Blue River Chronicles: Dark side of the Moon 
Ghost in the Shadows'' BY;fernand jiro

A small flash distracted River, and he lost concentration on the plank he was laying. Annoyed, he looked up at Juliet; she was busy stowing away her camera in the small, bulky bag that always hung from one of her shoulders.
‘That’s the second time you surprised me by taking a picture.’ River said frowning at her. He remembered when she took a photo of him just after he arrived in Silver Mist.
‘No, this is the first time I’ve taken a photo of you.’ Juliet said in a matter-of-fact tone; as if it was offensive to suggest that she had taken a photo of him before this.
‘Oh… yes, you’re right. Sorry my mistake.’ She was wrong, but he could not tell her that. The first time she had taken a photo of him, he had been in his wolf form. He smiled silently to himself.
‘What?’ Juliet glared at him.
‘Nothing.’ River answered; his smile widening. He liked that he knew this little private secrete that involved them.
‘I can see you’re hiding something.’ Juliet said shoving him. He gave to her meek push; not wanting Juliet to hurt herself. ‘Tell me!’ she protested.
‘It’s nothing. Don’t get so worked up about it.’ River added an edge of warning to his voice.
‘Fine!’ she huffed, her lips narrowing. Annoyed, she went to sit on the railing, with her arms tightly folded and a sour face.
            River returned to his work, and continued to lay down the wooden footpath while Juliet sat on in silence. Every now and again she would give him an angry look and grumble something inaudible even to him. She would then turn back to her silent resolve.
            He wondered why she did not just leave, if she was so upset with him? Though he had to admit he did not want her to leave; he found her amusing to have around, thought sometimes a little irritating. He looked at her, but she was just staring into the trees, it was interesting how her face changed between different expressions of frustration and anger. He could see she was turning something over in her head. No, he did not want her to leave. Besides he liked the company.
            A soft creaking made River’s ears twitch. He quickly reached up and rubbed the one in sight of Juliet to hide the movement. The creaking grew slightly more intense; Juliet did not seem to notice.
            ‘Why are you smiling now?’ she glared at him.
River had not noticed that he was smiling, he pushed his lips flat but he could not stop the corners from turning up. A sharp crack made his ears twitch again.
‘What was that?’ Juliet said looking around alarmed. River concentrated on keeping his lips tight and rubbed his ear. ‘And what’s wrong with your ear, why does it keep jumping?’
            She was observant; a bit too observant. River stood up; he would need to help Juliet up in a moment. ‘Three … two …one.’ He counted in his head.
            Crack! The pole under Juliet snapped and she fell with a loud thud onto the hard dirt.
‘Ow!’ She lay sprawled on the floor; tears welled in her eyes.
            River went over to where she was sat crumpled on the ground; she had her eyes squeezed tight in pain. The fall did not seem so bad to him, but he bent down beside her in concern, wondering if maybe he should have warned her. ‘Are you ok?’
‘No! I bith my tongue.’
River almost laughed at the funny way she talked. ‘Ah that explains it’ he thought. He could not stop himself chuckling now, he held out his hand to help her up.
            Juliet wiped her eyes and ignoring his hand, pushed herself up. In her haste she lost her balance and fell over again.
            River caught her lightly. Juliet held on to him for a moment to regain her composure, and then pushed him away, standing up. He took a fraction too long to remember to give to her pressure. He moved out of her way and rearranged his features into what he hoped looked like concern and amusement and not like the wave of panic that had just past through him. It was difficult for him to remember to not draw attention to his abnormalities after having spent such a long time not having to hide them.
‘Are you sure your ok?’ He asked again, trying to turn the attention back to her.
‘I said I wasn’t.’ Juliet dusted off her soiled jeans and picking up her small bag, slinging it over her shoulder again.
‘Idiot!’ River inwardly scolded himself. He turned from Juliet and examined the broken railing pole, picking up the pieces that lay on the ground. She came over to help him. River inhaled deeply to desensitise himself to her.
Juliet bumped his shoulder as she reached for a wood splinter. River pretended to lose his balance and fell over.
‘Please.’ she said sarcastically and rolled her eyes. She had clearly noticed his delayed reaction earlier.
            River got up and went to inspect the rest of the railing in order to give himself some space from her. He touched the nail that had snapped were the post had separated from the upright. Juliet came to stand beside him again. He took another deep breath, it seemed he could not get rid of her right now. He tried to think of ways to make her give him some space; perhaps he could lie and tell her how upset he was at her for breaking the railing?
‘Sorry. I’ll help you fix it … if you want.’ Juliet added the last bit with a note of hesitation, noting his expression.
River felt guilty for having let her fall. He decided that perhaps he should not be so annoyed with her all the time; besides he had to get use to having people around him again. The longing feeling in his throat had dulled considerably since he first met her, especially after she had spent a night sleeping in his arms.
‘Don’t worry about it.’ he smiled encouragingly at Juliet. ‘I’m glad this happened.’
            She raised her eyebrows at him. ‘You’re glad I fell down and bit my tongue?’
‘No! Well that was funny.’
‘I’m glad I amuse you.’
‘Increasingly.’
Juliet blushed and turned away. She idly felt the broken nail that stuck out of the upright post.
‘It was good that the fence broke before the trail was opened to hikers.’ Explained River, he was enjoying the casual conversation; it felt almost normal
‘Why? It was my fault for sitting on the rail.’ Juliet said turning to look at him
‘I’m sure someone will sit on the rail to rest. It tells me the nails can’t even take your thin frame.’ she made a face at him. ‘I will need to use thicker nails; they’ll be stronger.’
‘That that’ll make them more difficult to get into the wood.’ Juliet tried to pull the nail out of the wood, but failed.
‘That won’t be a problem.’ River wanted to reassure her that she had not caused him any more effort. He reached over and pulled the broken nail easily from the pole and dropped it into her open hand.
‘Well ok, but let me know if I can do anything to help?’ She said twirling the broken nail in her fingers.
River was not sure it was guilt in her voice or something else? ‘Thanks, but I can handle it.’ He became worried now. Juliet was noticing too much staying around him while he worked? He did like the company, but it would slow him down to pretend to be weaker then he was. ‘Thanks, but no.’ he said turning from her. Maybe he should tell her to leave?

‘Oh, okay.’ Juliet said. She had noted that Tristan voice had an edge of warning in it again, his expression turning worried.
            She rolled the piece of nail between her fingers. He was hiding something, she was certain of it.
‘Will you tell me someday?’ Her stubborn curiosity had forced her to say the words she had wanted to ask him almost since the first time she met him.
‘What?’ Tristan said absentmindedly. He had returned to his work.
‘Whatever it is that you are hiding.’ It was not a question; she wanted him to know that she had guess that he had a secrete.
            Tristan froze. He stood up slowly and turned to her. She had expected to see anger, but his face was one of confusion and she thought she saw fear.
            Juliet wanted to turn away in shame, but Tristan intense eye held her gaze. He stared at her silently for a few tense moments as if he was considering if he should answer her. It felt to her like he was trying to find an answer in her eyes just as much as she was searching for one in his light brown ones.
            Tristan looked down. His eyes flashed green for a moment. Juliet stopped herself reacting to another one of his mysteries. This she would not ask him about it, not right now anyway.
            Tristan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He seemed to be struggling with something within himself.
‘You can tell me.’ she tried to encourage him and hoped that he would believe her.
            Tristan eyes snapped up to hers again. Juliet saw the flash of green again. ‘I don’t think I can.’ He said.
‘Why not?’
‘You won’t like me very much if I did.’
‘I don’t like you very much now.’ Juliet said jokingly, but she could not stop her voice cracking a bit. She did not want to admit that she liked being around him; even if she found him annoying most of the time.
            Tristan opened his mouth and closed it again. It had looked like he wanted to make a snide remark at her comment. Juliet felt this was the time to press him. ‘Should I be afraid of you?’
            Tristan frowned, then his head move up and down a fraction, as if confirming her earlier speculation of him.
‘Why? Are you dangerous?’ Juliet could see the questions made him uncomfortable but she could not stop herself. ‘Did you ever kill someone?’ she felt foolish asking such a thing, but it had entered her mind.

River did not know if he should answer her. He thought of the werewolves he had killed when he was imprisoned. He absently touched the flower shaped scare on the inside of his right forearm. Juliet’s eyes followed the movement of his hand.
‘Where you got those?’ she asked with curiosity.
            River closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. He pushed the vivid memories away. When he opened his eyes again, Juliet was still looking at him.
‘Only a little bit of truth.’ thought River. He wanted to tell someone everything, just to voice what he kept inside so chokingly tight. ‘In self defence.’ He said aloud. He could feel the pain loosening at the small slip of truth, but the feeling of worry and warning tightened. When would she run?

Juliet could see he wanted to tell her more. A flicker of relief had crossed over his face as he confessed some of what he kept hidden. She could almost physically see the weight of what he held inside pushing him down.
‘Is there anything else you’ll tell me?’ She did not want to push him; she wanted it to be his choice.
            Tristan hesitated then answered.  ‘I’m different.’
‘Well that’s evident.’ Juliet said smiling and raised her eyebrows expectantly. ‘What else?’
            He looked at her with amazement. Then to her surprise his mouth twisted up ever so slightly and he walked over to the broken rail pole and picked up the largest piece. He held it in his hands hesitating again.
‘Well?’ Juliet added a tone of annoyance to her voice, hopping that would encourage him.
            Frowning now, Tristan gripped the pole in both his hands; it was as thick as her arm, and snapped it in two easily. He looked at her as if he expected her to run screaming.
‘Well, that’s not so impressive. I just did that a moment ago.’ she said mockingly rubbing her still tender bum.
            Tristan smiled widely, flashing his dazzling white teeth. ‘Finally.’ thought Juliet chuckling at herself, ‘I thought he never smiled like that.’
            He turned from her and looked over her shoulder; his eyes flashing again as the sun hit his face. Juliet was thrilled; she wanted to ask him hundreds, no thousands of questions. The eyes’ strange colour change was just one of them.
            She was just about to start her barrage of questions when she noticed Tristan eyes narrowing and searching the trees behind her. The corners of his mouth were no longer turned up, but his lips were still pulled up exposing his teeth.
‘How sweet.’ Said a gruff voice behind Juliet making her jump. ‘Aah, I love it when they react like that.’
            Juliet spun around and took an involuntary step back. A tall man with muscled frame stood between the trees. He was smirking down at her and breathed deeply.
‘Juliet, come here.’ Tristan said, his voice low and stressed.
Juliet moved over to stand beside him. She did not like the look of the man in the trees; from his confident expression, shortly cropped white-blond hair, to his soiled clothes and bare feet.
‘Oh River, is that how you welcome an old friend?’ the man said
‘What do you want Ghost?’ Tristan snarled through his teeth. The man flashed his teeth in return. They were just as surprisingly white as Tristan’s.
River? Ghost? Juliet was not sure what they were talking about. She really did not like this strange man.
‘Straight to the point then.’ The man’s eyes looked at Juliet and then back to Tristan. ‘I have a bone to pick with you.’ He laughed as if what he said was funny, but Juliet could not see why.
‘Not now.’ Tristan said, his jaw tightening, Juliet was feeling very nervous now. She moved closer to Tristan.
‘Yes now. I have little time as it is!’ the man shouted the words, causing some birds to take flight from the trees
‘Who are you?’ Juliet could not help voicing her question?’ How she wished she could keep her mouth shut.
‘I don’t think you really want to know.’ The man said, his voice softening and licked his lips as he stared at her. ‘But you can call me Ghost.’
‘Should I be afraid of you?’ Juliet could feel goose bumps forming. Tristan stiffened beside her.
‘You ask that standing beside him.’ Ghost flicked his eyes at Tristan before turning back to her.
‘Why are you here?’ Tristan asked the question this time. And stepped in front of Juliet moving between her and Ghost.

River wanted Juliet to leave, but he was afraid that if he told her to go that he would draw too much attention to her. He needed to keep Ghost away from her.
‘I want to learn how you can change yourself without effort. How you learnt it so quickly!’ Ghost let the words burst forth.
‘Not here.’ River tried again, but Ghost just laughed.
‘I told you; I don’t care.’ Ghost said. ‘You hide too much. Even when we were locked up; you hide your ability -’
‘Stop!’ River tried desperately but Ghost did not seem to hear him.
‘ – the guards didn’t even know; not even that saucy doctor, she did smell good. I tried so hard to free myself from the restraints, but after I almost got free, they doubled the silver … so to speak. While she was busy prodding and pocking me -’
‘Enough!’ River snarled advancing at Ghost, but he stopped himself; he was afraid to leave Juliet.
            Ignoring River, Ghost’s eyes moved from side to side wildly; as if he could see something playing out in front of him. ‘ – I imagined how her warm flesh would taste, the hot blood -’
‘Ghost!’ River shouted; he did not want to let Juliet here more.
            Ghost’s eyes snapped to him. ‘River.’

Ghost? River? What was this, who was this man and what was he talking about? Juliet was not sure she wanted to know.
‘Well, I found out in the end, didn’t I.’ the man called Ghost smirked again and continued in a calm voice. ‘I saw you when we escaped: it was impressive. The way you ripped loose from those snare ropes; wow, what power!’ The man raised his eyebrows and sneered as if he wanted a reaction from Tristan
Juliet could just see Tristan’s face as he stood protectively in front of her. He looked angry; it scared her. He always looked unsure of himself; she did not know he could look like this.
‘I learnt a lot about you from your father.’ Continued Ghost. Tristan made a low growling noise, ‘I thought that would get a reaction.’ Ghost seemed please with himself.
‘My father is still alive?’ Tristan asked, his words almost in audible.
‘Oh yes. He is doing quiet well. He told me everything about you when he heard I wanted to find you.’
‘He doesn’t know anything about me!’ Tristan words rang with anger.
‘I learnt a lot about you, but why don’t you educate me on the rest?’ When Tristan did not answer Ghost continued. ‘I find it really unfair, I was born human and you weren’t, but still I can’t hold on to it as well as you can.’ Ghost’s words were full of contempt.
            Juliet looked from one to the other. Ghost was glaring at Tristan and he was glaring back; his teeth exposed and his jaw set. She did not understand any of what was being said, but she heard every word.
‘You’re not human?’ the words came our before Juliet could even realise what she was asking.
            Tristan blinked and turned to her. His face softened and he gave her a don’t be silly look. But as he turned back toward Ghost, she saw his calm resolve crack.
‘Oops, did I say too much?’ Ghost said in a mocking baby voice. ‘I should make an example of her, maybe that would get me answers.
            The growl that escaped from Tristan was bone chilling. Ghost took a step back and so did Juliet. She knew without a doubt that Tristan was indeed different. She also knew from his reaction that Ghost across from him was a danger to her, but he did seem to be afraid of Tristan. She moved closer to Tristan again, taking comfort in his presence.
‘Oh I see; she does know.’ Ghost turned his head slightly to the side as if in amusement. ‘I’m impressed River. I just wonder how much?’
‘Leave her out of this.’ Tristan said, standing squarely between her and Ghost.
‘I know not to cross you now. If I leave her alone will we settle this tonight then … can you agree to that?’
‘Yes.’ Tristan turned to Juliet, softening his expression again. ‘I want you to go home.’
‘No.’ Juliet did not want to leave. She was afraid of what the man would do to Tristan if she left them alone.
‘Please, I don’t want to worry about you.’ Tristan said and looked up at the sky. ‘It’s getting late, it will be dark soon.’
‘I know.’ Ghost said smiling broadly and winking at Juliet as she looked around Tristan at him.
            She turned back to Tristan, his tawny eyes where pleading.
‘I afraid to leave you with him.’ she said. She was not sure she would be much help, especially if this man shared similar traits with Tristan, but it felt like she could not leave Tristan alone with Ghost.
‘I’ll be fine.’ Tristan seemed amused by her concern for his safety.
            Juliet could feel her face reddening with anger. ‘Fine. I’ll leave than!’ Juliet huffed and turned away from him.
‘Thank you. Go home, don’t follow us.’ With these words Tristan followed Ghost into the trees, where they disappeared from sight.
            Juliet immediately felt alone. She felt her anger leave her and be replaced by fear, fear for Tristan. She looked around in alarm and walked over to the spot where the two men had disappeared.
            ‘Tristan?’ she whispered into the trees, but there was no answer. ‘Tristan are you there …. River?’