The Voice of the Dead

*Lea POV* “Run all you want, but I’ll get you anyway!” The rogue yelled behind me, shifting into his big, muddy colored wolf. I looked back and started to run faster, trying to focus enough to get my elements to aid me. But the vines I tried to make, did not sprout from the earth as I expected. I tried to make mud, hoping to slow him down a little but it was hard to control my powers under so much stress. I tried to take a swift turn to the left, but I fell. Hearing growling just behind me, I quickly got up and, without turning, I started to run again. The rogue was getting closer to me, I could almost feel his hot breath on my back. “”Please, please… someone help me!”” I kept praying in my mind. *Run! The help is near!* The voices in my head answered, urging me to not give up. I've long ago decided to ignore them the best I can, to push them far away, deep inside my mind so no one would ever find out about them but they never seemed to disappear completely. But there is no need to hide them now, right? “Help me!” I yelled out loud, hoping that I'm close enough to a pack territory to be heard. I turned to see how far away he was from me, and then… Just as he was preparing to jump on me, something hit him. I watched in almost slow motion how he started to burn, and a thunderbolt came right from the sky and hit him in the forehead! Right between his eyes. I turned away from him, stunned, and saw a beautiful, young woman, willing a rain to extinguish the fire that was consuming a, already dead, rogue. Next to her stood a big, greyish wolf with blue eyes and a plopped ear, looking at me while tilting his head. If I wasn't so terrified I would probably laugh at his silly, puppy look. Dark-haired woman ran to me and grabbed me in her arms. For the first time in days, I finally felt safe. Even though I have no idea who they are, I felt warmth and comfort radiating out of her. The wolf touched my hand with his wet nose and I patted his head gently. I could feel her strong aura, she was a sorceress, just like me, but much, much more powerful. I've also never seen a sorcerer using thunder! She frantically started to check me for any wounds or cuts, looking me all over. I started to feel embarrassed of my dirty, torn clothes, but she didn't seem to mind. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” She asked in distress, cupping my face. I still haven't looked her in the eyes, still shaken, my eyes unwillingly closed. “I'm fine.” I started weakly, trying to gather up the remains of my courage. “I was able to escape him using my elements, water and earth. But I'm not strong enough to take a rogue down completely by myself.” I looked up to finally see my savior’s face but as soon as I saw her eyes, I gasped. The realization hit me. I was looking in the eyes of the Original Sorceress! “You are our Goddess. The First Sorcerer.” I said quietly, lowering my head in respect. How in the world I was found and rescued by the Goddess of Sorcery?! She will surely leave me after learning the truth about me… Just like my mother did. “My name is Asteria, please call me that. I can feel that you are a sorceress yourself. What are you doing here?” She spoke to me gently and wiped the dirt from my face. I looked up at her, stunned by her mother-like behavior towards me. I could feel tears starting to form in my eyes. “I… I was looking for a shelter.” I sniffed. “I could feel that I was near pack territory and wanted to ask for asylum. Just for a few days so I could rest.” The wolf suddenly barked and both me and the Goddess looked at him. He pointed his nose towards the bright, silver light that suddenly appeared near us. I squinted my eyes, blinded by the shine and I was shocked to see two more people appearing in front of me. Tall, slim, black-haired woman that looked almost exactly like Asteria, probably her mother or older sister and a huge, muscular, worried-looking man that seemed to calm instantly as he saw the Goddess. Probably her mate. Can Gods even have mates? The woman came closer to us and looked at me with a sympathetic smile when the huge guy was examining the rogue. “You set him on fire?” he asked with a c****d eyebrow. “I threw a fireball.” Asteria shrugged, causing her mate to laugh and walked closer to us, shaking his head, clearly amused. “What's your name, sunshine?” The woman asked calmly, her warm hand touching my cheek. “It’s Camilea. My friends and family used to call me Cammy, but now…” I couldn't finish as I started to cry uncontrollably. Asteria sat on the ground, pulling me on her knees and cradling like a baby. I hugged into her chest, crying, finally letting go of everything that happened to me. She patiently waited, rocking me slightly. I felt a warm hand on my head and as I looked up, I saw this huge man, close to me, smiling at me warmly. “You are safe now.” He said quietly and I almost chuckled, thinking that if someone as huge as him protected me, I'm sure I would be safe. “We are going to take care of you, in our pack, ok? There is nothing for you to be afraid of anymore.” I looked from him to Asteria, to the smiling woman and the blue-eyed wolf and nodded, taking this leap of faith. I somehow know that I can trust them. *Yes, go with them. You are going to be safe.* I heard a voice in my head and nodded again. “Sometimes to start over, you need to change your name as well.” Asteria said with a smile, taking a corner of her blouse to wipe my face. “What about giving you a new nickname, huh?” I looked at her and nodded. “Hmm… Let’s see… Your name is Camilea, so maybe… Lea? What do you think?” Asteria asked with a smile. Lea… that's how my father used to call me, a long time ago… “I love it.” I answered quietly, feeling the intense relief. “Then let us take you home, Lea.” The woman said with a smile and raised her hands. “Lea, close your eyes for a second, Jonathan, shift, I brought some spare clothes for you.” Asteria’s mate ordered. I closed my eyes shut and heard a sound of breaking bones then some clothes ruffling. “I'm good.” A new voice said and I opened my eyes again. Jonathan, formerly a wolf, was a young man with blue eyes and a broad smile. “Hi, there.” He waved at me and chuckled as I shyly waved back at him. "Are you ready mom?" The Goddess asked the tall woman, who nodded. Asteria grabbed my hand and her mate, her mother grabbed Jonathan's and my other one. "Close your eyes, Lea. You may get a little sick from this." Asteria's mom said with a warm smile. I nodded and closed my eyes shut. After a second I felt the ground slipping from underneath my feet and in a matter of seconds, it hit the ground again. Before I opened my eyes, I heard a squeal and I instinctively clutched Asteria's arm. "I was worried!" A high pitched woman's voice announced. I heard Asteria's chuckle and finally opened my eyes. Jonathan was smiling in the arms of a very pregnant, pretty lady, listening patiently to her whines. "This child will be the death of our pack. Imagine their both personalities combined." The huge man whispered theatrically, causing everyone in the room to laugh. I giggled a little and then everyone's attention focused on me. The pregnant lady and another one that looked very similar to the huge man, turned to me with a squeal, leaning to my head level. I politely introduced myself with my new name and Asteria quickly led me to a nice, large room. She and the other lady made sure I had everything and left, leaving me by myself. The bathroom had a large bathtub with a shower so I happily turned on the water and let the mud, debris and filth be washed away from my body. For the first time in a few days, I felt relaxed, happy and safe. The intensive relief flooded me with the force of a hurricane, overwhelming me. I slid down the shower wall and I curled up in the bathtub, crying. Anger, relief, sadness… I let all of my emotions go, leaving me feeling lost and terrified. Now that I have no pack, family or friends, what am I supposed to do?