Chapter 41 - To Stand the Watch

The following day seemed a little brighter. Beth and Jake had howled out their grief and Miranda's emotional storm was calmed. Also, there was french toast in the kitchen.

"When do your moms sleep?" Beth wondered.

"I don't think they do, unless they want to," Miranda admitted. "When I was little, I didn't even know that was strange."


Gwen and Beth started to share what they each knew about the Mooncasters, the history of the werewolves and the ancient conflict with the vampires. They also kept an eye on Miranda.

"Guy's, I'm OK," Miranda declared. "The potion works. No more crazy."


"Alright then, young lady," Gwen replied. "Let's see how well you've kept up your magical studies... and show me what this wand can do."


"Oh!" Gwen said a few moments later.


"Maybe in the interests of the curtains, we should take this outside."

"I think," Beth said, "that it's time we knew what all of this was about. I mean, we know that this house is protecting some kind of magical artifact from the vampires and the spells are somehow tied to you, Gwen, but..."

"What's it all about?" Gwen replied. "You'll be surprised how much of it you already know."

"Long ago the ancient sorcerers, in their hubris, tried to create magical servants for themselves... immortal beings who would need neither sleep nor food. The spell failed, disastrously. Those magical beings fell upon their creators, drinking their blood. These were the first vampires and as they fed upon those with magical blood, their magical power grew.


"Your people, the werewolves, came into being in part to fight these vampires... when the old Mooncasters took into themselves the strengths of their wolf familiars.


"In the end, after a long conflict, the vampires were driven from the Magic Realm and settled in this world, feeding and creating more of their kind. The werewolves settled in Moonwood and soon spread out into world. My own people settled here, in Glimmerbrook.

"You still haven't told us..." Jake began.

"I know," Gwen said. "Follow me."


"We settled in Glimmerbrook, you see," Gwen said as she lead them down the path along the river, "not only because it's a lovely, and hidden, place.


"We settled here, because it is the chief place where this realm and the Realm of Magic meet. This is what Vlad seeks. What the Coven of Glimmerbrook Watch is bound to protect - the Gateway. If Vlad breaks the spells that protect it, he will return to Realm of Magic and destroy it. The consequences to the mortal world would be devastating.

"So, I have taken up my family's task" Gwen said quietly. "Soon... I believe in the dark of the year, under the dark moon... Vlad and his vampires will come. None of you have to stay. You have all done more than I should ever ask of you. No magic binds you. No promises hold you. Go... or stay and stand with me."

"Yeah," said Jake, "Like any of us are leaving. Bring them on."