Page 45 of Blood Moon
By the evening, as the golden light kissed the earth, I slipped onto the front porch of Hester Hall. The pavement was cool beneath my feet as I walked to one of the rocking chairs, pulled my knees to my chest.
The university felt void of life, apart from a car that pulled out of a parking spot and the gentle rising hum of crickets and katydids. A cool breeze crinkled the fallen leaves, and suddenly, moving in a quick stride toward Campus Center was Julian.
A jolt rushed through me, and I perked up, craning my neck to see where he was off to. Even now, I was unsure what dorm he lived in, or if he stayed on campus at all. I contemplated calling out to him, but after last night, I wasn’t sure how to categorize him in my brain.Still an enemy, yes. Still had secrets, yes. Painstakingly relishing our kiss and completely flustered by it, yes.
But as Julian rounded a corner, nearly disappearing, I realized there was something off about him, worthy enough to chase after. It was the quickness of his pace, the way he hurried down the path before him like he was being timed. It was how he gripped the straps of his backpack, and how—even from here—I could see his jaw locking. Either he was after something, or something was after him.
I slunk out of my chair and down the sidewalk, rehearsing what my speech would be if I were caught. “There was a kitten,” I’d say. “I saw it from my window and needed to rescue it.” Though I was barefoot and braless, it seemed believable enough.
There was a fair distance between Julian and me. His pace slowed as he pulled out his phone, texting. The distraction made it easier to sleuth. Should he glance behind his shoulder, I’d dash into the woods, bury myself behind a sycamore tree.
He veered past all the academic buildings—a decision that perplexed me. This far out, there was only the Averill Athletic Center. Beyond it was a rolling green that stretched into the darkened stadium, the lake, and the line of trees.
Ahead, a sidewalk split into two. Julian took the further path, and when he did, my chest burned at the touch of my necklace. A voice insisted I take for the woods now. I obeyed, only needing one nudge. I crept through the cold, wet grass in a crouch until I was met with brown maple and hickory.
I’d barely made it to cover when Julian pivoted on his heels and scanned the premises, looking but not catching anything. What was he up to?
Feeling daring, I peeked, gripping at the ridged tree trunk. Three men appeared, approaching Julian where he stood. I hadn’t seen where they’d emerged from; it was as if they’d materialized from nothing.
The men were roughly the same height as Julian, but there was a ruggedness about them, a savageness that sat perched on their shoulders like a demon waiting to whisper in their ears.
Of the three men, one of them held an air of dominance. It was obvious from how the other two fell behind, and in many ways, he reminded me of Julian. Long, dark hair. Sun-kissed skin. Golden eyes. It was remarkable how indistinguishable the two of them were. A brother or a cousin, perhaps.
They paused a foot away from Julian, and the one in charge had a sneer etched into his lips. He said something, but I didn’t catch what it was since I was about thirty yards away.
I inched toward the next tree, gritting my teeth as sticky pods and fallen branches jabbed at my soles. I waited to look, waited to breathe. What if they’d heard me?
A quick glance confirmed I was safe, but as I peered closer, I realized something had happened in the moments I was away. Julian stood taller, chest taut.
In mockery, the man before him laughed. He’d said a snide remark; I could tell by his turned-up nose, but although I was a few feet closer, I still couldn’t make out the words.
Ahead, I spotted an elm tree with lower branches and a wide trunk, similar to the one I used to climb in my backyard. It was a stretch away, and much more of a risk to venture there, but with the night already creeping in, I’d practically be invisible at the top—that wasifI made it.
I turned just enough to see them again, only this time, Julian was speaking. Whatever it was, it seemed lethal. He leaned in, fists balled, spewing venom. The other two men—guards, I now assumed—moved in on Julian, ready to protect the leader. It was a good enough distraction to head for the next tree.
My haste stirred something in the underbrush, but I disregarded it, climbing up the elm with a thundering in my chest.
It wasn’t until I was perched in the canopy of leaves, that I spied. Now, all four of them were deathly rigid, in search of an interloper. I pressed my lips together, hoping my pleas would keep me hidden.Please don’t notice me, please don’t notice me.
That seemed to work because only then did I hear a voice. It was nasally, a bit sour. “Whoa, easy now, cowboy.” They’d resumed their conversation, but the air was stiff. “It’d be unfortunate if you ended up with another bruise beneath your eye.”
“Chase,” Julian snarled. “Is that a challenge?” The guards encircled them, and I nearly gasped. Was I about to witness a fight? Wasthiswhat Julian had been up to?
“Get your shit together, Julian. It’s already a new moon, and only so many days until the ceremony. Do you even have a backup plan? We’re tired of cleaning up your messes. What are you going to do if you run out of time?”
“I won’t, and I don’t need you. Youneedme, remember that.” He took a few steps back to catch himself. “Why are you even here? I was already on the way.”
“Because I can do what I want, when I want, that’s why. And anyway, someone needed to remind you of your downfall.” Chase flicked a bug from his shoulder. “She hardly has patience for you these days, you know that right? Another slip up, and …” He mimed the rest, slid a finger across his throat.
Julian grumbled, but I noticed how he sunk at the mention of her—whoevershewas. “Are you that desperate to suck up to her? C’mon, what about morality, brotherhood?”
Chase shrugged. “Who cares about any of that if there’s a war? Get your head in the game or drop out completely.”
Julian was about to respond, then he paused. Together, their gaze snapped to the woods, listening for something that wasn’t there.
“She’s calling,” Chase said.She.The mention of her again. How was it possible when I heard nothing? And who was she?
They made a beeline toward me, rushing through the trees. I closed my eyes, covered my mouth in terror. Had they found me out? Had the mystery woman informed them of my presence?
