Ashley's POV
A icy scream pierced through the air, sending chills down my spine. But that wasn't even the most pressing issue at hand at the moment.
"Where am I? What is this place?" My gaze shifted to the amorous couple entwined in the pool. "Ah!!!" I involuntarily screamed, finally understanding why the girl had shrieked earlier. "I vividly remembered that I fell into the stream, but why am I suddenly in this ancient swimming pool? It just didn't make sense."
"Who are you?" The guy, undeniably handsome with piercing blue eyes, caught my attention. I was momentarily captivated by his physique until his husky voice broke my reverie. "Can't you speak?"
Finding myself inside the waters of an opulent indoor pool, a world of luxury and splendor unfurled around me. The pool's cerulean depths mirrored the grandeur of the surroundings, capturing the ethereal light that filtered in through the intricately designed windows. The air was laced with a delicate scent, a concoction of exotic blooms that graced the carefully manicured gardens beyond.
The architecture bore the mark of a realm meant for the elite, each nook and cranny meticulously carved to perfection. Gilded accents adorned every surface, catching the soft glow of the chandeliers that hung like crystalline constellations overhead. The chamber exuded an aura of serenity and decadence, a place where those of influence might come to bask in solitude.
Around the pool's edge, plush loungers beckoned, their lavish cushions inviting repose. A symphony of water echoed off marble walls, while the gentle trickle of a nearby fountain added a soothing cadence to the ambiance. Soft, muted colors adorned the space, allowing the eye to rest upon ornate paintings and tapestries that depicted tales of yore.
As I stared at the figures a few metres away from me amidst this realm of indulgence, I felt the weight of a world meant for the privileged. Every detail was a testament to refinement, to a life unfathomable for most as I gazed upon a world that shimmered with both extravagance and utmost curiosity.
How had I arrived here? Was this some sort of alternate dimension within the stream I had entered moments ago? I couldn't help but wish I had listened to my nerdy younger brother. Struggling to collect my thoughts, I pondered what I could possibly say to salvage this situation, having disrupted their private moment.
Before I could form a coherent response, another shirtless figure emerged from inside the building.
"Is this paradise?" I whispered to myself, attempting to snap out of my daze. "Get a grip, Ashley." I chastised myself as their gazes bore into me.
"Who is she?" The second man directed his question to the guy in the pool.
"I don't know," came his response. "She smells human."
Human? Could they be vampires? They certainly fit the description. Just as my mind began to spiral into these odd musings, a voice from behind caught my attention.
"Gwen!" a female voice urgently called out to someone "Gwendolyn!" I turned to her, watching her signal for me to join her. "Run!"
An instinctual urge compelled me to move towards her. I felt one of the guys swimming after me, propelling me faster through the water.
In haste and fear of being caught, I finally mustered the courage to leave the pool's soothing embrace. As I stepped onto solid ground, the woman's firm grip enveloped my trembling hand, and together we ventured into the concealed depths of a cave. The air was cool and damp, echoing with the unsettling whispers of unseen mysteries. With each step, my heart seemed to beat a little faster, an echoing reminder of my vulnerability in this unfamiliar place.
The tunnel's twists and turns were disorienting, the darkness playing tricks on my imagination. Every shadow seemed to hold secrets, every sound a potential threat. With each footfall, my unease grew, my mind racing with the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
When we finally emerged into the open air, relief washed over me, and I released the woman's hand as if breaking free from an invisible tether. The sunshine cast an eerie glow over the landscape, and for a brief moment, I felt a fleeting sense of security. We had managed to escape whatever pursuers might have been on our trail.
Yet, the fear still lingered, clinging to my thoughts like a persistent shadow. The woman's presence was a comfort, a small island of familiarity in this sea of the unknown. But as we stood there, the weight of our situation settled upon me once more, and the realization that I was far from home and utterly lost in this surreal world left me feeling more vulnerable than ever before.
"Where are we?" I inquired, taking in my surroundings.
"St. Clifford," she replied.
"Where is St. Cli–" I couldn't recollect what she has said earlier until she helped me with it again.
"St. Clifford."
"Yeah, Clifford. I don't know anywhere called St. Clifford." She was about to respond and I thought her information wasn't necessary. "What happened to me? And why did I wake up in an unknown pool?" I pressed further.
"We've been searching for you for the past three days."
"Searching?" I questioned, but before I could get an answer, I saw someone behind her, but before I could say something, the man gently nudged her aside.
I recognized his face—or rather, the man I had seen at the stream's edge.
"I know you." I pointed at him.
"I recognize that you recognize me," he acknowledged, leading me away from the others, his grip firm.
"Where am I?" I questioned, my gaze locked on his eyes.
"You're within the Moon Stone Pack," he disclosed.
"Moon Stone Pack?"
"Have you forgotten what transpired three days ago? You drowned! Lady Gwen, she—"
"Yes, she drowned, and it seems she's lost her memory." an approaching figure emerged from the woods.
"My Lord.," the man who had held my hand bowed deferentially.
"Hello, Gwen." I focused on the newcomer, hoping for a spark of recognition, but it eluded me.
Confusion engulfed me as voices blurred, faces swam before my eyes. A swirl of questions haunted my mind, echoing in the emptiness of my understanding. Lost and adrift, I clung to fleeting fragments, desperate to piece together the puzzle of my existence.
"Excuse me," I inquired with innocent curiosity, but the familiar man's jab hinted at unspoken truths. "What? I genuinely need to know." My words fell like breadcrumbs, hoping to illuminate the shadows that cloaked their identities and fear attached to this unknown world.
He chuckled in a sardonic manner, replying, "I am Lord Arwin. We met during your mother's visit to the Pentagon. Now, come. There's much to discuss. What can you recall?" He guided me with his arm around my shoulders as we moved away.
This existence seems vastly superior to the life I've known. No loan sharks, no pursuits, no conflicts—just an aura of tranquility and affection all around.
I'll relinquish my past and embrace this new reality. Yet, who exactly is Gwen? Why am I in this place? What led me here?
My mind teemed with various thoughts when I heard his voice again.
"You don't carry the scent of a wolf, nor that of a human. What transpired in that accursed river?"
Accursed river? Wolf? Another term added to my growing list of enigmas. I sighed, endeavoring to adopt the present life I now lead.
"I don't know. I'm grateful to be alive," I responded, fixing my gaze forward, hoping for a brighter future in this new world. Yet, a nagging unease lingered within, hinting that things might soon take a turn for the worse.