Blood Moon (Silver Moon, #3) - By Rebecca A. Rogers Page 0,22
the passage abruptly ends just ahead. Daciana opens one of the last doors, and we enter a room fit for a king. At least, that’s what I think. Numerous elegant chairs and mahogany tables adorn the room, and antique tapestries and artwork hang on the walls. The coffered ceiling is hand-painted; cherubs and angels keep each other company while playing musical instruments.
Across the room, a single candle is lit, and Daciana uses it to light the others in the room. When she finishes, a soft glow emanates from every corner. Suddenly, I do feel as if I’m in the sixteenth century. No electricity. No technological hoopla. Just books read by candlelight, and people who enjoy being in the company of others. Life was simple back then.
“I shall fetch Ulric so we may sit down and have a civilized discussion,” says Daciana. As soon as she leaves us, Ben and I stand in amazement at how beautiful the décor is.
“So . . . she’s rich, I’ll give her that,” Ben states, staring upward at the painted ceiling. “The question is”—he glances at me—“are they already under the curse, or has it not taken effect yet?”
“I’d say they’re normal right now. I mean, they wouldn’t have a werewolf after them if they weren’t. They’d be able to defend themselves, you know?”
“Yeah,” he responds, inattentively. “But I’m curious as to why that wolf is after them in the first place. What does it want?”
Both Ulric and Daciana enter the room.
“I guess we’re about to find out,” I mumble, so only Ben hears me.
Ulric observes us inquisitively, as if we’re rare pieces of artwork he’s about to spend lots of money on and he’s not certain he wants to buy. Although our attire is fitting for the sixteenth century, our lingo isn’t. Neither is our hair nor the way we carry ourselves. Everything about Ben and me screams, We’re not from here!
“To what do we owe this pleasure?” Ulric inquires, still keeping a safe distance.
Daciana gestures toward the chairs nearby, and we all sit in preparation of a severe chat.
Ben takes the reins on the conversation. “We’d like to discuss the wolf, which is after you. There are other important topics, and, honestly, I don’t know where to begin. I guess I’ll start by asking if either of you two know why the creature wants to attack you.”
A fleeting look passes between Ulric and Daciana, and Daciana is the first to speak.
“When I traveled with my parents from London, we stopped at an inn for the night. The wolf was there, outside my window, but far enough away that it did not see me at first. ’Twas not until it charged at some drunken fools that I yelled. That is the moment it saw me. Just . . . raised its glowing eyes and peered into my soul.” She visibly shudders and closes her eyelids as she recalls the incident. Taking a deep breath, she continues. “The men never noticed me, but somehow I scared the wolf away. Even though I was terrified of what I witnessed, I reminded myself afterward that I saved those men. They would be dead had I not shouted.”
“When you say you scared it off, what do you mean?” I ask. “Where did it go?”
“It returned to the forest.”
“And that was the only time you came in contact with the wolf before today?”
“Aye,” Daciana responds.
I nod sympathetically and direct my attention to Ulric. “What about you? Have you seen the wolf before today?”
“I have,” Ulric says. “’Twas a night not so long ago, when I was in my cottage. I was restless and sought fresh air. That was the time I observed it first. It seemed to be looking for something, or someone. Another cottage sits nearby, but ’twas not concerned in the least bit with that dwelling. It then turned its enormous head toward our home and met my eyes. I felt as if . . . as if I could not breathe. As if it sucked the very air from my lungs.” Ulric is visibly shaken by the event, and his eyes dart around the room at nothing in particular, almost like he’s reliving the horror again. “It came at me, and I boarded up my room, and my brother’s. I checked the lock across the front entrance. Once I knew all was safe and secure, I returned to my window, where I sat, waiting for the creature of darkness to burst through at any moment.”