The Werewolf Priestess

Not a Dream

Not a Dream

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"I can see that you feel so much better now" Reed voice came from behind me. I was few feet from the edge of the cliff , the same place where I would meditate on a regular basis.

"Yes, I am" I responded but I did not turn to face him. It was already evening, after I had taken my bath , drank the herbs and ate the meal Fia prepared, I had desperately tried to go back to sleep as she insisted that I rest more, but I couldn't, he somehow evaded my mind.

My body was healing, and I could feel my magic being restored yet I was not strong enough as I used to be.

I had tried to avoid him that was why I chose to stay in my tent all day, but when I realized that he was not around our campsite I finally came out, it made me wonder where he had gone to though.

I do not think that he is quite familiar with these woods, I know that he could not get lost but a part of me despite my protest worried for his well being.

"I went into town, it was a bit far, I got a few things for us" he said

"You did not have to" I replied, my voice came out harsher than usual, I do not expect it to sound so strong and almost rude.

"Well..., we needed them, I wonder how the two of you survive with such little things" he said "I thought women love object" he added

I frowned this time and this time I meant to "I am not your generation kind of woman and I have raised Fia to not be as well, we have been surviving quite fine as you can see" I said, tilting my head a little bit to get some view of his figure

"I was only trying to help" he responded, his voice almost sounded frustrated.

"You shouldn't have, we do not need your help. I told you not to come with me but you would not listen. You do not fit into my life" I stated coldly.

I expected a response from him immediately instead he remained silent, after few seconds, he took long strides from where he stood to where I was seated on a mat on the ground.

He stood in front of me and I lifted my head up to get a good view of his face. There was a frown on his face, he ran his fingers throw his head and released a lengthy sigh.

"You might think that I should not to be in your life but you are wrong. You are a priestess, I am surprised that you cannot see that this thing between us is real—forget about who you are and just be open to the possibility" he stated

I scoff "I have lived hundred of years and you have barely reached half a century and you think you have knowledge of things—"

"For a old woman, you are thinking shallow right now" he cut me off

My eyes widens in shock by his statement, I wanted to say something back but he crouched down to my level for us to see each other, eye to eye.

His captivating blue orbs pierced into mine and I knew for certain that I was holding my breath, he was so close to me that with just one quick move his lips would touch mine.

He surprised me when I feel his right hand fingers run across my face, I feel the electricity created by the so-called bond between us run through every part of my body that I shivered.

"Tell me you do not feel it" he said in a very coarse but enticing voice, his eyes never leaving mine. I have never been this close to any man and I never thought I would.

"I—" I started but I stopped when his fingers moved to my neck causing the intensity of the electrifying feeling running through my body rose sky high.

"Speak...,Tell me that this is all fake..., this feeling that we are both having right now is the doing of some witch out there" he said with the same tone as earlier in this voice.

Was Reed trying to seduce me?, or was this all a dream like the one I had when I was by the lake?.

"You cannot seduce me into falling for this trap" I said as firmly as I could try to.

"I am not seducing you priestess!. I am barely doing nothing" he responded back.

"Then what are you really doing?" I asked, lifting my chin up a little bit

"Nothing" he answered, his fingers came back to my face and he an inched a little bit closer that I with just one or two more inches his lips would be on mine.

I held my breath, then I feel it for the first time in my entire existence, the torn between the desire to lean in and the instinct to push him away.

Every fiber of my being yearned for his touch, his kiss, but I couldn't let myself succumb to it. I couldn't let myself be swayed by this intense connection we shared, the witch behind this would win, she would find a way to use this bond against me.

With a sudden surge of determination, I pulled away from his touch and stood up, putting some distance between us. "No," I said firmly, my voice filled with a mix of longing and resolve. "This can't happen. I cannot let myself be consumed by this and fall prey to this strange bond."

Reed stood up as well, his expression a mixture of frustration and surprisingly understanding. "I understand your hesitation," he said, his voice tinged with disappointment. "But I can't deny what I feel, what we both feel even if you deny it. There is something powerful between us, and I do not believe that it is some witch that is responsible"

I shook my head, trying to gather my thoughts amidst the whirlwind of emotions. "As a priestess and a werewolf, I am not destined for this kind of bond and I have dedicated my life to serving a higher purpose," I explained, my voice tinged with sadness, though I did not want it to, but it was devastating, why would someone want to put me through this. "I can't afford to let this unknown desires cloud my reasoning just because you want it to be so"

Reed stepped closer, his eyes pleading. "But what if this connection is from the moon goddess ? What if she is giving you an opportunity to be happy, would you not reject that later on ?"

"It is not. You should leave now Reed, I want to be alone" I replied, this was too fast despite the bond pushing us together, this affection was too fast, was Reed the kind of man that fell in love at first sight?

Reed hesitated for a bit but he held himself back, he nodded, a mixture of sadness and acceptance in his eyes. "I'll give you the space you crave so badly for," he said, his voice filled with a bittersweet tone.

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing at the edge of the cliff.

****

It was difficult for me to sleep that night, I tossed and turned and tried to contact the moon goddess but she was silent, I was not yet strong enough to connect to the earth to ask for questions.

I am not aware of when the darkness consumes me.

I find myself standing in the heart of a hauntingly dark forest, its dense canopy blocking out any trace of light. As I take a step forward, my body suddenly freezes, and a sense of dread washes over me. Looking down, I discover that I am not standing at all. Instead, I am lying on the ground, my limbs bound by heavy chains that snake their way around me.

This place was the exact place in the vision I had when I touched the plagued wolf. I realize that this was not a dream and I have been sucked into this realm.

I had to get out now, I was not strong enough to fight those ghastly creatures. I barely survived the last time.

What was the meaning of this?.

Panic pulses through my veins as I struggle against the restraints, but the chains held me so tightly.

I am trapped, helpless and vulnerable in this nightmarish realm. The forest itself seems to come alive, its twisted branches reaching out like skeletal fingers, as if eager to keep me confined in this prison but why?, who was trying to keep me here?. I had no connection with the female plagued wolf, I simply could not understand anything.

A chill wind whispers through the trees, carrying with it a sense of foreboding. Shadows dance and writhe, distorting reality and playing tricks upon my senses. Fear creeps into every corner of my mind as I realize I am not alone. A ghastly creature just like in the first one appears but this time it felt worst, its form was obscured by the dankness of this place, and it was racing towards me with an inhuman speed.

The creature emanates an aura of malevolence, and as it draws near, a sickening sensation washes over me. I feel a draining of something deep within me.

It is my magic, my essence, being mercilessly sucked away. I try to summon my powers, to fight back, but I am rendered powerless, my magic were still locked up because of the last time.

Desperation takes hold as I struggle to break free from the chains that bind me. Every movement is met with resistance, the clinking of metal serving as a cruel reminder of my captivity. I can feel my strength fading, my spirit dimming as the creature continues its relentless onslaught, feeding off my magic.

"Who are you?" I screamed at the creature, the creature screamed back sounding ten times worst than a banshee that I feel like my head was going to explode.

The creature finally descended upon me, its soulless eyes piercing into mine. I had expected more of the ghastly creature to appear just like the last time but they do not come but this one keeps hovering over me.

"I will find you, whoever you are" I said with boldness, I maybe be weak right now but I am a priestess, I am stronger than this creature "Face me properly you vile creature" I scowl.

The creature screams again and much louder than ever, my eyes roll to the back and it almost feels like my life source is getting sucked out of me.

I hear chanting in the background but I could not make out the words, what sort of magic was this?, how did I not know of this kind of magic?

I am choking and wheezing, my lungs feel compressed, I am gasping for air.

Was I dying?, was there another way to die apart from the dagger?, Was this how it felt when people die?, was it always this painful in all case?.

Reed!, the magic would be broken and he would move on, find his true mate, maybe I should have at least kissed him, it would be have been my first.

What about Fia?, would she be able to survive without me?, would she have a normal life?.

I eyes feels droopy and I am slipping into another slumber in my sleep only this time I feel it might be permanent. The witch has won and I am nothing.

I welcome the slumber and just when my eyes were finally about to close, I hear it, my name

"Althea!" It was Reed voice it sounded desperate and panicky but it brought a certain strength to by body and his voice was just enough to pull me out and it felt like I was submerged underwater and I now finally reached the surface and I was desperately begging for air to feel my lungs.

"Althea!, Althea!, Are okay?" Reed asked his voice laced with anguish and helplessness

"Mistress!" Fia cried, her lips quivering against each other.

My eyes flickered back and forth between them while I still tried to calm my breath, when I feel calm a little bit, I finally realized the state I was in, my cloth were all tattered, I was practically half naked and the ruined cloth on my body smelt burnt when I finally take hold of my surroundings, my tent was destroyed and almost reduced to nothing like it had been set ablaze.

"What happened?" That was all I could form from my mouth when I was calm enough to breathe properly.