Luna

Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Prophet

I saw a light in the distance. Humming, singing, floating motionless. I had been here before, but when? The light was so beautiful. I had touched it before, hadn't I? Connected with it. I wanted that again. I wanted to become one with the light. I reached towards it with my being. We became one.

The light burst into thousands, no, millions upon millions of intricate shards. Each shard had its own voice. They sang to me, so sweetly. I wandered among the lights, studying them, for a long time. Above me I heard a familiar feminine voice. I looked up towards the shard. My shard.

It looked different. It was even more beautiful than before, if possible. It was bigger now. The blues and greens trailed around the light. Gold embers now blazed within it, making the light burn with glory. I reached towards the light's feminine voice and we connected.

My mind was torn apart with images and emotions. I felt terror, pure terror. Connecting with the light was a mistake. My body wasn't flying like it had been the last time the light and I connected. My body ached, sore and exhausted. I panted as chaos surrounded my cloudy vision. There was smoke, fire and the smell of death. It was strong; it made me want to be sick.

Where was I? What was happening? I could see a large creature standing over me. It looked into my eyes with eyes like luminescent fire. It's body was a metallic silver. It shimmered in the light of the many moons in the sky. I involuntarily looked at my surroundings. I was in a courtyard of white stone. It appeared to be nearly destroyed, the surrounding flames charring it black. The sounds of snarling and explosions came from outside the walls. The very ground shook beneath my limp body.The brilliant creature ran to me on four legs. A deep voice spoke inside my head, terrified.

"Luna my child, are you alright? You've fought well, but much too vigorously. Lay here for a moment and regain yourself. The Soulless now threaten the citadel from all angles. I must rejoin the battle. "

The voice seemed to be coming from the creature above me, speaking directly to my thoughts. Something stirred within me.

"Kalen's wards have been broken through. It's as if this darkness seeks something. Desperately. What that may be, I do not know." The beast looked towards me with intelligent eyes. "Luna, are you all right?" the creature bellowed. "Luna, my child, answer me!"

Was the creature calling me Luna? I still had no control over this body. I couldn't respond, even if I wanted to. Suddenly, my vision gained a golden tint. My body shook. I replied to the creature above me in a feminine voice. The voice of the light I had connected with. It was now cold and emotionless, as if possessed.

"Seek the One Passage, two worlds unite,

As last moon fades from citadel's sight,

Stand at the edge of Eternal Abyss,

As Etria's heroes and heavens kiss,

Bound to the humans, new strength you will find,

Betrayal awaits at the turn of the tide,

Find now the paradox, hidden within,

Dreamstalker's gift the beginning of end,

Darkness to face and seal to be broken,

All by the strength of the prophet who spoke it,

Destroy the Confines, save the light,

The Chosen Soul must end this fight."

The voice of the creature was even more terrified as it responded. "What is this? Is this...Luna have you just spoken prophecy? Luna speak to me! Please speak to-"

I didn't hear the rest. The vision was gone as abruptly as it had come. I was back in the void, surrounded by lights for a split second before I woke .

I gasped and sat up quickly. I instantly regretted lifting my head. It ached terribly, making my stomach queasy. I was in the nurses office, on a makeshift cot. My mom sat by my side and looked at me, her eyes full of tears. At the foot of the cot, Finn stood smiling at me.

"Hey sleeping beauty," Finn said.

I tried to lay my head back down but mom grabbed me in a tight embrace and started to sob. I had just been dreaming. The lights. The prophecy. A courtyard of white stone, burning. Why was I in the nurses office?

Reality came rushing back. I had been in a fight. A real fight. I had hit Blake White. I had won. So why was I in the nurses office with a throbbing head? Mom released me, gazing at me with watery eyes.

"That Mitchell kid gave you one nasty cheap shot," Mom said "You're lucky you didn't end up in the hospital Cale. I was so worried when I got called in."

"I was able to tackle him and get punched in the gut while you were out. It was quite impressive." Finn said, starting to chuckle. He stopped laughing when Mom glared at him.

"I'm glad you two are okay," Mom said "but what you both did could get you expelled. Cale, Finn won't answer me. Why did you hit Blake. Talk to me hunny."

I was silent. I couldn't tell her that I'd been defending her. Sure, I confronted Blake because of Brian, but that wasn't why I'd hit him. I'd hit him because he started to talk about mom. I wouldn't tell her the truth. Instead I shrugged.

"We'll talk about this later," Mom said. "I signed you out already. Let's get out of here."