Chapter 1: Loss and Mourning

The rain poured down heavily upon the canvas above them as the priest finished the eulogy.  The dreariness of the day did not seem to affect Rowan as she sat by her brother.  He was lost and alone.  His brown eyes were filled with tears as he mourned the loss of their parents. He needed her to place her arm around him and tell him that things would be ok. He needed her to let him know that he still mattered. That she was still the big sister that watched out for him.  But she seemed to be lost.  Nothing mattered.  Not anymore.  Her family was gone, torn apart by death and deception. 

     Someone nudged her and she responded just long enough to place her carnations on top of her parent's caskets.  Returning to her seat, she sat down.  The numbness had overtaken her and she was unable to feel or care. 

The dreary day was dark and cold and even though it was early afternoon, it felt as if it were late in the evening. The clouds darkened the sky and a sense of foreboding filled the air. She could feel the tension as she pulled herself back to reality.

She glanced up at her uncle Chace beside her. The look on his face was not one of grieving. He did not seem to care either way that his brother and his brother's wife had died. In fact, his eyes seemed almost triumphant.

She looked away and stared straight ahead once more. At 16 she was not old enough to take custody of her 14-year-old brother and run. Instead, their only living relative sat beside her.  She did not want to go with him. But she had no choice. He had already accepted the responsibilities and signed the custody papers. He had done that immediately after the accident.

Then there was Ryder. He was small for his age. His raven black hair and big brown eyes were a trademark from her father's side of the family.  His head was lowered and he looked so lost and alone.

Yet, she still could not bring herself to comfort him. Hell, she couldn't even pull herself together. Her own emotions were incomprehensible. Unable to concentrate any longer she let her mind wander once more.

The service ended and somehow she found herself back in her own room, not knowing how she got there. This was a first because she was always conscientious of things around her. 

She lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, as the rest of her stuff was being packed. Chace was taking them immediately after the dinner. The house would be locked up and closed down until her twenty-first Birthday then it would be hers. Once Ryder reached his twenty-first he would take over.

"Ro. You really should get changed and eat something. You haven't eaten since it happened."  Sari was speaking to her again and this time she heard her.

She let out a small sigh as she glanced over at her. "I'm not hungry and I am not leaving here. Ever!"

Sari let out an even heavier sigh. "You know HE will make you, don't you?

She knew he would. He was their guardian now. He'd wanted to be for some time. Well, as far back as she could remember. She had no understanding why. But, the way he looked at her made her cringe at times. He was her father's brother. Well, adopted brother. Why would he look at her like he owned her?

At twenty-three it was creepy at best for him to want to take custody.  Yet, he did. He didn't seem to care about Ryder much. It was almost as if he was taking him because he knew that Rowan was close to him and didn't want her unhappy. 

She sat up then slid off her bed. The carpet seemed warm on her bare feet. After heaving a heavy sigh she headed to take a hot shower. Maybe it would make her feel better.

Climbing into the shower, she let the hot water cover her body in warmth. The heat felt good as the day was cold and rainy. Once she was done, she climbed out of the shower and dried herself with a big fluffy towel.  After wiping the steam off the mirror she gazed at her face. She felt kind of out of place as she looked at her flawless skin. The skin at her age that should have had a blemish by now. Her eyelashes were thick and dark. Her lips full and her nose petite. Her ears were perfectly even and her eyes were an emerald green. A color that was rare among her family and her friends.

Then there was her hair. Another thing that made her feel out of place. It hung down to her waist. A mass of thick wavy curls. Not one piece of hair was ever out of place when she styled it. It just went naturally and remained, however, she styled it.

After throwing it into a ponytail and letting a few strands fall she descended the stairs in the hallway. She really didn't want to face the crowd of well-wishers and mourners that awaited her. But, it was her duty as the oldest remaining member of her family. As she reached the bottom stair she heaved a sigh of relief to see everyone had left. Just a few people remained to help clean up and they were almost done.

Sari immediately took her arm and tugged her into the kitchen. "Chace says you must eat before you leave."

She inwardly groaned and followed. She was not hungry, nor did she have the will to eat right now. But, Chace would stand over her if she didn't eat and she did not want that. So, she sat down as a plate of food was placed in front of her. Mini sandwiches a few carrot sticks and a glass of milk was added to it. She picked up a carrot and took a half-hearted bite. She still felt empty inside as she looked away. Away from the ladies fawning over her like a cute kitten. She tried to block them out. The sounds of, "Oh the poor dear." "How will she ever cope without her parents." "Will the brother do right by them."

She closed her eyes trying to pretend she wasn't hearing the gossiping of the woman. They meant well, but the words were too painful to hear. Her life had just been turned upside down and she has lost two of the most precious people in her life. She seemed to hear the voices as if they were so very far away.

"Ro? Please talk to me."

She opened her eyes. Ryder stood beside her. She had not felt him there. Usually she did. It caused her to jump slightly. She looked up at him. His face looking lost and forlorn. She knew he was hurt and upset. Yet, she sat there unmoving. Unable to take it anymore, he started to cry, then he wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged her. After a long moment, she put her arms around him numbly. She did not feel anything, but it was a normal reaction to him. She always hugged him when he was sad or down.

"I miss them, Ro. I need you so much. Where are you? It is like you have left me alone." He spoke in between gasps for breath and crying. She closed her eyes, trying to feel. Anything. Anything at all would do for her brother. But she was drained and had nothing more to give right now. She let go and pushed him back, ignoring the hurt look in his eyes. It didn't help that she could see both of her parents in him. That she saw her mother in his smile and her father in his eyes. It just tore her up even more inside.

"Ry....I can't. Not right now. I just can't." She stood and walked over to the window to look out at the dark sky. The clouds had dissipated and she could see the stars. She watched them for a moment. The twinkling and the little bit of light that they gave. Her mother had told her once. 'If something ever happens to me or your father, remember that we will always be looking down on you and Ryder. No matter what. You and your brother are what make us rich. Not all the money that we have. That is an added bonus.'

The memory made her feel even more empty. It should have comforted her, but it didn't. In fact it made her even more sad.

She heard one of the ladies whispering to Ryder and telling him that she would be alright and he would have his sister bacck soon. To just be patient. She was grieving just as he was, but that everyone greived in a different way.

She continued to gaze at the night sky and sighed.

Then she noticed it, suddenly her eyes widened.

Blood on the moon!