The Moon's Fangs | 1

Normally a hot, steamy shower would be a way to clear my head and reset. But something told me that may not be the case when taking one in an alien shower while a snake took residence in my head.

“Close your eyes,” I said to Nox as the bathroom door slid shut behind me.

~I- Excuse me? Guides do not possess sexual attraction outside of the host’s desires. I assure you, you have nothing to worry about.~ Nox relented.

“So you say…” I drew out, scanning the walls and ceiling. “Are there any cameras in here?”

~Checking… nope. You are in the clear.~

After another quick scan, I wriggled free of my tattered clothes and stepped onto the green malachite platform. It felt almost pillowy under my feet.

I opened my mouth to ask where the knob was located, but as I stepped towards the middle, water came rushing down like rain from the ceiling. Goosebumps raced across my skin, slowly receding as the light pink-tinted water turned hot. It took a while to cleanse my hair of the dirt and blood before I moved on to scrubbing it from various spots on my skin.

Water and grime sank into the malachite floor instead of running off into some drain, like a self-cleaning system had been built into it.

“Where’s the shampoo and conditioner?” I asked, tasting the diluted peach flavor of the water on my lips.

~Here on planet Orlaith, those substances are not required when cleansing oneself. The natural minerals in orleizen water contain everything needed to take care of the job.~

I frowned. The water did have a nice, fresh scent to it, but could it really be enough to completely disregard shampoo? “Okay… what about a razor?”

My legs tingled strangely in response.

~I can permanently remove any unwanted hair follicles. Would you like me to proceed?~

After quickly confirming I wouldn’t lose any hair on my head, I jumped on the offer. My skin tingled as Nox extruded all the pesky hairs from my body. And to make things even better, the pillowy floor absorbed the follicles and took care of cleaning duty.

Color me impressed.

“Okay, Nox. Maybe we can be friends.”

The water shut off on its own as I stepped down from the malachite platform. I plucked the black robe off a hook on the wall and pushed my arms through its downy sleeves. After securing it around my waist, I checked to make sure the coast was clear before scurrying back down the hall toward the room, leaving a trail of wet footprints in my wake.

Nox somehow remotely closed the door behind me, then the closet door behind me after that. The space was shaped like a wide trapezoid; the right side contained a few different outfits while shoes, jewelry, and a floor-length mirror were stationed on the left side.

I set my ruined clothes next to the door, heart dropping a couple degrees at the thought of possibly never being able to wear my favorite tee again.

With a quiet sigh, I turned my attention to the new options. The first was a floor-length, icy blue dress with a deep v-neckline and a matching satin cloak made of the same thin material. The next was a sleeveless white mini-dress that resembled an upside-down flower. Both were red-carpet worthy and definitely not something I could just… throw on.

“This guy can’t be serious,” I muttered, sliding over some revealing outfits and a two-piece set. There was no way I could wear any of these things casually out in public. In private? Definitely. But I couldn’t show back up on Earth dressed like I’m ready to attend a party.

The next piece was a full-body, sleeveless midnight blue bodysuit with a texture somewhere between satin and spandex. With an idea in mind, I pushed my legs through the material, shimmied it up my hips, then hooked my arms through. The neck scooped just under my collarbone in the front but scooped low past the middle of my back, a hair shy of showing off my lower back dimples. It fit my body like a glove, showing off all the curves in all the right places.

I went back to the first dress and unfastened the thin icy blue cloak from the back. After messing with the silk for a little bit, I managed to loop it around my waist like a sash. I used the mirror while knotting it on the side, happy with the result.

“I mean, I’ll probably get some weird looks. But I doubt anyone will say anything.” I checked out my backside in the mirror. “Well, besides Blaire and dad. They’ll probably say something.”

Then it occurred to me. How and what was I going to tell them when they asked about what happened? I mean, Blaire experienced the monsters firsthand too. So, portals and aliens weren’t a stretch, right? She witnessed me straight up disappear while falling to my almost death.

I took in a deep breath. I’d cross that road when getting there. Now wasn’t the time to worry about little things like their reactions. What mattered was their safety.

I abandoned the shoe options and made my way back down the hall to the lab. As I did, I snooped on the doors leading in that direction. Besides the bedroom, bathing room, and restroom, there were two other doors down this long hall.

The first opened up into a small study. I poked my head in, saw no other exits, then moved on to the last unexplored door. Nox hadn't opened this one as it did for the others. I pressed my weight against it to slide it open, but it was sealed tight.

~This one is locked.~ Nox unhelpfully supplied.

No duh.

“The way out?” I whispered, taking a step back.

~Sorry to disappoint, but no. Behind this door is Reks Arlen’s personal armory.~ the snake said, then quickly added after reading my next thought, ~I- well, I could attempt to hack into the lock, but Reks would be alerted the moment I engaged.~

I pursed my lips and attempted to give the Guide a mental brow raise. Fraidy-cat.

There was a distinct hitch in the back of my mind, then a serpentine-like gasp. ~Who are you calling a fraidy-cat? I most certainly am not one of those! I am doing you a favor and helping you stay out of trouble.~

Mhm, sure. Whatever you say. I taunted, walking into the lab.

Everything was noticeably cleaner - spotless, even. As if a magical cleaning crew of fairies snuck in and took care of all the dirty, dusty business. Was this whole place self-cleaning? All planters and shelves were free of withered plants, too.

On the wall to my left, Reks had pulled up a larger holographic projection next to the cabinets and workstation. But as I neared, my entire face went flush when my own Instagram page came into view.

He looked at a picture of Blaire and I laughing on the porch swing just last week; her legs laid across my lap as she hugged my neck. The next, a picture of me on the fourth of July sporting a classic red bikini, jean shorts, and white beaded bracelets stacked on both wrists. Following that were pictures of Blaire and me at an outdoor country concert, us sunburnt at the lake, a picture of me and dad on graduation night with the biggest, cheesiest grin on his face, and so on.

He had another picture isolated and pushed off to the side of his projection, one where it was just me. I was in my favorite place, where I always escaped reality to stare up at the stars. Blaire had taken a picture of me standing next to the hammock, reading a romance novel while I waited for it to get dark. I hadn’t known she took the picture, but it was one of my favorites.

But why was this man looking at all of these?

I crossed my arms and cleared my throat to get his attention, and he didn’t miss a beat with his response.

“So many pictures, so many smiles. You have quite the documentary, Outlander.” He gave me a nonplussed glance, then doubled back. His dark eyes looked me up and down in an almost accusatory fashion.

I pulled my arms closer. “What?”

He equipped a blank, unreadable stare, then shook his head. “It’s nothing,” he said, turning back to the running data on the screen.

Even though he already turned, I shot him a sharp glare. I mean, that definitely wasn’t nothing, but sure, let’s pretend. Maybe he didn’t particularly like my choice of outfit? Well, whatever. He could kiss my ass.

~O-oh my. How shameless.~

My eyes flashed from the unwarranted comment. That’s not what I meant!

“My Guide is still working on sourcing out your friend,” he said, plugging in coordinates. “While we wait, tell me more about what happened. You said you encountered monsters made of blue crystal, you stole a gate ring from someone named Nolan, but only because a snake told you to do it. Correct?” he looked over at me for confirmation.

I nodded, recollecting myself. I was impressed he remembered all of that with how crazy he had been acting before. “Some of this may sound… out there, but bear with me.”

I started to explain. I described the cobra from my nightmare, and its visions and instructions involving him. I told him how I met Nolan, Danika, and Nikoe. I shivered when explaining how I unintentionally stole the gate ring and Nolan coming back to find it. It was difficult to form the words when going into detail about the monster attack. I had to pause a few times in order to regain a level head. Even still, it was difficult to not let my emotions get the best of me.

Reks paused, giving my recollection of events his full attention. No matter how crazy or unreal it sounded, he never interrupted or gave any weird looks. He listened. He understood. By the way his dark eyes studied me, I could tell he took mental notes while I briefed him.

“You really went through hell,” he said after a moment. “Can you tell me more about the white snake? You said it bit you in this… dream, and even after waking up, you could still feel it?”

“Not anymore, actually. Not since the whole Nox thing.” I admitted, touching the side of my neck where the soreness had been. Since waking up, all my pain including the phantom pain of that unseen bite mark disappeared.

“May I?” He reached over towards my neck, and I let him. Goosebumps rose against my skin as he swept the wet locks of hair off my shoulder to better examine me. Heat quickly replaced the chill as his fingers smoothed over the side of my neck, as if trying to feel for something invisible to the naked eye. I silently prayed he wouldn’t feel the sudden increase in my heartrate, wouldn’t see it thrashing against my flesh.

He hummed to himself, brows knitting together. His fingers arched around the nape of my neck, using his thumb to gently tilt my head to the side, as if doing so would grant him a better look. The way his hand held the back of my neck sent the meaning of butterflies to a whole other level. “You’re sure this doesn’t hurt?”

“Mhm.”

“Really? I’m barely touching your neck, and your face is flaming red.”

I shoved his hand away, embarrassment kicking in like a racehorse at the starting bullet. “What? N-no. It’s just hot in here.”

“Is it?” He leaned closer, mockingly.

But before he could embarrass me further, the projection screen lit up with a video. Our attention turned toward the screen to see what his Guide found.

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach in an instant.

A newscaster from the local news station near my hometown stood in front of a house, charred and barely standing. A broken porch swing laid crookedly on the now scorched patio.

My home.

A giant hole where the front door had been now allowed viewers a glimpse into my house. But instead of viewing the quaint, loving home I knew it to be, all I could see was burnt ruin within. Everything looked destroyed and burnt to a charred crisp.

The newscaster nodded grimly to the person manning the camera before speaking. “We are on the scene here, just off of Countyline where a shocking event transpired overnight during the storm.” the camera panned across the damage.

Black and yellow crime scene tape surrounded the house. A couple people wearing dark clothing with matching hats could be seen accompanying another with a white hazmat suit inside the house, where they took pictures and examined the wreckage.

“Investigators are telling us this is not storm damage we are seeing. The gaping hole in the roof and crater inside at first made us suspect a meteoroid came down into this home, but there is no sign of something that large here. We are still waiting for the investigator’s full report on the matter.” the newscaster paused, listening to incoming updates through their earpiece.

“Two high school graduates were here last night and have now gone missing.” a picture of Blaire and I appeared in the corner of the screen with our names under it. It was the same picture of the two of us on the porch swing. My heart lurched, stomach twisting in knots.

“Blaire Bailey, daughter of the Chief Firefighter, was spending the night here with Amelia Drake, daughter of the Fire Captain, the night of this incident while both of their parents were responding to an emergency across town. Search and rescue teams along with the fire crew have been out searching for the past several hours for the girls, but no word on their progress as of yet.”

My hands clasped over my mouth, vision blurring. My insides tightened and churned, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from the paused video screen.

I felt Reks’ eyes on me for a long second before he spoke. “Time between Earth and Orlaith works differently. That video was taken twenty days ago on Earth. This next one happened a few hours ago Earth-time—”

“Twenty days ago?” I interrupted him, tears spilling down my face. “I haven’t been gone for… it’s only been...”

~A day here on Orlaith is equivalent to roughly ten days on Earth.~ Nox stated.

A lump swelled in my throat.

The next video played. Behind the newscaster, there were still investigators on the scene, but there were now framed pictures and flowers outside of the crime scene tape. Several pictures of Blaire and I with little mementos and keepsakes were placed on the ground, surrounded by white and purple flowers.

I stumbled backward a step, unable to focus on what the newscaster reported. Only words like devastation and grieving parents reached me. “Oh God… I’m too late.” my voice cracked between shallow breaths.

Darkness edged my vision, body going numb. I wanted to scream, but all the energy depleted from my body in one fell swoop. The room spun. I shook my head, barely able to stand on my own two feet.

“They killed her… they burned the evidence…” it felt as if I was being gutted. My hands pressed tighter against my mouth to hold back the sobs. My vision pulsed, edged in black. “I didn’t do… a-anything to h-h...” my shoulders trembled.

Reks paused the video. “Nothing is for certain yet. A body hasn't been found. And I’ll have my Guide run its own searches as well.”

“I need to get back home right now,” I said, struggling against the desperate pang gnawing at my insides. “I n-need to tell them…” a sob cut me short.

His expression hardened. “That can’t happen.”

“What do you mean that can’t happen? I have to go!” my voice cracked. I swung an arm at the video screen. “My dad is out there searching - he’s been searching for almost a month! And if Blaire’s still out there, I— I…”

Twenty days. Twenty days was a long time to be lost. If they hadn’t found her by now…

He didn’t move, staying rigid with his cold expression. “It’s not an option. The moment you—”

“You can’t stop me!” I yelled through the tears, turning to find an exit. “If you won’t help me, I’ll figure it out myself. I don’t need you.” I stormed towards a door on the opposite side of the lab. How dare he say I couldn’t go back. I had to go back. They didn’t know what truly happened. Blaire. Blaire could still be…

Quick footsteps closed the gap.

“Outlander. Stop.” Reks clutched my arm. “Look at me.” he grabbed my shoulder to turn me around. I stared up at him with tear-filled defiance. “Do you know what’ll happen the moment you go back? Those monsters will come back, and a target will be painted on the backs of everyone you ever cared about. Why? Because you’ll be showing them you can be persuaded to come if it involves people you love. You’ll be giving them exactly what they want, all the ammunition they need to torment you further. Is that what you want?”

I stiffened. “But I don’t have the ring anymore.”

“Is that what you think the Horde wanted?” he leaned closer. “No. They were there for you, on orders from their queen. You said it yourself - you were warned before any of it happened. Before you had the gate ring in your possession.”

I yanked my arm out of his grip. “All that snake said was for me to save you and find Sio! It never told me monsters would smash into my house. It never said Blaire would-” another strained sob broke through.

But the cobra did say I was in danger. It had warned me. It warned me, and I chose not to listen, to not consider it.

Reks’ pupils dilated as an intense recognition eclipsed his face. Fury-filled recognition. “Find Sio. Are you positive that’s what it said?”

“Yeah… that’s what it said. Do you know what that means?”

He pivoted, raking a hand through his midnight hair like the name had been a revelation. “That’s it. It has to be,” he whispered.

I looked back at the paused screen, and a raw emotion pulsed through me, like a hatred I never truly experienced until now. Blaire’s screams, Nolan’s involvement, and the monsters' assault polluted my memory. It caused something dark to stir inside of me. An untethered hatred refusing to settle.

Because of this snake and its warning and everything it has led up to, I was now supposed to just let those who cared for me back home worry and mourn over me… because if I went back, more danger would come? But why? Why did I have to do with anything?

The sudden rise of hate festered through me, burning like lava. Never before had I felt such a strong desire to punch something - but I wanted to now. I wanted to punch the one responsible right in the face. Never had I felt the need to get violent, up until this very moment.

I wanted to take, like it took from me.

Reks pressed a finger against the corner of the projection, causing it to dissipate out of sight. He turned to look at me with dark, calculating eyes. “Take a breath, Outlander. Everything you’re feeling is heightened now you have a Guide. Focus on something else, something that calms you.”

Angry tears slid down my cheeks. I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes shut, breathing in through my nose, then out through my mouth. My body trembled tightly, rigidly. The harder I tried to think of something else, the louder Blaire’s screams sounded in my head. “I- I can’t.” my barely audible whisper cracked.

“Yes, you can.”

The warmth of his hands slid down my arms before clasping something into my hands.

I opened my eyes. My gaze fell on the little butterfly charm on my bracelet. Somehow, the chaos stilled in my mind, like the moment after the storm leaves. He gave it back. What's more, he cleaned the blood off the charms before doing so.

“You have two choices in front of you. You can let all these emotions and hatred consume you, which will lead you on the path of a reckless death. Or you can take control of it and use it as fuel. Like it or not, Fate brought us together for a reason. If Sio is really out there somewhere, then that’s where we'll find our answers. And it’s expected the Horde is after Sio too.” He said, clasping my blue-gemmed necklace back around my neck.

I wiped my cheeks, sliding my bracelet back over my wrist. “How does finding Sio bring Blaire back?”

“It won’t,” he said, grimly. “But finding Sio will lead us to learn why you were targeted. It’ll probably know how to solve the Horde problem. And it’ll lead to answers to my own questions. For now, it’s the best and only option. Sio... is the key to everything.” His last sentence ended in a reluctant tone, as if he hated admitting it.

I clenched my jaw. “What happens if the monsters beat us to it?”

He darkened. “We lose everything.”