Chapter Nine: The Moon’s Pull

In the inky darkness, a woman sat, with cascading fiery red hair that emulated a sea of flames and amber eyes that gleamed like the sun. In the darkness, her body was the only source of light as she shimmered, a white aura surrounding her.

Her gaze met mine, a tender smile gracing her beautiful features.

Something in me told me I knew this woman and was deeply connected to her.

I looked down at her hands which clutched her swollen belly, proof that she was pregnant.

“Feel her,” she whispered to me, her voice a gentle caress. Driven by an irresistible impulse, I extended my hand toward her belly. As my palm made contact with her, a surge of energy coursed through me, flowing till it finally settled in my heart.

Realization dawned on me. This was my mother and the baby in her womb was me.

“She will be strong, just like you are” Her voice carried a sad undertone, “But I’m sorry I won't be there to watch you grow.”

“Why?” I found myself asking, an overwhelming wave of grief and sorrow engulfing me.

“It is a sacrifice I must make.”

Terror gripped me, “No! Come with me.” I reached out to her but I couldn't seem to reach. She shook her head, her beautiful face stained with tears.

“I’m sorry. You have to go through this path without me.”

Tears flowed freely from my eyes. I didn't want her to go. The more I reached out to her, the farther she retreated into the absorbing darkness until she was entirely enveloped in it.

I woke up abruptly, drenched in perspiration. I was in my room, the one I hadn't quite gotten familiar with. My hands moved to my face, touching the wet streaks of tears on my face.

I had been crying.

The night sky was visible from the window.

I never got the chance to meet my mother but when I saw her in the dream knew it was her. The dream felt unnervingly real as if she had really been there. My hands moved to my chest where my heart ached painfully from the raw emotions I had and was feeling.

I needed her.

She was the only one who could explain what was going on with me. It felt like she wanted to tell me something, she wanted me to understand something. I remembered she mentioned something about a sacrifice and It made me wonder.

What did she mean?

I heaved a sigh. Things just kept getting more complicated.

Feeling the sudden urge to drink, I left my room and ventured into the house. It was quiet, too quiet, and I felt like I was the only person present. I was hesitant about the whole thing because I wasn't comfortable and didn't know my way around the house, but I was too thirsty not to do anything about it.

In the kitchen, there was no one there, not even the cook. I took out a glass and filled it with water from the tap sink, then drank it down in a desperate gulp. As I left the kitchen and headed to my room, an irresistible force tugged me outside.

Gulping it down, I left the kitchen and instead of wandering back to my room like I should, a force pulled me outside.

A chill wind embraced me, and I turned toward its source, only to discover the entrance door wide open.

A sudden fear gripped me.

Why was the door wide open by this time? Had someone gotten in?

Every instinct screamed for me to rush back to my room and lock myself in until morning. But for an unexplainable reason, I reached for the door. I moved to shut it, and lock it but my thoughts drifted to Devyn.

What if I was locking him out?

I'm pretty sure a locked door wouldn't stop him.

When I finally reached the door, my hand on the knob as I prepared to shut it, the translucent view of the moon in the night sky suddenly caught my attention. I was instantly drawn to it, like a moth drawn to a lamplight. My gaze remained fixated on it as if I was bewitched by it.

My subconscious mind was screaming at me to turn back and get the hell back in, but a part of me fought against it, its resolve stronger and unwavering.

Before I knew it, I emerged from the house fully, not even bothering to shut the door on my way out.

And then I began to walk.

The moon’s pull was irresistible like the energy radiating from it had taken control of my entire body. I let its beauty and power draw me in as I followed it, walking along the dimly lit streets, my gaze never leaving its luminous orb.

When I realized my steps led me to the woods, I felt instant apprehension wash over me. My mind fought hard as it tried to gain control of my body, but I was too powerless to win. I continued to walk, oblivious to how much time passed. I was moving past the looming trees and overgrown underbrush, all the while my gaze was still on the moon. I became lost in the eerie darkness of the woods and a sense of impending doom began closing in.

The desire to scream welled up within me.

“Help.” I intended to shout but it came out as a mere whisper. I tried again, this time louder.

“Help! Anyone.” my voice echoing in the forest sent chills down my spine, making the hair at the back of my neck stand.

Relentlessly, I was guided until I found myself teetering at the edge of what looked like a cliff. My body wasn't stopping and the realization that I was going to be thrown off the cliff made every blood in my body freeze.

“Help!” Tears burned at my eyes, as the moon watched me.

“Fuck you,” I seethed at it, not sure why I was talking to the moon, but something told me it could hear me, listening and watching as it led me to my death.

‘You are strong, Gina. So much stronger than you think

It was my mom’s voice and I felt my heart swell with a warm emotion.

A surge of determination suddenly engulfed me. It coursed through my veins, propelling me with a relentless resolve.

I’m not going to die here.

I fought hard, struggling to take control of my body. My skin burned with an overwhelming surge of energy as if something beneath it yearned to break free. Excruciating pain engulfed me, and when I attempted to scream, my voice was trapped. Something wanted to tear at my skin, wanted to rip me into pieces just to get out. I bit my lip, drawing blood as I tried to bear the pain.

I'm not going to die here.

Suddenly, something grabbed my arm and yanked me back with so much force that I was basically thrown to the other side. I landed on the ground with a painful thud, and suddenly I had control over my body as if the hit on the ground had been a reset button.

My gaze met a familiar pair of blue eyes, but they burned with anger.

I never thought I would be happy to see him.

“What the fuck, Gina!” He barked at me, as he pulled me off the ground in a swift motion.

“Devyn,” I basically breathed out his name, my heart leaping in my chest.

He saved me.

“How did you get out of the house?” he was breathing heavily like he had been running.

“The door was open. I wanted to shut it but I the moon,” I explained, shuddering as I remembered the feeling of not being able to have control over my body, “I couldn’t control my body.”

“Are you out of your damn mind?” He growled, his glare burning into mine, “You never leave the house. You do and you die.”

“I’m fine now,” I said, avoiding his gaze.

I wanted to free myself from his grasp but his grip tightened and I felt pain radiate through me.

“You’re hurting me,” I bit out but he wasn't having any of it. He pulled me roughly as he walked through the woods as I struggled.

“Can you let go? I'm fine now.”

“Shut up.” I was shocked at his harsh tone.

Something in me told me to shut up. When we arrived at the house, he marched up the stairs and then to my room. He flung me on the bed with so much force that I yelped. When I steadied myself, I sat upright and looked at his face as he towered above me.

“I know I’m at fault here, and I shouldn't have left the house, but that doesn’t mean you should push me around like a fucking rag doll,” I bit out, glaring back at him.

“You don’t ever learn, do you?” His voice was gruff and his expression hard. “Maybe I should lock you in your room. That way you won’t go running off like an idiot.”

The thought of me locked alone in my room like a prisoner made me boil with anger and frustration.

“Don’t do it.”

He didn’t respond.

When he tried to retreat to the door, Impulsively, I got up from my bed, reached out, and held his arm tight.

“Don’t lock me in. I'm not some prisoner.”I gritted my teeth at him.

His eyes widened a bit, the only expression I had seen on his face besides anger. I heard an animalistic growl erupt from his chest, “Get your hands off.”

It was a warning, but I didn't budge. His large frame and his prowess were intimidating but I wasn't going to give him that satisfaction. Instead, I lifted my head high and stared at him defiantly. “I won't let you go till you decide not to lock me in.”

I don't know why I acted the way I did that night, or where the sudden confidence came from. but when he clasped his strong hand around my neck, and my eyes met his bloodshot eyes, I knew I'd made a mistake.