Mated Destinies: Light and Fire

"Come, Elara, come,” a woman dressed in white, her robe shining like stars, called out to me. I was curious so I followedher. I was so captivated by her beauty, elegance, and grace. As I followed, I found myself beneath a sky that sparkled like silver fire.

Then she moved close to me and said softly but firmly in a whisper,

Another voice, sharp and familiar, broke through the fog before she could respond.

I was startled awake by the sound, my eyes adjusting to the morning light as the mist faded. The dream disappeared, but the memory of her words remained, causing my heart to race.

I looked over to my aunt. "Ma! Are you alright? Still catching my breath, I asked.

She stayed by my side despite the village rumors, that I was possessed, because my skin glowed in the moonlight. Instead of turning away, she would gently cup my cheek and say,

Aunt Caroline never spoke about my parents. Ever since she took me in, not once.

"But, Ma, what's today?" Still a little shaken, I asked.

I got out of bed, quickly washed up, and returned to my room to figure out what to wear. For some reason, selecting the right clothes has always been torture. But I never really cared. It was only a small village, after all.

Evershade Village, my home, was a place where everyone knew everyone. It was a small, friendly neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. It felt quiet and forgotten, but at night you could still see the city lights glowing in the distance. The village's greatest pride was its flowers. They were endless, wild, and colorful, which grew everywhere. Their lovely smell filled the air and made Evershade beautiful, even when it was completely quiet.

I finally chose an outfit: a black tank top, denim dungarees, and white sandals. I swung my waist pack over my shoulder and picked up the bouquet of roses for Mr. Kart.

I looked in the mirror,

When I arrived at Mr. Kart's store, a small crowd had gathered outside. People stood in groups, muttering, their faces tense with fear.

I got off and made my way through the crowd slowly. "Good morning," I said.

"Thank goodness," I sighed with relief. I thought I was late. But, what's happening outside?

My heart sank, "Missing? How?"

"Well, we need to do it quickly. "What's the delay?" I asked.

"That place is unsafe, my dear. For all we know, it's somewhere we shouldn't go - or be seen in. That's why we need to gather our toughest men before we begin our hunt."

“Yes, I’m in,” I said firmly. “I’ll just call my aunt first. I don’t want to keep her worried.”

I pulled out my phone from my waist bag, ready to dial her number, but before I could, I noticed a new message flashing across my screen.

Stay safe, Moon. I’m sure you’ll do great.

I froze, confused. How did she know? I hadn’t even told her yet.

Before I could respond, a firm, anxious voice came from outside,