Chapter 7

Chapter 7

>Lucas´ house. War room. Night<

Tank performs a short ritual to summon the oracle. I watch in fascination as he burns an assortment of herbs in the hearth inside the war room. He loosens the drawstrings of a leather pouch to reveal some sort of powder. “Powdered moonstone. This will act as a beacon to lead the oracle to us.” “I didn´t know werewolves can perform magic.”

“I don´t possess magic. But this ritual can be performed by any supernatural being. It won´t work if you´re an ordinary human."
As Tank scatters the powder into the flames, the fire roars and rises higher, turning blue. Wendy, who is with us in the war room, cowers in fear at the flames. Liam strokes her head to calm her down.

“Now we wait.”

Lucas walks over to us and hands me my mobile phone. “Battery´s been charged. You can call Robert now.”

With a nod, I press a button to call Robert´s number. He answers the call in the first ring. “Laura, I´ve been worried sick. Where are you?”

“I´m fine, I´m --” I´m about to say that I´m at Lucas´, but think better of it. “I´m staying with a friend.”

“I´ve been at your house and there´s no one there and your phone´s out of reach. You had me worried sick.”

“I know. Something came up.”

“Yeah, family emergency. I´ve been to the hospital too.”

“Listen, Robert. I need your help.”

“What is it? Are you sure everything is all right? I want to see you.”

“Not right now, but I promise to see you after you help me.”

“I´m listening.”

“I´m sure you´ve heard of the animal attacks yesterday.”

“Yes. What about it?”

“We need to find out where they are being quarantined. The CDC got them.”

There´s a long pause on the other end of the line. He´s hesitating. “I´ll see what I can do. I´ll reach out to my contacts at the CDC. Is there anything else?”

“That´s it, Robert. Thank you.”

“No problem. I´ll call you as soon as I receive word. You take care. See you soon.” Robert ends the call.

I stare at my phone. There aren´t any messages or missed calls from my mom.

That´s weird. I´ll send her a message. “I

hope you´re all right. Send me a text when you receive this. I miss you.”

I lock my phone after the message sends. I feel my eyes swell up with unshed tears. I wish my mom was here right now.

Suddenly there is a flash of light and a woman materializes before our eyes. I can´t believe my eyes, the woman just appeared out of nowhere. This is a different form of magic I´m witnessing. I can´t help but feel fascinated by all this.

The women's long white hair is in sharp contrast against her ebony skin. She´s beautiful.

“Seven.”

“Tank McGrath, it´s been a long time.”

“I imagine you already know why I have summoned you.”

“The little wolf. Bring her to me.” 

Liam prods Wendy forward. Seven puts a hand on Wendy´s forehead and closes her eyes. When she opens them, her eyes are all white, but then slowly return to normal. "I can feel her humanity fade as the light of the moon wanes. She doesn´t have much time. We have until tomorrow night before the wolf inside her completely takes over.”

“What needs to be done then?” Liam asked.

“We need to perform the Ritual of the Moon Goddess. We will need offerings from the elements so that the moon will release her grasp on this little wolf. We have to gather these offerings as swiftly as we possibly can.”

“We´ll do anything to get them.” I spoke.

“Good. Because we are going to need a blood sacrifice from you, she-wolf.”

I am taken aback by the revelation. “A blood sacrifice? How much blood are we talking about precisely?”

“Just enough for the ritual. But don´t worry, it shouldn´t kill you.”

“That sounds reassuring.” Lucas nods.

“Why me?”

The oracles´ eyes narrow on me. “You don´t know? This is interesting.”

“Don´t know what?” What is she talking about?

“I think we should begin work on gathering the offerings for this ritual.” Lucas interrupted us.

I wish I understand more about what the oracle is saying. But I realize we have a more pressing matter at hand. I hope there´ll be sufficient time to ask her later.

“What do we need?” Tank asked.

“We are going to need morning dew from the night of the full moon.”

“I can gather that in the woods tomorrow morning.” Lucas offered.

Seven went on “Earth from where a first transformation has taken place.”

“Laura just transformed tonight by the cliff, so I can get soil from that very spot.” Liam said.

I can´t help but notice the curious look that Seven gives me. “I need a moonstone, sage and monkshood. And of course, the blood of the she-wolf.” The oracle looks at me. “Laura” I can hear her voice inside my head. The others don´t seem to have heard anything.

“Seven?”

“I would like to get to know you? Come to me later.”

As if nothing happened, Seven addresses the group. “We will offer all these in a pyre where a werewolf has died.”

“I know a spot. I think we can get all that we need.” Lucas told her.

“Then we just have to wait for the moon to rise tomorrow night so we can undertake the ritual. If that is everything, I would like to retire now.”

“Let me show you to the quarters.”

I watch as Lucas leads Seven out of the war room. Seven gives me a backward glance as they step outside.

I will need to keep it a secret when I pay the oracle a visit tonight. That way, no one will be able to interrupt. She´s been acting strange towards me, and I want to know why.

>Lucas´ house. Guest room. Night<

Later that night, while everyone is asleep, I sneak out of my room and walk down the hall to the oracle´s room. As if she´s been waiting by the door, the oracle let´s me in as soon as I knock. The smell of burning incense greets me. It immediately soothes my nerves.

“Take a seat.”

We sit opposite each other at a small round table by the window.

“You´re an interesting woman. I want to know more about you. Can I read you?”

“What will happen if you read me?”

“I will be able to tell your past.”

“All right. Do it.”

Seven takes my hand in hers and closes her eyes. When she opens them, her eyes are all white. It´s weird to see it up close. Her eyes return to normal after a few moments.

“Strange. I can´t get a read of your past. It´s as if you don´t have one.”

That is strange indeed.

“Who are your parents?”

“I never knew my dad. My mother is Claire Fuller.”

“Claire.” Seven murmurs my mother's name.

“Do you know her?”

“I know a Claire. But we may not know her the same way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing. I´m sorry. It´s just that I´m confused. I´ve never been unable to read someone´s past before. Perhaps it´s something to do with what you are.”

“What am I?”

Seven looks at me in disbelief. “You really don´t know?”

“I´m new to all this werewolf stuff.”

Seven seems to contemplate what she´s about to say for a moment. “You are an Alpha, Laura.”

“I thought only male werewolves can become Alphas.”

“No, gender has nothing to do with being an Alpha. You, on the other hand, are special.”

“Is it because Alphas are rare these days? Lucas told me most of them have been wiped out.”

“Oh, that Lucas. He´s an interesting young man, don´t you think? How long have you known him?”

“I´ve known him for four years, since I moved here.”

“Ah. I believe he knows you very well.”

“He does. He´s my best friends.”

There´s a long silence that follows and Seven smiles at me softly.

“So, I´m an Alpha. Is that the reason why you need my blood for the ritual?”

“Yes. The blood of a she-wolf like you is very potent in such rituals. I wonder. Would you like your future told? If I can´t get a read on your past, maybe I can see your future?”

My mom always told me that we make our own destiny. But after all that´s happened, becoming a werewolf, it scares me to think what destiny has in store for me.

“I guess it wouldn´t hurt to know the future.”

“It won´t. I promise.”

Seven takes my hand once again and her eyes become white. “I see a man in your future. The one you´re going to spend the rest of your life with.”

“Who is it?”

Seven did not answer.

“You kissed under the moon. Waxing. Full. Waning.” 

Suddenly, Seven gasps. Her grip on my hand tightens. “I see blood being spilled. Help them. A betrayal. Trust no one. An enemy must be defeated. I see death.”

Seven slumps forward onto the table. She appears to have lost consciousness. I attempt to rouse her. “Seven? Wake up.” What the hell just happened?

Seven groans and stirs. When she opens her eyes, they have returned to normal.

“Your future is for you and you only. Tell no one. Influencing the outcome of the future can have dangerous repercussions. You are more important than you think, Laura.”

“I don´t understand.”

“The answers are coming, but you will have to wait. You must go now.”

Seven practically pushes me out of the door, which she slams in my face.