Chapter 40: Second Battle
*****Strix’s perspective*****
Winter break is over, classes have started and I’m already bored. At least I have three classes with Ben this semester; English, German, and Calculus. He makes competing a real challenge. My other classes are Criminal Law, Theatre, and Art. I had to pick some fun classes.
There‘s a lot I want to do this semester - besides giving birth - like going to concerts, the spring play, a weekend camping trip with all our friends, and of course there’s spring break in Europe. Plus there are a ton of movies coming out that I want to see and my student org getting an upgrade.
OMG! There’s Tom. Breathe. I don’t think I’ll ever get over his hotness. I should ask him if he’d like to join Student Intervention Inc.
“Hey Strix!”
“Hi Tom, what’s up?”
“Not much really. I’m headed to the gym to play ball with the guys after lunch for a half hour or so. Wanna come?”
“Sure. I’d love to but I’m going out for lunch. Oh, guess what?”
“What?”
“You have to guess, before I can tell you” I teased.
“You’re going to Europe for spring break.”
“That’s not it, but how’d you know?”
“Ben told me a couple of days ago.”
“Oh! Well anywayz, I started a…I guess you could call it a club, though it is really more than that, here on campus. I was wondering if you’d be interested. Our purpose is to help other students with life’s daily problems. I’m calling it Student Intervention Inc or SII for short.” I said handing him the handbook.
“Cool. I’ll read over this and let you know. It sounds good, so maybe.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in class and if you’ve begun to read it by then,” as we had class in two hours I wasn’t sure if he would wait ‘til he got home to read it or start now while we had a break between classes, well at least I had an hour before my next class, “we can discuss what you think so far or whatever.”
“Don’t know if I’ll get the chance, but we’ll see. Maybe Ms. Weatherly’s class will be boring enough that I can read some of it at least.” He smiled.
We parted ways temporarily to get lunch. I was going out with Shawn, Chris and Alice. Now I just have to figure out where to go.
**********
Okay, so calculus isn’t really challenging for someone like me but I do like to pretend on occasion. Mr. Atherton likes when we ask questions so I’ll play stupid here and there and then when I correct him, he really gets a kick out of it. He feels like he is doing a great job teaching. And hey, I feel good too just knowing that I made his day.
Tom is just brilliant at mathematics. I mean just to hear his thoughts when he is solving a problem. I mean it’s almost like watching a movie; he makes every problem make sense in the real world. It’s really cool, especially since I’ve always wondered what some of this stuff is actually used for and how you could apply it to life. I can do the math but sometimes it just didn’t make any sense to me why anyone would put themselves through the torture, as it was torturous for me in the very beginning, of trying to solve some of these equations. I’ve been around awhile and no one has ever been able to tell me the purpose behind these complicated complex problems. And now there is Tom and it is all starting to make better sense. Could he be any more wonderful?
So he hasn’t had a chance to read the handbook yet, no problem. Hopefully he will give me a call and we can discuss more than the book. I really hope we can get to know each other better.
I know what I’ll do. I’ll invite him to go camping with us before spring break. Not today, but it’s something I will need to plan for. I have to figure out who else I want to be there and make sure everyone will get along and of course where to camp. I will need Ben’s help with all of this and we should give everyone at least two weeks prior notice so they can plan accordingly.
What am I saying? What is it about Tom that makes me forget I am already married and pregnant.
*****Taylor’s perspective*****
It’s been a week since Phoenix left. He called and said he would be back soon. He wanted to move his new palace here to Drakmore. I told him about Ben’s latest vision and after we hung up, I called Mary Antigonus. Phoenix would bring his army when he moved his palace, now I needed to ask my coven for help.
Mary said she would contact the elders and get back to me. She also said she would contact the elders of the Vera Fides Coven, the one Aria belonged to. Vera Fides already had an alliance with Hyacintho Lunar, so I was sure they would help. Donnie called around and asked various vampires as well as those in his clan for help. We didn’t know how many wolves were in the Dark Moon Pack or how many of their allies would be joining them. We needed all the help we could get.
Alpha Jacob made some calls as well. He managed to get three of his allies to come camp out on his pack’s land, so they were close when the battle began. There were tents everywhere.
Friday morning, Phoenix arrived at Drakmore. He brought the palace over as well as the fae army. They stayed at Drakmore until we needed them.
Mary was able to get half of Lunam Deam’s witch army and brought them to the Barnette estate. Some stayed at the Barnettes’ and some went to the Hyacintho Lunar territory. She and Alpha Jacob were able to get the Vera Fides Coven’s army of witches as well. They stayed in their city at the ready.
Donnie was able to get most of the Grey clan, Locke and Adams families, and a few wanderers - Nathan and Miles Morgan, Zane and Desiree Alexander, and Jonathan Osterman.
Together we formed an alliance. It was one of duty and respect. While we formed this alliance to defeat the Dark Moon Pack, everyone knew of Khenzu. Not knowing when Strix would give birth, we needed them all here in case we had to fight on two fronts. We didn’t know if the Dark Moon would join him or whether or not he would come before or after the Dark Moon attacked again. Ben and Zach could not see Khenzu in any visions. They did see the Dark Moon Pack would have the Pale Moon Pack with them in the next battle.
The week following everyone’s arrival, Zach’s and Ben’s visions became more and more frequent. And on Thursday, chaos broke out. The Dark Moon and Pale Moon attacked Hyacintho Lunar. Everyone at the Barnette estate rushed to get over there, with the exception of a few. Some of us stayed behind to protect Strix. She looked like she was about to pop. Phoenix also sent a few of his guards to stand watch at the estate. Zach stayed so he could inform us of what was happening in the battle and to keep watch if anyone decided to come here. Scott stayed in case he needed to throw a protective shield up around the house. And of course as Strix’s designated guardian, I stayed.
Five hours later, “Alpha Joshua Seki of the Dark Moon is dead,” Zach stated.
“Really, is it over then,” Strix asked.
“Not yet but Dark Moon is on the retreat.” He said.
“Well that’s some good news,” I said.
“It sure is,” Scott said.
“Strix, why don’t you go lie down for a while,” Zach said.
“Why?” Shae asked.
“It will be better for the baby if you do.” He stated as Strix went upstairs.
Once she was upstairs, Zach began writing in a notebook. When he was done, he showed us what he had written.
Shawn was injured. It’s not fatal, he’ll recover quickly. Didn’t want Strix to freak out. Billy is bringing him here. Someone needs to keep Strix upstairs so she doesn’t see him and freak out. Don’t want her to have the baby right now.
We all nodded in agreement. I went upstairs and sat with Strix. I put a movie on to keep her occupied. I told her we needed to stay up here, Billy was bringing an injured wolf back for surgery and we needed to be out of the way. She seemed satisfied with that. We watched the movie.
We heard Billy come in shouting orders. Strix started to get up to go see and I stopped her. I told her we needed to stay up here in case the pain caused the wolf to attack. I had to put a light barrier up to keep her from leaving her room.
“The fight is over!” Zach shouted. “Pale Moon has retreated.”
“That’s fantastic,” I shouted down.
“Keep Strix up there, it’s not safe for her to come down yet.” Billy yelled.
“Got it!” I said.
“”Fine,” Strix said, defeated.