Blood Moon
Chapter 4: Reunion
Eva awoke to Elaine shaking her impatiently. With a grunt, she rolled over and cracked open an eye to peek at her friend, then at the small crack of fading light underneath her plated window. It was the end of sunset.
"Eva, come on! Hurry!" Elaine scolded, shaking her firmer this time, and Eva groaned before sitting up reluctantly.
"What's the rush, it's not even fully dark yet," she sighed as she pulled herself out of her bed and to her drawers.
"Michael's back!" Elaine said excitedly, and Eva snapped her head around to look at her in shock.
"Elizabeth's Michael?" she asked, and Elaine nodded. "When did this happen?!"
"Last night. She didn't even have to tell me the news when I woke this evening! Her mind was just bursting with it!" Elaine exclaimed with a giggle. "She's positively glowing with relief!"
"You read her mind?! Elaine!" Eva scathed, "We're not supposed to use our Talents on our donors!"
"She let me!" she complained as Eva shoved on a pair of cargos and a tank.
"You should've waited for her to tell you physically," she muttered as she walked out the door, Elaine following close behind with a smirk.
"Oh, and Victoria knows too. I told her as we passed on my way to wake you," Elaine added with a smile at Eva's frown.
"You mean I'm the last one to know about this?" she sniffed.
"Well I ran into Victoria first," Elaine explained, "It's not my fault you sleep in later than the rest of us."
By this time, they'd arrived at the sitting room from the night before. Michael was sitting with Elizabeth on the couch, talking, until they both noticed the girls. Victoria was in there also, and she just nodded a greeting at them before Elaine practically tackled him with a hug.
"It's so good to see you!" she squealed as he hugged back, lifting her off the ground. He broke the hold after a moment, and looked at Eva, who was grinning ear to ear.
"Finally decided to show again, huh?" she teased, punching him on the arm before giving him a brief hug.
"Better late than never," he replied, while Elizabeth and Victoria stood as well. "Elizabeth tells me we're off to Lia's tonight. Something about putting the fear of fangs back into some new pups?"
"You're coming with?!" Elaine said, clapping her hands. "Finally! You're part of the family, officially!"
Eva looked at Elizabeth. "Are we going to hunt now, or after the party?"
"Now," Michael answered for her. He looked at her and stroked her cheek, "I don't want you to starve another moment longer."
Victoria shifted on the coat she'd had hanging on the back of her chair. "Then let's get on with it. Before William and his pack get it all."
"William?" Michael glanced at Elizabeth. "When did he form a pack?"
"Not long after you left, love," Elizabeth answered and pulled on her own coat. They followed her and covered themselves before heading out of the room and the house, heading for the gate, then eventually, the surrounding forest.
Almost immediately they found a herd of deer, which didn't flinch at their silent approach until Elizabeth sank her fangs into one of the does. They scattered while she feed and the others found rabbits and other animals to play with while they were waiting.
When she was done, she stood up and leaned her head back, feeling the rush of life cross her veins, rejuvenating her. When her skin was once again a regular peach color and her face less jagged, she looked forward again. Michael stepped forward and wiped the traces of blood from her mouth.
"Feel better, love?" he smiled as she flexed her fingers.
"Much," she replied and ran her fingers through her hair.
"I still think human tastes better," Eva spat a few drops of blood out of her mouth from some poor rat she'd caught. "Animals are too gamey for me."
Victoria scoffed. "Eva, you didn't."
"What?" she shrugged her shoulders, "I was curious!"
"Enough," Elizabeth smiled and glanced at Michael, who was grinning. "Let's go. Time is precious moonlight." And they followed her orders, running silently towards the infamous Lia's.
End Chapter