As she sat looking out of the window, with Lilly fast asleep in the bed next to hers, there was a gentle sound of footsteps approaching and her bedroom door was pushed open.
"You felt it too, didn't you December?" Millicent asked, tiptoeing to the window as they both looked out at the bright light above.
Nodding, December watched Millicent's face almost gleam in the moonlight. A smile burst forth from her lips. "It's a sign, you know?"
"What do you mean," she whispered.
"I'm not sure, but it has happened to me before."
"Do you think it has something to do with the Nephilim?"
Millicent nodded, "I do, absolutely."
"Hmm, what's going on?" said a muffled voice from beneath the blankets.
"Wake up and see," giggled December to her best friend who finally poked her head out of the covers.
"Oh wow... it's almost blinding me."
"Here, put these on," laughed December quietly, passing her a pair of dark sunglasses.
Lilly took them and put them on, sitting up in bed to look out at the enormous moon.
"It woke us both up."
"What do you mean, it woke you both up?" she asked.
"It somehow gave us a shock, a jolt. It felt like electricity," whispered December as Millicent nodded, even though she was unsure what electricity felt like.
After a few moments, Millicent said, "I'm thirsty."
"Me too," said December and Lilly in unison.
The girls all tiptoed out of the bedroom and downstairs, careful to avoid the creaky step as to not wake up Moira or Monty.
As they entered the kitchen, December opened the refrigerator and took out the milk.
"Milk or hot chocolate?"
It was a no brainer. She began to heat the milk so the three could enjoy a cup of hot chocolate in the moonlit kitchen.
All was silent while December quietly poured the hot drink into three cups before they all sat at the counter and did nothing but sip and look out of the window.
"Room for one more?" said a voice out of nowhere, making the girls all jump, almost spilling hot chocolate all over the counter.
"I couldn't sleep," said Ruby, floating into the room and hovering in front of them, the moonlight shining right through her.
"That's probably because you cannot sleep, Ruby. You're dead, remember?" giggled Millicent.
"Why Millicent, you sound exactly like my daughter," she replied, raising her eyebrows. "So what's going on? Come on... do tell," she said, pretending to lean her elbows on the counter top and batted her eyelashes.
"The moon woke us up," said all three seriously, before Millicent explained exactly what had happened.
"My, that's fascinating and yet, bizarre. But you're quite right, there must be something going on here. We need to find out a bit more about these, these Nephilim characters, and not forgetting your Lost Soul, of course. I think we should return to Powell River and head on up to the Elders, don't you?" she asked.
#
Several days had passed since the girls had been awakened by the moon. They were back in Powell River, where December was spending a few nights with Lilly while Monty, Moira and Millicent were busy decorating the new house.
"I can't believe Mom wouldn't let us go straight up to the Elders," huffed December as they sat eating sandwiches during their school lunch break.
"I guess she was right though. We have missed some school lately. We need to catch up for a bit first. The Elders have been told what's going on. They're looking into it for us, so they should have news for when we get there on Friday night."
"I guess you're right... I just want to get to the bottom of all this, you know?"
"Yeah I know but I'm sure it can wait a few days. Now I've stopped working for Ben, we've got our evenings free to do a bit of our own research," smiled Lilly, watching her best friend open her sandwich up and take out its contents, eating the ham before the cheese and then the sliced tomato and pickles. Finally she dunked the buttered bread into her coffee and popped it into her mouth.
"Eww, December, that is so gross."
December raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Was Ben okay with you stopping work for a while?"
"Yeah, he was fine. He understands I have some catching up to do with my very best pal," she giggled.
"Hey g..g..guys," said a voice approaching them, "we're doing a c...c...collection so we can buy a special wreath for J...J...Jemima's memorial service on Thursday. Can you give anything towards it?"
Sydney Jones was one of Jemima's classmates. He was the geek everyone loved, the perfect person to organise a collection.
"Sure Syd... here's five dollars," offered Lilly as December smiled and opened her purse.
"Have you met December? She's new here?"
December and Syd smiled at each other, as she passed him another five dollars.
"It's g..g...great to m..m..meet you, December. Thank you for th..th...the money. The service is at th..th..the local church. Hope you c...c...can make it," he smiled, placing the money in a brown envelope in his satchel.
"He seems sweet," said December.
"Yeah, he is. Everyone loves Syd."
"Are we going to go to the service? It'll be kinda weird won't it? I mean, given the circumstances."
"Of course we're going! We have to," said Lilly, "it'll look weird if we don't go. Nobody else here knows what we know," she added in a whisper as December reluctantly nodded in agreement. "What's really weird is the fact she's supposedly being buried first. But there's, like... no body."
"Shhh December," said Lilly as a group of fellow classmates walked past and said hi. They waved back.
"Apparently there's been some kind of... spell... to make them think they're burying their daughter but it's not going to be her in the casket."
"It's not?" asked December astounded.
"Well, of course it's not."
"No, I didn't mean that. Obviously it's not going to be her. But if it's not Jemima being buried, then who is it?"
Lilly shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. All I know is the Elders are dealing with it. It's best if we don't think about it."
Lilly looked at her watch and gulped back the last of her drink. "Time's up... we need to get to class."
#
"It says here the Nephilim are the 'sons of God and the daughters of man'," said Lilly's aunt Rose later that afternoon as she sat at her computer reading while the girls sat drinking tea by her side, all Rose's cats purring while they slept in various different locations throughout the room.
Walter, Rose's husband who also happened to be a vampire, paced from one end of the room to the other.
"Yes, that's what I've heard about them too. The truth is, I never for a moment thought they actually existed. Silly really considering what I am and what I know. I should have known they are as much a part of our existence as angels and sirens," he said more to himself than to anybody else.
"And here it says the Nephilim were cast into a place of total darkness where they would be trapped for all eternity," said Rose, continuing to read to herself.
December, Lilly and Millicent looked at each other, recalling Badrick's comments at being chained in a place of darkness.
"So where do you think this place is?" asked Lilly to her aunt. "Does it say anything about that?"
"Hm... I'll keep reading and see."
"I'm thinking along the lines of caves, something like that," added Walter, finally sitting down in the old comfy armchair usually favoured by his wife.
"Well, you might be on to something because here it says they were cast deep into the earth, away from the temptations of man, where they would be trapped to live in darkness for all of eternity."
"If that's the case then how did they manage to lure man to them in this darkness deep beneath the earth?" asked December, swigging back the last of her tea before she picked up the teapot to see if there was any-more left.
"I'll make some more," said Rose who sto
od up and stretched her arms after sitting at the desk for so long.
December smiled and took her place while Millicent looked on in awe.
"I still can't quite believe you have all of this information at your fingertips. It is truly astounding."
Lilly laughed, "This is the 21st century, which reminds me, I keep meaning to ask. How come you don't talk like you've come from the 13th century?"
Millicent laughed, "If I did, you would not understand me. Plus, I've had several hundreds of years in the spirit world to understand the real world has changed somewhat. I learn from watching the world."
"Oh," responded Lilly innocently, "cool."
"When you try and find out where the Nephilim are hidden, there are signs all over the world. They could be anywhere. Look, here it says caves in Malta, here in Romania, Missouri, Scotland..."
"Perhaps there are so many of these beasts in existence that they were cast into lots of different locations?" questioned Millicent.
"That's highly likely, young lady, and a very valid point. Perhaps we should be looking at any suitably deep caves?"
"The Elders caves are pretty deep," pondered Rose, "Sorry, that's just me thinking aloud. I guess the Nephilim caves would need to be a lot deeper than those?"
"Absolutely... I believe we're talking much deeper into the earth," added Walter.
"Can I just point something out here?" asked Lilly as she looked around at all the excited faces as they nodded. "This is just stuff we're reading on the internet. We shouldn't get too carried away... it could all literally be myths and things people have made up."
"Of course, that is possible, but look at the hidden truths about us, Lilly. We are women that can change into cats... you can read up about that on the internet. Walter is a vampire, look at all the articles online about that and then of course you've got werewolves, Yetis, angels, spirits... there might just be some truth in all of this. It's worth looking into, don't you think?" asked Rose matter of factly.
Lilly nodded with a smile, "Actually, I was hoping that's what you were going to say."
CHAPTER ELEVEN
It had been a few days since Jack and Zalea had visited Gwynethea, recovering his memories in the process and now he was even more eager to get started on finding his way home, as well as finding Zalea's sister.
They had left Gwynethea and her warm, cosy home within the willow tree behind. He couldn't thank her enough but he didn't want to put the old lady in any danger so he had insisted she stayed where she was, safe and sound. Although it had been a long time since she'd had an adventure, she knew she would just slow them down so instead, she gave them a small bag containing a couple of items that just might come in handy.
After they had said their goodbyes, Jack and Zalea had returned to Zalea's home where they were met by her father and best friend, Ameleana.
"My dear daughter," said the Chief of the Malean Faeries as he engulfed her in a long tender hug. Did you accomplish what you set out to do?"
"Yes, father. Jack has recovered his memory."
"Then you must tell me what happened. How did you find yourself in Argentumalea amid the forests of Moharth, my lad?"
"Perhaps you ought to sit down, father," suggested Zalea as she led him to the nearest soft spot on the ground where they all sat comfortably.
"Jack was taken from his homeland by the Nephilim."
"Blistering Buzzards!" he yelled loudly. "The Nephilim... the Nephilim. How is that possible? And survived? And, Sheharazalea... you were not to know of the Nephilim. They are not spoken about among the Maleans."
"I know Father but Jack lives. If these beasts have taken my sister, your daughter, then perhaps there is a chance we can rescue her."
"Rescue her? From the Nephilim? It is impossible, absolutely impossible."
"No Father... I do not believe it and I am going. I am going to find Tiffanimelicomelea and if that means going into the lair of these beasts, then so be it."
The Faery Chief looked at his daughter so tenderly, he stroked her cheek softly, "You are so like your mother, you know that, my dearest daughter. But I lost her such a long time ago, and then your sister. I cannot... will not lose you too," he said, turning away and brushing a tear from his eye.
"But Father, please," she pleaded.
"No, and that is my final answer. You are not to leave Moharth. Do you understand?"
Zalea looked down at her feet, her wings fluttering in the breeze behind her and nodded. "Yes Father."
"I promise I will find her, Zalea. I can do it alone. Don't worry."
"You are a brave soul, Jack. And I thank you. If you would like, I can send some of my best faeries with you?"
"No, I think I should do this alone. I don't want to endanger any of your kind. But thank you for your offer. I will leave at nightfall."
When the golden orange skies turned a deeper shade, Jack decided it was time to say goodbye to the Malean Faeries, thanking them for saving his life and taking care of him. He was saddened everybody turned up to wave him off, except for the one faery he wanted to see the most. He had grown fond of Zalea during the time they'd spent together. Considering the way their friendship had blossomed, he found it hard to believe she couldn't say goodbye. But he understood. Saying goodbye was such a difficult thing to do.
The community of faeries all stood and waved farewell to the strange man who had appeared out of nowhere. They stood watching him walk away, with the large leather bag on his back and his temporary walking stick. He turned one last time and waved just before he walked out of sight, gone.
Jack had been walking for several hours before the feeling he was being watched overcame him. He jumped to the side and hid behind a nearby silver tree, carefully looking around to see if he was being followed. He could see no-one behind him, so he stepped out from the tree and continued on his way, but the sense remained with him.
His stomach soon began to rumble so he eventually sat down beside a softly flowing stream. The faeries had told him all the water in the kingdom was safe for consumption, so he dropped his bag to the ground and leaned in, cupping his hands so he could take a sip. As his thirst was quenched, he sat down and took a small piece of bread from his bag. Biting into it, he heard a gentle thud behind him and then a splash.
"Oh!"
Turning, Jack found the culprit. The person who had been following him was none other than Zalea. She had been carrying a small bag herself which she had accidentally dropped and it had rolled into the water.
"You'll never make a spy," he chuckled, standing and retrieving the bag from the stream. "Your father won't be very happy."
Looking down at the ground, Zalea lifted her eyes to look into his, batting her eyelashes in time with the movement of her lilac wings. "I know, but I had to do it. I couldn't just sit back and let you go alone. I need to find her, Jack."
"I know, I know," he said as he took her into his arms in a soft hug. "And we will. We will find her. But why didn't you just tell me you were coming with me."
"You would not have let me. You would have told my father."
He smiled, "No, Zalea. I wouldn't have told him. But I would have tried to stop you from coming. This is going to be dangerous."
Zalea shrugged her shoulders, "I know."
"Do you know these forests?"
"Yes, but I have never left them. I have only ever been to the edge of the forests of Moharth. I have never ventured further."
"Well, tomorrow you will. But for now, let's get you some food and then we will continue walking. It's going to take us quite a while to walk to the edge of the forest, then we can rest for a few hours before we go beyond your borders," he said, looking across at the miles of silver trees in the distance. Eyeing a few small mountains beyond the forest, he wondered what lay in wait.
That night as they lay side by side beneath a thin cotton blanket, Jack's head began to ache. It was a familiar sensation he'd had before. It was the headache that came before the girl had communicated
with him.
As he sat upright upright, Zalea stirred and opened her eyes, "What is it?"
"I think someone is trying to talk to me?" he whispered, rubbing his forehead.
"What do you mean, Jack?"
Explaining what had happened while he was in captivity, Jack stood up and paced up and down, waiting for the girl's voice in his head, but nothing came.
"Try speaking to her?" suggested Zalea.
"I'm not really sure how, to be honest."
"Try focussing on nothing but her and say a few words. Ask her if she's there."
Jack did as she suggested and sat down next to her, "Okay, I'll try."
He sat motionless for a few moments before he closed his eyes and spoke, "Hello, are you there? Can you hear me?"
After a minute of waiting, Jack dropped his hands to his side.
"No, nothing. Maybe it's just a regular head-ache."
"Keep trying. Focus on her, on nothing else. Pretend I'm not here, Jack," she said, laying back down and pulling the cover over her body.
"Hello... it's me. We spoke before. Are you there? Can you hear me? Please, please hear me."
CHAPTER TWELVE
It happened during the last class of the day. December and Lilly were in the middle of World History when December suddenly yelped in pain.
The rest of the class turned and the spotlight was on her.
"December, are you okay?" whispered Lilly as Mr Motley rushed over to see what all the fuss was about.
"Is everything all right over there, girls?"
December winced and held her head tightly.
"It's these really bad head-aches. She's been getting them a lot lately."
"Well, the class is almost over, you'd better take her home, Lilly."
"Yes, Sir."
Their classmates watched in silence as Lilly helped her friend stagger out of the room. They walked slowly out of the high school until they were in the fresh air when December asked to sit down for a while.
"Some fresh air will help, I think," she stuttered.
"What happened?"