A Bloody Dawn

A Bloody Dawn
\[Pandora’s POV\]
“As you are right now, there isn’t anything you can do.”
My future self’s words are firm, confident, and downright insulting. Even if what she was saying was correct, that didn’t mean that I had to like it.
“Why couldn’t I have gone back as myself?” I grumble all the while keeping my gaze locked on Lucian’s lonely and lost form. “Then he wouldn’t be suffering like this. None of them would.”
“That’s not how it works.” My future self sighs. “Now, it’s about time you truly sleep.”
“What?” I hiss, turning to find her giving me a sad look. “What do you mean?”
“The time to change our fate is coming.” She explains as the world around me starts to fade. “Come morning the future will be decided.”
“Wait!” I gasp, understanding what she means but wanting an explanation. “Don’t just say something cryptic like that and then…”
I don’t get to finish my words as I find myself tumbling into darkness, and when my eyes fly open, I find that I’m staring at a dark roof that is softly illuminated by a candle.
Growling, I sit up and look around until my gaze comes to rest on Lucian, who is sleeping comfortably. Beside him, Healer Gibson works to remove the lines that have been attached to him for most of the day.
“Is his treatment done?” I ask, throwing my legs over the side of the bed. “Will he be okay now?”
“That’s up to him.” Healer Gibson responds. “The silver is out of his system, but that doesn’t mean that it didn’t take its toll while it was in there.”
“What does that mean?” I ask, my stomach churning. “Are you saying that he might have lasting effects?”
“I can’t say for certain.” The healer admits, giving me an apologetic look. “Everyone is different.”
Everyone is different, but Lucian was Lucian. What if the effects of the silver keep him from being able to grow to his full potential? What if it leaves him weakened?
Stop thinking so negatively. The small voice in the back of my head hisses as I feel myself beginning to spiral. Lucian is strong, and he will easily be able to overcome this, but until he does, you have to stay beside him.
But I can’t.
In a little under a week, I would be returning to the time I belonged to, whether things were fixed or not.
Dammit. Why couldn’t I just stay here to be with him? It felt unfair to go through all of this and then miss out on everything.
Stop being selfish. I tell myself as the desperate need to remain here and relive my life with everyone hits. You can’t rob the child version of yourself the chance to grow up. You’ve already lived many years, but that child hasn’t.
Right. I couldn’t stay. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t, but again I find myself wondering if that meant that I would disappear forever. Would the me who would grow up with a pack and family and even Lucian gain my memories? Would we merge into one? Or would this be it for me?
“I’m getting a headache.” I whisper, drawing Healer Gibson’s worried gaze toward me. “It’s nothing.” I continue, though it wasn’t nothing. “It’s just been stressful lately.”
“Don’t worry,” he smiles, either buying my lie or deciding not to question. “Soon it will all be over, and peace will be returned.”
Nodding, I take in the healer's words while getting to my feet and heading over to the window. As I move, I hear Lucian stirring, but if he wakes up, he doesn’t say anything.
Grateful that he wasn’t going to push me for what exactly was wrong, I fix my gaze on the sky, taking in the large moon above that easily paints all around Crimson Moon’s pack grounds with light. It allows me to see the guards that stand around the trees preparing for the worst while hoping for the best.
I can only hope that they won’t have to see a devastating battle, but given the warning I just received, I knew that even if we did everything we could to stop Onyx Moon from having a surprise attack, we still didn’t stop the battle from coming.
“All we can do is wait now.” I murmur, noting the small glimmer of sunlight on the horizon. “What will be, will be.”
“It’s going to be fine.”
Turning, I watch as Lucian hobbles over to join me, and when his arm wraps around my shoulders, I lean into him.
“I’m sure it will.” I sigh, enjoying his warmth. “But I’m sure that not everyone will get out unscathed.”
“They’ll be okay.” He tells me.
“The boy is right.” Healer Gibson adds, causing me to jerk away from Lucian as I am reminded of the healer's presence. “Whoops,” he chuckles. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your moment, but I would recommend being careful. If your father were to have seen something like that, I fear he would have killed the poor boy.”
“Sorry,” I huff, my cheeks flushing.
“I’m not.”
At Lucian’s words, I shoot him a glare before turning my gaze back to the horizon that is starting to look bloody.
“Fitting,” I mutter, wondering if today would be the day that the attack happened. “A bloody morning for a possible bloody day.”
“Are you saying Onyx Moon will attack today?” Lucian asks, shooting me a look. “You sound pretty confident.”
“I’m not,” I admit. “But I had a dream.”
I don’t say anything more. I don’t need to since Lucian knew about my connection with the spirit realm, while Healer Gibson didn’t. Because of that, I needed to be cautious, or I may slip up and say something that would have me sent back to my time.
“Then I think now would be a good time to go to that panic room.” Lucian says, taking me by surprise. “It’s better to be prepared than wait for it to be too late.”
“But what about my parents?” I ask. “I want to see them one last time before things go down.”
“Then shall we go find them?” He asks, holding out a hand and then turning his gaze to Healer Gibson. “Would you mind escorting us since we have been left in your care?”
“Why not?” the healer shrugs. “It isn’t like my saying no will stop the princess from doing what she wants anyway.”
He’s right. I think silently, fighting the smirk that wants to come. Whether he joined us or not, I would be going to see them one last time in case today was the day of all of our destruction.