Caras povs
As I drifted in and out of consciousness, fragments of strange dreams filled my mind. They weren’t like the usual nightmares. These were different, vivid, and almost too real, as if I was being pulled into in-between reality and imagination.
I found myself standing in the middle of an endless void, surrounded by whispers, each one calling my name, urging me to listen. The air shimmered with a soft golden light, and in the distance, I could make out the silhouette of a figure approaching. As it came closer, I realised it was a woman, tall, regal, and cloaked in a gown that seemed to be woven from the night sky itself. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Her eyes were fierce yet kind, glowing with an ethereal light.
“Who… who are you?” I managed to ask, my voice barely more than a whisper.
The woman smiled, but it wasn’t a smile of warmth. It was the kind of smile that held secrets, buried deep within. “You already know who I am,” she said softly, her voice echoing in the void around us. “And you know why I am here.”
My heart raced as her words sank in. This wasn’t just a dream. It felt more like reality. That it was real.
“You are the one, the pureblood,” she continued, stepping closer, her gaze never leaving mine. “The blood of your ancestors and the goddess flows within you, and with it, a power that has been forgotten for centuries. But now, it awakens once more.”
“Pureblood? I don’t understand,” I stammered, the weight of her words pressing down on me. My hands trembled as realisation began to dawn. This wasn’t just about me. There was something bigger at play, something powerful and terrifying.
“There is a prophecy,” the woman said, her eyes darkening. “A prophecy that speaks of the one who will unite the fractured packs, and the one who will bring chaos to the world. The survival of Ellorin, and those you hold dear, rests on your shoulders.”
“But… I don’t understand,” I whispered, my mind spinning. “What does this have to do with me?”
The woman’s gaze softened slightly, but the intensity in her voice remained. “You are the last of your kind, the final heir to a line meant to guide the werewolves. You are the Cupbearer.”
The word echoed in my mind, strange and unfamiliar, yet it resonated with something deep inside me. I felt a wave of nostalgia, as if I should remember where I had heard it before.
“The Cupbearer?” I repeated, struggling to grasp its meaning. “What does that mean?”
“The Cupbearers were once the keepers of balance between the werewolf tribes,” she explained, her voice distant, as though recalling a long-forgotten memory. “Your bloodline holds power over life and death, over the bonds that tie wolves to their human forms. But with that power comes great responsibility.”
I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest. This was too much. “But I’m not… I’m just… I’m no one.”
The woman’s gaze hardened. “You are far more than you realise. The power within you is awakening, and soon, the world will come for you. They know this. And there are forces that seek to claim that power for themselves.”
Her words sent a chill through me. Who were the “they” she kept speaking of? My mind flashed to Ryder. Even after everything, he wasn’t finished with me. Or was she talking about Brian? Maybe he was keeping me in his pack because of his own selfish interest. The mere thought of it twisted the knife of betrayal deeper into my heart.
“What am I supposed to do?” I wanted to ask, but before I could speak, I realised the woman was gone, leaving me alone.
*****
I woke up with a start, my body aching like I had been running for miles. The air smelled faintly of pine and herbs, something familiar. As I blinked the haze from my eyes, I recognized where I was: the cottage. The one hidden deep in the forest. We were home. But before I could even sit up, something cold and hard tugged at my wrists.
Chains.
Thick, heavy iron chains shackled me to the bed. My heart slammed against my ribs as panic washed over me. Why was I chained? What happened to me? Was I still in a dream…?
Flashes of memories stormed through my mind, the hooded figures, the silver chains biting into my skin, and then Brian. Brian is fighting to save me. But now, I am back here, like a prisoner.
I yanked at the chains in desperation, the metal digging into my wrists. “No… no!” My voice cracked, but the chains didn’t budge. My breathing quickened as fear and confusion twisted inside me like a storm. The words of the woman in my dreams kept ringing on my head, have I been captured by those that were looking for me.
The door creaked open, and I froze. My eyes darted to the entrance, where a familiar figure shuffled in. Debby. She carried a small tray of food, her expression calm, as if this were any other day.
“Debby?” I croaked, my voice weak with fear. “What’s going on? Why am I…” I tugged at the chains again. “Why am I chained?”
She placed the tray on the table beside the bed without looking at me, her wrinkled hands moving slowly, deliberately. My chest tightened. Why wouldn’t she answer me?
“Debby, please!” I pleaded, my voice breaking. “Tell me what’s happening! Why am I chained like this? Why am I locked up?”
With a sigh, Debby finally turned to me. There was something in her eyes that sent a shiver down my spine, sadness, but also quiet acceptance.
“It’s the master’s orders,” she said softly.
“Brian?” I whispered, my stomach twisting. “Why? Why would he do this to me?”
She hesitated, her lips pressing together as if she didn’t want to say the words. “After what happened…” After your attempted escape, He decided this was the only way, and he mentioned something about powers. ”
“My power?” The word felt foreign on my tongue. Could it be the same power the woman from my dreams had mentioned? The Cupbearer power? My mind raced, but none of it made any sense. “But why chain me? I don’t understand! I didn’t do anything wrong!”
Debby sighed again, her gaze softening. “He’s afraid. Not of you, but of what you might become. He says the chains are for your protection, so you don’t harbor any thoughts of an escape.”
“For my protection?” I could hardly believe what I was hearing. “How is this protecting me? I feel like a prisoner!” My voice trembled with frustration, fear, and betrayal.
Before Debby could answer, the door swung open again, and this time, the air in the room grew heavier. I looked up, my heart racing, and there he was.
Brian.