The Raven Saga Box Set

Chapter 35

“It's all my fault, Gabriel. I wanted to see Vivian for the last time. It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gone down there to speak to her.” He gently stroked my back and assured me that it wasn't my fault at all.

“It would have happened one way or another, Lilly. At least Jo is alive, in a manner of speaking. And this, this is something that she would have eventually wanted. She would have asked Carmelo to do it. Don't blame yourself, Lilly. Don't do that.”

I heard noises from the other side of the door, and then it opened, and Carmelo walked out, closing it behind him. He looked sad. My stomach twisted, fearing the worst.

“Jo is going to be fine,” he said. “Lilly, I'm so sorry. I hope that one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me.”

I stood up and stepped towards him. I put my arms around him and hugged him tightly, “Carmelo, there is nothing to forgive. You saved Jo. That is what matters. I just wish I hadn't wanted to speak to Vivian. This may never have happened otherwise,” I whispered.

“Lilly!” shouted a voice from the other side of the door. Although it sounded like Jo, the voice was slightly different, smoother somehow but in pain. “Lilly!” she yelled again.

Gabriel looked concerned, “Is it safe, Carmelo? Surely not so soon?” he asked.

Carmelo explained that when somebody becomes a vampire, they usually need weeks, sometimes months or more, to adjust to the transformation. They have a thirst for blood that cannot be quenched until they have mastered the art of control.

“So at this stage, Gabriel, no, it is not safe,” he added.

“But she wants to see me, and I want to see her,” I said, stepping forward and putting my hand on the key to unlock it.

“No!” Gabriel yelled, “No, Lilly. I will not lose you,” and he tried to stand up. He was very weak, though, and he struggled.

“Gabriel, please. If Carmelo comes in with me, and perhaps Ursula, I'll be safe. I need to see her. I'll be safe,” and he nodded his head and gave in. Tabitha knelt by his side and took his hand in hers tightly, and they sat and waited patiently while I turned, took a deep breath and opened the door.

Jo was lying on a bed, handcuffed. I was sure though that if she really became desperate, she could easily break them off her wrists. I'd heard how strong vampires could be.

I stepped further in and whispered her name.

She turned to look at me, “Lilly,” she cried. She looked as if she was in a lot of pain, and it hurt me to see her like that.

Even in pain, she looked absolutely stunning. The combination of vampire, woman and raven had an extraordinary effect on her. She was beautiful before, but now everything about her beauty was increased a hundredfold. Her black hair had grown longer and even darker if that was at all possible. Her blue eyes had turned so deep in colour that even though they continued to be blue, they were almost black. Her pale skin sparkled, and her nails had become like talons.

“Jo... I'm so sorry,” I whispered.

Jo shook her head, “Lilly, eventually, this is what I would have wanted. I wanted to be with Carmelo, and this would have been the only way. It was just sooner than I thought it would be, that's all,” and she squirmed and winced again. “Vivian is dead now. That's what really matters. When I can, I will come home, okay?” and I nodded as the tears rolled again. “Lilly... thank you. Tell my family I love them and that I will be home when I can. Please tell them the truth. Tell them they can't come here until I have control, okay? I love you Lilly, and I will see you soon,” and she tried to wink at me. “Now go... please go,” she said as she pulled uncontrollably on the handcuffs, while Carmelo and Ursula held her down.

“I love you too, Jo. I will see you soon,” and I tried to smile as Ursula moved towards the door and opened it, ushering me out as I attempted to hold back the tears.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE

I had been home for just over three weeks. It was strange living in the house without Gabriel, but I had accepted the fact that he was meant to be with the Elders, and I would see him again soon. Sammy and I had decided that once Jo was strong enough to come back to see us all, we would return with her to visit the Elders, Gabriel in particular.

I had hoped that when Vivian had died, her curse on Sammy would be lifted. Even the witches with the Elders had said that the curse should disappear, but when I finally returned home, Sammy was still the same. A man with two big black beautiful wings. Wings to be proud of, I told him. We were all confused about why the curse had not disappeared, but nobody had the answer.

The curse on Charlie, however, had vanished and he was now a free man. Carmelo saw to it that he had found his way back to London safely. I had seen his return home on the news on TV. He maintained that he had absolutely no idea what had happened to him or where he had been.

His family were shocked and amazed when he came home safe and well, and I was happy for him. Truly. Vivian was responsible, not him.

I was adjusting to life without Gabriel at home. It was a strange time in my life, especially considering that Sammy and I were now living with two others. Tabitha and Zoltan had moved in, making it an unusual household – a changeling, a werewolf, part raven part human and a potential changeling in the making! Although we were an odd combination of people, we got on tremendously well together.

Rose had been ecstatic to see me when I came back. I'd decided not to mention my momentous discovery until Tabitha was there with me. I knew she would arrive a day later so Rose and I enjoyed some time together, just the two of us. We spoke about Gabriel, Jo and Carmelo and of Vivian's death. When I left her that night, I was so excited about what would happen the next day.

I had knocked on Rose's front door later the following day and greeted her with a hug before she noticed I wasn't alone.

"I've brought someone to meet you, Rose," and Tabitha stepped forward with the biggest grin on her face. Rose's face changed immediately, and she had to sit down.

"Oh my goodness," she said, knowing immediately that she had a strong connection with this young girl.

"This is Tabitha... your grand-daughter."

Rose let out a gasp, both her hands moving to her cheeks.

"My... grand-daughter? You are Lori's child?" she whispered, and Tabitha nodded. Crying, Rose stood up, steadied herself and took her in her arms. "Lori is alive?" she asked, and again, Tabitha nodded and smiled. "I have a picture of her," and she put her hands in her coat pocket and pulled out a small wallet. Opening it, she revealed the face of a woman smiling happily and Rose began to cry tears of joy as she hugged her long lost grand-daughter for what seemed like ages.

We spent hours and hours talking about our lives, Tabitha explaining to Rose what had happened to Walter and to Lori and how she had come to be in Canada again. When we finally called it a night, we had left Rose looking more peaceful and happy than she had ever looked before, eager to get to know the grand-daughter she never even knew existed. And ecstatic that she would finally get her daughter back after all these years. The daughter that she had never given up hope on, and the daughter she had never stopped loving.

A few days later, I visited the graves of my mother and sister. It was my first visit there and, although Tabitha had driven me there, I had wanted to be alone by their graveside. As I bent to place a single red rose on each of their tombstones, I thought about my father.

Although I had still not discovered what had happened to him, I was one step closer. I knew that he had not died at the hands of Vivian. There was still a chance that he was alive, and I knew that one day, I would find out the truth.

Read on for Book II in

THE RAVEN SAGA:

DECEMBER MOON

December Moon

The Raven Saga Part II

S G TURNER

Published by Chill Out Press

Copyright 2011 S G Turner

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious.

Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Cover Image by Enrique Meseguer from Pixabay

For more information about the author and upcoming books, please visit:

www.chilloutpress.com/sgturner

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Jill Ibrahim... once again you've proved to be an absolute gem. Your constructive comments and proofreading skills were spot on, helping to make December Moon even more fun to write (and correct). Thank you so much, I'd be lost without your advice!

Thanks also to editor Ashley Kay McConnell, whose last minute corrections were invaluable.

Shalini Boland, Johanna Frappier, Patti Roberts, Pauline Barclay... just a few of my fellow author pals who I am in awe of. Not only do you write the very best stories, but you're always there to put a smile on my face. You girls rock!

Speaking of rocks... there can be only one and that has to be Michael, who is so incredibly supportive. Thanks babe. This book is for you.

CHAPTER ONE

December Moon had no idea that she was a witch.

She had never given it a single thought. Why would she?

Well, she hadn't given it a single thought until the day before her fifteenth birthday when she had silently wished that the gymnasium would flood. She was sick of humiliating herself with her rather severe lack of elegance on the floor... pointed out, rather loudly, by her fellow gymnasts. The other girls looked impressive, as they fluttered about the room like brightly coloured butterflies, full of elegance and composure. December, on the other hand, thought herself more akin to Alice in Wonderland's caterpillar.

Imagine December's surprise when she began to hear the gentle whooshing sound that usually accompanies an overflowing bathtub. A noise that slowly became louder and louder, until water literally began pouring into the gymnasium from all directions. And it wasn't even raining.

“What the...?” Miss Finnegan screeched.

“Everybody form an orderly line and exit the gymnasium as soon as you can!” she yelled in her posh English accent to her students, after turning puce from blowing so hard on the red whistle that always hung around her stiff, blotchy neck.

December knew something wasn't quite right with the whole scenario, considering the gymnasium had never posed a flood threat before and the fact that there was no plumbing anywhere near the building. The changing rooms were situated at the far end of the school... a design she had never entirely understood.

As all the girls and boys panicked and flocked to the exit in one mad rush, December slowly took her time. It was only water, after all, and a little bit of water never hurt anyone. Well, it had never hurt me, she thought. Precisely at that moment, the water that had begun seeping into her black plimsolls and wetting her feet, receded, leaving her feet and ankles entirely, and strangely, dry.

Eyes wide in amazement, December surveyed the scene around her as one last student ran across the large mat in the centre of the room, it squelching beneath her feet. She was the last to leave. Even Miss Finnegan hadn't waited to make sure all her students had escaped unharmed and dry.