More Than An Alpha

Life

The darkness was all consuming, it's many hands grabbed onto me, pulling me down further into the abyss. I struggled against it, my arms flailing and legs kicking. Except I wasn't in my body anymore. What I thought were my limbs were just phantoms of it. I was dead.

I remembered everything leading up to my death. The killing blow that Osckar had landed, the bond of ours irrevocably shattered into a thousand pieces. We were no longer tied together. I should be sad but I didn't feel anything, I didn't want or need anything. My memories just played out in front of me as if they were happening to someone else. I was content to watch and drift in the invisible waves. I had nothing to worry about, no one to care for.

I frowned, was there something important I needed to do? I couldn't remember. I didn't care.

A small speck of light to my left grabbed my attention, it bobbed and darted and grew larger. Was it coming closer? I wasn't sure. When the spec was close enough that I could reach out a phantom limb a face formed, it was my mom. She smiled at me as I continued to drift. Slowly as I stared at her face my emotions began to connect, like someone switching on a plug and the electricity rushed through me.

"Mom?" I asked in excitement.

How had I forgotten her face in the last couple of months? I'd forgotten what she looked like when she smiled. The way her eyes crinkled, the way her nose scrunched up and her mouth tilted. I'd forgotten it all.

"My beautiful Calla," she said, her voice like a sweet melody I'd been longing to hear. "You've been through so much my dear, but know that I've been there with you every step of the way. You've made me proud."

I choked back on tears reaching out for her but there was nothing to touch. Just thin air and golden specks that floated like dust when my hand went through. Disappointment flooded me, I wanted to hold her, I wanted to feel the warmth of her hug one last time. Hear her heart beating and know that she was ok. I missed her so much.

Another speck appeared beside her. My dad. I wanted to rush into his arms the way I did when I was little. I wanted him to lift me in the air and swing me in a circle while joyously laughing. I wanted things to go back to how they were.

"I'm so proud of you Calla." Dad said smiling at me, "You have more trials ahead. This is only the beginning, this is your awakening."

"What do you mean?" I croaked out, my voice breaking into a sob.

"Your witch side is now active, you will now carry an even heavier burden than before. A new responsibility to nature that you will be forever connected to."

"Can't I jet stay here with you?" I begged, I didn't want to go back.

Life was too draining, too sorrowful for me to continue and here in the abyss, it was beginning to feel more like home. Here with my parents again there was no pain and no enemies to defeat. It was bliss.

"It's not your time, there is much that you need to do. A greater threat lies in wait and you need to be there to greet it."

I inwardly groaned.

I felt a gentle tug upward, startled, I stared as my parents grew limbs and pulled me upward.

"No, what are you doing.?" I became frantic attempting to pry myself away.

"We're taking you back to where you need to go."

"I want to stay here with you!" I shouted, my throat raw, "Please, I can't deal with living without you."

"We will always be at your side Calla, guiding you to the right path."

They lifted me higher and faster, a big gust of air blasted past my body and I woke with a gasp. A startled squeal came from the person next to me. I jolted upright to see Florence beside me, I was naked and covered in blood. It took me a moment to remember where I was, to remember what had happened. The training room was dark, the lights had gone out and we were alone.

"Where's Osckar?" I asked, I couldn't feel the bond. I couldn't feel him at all.

"He's gone off to fight Elvira." Florence spoke softly staring at me wide eyed.

"I need to find him." I looked down at myself suddenly feeling awkward that I was sitting here naked. "How long was I out?"

"About five minutes. I wasn't timing it."

I nodded to myself.

"I'm going to find Elvira and end this."

Florence shook her head, "you can't, only Cordelia can."

Something in me cracked, an eye open and whispered that I could do it. It was something ancient and cunning and dangerous but full of power.

"I've got to try."