Lightning struck the night sky ferociously. Its sound vibrated around like thunder.
The wind cried violently as it clashed together with the lighting.
Thunderbolts struck the trees as the heavy rain lashed on the grounds of the earth.
As the weather was dark and shady, the moon hung red –deep and ominous, like blood.
Aurora, tired and worn out on the muddy ground, her arm dripping with blood –the gash HE had made.
The leaves crunched under his boots as he came towards her with a devious smirk, glowing red eyes and blood-stained fangs like a starved beast.
"Well, well" he drawled, voice dripped with venom "we meet again –finally."
He struck her.
A powerful force hurled Aurora off the ground as my back hit a tree hard.
She groaned with pain as the gash in her left arm throbbed worse.
Her head received the torment this time as it hit the tree, her vision slightly blurry.
"We all could have avoided this – but of course you chose to be the little savior didn't you AURORA!!"
He growled as he summoned the black plague that slithered through the air, engulfing her in a chokehold slowly lifting me off my feet.
"You thought you could fight…that you were meant to be a savior." He taunted "where is he now…the rebellious alpha – was he not meant to be your protector?"
Aurora could not talk but still wasn't weak and he knew that.
He laughed menacingly, "why don't we make this a little fun – till your alpha decides to join shall we?"
He tightened his hold on her through the dark plague.
Aurora couldn't move. Breathing became a struggle, as the figure tightened its hold on her.
Still dazed, she fought to remain conscious – just enough to fight.
I couldn't give up – Never.
A loud growl was heard. – It shook the ground. It sounded with power throughout.
The trees trembled at its power.
"Finally – he's here," he muttered, lips curling in a smirk.
AURORA!
'He came.' That was Aurora's only thought as she knew she shouldn't have come alone.
Zephan was enraged by the sight he saw.
His mate battling with a life and death, barely recognizable, bound with plague around –
With a loud cry, attacked.
A cold blood war erupted, as the alpha and his warriors fought Him and his army.
This was enough for her. The plague had loosened around her as she fell to the ground hard.
With the little time she had, summoned a spell, rose on her feet – eyes became that of fiery orange.
Waves of power and energy surged through her as well as being felt by all.
Trees fell and the ground trembled aggressively.
He recognized the spell she was chanting, threw one of the warriors off and lunged –but it was too late.
"NOOOOO!!!"
★. ★. ★. .★.
A YEAR EARLIER
Aurora woke with a slight headache. Last night wasn't really what she wanted to look back on.
Aurora softly tossed aside her duvet and sat upright, reaching for her glasses on the side table.
She doesn't medically depend on it, but used it rarely – mostly in the early mornings.
Aurora glanced around her room, so many memories made here which she badly wished to erase.
She'd saved up months ago –enough to leave this hometown and buy a new house, which didn't hold any remnants of her past.
She headed straight to the bathroom to do some necessary cleansing and grooming.
She put on an oversized grey hoodie. Underneath it a blue shirt, black denim jeans and sneakers.
Standing in front of the mirror, she looked –pale.
Her eyes looked shallow, its circles had darkened the more and eye bags more prominent.
She looked thinner and less alive.
She badly wanted to skip work today but decided against it, grabbed her purse and headed downstairs.
Had a little breakfast of coffee –that's what she'd call it.
Standing on the threshold of her house, she took a deep breath, glancing around the neighborhood.
The sun was gracefully rising, its radiant warm rays brightening everywhere, with little children on their way to school, laughing away with joy.
The air smelt like summer with a mix of rain, which was very appealing.
But to Aurora, everything was colorless – bland.
The crunch sound from the leaves which brought joy then in her childhood days now felt like it was mocking her life of being crushed by the weight of adulthood.
She passed by familiar street blocks, scanning the surrounding.
Cars were moving to and fro, people were on and from their way to work.
Passing by her favorite place – a little bakery on the side of the road.
"Aurora darling..
She immediately turned and waved at Mrs Salmon.
An old friendly lady that I've been close with since I was just 14.
Her auburn hair had more and more grey strands as days went by. Her honey comb eyes and her motherly voice which Aurora learned to love till now.
"Morning aunt." Aurora greeted warmly as she hugged her.
"My child, come in, let's have a cup of tea…you don't look good." She observed worriedly.
"Thank you so much aunt, but…I'll be late for work." she politely declined and thanked her, not really having an appetite, but Mrs Salmon was having none of it.
"You silly girl, you look tired –wait here let me get you some snacks." Without waiting for a response she went inside the cafe.
Aurora felt warmth in her heart. Mrs Salmon had always been there for her during one of the hardest parts of her life, and she would forever be grateful to her.
"Take this…please my child." Mrs Salmon had come back and handed her a wrap of something warm. "I know how you may be feeling but I'll always be here for you child." She tenderly cupped Aurora cheeks and pulled her in a hug.
Aurora felt her eyes start to sting and wet a bit, her throat tightened and her hands weak as she hugged back.
Any subject in her life always brought immense sadness to her, but she always held it back with a smile.
"Now go on child –don't forget to keep your smile always." Mrs Salmon waved as Aurora started leaving.
She waved back and continued along on her way to work.
Aurora felt more relaxed and happy in her work places than home, which she would never accept.
She worked at a retirement home, as a caregiver to the elderly.
As she was reaching for the door of the building, she could hear some commotion inside and quickly hastened her steps.
"What do you mean she's not coming! –I'm not taking this till my Aurora comes back." A very familiar voice of an old lady was heard inside and Aurora could not hold the smile that threatened to show.
But the voice was followed by that of a young lady, "granny please… Aurora will be here soon." It pleaded.
But the old lady was having none of it as her voice increased and sharpened, "no!"
Aurora secretly walked into the living room and only Mrs Lucy and Sandra were there.
And the sight in front of her was amusing. Mrs Lucy on the couch and Sandra on the floor with medication scattered on the floor.
Sandra looked so worn out, she must have worked the night shift.
"I'm healthy and –Aurora child!" She exclaimed and immediately rushed to embrace Aurora, completely ignoring Sandra.
"How could you leave me here alone with these oldies –and of course this witch" she whispered the last part, to which Sandra groaned and headed off to clean the mess on the floor.
Aurora felt a surge of happiness rush through her at the chaotic nature of Mrs Lucy and smiled, "but it was the weekend granny."
"Doesn't matter." Mrs Lucy said as she dragged her to the patio where the others were.
Lucy was a lady in her mid sixties, grayish blonde hair dyed to ageing and blue eyes that loved to twinkle every now and then.
Most especially, she always gets what she wants.
A chorus of 'hello' and 'my child' greeted Aurora as they stepped outside.
All the elderlies here all loved Aurora and were like guardians to her.
Most times she came around, she normally filled them in with interesting stories or jokes to make the environment perfect.
Most of them were here due to abandonment by their children while some were out of some unspecified situations.
So Aurora tends to brighten the mood here with her jokes, not just being a worker here.
They were all gathered in a circle as Aurora sat in the middle to share stories as usual.
"Lucy, can you get your wrinkled butt off my hand." An annoyed voice was heard.
"Oh shush…and my butt isn't wrinkled Margret thank you very much." Lucy said, offended.
Margret had a look of irritation, her frown deepened, and her wrinkles became more prominent, her hazel eyes glaring at Lucy.
They both had disrupted the story and some were not happy about the two bickering.
Aurora immediately had to intervene.
"Granny Lucy…can you please get off granny Margret's hand please?" She pleaded with a smile.
Lucy huffed "fine…just so you know Margret, my butt isn't wrinkled, it can still do its job really well – it's a sight to behold." She smacked her ass to show off.
Some of the members laughed, while others groaned at her tactics.
"Not this again…" Mr. Browns grumbled.
Lucy wasn't one to allow some talk down on her beautiful asset. "yes…most definitely. It can still attract more –
"Okaay.. granny Lucy, your..uhmm.. asset is nice – can we let it go now please?" Aurora cut her off and pleaded.
Lucy had a look of pride at her statement 'nice asset ', which was all she focused on and nothing else from what she just said.
Sandra stood at a quiet corner and watched the drama unfolding in front of her.
Although Aurora wasn't a full time worker here, she still appreciated the little time she worked here.
As the asset word was being exchanged, she couldn't hold her smile. Of course Lucy always liked having her way, although in her mid sixties.
Sandra immediately remembered she needed to give them all their medication since one had to create a ruckus early in the morning.
She checked the time and realized it was time to get all their 10:00 am medications.
She got them all set and went to their gathering, " it's time for your medications."
A few groans were made, but she had already gotten used to their tactics.
Everything went nice and smooth till it was time for one particular stubborn granny.
"No! I don't want this again, you gave it to me already this morning." Lucy argued.
Sandra nearly rolled her eyes but kept cool, –not again.
"And Aurora was telling good stories and you are disrupting it." She sharply dismissed her.
Sandra didn't want to argue anymore as she glanced at Aurora for help.
Aurora smiled, " well granny…but you are one sure lucky lady, healthier and finest of them all. Would you please be pleased to take your medications?" She took the tray from Sandra and brought it closer, "they really help in bringing out your youthfulness." She praised her.
"Oh well…since you asked for it," Lucy took the cup and drank its contents with a loud slapping of her lips, a crease on her forehead and had a look of pride, "empty – let's get on with it."
Laughter filled the room, which caused a crippling smile on Aurora.
Everything felt like…home – for once.
She'd surely miss this place – them especially.