That missing piece of myself clicked into place, sending a rush through me so intense that it tore away everything under my feet, plunging me into utter darkness. A blinding, searing light erupted behind my eyelids, and before I could resist, my eyes flew open. The intense brightness faded slowly, leaving me in an unfamiliar world that made no sense.
This wasn’t a memory-at least not one of mine. I stood in the remnants of what had once been a grand forest. The towering trees were now mere husks, their former strength turned to hollow, lifeless shells. Branches and what looked disturbingly like bones were strewn across the ground, leaving behind a bleak, barren wasteland. The stench of stale, decaying air filled my nose, and I barely suppressed a gag before it overtook me.
Before I could process any of it, I was yanked upward, cold steel-like claws grasping me and lifting me into the sky. I soared so fast that tears blurred my vision, but I forced them back, desperate to make sense of what I saw. Below me stretched kingdoms, cities, small villages-desolate, vacant, or crumbling. Rivers and lakes had dried to barren beds, and I caught glimpses of lifeless bodies dotting the scorched earth where a mighty lake had once been.
Nature seemed to be consuming itself, clawing away its own vitality. Trees faded to ashen gray, branches and leaves wilting to the ground. Death, decay, and fear hung in the air, thick and suffocating. But before I could dwell on it, the world around me shifted again, fading into something entirely different.
I found myself standing in the center of an extraordinary castle, a masterpiece unlike any I had ever seen. It wasn’t the romantic kind spun in fairy tales where princesses lived in comfort. This was a fortress born of struggle, pain, loss, and an unmistakable power, felt in every stone, every towering arch. Etched high into a mountain peak, this place seemed to defy nature. The main hall had no walls, just an open space revealing the vast, sky-high mountain range around us. Through vast floor-to-ceiling windows and sheer white curtains that fluttered in the warm breeze, sunlight poured into the room, carrying a strange sense of magic with it.
With its high elevation and open-air design, I expected a chill, but there was only a gentle warmth-a sign that magic itself blanketed this place, enveloping every detail. It was then that I realized where I was: the Fae Realm.
Taking in every detail-the dancing curtains, the servants in gowns, gold jewelry, intricate hairstyles-I turned my gaze to the men gathered in the center. Each one emitted an intense, vibrant glow, their youthful faces hardened by untold centuries of life and wisdom. Six impossibly beautiful Fae men stood together, dressed in tunics of every color and crowned with elements of nature itself-a crown of stars, another of pure sunlight that blazed against deep brown skin. Their authority was unmistakable; these men were the heart of power here.
But around them, in the outskirts of the hall, I saw creatures that were more than Fae. Their skin varied in hues of sky and earth, some with webbed fingers or slitted eyes. Light, nervous chatter filled the air, betraying the palpable fear that clung to the crowd. An acrid taste of desperation lingered with each gust that drifted through the castle, even among these six powerful men.
As one of them opened his mouth to speak, a tremor shook the castle, a deep grinding sound filling the space. Fear escalated as the floor quaked beneath us. The crowd murmured, shrinking back, while the six men remained steady, their focus unwavering.
Then, orbs of brilliant light materialized from each of their chests, each one a different hue-vivid crimson, deep midnight, crystal-clear white-all gleaming and powerful. The orbs floated between them, their energy filling the room with a primal magic I felt in my bones. The orbs merged, swirling together, and a dazzling light filled the space, pulling me in even as it made my eyes sting. Though I was merely an observer, I sensed I was somehow part of this magic.
As the light faded, the memory shifted, leaving me in a different room entirely-a nursery. The walls were pink, adorned with tiny roses that danced in a whimsical pattern. A soft lullaby floated from a music box, mingling with the scent of innocence. Toys lay scattered around, bright colors contrasting with the warmth of the room.
In the far corner, a white crib held a baby cooing softly, her little fists reaching toward the mobile above her head. I stepped forward, entranced by the tiny figure. When I peered into the crib, eyes exactly like mine looked back at me. A thick tuft of chocolate brown hair crowned the baby’s head, and I realized with a jolt that I was staring at myself-a younger me.
My breath caught as an orb of light drifted into the room, its magic humming with power. It floated toward the crib, pulsing with an energy that I could feel even from across the room. The baby-me-giggled, reaching out to touch the shimmering light, her tiny hand barely grazing its surface.
At that single touch, the room exploded in radiant light. Every wall, every corner, bathed in brilliance. Through my blinding awe, I heard the hurried footsteps down the hall, and my mother’s frantic voice echoed through the memory, “Isabella!”
But even her voice faded, overtaken by the baby’s joyful laughter. And then, the world went black, and a pounding ache flooded my head, wrenching me back to the present.