REBORN INTACT

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

JELENA

I open my eyes, and darkness greets me but the darkness feels alive, it stretches endlessly in every direction, swallowing everything around me. Even with the enhanced vision I have always possessed, I cannot make out a single thing beyond the black void surrounding me.

For a long moment, I simply stand there all alone, cold and silent but then a deep yearning stirs inside my chest, more like a strange pull, something tells me to move.

Slowly, I push myself to my feet and reach out, trying to feel my surroundings but the instant I stand, a small flicker of light appears several feet ahead.

My breath catches.

The tiny flame dances in the darkness like a lonely star qnd suddenly, my suspicion is confirmed.

I'm dead.

This is the path, the path every wolf hears about but never truly believes exists, the path the dead walk before judgment.

A bitter laugh threatens to leave my lips, but it never comes, so this is how it ends, no grand life, great love story or future, or even second chance, I don't even get the opportunity to do everything I once dreamed of.

Most of my life is spent hiding, hiding inside books, from my stepmother, my stepsister and trying desperately to survive another day but now it is over ans the thought should bring peace.

Instead, anger rises inside me, hot and burning, I think of every cruel word my stepmother ever throws at me, every insult, punishment, moment she makes me feel unwanted.

Then I think of my Alice, the satisfaction she always wears whenever I suffer, the way she enjoys watching me break and she did succeed,

The anger intensifies and as it grows, more flames begin to appear, one by one, tiny bulbs of fire ignite around me, the darkness retreats and slowly, the world begins to reveal itself.

My eyes widen, the garden, I am standing inside the mansion's garden, the most peaceful place I have ever known, moonflowers bloom along the pathways, silver leaves sway gently despite the absence of any wind and the familiar stone fountain sits quietly in the center.

Everything looks exactly as I remember, a painful ache settles inside my chest, of all the places to see before judgment, I am grateful it is here so I begin to walk, the fire bulbs drift beside me like silent guides, their soft glow paints everything in gold.

For a moment, peace settles over me that I almost forget that I am dead.

If only I had another chance.

The thought slips into my mind before I can stop it and immediately, the sky explodes.

A deafening crack of thunder tears through the air as the ground trembles beneath my feet, lightning flashes overhead, white and violent and through the storm, a voice echoes.

A voice so familiar that my heart nearly stops.

"Come now, daughter."

The words float through the darkness, soft, warm and loving that tears instantly gather in my eyes.

"Come to rest."

Another flash of lightning illuminates the sky.

"Come to Mom."

My breath catches.

No.

It can't be but I know that voice, I know it, I know it better than I know my own, even though I never got to meet mom, I heard her sing to me while I was in her belly

Mother.

The mother I never got to meet, the mother who died giving birth to me, whose face I only know from old portraits and the pull inside me strengthens.

It wraps around my legs, my heart and soul and before I realize it, my feet begin moving.

One step then another and the further I walk, the brighter the path becomes, .ore bulbs of fire ignite ahead of me, each one guiding me forward.

Until the garden disappears but I don't even notice when it happens, one second I am surrounded by flowers and the next, everything is gone.

I stop abruptly, my stomach twists, an empty street stretches before me and every instinct inside me screams danger, the feeling crashes into me so suddenly that I nearly stumble backward.

Pure dread, like something ancient is watching me or I am standing somewhere I should never have entered, my heartbeat quickens and the silence here feels wrong, the air feels wrong and evven the shadows feel wrong but I force myself to continue walking, the fire bulbs remain ahead of me.

Still guiding me.

Yet every step becomes harder than the last, the houses lining the street are dark, not a single light burns inside them and their windows stare down at me like empty eyes all watching, waiting

A cold chill crawls up my spine, the silence deepens then I smell it.

Rot.

My stomach lurches, the scent grows stronger with every step, I lower my gaze and a horrified gasp escapes me, bones, human bones litter the road, skulls rest against broken sidewalks.

Ribs protrude from piles of dirt, fragments of skeletons scatter everywhere, as though countless people died here and were simply abandoned. My pulse pounds in my ears but I force myself to keep moving.

Don't stop.

Don't look just keep walking.

The fire bulbs continue leading me forward.

Yet the deeper I travel, the worse everything becomes, the houses begin to decay, wood hangs from walls, doors swing open, broken windows resemble jagged teeth.

The smell of rotting flesh thickens, something wet squelches beneath my shoe, I look down and instantly regret it, a decayed hand lies on the ground.

Its fingers curl upward as though reaching for help, a scream climbs my throat, I swallow it.

Keep moving.

I repeat the words inside my head like a prayer, then I hear something, a sound and my body freezes.

For the first time since arriving here, I hear evidence that something else exists.

Life of even movement, a presence and relief should wash over me but instead, terror explodes inside my chest.

The dread intensifies, the air grows heavier and every hair on my body stands upright, something is coming towards me very fast that I spin around.

Then I hear it again, a rushing sound, like wind tearing through the darkness but only faster and closer, my heart pounds violently and the sound grows louder.

Louder.

Louder.

Until suddenly—

A black blur shoots past me, I scream and the figure circles me but too fast for my eyes to follow.

Three times, the wind created by its movement slams into me that I stagger backward, my knees nearly give out.

Then it stops.

Silence crashes over the street, my breathing becomes ragged, a figure stands before me, terrifyingly tall, hidden beneath a black cloak, the fabric moves despite the complete absence of windand its face remains concealed beneath a hood.

Darkness fills the space where features should be, I cannot see eyes or see skin, just can't see anything.

Yet I know it is staring directly at me, my body refuses to move as fear roots me to the ground, then it speaks.

A woman's voice.

Cold, ancient and cruel.

"Why should I allow you in, weakling?"

The words strike me like a physical blow.

My lips part, I try to answer, try to speak, to maybe defend myself but nothing comes out and the pressure from her presence crushes my lungs, my tongue feels frozen, the figure takes a step forward and the temperature plummets instantly.

"You are so useless that you killed your mother during birth and couldn't even become a wolf."

The words stab into me and pain flashes through my chest, I shake my head.

"No—"

"You couldn't even have a stance."

Another step, the darkness around her deepens.

"No identity."

Step.

"Just wandering."

Step.

"No vision."

Every word strikes harder than the last, I try backing away, my legs refuse to cooperate, the street seems to stretch endlessly behind me and no matter how much space exists, she feels impossibly close then her voice sharpens.

"Did you truly think he would stay with a weak mate like you simply because the Moon Goddess chose you?"

My chest tightens.

Aaron

The mention of him sends another wave of pain through me.

"You can never be better than her."

The words echo over and over like a curse.

"You are too weak."

"No."

My voice emerges as a whisper pathetic and broken.

The figure laughs, the sound makes my blood run cold, it doesn't sound human, it sounds like screams buried beneath centuries of hatred.

"You think your father would ever love you?"

My breathing falters.

"A weakling like you?"

I squeeze my eyes shut.

"No..."

"You couldn't even be useful for a business merger."

The words hit harder than anything else because they are the very fears I bury deepest, the thoughts I never allow myself to voice.

"What can you possibly be?"

I shake my head repeatedly as tears stream down my face.

"Stop..."

The figure continues relentless and merciless.

"You want another chance to live."

Step.

"But you didn't use the chance you already had."

Step.

"You wasted it."

Step.

"You hid."

Step.

"You failed."

Step.

"You are nothing."

The words begin coming from everywhere, not just her but from the houses, the street, the darkness, from the bones scattered across the road, a thousand voices repeat them, weakling, failure, worthless, nothing and the voices grow louder.

Louder.

LOUDER.

I cover my ears, it does nothing, the accusations continue pouring into my mind, every insecurity, every fear, painful memory, cruel word ever spoken to me, they all return.

Again and again.

And again.

The pressure becomes unbearable, I can't breathe nor can I think.

Can't fight.

The darkness begins closing in around me, the street blurs, the figure blurs, the voices merge into a deafening roar and then one final command cuts through everything.

"Get away already, you filth."

The words shatter whatever strength I have left, te world tilts violently, the darkness rushes toward me and I let it take me, I don't need the reminder of how foolish I was.

Everything goes black.