The Blue Moon by Madeline Gottlieb (top ten books to read txt) 📕

the nervous footsteps that paced around the room. Zach opened my eyes and blinked a few times to get used to the bright light. He was surrounded by machines, cords everywhere. Looking down, Zach realized he had an IV in his arm along with bandages that covered some of the markings on his upper arms. No matter how hard he looked, the massacre on his arms never seemed to disappear.

"You're awake!" Zach dragged his eyes up from his arm and stared at Eiko. Her black hair was pulled up into a messy bun and she had bags under her light green eyes.

She was in a pair of his skinny jeans and had on one of his band tees, causing him to smile. "You look beautiful."

Her cheeks became flushed as she sat in the chair next to him. "You've been out for a while, Zach. I kept thinking that I'd lose you..." She trailed off and cleared her throat. "The doctors didn't want to have anything to do with you at first, but I convinced them otherwise."

"What do you mean?"

She shifted uncomfortably in the seat. "Well, you were, uh, you were glowing, Zach, and your eyes, they were... they were completely white. What happened to you, Zach? You were found with deep slashes in your arms and your back was burning."

He blinked a few times. Well, seems like Desdemona didn't just put you to sleep. The voice returned and he closed his eyes and laid against the pillow trying to get everything to make sense. Zach's eyes opened as the door was slammed shut. A man in his 30's stood before him, in full white, with a clipboard in hand as he checked the machines next to Zach.

Eiko had moved out of the seat and was standing against the wall, biting her nails nervously as the man wrote things down. He looked at Zach and gave the boy one of those fake smiles. "Well, son, it seems that everything is back to normal. You'll be able to leave in the next thirty minutes." The man checked something on the papers and made his way out the door, only to look over his shoulder. "I'll get your things and then you can leave."

Zach nodded him away and looked over at Eiko. "I saw your mother."

Her bright green eyes narrowed and the specks of black seemed to get bigger and began to swallow the green. "How did you see her?"

"I went out to the pond and she appeared to me. I know where you're from and what happened to your family." He watched as her eyes seemed to dim with every word that escaped from his mouth and it seemed like she'd lost everything all over again. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter and she made eye contact with him. "I know that you've been all alone for the past year."

Eiko returned to the chair and sat back down, placing her face in her hands. Zach let her sit there like that while the man returned and gave Zach his clothes, showing him where to change and where to go afterwards. The man gently took the IV out of Zach's arm and left the room. Zach let his feet hang over the edge of the bed as he looked at Eiko.

"I, uh, have to change, and then we can leave, okay?"

Eiko looked up at him with dim green eyes. "C-can I come with you? I don't want to be left alone again."

Zach nodded as he stood and made his way to the changing room, Eiko following closely behind. As soon as he closed the door, Eiko had thrown her arms around his neck. Hesitatingly, Zach wrapped his around her waist and held her. "You scared me so much." She whispered, running her hand through his hair. Zach didn't say anything in return. He wasn't sure if he'd scared her because he was the last 'Warrior of Light' or because of some other reason.

Don't even worry about it, mate. Pretty soon, you'll be dead anyway. He ignored the voice as Eiko pulled away and smiled shyly at him before turning away so he could change.
--

Two hours later, they were on Zach's porch, watching as the moon rose into the sky, the light emitting from it shining on the two. Eiko was still in his clothes, her hair still up, as she sat beside him, her head on his shoulder.

"Zach, how much do you know about my family?" She whispered, still staring at the moon.

"Not much really, just how they died. Can I know more?"

She cleared her throat and sat up, moving a few inches away from him. "The woman who called herself my mother in the woods... she might've been her, but her mind was completely different from the one I lived with. It was like, when my mother died, she was split in two, and the worse side disappeared forever."

Eiko paused and let out a shaky breath. "When my father was alive he'd banned any magic other than Light from our kingdom. He feared it would destroy everything and anyone. Doing so, many people were banned. Some were wizards or witches, alchemists, and others were werewolves and vampires, along with faeries and elves. All your myths are real, just unseen to the ones around you. Years after, on our 17th birthday, the ones who were banned returned for revenge, wanting to kill us all. We easily could've overtaken them, but for some reason, they were no longer vulnerable to the Light, and they murdered my father and the Warrior of Lights, all in one hit. When my father died, we thought they'd leave, but we were wrong. My brothers, Stephen and Garret, left the castle and went to find the leader, but they never returned, and so I was sent to this time to find the last Warrior of Light. I returned to tell them the good news, but they were dead, all of them, so I returned to make sure the magic ones hadn't harmed you, but they had, in the worst way imaginable."

The whole time she'd been talking, they two had never lost eye contact, and Zach wondered how the magic had harmed him, so he waited for her to continue. "When a warrior reaches 17, to anyone else with magic, they can find him instantly to hunt him down. On your 17th birthday, your best friend was killed in the car accident you were in as well. Hitting that car wouldn't have killed him, nor started a fire. The only reason you survived was because of your Light."

He stared at her, speechless. No one knew about that accident but his mom and her new husband, along with Christian and John, but she couldn't be lying, and yet he didn't want to believe it. Zach didn't want to think that it was his fault that his best friend died in that car crash, that some magic bitch was coming after him to kill him. He didn't know that he had tears falling from his eyes until Eiko wiped them away. Zach could tell that it pained her to tell him, but he also knew that she was aware nothing she said could change anything.

Wanting to change the subject, he looked up at the moon. "Wait, I thought the magic ones came out at night and tried to kill us?"

She smiled and looked at Zach. "Your house is surrounded by the Light that comes from the deceased warriors. The magic ones cannot pass the barrier that surrounds us." He nodded and returned her smile. It's a shame you're safe here; I can't wait to see you dead. The voice spoke and he continued to sit there quietly. She doesn't love you, idiot. She only wants you to end this war so she can go back to her time and rule like she's supposed to.

Zach believed every word that echoed in his mind. Something in front of them flashed and when he blinked, Cara was kneeling in front of them. Her red hair was pulled back and instead of the dress she was normally in, she was in armor and a shield rested on top of a sword on her back.

Eiko was on her feet instantly. "Cara, speak." The power within her voice echoed and Cara looked up. Her face was cut and she had bruises, but in her eyes it was obvious she wanted to go back and murder whatever had done it.

"Your Majesty, the magic ones have attacked one more. They've taken the lower town; we've evacuated everyone to the castle, but we don't know how long it will hold. We need you." Cara's ice blue eyes seemed darker and she stood up and looked at Zach. "I know that the Blue Moon has yet to come, and I know that you don't know your powers, but you must come and protect us as well."

He turned to Eiko, who was staring at Cara. "Who leads the magic ones? Renin is here in this time, searching for Zachary."

As Zach looked back at Cara, she dropped her gaze to the ground and placed a fist over her heart. "Stephen and Garret lead them.

Our Duty

After Cara had disappeared back to their time to fend off the magic ones, Eiko hadn’t spoken a word to Zach. Her hair was pulled tightly back into a braided bun and she bit her nails. Finally a bit annoyed, Zach stood up and grabbed her shoulders. “Eiko, listen to me, they need us. We must go and show them that hope is not yet lost.”

Her green eyes had been swallowed by the black specks and there the only motion on her face was that of betrayal and sadness. “No, Zachary, I must go. You are not yet capable of your powers like you think you are.”

Confused, he dropped his hands. “So you mean, you’re going to go by yourself?”

She nodded, turning away from him and walking out the front door and called over her shoulder, “Go see Christian and John, they will tell you what you need to know.

So, you finally know that your friends know. Zach stared at her, more confused than ever.“Christian and John?”

Nodding, she faced him once she reached the middle of the lawn. “It was about time you knew about your friends.” Before he could say anything else, a light flashed and she was gone.

Groaning, Zach kicked at the grass and let out a huge sigh. There was obviously only one thing he could do now: go see Christian and John. Taking a breath, he began to walk towards the skate park, the only place they’d be at this time. There were so many thoughts running through his head. He wasn’t able to remember what he’d learned about Eiko’s family, or about the magic ones. The only thing he could remember right now was the fact that Eiko was gone, and Christian and John knew something about what was going on.

Pushing the gate open to the park, Zach spotted John instantly, his red hair everywhere. Ignoring everyone, he walked straight towards Christian and John, and motioned for the two to follow him behind the ramp.

Zach watched as John shared a look with Christian and then looked at him. “So you know now?”

“No! I don’t know anything! All I