The last Hope: A Prophecy is Born

Chapter Seven

Trees as tall as the eye could see towered above me. The battlefield in which I had just been standing was now a distant memory. I couldn't tell if I had gone into the future, or if Stella had sent me to the past. I had searched the battle grounds for clues, only to assume that this had been a future event seeing as we all believe vampires to be extinct. Not to mention the fact that a battle that gruesome hadn't happened in at least the last fifteen years.

Suddenly,

I felt this immense force pulling me forward. My legs followed blindly without

hesitation. I watched as small animals scurried across my path as the force

continued to lead the way. The forest was quiet, all except for the sound of

birds chirping every few seconds. Other than that, there was no wind or even

any animals making sounds.

Soon,

I had stopped in front of a very small cottage. It was a simple little home. I

had imagined this to be a home of a Fae or an elf rather than humans. It had

this cute sort of fairytale look about it. A young girl, maybe four or five,

sat outside on the ground. Her knees had been pulled up to her chest while her

chin rested on them. She twirled a stick in the dirt with one hand while the

other was tucked around her knees. I couldn't make out any features as her raven

black hair had swooped to the side and covered her face. She sat there for a

moment, humming a soft little tune all the while twirling her stick in

intricate patterns in the dirt.

I

took a step closer. The snapping of a twig brought her stick to a halt. Could

she hear me? I had assumed these were simply visions, but if she could hear me

then where am I? She remained completely still. Her breathing increased as she

slowly rose to her feet. The stick she had been playing with now lie on the

dirt. She slowly turned around and stared directly in my direction. I couldn't

help the gasp that escaped my lips as I looked into the face of a younger

version of myself.

"They

brought you here, didn't they?" She said as she continued to stare in my

direction. I stepped out from behind the tree that I had subconsciously hidden

myself behind and nodded.

"Can

you see me?" She smiled before sitting back down and picking her stick up

again. This time she sat with her legs crossed so that she could better see.

She pointed to the area that was directly across from her.

"Sit."

I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat as I made my way over to the

area she had pointed at. She sat still as I took my seat across from her. She

never let her focus falter from the drawing she was creating. I stared down at

her, a million questions spinning in my head. Had this really happened? I don't

remember any of this if so. I never lived in a cottage. The only thing I ever

remember living in had been the pack.

"Are

you real?" She stopped the drawing and smirked up at me.

"I'm

real. Are you?"

"I-I

think so." She gave me a quick nod before continuing her drawing. I

watched as the lines slowly came together, forming a beautiful scene of a

howling wolf. A drawing that had been too intricate for someone of her age, yet

here it was in front of me. She continued adding onto the drawing in silence,

making sure each line was drawn to perfection.

"I

know why you're here." Her voice suddenly broke through the silence that

loomed over us.

"I'm

glad someone does." I muttered to myself. She sat the stick down and

looked back up to me. I wasn't sure what to do. I was freaked out but intrigued

all at the same time. Never in a million years would I imagine having a

conversation with my younger self. This is what thousands of people wish they

could do, yet here I sit staring into the eyes of myself at a young age.

"They

wanted you to find me." They? Why does she keep referring to the person

who sent me here as they?

"Who

are they?" She shrugged.

"I'm

not sure. They never told me their names. Only that I was supposed to tell you

a secret."

"Well,

what's the secret?" She placed her finger over her mouth as her eyes got

wide. She looked around the area before standing to her feet and dashing away.

Great, now we're playing a game of tag. I sighed and took off running after

her, dodging low hanging limbs as she easily maneuvered under them. We ran

through the forest for a few moments before she finally stopped in front of a

clearing that I instantly recognized. This is the clearing on our pack lands

that Stella had brought me to. Only now it looked as if no one had been here

yet. The trees still surrounded the area, giving us some privacy to speak.

"It's

a big one. You have to promise me you won't tell anyone." She held her

tiny hand out and extended her pinky. I looked at her, bewildered as I had once

again no recollection of ever using a pinky promise to anyone. Not even my

closest friends. I hooked my pinky with hers and she smiled before releasing

her grip. She started making her way around the clearing looking for something.

I assume she spotted it as she quickly darted in the direction of the item. I

stood there watching her as she hunched down and moved a small pile of rocks.

She pulled out a dirty box and dusted it off. It was about the size of a ring

box, maybe a little larger. She smiled as she opened the box before she plopped

down in the grass. Her eyes never left the item in the box as she motioned a

small hand over for me to follow suit.

I

wasted no time in following her orders. I sat in the cool grass with my legs

crossed over one another as she continued to look in the box. Her fingers

delicately traced the item inside. Her lips twisted up into a delicate smile as

she looked back up to me.

"You're

going to need this. But I can't give it to you as you won't have it when you

return." She closes the lid on the box and sets it in her lap.

"What

is it?"

"It

was a gift. I had a dream about this place and where to find the box. So, I

went looking." This all seems so surreal. Is the moon goddess trying to

tell me something? If so, why would she tell me as a child and not now? I don't

remember any of this ever happening let alone any box that I needed to give my

future self.

"A

gift from whom?" A glint of hope flashed in her eyes as she stared at me.

Her face went blank, and she just sat there, not moving. Boy, younger me was a

little creepy. Had I always been like this? Goddess why couldn't I remember any

of this!?

"They

told me not to tell you. Otherwise, it would change the plan." She stood

to her feet, being extra careful to cradle the box in her arms as she turned

and walked towards the waterfall. I quickly got up and followed her, seeing as

she didn't give me any indication as to what I needed to do. Plus, my curiosity

got the best of me.

"I'm

going to place this in a safe place. When you return you must retrieve it. No

one must know you have this item." She stopped right on the edge of the

waterfall and stooped down. I leaned in closer so I could get a better look at

where she was placing the item. She placed the item on the ground and stepped

back just a little. Soon, the item vanished into thin air.

"What

just happened? How am I supposed to get that now?" She giggled before she

tugged on the hem of my shirt and pointed to where the box had previously been.

"Shh.

You'll scare them off."

"Who?"

"The

Fairies. They'll be guarding the box here until you return." Just as the

words left her mouth, a small light appeared right where the box had been. The

girl moved forward just a little and motioned for me to follow. She stooped

down in a squatting stance and smiled. I followed behind, getting down on all

fours to see what the light was.

"This

is Adelina. She will oversee guarding your gift. When you return, come to this

exact spot and whistle three times. Once you do, the box will reappear for you

to take. You must guard this with your life." I looked down at the small

light that had now become a tiny woman. She was just as magical as I had pictured

fairies to look. She was tiny, but larger than a pixie. She stood about four

inches tall, with her translucent wings expanding to about three inches long.

Her wings had a shimmery effect to them that made them glisten when the sun hit

them just right. She wore a simple white dress that ended just above her knees.

A small white crown was placed atop her long blonde hair. I could barely see

the tips of her pointed ears sticking out to the strands of hair.

Adeline

nodded her head in approval and then flew up to nuzzle my child self on the

nose. I stared at the two in awe. Never in my life would I have imagined I'd

see a fairy, let alone be friends with one. You see, Fairies are very secluded

creatures. I've heard tales of how they love to play tricks on anyone who

unknowingly enters their habitats. Fairies can be tricky little things, but

once you have their loyalty, that's all you need. I've only ever heard of a few

high-ranking members meeting a Fairy, and that was only because he was required

to be present at a few meetings. Each of our species has a ruler, humans

usually refer to them as kings or queens, and that's basically what they are.

The

Fairies have a king. The king is the supreme ruler over the entire fairy

population. So, since he holds that title, he is required to attend at least

two very important meetings every year. Even though he's present then, he

refuses to let anyone, but the leaders present in the meeting see him. I've

heard many stories about how enchanting he is. But I guess I'll never get to

see him.

Adeline

flew up to my nose and started to nuzzle it. I guess this was her way of giving

me her approval. Adeline looked at me and smiled before flying off and disappearing.

Someone hollering my name brought me back to reality. I looked down at the

small girl beside me. She had begun to tremble in fear. Her eyes grew wide as

she hastily got back up to her feet. She grabbed me by my hand, forcing me to

my feet. She darted around the lake until we came to an edge that led into the

deepest end of the water. She looked around quickly before motioning with her

hand to come closer.

"You're

not going to remember any of this as your childhood memories. I'm not sure

where your memories will pick up at, but please don't try to dig into this yet.

You're alive, so I know I make it." She stared into my eyes as she spoke.

Fear was evident in her eyes as well as her voice.

"Why?

What's going on?" I asked. I knew I shouldn't worry because I was still

alive obviously, but I had so many questions.

"In

due time. For now, promise me you will come back and look for that box. You'll

know everything soon." I nodded.

"I

will. I promise." She stared into my eyes, searching for anything that

would betray my word. When she was satisfied with what she was seeing, she

nodded.

"Good.

And one more thing, don't show them your wolf." Before I could get any

more questions out, she placed both her hands on my shoulders and shoved me

back. I tried to grasp onto anything but was met with the sad realization that

I had fallen once the icy coolness of the water hit my back. The girls scream

echoed throughout the woods as my head went under the water. I tried to swim

back to help her, but something was pulling me down. I kicked and thrashed but

soon gave in as everything had once again faded to black. I let myself float in

the nothingness until everything had started to come into focus.

I

blinked my eyes a few times and realized I was still sitting in the same

clearing I had just been pushed out of, only this time it looked like I was

back in present day. Stella still had a hold of me, so I tried to free myself

from her grip. She quickly opened her eyes and looked around. Had she seen

everything too?

"Wh-what

happened?" She yawned and rubbed her eyes.

"I'm not sure. We were fine one minute and then you just.....fell asleep." I

decided not to chance it. Telling anyone about that may jeopardize everything

my younger self went through to get me here.

"Oh,

well that sucks." She looked at her watch and quickly stood up.

"What?!" I asked panicked.

"My parents are totally going to kill me!" She shrieked before taking off

running. "I'll catch up with you later Serena!" I nodded and gave her

a curtly wave. Well, I guess now is as good a time as ever to find that box.

Best do it before I forget. Apparently, I’m great at forgetting stuff. I

started to walk to the area younger me had told me to go, quickly stopping in

my tracks. The memory of why Stella had brought me here filled my head. Panic

started to set in as I thought about the vision and Nyx not answering me.

"Nyx?"

I said out loud even though I knew she could hear my thoughts. Her purr resonated

through my head, making me sigh in relief. I slowly made my way over to the

area that we had gone in the vision and stooped down low. I cleared away the

small amount of bush that had grown over the area and whistled three times as

instructed. I felt my breath hitch as a moment passed and nothing happened.

Maybe that was just a dream after all. I waited for a few more moments before

suddenly, the box began to appear in the same spot we had left it. I quickly retrieved

the box and placed it in my pocket for safe keepings.