I See Faeries

~chapter ten~

Lukas and Lucine

~

It was dark. I was swallowed by the blackness, blind and helpless. The air was cold and heavy, weighing on my chest so that with each breath I grew tireder. I felt something skitter over my bare foot, and nearly screamed. Where am I? I wondered, turning in a circle. I could feel that I was in a massive space, but whether it was a room, a cave, or a gladiator arena . . . I had no idea. It felt empty, and sinister.

There! I saw a point of light, far in the distance. It flickered unsteadily, like an open flame. I began running toward it, ignoring the fact that I couldn't see where I was going and wouldn't know if I was on the edge of a pit or about to trip over a rock. The ground was smooth and level beneath my feet, though, and it seemed too perfect to be natural. I discarded the idea of rocks or huge pits, and hurried toward the light.

It was still so far away. I didn't seem to be getting any closer.

It felt like I'd been running forever, when I abruptly crashed into something. I fell to the ground, clutching my knee in pain.

Someone knelt beside me. I could feel their presence, and the heat emanating from their body. I couldn't see them, though. They were as good as invisible.

"From dark and cold-" a voice began an eerie chant. I froze, terrified, and listened.

"-the Phoenix will rise,

and scatter the ashes

of sin and lies.

Her flame burns bright,

and the fae will hear

her shriek for help.

A cry of fear.

A single faerie, they'll send

to find the One

who has the power

to fix what's been done.

He will find the Phoenix,

young and alone.

To become strong

her future must be shown.

At her twentieth year

she will understand;

the world's rise or fall

is by her own hand."

I awoke with a start, breathing hard and thoroughly unsettled. It took a moment for me to realize that I wasn't the only one awake.

"Cass, what is it?" Dean whispered from right behind me. I could feel that he was very close to me, but we were only barely touching. It was strangely comforting to see that he still had some of the same gentleman's morals that he did when he was younger. Granted, a real gentleman wouldn't be on the same bedroll as a lady at all . . . but it was his bedroll, he was wearing pants at least, and he was warm. The early morning air was frigid.

I leaned into his chest and pulled the fur cloak closer around me. "It was a dream," I said. "A strange dream. It was like someone wanted me to know something . . . a message." My eyes widened. "The prophecy," I breathed.

Dean had wrapped his arms around me while I was speaking, and started at the mention of the prophecy. He'd just started to say something when the branches directly above us were suddenly yanked apart with a violent snap. I found myself staring up at a very pale, very handsome, very unfamiliar face. Dean tensed immediately and pulled me closer to him. If we hadn't been under a tree, I was certain that he would've been on his feet.