Chapter 1
The darkness whispers my name, not the one everyone use during the day, only in dreams. the one that felt older, deeper, and more real than the life i’ve lived.
i shot up right in bed breathing heavily chest heaving like ive been running a marathon. the room was quite , the silence pressing against me, thick and heavy moonlight crept through the curtains
my hand flew to my damp forehead, as i tired to calm my racing heart. the whisper hadn’t stop[ed even though i’m awake.
i squeeze my eyes shut but the image came rushing back anyways, this dream felt way to real, too vivid , too sharp like i was living it instead of dreaming it. and this time i saw him.
Golden mismatch eyes in the shadows, a present that pulled me in. his voice echoed in my mind even now deep and full of something i dont know ” come find me before they do ”
My heart pounds against my ribs. i didnt know who ” They ” were but the urgently in his voice left me shaken.
i flew the blanket off of me and swung my legs over the bed ” its just a dream ” i whisper the cold floor grounding me
dreams dont cling to you like this. they dont leave your chest aching or skin tingling as if someone was with you
" youre lying to yourself ”
the voice in my head wasnt mine
i froze, not now
" i know youre awake, sera ” the voice presists sharper thing time. it was Lela, one of my alters, and she always had a knack for showing up at the wrong times ” you can keep pretending this is nothing. the dream means something ”
i clench my fist ” its not real ” i muttured though my voice shook
Lela laughed softly and laced with frustration ” sure, keep telling yourself that but we both know the shadows arent in your head ”
i didnt answer pushing back against her was useless and the effort would leave me drained , instead i stood up and walked to the window, wrapping my arms around myself.
outside the streets were quiet , the city asleep but i couldn’t shake the feeling that someone or something was watching me
i stared at my reflection in the glass, my pale face looked back. dark circles underneath my eyes. my hair a wild mess. but for a second, just a second i thought i saw someone looking back.
i close my eyes and let the memory wash over me. the dream had been so vivid that it didnt even felt like a dream.
id been in a forest , the air thick with mist, the moon hanging low and bright in the night sky. shadows slithered between the trees. whispering. pulling at me but i couldnt make out the words
then i saw him
he stood at the end of the clearing. his golden mismatch eyes glowing like fire. he didnt move, didnt speak at first but i could feel him watching me not just looking but into me like he could see every hidden corner in my mind.
" youre not alone ” his voice was soft but commanding
i tried moving towards him but the ground beneath my feet turned to ash, crumbling with every step i took
the shadows surge forward, reaching out for me and like just before they could i wake up gasping for air
A sharp knock on my door yanks me back into the present ” seraphina, you okay in there ? ” emilys voices was muffled but the concern was clear
" Yeah ” I called back ” just a bad dream ”
she didn't press and i was grateful, i wasn't ready to explain. not to her. not to anyone.
