The Awakening
1635 Words
It was dark, a big, endless mass of black.
Where was she? What happened? How did she get here?
She floated endlessly in the void. Not feeling, not seeing, she had no idea if she was breathing. Time seemed to be in an infinite frozen loop.
Did she die? Was this death? This state of nothingness?
However, this place seemed different from the afterlife described in the old scriptures. Where were the green fields that stretched as far as one could see? Or the great crescent said to guide their paths?
Could this be across both worlds? And how was she remembering this now?
It came to her slowly. Little trickles of memories, she had died at the hands of the ones she trusted the most. Even though they hadn’t been the direct cause of her death, they had betrayed and sold her away. She would laugh if she could; it was a good thing she couldn’t feel, or the pain that was sure to be in her heart would undoubtedly kill her again.
Ray’s words come to mind, and if correct, she wonders why her wolf accepted him as her mate.
Was it a fluke? Has she been so much in love that she thought Sif was her mate?
Why had they not spoken to her? From what it looked like, they had been together for a long time. How did she not notice? Was she that naive? Did they think she would not let them be together from the jump?
It seemed as though she had stopped floating and was now falling slowly.
She could feel now.
She opened her eyes gradually, still in darkness. It was cold and freezing. It felt like ice had gathered on her body, wrapping around her. The pain in her heart was as she had imagined.
The cruel hands of death squeezing down on it, maybe. She laughed bitterly in her mind; this betrayal could not go unpunished.
Her descent increased. The more she thought, the faster she fell. She has been taken advantage of for so long, only to be discarded after giving her all.
Tears of anger gathered in her eyes; they had to pay for this. She felt hot suddenly; below her, there seemed to be some light source steadily growing larger. Was this it? Would I fall into a hellscape even after suffering so much?
O Selene, the pristine goddess of the moon, are you not the favourer of the fair and just? Have I not served you faithfully? Will you watch me suffer like this?
The light got brighter and hotter; it hurt; she was scared.
‘Please, please save me, someone.’ She squeezed her eyes shut as she entered the light...
*-*-*-*-*
Selena blinked slowly, raising her hands to shield her eyes. The light was blinding, the surrounding noises gradually sharpening into focus. When her vision cleared, she froze. Ray and Bianca stood before her.
What? Why was Ray standing here as if nothing had happened?
Before she could think, her fist connected with Ray’s face, sending her sprawling into the dirt, Selena trembled with rage.
“How dare you?” she seethed, her knuckles stinging.
Ray blinked up, dazed and frightened. “Lena? What’s wrong?” she asked, confusion etched on her face.
“Are you still going to pretend?!” Selena hissed, lunging forward and kicking her.
“My lady—please! Calm down!” Bianca rushed to hold her back as Ray cried out, curling into herself for protection.
“Let go of me! I’ll kill this backstabbing—” Selena thrashed wildly as Bianca struggled to restrain her.
“My lady, stop! What has come over you?” Bianca grunted, taking a blow to the stomach.
People had begun to gather, whispering among themselves.
“Luna! Stop this—you’re creating a scene!” Bianca hissed, finally managing to pull her away. Selena’s chest heaved, eyes blazing with murderous fury. Someone helped Ray to her feet; she whimpered, clutching her side.
Bianca gripped Selena’s jaw, forcing her to meet her gaze.
“Selena! Stop!”
Selena froze—her name—on Bianca’s lips.
Wait. Why was Bianca here?
And now that she really looked… both Bianca and Ray looked younger.
“What—” She stumbled back, scanning the crowd. The faces were both strange and familiar.
“My lady? Have you calmed down?” Bianca asked, frowning.
Selena stepped forward, reaching out. Her vision blurred; her legs gave out.
The last thought she had as Bianca and others rushed to her: what a cruel joke the gods were playing.
She didn’t miss Ray’s look before darkness swallowed her.
*-*-*-*-*
Hours later, Selena woke screaming. The right side of her face burned.
‘No, no, no, not again!’
“Hey! Hey! It’s okay; you’re safe! Wake up!” Someone held her.
“No!” she screamed, thrashing in bed.
“Open your eyes, love; it’s me, Bianca. That’s it,” Bianca cooed, caressing her hair. “Breathe.”
Selena opened her eyes to sunlight streaming through the windows. Her heart hammered. She lay frozen in Bianca’s hands, tears streaking her face.
Sweat soaked her clothes; the sheets tangled around her trembling form. Her breath came in choked sobs and gasps.
“Deep breaths. I’ve got you. You’re safe now.” Bianca rocked her gently, waiting for her breath to even out.
Selena slowly raised her shaking hands to her face. Her hands were unblemished. She laughed.
“My Lady? What’s wrong?” Bianca asked, worried.
‘I’m in my room… how? What was happening? What kind of cruel joke is this?’
Selena stood on shaking legs and went to her dresser, ignoring Bianca’s calls. Hysteria built as she stared into the mirror. She looked younger—no brands, no wrinkles. She touched her face and laughed harder.
She stared at Bianca through the mirror. ‘Do the gods genuinely play with mortals this way?’ The laughs gave way to heavy sobs as she fell to her knees.
Bianca was by her side immediately. “My Lady! Please talk to me! What’s the matter?”
Selena looked down at her hands, mumbling. “I’m home, I’m really home.”
“Are you alright now?” Bianca asked softly.
Selena nodded, pulling from the hug.
“Nightmare?” Bianca asked.
“Yeah,” Selena whispered.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. I don’t remember,” Selena lied.
She bit her lip. Where was Ray?
“Bianca?” She started.
“Yes?”
“What happened to me?”
“You suddenly collapsed after attacking Ray. Everyone worried; a week has passed since then,” Bianca answered.
Selena slumped. “Can I be alone for a minute?”
“Are you sure?” Bianca pressed.
“Yeah, thanks. Just give me a second,” she assured with a small smile.
“Okay. I’ll get the healer. Don’t stress yourself. I’ll be back soon,” Bianca said, pausing to stare worriedly before leaving.
“I’m okay,” Selena repeated.
*-*-*-*-*
Selena jumped to her feet and stumbled to the mirror. “Gods above,” she muttered, clasping her face. She had gone back. She spun, inspecting the changes.
Her face was paler. Her struggle with Bianca had mussed her long, golden hair. Light grey eyes were red-rimmed, wide with shock, green flecks shimmering.
Tears fell as she remembered how she got here. She laughed hysterically. ‘Is this really happening?’
A second chance. She would not let it go to waste.
Bianca was still in the pack, meaning she had returned after being sold two years prior.
Standing up, Selena felt overwhelmed. She collapsed on the bed, sobs wracking her frame. ‘Where do I start?’
She needed to calm down and plan her revenge.
A knock on the door startled her.
“Come in!” she called hoarsely. Bianca entered, a healer behind her.
“I hope you didn’t wait too long; I had a patient to attend to,” the healer said.
“I’m okay now,” Selena repeated.
“I’m glad to see you awake, my lady,” the healer said, taking in her terrified appearance. “Any reason you came here?”
“I came to check on her as usual,” Bianca said, sitting by Selena.
“We were expecting you at the meeting, so I came to check,” Bianca added.
“Send my apologies to the elders. I won’t attend today.”
Bianca bowed slightly. “When will you be ready?”
“Give me a week,” Selena murmured. “I’ll have everything sorted.”
Bianca hesitated, then bowed. “Of course. Please take care of yourself.”
Selena closed the door, legs weak. She brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her hands around them.
‘Hard… I will face people I haven’t seen in years and act fine,’ she thought.
She breathed deeply, wiped away her tears, and sat at her worktable. She would be thorough. She would cut no corners in her revenge.
She had time to expose lies and save people. She chewed her lip, trying to remember—Sif made things official after a mountainside trip. Where had Ray been? Her head ached from straining.
Scattered notes on the table revealed all she had missed. Her heart ached.
Fatigue washed over her. She felt the cool breeze drift in. Packmates’ sounds reached her ears. She stood, catching her reflection in the mirror—haggard, red-rimmed eyes, slumped shoulders.
A sorry figure.
She sank onto the mattress, curling into herself, letting sobs consume her. The pain, the fear, the rage—all of it came out.
After this, she promised herself, no more crying.
‘This time, I will not let them down.’
- Writer
