Chapter 12: twelve

Olivia

~My feet are firmly rooted to the earth. The sensation of the ground beneath me is grounding, comforting. The forest is a sight to behold, far from what I had imagined~.

~Majestic trees tower above me, their roots protruding from the ground, their leaves a vibrant spectrum of colors, glowing with an ethereal light. No, not just glowing. They are alive with light~.

~Despite the darkness, I can see everything clearly. The flowers, the trees, the plants—each one radiates a soft light. Everything is teeming with life~.

~As I wander through the forest, the moon’s reflection dances on the surface of a tranquil lake. I lean over the edge, catching sight of fish darting around beneath the surface~.

~Their scales shimmer in a myriad of colors, their fins and tails delicate and graceful. The forest, its creatures, and flora are nothing short of enchanting~.

~Continuing my journey, I feel a sense of peace wash over me. Everything is so serene. I come across a wooden bridge, its structure not illuminated like the rest of the forest, but adorned with flowers and vines~.

~An inexplicable force draws me towards it, and I find myself crossing the bridge~.

~My hand clings to the banister, fingers tracing the rough texture of the wood and the delicate vines. I glance down to see the bridge carpeted in greenery, with small flowers sprouting sporadically~.

~As I near the other side, I can hear them—see them. Men and women, singing and dancing around a towering bonfire~.

~The fire roars, its red and orange flames reaching skyward. I hadn’t realized fire could reach such heights~.

~The women have flowers woven into their hair. Each person is unique in their appearance. They are all attractive, but their beauty is different from the vampires. They are tall, short, thin, and some are slightly plump~.

~In contrast, the vampires, despite their differences, all share a similar physique—thin, with long flowing hair, chiseled cheekbones, and lips as red as roses. The crackling flames serve as their dance floor, and they move around it with abandon~.

~They show no fear of the flames, of getting burned. They seem fearless. Is this a celebration?~

~Children run around, their laughter filling the air. Everyone is so joyous, so full of life. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. I find myself wishing this place was real~.

~A longing stirs within me to be a part of this, to belong to something that fills my heart with such joy~.

~Finally, I cross the bridge, feeling the earth beneath my toes once more. The flowers and trees are aglow again. No one pays me any attention, and I don’t think they can see me~.

~They continue to dance and sing a familiar melody. I know I’ve heard it before, but that’s impossible~.

~As I immerse myself in the music and the energy around me, I start to feel it—the joy that the earth brings. My feet start to move, and soon I find myself dancing around the fire with the others~.

~As I dance, my vision starts to clear~.

~Some of the women, the men, and even the children start to sprout wings. Not bat wings like the vampires, but more akin to a butterfly’s. Some of them aren’t as tall as humans, but much smaller~.

~I should be shocked, but I’m not. I feel oddly at ease. Their wings seem almost transparent. Their ears are now pointed~.

~Not all of them undergo this transformation; some remain as humans~.

~Suddenly, the beat of drums fills the air. The rhythm is slow and loud, awakening the entire forest. Everyone’s attention is drawn towards the sound~.

~The music and singing start to slow down, and everyone begins to walk towards the moon, towards the sound of the beating drums~.

~I follow them, and there, standing on a hill, are two people. A human man with brown hair and grey eyes, clad in armor, and holding his hand is a beautiful woman~.

~She’s shorter than him, but she appears to be human. Her hair is long and white, she’s dressed in a blue gown, and she’s glowing~.

~As I get closer, I see her true form. She’s not human, but like the others. She has pointed ears and large, light blue wings. Their love for each other is palpable~.

~Everyone around me starts to kneel and bow before them. They must be the king and queen of this land, this forest~.

~They smile and motion for everyone to rise. I move forward, driven by a need to get a closer look. I feel a strange connection to them, as if we know each other~.

~The human man, the king, starts to walk towards the crowd. As he moves away from the queen, a woven basket adorned with flowers and vines becomes visible. I can’t see inside, but I know it’s important~.

~“My friends, my family, tonight we not only celebrate the victory over the blood beasts, but we also celebrate the arrival of the princess~.

~“Thank you for your bravery, and tonight we honor the fallen. Their sacrifice has made it possible for us to live in pea—”~

~Suddenly, a deafening noise echoes through the forest. It sounds like a bomb detonating in the distance~.

~Screams fill the air, and the once-lit forest plunges into darkness. Everything around me is dying. People and children are running, warriors are fighting, but I can’t see what they’re fighting against~.

~Then it happens; vampires descend from the sky, landing on the people and sinking their teeth into their necks, draining the life from them~.

~I try to scream, but no sound escapes my lips. My mouth is open, but it’s as if I’ve been silenced~.

~Some of the attacks are much more brutal. I reach up to cover my face with my hands~.

~The king draws his sword, fighting to protect his queen. I see her running deeper into the forest, the basket clutched in her hands~.

~The king fights valiantly, his sword severing the heads of vampire after vampire~.

~He’s so engrossed in the battle that he doesn’t notice the vampire creeping up behind him. I scream, my voice a silent echo in the chaos. I try to warn him, but my words are swallowed by the noise~.

~I crumple to the ground as the vampire lunges, sinking its teeth into the king’s neck with such force that his head is torn from his body~.

~The vampires erupt into laughter, their cheers echoing through the forest as they continue their merciless slaughter. No one is spared~.

~The forest is drenched in blood, bodies strewn haphazardly around me. I can feel my body trembling, the tremors starting off gentle but quickly escalating. A familiar voice calls my name, its soothing tone a stark contrast to the horror unfolding around me~.

~The forest begins to glow, not with the colors of nature, but with a blinding light. It’s as if the sun has descended, its brilliance obscuring my vision~.

“Olivia, Olive, little dove, wake up. Wake up!”

I blink my eyes open, the room bathed in sunlight streaming through the drawn curtains. Cole and Brayden are hovering over me, their faces etched with concern.

I throw my arms around Cole, clinging to him as if he’s my lifeline. “It was a dream. A nightmare, just a nightmare,” I sob, dampening his crisp white shirt with my tears.

“It’s okay, little dove. It was just a bad dream. I’m here. You’re safe now. You were screaming so loudly,” Cole whispers, his voice a soothing balm as he strokes my hair.

He pulls back slightly, lifting my chin with his fingers. He brushes away my tears with his thumb, his touch gentle.

“I have to leave now, little dove. Brayden will help you get ready and then bring you to my office. Okay?”

I manage a small smile, nodding as I wipe away the last of my tears.

Cole stands, leaving the room with one last reassuring nod.

Brayden is speaking, but his words are lost on me. My mind is a whirlwind, consumed by the nightmare. It felt so real, and I know Cole will want to know about it.

He might have answers, but I’m not sure I can trust him completely. I need to find a way to shield my thoughts from him, to keep the dream hidden until I’m certain I can trust him.