Blood on the Moon - serialised EXCLUSIVE for Steemit! - 18

Blood On The Moon Cover

Amazon link

My third novel was finished and published in time for Halloween and I had a launch at Waterstone's at Sheffield.

The full book cover, done by the wonderful, talented, brilliant Paul Mudie

Other Images from Pixabay or Google (Free Usage)

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Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Part 13

Part14

Part 15

Part 16

Part 17

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Ch1 Jessica (Rabbit) has entered the Lion’s Den – Wolf’s Den – of her own accord and is neck-deep in her greatest desire (Be careful what you wish for).

Ch2 Red is speaking to a Wolf she knew from long ago and has been astonished once by his revelation.

Ch3 Jessica is in over her head, no other human in sight and is bouncing from one encounter to the next - including in the dream-state.

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“You talk as though you were once human, were you bitten?”

Jessica had many questions in her head, all screaming to be asked, but she managed to control the urge to ask them all at once.

“No, I wasn’t bitten but I have my own ways of knowing what I am talking about and to answer another question, no, not all are created by biting, by being infected.”

Jessica studied Selene for a moment and then asked the question which seemed ridiculous at times, but also plausible from some of Selene’s reactions to her.

“Can you read my mind?”

Selene’s laughter pealed around the room.

“No Rabbit, that’s not possible. If I correctly guessed the question that you were going to ask next, then that is all it was, a good guess. I suppose if I am honest with you, then I can tell you that I have experienced these things through Hume eyes and I recall that some wondered many of the same things that you are pondering at this moment. I have been fortunate enough to have been a passenger inside one or two Hume heads as they too were given good notice of their impending infection to Wolf-hood and I clearly recall these questions baying to be answered. I have been mentor to a few new Whelps now and I was mentored by an exceptional tutor and so I hope to pass on that same knowledge to you.”

“Oh, it’s just that a lot of Wolves seemed to know me, or at least they knew my nickname last night without being told.”

“That would be their hearing. I personally heard Paul refer to you as Rabbit and so I assumed that was your name.”

“Oh I see.” She paused for a moment, and then asked, “Will it hurt?”

“Being infected? Or changing to Wolf?”

“Both; either.”

“The pain of changing wanes after a few months and so you will come to accept it and eventually forget any pain you may have felt. The method of infection varies and so, I suppose pain depends on how and the point at which you are infected.”

“Will it be you, or Falco?”

“It won’t be me, it may well be Falco, but that’s doubtful. It will most probably be one of the more senior members of our Order.”

“When will I become Wolf?”

“At the first Full Moon after you are successfully infected. Then you shall become what is known as ‘Piaculum’ which translated from Latin is similar to ‘victim’. It was debated on whether you should be ‘Aeger’ - infected or ‘Piaculum’ but Falco decided that because you go to this willingly, you are on the same footing as though one of our own had chosen you for his mate. Not that it matters of course, we have no caste system and an Aeger is on the same footing as ‘Putus’ - one of the pure and unadulterated lines in everything but succession to Lycaeonship.”

“What does that mean?”

“Our Lycaeon is our Ruler. It is very complex, but we shall leave that for a full lesson, we don’t have much time in which to delve deeply into our politics. Don’t look so worried, Rabbit, this is a general overview on our society. You will not be tested on anything that you learn with me, although if Falco takes you under his wing he may expect more of you.”

She smiled then to reassure Jessica.

“How have you been inside someone else’s head?”

Jessica asked and because she realised that it was a more personal question, she lowered her eyes and looked at her hands.

“I may tell you the whole story one day Rabbit, but not until you and I become very much closer than we are now. You are my student and I don’t think it appropriate to tell you something so personal to me on our first lesson.”

Selene gave her explanation in a kind but firm tone and Jessica took it that Selene was not saying ‘mind your own business’ but she was assuring her that the subject was not closed off forever either.

The question and answer session continued for about an hour until at last Selene declared the lesson to be finished for the day.

Dinner with Falco would be in a little over an hour’s time and Selene estimated that it would take that long to make Jessica presentable.

By the time dinner was announced, everything had changed and Jessica was the subject of an almighty row.

Selene and Jessica walked into the dining room and Jessica at least thought that she had entered a war zone. There were angry voices and furious faces to greet her and Selene was at a loss.

“Take her out! Get her away from here right now Selene!” Falco said in a quiet voice that carried surprisingly well over the din.