Page 13 of Outcast
Oddly enough, I basked in the glow of it, as if it gave off heat like the sun naturally did. I had never felt better in my life, mentally and physically, as if I could take on the world with ease, no matter what it threw at me.
I sat up slowly, looking toward the sound of the water, and noticed a lone figure in a semi-translucent white dress sitting on a rock ledge, bare feet dangling just above the water. Sleek, long raven hair hid her from view, but I could tell this was no ordinary human as she began to sing in a language unknown to me. She seemed otherworldly and divine. Her voice held a beautiful, airy quality to it, and I found myself more drawn to her the longer she sang. Walking closer to her, I felt such a wide range of emotions flutter through me at the tone.
It was a song of loss and death, of that I was sure, and a mournful sorrow filled her tone. Tears gathered in my eyes as her song came to a close.
“You sing beautifully,” I hedged nervously, unsure whether she knew I was here.
She turned around, stunning me with her ethereal beauty. Her skin appeared almost translucent, holding an underlying sparkle. Paired with white, glowing eyes, it contrasted beautifully with her long, dark mane of hair and perfectly arched brows. I swore I could see her thick, long dark eyelashes from here.
She was flawless.
A striking smile lit up her face, putting me at ease in an instant. Something about her seemed familiar, but surely I would remember having met such an otherworldly and beautiful woman.
“Thank you. How intriguing that you felt the emotions of the song without the capability to understand me. Perhaps your soul knows that it is about you and your role in the prophecy.”
Confusion rocked me to my core, and my mouth parted to ask her a question, but for some reason laughter bubbled up out of me instead.
When her face turned somber at my reaction, my hands flew over my mouth in shock. She was serious. But that couldn’t be.
“I’m so sorry. I thought you were pranking me. You can’t be serious....” I trailed off, my eyes wide as saucers. When she just gave me a perplexed look, I continued, “I’m just an ordinary human. I have no special talents—except maybe scrubbing floors. Honestly, I don’t even know anything about the world outside of these pack lands, because I’ve been confined here for the past seventeen years, and…” She held a delicate hand up, cutting my ramblings off.
“Did you just call yourself a human?” She inquired with genuine curiosity.
Was this a trick question?
“Yes?” I answered hesitantly, wondering why she would think otherwise.
It was her turn to laugh now, but her laughter was one that was contagious, and I found myself laughing along with her until we both wiped tears from our eyes.
We spoke at the same time, “It’s so funny that you thought I wasn’t human,” came from me as she said, “You’re hilarious, my young Prophetess.”
Did she just call me a prophetess?
“Kira, you can’t be serious right now,” she said incredulously with a raised brow.
Looking around, it dawned on me—this must be a dream. The serene landscape, my subconscious desire to be more than human, combined with the excruciating pain from a few minutes ago, must have induced this hallucination.
It all made much more sense now. That’s why I didn’t feel any pain and why she felt familiar, because this was all in my head.
I threw my hands up in the air, “You got me. I’m a prophetess andsuperimportant to the world, and it’ll end if I don’t use my kick-ass power to save everyone.”
Anger clouded her face, throwing me off guard. Why was my own imaginary person angry at me?
“Your role in the Dark Prophecy is no joking matter, and as my chosen, you’d do well to remember the severity of the situation you are in. Otherwise I shall strip you of your powers and find a wolf that respects me and the gift.”
Doubt trickled in and anxiety began to flood my system. Panic bubbled up, and I dropped to my knees and quickly fired questions at this mysterious woman.
“Who are you? Where are we? This can’t be real, can it? Am I dead?”
She glided across the short distance between us and settled onto her knees across from me. Reaching out, she gripped my hands within her own, and once more I felt the serene energy of the moon flow through me until I was able to breathe normally and collect my erratic thoughts.
“Better?”
I nodded at her, and she squeezed my hands lightly, her voice softening to a maternal tone. “It sounds like we have much to discuss, Kira. My name is Selene, and I am what the shifters refer to as the Goddess of the Moon. Walk with me as I explain.”
She rose and offered a hand to me, and I placed mine in hers, climbing to my feet a bit shakily.
We began walking alongside the river, and she gave me a few moments of silence to calm myself before continuing.
