Blood on the Moon - serialised EXCLUSIVE for Steemit! - 32

Blood On The Moon Cover

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My third novel was finished and published in time for Halloween and I had a launch at Waterstone's at Sheffield.

The full book cover, done by the wonderful, talented, brilliant Paul Mudie

Other Images from Pixabay or Google (Free Usage)

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Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28 Part 29 Part 30

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It appeared that the assembly had been waiting for her, an uncomfortable silence hung over the room and she could feel the impatience; the conference began even as she took her seat.

“We are becoming increasingly aware of disturbances in the world of Humes. We have been getting reports that there have been pockets of increased violence on both full moons of this year and I cannot understand why this is happening. If any of you have an idea, then please tell me. It is beginning to worry me and yet, it shouldn’t.” Victoria said.

“I believe it is because of the Lupine moon of this year, Lycaeon.” Anton began. “It is the strongest that it has been and the closest to Earth in five centuries.”

Victoria waved her hand at her grandfather in impatience but he ignored the gesture and continued.

“Don’t dismiss my theories out of hand, Victoria. I have studied these phenomena for many centuries and this is one that does seem to affect Humes – and Throwbacks in particular.”

Anton’s voice had taken on a flint-hard tone and he looked scary, even to Red. She was not used to him losing his temper and then she had an idea herself.

“Why is everyone impatient and annoyed with each other today? Everyone seems to be in a bad mood for some reason. Stop and think about this please. We are between full moons and shouldn’t be on edge and yet we seem to be. Anton doesn’t get angry and Victoria doesn’t become dismissive without listening to facts. I wonder why then, that Anton is almost Wolfed and Victoria is being fractious even with her own much-loved grandfather?”

Victoria was about to reply and Red saw by the look on her face that it was about to be a sarcastic and probably scathing response but then she checked herself and closed her mouth with a snap. Anton saw his granddaughter’s response and checked his own angry retort.

They looked at each other and it seemed that something clicked and the annoyance was pushed to one side.

“You’re right, Sentinel Exemplar. I do believe that you’ve put your finger on something. Let me check.” Victoria said, but instead of looking through documents on the table before her, she stood up and went to the window.

She opened the curtains wide and Red went to the window too. Others followed and soon, everyone, including Steve and Joe were at the window, looking out but not knowing what they were looking at.

“There, do you see?” Anton said and he pointed up at the sliver of the moon.

“What is it grandfather?” Victoria asked as she strained to see what he was pointing at. He didn’t answer but waited until it was obvious what he was showing them.

The sliver of moon was being covered by a shadow and they could see the beginning of an eclipse.

“That is why we’re at each other’s throats then.” Anton said as the shadow engulfed the moon. “The Lupine moon phenomenon, combined with this eclipse, is getting to us, but now that we know, we will be better able to control our annoyances I think.”

Victoria didn’t reply and she didn’t look at her grandfather, she waited for the shadow to reveal the moon again.

Chapter 8

Vladimir was enjoying himself. He had allowed them all to get a little drunk except for Jessica who could not cope with the same amounts of alcohol that the Wolf metabolisms could.

He had allowed himself to relax and though he had noticed that Red was being ‘chatted up’ by a young Wolf, he didn’t realise that they had made their departure.

He noticed that she was no longer sitting on the sofa but he didn’t know when she had gone because he saw another couple in their place and he didn’t know if he had been assuming that they were the ones he was supposed to be keeping an eye on.

As soon as he realised that Red had left, Vladimir got angry and stormed out of the club. The others were a little bewildered at his fury but followed him outside. Once his group gathered around him on the pavement in front of the club, he instructed Entwistle to go and rouse Lord Grey in order that they should have a meeting with him immediately.

Entwistle didn’t jump to it as Vladimir had expected, instead he remained where he was and glared at him which was more than enough to tip Vladimir over the edge and round on him.

“You heard what I said, Entwistle! Go and inform Lord Grey that we will be along shortly to speak with him.”
“I don’t follow your orders, Vladimir. You have no authority over me. I answer to Lord Grey and only him.” Entwistle faced Vladimir as he replied to him and still did not see the punch coming, it was so very fast.