The Half-Blood (BOOK 1 OF THE HIDDEN KINGDOMS SERIE)

Black Eyes

I got to the hotel and took a shower and put on something else. I was in a good mood. As I was putting a cotton beige dress with earthy colored shoes, I thought that I needed to talk to my sister about last night. Maybe she can give me some answers. I fix my hair in a high ponytail, put some makeup, and went to my sister's room. I knocked twice before Maeve opened the door.

"Why are you awake so early?" she said, yawning" What time is it?"

"I think almost nine," I said while I was getting inside, and she went to lay down again,

"Wake up! We need to do something I will get you breakfast. You need to wash your face, change your clothes and come with me." I sat next to her.

"What is going on?" She sensed something was not right. This witch could sometimes feel my deepest emotions. Even if I were in a good mood, she could sense something was bothering me.

"I had a dream last night."

"The same as always? "she asked me in a dozy low voice with her forearm covering her eyes.

"Kind of. This one was different." I paused," I found myself near a lake, it was dark, and a woman was calling my name."

"How did she look?" she said without changing her posture.

"She had white hair, black eyes. She didn't look older than you. Her skin was as white as milk." I recalled.

"Did she say something?" she uncovered her eyes to look at me.

"Yes, she asked me why I took the necklace?" her eyes widened.

"Are you talking about the one I gave you the night before coming here?"

"Yes, she knew. I don't know how, but she said I cannot escape my destiny, and then she disappeared. After that, I remember that I was walking in a forest because I heard something. I found the same people dancing around the fire, and then I saw her again. She asked me to show her that man."

"What?" Her voice sounded a little nervous.

"Maeve, I think she was manipulating my dream because after she asked me, I saw him next to her. I told her I didn't know him, and she told me that I would do it soon. After that, my wolf woke me up because I was screaming. I felt my hands and body burn inside." I finished saying it frantically.

"Calm down, Nala" Maeve tried to appease me." Let me get into your memory so I can have a clear picture of who she is.

I closed my eyes, trying to relax. I could feel the pressure in my mind.

Maeve was now inside.

"Is this the place?" Maeve asked.

"Yes." We were now walking around the lake.

"She was there," I pointed to where I saw the woman. But she was not here to view. I guided my sister to where the campfire was.

"Here I was," I pointed to the spot.

"OK, let's see if we can find her." we looked closely at our surroundings. I felt Maeve's hand holding tightly to my wrist, as I felt her grip I looked at her and saw her looking at something. She was shaking with fear. I moved my gaze to where hers was.

A Flash...

A Scream...

...The Black Eyes...

Maeve's scream was so loud, I could barely stand it. When I broke free from her spell, I found her screaming with her hands covering her eyes. It looked like it hurt.

"Maeve!... Shhhh... Maeve!" I was trying to calm her. I took her hands, so I could see her eyes.

"Are you hurt? ". Maeve slowly opened her eyes, trying to focus on my figure.

"Maeve?"

"Nala..."

"What happened?"

"I saw her... I mean, I think I saw her.. Nala, that entity kicked me out of your mind. It was dark magic. She is definitely a witch and a bad one." she said in a frenetic way, still rubbing her eyes.

"Shit!..." It was the only word that managed to get out of my mouth." But why did a witch like her want something with me?"

"Listen..." she started saying, grabbing my shoulders." If she mentioned the necklace to you, it is because, in some way, your mate is connected to her. This dark magic is after you. We need to talk to Dad."

My mind was blank.

"No, not now. I will talk to Dad as soon as we return home."

"Nala, that's not a smart move. Father can help us find the truth behind your dreams."

"Maeve, I'll talk to him soon. I don't think anything bad is gonna happen right now. I have the necklace all the time."

She sighs and rolls her eyes at me and leaves me sitting there on her bed.

At first, I felt guilty about using the necklace. I was trying to hide from my mate. When my sister came to my bedroom that night saying that she had dreamed of me and that she saw me in pain because I would probably find my mate, I got scared. She noticed it and said it might not happen, but I didn't want to risk it.

****************

A few nights ago

"Can you mask my scent?" I asked her.

"Are you crazy, Nala? I won't do it."

"Please..." I begged her, "Mae, I don't want to meet him yet." I breathe deeply that wasn't true-." I mean ..." I lowered my head with my hands covering my eyes.-"... I mean, I want to meet my mate, but I am not ready yet, not after you just said..."

"Nala, you know that my dreams have not always come true." She interrupted my sentence.

"I don't care. Mae, please just... just help me."

She sighed. "OK, I will help you. Do you have any stuff you can use all the time?"

I gave her the necklace that Mother gave me for my last birthday. It was simple and discreet.

"Won't it break when you turn into a wolf?"

"No, it is wide enough not to break with the turning process."

"OK, I'm going to take it now. I have to look in my books for the spell to mask the smells. I can't remember all the verses now. The only thing I need you to know is this and listen carefully. Once you start wearing this necklace, neither you nor he will be able to smell each other. Even if you look into each other's eyes, you won't recognize each other as mates. Once you take off the necklace, the spell will be broken, no matter if you put it back on. It won't work anymore."

"I will take it."

I felt like a coward doing this. But I was terrified at the thought of suffering for something or someone, especially after seeing my sister betrayed by her mate.

When she found out, he treated her so indifferently that maybe it made her feel worse.

My sister went without food for days, barely slept, and cried in her bed every night. There were no words to cheer her up.

She had a broken soul. Over time she resumed her routine, but walked with an absent expression, even if someone made a joke she laughed without the smile reaching her eyes. Not even our father could help her feel better. When your soul is broken, you are never the same again. And my sister was never the same.