Tales of Aradia The Last Witch Volume 3 (8 page)

Now there were "laws" being
created and followed by the hidden community. Laws such as vampires
could only get blood from blood banks or wild animals and could not
kill humans except in self-defense. In addition, werewolf "safe
houses" were being constructed out of brick, steel, or anything
that were strong enough to keep the wolves locked up at night so
during the full moon nights they could not escape and bite people.
Furthermore as good measure, they would be fed drug-laced meat
after their transformations so they would wake long after the full
moon had set and the danger had passed.

However, the vampires and
werewolves were not the only ones that were being changed by
Aradia's influence though. It was happening to the fae's and shape
shifters as well. Fae's and shape-shifters did not have to worry
about eating humans or turning them, but they still had issues of
their own. The biggest issue with them was territory, which often
ended up becoming violent fights amongst themselves and others. The
winner would be the only survivor of such a thing, and would
naturally get everything. However, now there were laws where
territory disputes were settled in newly appointed courts rather
than violent and bloody matches.

It was because of all these
changes that no longer could Keon and his clan members randomly
kill humans in the street for fear of being found out. Nor could
they watch as werewolves broke out of their previous holding cells,
bite or kill humans, and lament over what they had done once they
transformed back. In Keon's mind, such a thing was funnier than
watching
Jersey Shore.
In addition, because of the laws that had been,
implemented Keon and his clan could no longer randomly destroy
property on fae territory or vice versa with the shape-shifters,
and watch as the people involved destroyed themselves in bloody
senseless battles.

Worst of all (to Keon at
least) the Night Shadow clan could no longer participate in their
favorite games. Such as "tame the werewolf" where he and the other
Night Shadow clan members would chase, corner, tease, and beat a
transformed werewolf senselessly as easily as if it were a dog.
Last but definitely not least, the Night Shadow clan could no
longer play "hunting the human" where Keon and his clan members
would randomly pick a human, chase after him, taunt him, play with
him, and then devour him viciously while he or she was still
alive.

Keon was very upset about
the new order in the hidden Salem community. Where there had been
chaos and violence before, which Keon thoroughly enjoyed, there was
now none at all. Well, he thought, nothing to do about it except
get rid of the little bitch whose causing all this, he added
bitterly, or little witch to be more precise. Either way I am going
to do whatever it takes to get rid of her finally! And this piece
of paper, he thought as he looked down at his clenched fist, is
going to help me. It was gleaming up at him with ink running
towards the edges, dripping like blood, and from out of its white
fisted prisoner peeked out a long scratchy H.

Melina was surprised for she
had expected that by the way she had been treating the Preston's
they would be acting at the very least hostile towards her.
However, in spite of all the insults, the stealing she did, and the
trouble she caused she and Marietta were still being treated
reasonably well. Amazingly, her parents had treated her as if her
behavior was nothing usual.
The fact
that I am referring to them as my parents should indicate how much
things are changing
, Melina thought to
herself with a sarcastic smirk.

She was sitting in the
library (much to her own amazement) watching the snowfall outside.
It was now January, and a blizzard was expected next week. The snow
reminded Melina of Christmas and Melina thought back to the
Christmas they had shared with the Prestons. In the other two
homes, hell even in their own home, Melina and Marietta were
grateful if they were even fed on Christmas day. Here not only had
Ross and Liza let Melina and Marietta help pick out the tree and
decorate it, but they had even had the two of them participate in
their family traditions. They had made fudge, watched famous
Christmas movies, and done Christmas shopping together or at least
the girls had while Ross hung out at a coffee shop.

"You are part of our family
now and that is what families do," was the explanation they gave
Melina when she asked why they were doing all this.

If that was not enough, when
Christmas day rolled around Melina and Marietta had gotten fabulous
gifts from Ross, Liza, and even Aradia. Not only were they not used
to such a thing, but also it boggled their minds that anyone would
go all through that trouble for either of them. However, when they
asked this of the Prestons the previous explanation had been used
once again. Things had been so good that by now, Marietta was
calling the Preston couple, "Mom" and "Dad."

Melina, however, was still
unsure about how this would all play out. She had long since gotten
used to the ideas that the world was not fair and people could be
cruel. However, so far Ross and Liza had been no such thing even
Aradia...

Melina's eyes narrowed as
she thought about Aradia. She knew that ever since she came here
she had not made life easy for her, but it was still surprising how
much Aradia had been willing to take. In spite of the bullying, the
stealing of her stuff like her homework and jewelry, and dating one
of the guys that she was obviously into Aradia still put up with
Melina.

Melina wanted to believe it
was because she was following her parent's instructions: to treat
her and her sister like members of the family. However, Melina got
the feeling that it was much more than that. She thought back to
all the times she had seen Aradia huddled together with Dax, and
the others whispering as if they shared some sort of a dangerous
secret. She also noticed how whenever she passed, people stared at
Aradia as if she was some sort of celebrity. Melina thought it was
strange how Aradia seemed to order everyone about like a commander
of a private army and no one ever seemed to complain. No matter
what it was, whenever Aradia told someone to do something the
person obeyed her without a moment's hesitation. Stranger still,
the expression on his or her faces would be that of someone who had
been granted the highest honor. Originally, Melina had thought it
was because Aradia ran a secret club and threw illegal raves every
Friday and Saturday night. However, Melina was beginning to doubt
that that was the reason.

It was common knowledge that
Aradia did not own the place where the club was located. Her
parents may have been very well off especially with Ross's new
promotion. However, with three children in the house even they
could not afford to buy a club. If Aradia did not allow drugs or
alcohol to be sold at the club, and did not charge for the drinks
or even the food then Melina was at a loss how Aradia could afford
anything. Most curious of all, at every one of those parties by the
end of the night the place was always filthy. However, whenever
Aradia told Melina that she was ready to go home the place would be
clean as a whistle. It was as if she was able to clean the place
with super speed, Melina thought and then chuckled at the
unlikeness of this.

However, after a few moments
of chuckling Melina's face grew serious once more.
Come think of it
,
she thought to herself,
I have noticed
that Aradia seems to be a bit faster than anyone else is. She seems
a lot stronger too and I have noticed that Aradia seems to be
capable of doing things that seem almost
supernatural.

Melina now remembered a
particular incident where she had almost walked in on Aradia in the
kitchen. Instead of popping her drink in the microwave, Aradia just
held out her hand over her mug. While Melina hid behind the corner,
she had seen Aradia close her eyes, and hold her out hand. In a
matter of seconds, a strange white light glow appeared from her
palm. The white light only lasted a few minutes, but as it faded
away the mug became steaming hot.

Melina knew it sounded
impossible, but she still could not help but suspect that Aradia
was not human.
However
, Melina argued with
herself,
if she was not human then what
was she
?

Roy was nervous because
tonight was a full moon night and his family was already at the
safe house. He had been intending to go as well, but had lost track
of the time while practicing his guitar at school. By the time he
reached had his house, it was already getting dark and he knew he
had to restrain himself quickly. He had been lucky the last time
when he had bit Aradia, and she had not been turned but the next
time...he just was not willing to take that chance. However, as he
was getting ready to slap on his manacles, the doorbell rang. At
first, he ignored it but the bell continued to ring. Soon he caught
a whiff of the scent of the person who was ringing the doorbell,
and realized it was Melina. Sweating and swearing profusely, Roy
sprang to his feet and ran to the door.

"Hi Melina," he said
smiling.

Melina smiled in return but
only before she asked, "Can we talk?"

Roy fidgeted nervously. "Um
do you mind if we do this some other time?"

But Melina had already
pushed past him. Roy's breathing became heavy as soon as he closed
the door, and Melina turned around.

"Look Roy, I know this is
going to sound crazy, but the thing is I have noticed something is
going on and I get the feeling a lot of it has to do with
Aradia."

Roy clutched his chest as
his heartbeat began to speed up, but Melina chose to ignore it. "I
know I have no right to ask, but since I live in the same house
with her I figure I should know the truth. I also figure since you
are her friend, you are bound to know what is going on."

"Melina, can we please talk
about this some other time?" Roy said as he tried to prevent
himself from doubling over.

"No," Melina snapped. "We
cannot. I need to know the truth Roy."

She sighed, still ignoring
the beads of sweat on Roy's head, and him clutching his chest in
pain.

"I know you feel like you
would be violating her trust, but for God's sake I need to know. I
know you have hardly any reason to trust me, but the fact is I care
about you Roy. You have every reason to confide in me. After all,
we do have feelings for each other right?"

She turned to the table,
still talking. "At least, I know I do. I have genuine feelings for
you Roy and you..."

Melina trailed off when she
noticed the manacles on the table.

"You have chains and
things," She continued nervously. "Why do you have chains and
things?"

Roy was about to give her a
feeble, but quick excuse when all of a sudden he looked up through
the skylight and froze in terror. Staring down at him and shining
brightly was the full moon. As soon as one of its rays landed on
Roy's hand, he began to go into horrible convulsions.

Trying one last time to warn
her, Roy summoned all the self-control he had left to gasp, "Melina
run! Now!"

He then fell onto the floor
behind the couch, the will to hold back the animal inside of him
finally broken.

Melina spun around the
moment she heard Roy's warning, and his grunts and groans of pain.
Against her better judgment, Melina slowly edged towards the
couch.

"Roy, Roy, are you ok?" She
kept asking.

Suddenly, she heard the
grunts and groans stop. It was just as Melina began to relax when
an enormous wolf sprang up from behind the couch standing on its
hind legs, with murder and hunger reflecting in its eyes. At first,
Melina stood stunned unable to move or think, but then she noticed
the torn clothing around the wolf's body. It was the very same as
Roy's!

"Roy," Melina shrieked, "Is
that you?"

He roared in
reply.

Melina then turned on her
heel, and raced out the back door.

Melina ran out into the dark
woods, screaming for her life. Rocks on the ground, branches from
the tree, and bushes kept grabbing at Melina as if trying to hold
her back. The icy cold wind slapped at her face while the snowy,
slippery, mud sucked at her boots. In spite of all this, Melina
kept running and running. The cold, the stumbling, the scratches
from the branches left visible marks on Melina, but she did not
seem to even feel any of them. All Melina could feel was the fear
and confusion coursing through her veins.

Werewolves are not supposed
to exist! She thought frantically to herself. They are supposed to
be creatures of fantasy for crying aloud! Most of all, I just can't
believe that Roy is one. My sweet and gentle Roy! A monster! I
can't believe it.

Melina turned her head to
see if Roy was following her and as soon as she did, so her heart
sank. There, chasing after her on all fours, growling, drooling,
and looking vicious was Roy in his werewolf form. He was running
after her, and gaining! Melina turned her head back still intent on
racing for her life. She was so focused on what was straight ahead
of her that she did not notice the rock in her path at least not
until she stumbled over it, and fell hard on to the icy cold muddy
ground. She struggled to get up as quickly as she could, but Roy
was getting closer. Melina tried to stand, but the muddy ground
kept latching onto her boots and throwing her off
balance.