Coveted [New/Revised Version]

**SNEAK PEEK: VoC**

     A delicate breeze blew strands of Iris' hair into her face. Subtly, she tucked the stray inky tresses behind her ear while she took in her surroundings. The lighting was faint, giving everything a bluish-gray hue from the great trees dotting the backdrop to the dreary skies above. She was certain she'd never been in this place before as she continued marching through the endless green grass that stretched out around her. It was silent—too silent for nature.

     There were no deer frolicking about or birds soaring in the air. What encompassed Iris was complete stillness and it was disturbing. She wanted to brush it all off as a forthcoming rainstorm but her mind knew better. It wouldn't allow her to deceive herself. Her breath caught when she heard that vile fluttering noise behind her.

     Panicked, she whirled around.

     The moment she did, she found nothing there. Only dead, cold, empty air met her. No eyes peered out at her from the shadowed plants. Nothing snarled at her or threatened her in any manner. She told herself she was being paranoid and tried to slow her racing heart.

     "Have you forgotten so soon Drusilla?" said an indistinctive voice.

     It reverberated through Iris' entire being making her skin break out in gooseflesh. The source of the voice was coming from behind her and she braced herself before spinning around. A chill started from the base of her spine and crept its way up as soon as she registered the thing in front of her. A black, humanoid figure stood mere feet from her. Its bright blue eyes flared menacingly.

     "Forgotten what?" Iris asked.

     There was no point in asking questions of its origins. She'd learned that from her past encounter. This entity wouldn't answer her. It would only give her the creeps and cryptic prophecies. Prophecies that never came true.

     "My warning," It replied. "Is your memory so frail?"

     "N-no." she stammered.

     "Your hesitation speaks volumes dearest."

     Iris opened her mouth to say something—anything, to redeem herself—but nothing came out. She clamped it shut, pondering on what to tell it. What could she say? Did she even remember what it was it warned her of? The exact context?

     As if answering her unspoken thoughts the atmosphere around her grew gloomier and bitter in temperature. It was so hard to distinguish things now. She simply saw navy and black. The wind caressed her skin; an indicator of what she anticipated would come next.

     "I told you to stay away." The thing scolded. "Or did you not listen?"

     It took a leisure step forward and Iris instinctively cringed back.

     "I warned you of the blindness affections toward him would cause you, did I not? I told you of the temptation he would provoke, did I not? And I specifically instructed you, if you valued your life to keep away from him, did I not!?"

     Iris swallowed back fear thickly.

     "Perhaps a reminder is necessitated." A grin that was all stridently pointed teeth adorned its face.

     Without any other forewarning, the whispers of what sounded like a thousand tortured souls rang in Iris' ears. Her knees buckled at their ferocity and she stumbled to the ground. She gasped, clutching her head for support as the voices swarmed around her brain. The hisses were demanding and thunderous. She swore her skull would explode any second.

     "He will ride into town in all his pride and glory on a black Mustang." They repeated the words that they'd uttered to her, not too kindly, before. "Your destroyer will bear the scars of old wars past. A black rose shall mark him. Be cautious for he will not come alone. Another like him will accompany him; equally as dangerous. Show him the error of his brethren's ways. Align yourself with this one and destroy the other. Be sure to stay clear of the one who comes tainted with pride and arrogance."

     "Please," she moaned. "Make them stop. I remember!"

     "Keep in mind young witch," the stature was looming over her, intense eyes blazing into her very soul, "give him your heart... and he will take your life. This isn't over. It's only just begun with these boys."