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,

man sniffed my neck, then grinned

Sasha....

man chuckled. “You will." He

familiarity became clear to me now. My

and the

was gone, lost in a memory, or maybe meandering my way back through time. I saw myself

my fearful child eyes

her," she

same man. He

need a new bone," he

head. “Her baby teeth

a tooth for a new potion, and this time, we need

of what followed. I wanted to stop them but I couldn't. My mother

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

“Sasha!"

my fight. My mother's strong hold became his secure embrace as I tried fighting whatever was

with my eyes shut

Sasha, it's just the bed

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,

And there was Lucas.

at the local clinic." Lucas explained, rubbing my shaky upper arms soothingly as I tried to reorient myself to the world

I croaked, wondering if

went, you weren't sleeping,"

looked around me.

on the luggage stand near the closet. “I asked Gage to put

us onto the train," I said

the shifters showed up. Luckily, I was able to grab him as

so close. Lucas was sitting on the edge of the bed, and we were so close we were breathing the same air. He leaned forward and bumped his forehead against

Lucas's cheek. “I was afraid, too. I was afraid the orb wouldn't get me

his cheek still nestled in my palm. “What man?" he growled, sliding his hand over mine. He threaded our fingers together, then brought my

felt like it was a long time ago. All the people were wearing old clothes. They ran away when they saw me, or rather saw the orb–all except him. He wanted to take it away from me. He even pulled out a knife, but

hurt you?" Lucas asked, rubbing his thumb along the back of my hand in a gesture of

it back, until he figured out I was a

what, princess?" Lucas

old… and with my

Lucas frowned. “Your mother?"

my head.

the memories of what he did, what

necklace Lucas gave me knowing that I

mother, but so much older and changed

he be with your

broke my

confused. “What does that…

My mother believed

“Hide you from who?"

“My father's pack."

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