Blood Moon Reckoning

Chapter6: New Life Begins

The sun was beginning to rise, casting a warm glow over the small village, but Estella was already awake. She had learned long ago that a mother’s work never truly ends, and with Devon, each day brought new challenges.

The early morning light filtered through the thin curtains of their modest cottage, dancing across the wooden floors. Estella moved quietly, careful not to wake Devon. It was in these peaceful moments, when the world was still and calm, that she could gather her thoughts before the day began.

She walked over to the fireplace and stirred the embers, adding a few more logs to get the fire going. The air was cool, and a light fog clung to the trees just beyond the village. This was her sanctuary now, far away from the Vesper Pack and the scandal that had nearly destroyed her. Here, no one knew her name, her past, or the father of her child.

The sound of small feet padding across the floor brought her back to the present. She turned to see Devon standing in the doorway, rubbing his eyes. His messy dark hair stuck out in all directions, and his cheeks were flushed from sleep. Estella’s heart clenched as she gazed at him. He looked so much like her- and yet, those ruby eyes always reminded her of the mystery that still haunted her.

“Morning, Mama,” Devon mumbled, still half-asleep.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” she replied, her voice soft and comforting. “Did you sleep well?”

Devon nodded, shuffling over to her and wrapping his small arms around her leg. Estella bent down to ruffle his hair before guiding him to the table where a simple breakfast awaited them.

As he ate, Estella found herself watching him closely. His intelligence was far beyond his years, and his curiosity was endless. Every day, he asked new questions - about the world, about their life, about things she wasn’t sure how to explain to a four-year-old.

“Why do birds fly, Mama?” Devon asked, his eyes brightening as he took a bite of bread.

Estella smiled, shaking her head. “They have wings, so they can soar through the sky. It’s how they get from place to place.”

Devon’s brow furrowed, clearly not satisfied with the simple answer. “But why don’t we have wings? I want to fly too.”

She chuckled softly, leaning over to wipe a bit of jam from his cheek. “Because we’re not birds, silly. But that doesn’t mean we can’t dream about flying.”

Devon seemed to ponder her words for a moment before nodding thoughtfully. “Maybe one day I’ll find a way.”

His confidence always astounded her, even when it came from the wild dreams of a child. Estella’s smile faded slightly as she thought about what would come later in the day.

She stood and made her way to the small shelf tucked into the corner of the room, pulling down a tiny vial filled with a shimmering blue liquid.

It was time for Devon’s eye drops.

She held the vial in her hand, hesitating for just a moment. Every day, she performed this same ritual, hiding the truth about Devon’s ruby eyes. It felt wrong, but she knew it was necessary. If anyone ever found out about his eyes, questions would arise - questions that could lead back to her past, to Carlos, and to the man whose face she had never seen.

“Come here, love,” she said softly, beckoning Devon over. “We need to do your eye drops before we go out today.”

Devon obediently climbed into her lap, tilting his head back as she carefully applied a drop into each eye. The red faded almost instantly, transforming into the same shade of blue as her own.

“Why do I have to use these every day, Mama?” Devon asked, blinking as the drops took effect.

Estella’s heart skipped a beat. He was getting older, and the questions were getting harder to answer.

“Because…” she began, searching for the right words, “sometimes people don’t understand things that are different. And your eyes are special, Devon, but they might scare people who don’t know you.”

Devon looked up at her, his small face serious. “I don’t want to scare anyone.”

“You won’t,” Estella assured him, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead. “That’s why we use the drops. Just to be safe.”

He nodded, accepting her explanation for now. But Estella knew it wouldn’t be long before he would demand more answers - answers she didn’t have.

As the morning wore on, they made their way to the shop. It was a small, unassuming building nestled between the blacksmith’s workshop and the baker’s home. She brought this shop a year ago since it was not convenient for people to go to their home, especially in Devon’s case.

Herbs hung drying from the ceiling, filling the air with the scent of rosemary and lavender. Jars of potions and tinctures lined the shelves, each one meticulously labeled by Estella’s careful hand. The shop had become her livelihood, a way to support herself and Devon while keeping a low profile.

Elena was already there when they arrived, busy organizing a new shipment of dried herbs.

“You’re late this morning,” the old woman teased, looking up from her work.

“Devon had more questions,” Estella said with a smile, though there was an underlying weariness in her tone.

Elena chuckled. “That boy is too smart for his own good. One day, he’ll outsmart us both.”

Estella smiled, but her heart felt heavy. The truth was, Devon’s intelligence was part of what worried her. He noticed things - things other children might not- and she feared the day when he would start asking questions she couldn’t answer. Like who his father was. Or why his eyes were red when she had blue eyes. Or worse, what if Devon asked about life outside the village and wanted to explore?

“Come on, Devon,” Elena said, waving him over. “Help me sort these herbs, will you?”

Devon scampered over to the counter, eager to assist Elena with her work. Estella watched them for a moment, her heart swelling with gratitude. Elena had been a godsend, stepping in as a surrogate grandmother to Devon and a confidant to Estella. Without her, the burden of raising her son and keeping their secret might have been too much to bear.

“You worry too much, child,” Elena said quietly, as if reading Estella’s thoughts. She glanced up from the herbs, her sharp eyes meeting Estella’s. “That boy is going to be just fine.”

“I know,” Estella replied, though she wasn’t entirely sure she believed it. “But the past… it’s always there, just waiting to catch up with us.”

Elena’s expression softened. “The past is gone, Estella. What matters is what you do with the present.”

Just then, the shop door creaked open, and a man stepped inside. Estella’s heart skipped a beat, her muscles tensing involuntarily. Every time someone new entered the shop, a small part of her feared they might recognize her. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, with the rough hands of a laborer and a weathered face. He looked around the shop before his gaze settled on Estella.

“Are you the herbalist?” he asked, his voice gruff.

Estella forced herself to relax, offering him a warm smile. “Yes, I am. How can I help you?”

The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of parchment. “My wife, she’s been having trouble sleeping. The doctor in our village told us to come to you for something that might help.”

Estella’s tension eased as she took the note from him, scanning the doctor’s instructions. “I have just the thing,” she said, moving behind the counter to retrieve a jar of dried chamomile. She measured out a portion into a small pouch, then added a few drops of a calming tincture she had made earlier that week. “Give her a cup of tea with this before bed, and she should sleep soundly through the night.”

The man nodded, his expression grateful as he handed her a few coins in exchange. “Thank you. She hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks.”

Estella smiled as she handed him the pouch. “I hope this helps. If she needs more, just come.”

As the man left, Elena gave Estella a knowing look. “See? You’re doing just fine here. No one knows, no one suspects anything.”

“I just…” Estella trailed off, glancing at Devon who was still happily sorting herbs. “I don’t want anything to happen to him.”

Elena crossed the room and placed a hand on Estella’s shoulder. “You’re a good mother, Estella. You’re doing everything you can to protect him. That’s all anyone can ask.”

Estella nodded, her eyes lingering on her son. But even as she tried to push the fear aside, the familiar weight settled back into her chest.

The past wasn’t gone. It was just waiting.