Chapter Fourteen: Found You

ZOVADA

The smell of something sweet, sticky, and calming surrounded me. It vaguely reminded me of the smell of bread in the oven.  Wind in my face as the world around me seemed to press against my form. My eyes fluttered open; I was wrapped in a giant talon, high above the forest, cardamom and coconut blended with the sweet smell. Warmth flooded my senses as we descended into the forest. The creature carrying me was darker than the night; had I not been in its grasp? I’d think the movement was a trick of the eye. The creature gently placed me on the ground, and with a stumble I hit the patch of grass beneath. 

I turned to say something, but it was already gone–silent as the night it disappeared into. With an uneasy breath, I searched my surroundings to find the same sprawling cabin in the woods from before. The ground crunched beneath me as I staggered toward the wrought iron gate with the V built into it. This time it was closed; dead, vicious-looking thorns covered the entire gate and stretched across the never-ending fenceline down both sides of the property.  

“What is this? The Secret Garden?” I muttered and reached for the gate handle. It was locked, I rattled the handle, but it didn’t budge. Frustrated, both hands gripped the handles and shook it, the sound loud as everything clattered against itself. 

“Why bring me here if I can’t–” As I yelled the words, I nicked the skin on my hands, blood dropped on the thorns. “Gah!” 

Before I had time to react, the thorns bloomed with roses of every single color. My eyes widened as one by one, blossoms opened from the fossilized vine and spread like wildfire all the way down the line which burst the gate open. I jumped back in shock as every plant nearby burst with colorful flowers and plants. Animals and insects flocked to the area while I cradled my hand. The voice in my head from before whispered, “You’ve returned, Princess…” 

“My wolf?” 

“Yes… come inside…. Find what you seek…”

That sweet, sticky bread smell came back to me, curiously I followed the smell. “What is that?” 

“Come in and see….” 

I approached that giant double-door entrance to the cabin, the door was locked as well, but there was a giant keyhole in the center. The giant iron key I'd received from the Luna Mother began to feel heavy and warm in my pocket. I pulled it out, it was so hot I hissed and nearly dropped it before it began to glow a green color and float towards the door, before it lodged itself in the hole and turned. The cling of the lock was so loud it was deafening. 

The doors creaked open to reveal a welcoming corridor larger than a common sitting room in the packhouse. There was a large statue of a leaf as tall as the vaulted ceiling, names connected to each other like roots were etched into it. I raised a brow and ran my fingers across the very last one that read, Zovada Sage… “What…?” 

Suddenly, the leaf glowed green and vibrated, the sound reminded me of a harp, the light pulsed and leisurely moved around the room to light all of the torches in the corridor, like a cat that had awoken from a great nap. My boots squeaked when I stepped to the side and took in the earthy decor, the plants in the pots shook and erupted with color, the windows opened and a breeze tussled the sheer curtains. That bread smell led me toward the kitchen, and I could’ve sworn it sounded like the wood beneath my feet creaked like a yawn. 

On the stone countertops, there was a steaming loaf of bread with a small bit of purple colored nectar in the crease. It smelt divine, like it had been blessed by the moon itself–and it was the owner of the sticky-sweet smell I’d been following. 

As I stared at the bread, I had a strange image in my mind of a woman with silver eyes with a green tint, grey hair, and ivory complexion twirling around the room humming a tune as she stirred some batter in a bowl. Her dress flowed beautifully behind her. It felt like a distant memory, “Who…. what?”

The voice in my mind sounded again. “Honeysuckle moon bread. Your favorite…”

“How is that my favorite? I have never even heard of it before…”  

“Try it. Try it and remember…” She whispered. 

As if I were Alice in Wonderland, I grabbed the knife next to the bread and sliced through the perfectly made dough. The smell permeated all of my senses, and my body felt as if it were waking up. 

I cut a slice of bread, and then grabbed the butter knife next to it with the cinnamon honey-smelling butter, and spread it along the warm surface of the bread. A strange sense of deja vu came over me. What is going on? There was a delightful chuckle in my mind from what was associated with my wolf. “Honeysuckle Moon Bread. Honeysuckle, lavender honey, vanilla, moonlight, and windflower nectar. Try it.” 

I nodded and took a bite of the bread. Familiarity flooded my senses as images overwhelmed my senses. People I didn’t know but felt like I did. A glittering wolf, a nearly invisible dragon raced across the sky, flames, the cabin, the woods, and then darkness. A reverent whisper, “Moon Goddess, we serve thee. To thine we bind thee. As one we free thee… 

A sand timer appeared in front of me, and it flipped over on its own. I watched the sand as it trickled down, entranced. I reached my hand out to touch it before everything around me shattered. 

I shot awake to find myself in my private Sanctuary suite, surrounded by the Gammas, and Luna Claudia. 

“Luna!” Gamma Didi cried. 

“Thank the Moon Goddess, My Little Leaf.” Luna Claudia cried. 

 I sat up and looked around in confusion. 

“I told Simon you would not be staying in that room with him. Figured you’d need some space.” Luna Claudia replied. 

“Thank you, Luna Mother.”

“Are you alright now, My Luna?” Gamma Didi said. 

“Yes,  I think I just need some space and fresh air.” 

“Of course, My Little Leaf.” Luna Claudia nodded and ushered everyone out, including a displeased and unamused Didi. Once the room was cleared I took a few deep breaths, kicked off my shoes and changed into my pajamas. The grass felt soft against my bare feet as I stepped out my private glass entrance, tying my robe to my body. 

The chill in the air was overwhelming against my lungs. I made my way to a secluded part of the garden, my mind a mess, my emotions in shambles. Realization dawned on me as I realized something was missing. I raised a brow and looked around, there was nothing. No sounds. Birds were gone, all life ceased to exist. The only plants and grass I could see, was the path I had taken, where flowers had bloomed where I’d walked. Ahead of me was unsettling. There was just simple nothingness. No light. No noise. Just a void.

Unable to diffuse my curiosity, I walked toward the void until it swallowed me. Once there was nothing else on any side, my heart thundered in my chest. Hair stood on its end. Something prickled the back of my neck. 

My breath caught in my throat as I slowly turned towards the low rumble a short distance away. 

Something moved in the void. I moved towards it.

Amber eyes shot open, a terrifying voice all but growled “Found you.” 

The most terrifying part? I wasn’t afraid of the voice.