Olivera was staring at the grandfather’s clock which read eleven pm, but her thoughts kept roaming around the pale state of Raul, and the entirety of what she was. It was barely five minutes after Vee had left her to herself, and Olivera would be lying if she said that it didn’t scare her. A lot of things could go wrong in five minutes. A knock on her door startled her, and she quickly sat up on the bed. The knock sounded again, when silence continued to reign in the room. “Come in…” Olivera said unsurely, aware of the erratic beating of her heart when Seth came in.Seth, who had taunted her. Seth, who had almost raped her. Seth, who had abused her with his hands.Olivera's heart plummeted as Seth stepped into her room to serve as her guard. The air grew thick with tension, suffocating her as memories of their past encounters flooded her mind.She remembered the cruel taunts, the mocking laughter that had echoed in the room when Seth crossed her path. The wounds of his words and
Olivera's mind buzzed with a cacophony of thoughts as she stepped into the secret room further, seeking solace amidst the chaos that consumed her thoughts, especially when she found nothing at first, nothing that would make a noise. Her mate's condition weighed heavily on her heart, each breath a struggle as she grappled with the uncertainty of what lay ahead.As she wandered deeper into the room, her eyes scanning the shelves and tables for any sign of a clue, she paused in her tracks, her gaze drawn to a mesmerizing sight. Floating just a few feet above the ground was a portal, its swirling colors casting an ethereal glow that bathed the room in an otherworldly light.The portal shimmered with hues of cerulean blue and emerald green, each hue dancing and melding into the next in a mesmerizing display of magic. Olivera couldn't tear her eyes away, captivated by the beauty and mystery of the swirling vortex before her.Could this be it? Could this be what had made the noise that she
One Hour Later.Olivera's eyes fluttered open, blinking against the harsh light as she found herself lying on a soft bed. Confusion washed over her as she tried to piece together what had happened. How had she ended up here? And where was she?As she sat up, her head swimming with dizziness, a wave of disorientation washed over her. The room spun around her, making her feel nauseous and disoriented. She reached out to steady herself, her fingers trembling as they grasped at the sheets beneath her."What's going on?" She muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, fragments of memories and half-formed questions swirling in her mind. She tried to recall the events that had led her here, but her memories were hazy and indistinct.With a shaky breath, Olivera forced herself to focus, pushing aside the fog of confusion that clouded her mind. She needed to figure out where she was and how she had ended up here. But as she glanced around the room,
Olivera felt a surge of disbelief wash over her. She couldn't comprehend why a powerful witch like Miriam would need her assistance. After all, Olivera was just coming to know her own abilities. Of what use was she to someone who had been training for years?The idea of a witch needing help was baffling to Olivera. She struggled to make sense of it all. Raul’s mother was still alive? She was in danger? However, how could the woman be in danger if Miriam possessed such extraordinary powers? Wasn't magic supposed to protect them from harm?Despite her confusion, Olivera couldn't ignore the desperation in Miriam's eyes. She could sense the sincerity in her plea, and it tugged at her heartstrings. Maybe there was more to this situation than met the eye. Could it be that Miriam had been under the thumb of someone for the longest while?“What’s wrong with your mother?”That was the question she finally settled on, after much mental rambling on which question or statement to make first.“She
Flashback-15 years ago. Ten-year-old Miriam jumped up and down the bushy path that led to her house, humming and abnormal tune, whilst her little mind wondered what her carer would prepare for the night. Her carer. Miriam didn't know how they had they crossed paths, but one thing she was sure of, was that she wasn't a favourite to the woman. Miriam wasn't sure if it was because she had lost her memories from growing up. She clutched the grocery bag in her hand tightly, knowing that she couldn't afford for the produce in it, to fall to the ground. The eggs will get broken, and the woman would end up messing with her head again. Miriam didn't know what exactly, or how exactly the woman did it, but she knew that her mind never remained the same after the woman would hold her head in a skeptic way, and don the blank expression. Quick! She muttered to herself, increasing her jumping and walking pace. At a time, she started running through the path, for fear of snakes sneaking u
Flashback-12 years ago.Miriam stood amidst the shifting currents of the pack, feeling the weight of Raul and her father’s changed attitudes bearing down upon her. Where once there had been warmth and camaraderie, now there lingered a palpable distance and cool reserve. It was as if an invisible barrier had risen between them, casting a shadow over their interactions.Confusion gnawed at Miriam's heart, mingling with a tinge of hurt. She replayed their recent interactions in her mind, searching for clues or signs of what had shifted. Had she said something wrong? Was there an unspoken judgment or misunderstanding she had failed to grasp?The ache of estrangement was compounded by a sense of loss. Raul, whom she had considered a trusted confidant and friend, now seemed guarded in his demeanor. His once open smile now carried a hint of caution, a subtle shift that left Miriam feeling adrift.Her father’s change was more subtle yet equally poignant. His usually warm gaze now held a fleet
Two weeks later.As Raul's eyes fluttered open, he found himself engulfed in a swirling maelstrom of confusion and disorientation. The world around him seemed hazy and indistinct, as if he were viewing it through a fogged-up window. Slowly, as consciousness began to seep back into his mind, he became aware of the dull ache that permeated every fiber of his being—a lingering reminder of the ordeal he had endured.With a groan, Raul attempted to sit up, only to be met with a wave of dizziness that sent him reeling back onto the bed. Memories, long buried beneath layers of denial and deception, surged to the forefront of his mind with a force that left him breathless. Truths that he had once dismissed as lies came crashing down upon him like a ton of bricks, each revelation more devastating than the last.In the harsh light of reality, Raul found himself confronted with the consequences of his actions—the pain he had inflicted upon those he held dear, the wounds he had left unhealed in h
One month later.“It’s been a month now.” Raul muttered to himself with a sigh. A month had passed since his mate’s disappearance. Raul found himself ensnared in a suffocating fog of despair. Each day dawned with the weight of her absence pressing down upon him, a constant reminder of the gaping void that had been left in her wake. In the quiet moments when he was alone with his thoughts, Raul allowed himself to succumb to the overwhelming tide of sorrow that threatened to consume him. He mourned not only for Olivera, but for the little life they had shared—a life that now seemed like nothing more than a distant memory, a fragile dream shattered by the harsh reality of her absence.Tears flowed freely from Raul's eyes, silent tributes to the love he had lost and the pain that now consumed him. Each tear was a testament to the depth of his despair, a tangible expression of the emptiness that gnawed at his soul.But even amidst the darkness that threatened to engulf him, Raul clung t