Chapter 9
Crawling into bed I welcome the darkness as I fall asleep. Falling down a dark hole no light insight. My stomach left me a while ago. How long have I been falling? My insides twisting and turning. Looking for anything in the darkness I can't see or feel a thing. Panic starts to fill my being as I continue to fall. Lifting my arms reaching out for anything just a wisp of something. But nothing. Giving up I bring my hands to my face to rub my eyes but I can't find my face or feel my hands on my face. I know I am touching where I would be but nothing. A tiny spot appears far far away. Is it getting bigger? No, I am getting closer.
The spot starts to shine getting brighter the closer I get. Lifting my hand to block the light but the light goes through my hand. Confused I stare at my hand. I can see the shape but I can see the light through it. The closer I get the harder it is to see my hand. The brighter the light get the smaller I feel. The outline of my hand starts to fade. Following it down my arm the same is down my arm and my body. Panic rushes over me. Gasping I realize I can't breathe. I cant feel it. Fog starts to fill my head. Memories flash and break into tiny pieces.
Jolting up in bed shaking in panic. A layer of sweat covers my body. Patting my body I can feel me again as I slow my breathing the dream leaves me and I can no longer remember what I was dreaming. The panic I felt still fills me. I smell smoke. Panicking I jump out of bed rushing to the door. Throwing it open the scent is now gone. What the holy Hades. Hitting the switch to turn on my lights. Turning around I gasp out. My door flies open knocking me to the ground as my fathers comes flying into my room looking panicked. “ash?” “Ashley” before I can say anything they are yelling my name again. How they don’t see me on the floor baffles me. The room starts to sway and twirl, my parents start to fade. The room melting the last thing I hear before I fall into blackness is the screams of wolves. Hundreds of wolves screaming and crying in pain.
Bolting up screaming drenched in sweet. My door flies open the light floods my room as my dad turns it on. Taking a breath looking over at my father. He would have normally made it to my bed by now but he's not here. Looked over at my frozen father. Fear in his eyes. Panic fills me when the alarms start going off. And the water system opens in my room. Looked around trying to find the source nothing. Jumping up out of bed my father steps back as I step forward. Hurt I stop. Fear covers his face. Jordan comes running in stopping dead looking at me “why are you on fire?” father grabbed him to keep him from me. Looking down my hand is covered in flames. Shaking my hand. Nothing panic rises in “dad what?” stopping I don’t even know what to ask. “it's okay honey I linked bridge she will be here soon.” tears streaming down my face. “does it hurt? Can I touch it?” “NOAH” father yells as he is trying to wrangle an active seven-year-old and try and keep me calm. I can see the fear in his eyes.
The sizzle sounds fill the air as the water hits me. The room is filling with steam. The longer it goes the hotter the room gets. The more I am sweating. Somehow my room is turning into a sauna. “can you call Luna Bronwyn? dad please?” “already done sweetie. Does it hurt?” I shake my head. “okay then let's try and stay calm. Slow deep breaths baby.” he starts taking deep breaths. Following him “do you think I could toast a marshmallow on it papa” “NOAH come get our son before his sister roasts him.” I couldn’t stop the laugh that breaks from my throat. The look on my father's face has me laughing. “oh you think this is funny. You could burn us all alive.” “anyone for some roast wolf?” the bad joke spilled from me before I can stop it. The laughter took my panic away calming me. Father starts cracking jokes making me laugh harder. The steam lessens and starts to disappear. The sprinklers stop. My stomach and sides start throbbing from laughing.
Dad comes to collect a now pouting Jordan. “where did the fire go?” he asks. Looking down I see my hand is back to normal. A pop sounds and Luna Bronwyn appears in the middle of my room. With a wave of a hand, my room is now dry and no signs of water or flames are visible. “woo what happened?” she asks looking around. Thank the goddess for her all my stuff would have been ruined. “I woke up on fire,” I tell her after telling her what had happened. She wanted to know about my dreams but I couldn’t remember any of the dreams. “here let me see your hand.” holding her hand out I placed my hand in hers. Closing her eyes she slowly smiles. “oh sweet girl it's just more of your magic awakening. We will start working on fire tomorrow for now keep calm.” nodding she hugs me and pops back out. Father comes in wrapping me in his strong arms letting me relax into him. The first set of arms that ever made me feel safe. Rubbing my back whispering “everything will be okay” over and over to me helping me relax and let go of the feelings of panic and fear. “thanks dad I love you” “my sweet girl I love you to the moon and back.”
