chapter 22
1024 Words
AVELORA
"What is going on?" I asked as I landed on his chest with a loud thump.
"You better have a good explanation for not letting me say goodbye to my friend." I could feel the sound of his heart beating. But instead of the calm, steady rhythm of a man who felt he was always in control, it was fast, almost matching mine.
He let me go finally, his face communicated nothing but that stupid, stoic, and impenetrable shield. "Where have you been?"
"I remember telling you I was going to the library with Miles." It was as if a switch went off in his head as soon as Miles's name was mentioned.
"Oh, pardon me for being the only one caring about our arrangement while all you want to do is make friends."
Is he for real?
"What? Making friends?" I yelled, my voice carrying more than I expected it to. His eyes met mine. "Sorry I am trying to have a social life, because every stupid rich i***t in your personal cafeteria has it out for me! I am the only odd one out who doesn't have a rich parent backing me up, or the privilege to be the only Alpha to present after a century!"
My chest heaved as I ran my hand through my hair.
"That is not... " he interrupted. Maybe it was the death wish that had been following me around for a while, but I raised my hand to shush him.
"What do you mean I am not committed? I touched a sacred tree just to be part of your circle! You think I am stupid enough to want to get initiated into some bully group?" I bit my lip to stop myself from continuing. I really needed to watch my temper.
"Avelora," he called softly. None of the arrogance and annoyance from a few minutes ago was there. He was soft. "I'm sorry."
My jaw almost dropped to the floor. What? Did I hear right, or was I making up what I expected him to say?
"I shouldn't have said that."
I rolled my eyes. "So, you weren't apologizing for being an asshole? right."
He approached me slowly as if gauging my reaction.
"Don't come any closer, Alpha." I didn't want this to escalate more than it needed to. "I keep forgetting you're you, and I am just one of your many subjects who happened to be convenient."
I needed to step back in line and stop acting like I was anything more than I was. I thought we were friends at least, the way he defended me in the cafeteria made me think we were getting somewhere.
I went to freshen up, and by the time I came back, he was already gone. I just wished I had my own room. That way, I could be annoyed with some class and dignity. I set up the duvet he had asked the staff to get me yesterday when I refused to sleep on the bed.
I hugged the blanket tight, its scent soothing me. It was annoying how after he acted like an asshole, the little things he did still made me happy. I blamed my lack of friends for that, technically, he was the first friend I’d ever made. Even the ones I grew up with outcasted me.
The pillow I laid on grew hard. The scent became earthy instead of soothing. I opened my eyes, looking around to see where I was. This definitely wasn't the room.
"Avelora."
The voice. The voice that haunted me every night. Come to think of it, I hadn't had this dream since I’d moved into Khyrix's room.
"Follow me."
I did.
There was never a body or a direction, it was instinct. I just knew where it wanted me to go. I looked around the forest. It was familiar, but the thick shrubs made it hard to see ahead, giving nothing away. I followed the sound until we reached a clearing. My heart thudded in my chest. This place was burned so deeply into my memory that I was aware of it even in my dream.
"Come, my child," the voice urged.
Instead of walking, I ran. I wanted to finally get to the end of this dream. Maybe if I ran through it, I wouldn't wake up just when something important was about to be revealed.
"Where are we going?" I called out, a gasp followed.
In the past, I had never been able to question the voices decision. I could only follow it.
"To the place it all started."
I wanted an explanation, but it didn't give one. I spotted the large tree that towered over everything else, the Tree of Life. It had a strange energy that made the air feel heavy and unbreathable.
"Touch it."
"No, I won't. The last time I did..."
"You need to seek the tree. It can only tell you the truth if you seek it."
The reasonable part of me warned me to stay away, but I gravitated toward it unable to stop myself.
"Touch it. Touch it. Touch it."
The voice grew louder and impatient. I shut my eyes tightly, trying to get it out of my head. Instead, I reached out and touched the bark.
The moment the connection was made, sparks traveled through my body, currents that could leave me dead. The force threw me backward until I fell to the floor, gasping for air.
"No! You can't do that to a child!"
My head snapped sideways. It was my mother again. Through the haze, I saw her arguing with a figure. My hand tightened around my neck, my lungs felt like they were burning.
"We need to plead to the Moon Goddess," my mother said.
Through the blurry mess, I saw the priestess snatch a baby from her hands, running with it as my mother struggled to catch up. My lungs were giving up. Tears ran down my face as my fingers clawed at my chest, trying to find air.
"You need to breathe," the voice reached me, sounding closer now.
"Breathe, Avelora. Breathe!"
- Writer
