December Moon (The Raven Saga) (14 page)

With all that had been going on, Lilly felt that she needed some time to herself so she headed back into the privacy and the quiet of her bedroom. She gently closed the door behind her and sat on the bed. Leaning back, she watched the rainbow effect flash across the walls from the crystals that hung at either side of her window. She thought back to her fourteenth birthday when Oliver had given them to her. Sighing, she turned and opened her laptop where Oliver's face smiled back at her. She reached out and stroked the picture on the computer screen. She missed him.

I wish all of this wasn't happening, and I wish you had never found out the truth, Oliver. I just wish you were here, where you're meant to be.

Seconds later, the computer let out a buzz and up popped a messenger window.

DECEMBER MOON: You there Lill?

Smiling, Lilly leaned over and picked up the laptop and placed it on her knees.

LILLY TULUGAQ: I'm here! How's things?

DECEMBER MOON: Good, I guess! How about you? Is everything ok with you up there in Powell River?

LILLY TULUGAQ: Yeah, everything's fine here.

Lilly knew she couldn't say anything more to her best friend, even though she was dying to tell her the truth, to finally tell her everything. She ached knowing she wasn't able to. She was even tempted to tell her that she was coming to Powell River... but her reasons for going prevented her. She had to keep the secret.

DECEMBER MOON: That's good. So, you're all safe and well then?

LILLY TULUGAQ: Of course! Why? What gives you the idea that it's not?

DECEMBER MOON: Nothing... just checking, making sure.

There was a knock on Lilly's door and a second later, Jo walked in.

"Hey Lilly. Can we talk?"

"Sure."

LILLY TULUGAQ: Sorry December but I have to go. Catch up with you soon ok? XX

DECEMBER MOON: OK hun. You keep SAFE. XX

"What's up?" she asked her beautiful cousin as she closed the laptop and returned it to her bedside table.

"Huh? You mean what's not up... it's crazy, all this killing and this mad vamp doing the rounds. I mean, I'm a vamp myself, I know it's hard work keeping the bloodlust in check and everything but you don't see me running around killing innocent people... poor Mrs Ormond!"

"You never really liked Mrs Ormond, Jo. Hardly anyone did!"

"But that's not the point is it? I never wanted her dead... well, occasionally maybe it crossed my mind... but no, seriously. This is getting crazy."

Shaking her head with a sad smile, Lilly rolled on to her stomach and looked up at Jo, "What's up Jo? It's not just Duran the crazed vamp bothering you is it? Is there something else on your mind?"

"I'm just worried about you guys. I can defend myself. I'm a vampire, for goodness sake, I'm pretty strong. I can fend for myself, but you guys..." she choked.

Lilly rolled over and almost fell off the bed in a rush to stand up. She turned to Jo and hugged her.

"Don't worry about us, Jo. Didn't you notice the multitude of witches, vampires, werewolves and other weird folk out there? They're all here to help us catch this guy. Duran has got no chance! And besides, aren't you forgetting that I'm actually a bit of a beast myself?!" she said with a smile and a wink.

Nodding, Jo pulled away and smiled back, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth, "yeah, you're right. I know you're right. We'll get him."

Later that night while Lilly was drifting off to sleep, she thought about December. The fact that she had seemed intent on knowing if all was well in Powell River. Did she know something? Was there something she wasn't letting on? Lilly remembered the strange occurrence that had happened to December before she had moved to Seattle and it worried her a little. She hoped her best friend was all right.

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 something 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.