Part I- Luna
I walked along the forest path until i was about a quarter of a mile along. I veered off into the trees until i came to a tree stump in the middle of a small clearing.
I walked up to the stump and dropped my bag. Glancing at my watch, taking a knee, I noted i only had a short time to do this. I set my alarm and began to set up my make shift alter. I pulled all the supplies from the bag. I spread the cloth out, sitting the bowl in its center on the stump, i set up the candle in the center. I stood up walking over and picked up a large stick. I drew a large circle around the tree stump.
Throwing the stick the the ground i stepped inside the circle sitting back on my knees. I pulled out my notes and the canto i wrote down, tearing it away from the instructions. Taking a deep breath, i looked at my watch again. I looked into the sky to see the moon slowly showing herself, peeking from behind the sunset clouds.
"Let's do this." I mumbled to myself, "encender" i said focusing on the candle still standing in the bowl. A flame appeared at the wick and began to crackle and burn. Once the first drop of wax reached the bottom, once polled in the bottom of the bowl i began to chant the words of the canto. Just as i had read them time and time on the walk out to the clearing. It's partly why my uncle picked the house, he knew this sacred ground was back here.
"Please take of these words
This blood and this call
I call to the skies
And the earth and seas beneath
Mother moon please take head
And lead me to the one i seek
Not master nor servant
But forever tied and fated,
familiars"
as i spoke the chant i lit the canto that was written down on the candle and watched it burn until nothing but ashes remain.
"Please take of these words
This blood and this call
I call to the skies
And the earth and seas beneath
Mother moon please take head
And lead me to the one i seek
Not master nor servant
But forever tied and fated,
familiars"
this time when i spoke the chant i picked up the knife that was resting aside the bowl on the stump. I placed the blade the center of my hand squeezing tight enough to draw blood. When i felt the warm liquid trickle down my wrist, i slowly removed the knife from my hand. I bawled my fist wincing at the pain but i lifted my fist over the candle and began to sing the chant again,
"Please take of these words
This blood and this call
I call to the skies
And the earth and seas beneath
Mother moon please take head
And lead me to the one i seek
Not master nor servant
But forever tied and fated,
familiars"
i squeezed my hand over the candle. Drops of my blood mixing with the wax.
Just then as if a gust of wind hit the flame on the candle snuffing it and the air in my private circle became deathly still.
Just then there was a rustling of leaves coming from behind me. The moon now shown clearly in the dark sky, only accompanied by the slight twinkle of stars past the foggy clouds in the sky. The wooded area around me now pitch black.
I lifted my hand i had not slashed. I faced my palm upward, "encender" i whispered. On my command a small flame lit in the palm of my hand. I looked amongst the dark trees, in silence. "Hello?" I called out.
Just then there was another quick rustle of leaves, as if someone was going to rush me.
"Encender!" I chanted again with force! Turning my hand over to face the trees, The flame from my hand bursted into a ball flying in the direction of the noise.
"Hey hey i come in peace." And there it was, the sound of a familiar voice. I quickly stood to my feet as a body slowly appeared from the trees hands raised in defense.
"We gotta quit meeting like this like this little bruja." The voice said making my heart race. The familiars brand gracing his right wrist.
——
Part II- Demetri
I was home after the football game that night. They held it right after school so students could enjoy the holiday. I was just hanging in my room listening to music on my phone, when there was a knock at my door.
"Come in." I called, pulling my earbud from my ear. My door cracked open and my mothers head popped into my room.
"Hey sweet heart," she smiled sweetly at me as i sat up slightly on my bed.
"Hey ma, wassup?"
"Hey, Mrs. Kelsey is coming by," she said referring to her best friend and Misty's mom.
I jolted a little, sitting fully up in bed. "And Misty as well." She chuckled at my expression. "If i were you I'd try and get out of here for a while." She finished. My mom knew Misty had a crush on me but my feelings weren't mutual. She may have felt bad that i didn't return Misty's feelings, but she respected my feelings and wanted me to find love and my mate on my own.
I jumped from my bed sliding on my running shoes and grabbing a light jacket. "Thanks mom" i said kissing her cheek and running out the back door towards the wooded area surrounding our tribes territory.
"Call if you're gonna be late!" I heard her call after me as i jogged towards the moonlit path into the woods.
I ran long enough to put a safe distance between me and and house cutting through trees just in case anyone tried to fallow me. I didn't feel like being bothered. It's exactly the reason i didn't go to the kick back. And i defiantly didn't want to deal with Misty cornering me in my own house.
The sun had fully set in the sky and only the moon shown with a few stars through the clouds. I looked around not really recognizing my surroundings, "shit," i huffed looking in all directions, "I must be off the territory."
I sighed closing my eyes and lifted my head to the sky. I could always smell my way home, i figured. But when inhaled i caught the slightest whiff of Conches, intoxicating all of my senses, and then i heard it. A voice calling to me.
"Demetri," it whispered
Keno had been quite since earlier, and i had yet to tell anyone that he showed himself to me before my first shift. But almost instantly at the smell of sweet bread he suddenly became restless. Again i heard the voice , "Demetri."
"Mate" he growled and my chest rumbled instinctually in turn. Ears perking up, I sniffed again trying to find the direction, but then there was a soft wind catching her scent on it. with the wind there was the sirens song again, calling my name, "Demetri."
I quickly moved following it, she was close by. My heart immediately began to race.
Finally my feet stopped. I peered through a few trees into a clearing. There in the middle kneeling down by a tree stump was Luna. A single candle lighting up the profile of her gorgeous Carmel colored face. Black coils falling down her back.
Then i felt it, a tug at something inside of me. No, not something, someone. Kano began to howl as if he was calling to the full moon. But something was different this time, unlike in the courtyard where it gave me a splitting headache. Now it sounded muffled. And then i heard another voice. It was Luna, chanting, loud and clear.
"Please take of these words
This blood and this call
I call to the skies
And the earth and seas beneath
Mother moon please take head
And lead me to the one i seek
Not master nor servant
But forever tied and fated,
familiars "
My hand clutched at the fabric on my chest, My body instantly become warm all over. The tug inside of me getting stronger. There was a smell of iron. I looked back at Luna, holding her balled up fist over the candle. Dark red blood dripped into the flame and wax, mixing.
I felt a crackle of electricity corse threw me and then a searing feeling in my right wrist. It felt like silver being laid against my skin. I wanted to cry out in pain but bit back the urge.
I looked down to see what looked like an ancient symbol burned into my skin. My eyes grew wide at the sight, but oddly enough i wasn't scared of it. And after the brief moment of pain, the scar healed over, sealing it into place. My heart was racing but i couldn't move, i couldn't speak.
Suddenly there was darkness all around. The flame from Lunas candle had sniffed out. I looked back into the clearing and the beauty sitting in the moon light. She looked frustrated. I slowly began to make my way towards her. Luna conjured a flame lighting the area ahead of her.
"Hello?" Lunas voice said in a question. I stopped in my tracks knowing i should speak but i couldn't find words.
I begin the step forward again, and then...
"Encender" i heard Lunas voice say with such power my heart began to race again.
Why am i entranced by her? I wondered to myself, but Kano pawing at my mind told me why. I wanted her, no i needed her. When Luna released her chant a ball of fire flew my way nearly hitting me.
I threw my hands up finally finding my voice, "Hey hey i come in peace." She quickly jumped to her feet. I smiled stepping into her light my hands still up in defense.
"We gotta stop meeting like this little Burja" i say watching her gaze meet my wrist. I looked at her hand still dripping blood.
"You got some bandages?" I asked her nodding at her hand. She returned with her own nod, not breaking eye contact with me.
"In my bag." She finally said softly referring to the small backpack leaning against the stump.
I reached down to pick it up. Opening the bag i found peroxide, antibiotic ointment gauze and other bandages in a zip lock bag. Obviously she done this before. I didnt know why, i knew magic always required some form of sacrifice, but i hated the idea of Luna sacrificing herself. I gripped her arm gently, trying to ignore the fireworks erupting in my body and Kano howling in my mind, i rotated her wrist facing her palm upward. I stopped short when i notice a brand identical to the one now on my right wrist. Hers already healed over as well.
Mentally shaking away my thoughts, I began to pour peroxide over the wound on her hand.
Her hand jerked a little. " I'm sorry," i whispered.
She slightly shook her head, relaxing her hand in mine again. "No, it's alright. Thank you." She said softly looking down.
After i put antibiotics on her hand i began to wrap it in gauze. Firm, but bearable. Once i was done we stood a silence for a moment.
When we both couldn't take it any longer, we started to speak at the same time and stopped again abruptly. We Both of us began to laugh.
"Ladies first," i said smiling at her.
She blushed smiling back at me, "what are you doing out here?"
But before i could answer, the alarm on Lunas watch began to ring.