Chapter 193

Dylan POV 

The first thing I saw when my eyes opened again was the giant golden tree that I associated with the moon goddess herself. But why had I been brought here yet again? What more could that benevolent woman want from me? Had I not completed my sole purpose? 

Come to think of it, What do I remember exactly? Pain? Anguish? No! I remember feeling warm, a flood of emotions circulating around my body as I embraced the darkness that begged to take me…

So instead of feeling scared, for the first time I just felt peaceful. So I lay on the grass below me and sighed, not bothering with the fact that I was once again in the domain of the goddess, who had calculated my torture from the worst person in existence. I should have kept my thoughts respectful, however they were anything but, so I closed my eyes and silently prayed that this would not be my final resting place…

“There’s my brave girl…” That voice… it didn’t belong to the moon goddess, nor anyone that was recently familiar. It was a voice that I had dreamt of for years, a voice that I never thought I would ever hear again. 

My back shot up off the ground and my eyes widened when they finally landed on a tall figure standing just next to the golden oak, the tears that had been building in my eyes freely fell down my cheeks as I all but ran to the man…

“Dad?!” My shock mixed with my joy as I all but tackled my male parent, my face burying itself into his chest as I craved the warmth of him. “Oh my God… Is this real?!” 

My dad… the first person that the sick new world took from me, was here, hugging me tightly, as if the past five years hadn’t gone by. All of a sudden I felt like a child again, like the weight of the world hadn’t been dropped onto my shoulders. I felt like the 12 year old that would run around chasing her dad with a water gun, squealing and laughing at the cold as he chased her back. 

“It’s real kiddo.” Even if it wasn’t real, in that moment I didn’t care. Maybe it was simply a hallucination, maybe my brain had conjured up my dad in its turmoil, but I didn’t care. He was here, I was no longer alone. 

“Daddy… I… I’m sorry… I’m so so sorry. I tried… I promise I tried… I tried to protect everyone… I tried to protect Freddie, and mom, and…” he cut me off, squeezing my body tighter, while I relished in the firm hug he provided. I never wanted to leave his embrace. 

“Shh… kiddo, look at me…” I couldn’t bring myself to let go, so my arms tightened around him, and my face remained hidden by his chest. “Please look at me Dyl…” My nickname, the name only my father used to use was what finally made me loosen my hold. My tears flowing consistently out of my eyes, as my face stared up at my dads. My emotions were nothing but conflicted as my sorrow transformed into that of joy yet disbelief that he was actually in front of me. “You have made me more proud than you will ever know.” 

“We’re both so proud of the lady you’ve become.” Both? My head shot to the feminine voice of my mother and my tears began to stream out of me faster than before. I managed to tear my body away from my father and ran straight into the arms of my mom. 

If this is what death truly looked like, then I really would welcome it with open arms. 

Both my parents had found each other. Even in death they were together, I genuinely couldn’t help the small smile that took over my face as I looked at my parents. I never thought I would ever see them again… 

“I should have done more to protect you, you were so young when all this started.” My mom was right, I was young, and I still am, but there was truly nothing she could do. “Can you ever forgive me for not stepping up and being the parent you deserve?” 

“But… I’m the one that failed. Im the one that didn’t protect you…” I swallowed thickly, not being able to say the word. The image of my mothers mutilated face quickly shot through my mind, and I instantly wrapped my arms around her once more. “I should have kept my mouth shut, I never should have goaded the king the way I did. I’m so so sorry mommy.” 

“No… none of this is your fault. You used your strength and bravery to protect everyone. You didn’t fail, Dyl.” My dads hand made its way to my quivering shoulder before he too wrapped his arms around me, scooping both me and my mom into a large bear hug. The same embrace I had once felt every single day. 

“Wait?…” Realization suddenly crashed onto me as I looked around the benevolent place. “Am I… dead?” I asked as I thought about everything, yet not truly remembering the events that had bought me here. 

“That is up to you…” Well, my peaceful joy filled moment with my parents lasted all but five minutes as the moon goddess suddenly floated down from god knows where. “The world is still in chaos, and you my child have the diplomatic mind to heal it.” 

“So… you want me to go back?” Now it was anger that slowly began to consume me. Can’t this goddess just leave me in peace. “Have I not done enough?” I asked in disbelief at what was now being asked of me. 

How could the moon goddess expect me to go back to that life? Especially when I was now with my parents. Could I not stay here and finally be at peace? Must I truly subject myself to more stress?

I watched as she floated over to me and my parents, before placing her strangely cold hand onto my shoulder. “If you truly wish to remain here, then you will be welcomed with open arms…” Why did this feel like it wasn’t truly my choice? I looked at her skeptically as I waited for the second option. “But you will be missed… please, my child… follow me…” 

I skeptically followed the floating being, past the large tree and over to a lake, it was beautiful. Seemingly made of liquid gold and rippling from the same non existent wind that blew the moon goddess’s dress and hair. 

The air felt warm, and I was genuinely in awe at the sight before me. Within the golden waters hundreds of little silver specks glistened like stars in the night sky, a single light in the center seemed to be burning brighter than all the rest and it was truly mesmerizing. 

“These light’s represent the current prayers of my kin.” She spoke in her deep church bell like voice causing my head to turn towards her, while my parents stood either side of her form. “Every single soul that you see, is asking for the same thing. They ask for me to save you. You are in the prayers of thousands, lycans from all across the globe are praying for your safety. Even the ones that do not yet know what has transpired.” 

Had she bought me here to bribe me into returning to my life? As if a few little lights in a clearly magical golden lake would change my mind about staying here with my parents. 

“I’m not going back… all there is is pain, and fear…

“Dyl… you fought with a strength that I wish you never had to find, but you cannot let that define your existence. Don’t let the past dictate your possible future…” My dads arm reached out and tested on my shoulder as I closed my eyes, relishing in his touch. 

“But… I’m tired… I’m so so tired.” My mom copied my fathers actions and placed her hand on my other arm, a frown of understanding resting on her beautiful features. 

“I know, and I know that your struggles are far from over… but Dylan, you have so many people relying on you. I know the world has been full of hardship, but, you have created a new feeling of hope, and it is you alone that has cleared the path ready for change.” I knew it wasn’t really my choice, I knew that my fate has already been decided. 

“My little Dylan flower… I wish We could keep you here, finally safe in the arms that were meant to protect you when you were so young. But instead we’re just going to hold you, and support you until the end.” I didn’t want to go back. I really didn’t. Too many people stare at me, threaten me, and judge me, I didn’t want to go back, but I knew that I needed to. 

“Dyl, you need to know that we are both so proud of the strong and fearless girl that you have become. My little girl!” 

Tears streamed from my eyes yet again as I ran to my parents. Savoring in their embrace while I had the chance to do so. 

“I won’t ever see you again!” My dad held me tight, I could feel him shaking his head while my mom rubbed my back affectionately. 

“We will always be with you.” 

I stayed there for a few minutes, until that invisible wind that seemed to affect only the lake and the goddess herself swept over my body. 

It was warm, and care free, my already white hair, that lay down my back was suddenly swept up and a strong white glow began to come from the tresses. The light slowly began to consume me as I all of sudden failed to catch my breath. 

“No… wait… I’m not ready to go back yet, mom… dad… No!” 

I gasped, my eyes opening and seeing only darkness… I could feel my heart hammering in my chest as I lay motionless, unable to move, unable to speak. 

I heard the small sound of a drip hitting metal, and the pulling of curtain… the last thing to hit my ears was the exclamation of my name, by a voice that sent nothing but warmth through me. 

“Dylan?!” Lewis voice resonated in my mind as I allowed darkness to take over again, this time not in death, just in deep slumber.