Chapter 24 : Rude Awakenings

*Sasha*

I could feel the air change around me as Lucas stretched his hand toward me. Panic gripped me and I let the orb slip from my fingers to reach for him. But he vanished as the now-glowing blue sphere took me away.

This time the trip was instant, and I found myself on my back in a space that was cold and musty, nothing like the Goddess's temple.

The floor beneath me was made of stone, my hands lay criss-cross on my chest, the orb cradled in my palms. There was no Lucas. There was no stranger. There was no train, no chasing rogues, and no evil priestess.

There was, however, an assembly of people in dated clothing, looking at an altar at the front of… well… a temple–not one for the White Queen, but another temple for certain.

Low murmuring and chanting echoed in the air, dying off as the people turned to look at me.

I stood to my feet, clutching the orb to my chest. There was only one of me and perhaps a hundred of them. I hated the stupid thing, but it was my only defense and possible way out if something went wrong.

It sure felt wrong.

Suddenly, people began screaming, rushing to get away from me, and running for the exit. As the doors to the temple burst open, I could see a castle, dark and foreboding, not far off. The people were running straight that way.

As everyone else cleared out, however, one man stayed. He had been at the front of the altar, leading the chants.

I stepped backward as he approached me, his eyes fixated on the orb.

“Where did you get the Slipstone?" he demanded, stalking toward me.

I took a step back, mentally willing the orb to return me to Lucas. “I… l found it."

“Lies," the man said. He was more richly dressed than the others had been. And he was… familiar somehow. His features conjured up… something, something troublesome in the back of my mind.

He moved like quicksilver to close the space between us, gripping my arm.

“It's the truth," I insisted. After all, it was half true. Lucas found it.

The man chuckled darkly. “Then, I suppose you won't mind me taking it back from you." He pulled a dagger from his belt.

I tried to wrench away but his grip tightened painfully.

Everything in me knew the last thing that ever needed to happen was this man getting his hands on the orb. I backed all the way to the wall, holding the orb tighter.

“Please, Goddess, please take me back," I whispered.

The orb began to glow.

He looked at it and then backed up staring open-mouthed at me. “Dream dancer.... You have the mark, the star?"

I clutched my arm to the side and felt my stomach drop.

“The prophecy… has it come to pass?"

“I… I don't know what you're talking about!" I shouted and he rushed me again, pushed me to the wall, and pinned me in place.

Sasha....

heard Lucas's voice,

my neck, then grinned

Sasha....

will," the man chuckled. “You will." He

now. My eyes widened and

up, and the orb pulsed and he

through time. I saw myself crying in my room,

her through my fearful child eyes and saw my mother's pale face cloaked

her,"

wasn't talking to me. I looked over to see it was the same man. He was much, much

need a new bone," he said

mother shook her head. “Her

be fresh. We have to pull a tooth for a new potion, and this time, we need to make sure

my chest as I remembered the pain and torment of what followed. I wanted to stop

I struggled, fighting against her hold that was shockingly strong. I sobbed and cried and

“Sasha!"

reached me in my fight. My mother's strong hold became his secure embrace as I tried fighting whatever was still holding

with my eyes shut tight. “Get them

bed

I looked around an unfamiliar room. It had the feeling of an inn, or rather a hotel. The

And there was Lucas.

Lucas explained, rubbing my shaky upper arms soothingly as I tried to reorient myself to the world around me. “You were

wondering

went, you

me. “Where is

luggage stand

one who pulled us onto the train," I said

nodded. “Yes. He also defended us so I could get you off the train when the shifters showed up. Luckily, I was able to grab him as well. We jumped in a lake… and you still didn't wake

the edge of the bed, and we were so close we were breathing the same air. He leaned forward and bumped his

was afraid the orb wouldn't get me

“What man?" he growled, sliding his hand over

They ran away when they saw me, or rather

along the back of my hand in a

head. “He called it a Slipstone and told me to give it back, until he

what, princess?" Lucas

“He was old… and with my

Lucas frowned. “Your mother?"

shook my

into a tight throat as I thought about the memories of what he did,

of the necklace Lucas gave me knowing that I would have to tell him everything destroying

with my mother, but so

would he be with your

broke my

stricken and confused. “What does that… I

for protection. My mother believed

“Hide you from who?"

“My father's pack."

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