From The Ashes

Chapter Ten

The date was November twelfth. Today was meant to be a defining day.

 The day of the ball. My twentieth birthday.

 I was applying the finishing touches to my hair and makeup, my nerves making my hands shaky. I absentmindedly twirled the ring on my finger while I looked down at the dress Maria had designed for me. 

It was beautifully simple. A plain cream colored dress that brushed the floor when I walked. A long slit ran up the side to show off my defined legs, and the open back displayed my tanned skin. There was no denying, I had never felt this beautiful in my life. 

Just as I'm about to leave my room to join the party downstairs, there's a faint clinking sound on my window. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I slowly make my way over and peer down below. Standing below my window, is Von.

 He's throwing small pebbles in order to get my attention. He smiles when he sees me, and gestures back to the gazebo a few yards away. Valen stands there waiting, watching. His face does not hold a smile, but it isn't cold either. He seems nervous; an emotion I've never witnessed from him before. 

I smile back at the two of them and admire their dapper appearances. Both are dressed in form fitting three-piece suits. Valen's is all black, while Von's is a dark navy blue. They look ravishing. I shake my head to clear my thoughts as Von makes his way over to the gazebo, still gesturing for me to follow. 

Suddenly, the acrid smell of smoke invades my nostrils. No, that can't be right. This is a night of celebration. Why on Earth would I be smelling smoke?

Sure enough, as I look toward the door, dark plumes are billowing from underneath. I abandon my post at the window and try to touch the handle. I hiss as I draw my hand back and realize it has been burned. Flames are beginning to lick up the door frame. I turn my head and look around for any route to escape, before my eyes land back on the window. 

It's a long jump down, but I have no choice. I rush back to it, expecting to see Von and Valen waiting for me, but instead I'm met with a horrifying sight. Two wolves stand in their place, one who's midnight fur and red eyes I recognize to be Valen, the other's with the dark brown fur and amber eyes I instinctually know to be Von. 

They are snarling, with their teeth bared and their heads low to the ground, attempting to intimidate the five, large wolves that are prowling menacingly toward them. I scream and pound on the window, hoping to create a distraction. 

It doesn't work. They don't even glance back at me.

 I pound harder, trying to break the glass with my fists. Still, nothing. 

I rear back, grab the heaviest book I can find and smash it as hard as I can against the glass. It still won't shatter. At this point I'm sobbing, clutching at my throat as the smoke runs through my body. It feels raw and I can taste blood. 

I try one more time to hit the window and smash the glass, but I don't prevail. Just as I'm about to succumb to my fate, I hear a heart wrenching howl pierce the night air. Tears stream down my face and my body shakes uncontrollably. I fall to the ground and weep. I don't know which prince it was, but I felt my heart shatter and my soul tear from my body, just as his was with his last breath. 

I can only mutter one word before the world goes black. 

"Mate."

I sit up with a gasp and begin frantically clutching at my throat. It takes me a few moments to to realize there is no smoke billowing into my room. I am in bed, in my pajamas, not dressed for a ball. I look around quickly, my survival instinct screaming at me to make sure I really am safe.