Daughter of the Tides, Servants of the Moon Book 2
going south

A silver-blonde Essie walked through the Eye of the Goddess temple with her usual confident swagger, greeting many she knew. She went straight to her grandpapa Elder Wanderer Eliazar’s office.

“Hey, Grandpapa.” Her cheerful tone dropped to one of disgust, “Louis.” She gave him a baleful stare before adding, “Mal dropped me and whisked Del off to the Gate with Ainsley and Mamo. She said you had an assignment for me?”

Eliazar nodded, then scowled when she started to lite a cigarette. “Not in my office, Essie, you know that. Del wants you to take Kestu and Zane, go to the gulf coast. Here are the addresses of covens in Baton Rouge and…”

“Do I have to go with Ketsu and Zane?” Essie whined.

“You are a Servant, Esther! The mess you made of your personal affairs has no bearing on your duty.” Eliazar snapped harshly. “How are things with the refugees?”

Essie stuffed her cigarettes and lighter in her pocket resentfully. “Kaiyou and Nyall are doing all the martial training, but honestly, with Kaiyou up there doing his warrior monk thing, we are going to end up with an entire pack of Servants. The numbers are up from the original twenty-one to thirty-three with those Del’s albino friend rescued. And there are three females and a male with potential as oracles. Del had me move them into the oracle quarters at the Gate before I flew out instead of bringing them here.”

“Why? Oracle potentials should be sent here.” Louis eyed her suspiciously.

Essie shrugged as she pulled out her cigarettes then put them back when her grandpapa growled. “Probably because she wants to evaluate the potentials while she’s at the Gate.”

“How is housing at the Gate holding up to extra wolves?” Eliazar asked.

Essie answered, “There were several empty houses so it’s no problem.”

“She should send them to an allied pack,” Louis disagreed.

Cocking an eyebrow, Essie glared at him. “If Del wanted to house and interview the refugees herself, I’m not going to tell her no and you shouldn’t even think about it, Louie. She’s the Delphi, not you.”

“Esther be nice. Louis, we still don’t know what kind of witchcraft is being used on the wolves to make them not resist being wolfnapped,” Eliazar revealed. “Essie, go find Kestu and Zane, they are waiting. Don’t give me that look. Do your job!”

“Yes, Grandpapa,” Huffing, Essie walked out. She opened her mouth to snark at Louis, but Eliazar snapped his fingers at her, and she obediently left without comment.

“Relax, Louis, Essie is leaving on assignment and the Delphi will be back after Ainsley’s birthday and her work with the refugees,” Eliazar assured him.

“I wish she would have let me go with her. I would like to meet these wolves who have escaped the apostates. Surely, one must know who their leader is.” Louis was not happy about Del traveling and jealous that Leon would be escorting her through Montreal territory.

“You are in charge of assigning petitioners to the oracles and acolytes here. Delilah will be back before any realize she is gone. If you were both gone, it would raise suspicions.”

“Of course, you are correct, Elder.” Louis rose and bowed slightly to Eliazar before walking out to his duties.

Once the petitioner’s coordinator was out of his office, Eliazar reached out to his granddaughter through their family link. ‘Good luck, Delilah. Louis believes you are your sister, travel safe.’

‘Thanks, Grandpapa, I love you.’

‘And I love you.’

Eliazar drew a deep breath. Del was using herself as bait to try to lure out the Sunwolf while warning two covens in the deep south. Helios Des Rues was never out of the territory of his father’s pack or their allies. The Delphi was hoping the temptation of his mate traveling again would lure him out. They still didn’t know who the spy for the Des Rues was, but Eliazar was certain there was one or more who were betraying their vow to the Goddess.

Del, Zane, and Ketsu met Martha outside Baton Rouge. They rode their motorcycles into the deep forest. Stopping at a gated community, Marsha went to the call box. Del walked over to look at the river tributary. Ancient trees hung over waterways, their reflections barely moving in the filtered afternoon sunlight. The air was hot and heavy as she watched fish picking off mosquitos skimming on the surface. She felt the pull of the Tides then a deep voice interrupted her.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Blinking, she turned to the shadow below a giant tree. “Yes, it is. I am Delphi Delilah Ayala of the Moon’s Temples. I need to speak with the Lord or Lady of your coven. I have a message from the Augur Vampyr.”

The unnaturally handsome man regarded her with deep brown eyes that flashed crimson for a moment. He scoffed, “You must be wrong, she-wolf. The Augurs are no more, the last died when the House of Charlains was destroyed.”

“Lanea Charlains was rescued by my mother, sent to live with her grandparents, Lord and Lady Artures, who went into hiding to protect her.” Delilah said calmly. Ketsu had come to stand silently over her shoulder.

“Does your watchdog really think he can protect you from me?” the vampire sounded amused as he stood in the dappled sunlight, he didn’t seem to be bothered by it, and Delilah wondered if he was like Max and Jack.

“I am a Shogunate, shadow-walker, and you would not be the first.” There was no boast in Ketsu’s tone, only the firm confidence of one who stated a fact.

The vampire’s lips quirked. “So, what is this message. Oh, great Delphi.”

Delilah looked at him coolly, the sound of the Tides vibrated across her moon marks and glowed in her eyes. “Lord Paul Le Moyne,” The vampire gasped as Delilah said his name, “The Augur Vampyr says it is time to leave this land. The ones who walk in fire seek to burn the blood of the shadows to revive their god. It is a war the wolves must fight as ordained.” Then she tipped her head at an angle. “Hasn’t your three-faced Goddess spoken to you?”

Brown eyes shimmered scarlet again as fangs were revealed by his grimace. “She has, Delphi, to all of us. She told my father to listen to the messenger but not why? Please, come to the manor.” He stepped to the edge of the tree’s shade. “The passcode is 1719.” Then he was just gone.

“Did it just get colder?” Martha gave an exaggerated shudder.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Zane growled.

“I’ve never seen a vampire stand outside in the day, even in the shade,” Martha announced.

“Me either,” Zane added.

“Ketsu and I have.” Del swung her leg over Essie’s motorcycle, “Let’s go. We still need to get to New Orleans and…” She hesitated and took a deep breath. “I might need to scry tonight. The Tides are calling me.”

“Delphi, I do not know if it would be wise….” Ketsu started.

“Ketsu, I do not always get to choose where and when the Goddess calls me,” Delilah announced then she started the bike and rode up the long-manicured drive as the elaborate iron gate opened. The two protectors and the wanderer had no choice but to follow their Delphi.

A lovely middle-aged human was waiting on the veranda of a large plantation-style home. “I’m Lady Le Moyne, please call me Ouisa. My staff is preparing rooms for you. We are honored by your visit. Is it true? Do you know who is hunting the covens?”

Delilah shook the hand Ouisa offered and followed her inside. “We are here to deliver a warning to your family and coven before the one the Moon calls the Sunwolf and his witch followers find it and attack.”

Showing them into a dark study, Lord Le Moyne was sitting behind a large antique desk. Two vampires and three more half-humans rose and greeted Delilah.

Paul held his hand to those gathered, “My father, Pierre, and my brothers and sisters.”

Del tried not to show her surprise and curiosity over Paul, his five siblings and their still human mother. They all sat as iced tea and cookies were served. Del began reciting the events concerning the Sunwolf and the rescues of the coven children the werewolves were involved in. She explained what they suspected about how the sun-witches were helping hide the movements of the Sunwolf and using their evil magic to steal the gifts of the vampires so they could be killed. She finally concluded with what was happening to the werewolves.

“They are also kidnapping entire packs, murdering everyone from eldest to youngest pup. The homes and packhouses left unlocked, territories abandoned… One day the wolves are there, the next they are gone. Water left running in showers, food left cooking or set out to be eaten. Keys left in cars… Valuables in place. Nothing is missing except the wolves. Most recently, two small packs around Vegas disappeared, a third was left. We don’t know where they went or what happened, only that they are dead and their souls are lost.” Del paused to sip her iced tea.

“Why was the third left? Are they allies to the enemy?” Ponce, the youngest of Pierre and Ouisa’s sons demanded.

“They had protection.” Delilah answered. When his father raised an eyebrow, Del looked the ancient vampire straight in the eye and revealed. “That pack is beholding to a pair of Bibre Cruor. I don’t think even these insane witches would be foolish enough to attack it.”

Everyone, but Pierre looked confused. He bowed his head and swore in French. Del smirked at him, “My late mate would have said exactly the same thing.”

“What are Bibre Cruor?” Ouisa asked. Paul leaned forward, obviously curious. But before Del could answer, Pierre answered.

“Some call them demons, my beloved, but truly they are creatures that cannot be killed. It is said that nothing can cut the flesh of the stone skin ones, and only when the eclipsed sun petrifies them, can they be broken. It is true, I remember when the Cruor were exterminated. The humans had thousands lured to the place of an eclipse. It turned the poor creatures to stone then the humans decorated their buildings with the corpses… I can’t believe any have survived. Afterward, the humans came after the Vampyr and the Lycaeon. It only took three hundred years before we were all in hiding. I came here, brought the survivors of my father’s coven… I thought we would be safe.”

Ouisa held his hand, her expression was pained. “Oh, Pierre.”

“The time of safety has passed, Lord Le Moyne,” Delilah revealed with sadness. “The Augur Vampyr is on a ship sailing to Patmos, it is docked on the east coast. I will fly you and your coven to a private airport, wolves I trust from the Montreal pack will drive you to meet the ship. I will send one of my protectors with you until you can join them. These witches can severely affect your ability to defend yourselves, but they won’t be expecting you to be protected by us.”

“Because vampires and werewolves are not traditionally allies,” Pierre nodded, then lifted his head to his eldest son and daughter. “Paul, Phoebe, prepare the coven.”

“Yes, papa.”

When Delilah was alone with Pierre and Ouisa, Ouisa asked, “Are you disturbed that our children are halflings? That I haven’t been changed?”

“Lanea’s beloved is half-human, half-vampire. His brother explained that usually vampires kill half-bloods and demand that human beloveds be changed before being allowed to have children,” Delilah revealed. “Lanea refused to change Max, but their two children can’t be in the sun like their father.”

“Only halflings have gifts vampires do not, they can walk in the sun even after being changed, like Paul and Phoebe. Humans being more fertile can have many more children than vampires so waiting to be changed has its benefits… Like having several children in a decade instead of one, children who can play in the sun… It is worth growing a little older,” Ouisa declared, holding her husband’s hand; her love and loyalty shined in her eyes. “My husband waited seven hundred years for me. Giving him a half dozen children over fifteen years, gaining a few pounds and a few wrinkles is a fair trade, don’t you think?”

“Why aren’t their eyes pale like other half-vampire, half-humans?” Del wondered aloud.

Ouisa shrugged, “We don’t know. They were all born with eyes so dark brown they almost look black and dark hair.”

Delilah nodded, but Ouisa’s next statement brought back a moment that still felt like a fresh wound. “When Pierre colorfully expressed his surprise earlier, you said your late mate. We are sorry for your loss.”

Delilah gave them a brave smile. “He died saving me from those who work against the will of the Moon. As an oracle, I always knew he would die, so did he. He loved me as much as he could during the time we had.”

They sat in silence for several minutes. Ouisa stood and held out her hand. “I’ll show you to a room where you can rest, Delphi Delilah.”

Once in her room, Del pushed all the furniture against the wall and pulled the curtains. She carefully salted a circle, then placed her obsidian bowl on the floor and filled it with water. A drop of oil spread across the surface reflecting the candle flame. Del stripped and knelt. A slow calming breath and a shiver was all it took to fall into the Tides.

Del turned slowly, she was standing in the street in front of a nightclub. She watched two wolves with burning auras go in the back. She listened to them laughing and talking. One read a text message and showed the other. They were discussing an ambush and terrible things as she followed them. When they opened the door to a back room, there was a vampire female restrained in something that looked like a massage chair turned torture device.

She fled through the wall out into the club rather than watch what they were doing to the vampiress. She crouched as tendrils of burning ochre smoke wafted over the crowd. Del gasped when she saw Helios, he grinned at her as he held his hand toward her. The witchcraft touched her Tidal flesh and she screamed, almost convulsing.

Suddenly, there was a blinding flame, and she was standing on the roof of a warehouse. Three young vampires were crouched, looking for a way to rescue some of their own. She could see the burning wolves below hiding, waiting… it was an ambush. She looked up at the moon trying to tell what time it was. The sky shifted and the moon went from west to east.

Del felt herself falling backwards. Someone caught her. Her eyes fluttered open.

Paul’s deep brown eyes flashed scarlet, as he held her in his arms. “Delphi Delilah, what did you see?”

“The… the Sunwolf… Waiting t-to… Ambush… Three vampires… Hour after… M-midnight,” she stammered then she passed out.

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