Josie

Josie never expected to get lost in the woods. It was a short trip to Ryan’s house and while he was usually the one throwing rocks at the window he was under the weather and she couldn’t stand idly by. Thus it was her time to make the trek. She knew it was a bad idea at the best of time. Yet as the frost took the leaves and moon shied behind the clouds, it was clear tonight cutting across the woods was the worst of ideas.

Josie shivered as she checked Ryan’s directions and her compass. I should have grabbed a better jacket, or my bike. I doubt I would have been caught, or I’ll get caught regardless. She mused shoving the compass and directions back in her pockets. It should be the height of fall, yet her breath was lit by the moon. She crunched though the forest, spying the pond. The pond was one of the neighborhood spots most of the couples pretended they only knew about. Josie had spotted Maddie and Eric, and Rebecca and Sam borrowing the romance the pond. Josie diverted to the pond, as it was calling to her. A night like tonight had to be something to see.

Joise stopped and approached its shores. The pond was large and clear, which made the night sky reflect as if it was a portal to another world. Tonight was no different the moon large and yellow and Josie felt like she could reach into the pond and grab it if she tried. If it was summer tonight would be the night we would all gather for a bit of after hours swimming. She smiled remembering the last time, Maddie’s forest sprite idea had gone over a bit too well. Turning to continue her trek something caught her eye. A small orb of icy light hovered above the pond, near the reflection of the moon. As it approached Josie found her self rooted in spot. The orb circled her a few times and then entered her chest. The world went cold.

Josie woke up in a hospital room. Her head hurt and Hannah was slumped in a folding chair next to her bed. The beeping of a heart rate monitor hit her like a rock concert drummer. “Ow.”

Hanna stirred peering though half open eyes before launching to her feet with a start. “Josie!” Josie’s sister dove in for a hug. “Let me get the nurse! And Mom!” Hannah dashed from the room, leaving Josie in a daze. Between the nurses, doctors, her parents, and even a sharif’s deputy Josie repeated her story of lovestruck stupidity: the cold, the getting lost, the pond, and the moon. The beautiful yellow moon, so large, so close, and oh so beautiful. Josie had never seen the moon so beautiful before. “They don’t understand.” pulsed though her mind. They should the moon was beautiful and hers.

“Josie, are you aware you were missing for five days before we found you?” Deputy Smith said, he had put down his note pad as Josie started going on about the moon. “Josie I know it is a drag; but I got to make sure there was no fowl play.”

Josie decided she didn’t like Deputy Smith. “I didn’t see anyone. I just was there with the moons.” Josie winced. She shouldn’t have mentioned the second moon. Hopefully no one would notice. No one did.

Saelir was relieved.

The heart monitor panicked as Josie recoiled, Who is Saelir? Josie racked her mind trying to figure out where that name came from. Josie decided it wasn't too important, she had spent five days in the woods after all. Few hours later and she was packed up in the car headed home.

“I understand sneaking out to see your boyfriend.” Josie half listened to her Mom's lecture about boys for the thousandth time as Josie counted both herself and Hannah. Thus she hummed along and started tearing apart her memories with two questions: What exactly happened? Who is Saelir?

Her mind came up blank. She remembered being drawn to the pond, and the beauty of the moon, In hindsight I should have taken a picture for Ryan, and the icy white orb. That was Saelir. Josie knew it was, or rather who it was.

“We are one now after all.” Saelir said, “We shouldn't worry Mother.” Saelir's voice was and wasn't Josie's. Like a hotter version of her self had appeared in her head.

“I know Mother, we have gone over this many times. Don't worry I haven’t given up anything important, yet.” Josie felt herself speak interrupting her Mother's speech about abstinence. Derailing it completely. Josie could feel Saelir's satisfaction. The rest of the ride home was awkwardly silent.

Josie was surprised to find a Welcome Home party; Maddie, Hannah, Rebecca, Sam, Eric and Ryan were waiting for her. Once again she repeated her story about sneaking out, making her way to the pond, and the moon. “It was so beautiful I couldn’t leave it.”

“You’re better than the moon.” Ryan responded reflexively.

That dork. Josie swooned. Josie’s Dad came in with steaks, and baked potatoes. They were as good as Josie remembered them being yet there was something dissatisfying. I wonder when the moon will rise. Josie found her self thinking. It shocked her slightly. The moon was beautiful, and powerful. We had landed on the moon. Maybe I can go. We have to go back to it. Its so beautiful after all.

Carrot cake snapped her out of her unwanted musings. It was her favorite, this entire meal had been her favorites. Yet she wasn't satisfied. At the same time there was something about Hannah, Rebecca and Maddie that was alluring. They had a metallic, sensual, smell to them. Why do they make me thirsty?

“It is the way of things.” Saelir's voice more seductive than before.

Before Josie realized it the boys had been shooed out and the girls had decided to make it a sleepover. As it was spooky season, a spooky movie marathon was decided on. A fort of blankets was constructed and corn was popped. “Josie you seem to be getting lost in thought a lot tonight. What’s on your mind?” Maddie said pushing an overflowing bowl of popcorn into Josie’s hands.

“It’s been a lot to take in. I needed the party.” Josie said, trying to not look as pathetic as she felt. Maddie’s face let her knew she failed. I can’t keep worrying them, I’ve caused them so much trouble. Hannah pulled Josie into the blanket fort.

“No more worrying. You’ve had enough worries.” Hannah said pulling Josie into a snuggle. “Let your kid sister smother your worries.” Josie was then the center of a group snuggle, which ended up being far more comforting than she had expected. Wrapped up in blankets and with Maddie squeezing a bit to hard during the jump scares it was the best night she could remember.

Josie couldn’t focus on the movie. Both her friends and sister were intoxicating. Their necks were so close. Am I a vampire now? Josie thought.

“I suppose we are,” Saelir said.

Josie was glad they were watching horror movies, as her flinch wasn’t noticed. By the time Josie got her mind back under control the movie was over. I am a monster. I need to go into the sun or a river or.

“That won't do you in. We'll it won't do me in. I'll just get sent back to where you found me. Lovely little place that. We should go back and be fairies again.” Saelir, clearly amused, “Plus our friends will make great wives and mothers.”

“Now girls don’t stay up too late. It may be Friday but most of you have homework to get done.” Josie’s Mom said floating though. Shorting Josie’s panic.

“Ms. Fletcher, can we use the hot tub?” Rebecca asked.

Josie’s Mom checked the time, “I assume you’re thinking midnight skinny dip in the hot tub?” Rebecca flushed with embarrassment. “If all of you give me your phones. If you need to call someone that’s what the landline is for.” Josie was surprised with the contemplation on Rebecca’s face, and Maddie’s face. “I think we’ve had enough groups of girls getting in trouble because of that hot tub and phones.”

“We wouldn’t do.” Hannah started.

“Hannah, dear, you forgot to switch your photos off of the family cloud, when you and your friends ‘borrowed’ the hot tub two weeks ago. Your Father caught them. Now he’s plotting with the other fathers.” Josie’s Mom’s words panicked the younger daughter. “So either I keep your phones for the night, or I’m arming the security system.” To Josie’s surprise all of the girls passed over their phones, with out much . “Okay girls, don’t stay up too late, and have fun.”

The girls then turned back to the vampire movie. Josie had never seen the tragedy of Lauren. A girl born to a vampire princess killed as she gained her inheritance, it was tragic, beautiful, and inspiring. Josie found her story paralleling Lauren’s. “I need to take to my throne. I need to ascend to queendom.”

Josie couldn’t tell if Saelir had said that or if she had thought it. Once the movie had ended they made their way into the basement. Josie wanted to point out she had spare swimsuits that would fit Rebecca and Maddie. She couldn’t bring herself to bring it up. Josie felt her self move after they gathered as bare as could be.

Saelir tackled Maddie driving Josie’s fangs into her neck, sucking in the sweet savory blood though them. With Josie’s right hand Saelir focused Josie’s energy, pulling an egg into existence before pressing it into Maddie’s hips. The egg would find it’s way into her womb. Rebecca and Hannah shocked stared at the orb working its way towards her hips. Saelir didn’t let the opportunity go to waste Josie jumped to Rachel and once more sunk her fangs into her friend’s neck. The blood was saltier, spicier than Maddie’s yet just as powerful. Powerful enough to pull another egg into reality, and Saelir pressed it into Rebecca. Hannah started to bolt, yet Josie was faster. Hannah’s blood was sweet and sour, far more rich than either of the two before. Saelir had to stop herself from draining Josie’s sister dry. I need to lay the third egg. Saelir used the power gained from her third wife to impregnate her.

Josie was screaming yet it was no use. The body was Saelirs now. The worst part was she could hear her friends’ lamentations as they were trapped in their bodies as well.

Happy Halloween!