Chapter 28 Nightmares
“Come here Celest, you have a greater purpose than being here in this inn. We need you; Ravenna needs you. You are the cure for the infection.”
Her voice is so soft and sweet. It sounds like the woman who checked into the inn yesterday.
An outstretched hand is reaching for me, and I look to try and find a face, but everything is blurry.
“Who is there?” I ask into the darkness.
“My name is Olly; my people have been looking for you for the last 21 years. The true Queen shall arise with the collision of the 8 stars, and she alone can cure the infection that has been killing my people. I confirmed it is you, Celest. Please just take my hand and everything will be okay.”
“Olly, I don’t know what you’re talking about, I know nothing about an infection.”
Her hand begins to transform into long bony fingers with sharp pointed nails.
She comes into view as she reaches for my wrist, and she starts fading from the beautiful woman I saw earlier.
Her skin begins to turn green, and warts cover her face and body.
Her hair is black and matted. She wears black tattered robes and her once beautiful green eyes are now dark and lifeless.
“Please, Celest help us!” She screams and jumps for me, and I jerk awake right before she reaches me.
What was that? I sit up straight in bed and look around.
I am in my room and Aylin lays next to me sleeping peacefully.
My breathing is heavy, and I try to center myself and calm down.
I hear humming in the hall and light footsteps passing by outside my door.
No one is supposed to be on this floor besides Aylin and me and my body shivers.
The hair on my arms and back of my neck stand on end.
Aware of another who wasn’t supposed to be here.
“It won’t be long my Queen, Ravenna can’t wait forever,” a voice coming from the hall whispers, and Capella growls within my head.
The footsteps fade as they descend the stairs, and my breathing begins to relax.
I need to tell Aylin about this in the morning, I think to myself and snuggle down into the bed and pull Aylin's arm across me.
I surprisingly sleep soundly until the morning and tell Aylin about the dream when he wakes up.
We quickly dress and go down to talk to Zeta.
The woman from last night was indeed named Olly, but she left very early in the morning.
Zeta had already cleaned the room and noticed nothing odd, except that it looked like no one had stayed in the room at all.
I also found a letter under the pillow on the bed that is addressed to Celest.
The bed was still made, and nothing was moved around besides one chair that was now facing the garden.
Zeta reached in her pocket and pulled out a letter and handed it to me.
“Please excuse me,” I say and head over to the corner of the room. Right across the front it says Celest, and on the back is a wax seal with an R on it. I carefully open it and find a letter written by Ravenna.
Dear Queen Celest,
My name is Ravenna. I have sent Olly, my second in command, to find out if you are the true Queen.
My people and many people before them have been dying.
My people have some kind of plague and in our prophecy, it is stated that once the 8 stars collide, then Celest Queen of the Cosmos will be born and she will be the one to heal us.
I know that all of this will come as a shock to you.
I have watched you most of your life from a distance and could not step in to save you from that awful house.
They started to poison you at a very young age so you could not sense your wolf or true power.
I want you to know the alchemist they used has since been stripped of all power.
After Agnes made her way into the house, I knew that the poisoning would be less or not at all, since she was sent by the Goddess to try and rescue you.
I have lived a very long time and I know a pure vessel when I see one, Agnes is truly captivating.
Since you have returned, and found your place in your pack, announced you are queen, made dead lands fertile and made a pact with a land serpent.
Since your pack seems to be in a safe place, I figured now would be the time to reach out since our prophecy states that we are to be one people. Bonded by the Queen.
There is something you must know, as I do not wish to scare you upon your arrival.
Me and my people are witches and warlocks.
We have been hiding for many years and truly would like to keep it that way.
Until we are truly better, that is. The city we live in is called Endora.
You will not find it on any map but I will include one so you can find us.
You will need to cross into the lake, and once you arrive at the island you must find the rock with the cat’s eyes on it.
Place your hands upon it and speak “I have loved the stars so fondly that the night is a welcomed sight.”
All will then be revealed. I will allow you to bring three people whom you trust.
Please take my request into consideration,
With the highest regards,
The Supreme Lady Ravenna. I look in the envelope and find a folded map. A small island circled, Endora is written in between Pleiades and Bramblestepp. I have seen many maps, and none have this place marked. I truly wonder what I will find upon arriving there.
“Aylin, I need to speak to you about this letter, in private after we eat” “Okay, is everything okay?”
“I am fine but we need to discuss some things about the prophecy and what is to come okay. For now let’s just eat” Aylin looks worried but nods and we sit to eat.
The food, as always, is delicious. I love that I don't have to cook meals for the whole castle anymore, but I do miss cooking in general.
I will have to ask Zeta if I can help sometime.
We tried to help clean up breakfast but were quickly shooed away, so we went into the study to talk about the letter from Ravenna left for me.
“Here Aylin read this.” I pass it to him and he takes a seat by the empty fireplace.
“I don’t know how I feel about this Celest. You have been here for a few months now and though you have come out as Queen, not many people knew about it. But Ravenna seems to know that not only are you here and safe, but that you are also the Queen. I am concerned” “I know, I am worried too.
Aylin if what the prophecy says is true I am to help all the people and bring harmony to the six lands. I can't do that if I am cooped up just in our territory. I have helped our people and we are thriving. If her people are dying I don't see there being an option about how to move forward.
If I can save them I have every intention of doing so.”
“Celest, can we take some time to learn more about witches and warlocks before we make our decision? I don't have any background on these people as they seemed to have disappeared, we thought they had gone extinct.”
In a gentle but stern tone I respond, “Look Aylin, I have been told what to do my whole life, and I am not going to sit by waiting for these people to die. I have two projects here I want to get started on, the elder home and the child care center, but after that I am going to go.
I hate to sound so blunt but I will go with or without you, you know I will. I truly believe this was my intended purpose in life and I will be going. Ravenna said I can bring three people with me. Please let me know who I can bring if you are not joining me. If you are,
please select two more people and I will let you know when I want to leave. I would prefer for you to accompany me but I will go without you if that is what you choose.”
I am standing proudly in front of him, my light purple aura glowing, and turn to walk away.
Aylin hangs his head and lets me walk out without saying anything.
I know this will be a difficult decision for him, he has to think about our pack too.