Love Begins in Hell (The Moon Journals: Part 1) Read online

  I heard his voice crack momentarily. He fell silent again and I realized that his grief was as great as mine. “There’s a lot out there we still don’t understand. Like the river. I never knew that was a portal. There could be more and we just don’t know about them. Like doors to other worlds. I never knew I could be in the Garden one minute and in Hell the next. If we can find the right door, maybe we can see our loved ones again.”

  “I’d like that. Doors to other worlds. Here let me help you.”

  I paused and glanced over at Dante as he joined me. “I don’t have a light. Do you?”

  He aimed his hands just under the stack of wood and sent a fireball from the center of his palm, hitting the wood dead-on and igniting the logs.

  “You cease to amaze me.”

  Dante smiled. “A benefit of being a demon I suppose, fire power.” A spark from the flames danced in his beautiful eyes and he grinned at me.

  A need of urgency suddenly made me move toward him. I reached out to touch his face.

  Dante quickly stood up. “Like I told you, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve. Help me move the bench a little closer so we’ll stay warm.”

  We sat, arm in arm, curled up by the fire Dante had started, on the bench Dante had carved out of a palm tree. I marveled at the tranquility of the scene, of the moment, of our embrace.

  “Did you lose your mother too?”

  Dante’s words shattered my peace. I chewed on my bottom lip, refusing to speak. Tears surface again in my eyes, threatening to spill over. As I stared into the fire, images of the night my mother, a witch, was burned at the stake in front of everyone in the pack flashed before my eyes. It had been the most nightmarish vision of my life, even for a young child of eight-years-old. I had refused to watch her die like that. Instead I had glared at my fluffy light blue slippers instead, holding my teddy bear as my father had forced my shoulders and head to be pointed at the fire. It was the beginning of the end of our relationship. I blamed him for not saving my mother. Instead he opted to marry her best friend, the one who had brought charges against her, saying she was a black witch, a witch who needed to be destroyed.

  “You don’t have to say anything, Elana. I saw it all just now. I’m so sorry for your lose.” Dante held me tighter.

  “My aunt,” I began. “Had it not been for her.” I stopped not being able to continue to tell Dante how my aunt, my father’s sister actually had taken the place of my mother. She had raised me. And losing her now was only more salt in my wounds of grief. My sister too. All the women in my family gone. It was too much to bear. “Ha!” I yelled, laughing at my own private joke.

  Dante jumped. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry. I’m a basket of nerves right now. I suppose I couldn’t talk you into giving me more of my blood, could I?” Even now, the wanting of his blood startled me. I wanted that and more from him.

  He encircled me with his well-toned arms again and pulled me back into the bench with him. “The extreme sway of your emotions may increase if I give you more blood. You’re upset now. I don’t want to give you more to deal with.”

  I recognized what that comment probably meant. “Your dark side? The blood?”

  “Yes,” he whispered as a log fell over and caused a burst of sparks to billow up. “The more blood of mine I give you, the more of an attitude you’ll probably develop. And the more of a bond we will develop. Do you understand?”

  “There will always be a duality I will have to deal with then?” I asked. “A good side and a bad side?”

  “Yes,” Dante said. Taking my hand in his, he lightly kissed my palm. “Parting from you will certainly drive me insane.”

  “I don’t want to leave you,” I replied. My eyes brimmed with fresh tears. “Couldn’t you go with me?”

  “If it was that simple, I would. Yes.” He stood up to put a little distance between the two of us.

  As I watched him put a few more logs on the fire, I struggled to think. A sense of urgency lodged in my stomach. Being next to Dante overloaded every nerve in my body. I wanted to be with him beneath the palm trees, despite my dilemma, despite my grief, despite the uncertainty of our future together. Immediately I redirected my thoughts. “Wouldn’t more blood from you protect me against your father and his demon dogs? I don’t possess a natural warrior demeanor like you do, Dante.”

  “You’re trying to butter me up, Elana. Aren’t you?” He rejoined me on the bench and wrapped me up in his arms, slightly rocking me back and forth.

  I giggled a little and savored the moment. “Perhaps.” I leaned closer to him. “Is it true though? What I asked you? Would it help?”

  Suddenly his body went rigid against me. “You drank too much last time. I can’t risk it.”

  “One taste then,” I argued.

  “No,” he said flatly. “Not until I talk with Orlando. I can’t risk it, Elana. Don’t ask me again.”

  The harshness of his tone of voice felt like a slap across my face until I reminded myself that Dante was protecting me, even from me.

  “It’s almost sunset. Do you think they dragons will be here soon?” I asked, dropping the subject. I observed Dante, realizing he wasn’t paying attention to me.

  “I don’t know why they aren’t already,” he mumbled. He gazed out across the water.

  “Dante, is something wrong?”

  “No,” he reassured me. “Let’s get some sleep and start off in the morning.”

  Despite how silly it would sound, I asked him, “Are we safe here?”

  “Completely.” He smiled at me.

  As I looked at his teeth, it dawned on me that I hadn’t realized he had such lovely white teeth. I suppose I was expecting them to be yellow and dingy because my father had heard all demons had bad teeth. The realization reminded me my father wasn’t right about most things.

  ***

  As Dante and I watched the fire, he pulled me tighter into his arms. When a gust of wind drifted by, my golden hair wildly whipped around my face and shoulders, lacerating him a time or two on the chin.

  Occasionally, he sent another shot of flames at the fire to keep it going.

  I wrestled with my thoughts. Was it the right time? I decided to take a chance and tell him what I was feeling.

  “I know our time together has been short and we don’t have much time left before I go home, so I want to tell you something.”

  “Elana, you don’t have to…”

  “Please let me finish. I’ve never done this before. It’s not like me to voice my feelings, even though I am a girl. Okay?”

  He nodded.

  “I know it doesn’t make sense, but I knew from the minute I saw you staring at me that I wanted to claim your heart. I won’t deny it and I won’t spend my life regretting things. I don’t have time for it. Life is now. Here and now and I want my life with you, Dante. If it means, it’s only a few hours more or millenniums, I want to be by your side now and always.”

  Unexpectedly he placed his hand on my shoulders. “No,” he whispered hoarsely. “They’ll kill you.”

  “They’ll try,” I replied, raising my chin upwards.

  A slow smile creased his face. He chuckled at my defiance. “Indeed. Let’s get some sleep my wolf warrior and talk about it in the morning.”

  I sighed. “Okay.” I snuggled in his arms overwhelmed with the events of the day.

  Chapter 10

  The Moon Goddess

  When Dante finally fell asleep on the bench, I unlaced myself from his arms and looked for more wood to put on the fire. It was low and only a soft glow of coals remained. I didn’t want to bother him with igniting a new batch of wood, and I couldn’t sleep.

  Now and then I heard him mumbled in his sleep and I’d check on him. His angular features radiated in the dying firelight. He was the most striking man I’d ever seen. My heart jerked and I felt a dull ache of foreboding. Did I want to return home, back to the Garden now, without Dante?

  Suddenly a large
gust of wind from the South blew out the flames of the smoldering fire. My vision adjusted as I noted how completely dark the night had become. Dante muttered in his sleep. I went to him and placed my fingertips on his wrist. He still had a pulse and was breathing evenly. He’s fine, I thought. And he said we were safe here. With that in mind, I decided to explore the beach some.

  I looked out across the water to where the strong wind had surfaced. The waters were calm like all life in the sea had stopped. I glanced out at the end of the pier, thinking I wouldn’t see anyone, but I did. The moonlight appeared, bathing a figure in light. The person retreated and sat down in the hammock, looking my way beckoning me to join him or her, then reclining in the hammock, rocked back and forth, whistling. I remained frozen, closing my eyes temporarily, so I could focus on the sound. Did I know the tune? I could hear the song floating over the breeze. Hush, little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

  My throat tightened and my legs lurched forward. Could it be? My mother had sung that lullaby to me when I was a baby. Could it be her? Cautiously I made my way out along the pier, hoping against hope it was my mother. When I approached the figure, I realized she was a woman. She wore a white chiffon dress that hovered and moved around her. The dress sparkled with gems that had been woven throughout the sleeves and upper bodice.

  Taking a moment to stand, the woman tossed her blonde hair away from her face and over her shoulder, just the way my mother did. I recognized the gesture immediately. Her face, I did not recognize. But her eyes. Her eyes I recognized. They were the color of mine. Tranquil pools of amber love gazing up at me.

  “Elana, my love.”

  “Mother?” I ventured. It had to be her.

  “Yes, my love,” she said. “Don’t let my appearance concern you. It is me.”

  “What happened?” I asked as I took her feeble hand in mine and guided her along the pier towards the beach. I wanted to hug her, but I was afraid I’d break her in half. She was so gaunt and frail.

  “The last token of friendship my best friend took from me before she pushed into the fire. Since then, I’ve aged some while learning my magic. The previous Moon Goddess retired and handed things over to me. I have some big shoes to fill.”

  I halted in my tracks, glancing down at my dress, and then at her. “You are the Moon Goddess?”

  She simply winked at me, a hint of calculating knowledge crossing her features.

  “This is wonderful!” I exclaimed.

  In response, a grin beamed on her face. “You were always such a natural wolf. You understand, yes?”

  “I think so.”

  “Let me look at you,” she stated, again changing the subject. “You have grown up into such a beautiful lady. Look at you!” She stifled a thin giggle of excitement. “Do I look that old to you, my darling? Too old to hug? Oh what am I saying? That doesn’t matter, let me look at you. I’m so happy to see you!”

  It was indeed my mother! Her constant chatter. Her changing subjects often. It was indeed her. When we made it to the end of the wooden pier, she whirled me around and fastened both her hands on my elbows like clamps. There was no mistaking. She may look old, but her grip was strong and firm. Her strength had increased, not diminished. Her magic probably had as well. It would have to if she was now the Moon Goddess. Her nails dug into my flesh and I quietly cringed, pretending I felt no pain.

  “It’s been so long,” I said, wrapping my arms around her waist as I hugged her. Delicately, I cradled her bony frame against my body. Foregoing the formalities, I planted a huge kiss on each of her wrinkled cheeks which seemed to delight her.

  It seemed my stepmother had drained the very life source from her. I felt enraged. A wave of anger flashed across my face and I was sure my mother had seen it. I’ll kill him for this.

  Immediately, she turned my attention to the beach. “Are you alone?”

  “No,” I replied, patting her hand like she was a hundred years old and I was but a child. “I want to meet someone.” I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the moonlight seemed to follow us, shining a spotlight on us.

  “He is close to your heart, yes? I feel this radiance permeating from you.”

  “Yes, Mother. I think I…” I paused, not daring to utter the words my heart already knew. “I think I love him,” I finally admitted. Feeling ashamed, I quickly shut down and blurted out. “He’s willing to save me from Lucifer’s clutches and that’s all that matters.”

  She contemplated me, never once believing my hesitation. My mother could always see through any of my charades. She ran her fingers slowly over her lips in a circle, listening intensely to me, but thinking at the same time as she carefully composed her next statement. It was a habit that drove my father nuts. “Elana, who is this boy? Is he a demon? You can’t trust…”

  “No, you don’t understand, Mother. He’s sworn to protect me. Even though his father is Lucifer, his mother was a sorceress. I trust him with my life.”

  My mother pressed her index and middle fingers to her lips. Her golden eyes darted about as she thought. Then she heaved a great sigh. “The spark. You felt that with this young man, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, Mother. The minute I met him in Hell. I couldn’t deny it and neither could he.”

  “True love,” she whispered.

  I nodded. “I think so.”

  “Oh, this is lovely,” she said as she rubbed her hands together in contemplation. “I must meet him.”

  My heart soared. Perhaps Dante and I did have a chance. She patted me on the hand, as I had done to her previously, almost in a mocking manner. Perhaps it contained motherly love with the advice only a caring parent could give, but her tone reminded me of the elite air of a god, something she may be already possessed and it made me immediately understand that I did not completely know this side of my mother. This old woman before me was a source of unknown power like all the celestial goddesses.

  Once we made it to the sands of the beach, she paused for a moment as she looked at her feet. “I miss the beach,” she muttered. “It’s been too long.”

  I stood by, collecting my thoughts as my mother danced about in the sand. The moonlight’s rays reflected the gems lined in her dress and she sparkled amid the night. Visions of that awful night haunted me again. A savage desire to kill my father rose up in me again.

  My mother reached out and took my hand in hers. “Elana, you must move on.”

  “I’m sorry? What do you mean?”

  “You can’t keep hating your father. He’s angered the gods. He will pay. I have it on good authority. You will have your revenge, but it will not be by your hand.”

  Throwing my head back in a roar of laughter, I let my voice reach to the heavens and then listened as the echo returned to us from across the water. Finally I asked my mother in a low, gritty voice, “I’ll stop hating him when he’s dead and gone. He refused to step in and save you that night. He must pay. What do you mean I will not have revenge? He will pay for what he has done to our family, what he did to you. He will pay.” I clenched my fists over and over, glaring at her.

  I felt a soft and familiar warm touch on my shoulder. “Dante.”

  “Elana, are you okay?” he whispered.

  I recovered and, like a statue, I introduced my mother to him, getting the distinct impression they already knew one another.

  “Let us sit down. We have much to discuss,” my mother announced as she took Dante’s arm.

  He escorted my mother to the wooden bench under the palm trees as I followed. Gently he touched my arm and my angry mood lifted. “Are you okay? Truly?” he asked. He gestured for me to sit by my mother. I muttered that I was, even though I was greatly confused and reeling from the hurricane of emotions flooding my system.

  “Amore. I couldn’t wish anything more for you, my daughter. I’m so pleased. You’ve done very well,” my mother mused.

  “Who will have revenge on the Werewolf King, Moon Goddess?” Dante asked, direc
ting his question to my mother after we, ladies had settled on the bench and he stood nearby. The moon bathed us all in its light.

  When my mother answered him, I nearly passed out, not because of exhaustion, but because of shock.

  “You know the answer to that, Dante,” she began. “You’ve shared your blood with my daughter. Have you not? Lucifer’ blood flows in her veins now. Does it not?”

  He nodded at the same time I glanced up, not believing the gesture he made.

  “What do you know? What do we know here?” I yelled, realizing I was in danger of losing my patience and having the Wolf burst forth and interrupt our reunion.

  “The bond of our blood,” Dante spoke up.

  “Yes,” my mother said. “You will be my daughter’s champion then and she will be yours.”

  “Oh, wait a minute. What do you mean, Mother? I can defend myself. I don’t need anyone’s…” I started.

  My mother stopped my next words by gripping my knee in her bony fingers. A twinge of pain radiated down my leg. “That is true,” she began. She took both my hands in hers. “If you have not completely changed by now, you will be the next full moon. Tasting even a drop of this demon’s blood has shifted your path as a werewolf. You must be very careful because you are a danger now to yourself as well as others. You need a protector. His blood has activated the curse you were born with.”

  “No,” I whispered. “That can’t be.”

  My mother nodded. Dante knelt before me and rested his hand on my other knee. “I’m sorry, Elana,” he said.

  “Sorry Hell,” my mother exclaimed. “No, this is perfect. Neither of you knew, but this is perfect. Just as it is written in the Book of the Moon, a wrong can be righted by those bound to the moon. Both of you are bound to the Moon. Don’t you see?”

  This time I watched as Dante struggled to understand my mother’s rapid discourse. She leapt from her place on the bench and pranced about the white beach, dancing in delight and triumph. “Don’t you see? The red moon in Hell. The white moon in the Garden. You both are children of the Moons. Whether you are a werewolf or a demon, even a dragon or vampire. You are chosen by a Goddess or God. And when a wrong is made…”