Daughter of the Tides, Servants of the Moon Book 2

Nyall stood between Essie and Kaiyou as the Delphi spoke in soft tones with the Guardian of the Augur Vampyr. His wolf was very leery of the ancient vampire.

“Evik’s human feeder, Richard, was tortured to death by a warlock. His brother Robert is the lawyer for the coven. I fed Evik when we first found him, then Robert fed him and sent several bags of blood for him. We will transport you back to the Charlains Coven by plane as soon as the weather clears. I am so sorry, Viktor, none of the others survived. We didn’t even find their bodies. Evik will barely talk about what happened. I am not even sure if he knows. Kaiyou?”

The Shogunate inclined his head to the vampire. “There was no sign of struggle except in one room. The blood of the child and a related female were on the floor in front of a dumb waiter. It appeared she locked herself in and sent the wounded child down to the basement with the human known as Richard. Somehow, she resisted the magic that subdued the others and fought to ensure her child and his feeder escaped. There was also the blood of at least three wolves. I do not think they were not rogues because the blood held the same scent as the two we killed at the shop. Their pack scent was not one I recognized, it smelt strange, like blackened meat, wood ash, and desert heat.”

The ancient vampire did not wipe away the single tear that ran down his pale cheek. “Many thanks for saving the child. With our kind, children are a rare gift. This is the only child born to that coven in this century.” He took a deep slow breath, “If I may see Evik. I can see what happened through his blood.”

Delilah nodded, “Essie, please take Viktor to the guest rooms.” After Essie led Viktor out, Del looked coolly at Nyall, her voice carried an icy edged tone of reprimand. “The peace treaty with the Vampyr must be maintained.”

“I did not say a thing,” Nyall growled.

“You didn’t have to; I can smell your animosity. A monarch must look beyond the prejudices of his upbringing to see that tolerance and alliances are for the greater good.” She stood erect and aloof as she lectured him.

Nyall’s eyes narrowed hostilely, “I told ye months ago, I would not be the king.”

“Keep telling yourself that... It won’t change the path the Moon ordained for you.” She turned to leave out the opposite door then stopped and spoke without looking at him. “The werewolves and vampires have had an unspoken ‘cease fire’ in their war for over a thousand years that the goddesses want to keep. So we will do everything we can to keep it. I know you don’t see the point in rescuing a single shadow-walker, even a child, but never forget, that there are those who don’t see the point in rescuing a single werewolf child. Someday a vampire may just save the life of a child you care about.” There was the cold ring of moonlight and truth to her words and Nyall shuddered slightly as his tattoos tingled as she walked out.

“I hate it when she does that.” Nyall growled and Kaiyou cuffed him across the back of his head the way his father often had.

“You will not disrespect the Delphi. She speaks for the Moon. Thirty laps around the island in the cold should tire out your willfulness. Now, go and run.” Kaiyou went the direction of the Delphi as Nyall stomped outside and shifted into his golden wolf. A heavy, wet snow met his paws and clung to his fur as he started, with each step he silently cursed the Delphi of the Moon.

Delilah stood in front of the large windows of her room, her eyes followed a golden wolf as it ran toward the edge of the island then turned to follow the inland shore trail. Her mind wandered back to the memory of another island; the island of Patmos.

The keepers of the archives owned by the Catholic Church had refused to see her at first, but an ancient vampyr dressed as a monk came to her hotel that night with a scroll. Viktor translated the scroll from the ancient vampire Bacchusi dialect, a language that dated back to the same time period as the Lycaeon temple dialect the werewolves used. The scroll was from the first years of the exploration of the southernmost lands of this continent. It was nearly dawn when the robed vampire finished the translation.

“Thank you for reading this to me,” Delilah had said softly. Her brow furrowed with concern, vampires never did anything for nothing, so she asked, “Why did you bring it? What do you want in exchange?”

Viktor stared at her quietly, he looked deceptively young but that was the nature of vampires. “My Goddess sent me, she woke me at dusk, led me to this scroll and said to read it to the sister of the Augur. Is it true, does the Augur live, do you know her?”

Delilah nodded, revealing, “We helped rescue her children from a group of rogues who wished to sell them to the one my Goddess calls the Sunwolf. He was going to sacrifice them. He worships a sun god of war and blood. He is seeking to lead the wolves away from the Moon Goddess and he, along with his witches, use the blood of vampire children to give themselves power. The Augur Lanea and her children are safe now, hidden in a secret city. But this wolf is elusive, and I cannot see him through the Tides, so I am seeking other resources to learn of him in the hopes of finding a way to defeat him.”

“And what does the Augur say of this Sunwolf?”

“She says he is an old soul who wears a new skin. We have both seen that he drinks and burns the blood of both our peoples to restore his flesh. He is evil beyond anything either of us have encountered.” Del remembered how she prayed this vampire believed her.

Viktor had bowed his head, and was quiet for several moments, his voice so quiet only wolf ears could have heard it. “My sister was an Augur. She told me a day would come when a burning wolf would seek to enslave the world. He would drink our blood to steal the gifts of our Goddess and eat the hearts of his own kind to destroy the faithful of their Goddess. After a thousand years, he has finally come.”

Tears ran down Del’s cheeks as she stared blankly out at the snow, “He has finally come.”

“Delphi?” Viktor had entered and she turned. Essie’s mouth was a tight line.

“You confirmed Kaiyou’s suspicions of what happened?” Del already knew he had.

“Yes, Delphi. Also, I fed Evik my own blood, so he will heal and be bonded to the Charlains Coven. I would take him there as soon as the storm clears. I thank you again for your hospitality and assistance.” His voice was deeply reverent as he bowed.

Beyond him, Del could see Essie eyeing him the way she did when she wanted a male and gave her the squint eye.

‘Chill, sis, I wouldn’t try with him. I could barely handle Larson as a lover.’ Essie laughed through the family link.

‘Good. Viktor is off-limits,’ Del retorted mentally.

“I am sorry for your loss, Viktor. The Temples of the Moon and the Moon’s Servants are here to aid the Augur Vampyr and her Coven in any way possible. Please enjoy our hospitality and if you need anything, let me know.” Delilah smiled graciously. There was a vibration like the tone of an unheard bell and Viktor was gone from sight.

“Damn, I will never get used to that,” Essie gasped, then she lit a cigarette. “So, you and Nyall are still at each other. Can’t you let him alone?”

“There may not be time to let him alone, Essie. We can’t see the Sunwolf and it is obvious he is becoming active now that winter is ending. Did you tell Grandpapa?” Del demanded.

Essie walked over to the window and the identical twin sisters dressed so differently stared out at the storm side by side. “I did. The Servants are all on alert and going to warn the covens they have knowledge of and offer aid.” She reached and pulled something out of her pocket, a folded piece of paper. “While you were gone, Ainsley drew New Orleans. The Servants are on alert. Zane and Marsha are already there. There are two covens in the area. We are trying to find them but the two vampire they encountered disappeared before Zane could warn them.” Essie sighed, “But we can’t save them if they won’t listen.”

“Tell the Wanderers to be extra careful,” Del warned, “The Des Rues now control or are allied to most of the packs along the old river from the great lakes to the gulf and everything east to the coast.”

“Oh, they know.” Tossing the butt in a censer, Essie lit a second cigarette, “Marsha has already been approached with an offer to become a breeder and a promise to conceive a pup own after having two for an unnamed pack.”

“Really?” Del drummed her fingers thoughtfully on her crossed arms then shook her head, “No... it’s too risky. Perhaps Marsha should leave the area and a male wanderer should take her place.”

“I’ll go.”

“No. Tell Grandpapa.”

“Fine, sorry.” Wishing she was at Mardi Gras instead of in the bitter north, Essie blew smoke against the glass, it obscured her all-black reflection while Del’s pale oracle gown seemed to glow. “It’s going to be a long summer, sis.”

“Yes, and the fire season is coming early, I fear.”

A salt and pepper haired wolf with rich blue eyes sat alone at a table overlooking the city streets.

“Hello, Eliazar.” A silver-blond haired wolf joined him.

“Lothaire…” The old wanderer eyed him.

They sat and drank coffee with rum, raw cane sugar, and butter. Watching the city partying below, another festival for the humans to celebrate offered a cover for old enemies to meet in truce.

“How are your granddaughters?” Lothaire asked conversationally.

“Still serving the Moon and still refusing to mate your nephews,” Eliazar answered coolly.

Lothaire laughed but it was a bitter sound. “I wouldn’t wish my incompetent nephews on any she-wolf.”

A half-smirk formed on Eliazar’s lips but faded quickly. “Then we agree on one thing for the first time since my daughter died.”

Breathing out slowly, Lothaire blinked lazily. His eyes were filled with regret. “My father and brothers were fools…”

“How did Charles become Alpha and not you?” Eliazar asked a question that had nagged at him for over two decades.

Draining his cup, Lothaire poured more rum than coffee in it. “Charles had his oracle true mate, a royal choice mate, and a witch bolstering his wolf, while I was mourning Chanteliese and Tamaza…” He held up his hand to halt Eliazar’s retort. “You know I loved her; my wolf adored her since we were children. I would have made her Luna of Des Rues, but she chose Jude and the Moon.”

“She died trying saving your nephews, your cousin Alpha Isaac’s son only lasted a year,” Eliazar revealed as Lothaire nodded thoughtfully. “I am sorry you lost your mate and pup.”

“We were cursed and deserved it,” Lothaire admitted in an ashamed tone.

The waitress brought their steaks and they ate in silence, finally Eliazar asked, “We were allies, our luna and yours were half-sisters. Wwhy did Lordon attack us?”

“I am not really sure, Valeria was still at the temple after being stripped of rank of Delphi, but Father believed her dismissal showed her weakness. Charles had promised Valeria he would build a temple on Des Rues lands for giving him an heir, but Father wanted Tamaza, a true Delphi, to run it. The temple and school we have now is a joke. They don’t have visions and half of the rooms house the witches of Charles’ whore’s coven.” Lothaire pushed his plate away, the whole mess ruined his appetite. “Eliazar, who is this sun-worshiping wolf your granddaughters seek?”

“We don’t know,” Eliazar admitted honestly. He felt the nudge of the Moon to tell his ally turned enemy the truth. “Delilah can’t see him, only the horror he causes. He will bring the destruction of all wolves and war to the whole world if he isn’t stopped. He is an apostate and deceiver who hates the Moon. Delilah says he is hunting the vampires and killing small packs who refuse to submit to him. That he offers weak wolves their heart’s desire and all they have to give him is their soul. He is a bane disguised as a blessing, a testing for all wolfkind.”

Lothaire nodded, then stood and threw several large bills on the table. “If I hear anything, I will let you know. I cannot let such a wolf gain influence over my idiot nephews… Goodnight, Eliazar.”

“Be careful, Lothaire. The Moon has spared you from one who would be justified in his revenge, but more trials await you.” The old wanderer warned. “The Past is not a compass for your future.I will pray for you.”

“Save your prayers, old wolf… I am more deserving of death than most and someday the Moon’s Hounds will drag me off to the judgement I earned.” Lothaire walked away more troubled than when he had received the invitation. He and his wolf had the distinct impression Eliazar was trying to warn him about something specific, but Lothaire knew he was undeserving of any kind of grace. Looking up at the waxing halfmoon, he wondered if the Goddess was laughing at him.