The Crescent (18 page)

You must save him.

“How do you expect me to do that?” I threw my hands in the air.

“You have to stop seeing Alex.” She pointed to the bracelet on my wrist. “You can not love him; you have to stop loving him. Alex is the reason Brandon is fading away.” I guess I had always known that. Your heart can’t be in two places at once, at least not while maintaining a relationship. Lily looked like she was going to cry. “Please Lacey, you are Brandon’s mate. He’s risked everything to be here with you, to protect you. You have to help him.”

The lights turned on in my room causing me to see stars as my eyes adjusted from the darkness. “What are you doing home so soon?” My mother asked. I glanced around the room quickly- Lily was nowhere in sight. “Lacey?” This had to be another dream.

“I don’t feel well.” I said quietly and then threw up everywhere.

Jillian and Alex both came by the house the next morning. I could hear their muffled voices downstairs. Jillian protested that I was faking being sick to get out of going with them. I dreamed all night about Lily and replayed what she said word for word. The more I was around Alex; the more Brandon was being kept away from me. I stared hard at the bracelet hanging from my wrist as Lily’s words repeated in my head. Without thinking twice I slipped it off and laid it on the dresser. There was no way I’d wear it today for what I had planned; what I had to do.

I wasn’t sure I would be able to find the house that Brandon had taken me to. But at this point, I needed answers for what was happening to me. My skin felt like it was on fire and I couldn’t stop sweating. I didn’t have a temperature, but when mom brought me the thermometer, I held it under hot water until it said I was a toasty 103. That was enough for her to tell my friends I wasn’t leaving the house.

Thankfully my Aunt made mom keep her promise to go to the farmer’s market with her. Dad was at a conference for his work. I’d have the house to myself, or rather the afternoon to myself to try to find Brandon’s house. As soon as mom and Aunt were out the door, I sprung off the bed, pulled on some clothing and bounded out the front door. Looking briefly at mom’s car, I tossed aside the idea of taking it. I knew I’d get into more trouble if I took it and they found out about it.

I pulled dad’s old bicycle out of the garage and headed towards the subdivision that Brandon had taken me in my dream/nightmare… reality? All the houses on the street looked the same. The street looked so familiar, but I started to doubt that I had ever actually been there. I didn’t see Brandon’s truck in any of the driveways and I didn’t have a phone number to call. I stopped peddling and looked up and down the street for the house. I closed my eyes and tried to remember walking up the sidewalk with him to the front door; Brandon put the key in the door. The door was red; the house numbers next to the door said 12578. My eyes shot open and I looked at the number on the house beside me- 12570. I would never have known the numbers on this street if I hadn’t actually been here. I hurried three houses down and saw it- the crimson red door with gold handles and the numbers 12578. It was real and I had been here. Thank god I’m not totally loosing my mind.

Brandon’s truck wasn’t in the driveway. I tucked my bike behind the bushes and walked slowly up to the front door trying to formulate what I would say when I finally see Brandon or Lily. I stood at the front door for several moments before I finally got the nerve to knock.

The petite blonde that I had passed on the sidewalk the last time I was here answered the door. Her eyes were bright green, the color of grass after a rainfall. I felt my knees going weak and put my hand on the doorway to steady myself.

“Lacey?” The woman’s voice sounded like music. “Are you ok honey?” She held out her hand to draw me inside. The further I walked into the house, the weaker I felt. “LILY!” She called towards the back of the house. The woman was stronger than she looked; she easily carried me to the couch. Lily came from the kitchen and settled beside me.

“Lacey, are you ok?” Lily asked as she smoothed my hair away from my face.

“Brandon?” I asked confused. My head foggy as I tried to decide if I was really here or if that long bike ride was another dream.

Lily stood up and backed away. “He’s not here. I told you they have him.” The woman tried to quiet Lily; she turned her around and sent her back into the kitchen.

The woman came and sat on the edge of the couch, her kind eyes surveying every inch of me. “I’m Emile. It’s nice to finally meet you Lacey.”

“Where is Brandon?” I asked, determined this couldn’t be a dream and I needed to see Brandon to validate it.

Emile’s face turned somber. “In his weakened state, they were able to take him.” She turns my hand over to stare at my palm, as tears formed in her eye. “He needs you to be strong for him. If you do not fully transform and complete the union, Brandon will die.” She hesitated, “And so will you.”

“WHAT?” I gathered all the energy I could and sat up from the couch, instantly feeling light headed and nauseated. “What do you mean I will die?”

“That is why they sent Alex for you. If he was able to stop your transformation, then Brandon would die.” She cleared a few tears from her cheek. “The two of you need each other to survive.”

I tried to stand but found my body growing weaker. I fell back quickly onto the couch. “Easy honey, easy. Matt and Trevor think they found him. We are awaiting their return now.” She tried to comfort me, but it wasn’t working considering she just told me I’d die without Brandon.

“So my fate is to become a werewolf and kill my parents?” I asked as a tear rolled down my cheek.

Emile reached out and swiped away my tear with her fingertips. My skin tingled under her touch. “I’m not saying that at all. That is what the legend foretells. The offspring of a werewolf and a human would be born and mated with a dominant male in our pack. They would lead the Amana’s against their enemies. My husband, Michael is our leader and you were mated with our only son.” She brushed her fingertips down my arm.

“Yes, for the first time in thousands of years, a werewolf’s mate was a human instead of another werewolf. The day you were born, all the boys and men from the pack were summoned to hold you. My son, Brandon was only seven years old at the time, when he held you the mark appeared instantly. I was overjoyed and fearful for my son. The both of you bear a great responsibility.”

“Brandon told me I was stolen from my parents…”

An uncomfortable smile graced Emile’s face. She looked down at her lap and pressed firmly at a crease in her skirt. “That was the most horrible night. Brandon refused to leave your side, even though half of the pack was standing vigil at your home. Those thieves waited until night fall and then attacked.” Another tear escaped her eye. “Brandon awoke and fought them the best he could. They stabbed him and left him for dead knowing that he was your mate. They knew you would die without him. It wasn’t until years later that they discovered he lived and started to come after us, after him.”

The weight of her words hung in the air. “You don’t think they have killed him, do you?”

“No, we believe he is still in the area. Only their pack leader can be called upon to kill him and we have people watching their movements closely. Your transformation is upon us. You will be eighteen in less than two weeks. We must keep you safe and bring Brandon to you so you can develop your bond before your birthday.”

I shook my head. “I can’t be the one then. My birthday is in December.”

Emile smiled. “No honey, we hid your birth date and your very existence from the world as long as we could. They stole you in January and thought you were a month old then because you were so tiny.”

I started breathing heavy and I felt pearls of sweat collecting at my hairline. “I know this is a lot to understand. I’m sorry I have to be so blunt with you. You must understand, you are my son’s life, his future. Our pack is relying on you both.” She squeezed my hand. “You will be like a daughter to me, and I, like the rest of the Amana’s, will do anything to keep you safe.”

I was panicking inside, but tried to keep myself together. “What about my parents?” Emile didn’t answer. “They were killed, weren’t they?” She shook her head in quiet recognition. I started to sob. I never knew my real parents and would never get the chance to.

“Get me some cool washcloths.” She commanded to the man. “That is Michael. Brandon’s father.” She whispered. “We hope to be your in laws one day.” She let out a small laugh and hesitated before adding, “You’ve started having dreams, haven’t you?” I nodded as she pushed a piece of sweat soaked hair from my forehead. “Ahhh that is my favorite part of the courtship, the beautiful flowery images of being in love with your soul mate.”

Emile and Lily quickly covered my body with various cool towels and washcloths. “How long have you been sick?” Lily asked.

“Since yesterday.” I replied, my voice barely louder than a whisper.

Emile stood abruptly and pulled Lily into the kitchen. Michael sat next to me on the couch. He was just as handsome as Brandon with beautiful skin and fetching eyes.

“Don’t worry; we are going to bring him home. I promise.” He held my hand for a few moments before walking back down the hallway.

“Sorry, my husband is more the provider than the comforter.” Emile smiled sweetly and picked up my hand. “I think your body is starting to fight the change. You’ve been away from Brandon too long.” She examines the mark again on my hand and turns her palm over to reveal her perfectly outlined and detailed full moon. “I mated with Michael when I was only six months old. He was ten and they thought he was the werewolf that would be mated with a human. His father was so disappointed when he wasn’t the one. But then we had Brandon.” A proud smile overtook her face. “And he is destined to be your mate. You are a very special, very unique girl.”

My body was shaking under all the cool towels. My heartbeat had finally slowed, but I was still panicked. If what she was saying was true, then I had no choice in my future. Brandon and the Amana’s would be my family and the only family I’ve ever known would die by my hand.

TWENTY

I lay motionless on the couch for several more hours. I wasn’t sure if I should run screaming and crying from the house or stay put. Emile and Michael sat together at the dinette in the kitchen. Their muffled voices expressed panic and concern for me and for Brandon. If he wasn’t found soon, they were convinced my transformation would not happen, forever sealing our fates.

Lily sat next to me on the couch combing the hair of a Barbie doll. “I couldn’t imagine ever being away from Matt.” She looked at me from the corner of her eye before continuing. “Matt never goes anywhere without me anymore. We are too weak without each other.”

“Aren’t your parents worried for you? I mean, don’t they miss you?”

Lily smiled. “Matt would give his own life for me. They trust him completely. I don’t know what would happen to us if we were apart longer than a few days.” She looked at me carefully. “You know they are worried for you. I think they are right. I think that your body is trying to stop you from changing.”

“Would I really die if I didn’t allow the transformation?” I asked her as a shiver went down my spine.

I could see chills rise across Lily’s arms. “I don’t know. I’ve never met anyone that’s decided not to change.” I watched her maneuver the delicate comb down the Barbie’s platinum blonde hair. She flipped the brush just at the ends to cause the perfect bouncy wave at the bottom. “You’re going to transform… aren’t you?” Lily looked at me with the saddest eyes I had ever seen.

I thought about my parents and Aunt Jamie. If I transformed, I’d be signing their death warrant and not to mention Alex’s also. If I didn’t, I’d sign my own and Brandon’s. I sat up on the couch and pulled Lily tight into my arms. Her skin was ice cold compared to mine. “You can’t leave us now. Brandon needs you. We need you.” She whispered. I held her for several more moments brushing her long hair down her back like she had done to the Barbie.

“How are you feeling?” Emile said walking back into the room with another glass of water for me. She looked down at Lily. “Honey, go into the kitchen, Michael has made you some lunch.” She gently pulled at Lily’s arm to coax her from the couch.

Emile waited until she was out of sight. “You must understand, finding you has been a long, exhausting journey on all of us. Lily has grown up with Brandon, he is like a big brother to her and she is in agony right now. Not only over him being gone, but worried that something will happen to her mate trying to help him. If Matt is hurt or killed, then she too will fade away before she transforms.”

I looked towards the kitchen. I could never understand the connection that she had with Matt. “What happens to me if I choose not to transform? Is there a way that I can stop from becoming a werewolf so your family is not hurt and neither is mine?”

Emile’s eyes narrowed. “Brandon is already transformed. If you don’t, then he will die.” The corners of her mouth pulled down harshly towards her chin. “You don’t have the option to not transform.”

“There has to be a way to keep your family and mine safe.”