Just two best friends walking home from a high school game when their lives were violently changed forever. Charlotte Caissie and Mary Kate Malone, still dark and light, night and day, even after all those years. Cee Cee went into law enforcement becoming an NOPD detective while Mary Kate sought purpose within the church’s comforting embrace. Yin and Yang, whole in their friendship as they find strength in one another in this scene from RISE BY MOONLIGHT, my latest and final release in the “By Moonlight” shapeshifter series.
One of the best things about writing an ongoing series is having the space and words to develop strong and unique friendships, and I’ve enjoyed revisiting them over the past few posts. Even if you haven’t read the series, they’re all defined in the final book, RISE BY MOONLIGHT.
“There aren’t any more heroes, Mary Kate, just varying shades of villains.”
“Not villains,” her friend disagreed, kind eyes softening, “just people, flawed because of their humanity.”
Cee Cee’s laugh battled the heaviness about her heart as she argued, “Walking upright doesn’t separate men or women from beasts anymore.”
“Does that change who you know them to be?”
“No.” A softly admitted truth that explored, “And I’m wondering why it doesn’t, considering the things I’ve seen, that I’ve learned about myself, that I take for granted when I should run screaming in the other direction?”
Mary Kate chuckled, blue eyes brightening with pride with her claim of, “You’ve never run from anything in your entire life and I so envied that about you, that you never second guessed, just jumped in to do what was right.”
Cee Cee shook her head, wishing she could be so certain. “Right for me. When did it stop being for the greater good?”( . . . and the rest of the scene . . .)
“Probably when you found out there was no such thing. There’s only the best you can do to protect those you love and those who deserve better. That’s all any of us can do. And we can do it without a badge, without a crucifix, without guilt.”
Cee Cee bolted upright, wide eyes seeing clearly. “You’ve decided. You’re leaving the Church.” That altered state of being sent her moral compass spinning.
A slightly sad smile. “Just the institution, not the beliefs or the works. I started the process yesterday. I can’t be true to things I stand for unless I accept the things I am.”
“Wow,” was all she could think to whisper.
“Don’t be disappointed.” Features puckering, Mary Kate snatched up the coffee-free hand to confess, “I’ve always been the weak one when you’ve been so strong. I hid inside the strength of religion because I couldn’t face what happened to us, not like you did.”
If she expected to be shamed or comforted, Cee Cee quickly schooled her. “Bull. I was out on the streets hiding my fear under a crap ton of anger. You rebuilt your strength through others, for others, those who understood what it was like to be helpless and alone. We’ve both done the best we could to rise above what was done to us. We did it by not letting it beat us, by defending those who can’t defend themselves. You had God, I had Max Savoie.” That comparison had her friend rearing back as if shocked by a truth they’d both recognized. “Neither of us could have done it alone, and neither of us could stand by and do nothing.”
Mary Kate blinked, skepticism slowly maturing into a future-altering revelation about her world and her place in it as Cee Cee continued.
“We aren’t victims, M.K. We fight for them until they can fight for themselves. I think that makes us pretty damned awesome, don’t you?”
A slow, spreading smile. “Yes, we are.”
Max and Charlotte return for the explosive conclusion of the “By Moonlight” series . . .
and the stakes have never been higher!
He’s the Promised One
A Mobster’s attack dog turned legitimate business powerhouse, Max Savoie is the reluctant leader of New Orleans’ shapeshifter clan. They’ve kept to anonymous shadows, working and living unnoticed by the human world until their new Shifter King’s past draws dangerous outsiders who threaten all.
She’s the Protector
A fiercely determined NOPD detective, Charlotte Caissie has sworn to defend her beloved city and her unborn child from both criminals and otherworldly factions at war. While standing boldly at the side of her mate/husband, secrets from the past return to shake the foundation of her beliefs.
They have a Problem
Walking a marital tight rope between opposite worlds, Max and Cee Cee’s paths place truth and trust at odds when outside threats force enemies to become allies. The time to take a stand for their family and their future is at hand. Time to rise together for the survival of all they love!
“Every delicious word on the page exhilarates with a sensuous ferocity. Hopelessly addicted.” – NYT bestselling author, Darynda Jones
👻👻👻👻👻
I’m getting excited about Halloween now that the leaves have changed and the temperature has dropped (Frost this morning!). And I’m more than ready to begin celebrating with posts and giveaways during the Bewitching Blog Tours Haunted Halloween Spectacular Facebook Event on Wednesday, October 21st from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm EST! I’ll be (wo)manning the event from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm EST so drop by to say “WooooooHoo!”, mingle with other authors, and fill up your Trick ‘r Treat bag. And best of all, no Social Distancing necessary! 
I’m also excited to get out and cautiously about for a book signing at the Mitten Word Bookshop in Marshall, MI from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm on Saturday, October 24th. All authors will be carefully masked at separate tables and eager to see other humans. If you’re in the area, please stop in! I’d love to stick a signed book in your treat bag.
Happy Writing, Fellow Warriors!!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their 8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Sounds like they've each arrived at a similar place in their own ways.
ReplyDelete“Probably when you found out there was no such thing. There’s only the best you can do to protect those you love and those who deserve better. That’s all any of us can do..."
ReplyDeleteWow...that is so true. I love the snippets of wisdom doled out in fictional tales. :-)
No post for me this week. I was away last week. Didn't have time when I got home. :-)
Well that's a deep DEEP conversation. Obviously these friends have a lot of shared history. Enjoyed the snippet...very heart felt thoughts for both of them.
ReplyDeleteThere were so many lines in this snippet that I connected with. It definitely reveals a lot about these women, and their experiences that have brought them to this place in their lives. Fabulous snippet!
ReplyDeleteOh, my favorite song ever! Thanks for sharing the vid.
ReplyDeleteGreat snippet.Two strong women sharing a deep friendship makes for a nice change change of pace.
This is a great scene. It's not easy to write a scene about a life-changing realization, but you've done it.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the book signing!
ReplyDeleteLove good friend stories, so I'm intrigued.
I love their insight into themselves and each other. The strength of their friendship really comes through.
ReplyDeleteGreat snippet. You are such a strong writer. I would be blessed to reach such a level. Loved how they both realize how each has their own source of strength and how it made them better people.
ReplyDelete