Marisol felt a chill run down her spine as she approached cautiously, unsure of what to expect.
The woman remained motionless, her hands suspended in the air as though she were channeling some dark power. Marisol couldn't tear her gaze away from the eerie spectacle, her heart pounding in her chest with a mixture of fear and fascination.
"Well, look who finally decided to wander into my territory." A voice sneered suddenly.
Marisol's head immediately snapped around at the sound, her blood running cold as she looked around in search of the source of the voice. The figure before her remained unmoving which made everything even more terrifying.
"You thought you were strong enough to fulfill the prophecy?" A bitter chuckle. "You were nothing but a pawn in my game. Your time was almost up, and you were destined for destruction." The voice taunted.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Marisol growled, squinting as she tried to make out where the voice was coming from.
"You don't need to see me to know that I am your worst nightmare. You are no match for me, little hybrid."
Despite her fear, Marisol scoffed, "I'm not the one handing out threats whilst staying hidden, now am I?"
"Foolish girl. The power I wield would be too much for your tiny brain to handle. You'll end up crushed beneath my heel like the insignificant insect that you are."
Marisol opened her mouth to speak, but her throat closed right back up, phantom fingers tightening around her throat.
"No... I won't let you win..." She gasped out, scratching at her neck.
"Struggle all you want. It'll make it more satisfying to snuff the life out of your pesky self." The voice sneered.
The unseen force squeezed tightly, cutting off her air supply and panic surged through her veins as the struggle to break free became even more desperate, tears welling up in her eyes.
"You are weak, Marisol" the voice said, "You always have been, and you always will be. It will do you well to keep that in mind."
Like a flip switch, everything fell dark and Marisol jolted awake, drenched in her own sweat. She looked around frantically, her heart pounding violently in her chest and at finding nothing, she exhaled shakily, reminding herself that it was only a nightmare. Despite her trials at pushing it to the back of her mind, the chilling words of the voice replay in her head like a broken record, filling her with a sense of dread.
Whatever that was, it couldn't have been just a nightmare. Something was wrong. Whatever she had been doing with Leticia did not hold a candle to what Guinevere had planned. They needed to speed things up, or they would all be doomed.
Just then, the door to her room burst open, and Cedric rushed in, concern etched deeply into the furrow of his brow.
"Marisol!" He called, taking her into his arms the next second. "What happened? Are you alright?"
"I felt your distress through the bond," Cedric's words were laced with a sense of urgency as he quickly began to gently inspect her trembling form, his eyes searching hers for answers.
Marisol blinked, her mind still reeling from the nightmarish visions that had plagued her sleep. She struggled to find her voice, the words caught in her throat like shards of broken glass.
Sensing her distress, Cedric's concern only deepened, "It's okay. I'm here now. I won't let anything happen to you. Whatever it was cannot harm you now. Please tell me. What was it?" He coaxed softly, lacing their fingers together.
"Guinevere," the name escaped Marisol's lips in a shaky whisper, the mere mention of it sending a chill down her spine. She was unable to voice the full extent of her turmoil.
Cedric's eyes widened in tandem. He knew all too well the threat that Guinevere posed, and the danger she presented to Marisol and their pack.
"Okay, let's go."
He did not press any further and with gentle hands, Cedric helped Marisol to her feet, his touch a comforting presence amidst the turmoil of her thoughts. Without a word, he led her outside, knowing instinctively where she needed to go.
She loved that he didn't badge her with questions. He didn't even need her directions to know that she needed to speak with Leticia immediately. Something was terribly wrong. It seemed like they were navigating through a cobweb of lies and even more lies until the truth was now hidden too deep to even be accessed.
But Marisol knew one thing for certain. They were not at all prepared for whatever was coming. Not even in the slightest.
Outside the pack house, Marisol's parents stood anxiously, their expressions mirroring Cedric's as they caught sight of the couple.
Nicole rushed forward, her motherly instincts on high alert as she enveloped Marisol in a tight embrace. "Marisol, what's wrong? I felt your distress. Are you hurt?"
Marisol swallowed hard, steeling herself to reveal the truth that had been weighing heavily on her heart. With both of her parent's expectant eyes on her, she sucked in a deep breath, hoping her voice did not carry the weight of the fear that still lingered within her.
"I need to tell you something," Marisol began, her words measured and deliberate. "Remember those nightmares I used to have before I um.... Before I came to Redwood?"
Her parents nodded instantly, the worried glances they exchanged not going unnoticed.
"They were about Cedric. I kept seeing Cedric..... his cursed wolf. It tormented me, but I was somehow always drawn to it. They stopped the moment I met him. And now I have a different one. I saw a woman. I know I sound crazy, but I swear it was Guinevere. She's inside my head again and whatever she's planning.... It's terrible."