Lunar Shadows: Awaken

Selene

After we park in the dirt lot, I open the trunk and pull out two thick collars and leashes. I let the dogs out and fasten their collars, holding one leash in each hand. “Let’s go, boys!” I chirp as we set off onto the paved pathway.

Due to their sheer size, many people keep a wide berth when passing us by and are weary of my dogs, even though they have never once given reason to be truly feared. There are a few regulars who say hi as we walk, some waving and smiling and some call out to the dogs in greeting as well. Asteria is beside me with Machitís in front of her and Phylax to my right. Both of their leashes hang loosely, swaying from my wrists.

We cross a small footbridge and take the long path that leads around the pond as Ria follows my lead. I chose to go the same way I had yesterday in hopes Kyran would do the same. As I’m about to mention this to Ria, she nudges me with her elbow, nodding partly across the lake at two brawny, shirtless men running alongside one another. It only takes a moment for me to register that one of them is most definitely Kyran and I abruptly feel sheepish as blood rushes to my face. I’ve stopped walking and Ria notices, turning around curiously.

“What’s up?” she asks, eyebrow quirked.

“I, uh, I think I left something in the car,” I flounder, trying to turn around and tug on the leashes. Total. Chicken-shit, I berate myself internally.

I glance up to smile at Ria, but it feels like I’m grimacing instead. She looks at me oddly, then turns her head back toward the path and my eyes involuntarily follow. As I catch Kyran’s gaze, he grins cockily and I abruptly notice he is much closer than before. He knew! He totally knew that I would be here, and this is definitely intentional, I realize and my heart flutters at the idea of him wanting my attention.

Ria quickly looks back at me and widens her eyes silently, pursing her lips in a mischievous smile. I can’t help but grin at her and straighten myself out once more, heeling both dogs beside me.

As Kyran and his friend approach, Phylax immediately shoves himself against my legs, bodily pushing me backward and growling deeply. Machitís launches to his feet with his hackles raised and teeth bared. He snarls menacingly and pulls his leash taut. Startled, I glance at Asteria and find her brow creased in concern. I rest my hand atop Phylax’s head, shushing him.

“Enough,” Kyran lowly states, staring directly at Machitís. He doesn’t break eye contact and gently commands, “lay down.”

To my—and Asteria’s—complete astonishment, Machitís swiftly obeys, laying on the walkway contentedly in stark contrast to his demeanor seconds ago. Phylax follows suit behind him, neither of them looking away from Kyran. My eyes flit between them a couple times before peering up at Kyran who gives me a half smile.

“They don’t listen to anyone but me, not even my sister,” I mumble, glancing over at Ria who still looks concerned.

She’s blatantly staring at Kyran’s friend, a tall blonde man, slightly shorter and seems a bit younger than Kyran, who kind of resembles him with some features. A brother, perhaps? I wonder as I look back at Ria, noticing her eyes traveling down and back up again, obviously checking him out. Smirking, I turn my attention back to Kyran.

“Are you a trainer? Do you work with dogs? That was quite impressive, I have to admit,” I commend him with a small smile.

His friend—brother?—abruptly barks a laugh and scratches his nose, looking away as he clears his throat. “Something like that,” Kyran smirks, shrugging his shoulder.

At the movement, my eyes are drawn downward, and I cannot help ogling at him. His body is thick with defined muscle, his tanned skin is marked by both numerous tattoos and scars, one in particular curves up the back of his neck from his left shoulder in two jagged parallel lines. I wonder what the story is behind that scar, I wonder as I trace it with my eyes. I hear Ria chatting quietly with the other man but pay no mind to what they discuss. Peering up at Kyran, I notice he is staring at me intently and I blush at being caught. Instead of looking away, however, I give a slight smirk and boldly continue observing the details of this man. His unruly black hair drifts past his face on a breeze and I impulsively reach up to brush it away, resting my fingertips on his cheek.

“You shouldn’t hide behind all this hair, you are a very handsome man,” I murmur, pulling my hand back and my face lights on fire as I am stunned by my boldness.

His amber eyes seem bright and bore into me as his brow draws inward, almost as if he were in disbelief. He moves suddenly and his hand meets mine, pressing palm to palm and splaying my fingers against his. I look down from his gaze at our hands, liking how his dwarfs mine. A radiant heat smolders between our palms, pervading its way up my arm and throughout my entire body. With wide eyes and parted lips, I glance up at Kyran to find him just as surprised as I feel. What is this? What’s going on? I wonder as my body begins to feel tingly.

An iron grip on my wrist and a sharp jerk sends me backward, pulling my hand out of Kyran’s gentle grasp. Startled, I twist around to find Asteria moving in front of me and extending her hand.

“Asteria, and you might be?” she aggressively intercedes.

“I’m Kyran,” he says slowly, looking equally confused as I feel and takes her hand in his.

Pure hostility infects Asteria, in both her face and her posture as her body tenses and becomes poised as if she were about to physically attack him. Kyran simultaneously takes two steps backward with a sharp intake of breath.

“Selene, go to the car, now,” my sister hisses without looking at me.

“Asteria, what—”

“Now!” she seethes, whipping her head around and glaring at me.

I am too horrified to scream. My entire body tenses with fear as I am rooted to the spot and cannot bring myself to run. Her eyes are inhuman, where the whites of her eyes should be are instead pitch black, and the irises are pure white with slits for pupils akin to that of a cat. My body abruptly registers what my brain is processing and I nearly fall over as I turn to run away, desperately yanking on the leashes until the dogs come with me. My feet pound the pavement as I take the turns on the walkways faster than I ever have with my dogs at my sides. People throw me weird looks but I don’t stop until we reach the Prius. Throwing the door open, I shove the dogs inside as a sudden gust of wind blows the door shut. I frantically open my door and fall into the seat as my door is blown shut, too. My limbs are shaking and my teeth are chattering as my entire body quivers like a leaf in October about to fall from a branch.

Asteria manifests in the driver’s seat with cold wind swirling in the car. She solemnly looks at my stricken face and presses her fingers to my forehead, whispering, “Somnum,” and everything fades to black.

I wake to bright light streaming into my room and by the looks of it, I must have definitely overslept. Rolling over, I check my phone to find the cracked screen displaying 10:47 a.m. Groaning, I rub my face, remembering the vividly wild dreams I had. I must have gone back to sleep after waking at dawn again. It felt so real, being at the park and seeing Kyran again. Why would something so intense and bizarre interrupt what started out so well? I wonder as I press my hands together lightly, recalling the warmth emanating from Kyran. A flash of Asteria’s wicked eyes makes me suck in a breath and I release it slowly.

Deciding to discuss my sleep issues with my family, I get out of bed, remove my nightgown, and change into a gray hoodie and black leggings. I find both Mother and Ria in the living room speaking in hushed tones on the couch. They look up simultaneously, ceasing their conversation.

“Hey, good morning. I guess I needed some extra sleep today,” I yawn, taking a seat in an armchair. “I, um, would like to talk with you both about some perplexing dreams I’ve been having, if you have a moment,” I say quietly as I look between them.

Mother draws her burgundy housecoat around her and gives me a tight smile, while Ria looks concerned and pats the cushion next to her. I move to sit with them on the couch and explain in detail my dreams from the past few nights.