š²šA Howl In The Nightš²š
š¹She’s mineš¹
š¼From Novel r0m@nƧĀ£š¼
šChapter 37š
The Beginning, the End, and Everything in Between
The sound of a crackling fire is the first thing I notice when my eyes open. The light aroma of cinnamon wafts throu-ghout the room, although tainted by a heavy premonition that I can’t seem to shake, even if I can’t quite remember the reason for that mysterious feeling.
I blink once, twice, attempting to consolid@tĀ£ the whirl of colors into something that more closely resembles solid objects. Just to convince myself that I’m not crazy, I ban-g my head against the floor, and then woozily roll onto my back.
“Ouch, that must have hurt,” a low chuckle erupts as my vision settles on long strands of brown hair that are hanging around my face. Still a little dizzy, I let my hand brush against the hair, and then eventually a firm chin, tracing down his jawline and nĀ£Ā¢k. As if just realizing my actions, I let my arm drop and my mouth open as I finally register who the person leaning precariously over me is.
“Ray?” I ask him, my hand reflexively reaching back up to tĀ©uƧh his cheek.
“After fainting at the sight of me, I thought your reaction might be a little different. Looks like I was wrong.” He smiles weakly, and something about the exhaustion in his expression makes me feel uneasy.
I sit up, peering around the room. I remember now… Ray was sitting at that dark ebony desk over in that corner, writing something on a strange notepad when I opened the door. As soon as I took my next step he almost immediately lifted his head and looked at me, his eyes glowing with a strange intensity, as if he had been expecting my arrival. I thought he had been a ghost.
The many bookshelves lining the walls are cast with an eerie glow from both the small candles scattered throu-ghout the room and the fire in the elegant hearth. The carpet seems to grasp at my ankles as I slide towards the wall, trying to gather the strength to push myself to my feet. “Ray,” I ask, my voice wobbly, “what are you doing here? Aren’t you hurt? Where are the others?”
He raises one f!nger to myl-ips, and I inwardly quiver with uncertainty. “Too many questions at once.” Standing up, he offers his hand to me. As I look at him from below, something seems off about his appearance. It isn’t necessarily that he doesn’t look haggard, or even the slightest bit injured. The problem is that he looks too… calm. Like he knows something that I don’t.
“Answer me, Ray,” I say as I accept his help, stumbling to my feet. “Where’s the rest of the group? They disappeared earlier… and how long was I out? Why didn’t you try to wake me up?”
“Mona, plea-se,” he replies, his eyes gentle. “Don’t act so freaked out. They are all fine. And you weren’t unconscious for very long. It was only a few minutes. I was waiting for you to regain a little bit of your color back. You lost almost all of it when you saw me.”
“Oh, okay.” I breathe heavily, leaning against the bookcase. After catching sight of the plentiful cobwebs lining the corners, I back away and sit haphazardly on the back of a large sofa that was facing the fireplace instead. “You have a lot of explaining to do. How… do you know the others are fine?”
An unfathomable expression fli-ckers across Ray’s face. He blinks a few times and then turns his head as if to shake himself out of something. When he looks back at me, he is gently smiling, ma-king the past few moments seem like a mirage.
“A gut feeling, I guess.” He chuckles softly, although not quite convincing me of his optimism.
Ray turns and walks over to the fireplace. He gr-abs a steel rod and starts to prod at the fli-ckering flames, tending the fire. The side of his face is illuminated by the weak light, ma-king it seem distorted. At the same time, I can still s-en-se a comforting familiarity in his face and bĀ©dy to the Ray I know so well.
“Is something wrong?” I ask him, sliding around on the sofa so that I am facing him. “You seem strange.”
“Do I?” He asks, his voice a little dee-per than normal. As he utters those words, he stĀ©ps suddenly, clears his throat, and then awkwardly f!ngersthe rod in his hand. “I guess I do feel a little strange. But in a good way. Don’t worry about it.”
He turns to me, finally, and I notice a lack of symmetry, almost like a trick of the light, in his facial features. “We should be talking about you right now. How do you feel?” His eyes meet mine, and then veer to the right, sweeping across the rows of books.
“Fine, I guess.” I shrug, trying to evaluate my mood. Besides a dark feeling in the pit of my stomach, my bĀ©dy seems fine. It’s not what I’m concerned about either. “I mean, I’m really worried about the others. How did you reach the castle, Ray? Are the Shifters keeping you prisoner here?”
“No. Well, yes. It’s complicated,” he replies slowly, clearly trying to conceal any emotion. He carefully leans the rod against the wall and starts walking towards me. My heartbeat quic-kens as he reaches the chair across from where I am sitting. He lowers himself into the seat, crossing one leg over the other, and his mouth moves as he whispers something to himself.
“What do you mean…?” A myriad of thoughts are swirling around in my head, and none of them make any s-en-se. Things are just not adding up, and the pressure of this room is starting to swallow me home.
“I’m afraid that I haven’t been completely honest with you, Mona.” Ray’s voice is soothing, contrasting with the gravity of his words. “It’s like most interactions I’ve had throu-ghout my life… so de-eply intertwined with lies that I can’t even tell you what is true anymore. If any of it can even be counted as such.”
“What do you mean?” I ask him, frightened by his strange demeanor. It looks like he is battling with himself, with his right eye twitching slightly and his hands shaking. The pit in my stomach grows to consume my whole bĀ©dy, and I nervously ru-b my nails against each other.
“Where do I even begin?” He asks himself, throwing his head towards the ceiling. The inner debate seems to continue for quite a while. Finally, he decides on something, lowering his head to meet my gaze.
“To be honest, this is my prison. It has been, for quite a while.” He casts a glance across the dark walls, clearly disdainful of his surroundings. “It’s a pretty impressive prison though, I must say. There are some interesting rooms scattered around here. Would you like to take a quic-k look at some of them?”
He stands up, offering his hand to me. Narrowing my eyes, I cautiously take it, letting go as soon as I am on my feet. His palm felt as ha-rd and cold as ice, and I can’t help but wonder how that could possibly be when he was so close to the fire only moments ago.
I follow him to the door, not quite knowing what to think as he slowly twists the doorknob. As the door swings open, the main hallway appears again before my eyes, still darkened by the eternal night streaming throu-gh the glas-s windows. The silence prevails throu-ghout the room as we walk onto the carpet, leaving a stinging s-en-sation in my che-st.
“No electricity?” I ask, desperate for some hint of normalcy within all of these events.
He laughs in response, and this laugh feels more real than anything else. “The builders didn’t believe in adding it, I guess. Old fashion is the best fashion over here.”
“The builders?” I look around anxiously. “Where are they?
“This castle is ancient anyways,” Ray says, completely ignoring my question. Looking straight ahead, he walks over to a pair of doors and then stĀ©ps.
I almost ask him why he is being so evasive, but the sight before my eyes prevents me from doing so. Speechless, I survey the narrow hallway, with the stone walls inla-id with gold and the floors covered in a luxurious, blood red carpet. At the end of the hallway, a magnificent set of doors is presĀ£nt, engraved with a number of strange designs.
“What is this…” I murmur in wonder, staring at the carpet and waving my foot around in it. My feet seem to sink into its luxurious depths as I imagine myself falling onto it and floating away.
“This is the most sacred area of the castle. Everything in this world stems from this room.” He gr-abs the handles but holds it closed, turning to face me.
“How could that-”
“You’ll see. Just take a look.” Ray smiles, his eyes softening as we look at each other. He continues to stare at me for a while, I almost frozen as his expression morphs into one of vulnerability.
“I don’t want…” His voice chokes up, his hand turning white against the golden handles. I step closer to him, my own hand reaching for his.
“Don’t want what?” I ask softly, my f!ngersabout to curl over the same handle. At the last moment, he pushes me aside, his eyes narrowing at the movement. His bĀ©dy shakes slightly.
“I’m sorry,” he quic-kly apologizes. “I had a moment of nostalgia.” He quic-kly pu-lls the first door open, and keeps it open for me to walk throu-gh. “Ladies first.”
When I peer at his face, he seems as if, once again, he has adopted a completely different expression than he had possessed minutes before. I pas-s him, and take a look into the vast depth of a room that defies logic in every s-en-se of the word.
“Ray, what… is this place?” I ask, surveying the walls that are not walls, the floor that seems to be crumbling beneath my feet.
“I like to call it the core. Pretty nice, huh?” he asks, lifting his arm and flinging it from side to side. “Be careful on the ledge. You don’t really want to fall off.”
Yes, he’s right. I couldn’t really see it before, but now I can clearly make out a ledge, stretching an unfathomable distance into the darkness. I tilt my head to look over a sharp edge, only to see a dark chasm, glittering with nothing but the spark of curiosity.
Ray comes to me and gracefully takes my hand. “plea-se take a seat, Mona.”
I whirl around to see an ornate chair engraved with the same designs that decorated the door. The uneasy feeling returning, I slowly lower my bĀ©dy into the seat, wondering how I could have missed such an obvious object in a room that seemed completely empty only seconds before.
“Do you remember our conversation in the libr@ry? You know, when you chose to be awakened?”
“Yes,” I reply, my thumbs ru-bbing against the sides of the chair.
“I told you then about the purpose of the werewolf species. It was to defeat the Shifters, who are all evil, terrible beings that exist merely to terrorize humans.”
I nod, unsure of where he is going with any of this.
“Well, that was not exactly the truth.”
“What-”
“Some are, to be honest. Many of the most ruthless Shifters travel to Earth on a daily basis to gr-ab their next meal. Others are not even close to what we have encountered on Earth. I know you have seen many of them here.”
“Did you say… next meal?”
“Wait, Mona. Just let me talk,” Ray implores, his eyes searching mine. I fall silent, and after a few seconds he continues. His bĀ©dy straightens as he lifts his arms again. A wash of color begins to appear behind him, painting a strange scene that spellbinds me. As the picture takes shape, I suddenly realize that the room we are in is spherical, with the ceilings and walls slanting into each other, curving around the thin ledge into the vast depths that l@ybelow.
“There… is a God.” Ray looks at me, and then sweeps his gaze across the vivid landscape. Miles and miles of bleak horizons are before us, not unfamiliar to me as I make out the corner of a sandy beach scattered with battered bodies.
“So this is…”
“There isn’t a name. It can’t have a name. If it allows itself to be named, it allows itself to be controlled, and no one can truly harness this realm. Like a wild horse, it lives and dies alone and free, without anyone to hold it back. But anyways, this is besides the point. What I mean to say is, I’ve never had to question.”
“Question what?” I ask nervously, bringing my hands together. The scene behind Ray is shifting to reveal close up scenes within the world, with the first being a lone Shifter looking de-ep into the well that Griffin and I fell into.
“That there is a God. It’s quite a paradoxical privilege to have. Knowledge is painful, to be honest.” Ray pauses, his eyes reflecting a dark crimson, almost as if it were a trick of the light. “I hesitate to give it to you. But I have no choice, anyways. It will be over soon.”
“Ray, you aren’t ma-king any s-en-se. What’s going on? What is this place?” I move to get up from my seat, but a strange f0rƧĀ£ holds me down. I look down, and in horror see a thick rope stra-pped around my w@!st. I wh!pmy face back up to him, and he is smiling sadly at me, his hands still raised.
“Even now, I’m struggling on how to tell my story. I suppose I don’t have to tell it. I could leave you here. Or push you over the ledge.” He steps closer, sticking out his foot. “It would be so easy. But I can’t. There isn’t a point. Fate says it won’t be so.”
I begin to breathe heavily, my heartbeat accelerating. I rock within the chair, testing the rope to see how strong it could possibly be.
“Shifters are more than the werewolves have made them out to be. In fact, every single one of them is a soul, both the corrupted and the pure lumped all together in this waiting room for their final destination. And me, I get to be their leader. I am the caregiver of the waiting room, protecting both the peace and the Shifters from escaping their cage.”
My eyes wi-den as his face starts to shift along with the scenes around him. His arms immediately fly to his cheeks, as if trying to hold himself together. “Just a minute longer… I can wait… don’t want… to…” He whispers to himself.
“Show me who you are,” I say, my hands working at the rope. It is too strong, however, and I know that it would be pointless to keep trying. But most of all, I am concerned about Ray’s evident pain. It grips me, and I can’t take it any longer. “Let it go.”
There is no response as Ray clutches at his head, struggling once again. “Show… just… let it…” His hands move to cover his eyes and an almost lightning-like flash appears in the room, causing me to blink several times and look at the ground. When I finally look up, I nearly jump with my chair into the abyss.
“Ray? What happened to your eyes?”
Instead of his green eyes, he now possesses a pair of ru-by red eyes, glowing with the same demonic intensity that I am so familiar with. The rest of him is the same Ray I am used to, but that one feature frightens me beyond anything else. Shivers run up and down my spine as he almost takes a step forward, then backs away at my expression.
“I guess there’s no going back anymore. I can’t be Ray, just as you can’t be Mona.” Ray pauses. “I will finally take on my role. Mona, I am the enemy. I am what the prophecy calls the wolf with the red eyes. I have been given a mission by God, and I intend to finish it, while at the same time doomed to certain failure… as it is written.”
I only stare at him, my teeth chattering involuntarily as the cold sweeps in like the snow upon the backgrounds of the sphere, each crystalized piece of water fluttering to its death in the gray valleys.
“When the true God created this world, he made me as well. He made hundreds of servants, built this large castle, and gave me companions to counsel me as I led this kingdom. At first, there were no troubles. Our land flourished, nutrients rich with emotions dripping from the treetĀ©ps and Souls practically frol!Ƨk!ng among the green plains. Everyone could use feelings of joy and happiness as proper sustenance. No had to leave… or wanted to leave.’
‘But he did not leave me in charge of this world without conditions. He gave me a piece of paper, detailing what was to happen when the first Shifter crossed over into the foreign worlds that l@ypast our borders, that I was not allowed to open until the time c@mĀ£. A long time pas-sed, a time that could only be describe-d as peaceful and blissfully temporary; when I was living a life that was as stagnant as the reigning clouds over our terrain.’
‘But after a while many more souls were entering our world and there were not enough nutrients growing to support the population. Some would fight each other for a single piece of fruit, while others would intimid@tĀ£ Shifters into relinquishing their ha-rd -earned nutrients. This went on for a while, and soon a br@sh, rebellious Shifter decided to take matters into its own hands. It left, sneaking throu-gh the gates into Oblivion, and I thought we would never see that p@rticular Shifter again. Well, I was wrong.’
‘It appeared again, at the edges of the gates, holding some strange sphere-like objects. When other Shifters c@mĀ£ to look, he re-leased the spheres, all of which re-leased a wealth of feelings that invigorated the Shifters that surrounded it. They were introduced to many emotions that were not available within our realm, such as jealousy, greed, and anger. The reason why Shifters nee-d emotions is to make them feel somewhat alive while they wait, allowing them to retain some of what their soul originally consisted of. However, these… ugly emotions ignited a fire within their own souls, an fiercely burning pas-sion that far exceeded the satisfaction one would get from a single grain of Happiness.’
‘Since fire is contagious, the news spre-ad quic-kly about the Shifter’s new mysterious energy source. I knew about it alre-ady, having this room to survey the kingdom as a whole at any time I would like. Not worrying about anything, I just let it go. I never seriously thought that the Shifter would even make it much longer when fed with such impure emotions, much less incite an entire rebellion against me. Of course, I severely un-derestimated its influence, as it lead thousands, against my orders to stay away, into the Oblivion un-der the pretense of finding a land with wealth in feelings beyond measure.’
‘Scared by the events that had taken place, I practically r!ppĀ£dover the letter that contained the true God’s message. Within it, I found the prophecy, a description of the real world, a silver ring, and some more instructions. I was to travel between worlds to monitor the Shifters, as their taste for humanity could not be quenched, and watch for the appearance of werewolves, who were an apparent threat to the Shifter society. I was very disturbe-d by the information, but was secretly excited to leave and see something beyond what I have seen in my very strange crystal ball. When I finally took the first steps out of my kingdom, leaving the counsel members behind to watch over everything, my world was completely and drastically shifted before my eyes. There was spontaneity. There was a rich aroma of adventure and excitement. With my silver ring, I could easily become one of the humans, mingling among them in ways I thought could never be possible. The ring allowed me to take on a solid form, any solid form, and I used it often. I experimented, time and time again, with different animals and different types of people, learning the customs of the world until I knew them better than I did my own. And even as I was enthralled, the other Shifters were satiated to an even greater extent. Everything they ever could want in a dinner menu was available, and soon their appetite grew even larger.’
‘It was ha-rd to return to my kingdom. When I did, I went straight to my hvge crystal ball to see the Earth and study more about it. I bec@mĀ£ obsessed, and for hours on end scoured the ends of the Earth for any sort of new curiosity that would strike. But at the same time, I did so with a heavy amount of guilt. Because I knew about the prophecy. I knew about Fate’s wishes. And when the framework is la-id out, all you can do is build upon it and look down from above, wishing and hoping for the impossible.’
‘I knew, yet I just watched, watched the world, watched the Shifters grow fat with sadness and love and pain and fear. Many more went to join the others, lured by the sweet promises Earth offered. As this went on, I noticed that the Shifters down in Earth had changed. They were growing savage, unsatisfied with the taste of a certain feeling but wanted it all. Those who stayed in our realm began to be more satisfied with their portions than the ones who left, staying full for longer periods of time. Shifters on Earth would not just take pieces of the emotion within a p@rticular human anymore, but completely take over both the emotion and the person’s identity, swallowing it all with one big bite and then wrecking havoc among the other humans that surrounded them due to the Shifters not being able to control such a sophisticated bĀ©dy. I would continually go back and forth between worlds, trying to convince many of them to return. No one did.’
‘But then the werewolves started to pop up everywhere. Finally catching on to the cause of all the new destruction, they took it upon themselves to liberate human kind from the monsters, being able to smell their recently devoured emotions quite easily. I learned later that they also had obtained the prophecy, being given to them by God, which gave them a s-en-se of direction as to how to deal with the unseen enemy. As for me, I just tried to prevent any more Shifters from leaving the realm. The Shifters on Earth were growing far too dangerous, their eyes pulsing a dee-per red with every soul they consume. It is the ultimate sin to consume a soul that has not been judged by the true God.’
‘The werewolves did a pretty good job to control the Shifters for a while. Because of the Spiers, many were being killed quic-kly and others were hunted down throu-gh the physical bodies that they took over. Still, many were escaping the realm and coming to Earth, having their fill and gaining the dark red eyes. As you can see, I have been guilty. Once. I had a sip of love, and immediately got su-cked into its beauty and richness, accidentally drinking far too much than I should have. The human livedāba-relyābut I am scarred, and probably will be forever.’
‘And then you c@mĀ£. I knew immediately who you were and what you were. My crystal ball room immediately suffered a blackout right after your birth, and thereafter almost always was zoomed in on you. At the time, you meant destruction to the ones I was watching over. You were going to end everyone’s existence, including mine. I was a coward however, and most afraid of my own termination. I knew I had to kill you if we wanted our lives, if you can really call it that, to continue.’
‘We tried countless times when you were young. Precarious steps were taken and outlandish plans were made, all of which somehow failed before they even reached your doorstep. It was as if your house was protected by an invisible barrier. I realized later that it was Fate’s doing. I learned the inevitability of my actions, but not before I committed the worst deed. I sĀ£nt one deathly Shifter after you when you and your parents went on vacation. That decision would haunt me forever.”
“You…” I growl, lashing against my bonds. As if they were made of steel, they don’t even move. As the initial wave of anger courses throu-gh my veins, I sit and wait for reasoning to return for me. Throu-ghout this entire astounding confession, what I don’t feel from this person who wants to kill me is hostility. “Why did it haunt you? How did you find it within you to feel regret if you are only an empty shell of a Soul?” I ask weakly.
Ray shakes, his eyes wi-dening regretfully. “Because… I got to know you, Mona. I bec@mĀ£ a shell of a Human, to try and get close to you, to strike when the opportunity presĀ£nted itself… and failed in the worst kind of way.” He finally takes a step closer to me, lowering his arms. I feel the bonds loosĀ£ning, slowly, as he lets his guard down.
“Before you, and before Earth, I had nothing to call myself. I had no identity, just like the rest of the Shifters. You, and my brother, gave me a name.’
‘It was a long process, but I integrated myself into the human lifestyle. I nee-ded to get close, and my faithful crystal ball told me that a werewolf named Xavier was involved. In order to get affiliated with him, I would have to tamper with Xavier’s memories, ma-king him think I was related to him in some way. After observing him for a while, I decided that the best way to do that would be by taking the place of his brother, who had just died at the hands of a crazed werewolf. All I nee-ded to do was to make Xavier think that Ray had survived, and not only that but had become a werewolf in the process of battling with it.”
“But you said he changed you, not that you had unintentionally become a werewolf! Remember?”
“Yeah… that was a lie within a lie. I’m not really sure why I said it. I guess I wanted you to feel sorry for me. Fancy that.” He scoffs, his face full of self-derision. “I have to say Mona, I was quite fascinated with you. When Xavier moved the pack into the mansion that was so close to your orphanage, the only thing I would do at nights was wonder at your behavior that I was able to observe when I could sneak away to the other realm. You were always so strong. There was never one weak moment I could s-en-se from you. I wanted a taste of such resilience, but I could never make myself get close to you. I felt dirty and impure, which is a difficult thing to reconcile when approaching someone with such a powerful soul. When Xavier brou-ght you to the mansion, I knew my time was approaching, but I just could not go throu-gh with any of my plans. It was over before it even started. And Xavier mating with you… I could have never imagined that things would turn out like that. I really liked Xavier and admired his br@ve and honest character, which made it so much ha-rder to try and do something to you behind his back.”
“Did you… ever try?”
“Yes. At the Awakening. I had poison made in a separate bottle, but then mixed the bottles up at the last minute. It was a silly mistake, and one that I couldn’t have possibly made on my own. But it was certainly the last attempt, that’s for sure. I was not going to risk anything again, especially b!owing my cover. Because my cover, and my name that I borrowed, has become what my entirely too long existence has consisted of. It is as if I waited a countless number of years to have a life… that was truly worth the wait.”
The bonds sl!pto the floor, but I do not move. Ray steps even closer and crouches down so we are face to face. Although his eyes look so beautifully foreign, they are tearing up with the same familiarity that I am so used to. I know its Ray. I know him.
“And now Fate says I have to try to kill you… and I can’t!” He whispers hopelessly, leaning his head slowly forward and resting on my knees. “Because you deserve to live, just as the Shifters deserve to be pas-sed on to their judgement day. They have been kept waiting for far too long.”
He looks up at me and his eyes shift between green and red, unintentionally reflecting his will. “Ray… plea-se, tell me about what will happen if I complete the prophecy.”
There is silence for a minute, as he collects himself. Looking up at me, he firmly gets up from his position. “The werewolves, Shifters, and this world will cease to exist as you know them. The Shifters will be able to move on towards judgement and will not wreck any more havoc in the outside world. The werewolves… will be without purpose. You will live. I’m sure of it… because you are tangible, unlike the rest of this world.”
“What are you saying?!” I cry, standing up as well. I walk closer to him and gr-ab his arms. “You are tangible as well. You. Are. Real.”
He only smiles, the tears fading away from his features. The scar on his face catches my attention as he turns away.
“Is it a lie if you believe in yourself with your soul? Can you define yourself, or must you let others define you?” I pu-ll on his arm, trying to turn him back towards me.
“I don’t nee-d the proof of being defined either by myself or by others. It won’t matter for much longer.” Ray finally turns back, and in his other hand he holds a crown. A dark red jewel pulsates at the ti-p. “This is yours. The jewel used to be a de-ep sapphire, but has been polluted over time. Throw into the chasm, and live.”
I stare at the crown, suddenly hit by a wave of remembr@nce. Suddenly it comes to me, the visions and memories all consolid@t!ngtogether, until it resembles one cohesive message. “I… I saw you, Ray.”
He glances up at me. “What? How could you… possibly…”
“I’ve been having visions. Visions of this world. And now I realize, they were of you. We are connected, Ray, throu-gh Fate. How could I possibly throw you away? I don’t care what you’ve done, I-”
“Mona, it doesn’t matter anymore. Sure, we can prolong it for a few days, and the servants can catch me having committed treason against the safety of the realm and throw us all into a terrible prison for a hundred years until we escape somehow and come back to this same place… because we have to! Don’t you un-derstand? Just as I cannot push you into the chasm this very moment, you cannot avoid your own role. And I know you. You cannot willingly leave this many lives at such a state of unrest for your own selfish gain. You are more than that.”
I look at him, tears starting to flow, and reach a hand out to take the crown. As my hand closes around the cold metal, my mind burns with the pain of the inevitable. Should I be strong for myself, as I always have been, or be strong for the benefit of innocent souls? Both decisions will be like a dagger stabbing me de-ep within my heart.
A flash of movement catches my attention and I turn my head to see the images reflecting a group of people rushing throu-gh a narrow hallway. I look back at Ray, alarmed, but he moves his hand quic-kly to dispel the image.
“Do it now, Mona. You will never get the courage again. I nee-d you to do this for the sake of my realm.” Ray moves to the side, his hands pushing me towards the edge of the ledge. I look over once again to see complete darkness.
“Where does the chasm lead?” I ask Ray, frightened to move any closer.
“There is a dark, eternal fire at the bo-ttomof the chasm, in the core of the castle. It can destroy anything, so be careful and be br@ve. I am here for you.”
I look back at him, unable to stĀ©p the waterfall, and then turn to the crown. I f!nger it in my hands, marveling at its beauty. The same designs from before are etched on the sides, and the jewel glows with a beauty beyond measure.
And I must destroy it? Destroying a world that has existed for years and years before I existed and the werewolf clan existed and maybe even before time truly c@mĀ£ into effect?
But how long then must the Shifters have suffered?
I think back to the first Shifter I saw, resting at the base of a tree. It looked so peaceful, so innocent. Should I rob it and others of their possible salvation? How could I be so cruel?
I’ll do it. I will let go of the crown. No time for regrets. No time for second thoughts.
Now. Now. Do it now.
My f!ngersloosĀ£n.
I say a prayer, something I am unused to doing, hoping that I am doing the right thing. Not that it matters. Because…
The wait is finally over.
The crown starts to slowly sl!ppast my index, then my middle f!nger, then my ring…
“Mona!”
The door bur-sts open to a number of people, racing into the room like their lives depended on it. Leading the group is a person I know all too well, and we make eye contact immediately.
“Xavier?!”
I crumble to my knees, unable to contain my fear as it consumes my entire being, leaving me drained as Fate guides my f!ngerti-ps.
If it doesn’t matter, then why does it hurt so badly?
T B C