Gracie nodded, her curiosity aroused and her heart still racing. She sensed there was more to her brothers than met the eye, and she was about to uncover just how deep it ran. Jesse continued, "Our family, Gracie, is not entirely... ordinary. We hail from a long lineage of supernatural entities. You could label us as... witches and wizards."
Gracie's eyes widened, and she nearly chuckled, believing they were jesting. However, the gravity of their expressions silenced her. "Witches and wizards? Seriously?"
Sam chimed in, "Absolutely. And those nightmares you've been experiencing, they're not mere random dreams. They're a sign, a link to our realm."
Gracie was now fully engrossed in their narrative. "A link? What do you mean?"
"You need to brace yourself for what lies ahead," Sam declared.
Gracie found herself puzzled by Sam's statement. "What's coming?" she inquired, still grappling with the entire concept.
"The responsibility of becoming the future leader of our coven. That's why you've been haunted by those nightmares. You must depart from here and confront the coven's elders," Jesse added.
"No, I refuse this fate. I'm not a witch, and I won't accept the burdens of rulership. I have no interest in it. Is there any way to evade this?" Gracie protested.
"If you reject your rightful role, you'll be hunted for all eternity," Jesse warned.
Jesse's words weighed heavily on Gracie's heart. The gravity of their revelation overwhelmed her, and she struggled to digest it all. Witches, wizards, and the specter of eternal persecution-it was all too much to bear.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she glanced at her brothers. "I never asked for any of this," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I just want a normal life."
"It's for the best if you meet with the elders as soon as possible," Jesse advised.
"I don't want to," Gracie replied, sniffing.
"Gracie, you don't have a choice. Do you want to be tormented for the rest of your life? Get ready. Tomorrow, at sunset, we'll bid farewell to this foreign land," Jesse declared.
Feeling defeated, Gracie rose from her seat, walked upstairs, and lay on her bed, tears streaming down her face. The past three days had been peaceful; her brothers had performed rituals to temporarily quell her nightmares. But deep down, she dreaded the impending visit to the elders.
Suddenly, her thoughts turned to the white wolf, the one who had come to her aid and helped her confront her tormentor. What if she sought his help? What if she avoided meeting the elders, or whatever her brothers called them? How could she contact him for assistance? What should she do?
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and softly uttered, "I wish for you to come to my rescue." A gentle breeze enveloped her, and when she slowly opened her eyes, she lay back on her bed, awaiting a response.
***
"Your highness, may I request a private audience?" Zaya implored his father, whose visage remained inscrutable and stern.
"Whatever you wish to convey, it can be done in the presence of our esteemed elders. After all, it's just a simple query. Why not discuss it openly?" The alpha king inquired.
Zaya found it impossible to secure a private moment with his father. He seethed with a mixture of anger and frustration. At this juncture, he realized that he had no choice but to lay everything bare in front of the elders, all of whom seemed to be scrutinizing him intensely.
"Very well. I couldn't fathom that all of you would suspect me of murdering this young woman," Zaya admitted. He paused for a moment, his gaze shifting towards Kalista's lifeless form.
"Her name was Kalista, and yes, I encountered her by the riverbank last night. She offered to help me escape the clutches of that witch I'm supposed to marry. While her offer was tempting, something about it didn't sit right with me. There was an eerie aura about her," he continued. "I also discerned that she wasn't a werewolf, so I urged her to leave our territory immediately. I never expected to wake up and find her lifeless body this morning."
"Hmm, I see," one of the elders murmured.
"Did you have any companions in the woods when you met her?" The alpha king inquired.
"I can't say for certain, but I did hear footsteps trailing me. I couldn't discern a specific scent, but everything felt peculiar. I don't know if the footsteps belonged to her associates or the individuals who ultimately took her life," Zaya replied, concluding his statement.
"He's telling the truth," the priest, also known as the Eyes of the Goddess, chimed in. He retrieved a talisman from his tattered bag-a talisman Zaya recognized as the one Kalista had instructed him to toss into the river. The person who murdered her had left it untouched.
"I took this talisman from her. The person who killed her showed no interest in it," the priest declared, displaying it to the court's attendees.
"I wish for you to come to my rescue," Zaya heard a faint voice, its impact potent despite its softness. He momentarily felt disoriented, his surroundings spinning.
He became lost in his thoughts, oblivious to the alpha king's repeated calls.
"Zaya!" The alpha king's voice finally penetrated his reverie. "What's the matter? I've been calling you for a minute, but it seems your mind has wandered far."
"I hear something. Does anyone else hear a faint voice pleading for help?" Zaya inquired, appearing dazed.
"I said it. He is surely involved in this young maiden's death."
"Perhaps her spirit is haunting him."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the king's court.
Zaya scanned the room and his gaze landed on Kalista's talisman held by the priest. The talisman was emitting the voice all along, and he couldn't resist its call.
"I wish for you to come to my rescue," the voice beckoned again, and Zaya realized it emanated from the talisman itself.
"The talisman," Zaya uttered as he approached it slowly, moving towards the priest.
"No, your highness," the priest began, but before he could complete his sentence, Zaya seized the talisman. A whirlwind materialized, engulfing Zaya, and just like that, he vanished, leaving the priest holding the talisman with no sign of Zaya in sight.
"Where is Zaya? Where in the world is my son?" The alpha king demanded, rising from his seat.
The priest held the talisman, but Zaya had disappeared without a trace. Where had Zaya gone?