FULL NOVELXO Chapter 23 ~ You broke them
I hear *SNAP* and my head jerks up.. Derek had snapped her neck.. He shrugs “Oops?” Well fuck! That went south..quick, fast, and in a hurry! Edward asked Will “did you know?” He shook his head “She was adopted. I had a great relationship with her family.. never any indication of her ever knowing of any biological family.”
Adele speaks “This is what I wanted to tell you. Here..let me read
The blood of the three
The Black Forest free
Demons show soon
On the Blood Moon
If two of three dies
The demons will rise
I sit there..running the riddle through my brain. Shawn asks “The blood of three? Deities? Is that what he’s after?”
I nod… that’s it! “He has to mix the blood of three.. Edward.. Me.. and him! He has to kill us. In order to fulfill his version of the prophecy..he has to find a way to kill us. And he has to have all three bloodlines to do what? Open the demon realm? Is that it? My forest is somehow the key! I have to go back there… I have to look through NaNa’s things.. she had to have known something!!”
Derek says “Edward, want to see the inside of the forest? We will all go. Rhiannon has to allow us entry..and to be honest..I’m not trusting where Leonard is…right now. I’m sick to death of this prick seemingly being a step ahead of us, all this time! Rhia..should we send the Ospreys out on a scout?” I agree immediately…at least a heads’ up! And within minutes, the birds were scattered in all four directions.
We were getting loaded up, when Owen came back advising us to go straight overland due south.. there weren’t any roads..and clear of rogues. Derek decided the five of us would go on paws..and fifty warriors would come to the woodline in vehicles.. ready to defend the outer perimeter. And we shifted.
What would take over two hours driving, took less than 45 minutes, running in wolf form. We entered the forest in the north.. just east of the river. I stopped and destroyed the dam! Fucking old beaver! The forest was dark..quiet. We were being watched..and that was okay. When I reached the yew, we opened it up.. It smelled dank. Damp. It startled me for a minute. I put water on for tea and entered the bedroom. I called Derek for some help pulling NaNa’s trunk into the living room. Opening it, I was hit with a strong sense of nostalgia, inhaling her scent. I removed a couple shawls..a sweater.. then I spotted a journal. I nervously picked it up. The very first page stated ‘If you are reading this, I am gone. It now falls to you, and your children to know. You are the keeper of the gate. Beneath this tree, lies the gate to the Demon Realm. The prophecy is in motion, on my death. By now, you will have found your mate. He is fundamental in all of this. If you have not involved the king of wolves.. you need to do so, immediately.
The blood of the three must never mix. It must never be consumed by the descendant of Belial. This Yew Tree is an ancient. Three thousand years old. It has stood as testament to the survival of all species. To open the gate, the tree must be destroyed. It is why we are the only ones allowed in the forest. Selene, Helios, and Zeus sealed the demon realm. Circe was sent to earth to protect the gate. When she fell in love and had a child.. she was banished to Plaeides. And, as punishment, her descendants will always be responsible for keeping the demon realm sealed.
I look up at Derek..”It’s a curse! Our children are cursed. It’s too much responsibility and it isn’t fair! What I had always assumed to be a gift.. a blessing..is a punishment… Helios punished Circe for falling in love.” He lifted me onto his lap.. “You listen to me! It is not a curse! It is an honor! Our children will always know.. and have pride..knowing they are responsible for keeping the world safe from demons. Helios may have thought he was punishing her..but Circe prevailed. She lived..she loved.. and she gave birth to the future of our planet! It IS a blessing! And our children will know that!”
Edward smiled and took my hand “You are a blessing, Rhiannon! And together, we guarantee the safety and continuation of our species! The Moon Goddess wouldn’t trust us with this, if she didn’t believe we would prevail! We have until the Blood Moon to kill Connors. So now…we plan! We know the prophecy.. we know we have to change it! And we will. Let’s get back to the pack.. we research..we read the rest of the journal.. and we find that fucker! The Blood Moon is in three weeks. I say he’s dead before then! Because, I for one, am not letting him drink my blood! That’s just creepy!” And I laughed.
I closed the trunk and Derek put it back.. then I put the journal in a berry bag for easy carrying. I realized I didn’t get around to making tea. At least, Derek rinsed the kettle and put it away. As we stepped out the door, we were surrounded by Forest creatures. I explained to them why we were there..and to send messengers to me, if anything suspicious was happening!
We met the warriors at the northern edge of the forest and headed home. I am feeling much better since Derek and Edward gave me a different perspective.. and I simply have to remember… it is a blessing..and I let Leonard make me doubt my place. And..to look at it as a curse..is not believing in my NaNa! And that can’t happen. We have three weeks! To find Leonard.. or he finds us..
Adele met me at the truck as I step out..she pulls me into her arms and whispered “I felt your pain, child. I should have been with you. Your grandmother was my best friend and I knew what you would find. Unfortunately, it is your journey of discovery..and I have to let you walk it.” I hug her tightly and say “I understand, and I love you for it.” Then an idea begins to form… and I run to the library….remembering a part of the prophecy we had read. Knowing what we know now…it is sticking with me. I have to find what I read. It’s about Derek and I…and the creatures of the forest.
I run back to the office with the book.. “Derek! Listen to this…
* Do not despair…Blessed moon paired souls
Wars are not won by might alone
Creatures summoned amid shared goals
A King of fire defends his throne*
He and Edward are both looking at me with blank expressions. Apparently, what is making sense to me, eludes them both entirely. Monty starts laughing “Luna…I think you broke them!”
I said “No! No!!! Don’t you get it? The creatures…we summon them… all of the earth’s predatory animals. Birds of prey…wild wolves..bears..mountain lions..all of them! They will fight with us! It’s their lives, too! The King of Fire is self-fucking-explanatory.. Am I the only one getting this?”
And still…deer in headlights! Monty snickered.. “Come on.. I’ll go with you to tell the Ospreys to spread the word… Yeah.. you broke them!”