Chapter 46: Keeper of Secrets

Aurora

I spent the next few hours in my room, until hunger took over. I decided to head to the dining car, to see if I could get anything to eat.

I took the moon descendants book with me. It had become an extension to my arm since the day I first read it.

I peeked out into the corridor first, making sure that Wolfgang was still in his room.

When I was sure the coast was clear, I speed-walked down the hall and straight to the door that led to the adjoining car.

Once I got to the dining hall, I found that it was mostly empty. It was after ten, after all. Most of the passengers were locked up in their rooms, asleep.

Luckily, the service went on until eleven, so I went over to the buffet and got a bowl of warm soup and a couple of bread.

I looked around and saw a lonesome table in the far corner of the car. I sipped on the soup as I brought the book up to my face and continued where I left off.

“That’s an interesting book you have there, young lady.” A strange male voice suddenly cut my concentration.

I looked up and saw a man with dark brown hair and olive eyes standing in front of my table. He must have been in his late twenties, and was very good looking.

He wore a suit, with the tie loose around his neck. He held a folder tucked under his arm.

He didn’t smell like a wolf, or any other supernatural creature, so I assumed he was just a human who was curious about what I was reading.

“Pardon me, I was just passing by and happened to read the title of the book you’re reading,” he said, pointing to the book in my hand. “What a peculiar title. ~Descendants of the moon~.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. It’s a fantasy book,” I told him, not wanting to go into details. The less humans knew about us, the safer our kind was.

“Fascinating. Is it about fairies, witches, and evil queens?” he asked, taking the seat across from me.

I giggled at his comment. “More like wolves,” I said, closing the book.

“Interesting. I’m a cryptozoologist and parapsychologist. I study the supernatural. The name is Wendell.” He handed me his card, which I took.

~Wendell, G.H~ It read.

~Cryptozoologist and Parapsychologist.~

Below that was a phone number.

“~Descendants of the Moon,~” he said again.

I looked up and saw him with my book in his hand. “This is the first of a three book series, actually. It’s holder resides in Nome.”

I was shocked. “What did you say? The holder of the book?”

“Yes. The keeper of the book. She is really old. They say she moved there years ago. Her name is Eleanor Epifana Winchester,” he said as I sat there in shock.

~“Could that be the Eleanor who raised your mother?”~ Rhea asked.

“I don’t know, but I need to find this woman,” I said out loud.

“Huh?” Mr. Wendell asked me.

“Um, I’d love to read the other books,” I quickly amended.

“I’m sure she is not hard to find. Of course, it’s in the opposite direction from where this train is headed,” he chuckled.

“Where is a young beautiful lady like you headed all by herself, anyway?” he continued.

I was about to answer when a deep voice interrupted.

“She’s not by herself. What are you doing talking to my girlfriend?” Wolfgang asked Wendell. He stood over the table, glaring at the older man.

“Wolfgang.” I scowled at him, but he ignored me.

“Answer the question. Who the fuck are you and what are you doing flirting with my girl?” He growled. I nudged him in the stomach.

“Oh, forgive me. I didn’t know she was with someone,” Wendell said. He stood up, and I noticed that he was nearly as tall as Wolfgang.

“The name is Wendell. Nice to meet you,” he said. He extended his hand for Wolfgang to shake, but he didn’t even budge. He just stood there, glaring at the human male.

Wendell put down his hand and hid both of them in his pockets.

“Forgive this ogre of a man. We are traveling together, but he is not my boyfriend or anything,” I said as I threw Wolfgang a glare.

“This is Wolfgang. Mr. Wendell here was telling me that there’s a lady in Nome who is the keeper of this book, which has two more,” I said, lifting the book up.

“A book keeper talking about our Godd--”

I cut him off before he could finish the word. “Yes! A book that talks about our favorite character.” I hurriedly said.

I gave him a pointed look. “Maybe when we’re done in the west, I can go to Nome and look for this Eleanor lady.”

“Eleanor?” He looked at me.

“Yes, her name is Eleanor.” Wendell interjected. “Eleanor Winchester, moved to Nome some years ago and became the book’s keeper.”

“Anyway, I don’t want to bother you two any longer. It was a pleasure meeting you both. Especially you, Miss Aurora.” he continued, extending his hand for me to shake.

When I took it, he turned it over and bowed, placing me a peck on the back of my hand. “I would love to chat with you some more, but I’m afraid my stop is tomorrow, in Council City.”

“Um, thank you,” I said, snatching my hand back, embarrassed. It was the first time someone had ever given me a kiss on my hand.

“Hope to see you guys again soon,” he said. Then he walked off, waving a hand in the air.

“What the hell was that for?” I shoved Wolfgang out of my way, then grabbed my book and started to walk out of the dining car.

“I don’t like that man. The way he was looking at you. That human…”

“Who happened to give us a great piece of information,” I snapped at him.

“Until now, we didn’t even know there were more books that spoke about the descendants of the moon. And this Eleanor person could be the same one that raised my mother,” I growled.

“Still…there’s something about him that I don’t trust,” Wolfgang said.

I turned and glared at him.

“Fine. I’ll contact Remus and have him look for information on this Eleanor Winchester,” he said.

I couldn’t help the smile that crept over my face. “Thank you,” I said. For a moment, I saw his eyes soften.

“What?” I asked.

“When you smile, you look so beautiful. I love seeing it.”

My heart suddenly started beating quickly. I could feel the blush that crept on my cheeks.

I bowed my head, covering my face with my hair, then turned around and sped down the corridor.

Before entering the room, I told him to notify me if Remus found anything. Then locked myself inside and slid down the door, hugging my knees close to my chest.

~Stupid heart. Don’t fall for him again. He used you and broke it.~ I chastised myself.

~“But he wants to make things right, Aurora. He wants to earn your forgiveness,”~ Rhea cooed in my mind.

~“It’s not going to be that simple. I had to go through so much, just because he didn’t want me in the first place,”~ I reminded her.

~“I know. I understand.”~ she said. ~“But still, there’s a chance, right? He is our mate, after all.”~

’Yes. But still, he never doubted before he hurt me. “~I said to her.~

~“He did this, and I had to put up with all his shit. Everything I had to go through was because of him,”~ I continued. ~‘I need him to suffer as much as I suffered because of him.”~