My eyelids feel heavy, yet I feel as light as a feather. I look at my surroundings; I'm in a field full of color. It might as well be spring with the vast array of flowers extending as far as my eyes can see. I'm sitting under a sycamore tree that looks so full of life with its leaves blowing gently in tune with the breeze. It's almost as if the wind is singing a song and the leaves are performing a joyous dance for its audience, the flowers. What is happening? I look up to see clear skies extending for miles. A limitless sky full of no worries. Is that what it feels like to not carry a burden for all eternity? No, it can't be. It seems too serene. It seems too perfect. It's too calm and a little unnerving. How did I get here? Where is here? I stand up and dust myself off. I'm wearing a beautiful yellow summer dress. It's something I'd never wear as a vampire. But I remember it's definitely something I would have worn as a human. So why am I wearing it now?
I walk around the tree only to stand in the very spot I started in, only this time, my audience isn't one of serenity and peace. But it's one of heartache and tragedy; the flowers have all died. The once lush green grass is now dead and brown. The tree has wilted away and crying for help - not a leaf in sight to sing a song of joy. The wind has picked up; instead of a beautiful melody, it's turned into a scream of agonizing pain. My once beautiful yellow summer's dress has been torn and riddled with dirt. I try my best to go back to what it was before, but it's useless. There's no going back to the peace that this place once was. I run around the tree a few more times with no results. It looks like I'm stuck in a world of hopelessness. I slump down against the tree and close my eyes. I let out an agonizing scream. I need to let go of my frustration and it's the only thing I could think of at the time.
"You called?" a voice above me says.
I quickly open my eyes to see none other than Lucas. I jump up to see him better. He looks different. He looks happy.
"Luc, what are you doing here?" I ask desperately.
"Well, I heard you needed some assistance so I thought I'd sneak out to help you," he says smugly.
"Where is here?"
"Where do you think we are, Ri? Look around," he says as he waves his arms in the direction behind me.
As I turn around, my audience has changed. Instead of being in a desolate field, we're now in Kora's old bedroom. I look around to see the familiar shades of blue - Kora's aura colors. It's just like I remember it, down to the burn mark on the wall near her bed where a spell didn't go as planned. I chuckle at the fond memory.187Please respect copyright.PENANACeIBaHTX0Y
Lucas is laying on the bed with his arms neatly folded behind his head.
"You got the answer yet?" he asks impatiently.
All I can do is shake my head 'no' because I honestly can't figure it out.
"We're in your mind, Ri. All this," he waves his arms around the room, "was created by your mind."
"But why are you here?" I ask curiously.
"Ouch, I'm offended," he reaches for his chest and squeezes for a dramatic effect.
"I mean, why you and not someone else?" I explain further.
"That someone being your mate?" he asks and I feel myself begin to blush.187Please respect copyright.PENANAbgezdiuGj0
Well," he says as he gets off the bed, "it may seem as though you don't trust him yet."
"Well, what is there to trust? He hasn't given me a reason to trust him yet."
"There's a reason The Divine has decided that the two of you are mates, Ri. Don't think of it as a weakness. He can be your greatest ally if you'd let him."
"But you're just something my mind conjured up so how can I trust you?"
"Because, as I am here in this room, I am you," he smirks.
I roll my eyes at him, "smart ass."
"Oh," Lucas perks up, "looks like I have to love and leave you, doll face." He kisses my forehead before spinning me around and leaving me on my own in a dark and wet cell. But it's not just any cell. It's the cell I was in when The Truth captured me.187Please respect copyright.PENANAwBqkd3LtvZ
Why the hell am I back here? And why did my mind decide to bring me here of all places. But, before I could will myself away a voice calls me from a distance. I turn around to see Kora. To my absolute horror I see her shackled to a wall. She looks like she's been tortured beyond repair. My hands go to my mouth and I feel my eyes swell up with tears. What the hell has she been though.
"K- Kora?" is all I could get myself to say.
"I- it finally worked," she chuckles to herself.
"You've got to listen to me really carefully, Ri," Kora pants between breathes, "you can't come for me, no matter what."
"NO!" I yell, "you can't make me promise something like that."
All she does is laugh, "I know. It was worth a try, no?"
Her eyes look swollen and sunken, she hasn't had any rest in who knows how long. 187Please respect copyright.PENANAGjjItitfHF
"What do I do to get you out of here? What did they do to you?"
"One question at a time, Ri. I don't have much time. They're coming back for me," she's starting to panic and I see the fear in her eyes.
"Kora, deep breathes. What do I do!"187Please respect copyright.PENANA0edYu2HEUn
"You need to find Salem. He has an enchantment that will help us all. It's what The Truth are looking for. Tell him that it needs to be broken. It's the only way to save us all from extinction. Take my mother with you. You'll need two very powerful witches on your side. Once the enchantment is broken, I can set my plan into motion. But be warned, Ri, there's one condition to this enchantment."
She stops speaking to catch her breath. As she's about to continue, she mumbles, "they're here."
She looks at me and screams. Before she could disappear from my sight, she breathes, "let there be a light soaring with the doves."
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