The Dark Vision

Book:Mated To Alpha Gregory Published:2024-11-19

Lilith’s POV
I walked back and forth in the big hall with my footsteps echoing on the large marble floors with each step matching the chaos inside me. Worry squeezed my heart and under my calm surface was a rush of need.
The faraway voices filled with sharp orders and the movement of guards pulled at me like a strong current, putting me at risk of drowning in doubt.
“What’s going on out there?” I whispered with my eyes glued to the beautiful stained-glass doors that opened to the palace grounds. I had made a choice-a brave, maybe foolish one-to start the plan to catch Ben.
The pressure weighed heavily on me and each moment without news made my fear grow stronger.
“What if they fail?” The thought slipped in so unwanted and sneaky. I bit my lip to push back the fear that gripped me. Ben was smart and clever and teaming up with the rogue King Augustus made him even more dangerous.
I tightened my fists while remembering Shayla’s betrayal and the tough decisions I had to make. I didn’t feel good about what I did, torturing her, but my people’s survival needed such trade. Would Ben become careless thinking he was invincible now?
“Your Highness?” A guard came over while pausing at the edge of my anxious space.
He was strong and serious, a loyal soldier of Adams, but at that moment he was just a messenger with the news I really wanted.
“What news?” I asked with my voice more calm than I felt inside.
“We’re still looking for any sign of Ben. The patrols have faced some trouble, but for now-” Just then, a loud shout came from outside the walls, cutting through the tense air like a flash of lightning.
My feelings pushed me toward the door. I felt both the need to guard what was mine and the clear threat waiting just outside. “I had to look. I must-”
“Your Highness,” he said softly while putting a steady but respectful hand on my arm. “To keep you safe you need to stay here. We can’t risk your safety from possible dangers.”
“You don’t get it,” I said while stepping back. “Ben won’t think twice about attacking. If I hide here, what use am I?”
“Your role gives you power, not just a title. Staying safe is the most important thing right now,” he replied with concern showing on his face.
In conflict, I raised my chin bravely. “What if Bartholomew is out there alone? What if he needs me?”
“Bartholomew is ready for this,” he said to comfort me, but the shake in his voice showed he wasn’t sure. “We haven’t had news in an hour. The guards are trying hard-”
Before he could finish, a piercing scream shattered the air from outside-anguish so raw it sliced through me like a blade. My heart raced with adrenaline flooding my veins.
“Let me go!” I demanded with my voice loud and anxious.
“Please, Luna Queen!”
Steps pounded closer and the guards whispered nervously to each other. I hardly noticed their worry, as my mind was focused on the trouble happening just out of my sight.
“Let me see!” I yelled with power in every word. The guards tensed up, but then they shared a glance of agreement.
With that shared doubt, the big double doors opened wide.
A group of guards burst in, and I quickly noticed a person they were carrying covered in torn and bloody cloth. My stomach turned at the sight.
“Is it Ben?” I said hoarsely while leaning in. “Is he hurt? What happened?”
But they had no answers. They gathered around their load with concern on their faces as they set it down on the table.
The shape became clear and fear gripped my heart-Bartholomew.
“Bartholomew! No!” I shouted while hurrying to him with my heart racing fast. “What happened? Please tell me!”
He winced while holding back a pained grunt. A faint smile appeared on his face, but the hurt in his eyes said otherwise. “Lilith we-”
“Did you see Ben?” I asked while holding his shoulders. His eyes, usually so bright, looked urgent and troubled.
“Yes,” he breathed while fighting through the pain. “He got away… I-”
My heart dropped as the guards moved aside, showing a horrible wound, sick and rotting, as dark as the sadness surrounding me. This couldn’t be real, not for Bartholomew, not now.
“No,” I said softly with my voice shaking. “It’s worse than we realized. This… this is a wolf bite, right? He attacked you while he was a wolf, didn’t he?”
Bartholomew gave a small nod with pain spreading from him like a warning light. “We didn’t take him seriously enough.”
“No. This isn’t just an injury. It’s cursed.” The truth hit me hard, and I started to hesitate. “We need to hurry-he needs healing!”
The guards jumped into action right away to get the healer sage, but I stopped them. “No time!” I shouted. “He might not survive! We can’t waste any time!”
A guard, a young man with strong resolve in his eyes, nodded. “I’ll get the healer.” he yelled while running to the door with fear clear on his face.
“No hold on!” I shouted, but he was gone before I could say more.
I felt a strong sense of purpose fighting against hopelessness. “Bring him to the table!” I shouted with urgency, cutting through the room like a knife.
The guards rushed to help move things aside and carefully placed Bartholomew down with the look of pain on his face, confirming my biggest worries.
I walked over while feeling both nervous and determined. Kneeling down next to him, I noticed the bad cut on his leg. “Bartholomew, please hold on! We’ll help you get through this.” My voice shook a little, but I tried to keep it steady.
“Lilith you should not-” he began softly, but his words trailed off as I pressed my hands against his wound.
A wave of power coursed through me, both thrilling and frightening. But when I touched it, a blast of dark energy shot back from the injury, hitting me with such force that it took my breath away.
I pulled back with a quick gasp leaving my mouth as the weight of it seemed ready to drag me down.
“No…” I whispered with understanding, hitting me hard. “This isn’t just a simple wound.”
“Lilith,” Bartholomew said, his voice shaking with fear. “You can’t do that-”
But I calmed myself down. I felt the old power inside me with the energy of the moon goddess surrounding me like a silver mist while lighting up the dark chaos around Bartholomew’s injury. Taking a deep breath, I pressed my hands firmly back on his leg.
The heat came from my hands but the dark energy struggled against me like a creature trying to take back what it thought was its.
I sensed its power and its evil creeping in while sharing promises that made me shiver. My heart raced with each beat, matching my need to help Bartholomew even as fear gripped my chest.
“Don’t leave me!” I clenched my teeth while putting all my effort into the spell.
As I concentrated, a vision hit me-a dark cave filled with shadows and in it a figure appeared. His shape moved hidden in a strange mist.
I felt his presence thick and staring and then he looked up showing two bright red eyes that made me freeze.
“Come here, special girl of the moon goddess,” he called with his soft and inviting voice, filled with charming strength.
“No!” I said quickly, pressing my back against the cold stone wall. “I won’t let you bring me along!”
The darkness came back with each loud heartbeat telling me to give in. “You can’t fight what holds you, girl of the moon. Join me, and together we will gain power beyond your imagination.”
In the Panic, I shook my head while feeling my magic slipping away like sand. “I will never surrender to you!”
My voice got louder, fueled by anger pushing against the thick darkness trying to surround me-just enough to spark a small fight back.
The edges of my world started to swirl with pain shooting through me and the wall was hard against my back.
“No!” I shouted with the words forcing their way out, struggling to breathe as the dark power kept pulling me in.
My sight grew dim, it was like a blanket around me was dragging me down and then, thankfully, everything went dark…