The Order

Chapter 15

Annalise's POV

I'm falling. You know that dream where you're falling, and just as you’re about to hit the ground, you jerk awake? Yeah, it’s exactly like that—except this time, I actually am falling. Eyes wide, I twist to see the ground rushing up to meet me. Channeling my powers, I slow my descent into a controlled drop, landing with one knee down and my fist pressed to the ground.

Iron Man would be so proud. I’ve perfected his superhero landing. Standing up, I dust off my hands and take in my surroundings. The place is… unsettling. Cold, damp, utterly miserable. The kind of dark, overgrown forest you’d expect in a horror movie where people keep going in, despite every instinct telling them to turn around. Goosebumps prick my skin as I mutter, “Yeah, that’s creepy.”

But strangely, even though I know I should be freaked out, there’s a part of me that’s calm. Grounded. Ready. Like I was meant to be here.

“Where the hell am I?” I mumble, taking another step back, fully aware this isn’t Kansas anymore.

“You’re in the Realm of Lost Souls,” says a voice behind me, and I nearly jump out of my skin. I whirl around, coming face to face with the Moon Goddess and her granddaughter.

My jaw drops. The last time I saw them, I’d thought life might finally get back to normal. Guess not. If they’re here, it means another mission is about to land in my lap.

I groan, “I should have known. What am I doing here?”

The Moon Goddess glances behind me just as a piercing scream echoes from the forest. Instinctively, I start to turn toward the sound, but her granddaughter grabs my arm, shaking her head. Then, from the shadows, four men stagger out, wild and unkempt, with eyes so dark they seem to absorb all light. Their teeth are yellowed, and their twisted smiles look like they belong on the cover of a horror movie.

Every instinct in me braces for a fight, but before they can get close, the Moon Goddess raises her hand. A burst of light blazes from her fingers, stopping the men in their tracks and sending them scurrying back into the shadows. My heart is racing, and my mind is a whirlwind of questions.

“Someone, please, tell me what’s happening!” I shout.

The Moon Goddess sighs, placing a calming hand on my shoulder. “I’ve been seeking a safe place for the star since I entrusted it to your mother. Each realm has a star to keep the balance, but in this realm, the star died the day you were reincarnated and the prophecy began.” She gestures behind her, and I follow her gaze to a towering mountain with a faint structure perched at the top. Even with my advanced vision, it’s hard to make out.

“Right. So, how are you planning to get the star up there?” I ask, gesturing vaguely at the mountain. “If you wanted it, you could have just asked! I would’ve handed it over—no need to drag me here.”

Her granddaughter snorts, while the Moon Goddess gives a soft chuckle.

“I’m not taking the star there. You are. The star answers only to you,” she says, her voice carrying a finality that has me backing away instinctively.

I glance at the forest again, and my heart sinks. “Yeah, no. That’s not happening. I am not going into that creepy forest alone. That’s literally how everyone dies in horror movies!”

The Moon Goddess smiles with the kind of patient smile for stubborn children. “You’re stronger than any horror story, Annalise. Besides, you're going to have some help.”

I huff, crossing my arms. “Fine. But I’m telling you, if I hear a single twig snap behind me, I’m shifting, and this whole realm’s gonna see what happens when a hybrid has had enough.”

The Moon Goddess's granddaughter burst out laughing, though I didn’t see anything funny—I was serious. This place gives me the creeps. Taking a couple of deep breaths, I mentally prepared myself before facing the Moon Goddess again.

"Right, so which one of my mates is coming to help me?" I asked as another horrifying scream echoed from the forest.

"None," the Moon Goddess replied.

"Okay...then which one of my siblings is coming to help?"

"None of them either," she said, a small smile touching her lips. Then, as if it just dawned on me, I realized—

"Wait, are you two coming to help me? No way! Just take the Star and carry it up there. You really don’t need me, and I have to get back and prepare before my father finds us again."

The Moon Goddess shook her head, and just as she was about to explain, five massive holes opened up in the sky. The wind picked up as we watched five figures fall—one from each hole. Then, as if they’d seen me earlier, they all adjusted mid-fall, landing a few feet away from us…each in my Iron Man pose.

Their faces looked familiar, and I felt the tug of a memory trying to resurface. A sharp pain assaulted my mind, like being hit with a baseball bat over and over. Dropping to my knees, I clutched my head as the memory crashed over me, unlocking in a sudden rush.

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*"Nova," Damien said as he approached us in the library.

"Damien," I replied, dropping the book in my hand and meeting him halfway. Taking his hand, I let him pull me into his arms. He instantly pressed his lips to mine, stealing my breath away. In the background, I heard the others laughing, but I didn’t care—Damien was my safe space, and I would never deny him.

Groaning, he pulled away, stepping beside me just as six people entered the room. Warriors. One woman and five men.

"Meet your new royal guards," he announced. "They will be at your side at all times."

Nodding, I extended my hand to greet them, but in unison, they all dropped to one knee.

"It’s an honor, Your Grace," the woman in front said. After a moment of silence, I burst out laughing, walking toward her and pulling her into a hug.

"Enough of that formal nonsense! Welcome to our castle and to our family. What’s your name?"

"Emilia."

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Emilia!" I repeated, taking a deep breath. She gasped, and then we both rushed forward, giggling and squealing like long-lost friends.

“Oh my god, I’m so happy you’re here,” I said, glancing at the men—Sam, Will, Declan, Ford, and Nate. Then, looking around, I noticed we were one short. “Where’s Andraious?”

Their faces fell, and Emilia grabbed my hand, turning me to face her.

"That’s a story for another time," she said, and I nodded, dropping the topic as she turned to the Moon Goddess. “What are we doing now?”*

I was uncertain before but now, as all six of us looked toward the dark, twisted forest ahead, I knew somewhere deep down it would be alright.

“Oh, one more thing,” the Moon Goddess said. “Limit your use of magic. The lost souls feed off it, and you don’t want to encounter a well-fed soul in this realm.”

My jaw dropped. I hadn’t once thought I’d be doing this without magic.

“What?” I shouted. “Next, you’re going to tell me that we need swords!” I scoffed, placing my hands on my hips.

The Moon Goddess smirked, and I didn’t like it one bit. With a wave of her hand, all six of us were dressed in our old fighting leathers, our hair plaited and tied back, each armed with knives—but no swords. Just as I was about to point this out, another hole opened in the sky, and six swords dropped down, landing in front of us.

Another blood-curdling scream ripped through the trees, and we all turned to see a horde of deranged figures rushing toward us. There were more than ten, their faces twisted and their eyes vacant. As one, the six of us formed our battle formation, swords in hand, ready to face the threat. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Emilia smirk.

"Just like old times," she said.

I smiled, bracing myself. "Just like old times."