The Causes Of Destiny - Elijah Mikaelson

Chapter Six: The Awakening

The night hung heavy in the air, still and oppressive, as Lily dragged herself upstairs. The overwhelming weight of the truth settled deep within her chest, making it hard to breathe. Everything she had learned that night replayed in her mind—the revelation that Ross and James were vampires, the confirmation that werewolves and witches were real. The city of New Orleans wasn't just dangerous; it was a supernatural battleground.

She closed the door to her bedroom behind her, leaning against it as she tried to gather her thoughts. Her legs felt like jelly, and her head pounded. She needed sleep, but the moment her body touched the mattress, her mind refused to quiet.

Vampires. Werewolves. Witches. The words echoed through her head, each one feeling more surreal than the last. The people she had trusted her entire life had been lying to her—protecting her, they said, but the truth felt like a betrayal. And yet, she couldn't fully shake the gnawing feeling that they still weren't telling her everything.

With a deep, exhausted sigh, Lily pulled the blankets over her, sinking into the softness of the bed. She closed her eyes, letting the darkness of the room wrap around her like a cocoon. Slowly, the tension in her muscles eased, and she slipped into the abyss of sleep, her mind finally giving way to unconsciousness.

But sleep didn't bring peace.

---

Lily stood in the middle of a vast, dark forest. The towering trees stretched up endlessly into the sky, their gnarled branches twisting together like skeletal hands reaching for the heavens. The air was thick with fog, swirling around her feet, cold and damp against her skin. A strange, otherworldly glow illuminated the ground, casting long shadows that danced and shifted unnaturally.

She looked down, startled to find herself barefoot, standing on what seemed like an ancient stone pathway. It stretched out before her, leading deep into the heart of the forest. Her heart pounded in her chest, but something compelled her to move forward. The air around her hummed with energy, an ancient, powerful force that seemed to whisper to her from the shadows.

Lily...

Her name. It was a soft, eerie voice, carried on the wind. She spun around, but there was no one there. The forest was empty, save for her.

Come closer...

The voice came again, this time more insistent. Her pulse quickened, but her feet moved of their own accord, taking one hesitant step after another. The path beneath her feet felt rough and worn, as though countless others had walked it before her.

The trees seemed to close in around her as she walked deeper into the forest. The glow became brighter, more intense, casting an ethereal light on the stone pathway. The fog thickened, swirling faster, and with every step, she felt something inside her stir—a strange sensation, like the unlocking of a door deep within her soul.

Suddenly, the path opened up into a clearing.

In the center of the clearing stood an ancient stone altar, covered in strange, glowing runes. Surrounding it were tall, hooded figures, their faces obscured by shadows. They stood silently, their eyes—if they had any—fixed on her.

Lily's breath hitched. The energy in the air felt overwhelming now, pressing down on her from all sides. Her heart raced, and she took a step back, instinctively wanting to flee, but her feet wouldn't move.

One of the hooded figures stepped forward, its hand outstretched toward her.

"It is time," the figure whispered, its voice echoing inside her head.

Lily's pulse thundered in her ears. Time for what? she wanted to ask, but her voice felt trapped in her throat. She tried to turn, to run, but her body remained frozen, as if invisible hands were holding her in place.

The figure gestured toward the altar, and suddenly, the runes began to glow brighter—brilliant, blinding light bursting forth from the stone. The light twisted and coiled like tendrils of energy, snaking through the air toward her.

No... Lily wanted to scream, but her mouth wouldn't obey.

The light touched her skin, and she gasped. It wasn't painful—on the contrary, it felt warm, familiar, like a forgotten part of her was awakening. Her vision swam, and suddenly, the world around her seemed to ripple and change. The forest faded, the figures disappeared, and instead, she was standing in the middle of an ancient, crumbling stone circle.

A woman stood at the edge of the circle, watching her.

Lily blinked, disoriented. The woman looked strikingly familiar, yet somehow distant—her long dark hair flowing like silk, her eyes glowing with an intense, fiery power. She wore robes that shimmered like moonlight, and around her neck hung a pendant—a symbol Lily had never seen before, but somehow, deep down, she knew it was important.

"Who are you?" Lily managed to whisper.

The woman smiled softly, stepping closer. "You've been lost for too long, child. But the time has come for you to awaken."

Lily's heart pounded in her chest. "Awaken? What are you talking about?"

The woman's eyes softened, and she reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from Lily's face. "You've always known, deep down, that you were different. That you were meant for something greater. It's in your blood. The power of our line has waited for you, Lily."

Lily stared at her, her mind reeling. "Our line? Who... who are you?"

The woman's smile widened, and her glowing eyes seemed to pierce through Lily's very soul. "You are the last of us. And soon, you will know everything."

Lily's vision blurred again, the world around her spinning out of control. She felt a surge of energy rush through her veins, so powerful that it nearly knocked her off her feet. Her skin tingled, and her body vibrated with raw, untamed magic.

She opened her mouth to scream, but before any sound could escape, everything went dark.

---

Lily woke with a start, her body drenched in sweat, her heart pounding violently in her chest. She sat up in bed, gasping for air as her mind raced to make sense of what had just happened.

It had felt so real—the forest, the woman, the light. She could still feel the warmth of that energy coursing through her veins. Her hands shook as she looked down at them, half-expecting to see them glowing with power.

But everything was normal. The room was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the early morning light creeping through the curtains.

She buried her face in her hands, trying to calm herself down. "It was just a dream," she whispered to herself, though deep down, she knew it was more than that.

That vision—whatever it was—had felt like a message. A warning.

And somehow, Lily knew that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even begin to comprehend.