Chapter 8

Somewhere deep down within the mountains, in a secluded part of the forest, three figures in black robes stood around a temple made of hard earth.

A sign was etched into the earth and other signs were carved around it.

There was a large blue crystal in the middle of the temple and it pulsed with energy.

One of the hooded figures, a woman, retrieved a knife from her robe and slit her palm. Black blood poured out and sizzled as it dropped on the earth. Almost instantly, the wound healed up. The three figures started chanting a strange spell and blue smoke billowed out from the crystal.

The smoke swirled and images could be seen on it. There was a girl with purple hair and silver eyes, and then it changed to another scene where a massive beast prowled around aggressively. It was a lycan. The scene changed again to another where a bright beam of light emanated from the purple haired girl. Her eyes were glowing brightly, and she was staring straight at the hooded figures.

Suddenly the smoke evaporated.

"The Chosen One lives." The woman whispered unbelievably.

"We were fooled to believe she died at birth." The second figure croaked out. "How did we miss the sign that she was alive all these years? We could have finished her off!"

"If she is allowed to live, the prophecy will come to pass. And we will all be doomed." The third figure added in a menacing tone.

"She can't be allowed to live. We must kill her." The second figure said agitatedly.

"Silence!" The first woman suddenly burst out. The two other figures went deathly quiet as they listened to their leader.

"It is true we were fooled into believing the Chosen One died at birth. We only know of her existence now because her powers have been unleashed. And this makes her a great danger to us. If we make rash decisions and try to kill her now, we would all perish because her powers is at its peak. She can't control it and it would be disastrous."

The woman turned and walked a few steps forward. "But that is going to be our strategy."

"How is that our strategy? You just told us that her power is at its peak and it is disastrous."

"I know what I said." The woman snapped. "Assemble the rogues and the night prowlers. We have work to do!"

"What about the lycan?" The second figure asked.

"We will deal with that when the time comes."

"Yes, mistress."

...

Serena felt extremely weak as she lay on her bed. She had been in that position since the incident of the previous day until noon the next day. She didn't even have the appetite to eat anything.

Her eyes were dull and swollen from crying. Her nostrils were clogged and she found it difficult to breath. But she didn't care. She lay on the bed almost lifeless.

Her phone beeped continuously with more than a dozen messages. They were mostly from Anderson. A few were from Tabitha and none came from Jayden.

He must think I'm a freak, she thought. Fresh tears spilled out from the corner of her eyes and rolled down the side of her face.

She didn't understand what was happening to her. There was no one she could talk to. Her friends would forever see her in a different way. Her foster parents were dead. Her real parents... She still wasn't sure about them. But desperate times called for desperate measures.

She picked up the black card Logan left behind and stared at it. She had no choice. She needed answers.

As she was about the dial the number, the doorbell dinged. She wasn't in the mood to answer anyone, so she remained on the bed. The doorbell dinged again. And again. It seemed the person was persistent.

She got up and walked softly to the door. Through the peephole, she saw Jayden and Anderson. No! she thought. She couldn't face them now. As much as she wanted to see them especially Jayden, she wasn't ready. She was about to turn and leave when she heard a car park outside the house.

She spied through the peephole and her eyes widened. It was the black limo. The Michaelsons' where here. But as she looked on, she noticed it was only Logan who alighted from the car. He didn't come with his wife and son.

She squeezed her eyes shut. What was she going to do? Jayden and Anderson were here. She knew they would surely find out who Logan was even without being told. And they would want to know why she hid something like that from them. There was no way out of it.

She heard muffled voices on the other side of the door and she wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. The doorbell dinged. There was no escaping it.

She took a huge breath, unlocked the door and yanked it open.

She expected Jayden and Anderson to rush in and hug her. She expected loads of questions. But she was shocked when she saw just Logan.

"Where are my friends?" She asked. When Logan didn't answer immediately, she panicked. "What have you done to them?"

"Nothing serious, and your friends are fine." Logan answered finally. "Just a little spell to erase their memories of you and send them back home."

"Erase their memories? Why would you do that?"

"They were there with you yesterday, Serena. They saw everything that happened."

"How do you even know about that?" Serena asked angrily. "What the hell is happening to me?"

"I told you I would tell you everything if you would just come home with your family." Logan tried to explain.

"Why can't you just tell me here? Why do I have to go with you? Ever since you came here, my life has been disrupted. I just need answers."

"Serena I'll tell you everything. If you can just calm down and come with me..."

Logan was cut short as Serena let out a scream.

"Noooooo!" Her eyes flashed and a sharp beam of light shot out of her body, aiming at Logan's face. He easily deflected it with a wave of his hand, and he stared at Serena in shock.

Serena's eyes widened when she realized what just happened. She stepped away, staring at her hands unbelievably.

"You have the dark aura." Logan said in astonishment. "How on earth did I miss that?"

Serena frowned. She didn't understand what he was saying. "Dark what? What do you mean?"

"The dark aura. The light that comes from your magic." Logan tried to explain but Serena was more confused than ever.

"What are you talking about?"

"This changes everything. Let's go inside. I'll explain everything to you."

Still confused but needing answers, Serena turned and walked into the house. Logan entered after her and shut the door. It was time to get to the bottom of everything.