Chapter 93 Lost

(Hope POV)

I was drifting in time and space, far from my loved ones, not knowing where I was and how I got here. I could only see stars twinkling far away in the darkness of my surroundings. I felt cold and scared. I cried for help. Screaming at the top of my lungs for anyone to hear.

"Alexander, Maria, Leia...anyone? Can you hear me?" I yelled, hoping for someone to answer.

But there was no one. Not even an echo. I was alone and helpless. I was lost.

"Moon Goddess, please help me." I prayed to her in desperation, wishing for any sign of her, but she too was missing.

Was I dead? Is this what happens when you die?  I try to retrace my steps and remember what had happened. The last thing I remember is the silver fang I left in The Rogue Lord's neck and the overwhelming satisfaction of finally bringing him down. Then I black out and wake up to this, a neverending vastness of space.

Alexander's face pops into my mind and I think of the agony he must be feeling. I start to cry. I have never felt as much happiness than being in his arms. I could not accept I will no longer have the privilege to revel in the beauty of his love. I sobbed thinking of him and I are no more.

I could feel my heart breaking into pieces. The sorrow I felt was multiplied by my bleak surroundings. Why couldn't I have been brought to a place where the sand was white, the ocean a clear blue and the sun bright? I look around the darkness through my tear-filled eyes, my blurry vision catching the sight of a faint glow from afar.

A blinding light appears from the distance. I shield my eyes from the glare. I peek through my fingers to see where the light was coming from. Maybe if I head towards that direction, I can find someone who can help me.

Suddenly, an unseen force pulls me towards the bright white light. As I got closer, I felt its soothing warmth. Maybe I'm on my way to the gates of heaven. I started to feel a bit better. Maybe I did die and now, I can be with my dead parents. The thought comforted me.

As I approached the light, I noticed there was a figure of a woman floating in the center. When I stopped in front of her, I saw her eyes were just like mine. "Mother? Are you my Mother Adella?" I asked. The woman laughed at my question, her bright gold eyes glowing.

"No, my child. I am the Goddess Iris. The Deity of the people of Aura. The people with the golden eyes are my progeny while those with the silver eyes are the progeny of the God, Nirvana."

"Where am I? Am I dead? Will I be going to heaven?" I ask her all at once, hoping I'd get a straight answer from her.

"No. You are in between life and death. Your spirit was banished from your body by the Dark Being so he could have total control over you." She looked at me intently, sensing my helplessness. "My daughter, do not worry much. I have come to help you."

"You have come to help me leave this place?" I was holding on to whatever ounce of hope I had left. I wanted to be near the people I love, not floating around in a black hole.

"My child, there is no other way to defeat the Dark Being. A supreme sacrifice needs to be made. If not, The Dark Being will destroy everything in its wake causing your planet to be a wasteland. Everyone you have ever loved will die and Earth will be no more."

"I don't understand. What do you need me to do? You said a supreme sacrifice needs to be made. Do you need me to die?" I ask her. I actually already knew the answer to my question, but I wanted to hear it from her.

"Yes. The yellow-tipped spear of Aura needs to pierce your heart." She said it in a way like having someone stab you in the heart is nothing you should worry about.

"I see. And Fang should be the one to do it? Fang, the werebear king with the silver eyes." I try to explain.

"The son of Nirvana, he must do it. It is your fate." The Goddess Iris said with so much conviction, I knew there would be no arguing with her.

"If it means not staying in this place, so be it." I'd rather have the chance to say my goodbyes to the people who mean a lot to me than be stuck in this place forever. It would put me at ease knowing there was closure.

"My daughter, when I send you back to your body, your loved ones will do everything in their power not to hurt you. It is up to you to end this. You have to make a choice. Stay alive and watch your planet burn. Or die, and let everyone live in peace."

"Goddess, that's not much of a choice. I don't want to watch my planet burn. I don't want anyone else to die. There is only one thing I need to do then. I'm ready." The Goddess smiles at me response.

"Always brave and strong." She reaches to caress my face. "Guide your brother. He still doubts himself. Show him he is much more than he ever thought of himself to be." I nod, assuring her I will do what she asks of me.

"Connect with your wolf. She will let your spirit enter her realm so she can protect you. There, you can gain control of your body, even for a moment. A fleeting moment is good enough time to defeat the Being."

"Do not feel lost any longer. You are found. Now go and banish the evil from our midst. For the greater good, my daughter." Her voice fades into the light as the white light flashes into my eyes forcing me to close my eyes.

When I open them, I found myself staring at a lake, surrounded by a cliff with a small waterfall. The sky was a stardust opal pattern hue which was amazing to look at. I looked down at my feet, the dark green grass tickling my feet. I wiggle my toes and smile. I don't know where I am, but this is much better than floating in darkness. I kneel down and splash some water in my face to see if I was dreaming. Nope, this was real.

I turn around to check what was behind me and see a vast expansion of dense forest. The trees were tall, with leaves of varying shades of green; some were still budding with a nice light green color while those fully grown leaves were an emerald green under the light of the sun. The forest extended into a cozy darkness, the light of the sun penetrating the gaps of the leaves of the trees. I enter the forest, wondering if I could find anyone or anything inside.

My stomach started to grumble. I was hungry. I needed to find some food. I don't know, it felt like this world knew what I needed, because the moment I thought of food, the forest formed a path to clearing where apple trees grew. I reached up and picked an apple from the tree and sank my teeth in them. They tasted like my father's apples. I sat down on the grass and leaned on the trunk of the tree. A gentle breeze blew in my face, whispering my name, the voice recognizable. It was frantic though...like it was begging me to stop.

Oh my gosh, The Being! I was so happy finding myself in a better place, I forgot about my quest.

Darn, I don't know where I was though. I look up and saw the opal patterned sky. The sky looked like the necklace of a friend of mine in school. She went to Australia for vacation and when she came back, she had it all the time as a charm on her necklace. I always thought opal was beautiful. Hold on! OPAL!

"Opal, where are you? Opal, I need you to help me." I said aloud. I don't know why I said it aloud. I usually communicate with her through mind link.

I hear a howl. It was faint, but it was definitely a howl. There are wolves here! I stand up and listen intently. I hear it again, a howl. Maybe it was Alexander or Mark. I ran back inside the forest, following the sound so I could find its source.

"Don't stop howling." I yell. "I'll come to you."

Again, the forest opened up and formed a path to a white wolf with silver claws. The white wolf was standing at the lake with the waterfall. I ran to the beautiful wolf, happy I had found someone else in this strange world.

"Oh my Goddess, I am so happy to have found someone. I'm Hope." I spoke to the wolf, trying to catch my breath in the process.

"Hope, it is I, Opal." The wolf tells me through mind link. "Where have you been? The troops at the fortress of The Rogue Lord had to retreat. The Being has destroyed the territory of The Midnight Moon Pack. It has also killed most of the he-wolves. Here, let me show you." Opal puts her paw into my hand and I gasp at what I saw. I was flying in the air, laughing. I look down at the ground below and I see so many dead wolves. I see Homes were ablaze, the forest burning. I see a tower and recognize it to be Luciana's watch tower. It was also on fire. In my absence, Midnight Moon has fallen.

"Hope, the Being, it plans to go to Dark Moon." Opal whimpers knowing the Being aims to kill our mate. "However, it lingers here in Montana. It is searching for something.

"Opal, I am so sorry. My spirit was banished from my body. The Goddess Iris helped me return. Although, I don't know where I am at the moment." I kneel down and hug her. She was so soft. She licks my face happy she has found me.

"You are in my realm. I have the power, through the Moon Goddess, to return you to your body. However, The Dark Being will know and might banish you to a place where you can never return. Then all will be lost. We will commune with the Moon Goddess and ask her her guidance." I nod in agreement.

"When I send you back to your body, Hope, it must be at the right moment. You do know what you need to do?" Opal nudges my face with her cool nose, hoping I understand the circumstances of my return.

"Yes, the yellow-tip spear must pierce my heart."