Forever

Chapter One: On The Verge

Vladimir

Voices rang through the council hall as the delegates from the different realms of Wisteria argued with each other over the looming threat of Alris the King of Werevan. It had been a couple of centuries since he had stirred up any trouble. Many had believed with the end of the war between what is now Vamlire and Wervan when the supernatural world and human one were split thereby creating the world of Wisteria that he had been subdued never to rise again. However, I knew better he would not be satisfied until both worlds were kneeling at his feet. I looked at my second in command Lunaris as we overlooked the chaos unfolding.

"One would not know who we are fighting Alaris or Each other," I muttered in disgust as I overlooked a wiccan and a fae going at each other ready to exchange spells.

"That is what happens when so many cultures isolate themselves from each other until there is a threat that they cannot handle," Lunaris replied.

"I do suppose we ought to step in."

"That would be best, your Highness."

I heaved a sigh of frustration. Sometimes, I wonder why I even bother. I stood up and shot the pistol I had kept concealed at my side and silence fell over the collective of bickering delegates from the species of Wisteria.

"Look I know many of you would prefer not to be here but we have a crisis looming over our heads. A spy from one of the shifter tribes has intercepted some chatter of Alris finding a way to tear open the barrier between Wisteria and Earth. We all know what happened the last time he interacted with the humans. We were fighting a three-sided war between the Werevanians and us and the Humans. We are still feeling the impact of that war to this day."

"Weren't you a human during that time? Why should we trust you? Everyone knows you turned near the end of the war and killed your sire!" A Wiccan Shouted.

"Enough!" Emmett, a burly bear shifter boomed. "Everyone knows the previous Vamlire royal family raised him. He was racked with grief at the loss of his mate at the time of his transition. I would not expect you to be all there either if it had been the loss of your mate."

The room quieted at that mates were sacred across all of Wisteria and the loss of one was not to be dismissed lightly. Many lost their minds once their mates were gone and killed themselves out of grief. I was one of the fortunate ones to get semi-back to normal and cope with the gaping hole in my soul where the mate connection was. My only solace was that if a surviving mate could overcome the madness the lost mate had a chance to reincarnate and possibly find their way back.

"Apologies," muttered the Wiccan delegate.

"Now that there is order, Do we have any clues on how Alaris is planning on bringing down the barrier?" Eldren, an Elderly fae delegate, questioned.

"Yes," replied Robyn, a delegate from the eagle shifter tribe. "It sounds like he has consulted with a Wiccan Seer and there is a human in the mortal realm who, if their blood is used in a ritual, can bring down the barrier."

My breath hitched, the ringing in my ear drowning out the flood of voices once more rising from the delegation.

"Elysabeth," I muttered.

Lunaris stared at me inquisitively. "What did you say?" He asked.

"Later," I responded. "I will explain once we are alone."

I turned back my attention to the gathered crowd as the room was brought back to order.

"Do we have a clue as to who this mortal might be?" asked Emmett.

"No sir," Robyn answered, her expression betraying frustration at the lack of info. "I have some of my most trusted people on the trail right now looking for the Wiccan in hopes of uncovering the mortal's Identity. In the meantime, some of my spies are trying to follow other leads and see if the Werevanians may let something slip."

"That is highly unlikely," I finally chimed in. "I have faced Alris before and he is unlikely to let that info slip if he knows it, Not even to his most trusted men. He likes keeping his cards close to his chest."

The delegation fell into silence as they weighed what I had said. Many remembered the last war with Alaris and the ones who were too young were told horror stories of the war during their history lessons about the formation of Wisteria. The next few hours were filled with debates on how to proceed with the impending threat that loomed over the supernatural realm. In the end, it devolved into a debate nearly starting another war. The gathered delegates had decided that it would be best to take a break and reconvene the next morning. I stood stretching out the kinks in my back. Lunaris took his place at my side as we exited the council hall and made our way down the winding corridors of Everling. Everling was a palace located smack dab in the middle of Wisteria. It had been built for meetings like this as a neutral territory for all the species of Wisteria to come together and convene. When it was first built I had a Wiccan put enchantments on it so no blood could be spilled on its grounds. Lunaris looked at me as we made our way through the grand halls to the quarters where the delegation from Vamlire was staying. I knew he was waiting to learn the reason why I had whispered the name of my dead mate. Lunaris had been my right hand from the beginning of my rule. We had been shield brethren in the last war.

"Patience my friend," I muttered as we entered my quarters. "I am going to need a strong drink for this."

Elizabeth

The final bell of the day rang and I gathered my books and stuffed them in my bag.

"Elisabeth!" Mitchelle, one of my classmates, exclaimed. "Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?"

"No, Why?"

"Well, you just moved to town and I was wondering if I could give you a tour"

"That sounds wonderful. I have to go home and drop off my books but we can meet up after at Kolacheez Coffee Bar. I live down the street from there. When would be a good time to meet up?"

"Let's meet up at 6:00 pm"

"Cool, I will see you then."

"See you then."

I waved my goodbye to Mitchelle and made my way to the front of the school where my dad was waiting in our old red F150 truck.

"Hey Kiddo, How was your day?" My dad asked, smiling , making his grey eyes twinkle.

"It was okay. I have plans later this evening with a classmate to tour the town," I replied.

"That's great kiddo," He replied.

The ride home continued in silence, neither of us having the need to fill it.

We eventually pulled up to our two story house that we had been living in since my mom had passed. It was a home that had been on my dad's side of the family for generations. It was a cozy home with a blue exterior and had a detached garage off to the side. Inside it was cozy with a wood burning fireplace in the living space, an ample kitchen and 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms to round it off. Of course, two of those bedrooms were mine and my dad's with the third one we had decided to turn that into a study slash guest room. My Dad had started working remotely for his firm since my mom died. She would have loved this place. Especially the ample yard which I had turned into a beautiful garden in her memories. My mother had loved to garden and some of my earliest memories were her passing that love to me. My mother had made sure that by the time I was six I had known which herbs and flowers in her garden to stay away from. My father had always joked she was a witch from how well her herbal remedies worked and that I was her little apprentice.

"Well kiddo, I have a few more hours of work until I am done. Do you think you will be fine until then?" My dad asked, His blue eyes filled with concern.

"Yeah dad, don't worry. I will be completely fine. I finished all my work at school so I am just going to tend to the garden and then head out to meet my classmate. If I need anything I will let you know."

"Okay, if you're sure you're fine."

"Go, nothing is going to happen to me and if I need you I will give you a call."

"Very well kiddo," he said while heading up the stairs to his office.

I tended to my garden and then got ready to meet up with Michelle. I had butterflies in my stomach. I had a feeling my life was on the verge of irreversibly changing.