Vampire Knights

Chapter 10: New Discoveries

Lily's PoV

I didn't know—or care, really—how long it had been since we fled Ride On. I didn't know where we were, either; only that we were quite far away. We were far enough from California to be secure enough to rest. Granted, we weren't tired, but the chance to relax would be greatly appreciated.

After a seemingly endless stretch of constant rain, the sky was clear, exposing a glowing slice of moon. We stopped in a small clearing and lay on the grass, staring at the silver trees against the purple backdrop of night. As we became immobile, the soft chatter of forest creatures resumed its even pace.

I knew, of course, that Jill and Esmerelda were talking. With my sensitive hearing and all the extra room in my head, it was simple to keep a tab on their conversation. But I did my best to tune them out, letting myself fall into the endless mystery the stars presented.

I had always been good at ignoring the world, at being consumed by whatever fantasy struck my interest. True, no one ever won a prize for daydreaming, but it was a useful skill to have during school hours. Tonight I was a bird, a graceful hawk, nearly lost in the darkness. In my head I soared up high, twirling and diving in the cool air.

Huh. That was weird. I didn't remember closing my eyes. But I must have, for I no longer saw the moon from the perspective of the ground. All I saw was through the hawk's keen eyes.

I was up very high. Far below I could see Bug, Mooners, Miracle, Esmerelda, and Jill—well, specks that resembled them—darting through the forest. As I swooped closer, I heard them calling my name. They were looking for me.

I'm right here, I tried to tell them. But all that came out was the shriek of a hawk.

Jitterbug, Moonie, and Miracle's heads snapped up simultaneously, and they gazed at me with wide golden eyes.

Lily? I heard Bug ask incredulously.

Yep, I answered as I landed lightly on his withers, careful not to grip too tightly with my talons.

You're a bird.

No duh.

How is that possible? asked Moonie, a slightly nervous edge to his thoughts.

It must be her ability, put in Miracle, as the transfer of strength is Esmerelda's.

If it was possible for a bird to snort, I would have. No guys, this is just a daydream. I do it all the time.

Then wake up, Bug challenged.

I focused on what I felt—what I really felt, not what I imagined feeling—in hopes that it would bring me back to reality. But in all honesty I felt…like a bird. My arms were wings and my lips curved into a beak. I couldn't snap out of my daydream.

Jill and Esmerelda chose that moment to make their reappearance. "Oh my god, it's a vampire bird!" shrieked Jill, her voice shooting through two octaves.

"Calm down Jill, its Lily. Can't you tell? Normal hawks don't roll their eyes."

How do I change back? I asked them.

"However you got like that, I suppose."

I thought of my normal body, of how it felt to have hair and fingers and clothes. And then I was me, sitting sideways on Bug's smooth back.

"Welcome back."

"Cool talent!"

"Thanks."

Jill's PoV

"Uggg…" I mumbled. I had nearly tripped over Lily and Esmerelda's resting figures.

I was in a sour mood, as usual. Nothing good had come out of being a vampire; not one single stinking thing. Lily, on the other hand, got all the fun. After she had discovered she could transform into a hawk, Lily flew around for hours, enjoying dive-bombing us from every angle. She circled the sky and completed loop-the-loops with grace. As I was jealously pondering Lily's special talent, I noticed Moonie staring at me.

"What?" I asked. I knew Moon had heard me; oh boy, here it comes…

Jill. Stop with the moping around. You're such a pessimist,Moonie snorted.

"Come on, Moon-man! I can't be the only one who doesn't like this!"

A small smile crept up Moonie's face. Actually, you are.

"I'm hopeless, aren't I?" I walked over and curled up next to Moonie's side.

I was just kidding, Jill. You're not totally hopeless. In fact, I think you might be the only rational one.

"Cut it out, Moon-man. Lily and Esmerelda are just as sane as I am."

You know what I mean; basically, you're the only one who knows how serious this could turn out to be.

"I know, but I just wish there was some possible way to relax through all of this."

Haha, yeah, me too. Hey, I know what we can do… how would you like to go for a ride Jill?

"Yes!! You read my mind."

Don't I always?

"Very funny, Moon."

I slid onto Moonie's back. "Lily, Esmerelda, I'm going for a ride. See you later."

"Whatever…" Lily answered groggily. I could tell Lily didn't really care, as long as she could stay motionless for a few hours.

Can we go now? Moonie whined. He was the only horse that wanted to go 24/7.

"Haha, you tell me Mooners."

I say, "YES"!

I was nearly thrown off by Moonie's excited rear. We started cantering towards the north. The stars shown brightly in the sky. Everything was so perfect—no Brie yelling at me to slow Moonie down, no small, cramped arena to be restricted to—just a meadow and the perfect ride. I wished I could stop time and stay in this moment forever.

And then, I fell. I landed with a thud and rolled across the grass. I imagined it was because I hadn't been holding on to Moonie's mane at all with my hands; however, something told me otherwise. Moonie's body stood frozen in mid-canter. Two of his legs barely touched the ground. It was almost as if someone had stopped time… someone, as in me.

I ran over to Moonie's still body.

"I wonder…"

I gently touched Moonie's side with my hand…

"EEEEEK!" I screamed. Moonie came to life and started to gallop across the frozen field. I was a little terrified of how fast he moved when I touched him.

"Moon!!" I yelled. His neck curved quickly, causing his body to follow, and in less than two seconds, there he was.

How did you… do that? I didn't even feel you fall off!

I laughed at him jokingly and then explained. Moon stared at me for a long time.

Wait, so you can stop time, and then release frozen forms from it… like me?

"Yep, I guess so."

Weird. So how do you unfreeze everything else?

"Hold on, let me think…"

I closed my eyes and thought back to the moment when we were cantering in the field, and then I was there. Time had started up again as I opened my eyes. I was on Moonie's back again and we were going throughout the meadow.

"Whoa."

Whoa is right. So I guess all you have to do is think about the point in time that you want to be at and well... you're there.

"Yeah, I guess so…"

Moonie slowed to a walk. He strolled through the grass and came to a halt by a tree.

Jill…

"I know," I said.

I understood what he meant. If I could go back to any point in time that I desired, that meant I could rewind it, too. I could go back to a time when vampires were just a dream. I could make us all human again.