Choices, Love, and Magic (Complete)

chapter 18

Chapter 18 Revelations, Oh Joy! (Add sarcasm)

I was home. I was with my family and friends. And I should have been happy. But I wasn't.

I didn't know what to do. When we got here, Antonio kissed me before leaving. Tristam disappeared soon after, but I'd seen the hurt in his eyes. Now I was in my pajamas, laying on my back in my bed. I'd been up for about 20 hours, but I was nowhere near sleep.

"What am I going to do?" I whispered to myself. A tear slipped out as I hummed the song 'Say Something' by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera. It seemed fitting, with the circumstances.

"That depends," commented a familiar voice,"What do you want to do?"

I jolted upright, just to sigh in relief as I saw Rebecca and Hannah standing at the foot of my bed. They had identical expressions of expectancy. With another sigh, this time an annoyed one, I realized what they expected.

"All right," I conceded,"We'll talk." I looked at them, meeting each of their eyes as I informed them,"I've loved Antonio ever since I saw him for the first time. I don't know what I feel for Tristam because it's like he just crept up on me. I've kissed Antonio before, and I love that." I paused, took a steadying breath, and moved my eyes down to look at my hands, clasped in my lap, as I admitted,"But I'm confused because I kissed Tristam on the night of Victor's party." Silence. A shocked one."I guess you didn't know. I spent the party with him. Dancing, talking, and drinking champagne. When I got tired, Tristam walked me to my room. I was about to go inside when he snatched my arm and spun me to face him." I paused again, eyes still downcast, before telling them,"That was when he kissed me. At first I fought him, but then I gave in. It just felt so good. Strange, and a bit forceful, but strong and gentle at the same time. I let him in my room and we spent some honest time together. Telling stories of our past and things like that. I fell asleep, and the next morning Tristam was gone. I don't know why I did what I did. If it was just the champagne...or something else. Now I don't know what to do."

There was a short pause before Hannah asked curiously,"Which one are you in love with?"

I jerked my head up in shock to see both the girls smiling reassuringly at me. I smiled at them, relieved again, and then thought about the question. Was I in love with Tristam or Antonio? Finally, my answer was,"I honestly have no idea!"

"Then tell them that," Rebecca insisted,"And don't let either of them go until you're sure of which one you love. Now I'm not saying you should string them along,"she told me hurriedly after intercepting Hannah's glare,"But you should hold on to them."

"Thanks," I sighed,"but for now, I need to think. I'm going for a solo run. If anyone asks, you don't know where I am." My gaze bored into their eyes. "Alright?" They quickly agreed and left for whatever mischief they had planned next. I got dressed, went outside, and shifted to my wolf. Then I sprinted smoothly into the fields, feeling the rush of wind in my silver fur. I was just running, until I caught the familiar scents of two other wolves. Deciding to be nosy, I followed the trails until I heard voices up ahead. Human voices. Interesting....

"Come on, Christian,"Cora teased, even though I could tell by her voice that she was annoyed,"I thought you said we were going hunting, not hiking."

"It's just a little further,"Christian insisted lightly, which was odd for him, as I got within seeing distance. I noticed that his hands were over Cora's eyes, again odd (but just in general this time), as he pressed,"You're going to love this."

"Okay,"Cora conceded warily as Christian led her into a copse of trees. I folllowed sneakily, struggling to keep in my wolfy laughter as I realized what Christian was doing. There was a couple of trees missing leaving a circular clearing about 10 feet wide with waving grass and a perfect view of the stars.

Good job, Alpha boy, I complimented in my head. I knew what that sneaky werewolf was doing, and I was happy to act as the secret spying chaperone.

I could hear Cora's delighted gasp as Christian uncovered her eyes and she took in the clearing. "Beautiful,"she sighed as she saw the stars layed out above her.

"Not as beautiful as you,"Christian corrected the awestruck Cora. She turned to him in surprise as he sat in the grass and gestured for her to join him. Cora complied cautiously as he laid back. They laid together and looked up at the stars for a moment before Christian gently touched Cora's chin, urging her to look at him. When she did, Christian admitted gently,"Cora, I'm falling in love with you." This brought a gasp from her, but he pressed on,"I love your strength, your courage, and your beauty. I love the way you never give up on something if you care enough about it. I love your ability to love with all your heart and still have room left to love more." Christian paused, then offered,"I want you to know that I'll never leave you if you don't want me to. I'll stay in the human dimension, if that's what it takes. Or you could come with me and leave this place to lead my pack with me as my Luna. Anything, as long as we're together. Will you let me stay with you?" He waited as Cora looked at him in awestruck shock.

Eventually, Cora admitted,"Christian, I love you, too." Christian's expression at those simple words made it obvious that no thousand words Cora uttered would ever be equal to that one little sentence. Cora marveled at Christian's expression for a moment, and the two slowly came closer until their lips met.

This was when I backed out to leave the two to their puppy love. (A/N. See what I did there? Puppy love. They're werewolves. Hehe. Anyway...) I trotted off. There was something I needed to do.

I trailed over the hills, finding that jogging route from so long ago. I followed it to the place I'd dreaded for years. And I went into the copse of trees.

This copse had no meadow, no clearing. It was just a couple pine trees, and that's what I'd liked about it. I'd hidden here, once upon a time. Now it would forever be a reminder of something I wanted to forget. But I needed answers.

Using my wolf's nose, I found what I was looking for and shifted to human. I dug through the pine needles until I found a letter. I opened it and found a poem waiting.

She shall be raised until sixteen, 

By those who have never seen.

She shall be found, and then her gift, 

In tradition will tear a rift.

She shall be known throughout the land, 

As unknown distruction comes from her hand.

Then she shall fight 

Against the night.

And will die at the break of day.

May all wise ones beware 

Of the one with golden hair.

For she brings death, but sends it away, 

When she, herself, dies at the break of day.

"What the hell?" I muttered. I reread the prophecy twice before it started to click. I thought out loud,"Raised until sixteen by those who've never seen... Raised by normal people until 16 years old. Her gift in tradition will tear a rift... A supposedly impossible gift. Golden hair... Blond." A feeling of dread settled over me as I thought it over. I came to one conclusion. "It's me,"I stated to the trees. I looked at the poem again and nearly screamed in horror even as I heard running footsteps. I shouted hoarsely,"NO!" I was starting to hyperventilate as I screamed, "I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" I read it again as the footsteps came closer, but it was obvious what it meant. The prophecy didn't say when, but I knew, somehow, that I'd die soon. I fell to the ground in a heap, sobbing, and saw someone coming toward the trees as I fell into the oblivion of unconciousness...

FREAK-A-ZOIDS!!!

What up, peeps? So, what do you think? Undecided love, sappy romance, and an ominous prophecy of death and destruction all in one chapter! Wow, I am GOOD! MWAHAHAHA!!! Anyway...

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(And in case you're wondering why I don't put 'Vote', it's because I don't really know what you'd be voting for! Hehe.)

-Kat