And Then There Were Four (Lilith Carrie)

Chapter 203: Reality of Night Terrors

The all consuming darkness wasn't something new to me, and no matter what I tried to do with my life,

I was plagued by visions that filtered through my mind, reminding me of everything I didn't want to be. I

wasn't supposed to be a queen, princess, or even an ascending heir. I was simply supposed to be me,

and as the shadows of danger filtered through my mind, I stepped forward seeking a way towards the

light.

I wasn't a monster like everyone suggested, and every step I took forward through the darkness I kept

telling myself that. The words whispered of my lips over and over were a reminder of the truth. That I

was not the person they sought to fear.

“What are you doing, child?" the dark sultry voice of feminine beauty swirled around me in the

darkness, causing me to stand still in fear, unsure of whether or not I had finally lost my mind.

"Who's there?"

My voice sounded off, and though I knew the words had left my lips, I couldn't help notice how they

didn't sound like me.

The chuckling laughter of a woman swirled around me and as it did, the apparition of a woman I had

seen so many times before appeared in front of me as if she was just as alive as I was. "Anna? This

isn't real…"

Her kind eyes stared back at me as her hair swirled around her as if blown by its own breeze. A breeze

that didn't quite touch my own skin but made me wonder if she had power as I did. "Don't seem so

surprised, child. This visit is long overdue."

Panic filled me as I tried to rationalize what was going on. It wasn't possible for her to be here so the

only way was if… if I was dreaming. That was it… I was dreaming. I instantly felt stupid as I glanced at

her once more and sighed.

"I really am losing it. I'm so stressed and off beat, I'm dreaming about you, Anna. My brain is trying to

help me process."

Anna stared at me with an odd expression as if not understanding why I was acting the way I was. The

lavender dress she wore flowed around her as her hair slowly calmed to lay upon one side. "You are

not just dreaming, child. This is real, we are speaking."

"If that's the case then why are you here?" I asked with amusement, deciding to humor her in this

conversation.

"To warn you, Cassie."

Warn me. Warn me about what? The statement made my mouth open and close with hesitation as she

stared at me with an indifferent expression. "What do you mean?"

The moment the question left my throat, the swirling breeze that surrounded her picked up becoming a

little more forceful. My heart raced at the idea that something was about to happen and with it came

fear. A fear that penetrated my mind and body and no matter what I did I couldn't control it.

“Let me show you," she whispered as a scene unfolded before me, and I was tossed onto a battlefield

of chaos and fire. The screams of the innocent filled my heart, and I doubled over, covering my ears to

try to muffle them out.

“What are you doing?!" I shouted at her, searching the area around me for her figure, but my eyes were

unable to find her shadows. Instead, her voice filled my head and with it, the sense of impending doom.

“This is the future your brother is projected if the darkness isn't cast from his pack. His mind is clouded,

and nothing his mate does will protect him."

My brother?! This was about Pollux?

I was confused even more upon hearing her, and as I tried to find a way from where I was, I quickly

found myself cemented to the spot. Unable to move as a scream ripped from my throat at the panic

that filled my mind. “Let me go from here!"

“No!" she yelled as her face appeared inches from my own in almost a ghostly state. “You're not a child

anymore, Cassie. This is a gift I bestowed upon you. Your future was set in stone long ago, and fate

helped me to make you see what needed to be seen to save the future of our worlds."

“What are you talking about?!"

Grasping my face, she jerked it back towards the field of blood and fire. “Look, Cassie. For once, open

your mind and look. You're a goddess with more power than Odin, but you will never be able to reach

your potential unless you stop your childish behavior and accept who you are so the people you love

can be safe."

The war before me shimmered slowly as the fires of hell seemed to dim down. I wasn't sure if I was

seeing like Anna wanted me to, but as I continued to look, I realized the scene around me was

changing. Instead, darkness filled my vision once more but above me were stars. Millions of stars that

twinkled like diamonds.

“It's changed…" I muttered as Anna slowly let go of my chin.

“Yes, because you're finally looking. Tell me, Cassie, what can you see?"

As I gazed around, a warm feeling rushed over me. A sense of ease and calmness as I watched the

trees appear before my eyes. Leaves blowing gently through the evening breeze and the familiar

feeling that I knew exactly where I was. “This is near the secret lake Pollux and I used to go to as kids."

I didn't wait to hear what she had to say as I found myself once again able to move. My feet were not

hitting the floor as I realized that instead of walking, I sort of glided. It wasn't until I was about to break

through the brush towards the water that a noise filled my ears, and I halted to see my brother break

through the clearing to face a woman I was all too familiar with—Ashley.

“What the hell—" Anna's finger pressed against my lips, shushing me as she stared at me with a stern

expression and then pointed slowly to my brother and Ashley, who stood in soft whispers.

“Do it again–" he asked her. A smug expression on her face let me know that she was up to no good.

Which didn't surprise me because she had always been a snake in the grass.

“I don't know, Pollux." She sighed in a very dramatic way. “Giving you power like this… I feel like you're

using me."

He quickly grabbed her wrist as he shook his head. “I'm not, Ashley. I never used you… please, I feel it

draining, and I can't. I have to be the best, and because of that, I need your help."

Ashley hesitated for a moment before nodding and as she did, he kneeled before her, placing his

forehead against her stomach. She placed her hands on either side of his head. I had no clue what the

hell was happening but the moment she started chanting, I saw red.

“She's f*****g using magic on my brother?!" I roared as my eyes darted towards Anna with anger. I

couldn't believe what I was seeing and the way the magic felt—it was wrong.

“I told you that you are needed, Cassie. Most can not feel what she is doing, and the magic she has is

very dark and very old. However, your powers allow you to see what others are hiding. Your brother

thinks this is helping him, but she only has him fooled. She is turning him dark, and if she isn't stopped,

your family will fall and those you love will die."

With a wave of her hand the scene changed once more and the flames and chaos once again lit my

vision. I finally understood what she was telling me and before me were the bodies of my family and a

dark mass that surrounded a woman who had just taken her revenge. It wasn't until I almost tripped

over something that I looked down and realized that Trixie laid dead at my feet with a small child in her

arms.

It was then that the scream of pain and agony ripped through me.

It was then that I felt determination as I pulled them both into my arms and cried.

******

“Cassie!" a voice came loud and clear through my mind as I cried and slowly opening my eyes, I found

Finn's familiar gaze staring back at me. Confusion clouded my judgment before I quickly realized where

I was and what had happened.

It was just a dream… wasn't it?

“What are you doing in my room?" I finally muttered as I slowly sat up and realized that Finn was

almost naked and Silas was shirtless, both men staring at me wide-eyed and slightly confused.

“Are you f*****g serious right now?" Silas snapped as he narrowed his gaze. “You gave us a f*****g

heart attack, Cassie."

Dumbfounded, my dream slowly started coming back to me and as it did, I realized that what had

happened was a warning, no matter how strange it was. I just didn't know what to tell Finn and Silas—

although part of me knew I had to tell them something.