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....

Lucas's voice, but I

neck, then grinned

Sasha....

the prophecy now, but you will," the man chuckled. “You will." He sheathed his dagger. “May you be

close that the familiarity became clear to me now. My eyes widened and I

held his hand up, and the orb pulsed and he was

a memory, or maybe meandering my way back through time. I saw

my fearful child eyes and saw my mother's

find her," she

it was the same man. He was much, much older, but the shape of his face and the eyes

need a new bone," he

shook her head. “Her

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

heart thundered in my chest as I remembered the pain and torment of what followed. I wanted to

eyes tight, I struggled, fighting against her hold that was shockingly strong.

“Sasha!"

strong hold became his secure embrace

with my eyes shut tight. “Get them off

bed

tears behind them spilling out as I looked around an unfamiliar room. It had the feeling of an inn, or rather a hotel. The sheets were a pristine, bleach white and smelled

And there was Lucas.

myself to the world around me. “You were asleep. You reappeared and

I croaked, wondering if

went, you

me. “Where is

sitting on the luggage stand near the

one who pulled us onto the train," I

us so I could get you off the train when the shifters showed up. Luckily,

bed, and we were so close we were breathing the same air. He leaned forward and bumped his forehead against mine. “I was so afraid,"

cheek. “I was afraid, too. I was afraid the orb wouldn't get me back to you. There

his hand over mine. He threaded our fingers together, then brought my hand to his lips

wanted the orb. It felt like it was a long time ago. All the people were wearing old clothes. They ran away when they saw

his thumb along

told me to give it back, until he figured out I was a dream dancer. Then he

what, princess?" Lucas

swallowed. “He was old…

Lucas frowned. “Your mother?"

shook my

memories of what he did, what my mother's superstition had thought would

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

but so much older

would he be with

you broke

confused. “What does that… I don't understand. Was

was a talisman, for protection. My mother believed it

“Hide you from who?"

“My father's pack."

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