December Moon (The Raven Saga)

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Sighing as she closed the lid on her laptop, December wasn't convinced that everything was okay in Lilly's world. That sixth sense was kicking in as a horrible feeling began to course through her veins. Lilly was in danger. She just knew it.

  The following morning, December and Moira were busy packing for their short journey to the north-west. Ruby was watching from the side lines, wishing she too, could have a change of clothes for once. Instead of having to wear that same outfit, the long cream dress she'd been wearing the day she'd been murdered. Luckily, Ruby thought, it had been one of her favourite dresses. But still, to wear the same dress day in, day out, year after year after year, was totally boring.

  Their faces were all sombre as they each thought about the trip they dreaded but knew that had to be made nonetheless. Duran was at large, killing once again, and he had to be stopped and the more witches there were to help, the better. The only positive about the trip was that December was finally going to see her friend, although how that would work out, she had no idea. Hiding her witchy family history might prove difficult with a ghostly apparition following along behind her.

  "I wouldn't take that, if I were you, my darling. That colour really does nothing for your skin tone," said Ruby as she attempted to remove the deep orange T-shirt from her daughter's grip but when her fingers went right through the fabric, she gave up.

  "Mother, this isn't a fashion show. We're going to stop a vampire... I'm not very well going to take my best clothes, am I?"

  "Suit yourself... but you never know. There might be a dashing young man that catches your eye up there. Don't you want to look your best?"

  With a shake of her head and a smirk, Moira put the T-shirt back in the drawer. "Satisfied?"

  Grinning, Ruby pointed to another in a shade of deep emerald green.

  "Take that one instead. It makes your eyes pop. Oh, and take those jeans to wear with it. Perfect!"

  December sat on the edge of the bed watching with amusement as mother and daughter bickered. She'd quickly thrown a few clothes into her suitcase, added the odd bottle of body lotion and perfume and was eager to get going.

  "There, that'll do. Are you ready, December?" asked her mother as she closed the case and lugged it from the bedroom and out into the hallway.

  Nodding, Lilly picked up her own bag and followed behind.

  "Here, let me get those bags for you," offered Monty as he hopped quickly up the stairs two at a time with his long legs, so he could be of assistance.

  "You know, I'm really not comfortable with the three of you all going off up north to get this guy. He's so dangerous... what if something happens?" he said with a sigh.

  "Nonsense, Monty dear. We are witches and very good ones at that. Duran has had his day. It's time for his eternal sleep," said Ruby with a wicked smile. "Besides, we've had years to perfect and strengthen our own powers. I won't sleep until he's dead and gone."

  "Mother, you can't sleep anyway."

  "Hmph... that's not the point and you know it."

  "We'll be all right, Monty. From what I understand, there's plenty of people on our side up there. Don't worry about us," said December confidently.

  Moira opened the interior door that led to the garage and flipped on the light to reveal a beautiful classic blue car.

  "Wow," said December as she wandered in and stroked her fingers along the gleaming bonnet, "how come you never mentioned you had one of these?"

  Moira shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. I guess I just didn't think you'd be interested in cars."

  "I'm not normally, but this is...well, it's beautiful," she giggled in awe.

  "It is, isn't it my dear? It's actually my car. It's a 1959 Ford T-Bird, in Diamond Blue. I bought it many years ago." Sighing, Ruby added, "I'd love to get behind the wheel and floor it all the way up to Powell River, but I suppose we'd all get killed in the process."

  "Mother, if you sat in the car and tried to drive, we wouldn't even get out of the garage. Your foot would go right through the accelerator pedal and you wouldn't be able to feel the wheel, let alone turn it."

  "Oh, go ahead, jest. Laugh at me. Rub it in. I don't care... just drive my lovely car very carefully, my dear."

  "As if I would do anything else," she said with a sad smile, "I know you love this car and I would never do anything silly with it. So stop your worrying and get in. Come on, December, you can sit up front with me. Mother can sit in the back. Instead of climbing in through the door, Ruby simply floated through it until she was sitting in the back.

  Moira shook her head and opened the car door as Monty opened the passenger door for December.

  After they were all comfortably seated, Monty opened the garage door before he leaned in through the window of the T-Bird, "You girls be careful. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to any of you. Keep me updated on progress okay? And if you need me, just call and I'll be there as fast as I can. Be careful."

  "Of course, dear. Please take good care of my babies," said Moira as they all waved goodbye as they drove the T-Bird out of the garage and away from the house.

  Turning, December waved at Monty where he stood waving back until the car turned the corner and drove out of sight.

  "It's a shame he couldn't come along with us," said Ruby as she leaned forward in between the two front seats.

  Smiling, Moira gave her mother a sly smile through the rear view mirror, "I think you've got a little bit of a weak spot for our Monty, don't you Mother dear?"

  Even though she was a ghost, December could have sworn she saw her grandmother blush and she smiled to herself.

  "Well, he is rather nice, isn't he? It is a shame he's not dead, really. Oh... I didn't mean that the way it came out. Oh, I cannot believe I just said that, oh dear."

  "We know what you meant, Mother. It's more of a shame that you are... dead, that is."

  Ruby leaned forward a little further and attempted to pat her daughter on the shoulder. They both smiled as she sat back and they were all quiet for a while as they drove through the countryside. There was little traffic on the road. Moira turned on the radio and they sat listening to the latest country tunes in silence.

  "Oh. It's Lady Antebellum. I love this song," squealed December as she turned the volume up and began to sing along.

  "It was the perfect day

  What I'd give if I could find a way to stay

  Lost in this moment now

  Ain't worried about tomorrow

  When you're busy livin in a perfect day."

  Smiling, Moira watched her daughter sing while keeping an eye on the road. The meaning of the words weren't lost on her. It was a perfect day, but tomorrow certainly wouldn't be. Not until they found Duran, until they put a stop to his murderous rampage.

  After the song had finished, December turned the volume back down and sat back in her seat. Soon, the gentle lolling of the moving car and the warmth of the sun shining through the window made her drowsy and she began to drop off to sleep.

  She was sitting on a vast beach, she could hear the roar of the waves but couldn't see the ocean because of a thick mist that arose from the water. The gentle breeze blew her hair across her face, so she pushed it to one side and looked around her. A tsunami warning sign stood transfixed into the ground behind her, while a few pieces of driftwood were scattered all along the sand.

  In the distance was a young man of around seventeen or eighteen. He was quite tall, had short blond hair and wore rolled up jeans and a white T-shirt. As he walked towards her, she stood up, preparing to say hello but he hadn't seen her. She watched as he walked slowly, hands in his pockets. She couldn't help but notice the sadness in his eyes.

  'Hello,' she said but he didn't hear her even though he stood mere metres from her.

  'Hi!' she said, louder, but he continued to walk along the sand as if he was completely alone.

  He stopped right by her side and sat down on the large piece of wood by her feet and removed some
thing from his pocket.

  'Hello... I'm right here...' she said, waving her hands in front of his face.

  She held her hand out to touch his arm but her fingers went right through him.

  Gasping, December stumbled and fell to his feet. Am I dead? She thought. No, I'm just dreaming. I'm fine. It's just a dream.

  Picking herself up, she dusted her clothes off and sat down by his side. She watched as he opened his palm to reveal a tiny crystal angel. He turned it around and around in his fingers, watching the little shards of light bounce off of the glass like a rainbow.

  'Who are you?' she asked, knowing very well he wouldn't reply. He clearly couldn't hear nor see her.

  Suddenly, December felt as if someone else was watching her. It was that same feeling she'd experienced in Battersea Park. She felt as if someone was standing right by her side, almost touching her, yet there was nobody there.

  It's all right, December thought, I'm dreaming. I'm not afraid.

  The invisible force remained by her side and the feeling of fear subsided. It was replaced by a feeling of calm, of safety. She felt as if someone was looking out for her and she was comforted.

  The blond haired boy on her other side placed the crystal back in his pocket and took out his cell phone. He was clearly undecided whether to call someone or not. Like he had done with the crystal, he turned the phone around and around in his hands, deep in thought. Stopping, he switched it on and scrolled through the numbers. December couldn't see the names on the screen, even though she stretched over him to have a look. But he thought better of it and switched it back off again, returning it to his other pocket.

  Lifting his head, he sighed and pushed his hand through his hair before placing his elbows on his knees and dropping his head down on top of them.

  This boy is so incredibly sad, thought December. She wanted to help him. To reassure him that everything would be all right but she couldn't. Even if she was really there with him, he probably wouldn't accept her help. He didn't even know her. And she didn't even know who he was.

  Looking around them, December spotted another figure emerging from the mist. He was tall and wore only black. His shoulder length curly hair blew in the wind as he confidently strolled towards them.

  The hairs on Decembers arms stood on end as a shiver went right through her. Goosebumps covered her body.

  "My, my, what do we have here?" said the attractive man as he looked down at the younger boy who was startled by his sudden appearance.

  "Can I help you?" he asked, standing up to reveal a similar height.

  "Why I think you most definitely can. I do believe you'd make a wonderful new-born. Someone so sad deserves a better life, don't you think? I can give you a better life, a longer life," he said, his eyes suddenly turning a dark shade of red.

  "What the...?" screeched the boy as the man in black grabbed him and opened his mouth to reveal a set of fangs before ripping through the skin on his neck. Blood began to drip, spots of it hitting the sand by December's feet...

  "Aaaaaargh!" screamed December.

  Moira slammed on the brakes and stopped the car in the middle of the road. The driver of the car behind swerved to miss them and blared his horn before driving off, his arms waving through the car window.

  "December! My goodness, what is it?" she said as she turned to her daughter who was sobbing, tears flowing from her eyes and falling down her cheeks in streaks.

  "Moira, dear, perhaps you ought to pull the car over for a moment before we all get killed stopping in the middle of the highway. Well, before you get killed, that is."

  Moira did as her mother suggested and deftly turned the steering wheel to drive the car to the side of the road where she turned off the engine, put on the hazard lights and turned to her daughter who was being comforted by Ruby.

  "She had a bad dream," said Ruby with her eyes wide open.

  Still sobbing, December could barely get a word out.

  "It's okay, honey. Get it all out. It was just a bad dream, that's all. There, there. Here, wipe your eyes," said Moira as she grappled with her handbag and pulled out a tissue and handed it to her before she gently stroked her daughter's head.

  "It was h..h..h..horrible. Th..th..there was a boy on a beach. He was so sad. So sad and then, then this vampire came and bit him. He just bit him. He said something about giving him a longer life. He didn't deserve that. That poor boy," she finally managed to say as the tears continued to flow.

  "What do you think, Moira?" asked her mother.

  Shaking her head, Moira said nothing for a moment.

  "What do you mean, what do you think? Wasn't it just a dream? It wasn't real, was it?" shrieked December as her large eyes opened even wider in fear.

  Ruby gave her daughter a shake of the head but Moira ignored her.

  "I said once before that I would never keep anything from her, Mother. She needs to know the truth, all of it. December, my darling, these dreams might well be premonitions, something that is going to happen, or it might have happened... or it might be happening right now. In real time. I'm sorry, honey. It's something some witches have to deal with sometimes."

  Shaking her head in dismay, December began to cry again.

  "No, that boy... we need to help him. We need to save him. What if it hasn't happened yet? We can help. Mom, we need to help him."

  "All right, all right... but we can't do it ourselves, we don't know this area well enough. We'll have to get to Powell River and figure it out from there. The people there will help us."

  "But what if it's happening now?" sobbed December.

  "Moira, dear. I have two words for you... floor it! You have my permission to get to Powell River as fast as you can."

  "Okay, hold on girls," said Moira as she pulled back on to the highway and put her foot down.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  "We've got people all over the town and there's been no sign of Duran since Lilly and Tabitha caught sight of him the day before yesterday," said Wyatt as the group gathered again in Gabriel's house.

  "There's also been no other attacks. At least none that have been reported, anyway," he added.

  "There seems to be no sense to these random killings and as far as we know, he hasn't made any more new-borns either. What do you think he's playing at? Rose asked Carmelo.

  "I wish I knew, Rose. But the thing that concerns me the most is the fact that he followed Lilly and then watched her in the cafe in town the other day. Why target her?"

  "If he was targeting me, as such, surely he would have attacked me when he had the chance? He could have easily killed me then. Why didn't he?" she asked aloud to no-one in particular.

  "I'm just thankful that he didn't attempt it, my dear Lilly. But you're right, Carmelo. What is it about Lilly that has him so intrigued? Perhaps he is using Lilly to get to the rest of us?" Gabriel asked.

  "Zere is anozer possibility, I am afraid" answered Ursula who had been fairly quiet up until then. "Zere vas a girl in France many years ago who he vas fascinated wiz. I believe zat he turned her and zey vere togezer until she vas killed, in Seattle, I zink. She too had ze same look as Lilly, pretty, young, dark hair, green eyes. I am sorry to say it, but it looks like he may have chosen his next mate."

  Lilly gasped and dropped the bottle of water she was drinking. Luckily the lid had just been carefully screwed back on.

  "Why me?" she sighed, "of all the girls in all the world and he chooses me? What is it with this place?"

  "It's not this place, Lilly. It's you. There is something about you that attracts attention. Sometimes the attention is unwanted and negative, I admit, but whatever it is, whether it's the blood that pumps through your veins, or the prettiness of your face, Duran seems to want you and he probably won't stop until he gets what he wants. So we have to stop him first," said Carmelo.

  The sound of a car driving exceedingly fast down the driveway suddenly caught everybody's attention.

  "Who is that?" said Gabriel.

/>   "Ah, Moira has finally arrived," said Margot with a smile, "Moira is a very good old friend with a kind of connection to Duran. She is a fellow witch and I believe she has brought her daughter and her dead mother with her," she added with a grin.

  "Her dead mother? Well, that's pretty gross," replied Tabitha who imagined a corpse being transported in the back of the car, as everybody stood up and rushed out to greet the newcomers.

  "Hello everybody, please forgive me for being rude but we've no time for introductions, I'm afraid. My daughter has had a terrible vision and we might be too late. There's a young man in danger from a vampire and we need to figure out where he is so we can try and save him," said a pretty red-haired woman in her mid-thirties. She hurried into the house followed by a ghostly apparition and a pretty girl with red hair and huge eyes.

  "December!" yelled Lilly before she slipped to the ground in a rather dramatic faint.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  "Lilly, Lilly, wake up, wake up!" said a familiar voice as Lilly began to come to.

  "I can't believe it, December. It is you? What on earth are you doing here?" she asked in shock.

  "Girls, there's no time for this now... you can catch up later. We need to find this boy before it's too late," said Rose.

  December pulled Lilly up from the floor and the girls hugged each other and turned to the group as December proceeded to explain the vision she had in her dream, just as Rose appeared with a glass of cold water for her niece.

  As December described the vampire, Tabitha jumped up and went and picked up a sheet of paper from the dining table.

  "Is this the vampire from your vision, December?" she asked as she presented her with the witches' drawing of Duran.

  Gasping, she nodded, "That's him!" she said, tears welling up in her eyes once more.

  Moira stepped forward and took the piece of paper from her fingers. Looking down at it, she began to shake her head in despair before showing it to her mother who closed her eyes and looked away. If she could cry, she would have done.