After offering to disappear to the White Ash City for the following two days in pursuit of answers, the Council waste no time and accept my compromise to grant the City its much-needed reprieve – giving the mortal faction gifted time to rebuild their defences in my absence without the risk of the Nightcrawlers returning. Despite slowly beginning to sway behind the idea that they may not have been there solely for me last night, I stand behind my decision while listening to the others argue back and forth amongst themselves in a flurry of outspoken opinions on my already settled plan.
Growing tired of the repetitive bickering rupturing throughout the hostile room, I rise from my seat and silently excuse myself from the meeting before turning to look back at the confused gazes of those in attendance as they quieten down at the sight of my movement - informing them that my plan still stands while I’ll aim to leave around mid-day tomorrow. Despite Elijah’s persistent attempt in
Good evening everyone! Willow is heading off in further guidance about her destiny - who's excited to visit the Institute of the Oracles and hear more about the Destined Ones? P x
Driving through the torrential rain becomes a tedious task while the passing time goes by torturously slow; the recent buzz of conversation that had once occupied those within the vehicle loses its flow as we all grow weary from the gruelling journey that has yet to meet its end, all eager to arrive at our anticipated destination – The White Ash City, the home of the Oracles. The music playing through the speakers continues to fade in and out statically as we travel along the isolated roads occupied by no one other than ourselves, the weather weakening its already feeble signal and failing to mask the continuous downpour of thumping rain crashing against the metal bonnet of the SUV. I try to keep myself awake, focusing on the gustful wind whistling alongside the curves and grooves of the vehicle while I watch the waving trees frantically sway in the forceful breeze as if they were greeting me as we go by. The winding road ahead seems to grow longer the more we push on, our j
In a contemptuous manner, the aged woman ushers us out of the chamber furnished with hidden treasures while tutting derisively beneath her breath. Sensing the Oracle’s displeasure in our unauthorised venture, I decide to hold back on any questions arising within my mind concerning the enclosed crown sat waitingly behind the latched door in the departed distance, settling to save them for Marie and Blair whenever I see them next. With my head bent down, I remain silent as she marches me towards my shared room before taking Ash to his, leaving behind Dakota and myself to slump down onto our beds in bewilderment. “What happened back there?” Dakota leans over and begins unfastening her boots, peering up with curiosity as she undoes the knotted laces. “I-“ I pause while flopping backwards onto the dusty mattress wrapped in stiffened, unused sheets, “I genuinely don’t know,” I splutter loudly, waving the cloud of dust from in front of my face, “-I guess it kind of felt lik
Lost in thought as Cassandra’s words linger fresh within my mind, I stroll back to the barely used room with Dakota at my side in order to gather up our scarce, unpacked belongings in preparation for our premature departure. Before we vacate the Oracles premises, we make our way towards the emptying dining hall to grab a quick bite to eat while Marie and Blair tidy up a few loose ends that need addressing, readying themselves to join us. Thrown off guard, I find myself ambushed by the curious witches residing within the Institute while they congregate around - descending upon me as if they were a flock of birds and I were their unexpected prey, all keen to speak with the mysterious wolf who had just received the treasured crown that was locked away carefully within their vault. As if he were a white knight sent to rescue me, Ash cheerfully saves me from the eager crowd as he handles a wave of questions being hurtled towards me while they arise - leaving me to deal with the r
As Sam takes a confident stride towards me, a vile smirk plays on his cut lips while he sneers wildly in my direction. I find myself stumbling back the further he ascends, a pained expression twisting across my face as I feel my chest slowly begin to cave in from the rapid panicked breaths fleeing it. Sam glares at me with a wrathful grimace while he wears a heavy frown; his head cocking to the side allowing his sunken features to come into view, the bulging scar brandishing his face tugging at his badly treated skin. I shudder while studying my former captor; swaying unsteadily as his sickening scent unwantedly drifts towards me in the gusting breeze causing my legs to waver from beneath me as they battle to withhold my weight – my voice muffled by the fear gripping me within its hold while all I can do is gawk back in horror. Sam’s cold eyes flicker around as he calculates his surroundings meticulously; observing my companions with a grim smile still cast upon his face as
With the overflow of wolfsbane swiftly flooding through my system greater than ever before, I slowly descend into myself and become a passenger held within my own body while the deadly toxin spreads throughout. Incapable of responding to the simplest of commands, I remain immobile despite urging myself to be the exact opposite—left feeling utterly vulnerable, defenceless at the mercy of my vengeful captor while he grapples me roughly. With each laboured breath I take, the poison soaks in further - wrapping itself around every molecule held within my lifeless body, and smothering them one by one as I lose the battle of controlling my being. A low humming builds within my ears the heavier I feel myself grow. While I teeter on the edge of unconsciousness, my limbs and muscles ache with a burning persistence. Its overwhelming sensation sweeps over me as if it were bound by no restraint, submitting me into defeat effortlessly like I belonged to the pain itself and that alone. Sub
I hold my breath with anticipation as the large room sits before me in impenetrable darkness that doesn’t seem to lift; my sight greatly limited while the vast space surrounding me finds itself exposed to the consuming shadows of the night outside, lit faintly by the gentle cast of the moon's broken glow barely entering through the thin arched windows stretching high at my sides. The soft light illuminates a small space before me as I step into its welcoming gaze, the sound of my reluctant footsteps echoing eerily around me while I tread delicately across the stone cobbled floor. The room remains still as I wrap my arms around myself; clutching them tightly against my chest in an attempt to prevent the continuation of my persistent trembling while I shuffle into the natural spotlight that awaits me, terrified of what to expect as I seem to be all alone despite the beckoning invitation I had received. Was the voice that I heard nothing but a trick? Is this another nightmare?
Standing to my feet, the blurring colours of the grimy basement continue to settle around me as my senses thankfully return gradually alongside each internal pulsation of power gathering within me. I inhale sharply as I waver with stumbling feet; feeling light-headed while I fight to find my bearings with outstretched arms, awaiting my balance to return while I adapt to the overpowering sensation spreading throughout me. With a clearing mind, the high-pitched ringing that was consuming my hearing drifts away while the wolfsbane within my system grows equally inactive—just as the Destined Ones had said it would. With unsteady legs, I stumble forward when my ears abruptly fill with the instant noise of everything surrounding me—amplified with velocity as its range reaches much further than it had ever managed to before. Overwhelmed by the eruption of clashing sounds hitting me without warning, I clasp my ears as they burst with pain while I try to regain control amidst the cha
I manoeuvre effortlessly away from the attacking duo as the brainwashed soldiers battling in Sam’s aid scramble towards me in a blind, uncalculated rage. Stepping outside the imminent line of fire with less than a second to spare, I narrowly escape Blaine’s swinging claw as it hurtles down towards me while producing a sharp swooshing noise, disturbing the dusty air surrounding us even further than it already was. With my mind racing as it suddenly works overtime, I meticulously observe every detail unfolding around me while they take place and surface. Feeling my body slip into a state of flow, I give in to my instincts and begin to nimbly circle around my foes – far too quick for either of them to keep up. Becoming one with the desolate room and all the elements within it, I notice a new sensation sweep over me as an unexpected wave of tranquillity settles within—a strong serenity spreading throughout my being despite the looming danger making its way towards me, leaving me to feel
Paralyzed by the rolling current striking my back, I wince in pain as my muscles contract in violent spasms. Gasping sharply in gushing heaves, the unexpected shock successfully draws the remaining air held from within my lungs when I notice a persistent heat swelling inside of them as if they were fit to implode at any given second. Incapable of comprehending what is happening to me, I plant my feet heavily into the ground when the unceasing bolt of burning energy escapes from my forcefully opened mouth and attempts to drag me backwards with its unbound force. In awe and confusion, I watch through the glare of the dazzling light while the fierce sapphire beam of light oozes from my jaw and escapes in a voracious roar towards my trembling foe. With sweat-dampened fur, I surrender to the scorching heat that the power brings—succumbing to its presence and allowing the uninvited energy to bring my blood to an unnatural boil, defying all that I had ever known in the very process.
“Ow. What the-,” Sam splutters from the weighing pressure being pushed down against him, “What do you think you’re doing? Get the hell off of me, you stupid mutt-” he breathlessly spits in complaint while directing a hammering flurry of blunt kicks and torpedoing punches into my exposed torso; his fiery blows accompanied with every curse word held within his known vocabulary as if they were fuelling each of his attacks, screaming at me from the top of his lungs with nothing more than a burning hatred embedded deep within his tone before yelping in a strained huff, “I said get off of me.” “Do it now, Willow,” my wolf commands with authority, demand riddled within her urgent request while she clearly instructs, “-end him and this nightmare already. Show him no mercy. We both know he deserves a lot worse than what he’s abo
“Right,” Elijah clears his throat while masking his concerned reservation; trying to maintain his calm composure as an unbound worry weighs heavily throughout his voice, “-the pack is all ready and waiting to leave on my word. We’re just standing by while Marie mixes the last ingredients for the portals…” he confirms, “She can’t pinpoint where we’re going to land exactly, but she’s told us we’ll be there soon. So, stay put and promise me you won’t go after Sam until I get there, okay?” “Okay,” I let out a sigh of relief; noticing the tainted reluctance embedded beneath, “-but please hurry. If we lose him, we lose the dagger. I can’t let Sam get away, Elijah. I just can’t. Not when Ash’s life depends on it…” “I know, and he won’t. We’ll get him and make this right, I swear,” Elijah firmly promises, his words filled with commitment, “-but you need to wait. Moon Goddess knows what other tricks that mutt has up his sl
“Ash. Stop and think about what you’re trying to do for a minute, will you? You don’t need to listen to him, Sam isn’t your master. No one is. And you’re not one of his stupid foot soldiers either. So, please, just listen to me,” I plead nervously while almost choking on my floundering words; stammering as my voice wavers while I try my best to sound unfazed by the looming threat heading my way - watching in disbelief as my brother continues to take his thundering footsteps towards me, just like he was instructed to do. “Please don’t do this. I know you’re in there somewhere, listening. You know that this isn’t you, you wouldn’t do something like this. You’re my big protective brother, you would never lay a finger on me let alone kill me,“ I beg once more while the rising desperation floods my being; attempting to reason with the mindless inhabitant currently possessing my brother’s vessel, wielding my words like an unseen sword as they try to pierce the dark magic constrain
I manoeuvre effortlessly away from the attacking duo as the brainwashed soldiers battling in Sam’s aid scramble towards me in a blind, uncalculated rage. Stepping outside the imminent line of fire with less than a second to spare, I narrowly escape Blaine’s swinging claw as it hurtles down towards me while producing a sharp swooshing noise, disturbing the dusty air surrounding us even further than it already was. With my mind racing as it suddenly works overtime, I meticulously observe every detail unfolding around me while they take place and surface. Feeling my body slip into a state of flow, I give in to my instincts and begin to nimbly circle around my foes – far too quick for either of them to keep up. Becoming one with the desolate room and all the elements within it, I notice a new sensation sweep over me as an unexpected wave of tranquillity settles within—a strong serenity spreading throughout my being despite the looming danger making its way towards me, leaving me to feel
Standing to my feet, the blurring colours of the grimy basement continue to settle around me as my senses thankfully return gradually alongside each internal pulsation of power gathering within me. I inhale sharply as I waver with stumbling feet; feeling light-headed while I fight to find my bearings with outstretched arms, awaiting my balance to return while I adapt to the overpowering sensation spreading throughout me. With a clearing mind, the high-pitched ringing that was consuming my hearing drifts away while the wolfsbane within my system grows equally inactive—just as the Destined Ones had said it would. With unsteady legs, I stumble forward when my ears abruptly fill with the instant noise of everything surrounding me—amplified with velocity as its range reaches much further than it had ever managed to before. Overwhelmed by the eruption of clashing sounds hitting me without warning, I clasp my ears as they burst with pain while I try to regain control amidst the cha
I hold my breath with anticipation as the large room sits before me in impenetrable darkness that doesn’t seem to lift; my sight greatly limited while the vast space surrounding me finds itself exposed to the consuming shadows of the night outside, lit faintly by the gentle cast of the moon's broken glow barely entering through the thin arched windows stretching high at my sides. The soft light illuminates a small space before me as I step into its welcoming gaze, the sound of my reluctant footsteps echoing eerily around me while I tread delicately across the stone cobbled floor. The room remains still as I wrap my arms around myself; clutching them tightly against my chest in an attempt to prevent the continuation of my persistent trembling while I shuffle into the natural spotlight that awaits me, terrified of what to expect as I seem to be all alone despite the beckoning invitation I had received. Was the voice that I heard nothing but a trick? Is this another nightmare?
With the overflow of wolfsbane swiftly flooding through my system greater than ever before, I slowly descend into myself and become a passenger held within my own body while the deadly toxin spreads throughout. Incapable of responding to the simplest of commands, I remain immobile despite urging myself to be the exact opposite—left feeling utterly vulnerable, defenceless at the mercy of my vengeful captor while he grapples me roughly. With each laboured breath I take, the poison soaks in further - wrapping itself around every molecule held within my lifeless body, and smothering them one by one as I lose the battle of controlling my being. A low humming builds within my ears the heavier I feel myself grow. While I teeter on the edge of unconsciousness, my limbs and muscles ache with a burning persistence. Its overwhelming sensation sweeps over me as if it were bound by no restraint, submitting me into defeat effortlessly like I belonged to the pain itself and that alone. Sub
As Sam takes a confident stride towards me, a vile smirk plays on his cut lips while he sneers wildly in my direction. I find myself stumbling back the further he ascends, a pained expression twisting across my face as I feel my chest slowly begin to cave in from the rapid panicked breaths fleeing it. Sam glares at me with a wrathful grimace while he wears a heavy frown; his head cocking to the side allowing his sunken features to come into view, the bulging scar brandishing his face tugging at his badly treated skin. I shudder while studying my former captor; swaying unsteadily as his sickening scent unwantedly drifts towards me in the gusting breeze causing my legs to waver from beneath me as they battle to withhold my weight – my voice muffled by the fear gripping me within its hold while all I can do is gawk back in horror. Sam’s cold eyes flicker around as he calculates his surroundings meticulously; observing my companions with a grim smile still cast upon his face as