DREAMS OF PREMONITION

THIRD PERSON POV

Gaia and Thomas were knocked out as soon as they got back to Valkyrion castle. With the effects of the blood moon coming faster than they anticipated, they both needed to recover their energy from what transpired earlier. When Gaia attacked Thomas, her strength was already being stolen from her for unknown reasons. In her state of frenzy, she used her bond as Thomas’s mweya to steal his energy which left him no stronger than a mortal. Now they both needed time to recover before the moon. Avalon sat in a chair next to the bed Gaia was resting in. He glanced out the window to the area behind her castle. The forbidden grounds. He remembered how defensive Gaia got when he almost went into the area a few months ago. She wouldn’t tell him why no one wasn’t allowed back there, and she always made sure he never came close to it again. This was the first time he’s seen it since. Avalon turned to look at Gaia’s peaceful sleeping face and made a fixed decision. If no one will tell me what’s going on, then I’ll find out myself. He kissed her forehead and quietly went out of the door.

***********

Charles sat on the bed resting his back against the head frame while Thomas lay between his legs fast asleep. Charles sat contemplating in thought. He couldn’t understand why everyone was brushing aside the fact that Gaia attacked them and almost killed him. No one is unaware that a vampire bite is lethal to wolves. And had Avalon and Nathaniel not arrived in time, she would’ve bitten him; and bled him dry from the looks of it. Charles knew the Flanington’s were the oldest living vampires around and the only pureblood race left. A normal vampire bite he could’ve survived but one from her or any of her siblings was impossible to survive. Her overwhelming strength and ruthlessness were enough to strike a pang of fear in him. To think I came so close to death. He sighed and continue running his hand through Thomas’s long hair. He looked out the window when he smelt his alpha’s scent. He furrowed his brows when he noticed how cautious Avalon was acting.

“What are you doing?”, he mind-linked him.

“I’m tired of being left in the dark and feeling so useless with all of these secrets.”

“Yeah, but they said they would tell us when it was time”, Charles couldn’t deny he was also tired of being left in the dark like this.

“Fuck that. I’m finding it out myself and the first place I’m starting with is the forbidden grounds. Gaia always got defensive when I brought it up so it must start here.”

Slight alarm bells rang in Charles’s head at the thought of going against Gaia’s wishes to stay out of the forbidden ground. But he also couldn’t disagree with Avalon.

“Wait for me. I’m coming with you.”

He slowly removed himself from Thomas’s hold and climbed out the window. He slid down the side of the building until his feet touched the ground. The forbidden ground was on the other side of the forest behind Gaia’s castle. They had to pass through it to get there. But when they tried to enter the forest, a young vampire stopped them. He bowed his head to them, “Alpha Carter, Beta Larmint. Access to this part of the forest is prohibited without Master.”

“Why?”, Charles questioned.

“The forbidden grounds lie beyond this forest. No one is allowed entry. Not even you I’m afraid. If you choose to ignore this then I’ll be forced to notify-”, Avalon reached over and snapped his neck before he could finish. Charles quickly caught his body before he could fall and gently lowered his body to the grass-covered ground.

“What the hell are you doing?!”, Charles hastily whispered.

**************

Gaia blinked her eyes, slowly sat up, and took in her surroundings. A purple sky with no clouds reflected in the lake she lay in. She rose from out of the water and walked to the shore where the faceless man sat, “What warning do you bring this time?”

“There’s a traitor in your pack. They’re impersonating someone else and if you don’t find them soon then all would flow according to William’s plan.”

“William again huh? I’m starting to get really tired of him.”, she sighed exhaustedly.

“Believe me. I know. He wanted me to tell you that he’ll find you eventually and that your time is running out.”

“The early effects of the moon were his doing, wasn’t it?”, Gaia turned her head and looked down at him.

“Yes, and he’s not done. He has a witch on his side. A powerful one. She’s using black magic to tamper with the moon. It’s coming today. You need to tell them the truth before it’s too late.”, Gaia played with the long sleeves of the silk white dress she was wearing. It was long enough that her toes were barely visible.

“I don’t understand. Why are you helping me when you won’t even allow me to see what you look like? You won’t even tell me your name.”, she questioned, brows furrowed.

He sighed and stood up, “It’s not that I don’t want to Gaia. The witch he has, she’s used some kind of enchantment on me. It’s restricting my use of magic and the ability to tell you anything.”

“You don’t need to tell me who she is, I think I have a clue. Only she would work with someone as vile as William. As long as they don’t suspect a thing and we follow the plan, then we can kill William for good. We can send him and his army to hell.”, Gaia stood up.

“But this plan of yours. It implicates you too much. Let your family help you.”, he walked back to the water. “Why are you willing to suffer like this?”

“Because of all the million possibilities I’ve thought of, this one allows me to make sure they all survive.”, she smiled.

They were silent for a while before he spoke again, “Someone is trying to enter the barrier in the forbidden grounds.”

Gaia’s head snapped up in alarm, “WHAT?”. She rubbed her hand down her face in frustration.

“They obviously cannot get through but the-“

Gaia looked over at him as he stopped talking. His eyes widened in panic and then he was dragging her back to the water.

“They’re back. You need to go before he realizes I have enough magic to dream walk.”

“Wha-“, but before Gaia could ask he shoved her into the water, “GO!”

Gaia closed her eyes as her entire body fell backward into the water and her conscience faded.

***************

Charles and Avalon are stopped by the coven from entering the “forbidden grounds” many times before they came up to the barrier around the forbidden grounds. Their eyes caught each other when they realized it was enchanted. Avalon had little to no resistance passing through it but when Charles tried to step through, it wouldn’t let him pass.

“What the hell is this?”

Something glowing in the corner caught Avalon’s attention. Charles looked over when he realized Avalon’s attention was caught elsewhere. They approached what looked to be a glowing rock that was pulsing waves of red. They followed the direction the energy was going and noticed several other rocks just like it, “Rune stones.”

“These are rune stones. That must be what’s keeping this barrier up.”, Avalon looked up at the dome in wonder.

Charles squinted his eyes in suspicion when he realized Avalon had no problem crossing over, “But why can you cross over so easily, and I’m being restricted?”

Avalon looked down and realized Charles was right. He was inside the barrier, while Charles was stuck outside, “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because Gaia’s magic is what made the runes. Think about it, the guards we passed here said only Gaia could come in here and only she could bring people inside. I probably got in because she’s, my mate.”

Charles nodded in agreement, “That makes sense but then what do we do now?”

Before they could answer a voice interrupted them, “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING??”

Avalon and Charles looked over where the voice came from. Iris and Nathaniel were standing behind them, staring in horror.

“GET OUT OF THERE AVALON!”

“Why should I?! You’ve all been secretive to the point that someone almost got hurt. And instead of clarifying what the fuck happened, you all brushed it aside.”

They both tried to enter but just like Charles, they couldn’t get past the barrier, “How are you inside?”, Iris questioned curiously.

Nathaniel interrupted, “That doesn’t matter. Get the fuck out before Gaia realizes you’re here. These grounds are forbidden for a reason. Mate or not, I don’t know what she’ll do if she catches you here.”

“What’s behind these doors?”, Avalon questioned stubbornly.

“Do not go through those doors Carter. Last warning.”, Nathaniel threatened.

“Or what? Are you going to stop me?”, Avalon challenged.

“No. But I will.”, another voice interrupted.

Before Avalon could realize he was snatched out of the barrier. Gaia stood in front of him with an annoyed expression on her face, “I told you to STAY OUT of here Avalon.”

“What was I supposed to do Gaia?”, he shouted. “How long do you intend to be secretive and keep me in the dark?”

Thomas phased in and stood behind Gaia while leveling both Avalon and Charles a glare. Gaia was prepared to argue before she paused when she noticed something.

“How were you inside the barrier?”, she questioned in suspicion.

“What?”, Avalon paused in confusion.

“You were inside the barrier. No one other than me is allowed inside, so how did you get in?”

“I just walked in.”, Avalon said.

“That’s not possible. Only Andrew was allowed to that…he made sur-“, Gaia’s eyes widened as shock took over. She squinted her eyes at Avalon, emotion bubbling inside her.

Thomas knew exactly what coursed through Gaia’s mind at that moment, “No. We would’ve noticed something like that Gaia. We would’ve seen a sign or something.”

Gaia shook her head and stepped away from Avalon, “No but we did see the signs. It was right in our face. His name, Thomas.” Gaia looked over at Thomas as the realization sunk in, “His name is Carter.”

“But Gaia. All of Andrew’s descendants died. There’s no way that the Todium pack is his blood.”

“Andrew had a brother- “

“Who was human Gaia. It’s not possible.”, Thomas interrupted.

“Unless…”, Gaia walked over to Avalon, grabbed his face between her arms, and pressed her thumbs into the side of his head. Avalon let out a grunt of pain and collapsed to his knees in front of Gaia. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as Gaia’s blue eyes started glowing and she started mumbling under her breath.

Charles tried to grab her hands and stop whatever she was doing to his best friend, but Thomas blocked his way, “Stop.”

“Get out of the way Thomas. What's she doing to him?”, he questioned Thomas.

“A spell. She’s checking the memories of every alpha in the carter bloodline that stood and lead your pack all the way back to the first one.”

Thomas ran a hand on Charles’s cheek to calm him down, “She’s not hurting him.”

A range of memories flashed across Gaia’s mind. Memories she had long forgotten. Memories she had with someone who wasn’t Avalon. From the time she first saw Andrew to the day he died. Gaia abruptly pushed herself away from Avalon who was crouched over trying to rub the ache from his head. Thomas grabbed Gaia before she could collapse in shock. Her eyes remained wide as she opened her mouth to say something. But whatever Gaia had seen had clearly left her too puzzled to say anything.

Thomas grabbed her face between his hand and rolled her head to look her in the eyes, “Tell me what’s wrong. What did you see?”

Gaia turned her head back to Avalon, “It was him.”

“More words Gaia”, he urged her.

“His bloodline. His entire ancestry. They stem from Andrew. Andrew’s brother, Leon, who was the first alpha of the Todium pack.”, Gaia tried to slow her racing heart, but the panic was slowly taking her ability to think as well.

“That’s too big of a coincidence Gaia- “, Nathaniel tried to tell her, but she cut him off before he could continue, “I saw it. His memories. They all belonged to Andrew.”............ “The ceremony.”

“I remembered the luna ceremony. Todium pack’s tradition of holding a luna ceremony for every alpha mate bond of different species was what Andrew had wanted for us before he-”

“But that doesn’t make any sense. It’s known that Leon was the first Alpha of the Todium pack, but he was also human.”, Nathaniel said.

“There’s also no way that Leon’s bloodline would allow Avalon to have Andrew’s memories. They’re two different people.”, Iris interrupted.

It got quiet as everyone tried to think when Thomas spoke, “What if it isn’t the bloodline?”

Charles furrowed his brows, “What do you mean?”

Nathaniel snapped his fingers in realization, “Of course.”

Gaia closed her eyes and let out a relieved breath, “It’s not the bloodline.”

“Then what is it?”, Avalon questioned.

“Reincarnation.”

Iris’s eyes widened, “Fuck…”

“Nothing you’re saying is making sense. Andrew Carter died from a vampire bite, and he was mate less. He had no lovers, no children, and certainly no mate.”, Charles denied

Avalon narrowed his eyes at the way Gaia flinched, “Who was he to you Gaia?”, Avalon turned his entire body to Gaia. His stance suggested he wasn’t backing down without an answer. Gaia saw it in his eyes. The desperation for answers…...and the exhaustion.

“WHAT IS THIS PLACE?!”, he shouted.

“The ‘forbidden grounds’ is in actuality…... a burial ground. And this is…”, she gestured to the door small stone structure behind them, “this is a tomb.”

Thomas grabbed her hand and squeezed it before taking his place behind her in a defensive stance. Gaia decided that she couldn’t keep it a secret anymore and opened her mouth to finally reveal the truth. Words were meant to come out but instead, a scream of pain sent her to her knees. Avalon rushed to grab Gaia when another pained shout came from behind him; Thomas was also on the ground screaming in pain. Everyone’s head raised simultaneously as pained shouts echoed around them. The red glare of the moon was as blinding as the sun. It covered everything in sight with a deep blood-red hue. Avalon and Charles held on to their screaming mates as despair clouded them.

It was here.

The blood moon.