"It's time to wake up, sleeping, Sarah."
I heard smoke enter my nostrils and I sneezed twice. Waking up to different ingredients of food around me.
I heard faint whispers and saw the old granny sifted beside me, her pet sat opposite her while I was tied down.
I tried to break free but the grip was too strong. I was tied down on a wooden table and my face was facing the sky.
The sky! We were outside, Lorien must be around.
"Lorien! Lorien!"
I screamed desperately.
"Oh my sweet Sarah, no one can hear you here. We are in the heart of the forest," she replied grinning devilishly as she kept grinding a substance.
"Let me go! You witch!" I yelled at her angrily.
"You know Caelum must have seen something in you."
I widened my eyes.
"You woke for him?"
"Well, he sent me here to wait for a headstrong girl and bring her to him, but when I saw you, I realized you're the ingredient I've been looking for, and I can't give you to caelum," she explained.
"What ritual are you doing?"
"You are so young and so full of life so I'm taking your youth." she retorted teasingly.
"Are you not ashamed of.....
"Eat up, Sarah,, and wither away." she interrupted as she forced the substance down my mouth forcefully.
It went down my throat and I coughed hard. I felt dizzy and wondered how I'd look if I became old. At least Lorien will be off my neck.
She laughed continually and closed her eyes.
After a few minutes, she opened her eyes but nothing changed.
"What is wrong? Why am I still in this old body!" she screamed and looked at me suspiciously.
"What have you done? What did you do"
"I did nothing, you witch!" I yelled back.
"The ingredients are complete, nothing was missing except…your name is not Sarah," she said as she stood up furiously.
"Well I mean, it's almost the same with my name," I replied.
"You stupid girl…
"That's enough!"
I turned my head and saw Lorien leaning against a tree. I became relieved.
"And who are you?" The witch asked eying him.
"Well, it's a shame you don't know me."
"Rip him apart, Susan!" she commanded, and the wolf ran to Lorien.
"Watch out!" I screamed as I closed my eyes then opened it and saw the wolf bleeding on the floor.
"No!" She screamed and hurried the dying wolf. "How dare you!"
"Well, you should not have sent a wolf to a werewolf. You belittle me." Lorien replied as he walked towards me.
Suddenly she started laughing hysterically. "You think I gave you an ordinary substance? That powder will make you paralyzed and get old age symptoms."
"Well, I still have the moonbloom to heal me," I replied as Lorien untied me.
"You mean this?" she removed the healing herb from her pocket and showed it to us. "Come get it!" she added and Lorien rushed her while I suddenly lost my balance.
My hands and legs became stiff and my head ached seriously. I was paralyzed.
Lorien came to me holding the herb and he took me up from the floor into his arms.
"Where have you been? " I asked softly.
"It doesn't matter, let's get you treated."
~~~~~~~~~~
We got to the castle using a secret passage only Lorien knew about.
The traditional healers were sent for and each one had a medication. I was bedridden for days until the moon bloom was cooked as tea by a special healer who was summoned across the three seas.
I took it and was instantly healed. Lorien was busy with the kingdom matters so has no time to come see me.
I was sitting on my bed one afternoon when Lorien entered quietly.
"How are you doing now?"
"Better than before," I replied raising my legs.
I heard another footsteps walk in quite elegantly.
I turned my head in the direction.
"How are you now Seraphina?"
It was Isolde. The woman Lorien saved instead of me. My mind was filled with hatred for her.
"I'm fine, thank you."
"You have to be stronger, your second trial is ready," she replied nonchalantly.
I turned my gaze to Lorien, surprisingly, if they made the decision together.
"Well, what she meant is that you should stay healthy and get ready for the second…
"I heard her right." I interrupted and lay on the bed silently then pulled up the blanket.
"Let's go and have a drink Lorien," she announced and made sure I heard.
"You can go on, Isolde; I'll meet up with you later," Lorien replied as she left, the sound of her heels departing.
He walked over to my bed and asked.
"Are you fine?" He asked gently, placing his palm on the side of my face.
"Don't act like you care for me" I yelled at him angrily.
"Don't behave childishly, Seraphina; you have to rest and regain your strength before the second trial. Don't misuse it." He replied pushing my hair backward.
"Go and have a drink with your special partner," I said.
"You have changed.." He stated as his eyes lingered on my face.
"Probably," I whispered to myself.
"You did well today, what do you want to be your reward?" He asked closing onto me.
"I'll declare my rewards after I've finished my three tasks, what is the next one?" I asked as I tried to stand up but he pushed me back to the bed.
"You've got to rest now; I'll assign the other tasks to you when you're physically okay," He commanded, moving away from me.
I wanted to finish the tasks quicker, resting can wait. "No, I'll finish them up now" I declared and stood up, losing my balance.
Before I knew it, his strong arm reached out behind my back and held me tight. His eyes locked with mine, and I found myself, holding his robe tightly for support.
He looked at me, not like the past. This look was different, he looked at me as if I was magical….as if he needed me.
I could not explain it, but there was a bond between us that he did not want to accept; he did everything to avoid the bond.
"You're so naughty and too stubborn." He affirmed quietly.
"I was forced to be."I retorted basking in the moment.
"I should teach you how to be a better lady." He muttered drawing my body close to his.
"You…. are something else." I whispered, his presence taking total control of my mind and voice"
"I think I'm starting to like the new you, my dear Seraphina." He said teasingly.
I felt so vulnerable; my body wanted him, but my head said otherwise. His breath was so calm and warm unlike him. It was as if I was bound by a spell to him.
Suddenly, he leaned in, our lips met in a slow and gentle kiss. He placed his palm at the back of my head and that gave him no space between us.
This man wanted domination over me, over my body! His lips were warm and soft, I slowly released myself to him. He deepened the kiss, and I became lost; all that existed at that moment was just Me and my Alpha.
I felt a rush of thrill run through my body and veins as our lips entwined together, I got weak in my legs and hung on him for support.
He noticed and swooped me up in his arms, staring at me so beautifully…I've never been so happy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Dark energy! Dark spells! Dark magic!
I was in danger!
I opened my eyes and quickly sat upright, nobody was in the room.
Was I dreaming?
It was not a dream, I felt it.
I could sense dark energy in my room, I was probably overthinking.
I brushed off the thought and was about to settle into my blanket when I heard the distorted voice.
"You feel me, Seraphina. Don't ignore me."
I quickly stood up from my bed and became alert. My feelings were not wrong. I should not have shaken it off. It was not a dream, it was reality.
I heard a laugh, it echoed through the room.
This was the moment I needed the Alpha.
"Who are you?" I asked shakily.
"Ohh….I am nothing and I am everything. I'm nowhere and I'm everywhere….
"Then show yourself…coward!" I blurted out confidently, I should at least know what I was up against.
A shadow suddenly showed up in my front, there was nobody but the shadow. It had a woman's form, the shadowy hair was flowing abundantly.
"Don't be in a haste, Seraphina. I'll make it quick…you won't feel a thing," The distorted voice called out, teasing me.
Are you here to kill me?" I asked, saving myself some time. I need a savior.
"How'd you know?" The shadow giggled deeply.
I had to escape, and escape fast!