“Isla?” A strange but extremely comforting voice sounded out to me, and I could not help but feel very much at ease.
I blinked a few times and carefully looked around. I did not see anything or anybody, but neither could I pick up anyone's scent.
I imagined this.
Ok, yes. That was it. In a moment or two I would wake up and see that this was all just a silly dream.
“Please, do not be alarmed. I am here for you, to help you.” The voice came again, much more softly this time.
“Where are you?” I stuttered, beginning to feel a little uncomfortable at not knowing where this voice was coming from.
“Here.”
I looked up and gasped, covering my mouth with my hand as I took in the figure standing over me.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, with long fiery hair that flowed down her shoulders, her bright sea-blue eyes as big as saucers and a cute button nose which sat above a huge beaming smile. Her lips were bright red, matching her hair. She wore a black dress to her knees and her hands were resting on her slim waist.
"Who are you?" I managed to say in a loud whisper.
She did not take her eyes off me, instead she held her hand out to me and helped me to stand up. I brushed myself off, suddenly feeling self-conscious in myself.
"I am Crystal, your mother is my sister and she told us to expect you," she said, and now I was even more confused. One minute I am being pulled into a cupboard and then the very next minute I am in a completely strange place.
"Where is my mother?" I asked but did not see her anywhere.
Crystal did not answer me but took my hand and led me up to a path and I gasped with astonishment when I saw a beautiful grey castle. It was huge.
"Welcome home, sweetheart. There are a lot who have been looking forward to finally meeting you.” Crystal said gleefully and pushed open the door as a couple of young girls came rushing over to greet us.
I frowned; this was not my home. But then again, nowhere seemed to be my home right now.
"Wow, you are our big cousin, you are truly more beautiful than Aunty Esme said that you were." One of the girls, who looked to be around six or seven years old, said. She was staring up at me in awe.
"Anya and Cassie, come along now. Do not overwhelm her, there will be plenty of time for all that later."
The girls all stepped back in a neat line and bowed down at the man who appeared in the doorway. He did not take his eyes off me once and I felt an instant calmness in the air. No bad vibes at all.
"I am sure that you are wondering why and how you are here?" he said, stepping closer, and I nodded but remained silent. My lips pursed and shoulders straight as I stood a few meters in front of this wise-looking man. He had a glint of happiness in his dark brown eyes, his hair grey and his face was wrinkly. He wore a black suit with a white shirt and black tie. I still did not have a clue who he was, but it was quite clear to me that he was of some importance.
"Well, i suppose that I should begin by introducing myself. My name is Russell and i am your grandfather. Your mother is my first oldest daughter." he stroked his long beard and watched me carefully as he spoke. I was not sure what to say to all of that.
This was my true family.
My grandfather and all my cousins.
But the question remained: where was my mother?
"You were pushed back into the witch realm by your mother. She used all her energy to save you from the dangers that were looming in the pack that you were residing in. I am sure that you are aware by now that Max is in fact a fraud, he is not the Lycan king and, in fact, he has tricked you. He faces many accusations and crimes. He is nothing more than a fake. An evil warlock disguised as a lycan king. Of course, he has found out about you and your powers and tried to enhance his own powers by stealing yours.”
I was very much aware of Max not being who he said that he was and even the thought of his name made me want to puke up. I could not stand that stupid lowlife loser. I was going to end him once and for all.
"He knew what you were, he wanted to use you, to get to us. He wants nothing but power and greed. Max needs to be defeated once and for all. He will stop at nothing to get what he wants," Russell continued to say.
It was beginning to make sense now.
Max used me for his own benefit and when he realised that he was not going to get that, he turned. I could not believe how stupid I had been to believe his lies and the fact that he was my second chance mate. All one big lie.
Miller had been right about him all along.
“But if my mother is back there, then she must be dying? I must go back there and help her. I cannot lose her again.” I exclaimed, but Russell placed both hands on my shoulders and assured me.
“You can fix this.” He whispered in my ear.
“Together, with our powers, we can get through all of this, please.” It was Crystal who spoke now. She stepped forward and reached out for my hand. She smiled softly and I took a deep breath. This was so much to take in and process.
“To get Esmeralda back, you must go back to that realm and take her back. That could mean declaring war on the packs. Isla, are you ready for this?” Russell asked sternly, he needed to be certain that I was fully ok with all of this.
I would do whatever it took to get my family back and get revenge on those who so deserved it.
"Are you coming?" I asked with wide eyes.
“Do not worry my dear, you have it in you to cope with absolutely anything. You will not be defeated if you believe in yourself and do not allow them to break you. Crystal will be accompanying you. Remember, keep your eyes ahead and chin up.” Russell informed me, to which I nodded.
“Let’s do this.” Crystal took my hand, said a few words, and woodshed her arms about like crazy. I gasped when a thick fog of smoke appeared in front of us and then I was pulled into it without a second to look back and say goodbye to my new-found family.