***
After Aunt Bev left, I cooked a frozen pizza, then settled on the over-stuffed couch in the den to watch E.T. I loved that movie. When I was little, some boys in my class called me E.T. because I had great big eyes and a high forehead. I went home and cried thinking it was a bad thing. My mom, being the loving and affectionate person that she was, rushed right out and bought the movie. As we watched it together she explained that those boys were just jealous because E.T was this really great alien who could make things move with his mind, and they wanted to be like him but weren’t.
The next day at school, those same boys, waited on the playground. When my class came outside they tried to taunt me again expecting me to cry, but instead of crying I smiled and skipped away. They never teased me after that day, and that was when I knew my mom was the greatest mom ever.
Occasionally we would watch it if I was upset about something, and I always felt better afterward. Although I was sitting there watching E.T. alone, it made me feel like she was there with me again.
Not even halfway into the movie my phone rang. It was a text message from Luna.
Are you at home? Luna wrote.
Yeah. Watching a movie. What’s up? I was into the movie so it took me several minutes to write back.
I’m coming over. Be there in a few. DON’T LEAVE!
I tossed the phone onto the couch beside me, and carried my pizza leftover into the kitchen. I put my plate into the dishwasher and heard a knock on the sliding glass doors. My heart jumped because I didn’t think Luna had enough time to get all the way to my house from hers.
My adrenaline surged through my veins. I grabbed a large knife from the knife block on the island next to the cook top, and inched my way quietly to the door. I pressed my back against the wall and peeked out the side of the curtains. As quiet as I had been, Luna was looking right at me. I let out a lungful of air, realizing then I’d been holding my breath the whole time.
“How did you get here so fast?” I asked incredulously.
She pointed to the small boat tied at the dock. “I live across the lake. It only takes like five seconds to get here by boat.” She wasn’t her usual happy self, and I could tell.
“Come on in, I’m watching-”
“I need a ride into town—like now!”
“What’s wrong, Luna? Is someone in trouble?”
“Yeah… no… I don’t know. There’s been a meeting of the town council called.”
“Uh-I know. That’s where my aunt told me she was going.”
“You don’t understand, Gen.” Luna’ voice sounded frantic and desperate. This is not like a regular meeting. Someone “called” for it.” Luna said, doing air quotes with her fingers.
“Which means…?” I held both arms out, palm up.
“I’ll tell you what it means. It means something’s up, and they want it kept a secret.” She followed me into the den. I dropped onto the couch while she just stood across the room, not even bothering to take off her jacket. “I want to go there to find out why they’re all being so secretive.”
“Luna, I’m sure it’s nothing. You want something to drink?” I asked her before taking a large drink of my pop.
“Fine! If you won’t take me, I’ll… I’ll hitchhike!” Angry tears filled her eyes as she spun on her heel and headed out of the room.
“Wait!” I yelled, jumping up from the couch. I didn’t realize how determined she really was until the front door swung open.
I ran out of the den, through the living room, and caught up to her just as she was headed out the door. “Wait here and let me throw on some jeans.”
I found Luna pacing back and forth in the foyer when I came back down stairs. “Let’s go,” she said sounding anxious as she started to open the front door.
“No. Lock that door. We’re going out through the kitchen. I hit the garage door button then we jumped in the Jeep, and backed out.
When I glanced at Luna, she was chewing the inside of her lip, and nervously bouncing her knee at record speed. “All this really has you freaked out, doesn’t it?” I asked, softly rubbing her shoulder.
Luna paused for a minute before answering. “You don’t understand how important this meeting is, Gen. Something big is happening. The last time they called a meeting was after….” Her voice trailed off and she started fidgeting with the zipper on her jacket, then peered at me again. “If I tell you something, you promise to have an open mind?”
“Yeah… sure. I guess so.”
“For many years there has been this…” Luna paused.
I looked at her and saw tears welling up.
“What is it Luna?”
Luna shook her head, but stayed silent the rest of the way to town.
There was an eeriness as we drove through town. Even though it was still fairly early, the streets were empty. I didn’t even see a dog or cat anywhere. I felt around on my door and quietly pressed the lock down.
Following Luna’s directions it seemed as though we were headed straight toward a dilapidated fishery. The building sat next to the water beside a few broken down, decaying fishing boats. She had us park behind a tall bank to hide the Jeep from view of the factory and the road.
“Why are they having a town council meeting here? Shouldn’t it be at, like, city hall or something? I asked sardonically.
Luna furrowed her brow. “Shh! Keep your voice down or they’ll hear us,” she whispered. “Stay down and follow me.” She then looked briefly over her shoulder at me. “Quietly!”
I felt silly following Luna’s zigzagging motions, and thought maybe she’d watched Rambo a few too many times.
When we got to the building my heart was pounding so hard I could feel the pulsing in my temples, which was giving me a major headache. We eased around to the back of the building. I had a sneaking suspicion Luna had done this before after spotting a few old crates strategically placed directly underneath a broken window.
“When we get to the window you have to be super quiet,” she whispered.
After nodding that I understood, we dropped to the ground and belly crawled until we were both by the crates. I swallowed hard when I heard a man’s voice shouting.
“My people fought for peace for many years. There was too much bloodshed between the lycan, Adlet wolves, and bloodsuckers.”
Luna tapped me on the shoulder. “That’s my grandfather talking,” she whispered.
“When the pack of the Lycan rebels came, somehow, they were able to get past our warriors, standing guard. The lycan only left after feeling certain they had killed everyone. Royal family, warriors and all. This is the way our tribe left it until someone betrayed our trust and told them of a female infant that had been safely smuggled out.
In my vision quest I was shown that the princess had returned, and the time is near when she will once again bring peace between our worlds.”
“Do you think they know she is here?” I overheard a woman ask.
“Who is that?” I tapped Luna on the shoulder, and mouthed the words.
“My mother,” she whispered.
“You’re not even certain Genevieve is the princess. Her life is in danger, and it might be for nothing!” My jaw dropped and it felt like all the blood raced away from my brain when I heard what my aunt was saying.
“All the signs lead to her, and I know you have seen the book. Even the picture bares a family resemblance to her.” Miss Baylor said.
“That picture could be anyone of a hundred people,” Bev snapped, but her voice wavered. “Gen hasn’t shown any signs of the transformation. It might not even be her. Why can’t one of the local daughters reign?”
“Quiet!” Luna’s grandfather shouted. “Only a pureblood can ascend to the throne.
“Yes, Uncle, and the fire ceremony has proved that theory. It must be her!” Miss Baylor argued.
“Everybody… please settle down.” Luna’s mother spoke calmly. “We all know there is one more test that will tell for certain. H
ave Annalisa perform the test, and if it proves that she is indeed the princess, we will start the preparations.”
The long silence made me extremely nervous.
“All right,” Aunt Bev uttered, sounding completely exhausted. “Perform the test. I won’t stand in the way.” She paused momentarily. “I will do whatever is needed to stop the killing.”