Chapter 51: The Awakening of Wraiths
A woman stood before an oak tree, her figure draped in a dark cloak. Her hair was hidden beneath a scarf, her eyes darting around to ensure she was alone. Satisfied, she took a deep breath and whispered, "Sesame."
The bark of the tree shimmered, revealing a swirling portal. With a final glance over her shoulder, the woman stepped inside, disappearing into the depths of the tree.
On the other side, she emerged into a grand, shadowy palace. The air was thick with an oppressive energy, and the stone walls were adorned with strange, glowing runes.
The palace was filled with wraiths, creatures with the fangs of vampires and the body structure of humans, but towered over them, their bodies covered in pulsating red veins.
The woman walked with purpose, her footsteps echoing in the vast hall. She approached the throne at the center, where a particularly giant wraith sat. This wraith was larger than the others, its eyes glowing with an unsettling red light.
The woman bowed deeply. "The time has come for you to arise and take your place, my lord."
The wraith's voice was a low, rumbling growl. "Is everything ready for me?"
"Everything has been set, my lord," the woman replied, her voice steady but reverent.
The wraith leaned forward, its fangs gleaming in the dim light. "Good. Soon, the world will remember the power of the wraiths."
The woman nodded, standing straighter. "The armies are prepared, and our agents have infiltrated the necessary positions. We await your command."
The wraith stood, its massive form casting a long shadow over the woman. "It seems like the earthly beings have grown complacent. It is time they are reminded of their true masters."
As the wraith turned to address his followers, the woman took a step back, blending into the shadows. She watched as the wraiths in the hall knelt in unison, their eyes fixed on their leader.
"Brothers and sisters," the wraith's voice boomed through the hall, "the time of our resurgence is upon us. We have waited in the shadows, gathering our strength, and now, we will claim what is rightfully ours."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.
The wraith leader raised his arms, and the runes on the walls flared brighter. "Tonight, we feast. Tomorrow, we conquer."
The wraiths roared in response, a chilling sound that echoed through the palace. The woman felt a shiver run down her spine. She had dedicated her life to this moment, to the return of the wraiths. And now, it was finally here.
The woman had no illusions about the wraiths, they were ruthless, driven by an insatiable hunger for power. Yet, she believed in their cause, believed that the world needed to be reshaped and that the wraiths were the only ones capable of doing it.
"It is time," he announced, his voice resonating through the hall. "Let the world tremble before the might of the wraiths."
His fellow wraiths yelled in agreement.
Princess Alita tossed and turned in her bed, her sleep disturbed by dark visions. In her dream, she found herself running through a dense, shadowy forest. The trees seemed to close in on her, their gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal hands. Behind her, she could hear the heavy, menacing footsteps of something, no, someone chasing her. She dared not look back, her heart pounding in her chest.
Suddenly, she stumbled and fell to the ground. As she scrambled to get up, she felt a cold hand grab her ankle. She looked over her shoulder and saw a wraith, its red-veined face contorted into an evil grin. It opened its mouth, revealing sharp fangs and lunged at her.
"No!" Alita screamed, sitting bolt upright in bed, her heart racing. She was drenched in sweat, her breathing ragged.
A moment later, her door burst open, and Bowen rushed in, his face full of concern. "Princess! What's wrong?" he asked, rushing to her side.
But in her disoriented state, all Alita could see were the glowing eyes of the wraith. She screamed again, pulling the blankets up to her chin. "Stay away! Don't come near me!"
Bowen stopped in his tracks, confusion and hurt crossing his face. "Princess, it's me. Bowen, your personal guard. You're safe. It was just a nightmare."
His words slowly penetrated the fog of fear in her mind. She blinked, focusing on his familiar face, his concerned eyes. "Bowen?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Yes, it's me," he said softly, taking a step closer. "You had a bad dream, that's all."
Realizing where she was, Alita let out a shaky breath and lowered the blanket. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "It felt so real."
Bowen sat on the edge of the bed, his presence calming. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Alita nodded, wiping away the tears that had escaped during her panic. "It was a wraith, you know the creature in the folktales. It was chasing me through a forest. I felt so helpless."
Bowen frowned, concern deepening in his eyes. "A wraith? That's unusual. Have you seen one before?"
Alita shook her head. "No, but it felt like... like it was something real, something dangerous. I couldn't get away."
Bowen reached out and took her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "It was just a dream, Alita. You're safe here. No wraiths can get you."
She squeezed his hand, finding comfort in his words. "Thank you, Bowen."
He smiled, a gentle and reassuring expression. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm always here for you."
Alita took a deep breath, feeling the remnants of the nightmare slowly fade away. "Maybe I should get some fresh air. Clear my head."
Bowen nodded. "I'll come with you. The gardens are always peaceful at this time of night."
Together, they slipped out of her room and made their way through the quiet, moonlit corridors of the palace.
They walked in silence for a while, Alita's hand still clasped in Bowen's. She felt the tension ease from her shoulders as they strolled along the garden paths.
"Do you think dreams can be warnings?" she asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Bowen considered this for a moment. "Sometimes. Dreams can be our mind's way of processing fears and anxieties. But they can also be influenced by things we've seen or heard."
Alita nodded, thinking back to her day. "I did hear some of the servants talking about strange things happening in the kingdom. Maybe that influenced my dream."
"Could be," Bowen agreed. "But no matter what, you're safe here. And we'll figure out what's going on."
They found a bench near the fountain and sat down, the gentle sound of water calming Alita further. She wanted to lean against Bowen but thought against it and kept to her side. Bowen noticed her hesitance and grasp his arm around her, drawing her close to himself.
Alita gasped but didn't make an effort to push Bowen away, "Thank you for being here," she said softly.
"Always," Bowen replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
They sat there for a long time, watching the stars twinkle overhead and the moon cast its gentle glow over the garden. Eventually, Alita felt her eyelids grow heavy, the adrenaline from her nightmare finally ebbing away.
Bowen noticed and smiled. "Ready to go back to bed?"
Alita nodded sleepily. "Yes, I think so."
They made their way back to her room, Bowen ensuring she was settled before he left. As he turned to go, Alita called out, "Bowen?"
He paused at the door, looking back at her. "Yes, princess?"
"Stay close tonight. Just in case."
He nodded. "Of course. I'll be right outside."
With that reassurance, Alita finally drifted off to sleep, this time without the shadows of nightmares haunting her dreams.
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