"You're Nina, right?" Astra asked, her voice smooth but laced with curiosity. "I heard Lucian call you that."
"Yes, I am," Nina replied, her voice cautious as she studied Astra's piercing blue eyes.
"I need you to tell me exactly what you saw," Astra said, her tone firm but not unkind. "Don't leave out any details."
Nina hesitated, glancing around the room. The faint glow of the runes on the walls cast an otherworldly light, and the faint scent of incense lingered in the air. She drew in a deep breath and began.
"I was in a clearing," Nina said slowly, recalling the vivid imagery from her trance. "It was… glowing. The moonlight was so bright, it was almost blinding. And then I saw myself, but it wasn't me."
"What do you mean by that?" Astra leaned forward, her expression unreadable.
"I had long, white hair," Nina continued, her voice growing quieter as the memory unfolded in her mind. "And my eyes—they were blue, not dark like they are now. I was wearing a white gown that seemed to shimmer, like it was made of light. I looked… like I was glowing."
Astra's fingers tapped lightly on the table, her brow furrowing. "Go on," she urged.
"There were creatures in the clearing with me," Nina added, her voice trembling. "They looked like wolves, but they weren't. Their bodies were darker, almost like they were made of shadows. And there was this… darkness radiating off them."
"Ghouls," Astra murmured, the word slipping from her lips like a curse.
Nina frowned. "Ghouls?"
Astra didn't elaborate, so Nina pressed on. "They spoke to me. They said, 'My lord. I didn't know you were coming back, but don't worry, we've prepared for your return. Just tell us what we have to do.'"
Astra's eyes widened slightly, though she quickly masked her reaction. "And then what happened?"
"I don't know," Nina admitted, shaking her head. "I don't remember. I think that's when I woke up." She hesitated, biting her lip. "It's just a silly dream, right?"
Astra didn't respond immediately. Her gaze had drifted past Nina, as if she were deep in thought.
"Right?" Nina repeated, her voice tinged with desperation.
Astra blinked, finally snapping out of her reverie. "Oh yes, definitely," she said, though her voice lacked conviction. She clapped her hands, summoning two servants who entered the room silently. "Help her to a room. She'll be spending the night here. It's too dangerous to be out at night."
"It's fine, really," Nina protested, though a part of her was relieved. "I don't want to intrude."
"Please, I insist," Astra said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Nina nodded reluctantly, following the servants out of the chamber. Deep down, she didn't want to leave either—this place, strange as it was, felt safer than anything outside its walls.
As soon as Nina was out of sight, Astra left the chamber and went to find Lucian.
"Hey, sis," Lucian greeted as Astra approached him near the sanctuary's training grounds. "Has she gotten her memories back yet?"
"She got a glimpse of her memory," Astra said, crossing her arms. "And what she saw wasn't promising."
Lucian tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"She saw ghouls," Astra replied, her voice low. "No one's seen ghouls in years. For them to appear in her memory, and for that to be the first thing that comes back, says something. I think she's hiding something."
Lucian chuckled softly, leaning against a wooden post. "Relax, sis. You've always been a pessimist. Always seeing the negative before the positive."
"But that's the thing," Astra countered sharply. "There's no positive here. Seeing ghouls is nothing but a bad omen. You're going to need my pessimism more than you think. You're going to be the next alpha one day. It's better to expect the worst and be prepared than to hope for the best and be blindsided by something worse."
Lucian shrugged. "Dad's still alive and well. He's got at least another hundred years in him. I'm not going to be the alpha anytime soon."
"Maybe not, but you're still responsible for the pack," Astra replied.
Lucian's expression softened as he considered her words. "How about I take her around the territory tomorrow? See what I can find out about her."
"Absolutely not," Astra snapped. "If she's tied to ghouls, being alone with her could be dangerous."
"I can handle myself," Lucian said with a smirk. "Besides, I saved her life. I doubt she'd kill me after that."
Astra sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I really hope you're right."
"I'm always right," Lucian said with a wink, heading off.
The next morning, Nina stirred as sunlight streamed into her room. The warmth felt strange, almost too golden, as if it wasn't the same sun she'd known on Earth. She groaned and pulled the blanket over her head, trying to block it out.
A knock at the door startled her, followed by it swinging open. "Rise and shine, sleepyhead," Lucian said cheerfully.
Nina peeked out from under the blanket, squinting at him. "Do you always barge into people's rooms?"
"Only when I've got plans," Lucian said with a grin.
Nina sighed, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "What plans?"
"I'm taking you on a tour of the territory," Lucian announced.
"Territory?" she echoed, confused.
"You'll see," Lucian said, stepping back. "Get dressed. I'll be waiting outside."
Nina had never ridden a horse before, but Lucian had insisted it was the best way to see the sanctuary. She clung to the reins tightly, her heart racing as the horse trotted alongside Lucian's.
The sights were unlike anything she'd ever imagined. The air was crisp and fragrant, carrying hints of pine and wildflowers. They passed streams that shimmered like liquid silver, and fields dotted with mystical creatures—pixies flitting about in glowing clusters, trolls lumbering slowly, and deer with antlers that seemed to be made of crystal. Even the sun itself seemed different, its golden hue softer yet more vibrant.
"This place. It looks different. Which country are we in?" Nina asked suddenly, glancing at Lucian.
Lucian chuckled. "Country? We don't name our cities like that over here. We name them after their rulers. Like this territory we're in now is Silvermist because all the rulers have silver hair."
"Silvermist?" she repeated, the name feeling oddly familiar on her tongue. "I've never heard that name before. Where on earth is it?"
"Earth? Is that we're you're from?" Lucian asked.
"Why are you saying it like it's one foreign place? That's where we are right now." Nina said, surprised at Lucian's tone.
"Sorry to break it to you but you're not on earth anymore." Lucian said.
"Enough with the jokes. You're going to take me home after this right?" Nina asked with a chuckle.
"If your home is on earth then I'm not sure I can take you there yet." Lucian said.
"Stop the jokes already. You're scaring me. My grandmother will be looking for me. She'll think something happened to me." Nina said, worry etched on her face.
"Don't worry we will get you back home eventually. I don't think your grandmother has noticed your absence yet. Time flows differently here. A week here could just be a few hours there." Lucian said. "Since you found a way here, there's bound to be a way back."
"So, you're serious. I'm actually not on Earth anymore?" Nina asked, still trying to process the whole situation.
"You're in a realm that exists alongside yours," Lucian explained. "Think of it like a hidden layer of reality. Most humans never stumble into it."
"Then how did I get here?" Nina asked.
"That's one thing I still can't figure out." Lucian said.
"What if I never get back home?" Nina asked, panic evident in her voice.
"Don't worry. You will." Lucian reassured her.
"How can you be sure?" Nina asked.
"We're in a world of magic. Anything's possible." Lucian said with a smile. "Come on. Let's get you back to the sanctuary."
---
Meanwhile, Astra stood in the shadows of the sanctuary, speaking in hushed tones to a figure obscured by darkness.
"I have reason to believe the ghouls are coming back," Astra said, her voice steady.
"What makes you think that?" the figure asked, their tone low and grave.
Astra sighed. "Because someone is on the verge of bringing them back."