HELENA.

Aaron was fine. Luna was fine. I was fine. But Veronica? I couldn't tell. I dialed her number, twice, but she didn't answer. A sudden deja vu wave had me questioning my existence.


I walked back to meet Aaron and Luna, who were talking in hushed tones. They looked up at me simultaneously, expecting an answer. “She's not picking…I..I don't know anymore.” I sank inside the cushion next to me.

“She could be busy, who knows? It is kind of late.” Luna tried to assure me.
“Veronica never works until this late. I feel so stupid.” I really should have kept in touch with her ever since she left. But everything just happened so fast I..
“Don't get ahead of yourself. Maybe she decided to do so this one time. Or do you wanna run down to Hulvey now?” Her eyes were soft, and for some inexplicable reason, I calmed down.


“That would be utterly impossible. I'm just afraid they'll get to her again and hurt her…maybe even worse this time.” I may not be able to even live with myself. Why didn't she just stay here with me? She would have been a lot more safe for goodness sake. I hated feeling like this. It reminded me of my parents….

No, I wouldn't go there now.

“Just calm down okay? She'll respond.” Aaron placed his palm over mine, the sensation calming my nerves almost immediately. I nodded softly. “Okay.”

Later that night, Luna and Aaron were seated in the living room, watching the news with stoic expressions. There had apparently been increased disappearances, and people had begun to take them seriously. Some investigators said it was the fault of the security operatives. Some said it was the demons who were cleansing the land. Others blamed it on the Luna festival that was upcoming, and on the werewolves. The latter was only spoken about in hushed tones because very few people believed in them, but they were still talked about.

I picked up the remote and turned down the volume of the TV. “You guys really believe it's werewolves that's causing all this?” I sat down, and dived into the bowl of mash potatoes and gravy Aaron had made earlier. I definitely missed his cooking. Top notch.

“It's werewolves that's causing it. They're on a rampage now, considering the fact that the festival is only in a month’s time.” Luna said, relaxing into the cushion.

“A month and two weeks, precisely.” Aaron corrected, earning himself a glare from her.
“Right. There's usually a ritual performed like I said before. And during that time, werewolves would be…. unstable.” She dragged the last words as if she wanted me to understand it. I glanced at her and Aaron.

“What do you mean unstable?” I pushed my plate aside. My appetite had vanished all of a sudden.

“I mean, we might not be able to control what we do and or say.” She said simply.

“Oh.” Was the only syllable that left my lips. That was…anticlimactic.
“We'll not completely lose our minds. We might just get more aggressive, and do things without realizing. That's why we usually spend it in Lunaville.” Aaron added, gauging my expression.

“So why can't y'all just spend it there? Oh wait…” My thoughts clicked. I pointed at both of them. “You're a wanted escapee, and they don't even know you exist.” My voice was plain, and I was rummaging through my thoughts. “So what do we do then?” I raised my head, staring at both of them.

I couldn't stay at home with both of them, and I couldn't go out either. It could turn out to be a lose lose situation. I could believe that neither of them would hurt me, but for Luna to say it…I'd rather just be safe.

“I can create a potion or a spell that would keep us in check, but the effectiveness would take weeks to work on. You could also use wolfsbane, but that's not so smart.” Luna tapped her chin thoughtfully.

“I say we just let it pass. Lock us up in separate rooms or something.”

“I will not be locked up like a dog , you know.” Luna glared at him playfully, stomping her foot on his own. “Ow! Watch it.” He growled, baring his teeth and lunging at her before catching himself at the last second. Luna, obviously surprised at the sudden attack, widened her eyes at him, and he sank back into his seat, suddenly aware of what had just happened.

“Aaron… Are you okay?” I whispered.
The room felt cold, detached, melancholic. He gazed at me, remorse and confusion evident in those green eyes. “Yeah, I'm fine.” He exhaled, shutting his eyes.

“That did not seem fine. Aaron, I'll ask you one more time. What the hell happened out there that night?” Luna was agitated, and her blue eyes had darkened completely. She gritted her teeth, seething in the anger that washed over her.

I honestly felt like a spectator.

“Look, I remember seeing a flash of light, I remember I muttered some words.” He looked so confused, so helpless. “A strange wave of energy came over me and I was able to fend the demon off. Afterwards, I dragged myself home and blacked out till today.”

“What words?” Luna demanded, inching closer to him. Her teeth were bared, and she actually looked like she wanted to attack him. Aaron played it cool.

“Um..it goes something like astra descendo, then,” He started, and Luna had relaxed significantly. She shut her eyes as she spoke through a certain set of words that sounded latin. When he was about finishing up, Luna raised a finger and placed it on his mouth.

“No. Not anymore.” She exhaled.
I didn't know if it was just me, but the room got colder.
“Why not?” I asked. “Why not let him finish?” She stared sharply at me.

“That's an ancient incantation, for werewolves. It hasn't been used in a long time because no one seemed to remember it. But now…” She turned her gaze back to Aaron.

“Maybe that explains why your aura changed. But there's still something missing.” She said, deep in thought. She got up and began to pace around the room while me and Aaron just stared at her.

“We'll just have to find out whenever it's ready.”