Blood On The Moon Cover
My third novel was finished and published in time for Halloween 2016 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)
To read from the beginning: Here
Then change the number in the address bar from 1 to 2 (https://steemit.com/writing/@michelle.gent/blood-on-the-moon-serialised-exclusive-for-steemit-2) and so on for the next episodes.
“Get on with it Darius!” Anton shouted and Red almost jumped out of her skin.
She resisted the urge to duck down and Darius saw them.
Wolves turned around at Anton’s shout and he began to push forward.
Those that had been awkward before allowed them through this time and soon they were standing on the empty lawn just below the terrace that Darius was using as a platform.
“These Wolves have not come because of you Darius, shut the hell up and get down from there; you’re making a fool of yourself.” Anton said in a clear voice that carried further than Darius’s had.
“They are here because of the Wolf’s Eye amulet, Darius.” Selene said and she appeared from the darkness beyond the trees that enveloped the path, where her mother’s grave was situated.
The Wolf’s Eye glinted in the moonlight but it was far brighter than it should have been even given the brightness of the moon.
Red saw the amulet and something, her instinct perhaps, kicked in.
Her eyes took on the characteristics of when she turned Wolf and they blazed with their usual preternatural yellow but she was not about to turn Wolf. She seemed to grow taller, broader and more powerful but it was an illusion, surely?
Anton watched Red as these things were happening, he was fascinated.
The rest of the entire audience of Wolves watched Selene; or rather they watched the wearer of the amulet.
“Selene,” Red said and her voice carried well. “The amulet was lost to us for whatever reason. And because of its loss, we have adapted and moved on. There is no need for the amulet now, there have been changes made to the ways our society works and from the vast numbers of Wolves that meet here this night, it would seem that it is a successful system.”
Selene snorted derision at Red’s words.
She too held herself straight and she was indeed impressive to see.
She was an Ancient and as her mother before her was reputed to be a brave and frightful warrior; it would seem that the amulet enhanced the wearer’s prowess.
Selene addressed the crowds before her, not Red. “Wolfkind needs no system. Wolfkind needs no rules. We are creatures of anarchy and destruction and we could rule this little planet if we so chose. It is only by the decree of the few that the many are shackled by these rules. Do away with the rules! Reject the authority that you have allowed them to wield over you! Rise up now and slaughter the rule-makers, the rule-enforcers and those that wish to rule you! Wolfkind is invincible and we deserve the Humes’ awe!”
Anton became a little concerned at her speech because even he felt a stirring in his heart at her words.
He became more concerned when he heard the muttering begin in the crowds and he knew that the amulet was a powerful and deadly tool.
They had been fortunate that Belinda had been loyal to the Lycaeon when she wore it or he was certain that there would no longer be a Royal household.
It was when Selene was speaking that Darius realised that the amulet takes on its wearer’s zeal and enhances it.
Selene had been brought up in a household devoted to his doctrine and as she had grown, she had formed her own opinions based on that initial teaching.
She was of the opinion that Wolf rule was abhorrent and unnecessary.
Wolfkind could govern themselves without the strict guidelines that had been put in place to protect the species from detection.
Darius didn’t necessarily subscribe to that opinion, he did want Wolfkind to be ruled, he just plotted that it would be him that was doing it.
He didn’t notice Anton had approached him and was shocked when he took firm hold of his collar and dragged him off backwards out of immediate view of the audience below their ‘stage’.
“This is all your doing, you treacherous snake!” Anton hissed at the other Wolf.
Darius put his hands over Anton’s, as much to hold himself up if Anton was to let go as to remove his grip.
He was held off-balance by Anton’s grip and Anton leaned forward to speak quietly with him. “I suggest you stop her, she seems to be beholden to you.”
Darius protested. “She isn’t under my influence; she left my organisation a while ago. I heard nothing from her until this morning when she phoned me and told me where to come.”
“So you called this assembly.” Anton said.
“I called some of my Wolves to this place, yes, I admit it but I wasn’t expecting this kind of turn-out! I don’t have this many Wolves to command. I was shocked but pleased when I saw them all.”
“You bloody moron! These Wolves haven’t turned up for you! They’re here for a war!”