THE DREAM THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
764 Words
The Royal Ball had become the talk of Eldoria.
Every café...
Every marketplace...
Every street corner echoed with the same conversation.
"Did you see the prince dance with that beautiful young woman?"
"I wonder who she is."
"They looked perfect together."
Even at Eldoria Royal University, students couldn't stop talking about the unforgettable night.
Fortunately for everyone...
The university had announced a one-week holiday following the Royal Ball, giving students time to rest before classes resumed.
For Octavia and Aurora, it was the perfect opportunity to recover from the excitement.
Yet...
For Octavia...
Sleep brought no peace.
---
That night...
Darkness swallowed everything.
She stood alone in the same ancient forest from her dreams.
The towering trees stretched endlessly into the night.
Mist curled around her feet.
Silence...
Then...
A growl.
Her heart stopped.
This time...
She wasn't alone.
Figures slowly emerged from between the trees.
One...
Two...
Five...
Ten...
Their glowing crimson eyes pierced the darkness.
Unlike before...
She could finally see them clearly.
Some had unnaturally pale skin.
Sharp fangs.
Cold crimson eyes.
Vampires.
Others had glowing amber eyes, elongated claws, and terrifying wolf-like features.
Werewolves.
Their expressions held only one thing.
Hatred.
One vampire stepped forward, smiling cruelly.
"So..."
"We've finally found you."
Octavia instinctively stepped backward.
"W-Who are you?"
No one answered.
Instead...
They attacked.
She ran.
Branches whipped across her face.
Roots caught at her feet.
Their laughter echoed through the forest.
"There she is!"
"Don't let her escape!"
Fear gripped her heart.
Just when she thought they would catch her...
A familiar voice cut through the darkness.
"Stay behind me."
Everything became still.
The attackers froze.
A tall figure stepped out of the shadows.
Dressed in black.
Heavy boots.
A long dark coat.
His face remained hidden beneath the darkness.
Yet somehow...
She knew.
He had come back.
The mysterious man.
Without another word...
The battle began.
He moved with impossible speed.
One vampire lunged.
A flash.
The creature fell lifeless to the ground.
A werewolf charged.
He caught it effortlessly and threw it against a massive tree.
The earth trembled.
Another vampire attacked from behind.
Without even turning...
He caught the weapon and drove it back into its owner.
One by one...
They fell.
The forest became silent.
The last enemy collapsed.
Only the mysterious protector remained standing.
His breathing was steady.
He slowly turned toward Octavia.
For the first time...
The shadows around his face began to fade.
She could finally make out the outline of his jaw...
His lips...
His eyes...
Her heart raced.
"I know you..."
she whispered.
Just as his face was about to become clear—
A weak laugh echoed behind them.
One vampire...
Still alive.
With its final strength, it hurled a sharpened wooden stake.
The weapon sliced through the air.
"No!"
The mysterious man shouted.
He moved as fast as lightning.
But it was too late.
The stake pierced Octavia's stomach.
She gasped.
Pain exploded through her body.
She collapsed onto the cold forest floor.
The mysterious man reached the wounded vampire in an instant.
His fury shook the forest.
With one swift movement...
He ended the creature's life.
Then he dropped to his knees beside Octavia.
He lifted her gently into his arms.
"No..."
His voice trembled.
"Please..."
"You can't leave me."
Blood stained her dress.
Her breathing became weaker.
He looked desperately at the wound.
Then, without hesitation...
He bit into his own wrist.
Dark crimson blood flowed freely.
He carefully lifted her head.
"Drink..."
His voice broke.
"Please..."
He pressed his bleeding wrist gently against her lips.
The blood touched them.
A warm light spread through her body.
The wound slowly began to heal.
Her breathing steadied.
As he leaned closer...
The shadows covering his face finally disappeared.
His face became clear.
Beautiful.
Heartbreakingly handsome.
His eyes overflowed with fear...
With love...
With desperation.
Octavia struggled to keep her eyes open.
Everything was becoming blurry.
She tried to focus.
"T...you..."
His face blurred again.
Darkness closed in.
The last word she whispered wasn't his name.
It was...
"Aurora..."
Everything disappeared.
---
Octavia's eyes flew open.
"AURORA!"
She sat upright, breathing heavily.
Sweat covered her forehead.
Her heart pounded violently.
Aurora rushed into her room.
"Octavia!"
She sat beside her immediately.
"What happened?"
Octavia threw her arms around her best friend.
"I..."
She struggled to breathe.
"It was another dream."
Aurora held her tightly.
"The same one?"
Octavia slowly nodded.
"No..."
She whispered.
"Worse."
Outside the bedroom window...
A cool breeze stirred the trees.
Far away...
Someone stood silently in the darkness...
Watching the little Ashford and Whitmore.
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