Ties To The Blood Moon

Prologue

Aunt Bev kept telling me it wasn’t my fault. But, if I had waited one more day before leaving to spend spring break with her in Alaska, I would have been home to pull my mother from the burning house. I knew my aunt meant well, but it hadn’t helped with my dreams for the past two weeks. Or should I say nightmares?

As soon as I lay down and closed my eyes, the same scene filled my mind over and over again. Almost like a memory. I was in the woods just outside my house and helplessly watched a huge ferocious dog-like creature circling my house while it burned. At first glance the animal appeared to be red, but as I continued to stare, the color of his fur shifted like that of dancing flames.

My childhood home was on fire and I looked helplessly on, listening to my mother’s screams coming from somewhere inside. I knew I had to save her, but I was afraid.

Mom, I screamed, and started to rush for the house when the beast noticed me and snarled. I froze, unable to move. His yellow eyes glowed as if they reflected the fire behind him and I saw his blood stained fangs.

I quickly ran away from the house. Away from saving my mother from the hungry flames that consumed her. I glanced to either side as I ran and could see the faint reddish glow of several other dogs through the trees. They had joined the first dog in the pursuit of his prey.

My lungs burned as the woods ignited behind the dogs, forcing me to run faster or be consumed by the same fire that claimed my mother’s life. I skidded to a stop at the edge of a cliff and spun around to face the pack of wild beasts as one-by-one they emerged from the burning trees and approached me. They appeared to be almost smiling.

I had two choices. Each of them a death sentence. I chose the latter and leaped from the cliff. The dogs peered over the edge as I fell away from them. They seemed disappointed with my choice. As they moved away out of sight I looked below and saw the ground rushing up at me.

Right before impact I woke up and realized I was still falling. I hit the hardwood floor beside my bed and cried out.

Chapter 1

Today would be my first day at my new high school. Aunt Bev didn’t know it yet, but she would. Between the nightmares and the twenty plus hours of sun I found it hard to sleep at all. Reluctantly, I climbed out from under the four thick quilts that lined my wrought iron bed and stood in front of my pine wood closet, staring at all the new clothes Aunt Bev had bought for me. I sighed heavily and dropped my shoulders. My heart was full of sadness for my mom, and I needed to get out of the house and away from my aunt. I loved her for everything she was trying to do, but she was beginning to suffocate me.

Determined to get out of the house, I flipped through the rack of new clothes, but ended up choosing a pair of my old jeans, my favorite long sleeve hooded tee-shirt, and my old red converse shoes—all of which my mom had bought me. The only new item I chose was a black parka Aunt Bev had picked out. She’d insisted it was normal wear for all the residents of Haven, Alaska. When I had tried it on at the Haven Mall—that’s code for the only general store within fifty miles—I felt like a bubble wrapped package. And I’m pretty sure I looked like one, too.

After showering, I stared at my reflection. My carrot red curls seemed brighter in the Alaskan light, so did my light blue eyes which made my already pale complexion take on a bluish hue. I brushed my teeth, got dressed, but something was itching the back of my neck. I knew it wasn’t the tag inside my shirt, because it was an old shirt and I always cut the itchy ones out right away. I went back into the bathroom, but when I pulled my hair up, there was nothing there. I shrugged, and plucked the bubble wrap jacket from my bed before going downstairs.

I stopped at the bottom of the steps and gazed through the huge bay windows. Outside reminded me of a Norman Rockwell painting my mother had hanging on the wall in our den. Soft rolling hills casually dropping off into a small lake surrounded on three sides by large fir trees reaching for the sky. A low fog hung just above the water like a blanket of soft cotton.

Gen, my aunt called, for the gazillionth time since I’d gotten off the plane.

Yeah—Coming. I rolled my eyes.

Aunt Bev was just setting a giant stack of pancakes on the table when I pushed through the kitchen’s swinging door. I couldn’t help but notice the muscles in her arm when she extended it to set the plate in front of me. She glanced up and smiled. Just then, my heart panged because she looked so much like my mom. They both had dark hair and blue eyes and shared the same quirky smile. Even though Aunt Bev was five years older than my mom, she seemed younger for some reason.

We ate in silence. I pushed my fork around my plate trying to get up the nerve to tell her I wanted to go to school. I wanted to go anywhere outside of this house. I felt like a prisoner. My mom hadn’t been near as protective as Bev.

I felt her eyes on me, but I didn’t look up. Finally, I blurted out what was building inside of me. I want to go to school. It’s senior year, Aunt Bev, I pleaded.

I thought we decided you would home school. She paused then added. The weather here can be very unforgiving, you know.

I rolled my eyes. I don’t care, I yelled and jumped from my seat. I need to be around people. I raked my plate in the garbage. Come on, Aunt Bev—I’m seventeen for Christ’s sake. I started to pace trying to come up with some kind of rationalization that she wouldn’t be able to argue with. Then it hit me. Please, Aunt Bev. I think if I was at school every day I wouldn’t think so much about mom.

Aunt Bev tucked her bangs behind her ear and stood. I watched her face for any kind of telltale sign of what her answer might be. She just stood still like a statue. I kept saying over and over in my mind, say yes, say yes, say yes.

That quirky smile of hers suddenly spread across her face. Okay, okay. She said, and laughed light heartedly.

I screamed with delight and rushed around the table wrapping her in a hug and lifted her off the floor. I didn’t think about it at the time, but lifting her was like lifting my fork.

We pulled in front of the school. This is it? The building didn’t look at all like a school. Instead, it reminded me of a large airplane hangar huddled in the middle of a few smaller ones. I was totally relieved to see school had already started and the students were tucked in their classrooms somewhere—hopefully far away from view of the front office.

I exited Aunt Bev’s Jeep and to my surprise I heard another door shut. I quickly turned to look behind me. Aunt Bev, wrapped up like an Indian papoose, had filed in behind me. I gave her the old, You’ve got to be joking look. A bubble wrapped teenager and her blanket wrapped aunt—I’ll bet we made the handsome couple.

What? She asked, her forehead wrinkled with a frown.

I can register myself.

Like, no—you can’t. she answered in a teenager’s mocking tone and out came that quirky smile of hers, again. I shook my head and couldn’t help but smile.

All right, I mumbled, not finding any humor in being treated like a twelve year old. My shoulders slumped. Another few minutes and I’ll be free…for seven hours anyway.

When we entered the school it looked completely different than I had pictured. There were doors on either side of the hall with lockers in between. Aunt Bev pushed through the glass door marked office and I followed with my head down.

Once inside, we stepped to the long counter that split the office down the middle. It surprised me when the lady behind the counter called Aunt Bev by name. Why would she know her? It wasn’t like Aunt Bev had kids.

She had black hair a round face and high cheekbones. She was wearing blue jeans and a neon pink shirt with a picture of a wolf screened on the front. I immediately felt at home. In my old school everybody over dressed. Even the coach wore designer wind suits.

She didn’t look like the mental image of an Eskimo I’d always had. I always pictured them with animal skin jackets, matching boots, ice hanging off their faces, and living in little igloos.

She and Aunt Bev talked for several minutes, apparently forgetting the reason they had gotten the chance for their visit in the first place.

When they both finally took a breath I saw my cue. Um…can I get my schedule and go on to class?

Oh… uh, of course. Here you go Genevieve. And here’s a map. She handed me a piece of paper with four lines and a few boxes on it. I briefly glanced, and stuffed it into my pocket and looked her square in the eye.

It’s Gen, I said flatly, then looked over my schedule, told Aunt Bev bye, and hurried out the door.

I’m free, thank God, I mumbled under my breath as I strolled down the hall to find my English class. According to the map my first class was all the way at the end of the second hallway, which to my surprise turned out to be a whole lot shorter that what it looked like on the paper.

With my jacket over one arm and my backpack thrown over my shoulder I took a deep breath, which did nothing to slow my climbing heart rate. I entered the room, and all eyes were on me. I thought I might hyperventilate on the spot.

Mr. Donovan was short, bald, and his furrowed eyebrows said he was very perturbed that I had the nerve to show up in the middle of his class. I cleared my throat and handed him the piece of paper from the office. He looked down his nose through his little round glasses and squinted at the piece of paper before handing it back, along with a sheet of assignments.

Find a seat, Miss Labreck. I turned and looked up. The kids had already lost interest but I kept my eyes glued to the floor until I reached my desk in the next to last row. After pouring over the essay list, I thought of my old essays at home and thought of my mom. My eyes grew hot with tears. Not now! I pretended to have something in my eye and rubbed at it with my fingers.

When the bell rang—actually it sounded more like a loud grinding buzzer at the end of a basketball game—I waited until everyone filed out of the door before checking my schedule for my next embarrassment. I sensed someone watching me and looked up.

Hi. I’m Luna, the dark-haired girl said in a soft voice. She was very pretty. Long straight jet-black hair swept to one side, light brown skin that glowed against the bright overhead lights, and high cheekbones that pushed her eyes in an upward sweep.

When I stood, I was at least four inches taller. Hi. I smiled. Gen.

Where’s your next class? she asked.

Chemistry, uh, somewhere, I said, and fumbled for my schedule.

We only have one chemistry teacher. She giggled. Come on. I’ll walk you.

We talked along the way and she pointed out the library and lunchroom as we passed. When she left me at the door to the chemistry lab, we made plans to meet at lunch.

I was glad there were no extra students for me to pair with in chemistry. I got to work by myself, which was a good thing, because chemistry was not my strong subject and I didn’t feel like making a fool out of myself on my first day.

By lunch, I was starting to relax a little. I followed Luna through the line, and then we sat with a group of her friends. She introduced them, but I instantly forgot their names as soon as she said them.

Sitting at the table lost in the cacophony of voices, I felt someone’s eyes on me. I purposely dropped my fork on the floor and while leaning down to pick it up I looked behind me. Across the room, I spotted three Indian boys sitting at a table by themselves. All three had long black hair, tanned skin, and muscular bodies. I kept looking around until I spotted the one who’d been looking at me. Don’t ask me how I knew he was the one—because he wasn’t looking at me when I saw him—but I just did.

He was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. His disheveled russet color hair boasted reddish highlights shining under the lights, and his chiseled jaw-line defined his masculine facial features, and sort of pouty lips. His eyes were a piercing green color, like the color of the Jamaican waters, and he knew how to use them to his advantage. He wasn’t all busting out with muscles either. He was more on the lean side, but I plainly saw the muscles outlined in his tight shirt.

Even though he was sitting alone he must have heard something funny because I saw one side of his mouth curve up in a smile. My heart drummed hyperactively and it was at that moment I knew I was going to be happy at my new school.

Chapter 2

I wanted to throw my alarm clock through the window, but I didn’t because I wasn’t quite awake enough to move. I had fought the urge to sleep as long as I could. Every time I did fall asleep, the same nightmare returned. It was as if someone repeatedly pushed rewind then play on a DVD player in my head. The end result would be me waking up just as tired as when I’d gone to sleep.

After a long hot shower I dressed and went downstairs to the kitchen. To my surprise, Aunt Bev was gone. She’d left a note and as soon as I read it I squealed with delight. She’d had some early morning errands and had actually left me the keys to the jeep. It didn’t even much matter that the note said to come straight home from school and not to talk to strangers. Really, Aunt Bev. What am I— like twelve? And since I didn’t really know anyone yet, where would I go? It made my day not having to be dropped off with most of the kids still in the parking lot.

It was cold and rainy when I left for school, but it was still a freakin’ awesome day to me. After I turned the key and the jeep fired up, a smile stretched across my face and was still there when I pulled into the school’s parking lot. I pulled into an empty space at the far corner of the lot. I grabbed my backpack and put my hand on the door handle, suddenly feeling like I was being watched again. When I pushed open my door and jumped down, I casually twisted around, scanning all the unfamiliar faces.

The same three boys I’d seen in the lunchroom were hanging out under a giant fir tree of some kind. Even though all three looked a lot alike, two of them looked identical. They were laughing and talking, but I noticed the third one seemed to be staring a hole through me. I raised my head and sort of smiled, only he didn’t smile back. He just promptly turned his attention to his friends. I felt like a total moron. My eyebrows furrowed and I stomped off toward the side door of the school. Didn’t he know when someone was obviously trying to be nice?

I was still fuming when Luna caught up to me.

Hey, Gen. Wait up, she called out. I could tell by the sudden change of expression on her face she knew something was bothering me.

What’s wrong? She asked, following me inside the building.

Nothing, I scoffed, and looked over my shoulder because I heard them behind us somewhere. Luna followed suit.

Okay. Her voice filled with dread. What did they do? She asked standing beside me watching as I fought to stuff my bubble wrap into the small locker.

Who? Those creeps right there? I nodded toward the three approaching boys. Let’s just say I hope everyone isn’t as unwelcoming as they are. My eyes followed as they walked by. When they glanced my way, I narrowed my eyes at the one who’d been so rude. He half smiled, and then out of nowhere he wrapped his forearm around Luna’s head and gave her a noogie. Leave her alone you credent, I yelled, and shoved him backward so hard he hit the wall on the other side of the hall. If there was one thing I had no patience for, it was a bully.

Genevieve, stop, Luna cried out grabbing my arm.

Why, Luna. What gives him the right to pick on kids smaller than him—especially girls. I spat the words, never taking my eyes off him. Adrenaline rushed through my body, causing me to shake. He pushed himself off the wall and for an instant I could have sworn his eyes glowed. You know like the movie Blood and Chocolate.

They are my brothers, Luna blurted out.

My anger quickly fizzled and was replaced with humiliation. I cleared my throat. They’re…your brothers? First bell buzzed but it didn’t have any effect on me. I looked at her, and then him as he walked away, then her again. "But, how can that be? You seem so nice, and they’re such—such jerks."

Luna laughed out loud. Yeah, that’s what some people think when they first meet them. I promise they’re really pretty cool once you get to know them. The two tallest ones are identical twins, Joshua and James. And the one you body slammed… he’s my twin, Joseph. He was just joking around with me. Probably trying to show off in front of you.

Oh—Luna I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.

It’s all right. I promise they really are nice though. They’re just kind of shy until they get to know you. Tardy bell’s about to ring. We better get to class.

I guess she didn’t hate me because she stopped outside her classroom door and said we would meet at lunch.

The minutes ticked slowly by in English class. I knew that from the constant watch I kept on the clock hanging over the chalkboard. Mr. Donovan was, in short, personality challenged. I tried to focus on what he was saying but it came out sounding like the teacher’s muffled voice in the old Charlie Brown cartoons. You know, wawa-wa wawa wa. Wa wa-wa. I giggled quietly at the thought and Mr. Donovan looked up from his notes, pointing his nose downward so I would get the full effect of his scowling at me from over the top of his reading glasses.

I instantly came awake when the annoying buzz rang at the end of class. I slipped the Cosmopolitan magazine from inside my English workbook and dropped it into my backpack. Luna was waiting for me outside class. I was still a little wigged out from what had happened with her brother and hoped she wouldn’t rag on me for the entire lunch period.

We inched our way through the line and I could tell she wanted to say something about this morning so I started asking her questions about the different groups of kids.

"See that table by the window? That’s the preps. Dads are oil tycoons and stuff. They check your parents bank balance before they decide if they’re going to grace you with their shallow conversation. We snickered in unison. And I’m sure you can tell that the table in the back by the garbage cans is full of chess club nerds and computer geeks. I don’t think a single one of them has an IQ less than one ninety."

Luna got up on her tiptoes, looking around the room. Let’s see… the two long tables in the middle are for hardcore jocks only. If you don’t play, you don’t sit. She turned, peering around the girl behind us, trying to see who she might have missed.

I looked across to the other side of the room and saw her brothers at their usual table but they weren’t alone this time. My heart immediately thumped with excitement and I couldn’t breathe. He was with them. The guy I had seen the day before. Oh my God, he is so beautiful. I said, under my breath.

If I hadn’t known better, I would have sworn I screamed it out loud. No sooner than I had that thought, he turned, looked right at me, and smiled crookedly. I didn’t smile back. I didn’t breathe. My face suddenly got so hot I was sure it was bright red and glowing. I wanted to duck down behind the line of students and crawl out of the lunchroom.

Luna turned around and saw my face. Hers quickly contorted into a confused expression, but I think she took me for being sick or something.

Gen? Luna cocked her head to one side. Are you all right? You don’t look well. She grabbed my tray from me, even though I kept telling her I was good, and had me follow her to a table. She just happened to pick the table closest to her brothers. I tried to convince her to sit where we sat the day before, but because she thought I was sick she parked our trays and made me sit. She left me sitting alone while she went to her brothers’ table. I tried not to let them see that I was watching. I had no idea what she had said, but a minute later the three brothers stood and followed her back to our table.

Gen, she smiled. These goofy guys are my brothers, Joshua and James."

What’s up? The Twin guys said at the exact same time.

Hi, I said, as Joseph came from behind one of the taller boys.

And you’ve already met Joseph. I was almost sure he snarled, but later when I told Luna, she laughed and said it must have been my imagination. The other guy didn’t join the brothers. Maybe he had a girlfriend, or maybe he just didn’t find me interesting enough to introduce himself.

We’re all going to a bonfire after school. Wanna go? Joshua and James asked, again in unison.

I don’t know. I’m supposed to go…never mind. I smiled Sure, count me in. Aunt Bev would just have to get over it. After all, I was seventeen, not twelve.

They went back to their seats, Luna and I sat quietly in ours. I was hoping she’d tell me something about the other guy at her brothers’ table. Just thinking about him made my heart flutter, which was weird because I’d had a few boyfriends when I lived in Cali, but none of them made me feel like this guy did.

Out of the blue, Luna peered at me and whispered his name. What? I asked, wondering who she was talking about.

He’s William Novak, she said, smiling. I saw you checking him out. She nodded her head toward him. He’s new, too, and he doesn’t talk much. Sort of like you, huh? She giggled, and I assumed it had something to do with my face feeling hot again.

As soon as school let out I rushed to my locker, grabbed my bubble wrap, and hurried for the door. When the sidewalk cleared enough to see the parking lot I saw him standing with Luna, her brothers, and a few kids she’d introduced me to at lunch. My heart rate began to climb rapidly. With each nervous step I took toward him, my heartbeat grew faster until I thought I was going to have a heart attack. What was it about him that made me feel so weird?

When I got to the parking lot, Luna grabbed my hand. She was just about to take me to meet William until I heard Aunt Bev’s voice behind me. I cringed. My smile had already changed to a frown before I even turned around and saw her walking toward me.

Luna, this is my aunt. Aunt Bev, Luna. I tried not to act too pissed in front of my new friends.

Hello Luna, my aunt said, and smiled at Luna, but her smiled quickly faded when she glanced back at me. Are you ready to go? She asked.

I was going to go-

She cut me off. We’ve got to take the Jeep for a tune up and new tires. That is if you plan to drive it every day.

Luna forced a quick smile. Uh… I’ll see you tomorrow, Gen. It was nice to meet you," she called out to my aunt from over her shoulder and rejoined the group of kids. All of whom were staring at me with strange expressions.

My eyebrows furrowed and I looked at Aunt Bev with narrowed eyes. I can’t believe you came here, I whispered with a clenched jaw, not wanting anyone to hear. You just made me look like a little kid in front of my friends. I fumed.

"I’m sorry, Gen. But if you read the note I left you this morning you would already know I specifically said for you to come straight home after school." I rolled my eyes and grabbed her arm, guiding her back to her truck.

I was coming home. I lied, and somehow got the impression that she knew it. We were just going to hang out for a few minutes first. She closed her door, and rolled down her window when I stomped away.

I’ll wait so you can follow me, she said loud enough for everyone to hear. I cringed, balling my fists before I saw Luna trotting toward me.

Gen, wait up, she called out, waving a small piece of paper and smiling. It seemed like she was always smiling. Here, she handed me the piece of folded up notebook paper. It’s my cell number. Call or text me later.

Sorry I couldn’t go with you guys, Luna. But I’ll definitely go next time. I narrowed my eyes at my aunt, who was blocking traffic while she waited for me to back out. This is the last time she’s going to treat me like a child.

Chapter 3

When we got back to Aunt Bev’s house, I mean home—whether I liked it or not this would now be my permanent place of