Moon Bloom

Chapter 20

(The youtube clip is the song I wanted with pieces of Wolf's Rain which I just finished reading. A werewolf kind of story. Doesn't exactly have a similar plot, but it works.)

"Watching your best friends die, coming so near to death is so... painful.. I'm waiting to watch your heart break in a million pieces. There are things worse then death, and emotional pain is definitely up there. So far I haven't gotten the right reaction from you though. Who are you closest to?" Ryan whispered. "Lizzy? That would be painful, I can see it in your eyes. Kaity? You don't know her well enough yet. Then there's always James..."

Lexi used her wrist to quickly push the hand with the knife back and swung her weight, kicking him in the side and knocking him to the ground. She kneed him in the back and pulled his head up by his hair. Then she swiped the blade from his hand by twisting his arm behind his back. He struggled for a moment before laughing.

"That was the reaction I was waiting for. Only I must congratulate you, that was much more dramatic then the shift in your gaze I was expecting. So you've fallen for my brother have you?" Ryan sneered.

Lexi smiled, "Ever think I'd do something that dramatic to catch you off guard and make you think that? I'm in control now."

He laughed wildly like a mad man and James finally saw him for the first time, but was forced to keep the hellhound at bay. Ryan shook his head, "I never loose control. Even my own brother couldn't stop me from controlling him. The pathetic coward he is."

"You thought I was weak, an easy target, but look where I am now." Lexi scoffed.

"James was the one who suggested going after you. I was a fool to go for a blond, but I figured no one would miss you. Now there's two gold and only one spot. One of us must die tonight and it's going to be you," he growled, changing wolf mid sentence.

Lexi hurriedly copied him, knowing as a human she was way more vulnerable. He rolled so he was over her and went for her throat, but she pushed her way out from under him. He still caught her face with a swipe of his paw, and she could feel the warm blood turn her golden fur a disgusting brown as it slowly rolled off her snout. She leapt at him, but he stepped aside and shoved her just as she was landing, catching her slightly off balance. She fell, twisting her body so her claws could reach Ryan. She clawed his side good and he bit her leg, dragging her back. She kicked and eventually Lexi freed herself again. It was all fight mode, her werewolf side mixing with the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She could feel her heart falter as it found a new rhythm. Falling into a pattern was easy, so she had to be on her guard and change her attacks to keep Ryan on his toes. Finally Ryan grabbed her by the scruff and tossed her at a tree. She yelped as her body crumpled against it, breaking at least two ribs. She fell to the ground with a sickening thud, her head spinning with pain and confusion. Ryan became increasingly blurry as he neared her. Why was her vision going? She watched helplessly as he stepped forward once, before something black slammed into him. Lexi wanted to smile, but couldn't force her lips to do so. James had come to the rescue. They scuffled a while before James leapt up, fur bristling and began to run at Ryan, swiftly turning in one second and the next his brother knew, he was out of reach. They both tired as the assault took a turn for blood lust. Lexi watched horrified as Ryan dug his teeth into James's leg. James took a lot of the fur over Ryan's eyes off with deep rip, blood hurrying down Ryan's face, running into his eyes. He then tore James ear in anger, James blooding Ryan's tail in turn. Lexi was sure one would kill the other soon when Ryan flung James at a rock. James's shoulder popped out of the socket, leaving his left front leg hanging limp. He snarled and tried to attack his brother, but Ryan threw him again. This time, James did not get up.

Lexi's heart skipped a beat. A pain cut deep and her insides turned to ice. She shivered, the movement startling her. She twitched an ear. She felt like throwing up as she stood shakily, the world spinning too fast for her brain to comprehend. Luckily Ryan was just as stunned.

"Impossible. You should be dead. You hit your head so hard it should be liquid by now," Ryan complained.

"Enough!" Lexi screamed. Ryan jumped and took quite a few steps back. "You broke my heart. You ordered my friends to be murdered. You don't care. You may be wolf, but with all you've done you're soulless."

"Oh, and your the perfect angel? Since when have you been a goddess and flawless," Ryan retorted.

Lexi shook her head, "I never said that."

"A deity, a divinity, such a saint," he murmured.

"Stop!" she cried.

"Then I am not only some soulless jerk. I know how to love," he protested.

She paused and took a deep breath, "Then why couldn't you truly love me? No games, no tricks, I want truth."

He cleared his throat, "I saw you as blood to clear my name. You've never been anything more. You may be a sweet girl, but I could never love you like that."

"So I'm a carcass for you to present to the alpha wolf as a peace offering? A carcass you helped think she could be loved only to trash her heart," Lexi sobbed.

"You're not dead yet," he smiled.

Lexi shook her head. She forced herself to breathe one breath at a time. "No, I'm not. Surprising for a wolf with no gift."

He started, "Who taught you about moon gifts?"

"You said it yourself, I should be dead. You're the reason I found my gift. I have will power better than physical strength," Lexi smiled.

He shook and Lexi attacked him, jaws snapping and claws tearing. She let go of her thought of what move to use next and let instinct take over. It took no time at all for a bloody and out of breath Ryan to be trapped under her paws.

"You underestimated me one too many times. You may be more than an empty hearted killer, but I can't let you hurt anyone else. You don't get to choose what place you take in a prophecy," Lexi sighed. She took a deep breath and quickly ended his life, her jaws closing around his throat. She turned human and spat out his blood. Tears instantly washed it away. "I did love you, once is enough to mean it."

She crawled over to James, her chest felt tight and not only from the broken ribs. She ran her fingers through his fur and released more tears. She cried for Ryan, she cried for James, but most of all she cried for every other life taken by someone as heartless as her.