Страница 220 из 226
The Moon & the Night Sky
At 3:03 a.m. on a hot summer night, Fallon Grimaldi Morgan was born under a full Thunder Moon. Outside, a fierce storm howled, struck, and shook the small cottage, and in the dark corner, a heart-splitting cry from the wooden bassinet filled the room. But these cries were not of Fallon as they were coming from another. Hot rain blew in from the open window casements as her mother held out her arms for her daughter. “She isn’t crying,” alarm laced Freya’s voice, her eyes panicked, “Why isn’t she crying? Is she okay?”
“She’s a Moonchild,” Marietta whispered so Agatha Blackwell could not hear, admiring the birthmark before swaddling the infant in a blanket. Baby Fallon was carried to Freya, and Marietta sat beside the cot, placed a cold rag to the mother’s forehead. “Do not worry, your daughter is all right. Look at her, she is perfect.” Marietta leaned over, looked into Freya’s eyes, and whispered, “For as long as I am here, I will protect her. Now there is not much time.” The screaming continued from the corner of the room, and Marietta’s face pinched as she cut her gaze to the shadow where baby Julian Jai laid. “Agatha, please, do something for him!”
“I can’t,” Agatha said with defeat. “He screams and screams and screams. I’m so sorry. There is nothing I can ever do.”
Freya gripped Marietta’s hand, using every last bit of strength. “Promise me, you and Tobias will take her far away from here,” she whispered, clutching her baby close to her chest. “Tell her the stories so she will always know who she is, but never bring her back. Promise me, you are my keeper, and now hers. You will do this for me!”
“The Cantini’s agreed to help with our escape. They are waiting with Tobias at the grounds now. For the three of us, Freya. I promise everything will be all right,” Marietta assured. From the corner of the room, Agatha rocked her son, but nothing would calm the cries. The storm was only worsening outside, the winds roaring, the thunder continuing to rattle the small cottage inside the hill. Marietta called Agatha over for a picture, unknowing it would be her and Freya’s last. Agatha lay the screaming baby once more in the bassinet before appearing at Freya’s side.
The camera clicked! and afterward, Marietta noticed Freya’s eyes rolling to the back of her head.
“What’s happening?” Agatha asked. Marietta ignored her, rushed toward Freya, and scooped Baby Fallon into her arms before Freya’s heart gave out. “Oh, god, no! Marietta, do something! Quick!” Agatha cried out, clutching Freya’s head into her hands. Marietta hurried, placed the newborn into the bassinet beside Julian, then returned to Freya.
A new wave of cries filled the room as Agatha performed heart compressions, trying to bring her best friend back. Marietta wept beside the cot, knowing the time had come, and there was no way to reverse it. Lightning struck outside the window, painting the sky in purple as rain pounded against the glass. The wind turned forceful, pushing the window open and slamming it back and forth against the wall. Chaos seemed to swirl inside the room, except not entirely.
During all the commotion, in the dark corner of the room where the bassinet stood, Julian Jai looked into the Moonchild’s bright eyes.
And, at last, his screaming fell silent.