grasped the crown that sat on his head. He lifted the crown and offered it to his son. "Take this. It will only be a burden to me in the field of battle."

  Muridae pursed lips, but bowed his head and grasped the crown between his hands. "I expect to return this before the day is out," he insisted.

  The king smiled and gave a nod. "And I will expect it to be returned by you," he returned. With the crown passed the king turned to half the guards and our little group. "We will need stealth and speed for this mission. We may very well not be returning, but if our gods will it then we will be successful."

  Erik stepped up to him and held out his hand to the king. "I swear by my honor as a Greenwood and a werewolf that this will be successful."

  The king grinned and took his hand. "Good words, but you can hardly keep that promise when it is our enemies who will cause the most problems."

  "And I'm not getting any older to face them," Marge spoke up. She looked around at the diggers and us. "Are we going to keep making fancy speeches or are we going to get going?"

  The digger king laughed. "She speaks like an impatient werewolf, but follow me."

  The king let us down one of the many passages and into the dark depths of his kingdom. Some of the bigger soldiers carried torches, and I had my werewolf eyes to help me, but even then the shadows were so deep I could barely see a few feet in front of me. My foot caught on uneven ground and I stumbled forward. A pair of strong hands caught me, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

  "Thanks, Erik," I told the dark shadow in front of me.

  "I did not catch you." Erik's voice spoke up from just in front of the shadow that help me.

  My eyes widened and I let out a small yelp as I jumped backwards. "Then who the hell is this?"

  The soldiers around us hit the walls and pointed their swords and claws at the shadow. The person stood among them without so much as a flinch.

  "I am who I am," the shadow replied.

  I narrowed my eyes and placed my hands on my hips. "Methuselah?" One of the lanterns held by the Diggers streamed over the shadow and revealed him as our wayward vampire companion. "What the hell are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in some dark hole or something taking a day nap?"

  "I do not believe there is a darker hole than these caves, say for the Braille," Methuselah pointed out.

  "You said you couldn't help us during the day," Marge reminded him.

  "I cannot be of assistance in the sun. The day may drain my powers, but I am not completely without use," Methuselah corrected her.

  "So where the
hell have you been hiding that you ended up here with us?" I questioned him.

  His red eyes fell on me. "I have been with you."

  I started back. "Me? How?"

  Erik stepped up to my side and glared at Methuselah. "You hid on her person?" he guessed.

  Methuselah gave a nod. "I did."

  I felt the color drain from my face. "Where exactly did you hide?"

  "Your left pocket."

  I cringed and pulled my pocket inside out so I could wipe it clean of bat germs. "I really wish you'd ask before you do that."

  "Why?"

  "Because it's creepy."

  King Murinae pushed through his men and into our little reunion circle. "What is wrong?" he asked us. His eyes fell on Methuselah and he frowned. "I do not recall your face."

  "Nor should you, King Murinae, but he is with us," Erik assured him.

  "Then he will not mind our quick pace to make up for this unnecessary stop," the king commented.

  He returned to the front of the line and we pressed onward, but this time I made sure it was Erik in front of me and Methuselah behind.

  CHAPTER 7

  We wound our way through stone passages with damp walls and cool air. The slope was minimal for the first few minutes, but then began a steady incline. The dampness grew worse the closer we came to the Den, but the passage grew wider. Soon four of us could walk side-by-side. The rock walls changed to cut stone that I recognized as part of the foundation to the Old Den.

  There were several routes along our path, and the king meandered us through a half dozen of them so that I barely knew which way was up and which was down.

  I snuck up behind Erik and lowered my voice to whisper. "How far do you think we have until we reach the basement?" I asked him.

  He looked over our surroundings. "We will be there in a few minutes should," he told me.

  Erik was right. IN a few minutes the hard, sharp rocks are completely replaced by smooth stone, and the floor changed to cobblestones. The cobblestones created a stairway that went up into the bowels of the Old Den. Side passages opened up and led off into the dark depths of the ancestral home of the werewolves.

  "Did you know half of these were here?" I asked Erik.

  He pursed his lips and shook his head. "No."

  I was a little too loud because the king stopped and looked back at us. There was a smile on his wide lips. "You shouldn't. We didn't even tell your ancestors about the secret passages."

  "Do any of these passages lead to the front gates?" Erik asked him.

  The king gave a nod. "Our ancestors created just such an entrance in case we needed to do precisely what we are doing now, but the foe was meant to be the ruling king," he revealed.

  "The enemy is still the same," Erik argued. He pushed to the front and looked the king. "If my cousin has indeed captured my parents then he has set himself up as the new king of the werewolves."

  "I'm afraid I can confirm that he has captured them," a voice spoke up.

  The guards snapped to attention and pointed their weapon at one of the side passages close to their ranks on the left. King himself jumped to the forefront with Erik by his side partially transformed with length and cause two shadows stepped from the darkness in my eyes widened.

  "Lilly!" I yelled.

  I pushed through the crowds and raced to my old friend. At her side was her mate, Teagan, the captain of the Guards, or at least the Guards loyal to the Greenwood family. I wrapped my arms around her in a hug that made her squeak.

  "I missed you, too," she replied.

  I pulled her to arms' length and looked her over. There was no sign of any cannibalism on her. "How did you get away from them?"

  "And how did you find this place?" the king questioned them.

  "A captain of the guards is of little use if he doesn't know every secret to that which he guards," Teagan pointed out.

  Erik walked over to Teagan and put a hand on the man's shoulder. "I'm glad to see you're safe, but what of my parents?"

  Lilly's face fell, and Teagan pursed his lips. "Blackwood took the castle more quickly than we could fend him off, and many of my men turned against us and chose his side." He hung his head. "I am sorry, my lord, that I could not foresee such a coup."

  "This is none of your doing," Erik insisted. "Everyone chooses their own path. Are many still loyal to my family?"

  Teagan closed his eyes and shook his head. "There are none loyal to you any longer save us. Those monsters took them and forced them to eat the flesh of our brethren. They are now monsters and obey Blackwood's every command."

  "We may be able to remedy that situation if we can get the front gates open," Erik told him.

  Teagan raised an eyebrow, but didn't argue the point. He half turned away from Erik and nodded his head at the passage in which Lilly and he stood. "The gate is this way, but there are two dozen guards at the gate."

  "They will be no match for my men and I," the king assured him.

  "And we have no other choice," Erik pointed out.

  Teagan nodded and led the way down the passage .I wrapped my arms through one of the Lilly's and leaned against her.

  "How have you been holding up?" I asked her.

  Lilly clasped one of my hands and smiled at me. "I have been very safe with my mate, and it looks like you have, too."

  I stifled a grin and shrugged. "He's been okay." Her smile widened and I scowled at her. "What?"

  "I can see you are very fond of him now," she told me.

  I snorted. "And I can see you're braver than you used to be."

  She nodded and her eyes look to the captain. "Yes, and I have him to thank for it. The Choosing put me with the man who would best be my husband."

  My eyes fell on Erik and I pursed my lips. "I just wish they really were a bunch of normal men. . ." I murmured.

  Lilly wrapped an arm around my shoulders and gave me a small hug. "Sometimes it is not what they are, but who they are that matters," she pointed out.

  I couldn't suppress my smile. "Don't get too mushy on me," I scolded her.

  "We are close," Teagan spoke up to our little group. "Everyone needs to be silent now."

  Lilly and I blushed. We were the only ones who hadn't been silence. We climbed a short flight of stairs and walked down a short hidden hallway. There were a few holes in the walls on either side of the hall. The holes were in pairs and set close enough together that you could look through both of them with your eyes, and I chanced a peek through one pair.

  The holes looked out on the dining room. I could see some Guards seated at the table with a great feast in front of them. They gulped and chomped down the food like pigs. Their fee were on the table and they burped loudly. Servants raced back-and-forth between the kitchen and the table, their hands full of either full plates or empty dishes. One of the Guards grabbed a pretty looking servant that I recognized as Heather.

  "You're a pretty nice-looking girl," the Guard slurred, too drunk to speak properly. "How about you and I go get a little quiet time together?"

  She tore herself from his grasp and bowed her head. "I am needed in the kitchen but, but thank you."

  "But I need you," the Guard countered as he tried to snatch at her.

  Heather was too fast and stepped out of his reach. He was so drunk that he tumbled forward and fell face-first into the stone floor. His fellow guards laughed and pointed at him, and she took the opportunity to escape to the kitchen.

  My hands balled into fists, and I looked up and down the hall for some entrance into the room. I jumped hand fell on my shoulder, and I turned to find it belonged to Greg.

  "We mustn't tarry here," he told me. I looked past and saw that the others had moved down the hall without us.

  I nodded at the eye holes. "We can't just leave her," I protested.

  "Everyone will be better off when we free the Den," he pointed out.

  I grudgingly let him pull me away from the eye holes and down the hall to the others. The passageway twiste
d and turned until I was pretty well lost. I sidled up to Greg and lowered my voice so that even I could barely hear myself.

  "Does these halls work like the other ones in that they take you where you need to be?" I asked him.

  He gave a nod, but didn't speak. We continued on our way for another half hour until the head of the line stopped. The head of the passage ended at a wall of stone, but I could see the stones were smoothed and flat. There was a metal handle on our side, but I bet my claws that there wasn't one on the other side.

  The Diggers unsheathed their swords and I saw Teagan do the same. Greg gathered Lillian and me, and pulled us to the rear.

  "You will be safer back here," Greg told us.

  "But I can help," I insisted.

  "The quarters will be close and our enemies desperate to hold their position," Greg pointed out. "That will be no fight for once as inexperienced as yourselves."

  I wanted to argue, but he was right. I needed a running start the last time I fought in a battle, and I didn't think the guys guarding the gate would give me enough room to charge them. The Diggers, Teagan, Erik and Marge tensed themselves for battle.

  The king, Erik, and Teagan looked at one another and nodded. Teagan grabbed the handle and with all three pushing at the same time they shoved the door open and gave a great howl. I could see over them over their heads and glimpsed the inside of the gate through which we left the Old Den so long ago. There were a half-dozen cannibalistic werewolves and twice that many normal Guards who watched over the gate. Then the Diggers guards fill the gap as they rushed through the secret opening. There was a clash of steel and cloth, and werewolves howled and roared. I tried my best to keep an eye on Erik, but he was swallowed in the fighting.

  All three of our attentions were so focused on the fighting in front of us that we didn't notice the wall move beside us. Three pairs of hands reached through the opening and grabbed us. Lilly and I yelped, and Greg immediately thrashed in the hold of our unknown assailant. We were dragged through the opening and into a stone chamber room. The wall shut behind us and we were pushed onto the floor. I whipped my head up and my eyes widened.

  In front of us stood Blackwood himself. He smirked down at us with his arms folded across his chest.

  "It is fortunate these hall lead one where they need to be," he commented

  The werewolves who held us pulled our hands behind our backs, and I felt metal clamps wrap around my wrists. Greg slammed his head backwards and into his captor. The werewolf yelped in pain and clutched at his face, and I saw blood run down his nose and his chin. Greg climbed to his feet with one hand in manacles. Two other werewolf behind Blackwood rushed forward with their arms outstretched towards Greg. Greg used the short manacle chain as a whip and whacked their faces with the manacle and links. The werewolves were put out of the running, but half a dozen more entered the room and tackled him. They pulled him to the ground and finish the job of shackling his wrists. Once the deed was done Blackwood stepped forward to stand before Greg.