Ana

After my encounter with Dante, I still didn't have answers. I have many questions and no answers. Oh, and I got a lecture from Erik about taking off at night. Okay, that's not my fault. I'm happy sleeping in bed, not wandering around some enchanted forest, or dealing with a vampire.

I walked to my locker and fought with my combination. I got pissed off and made my locker door open.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, using magic around humans," someone said.

I peered around my locker door to see Riley grinning. I rolled my eyes.

"Give me a break. It's been a rough two weeks, and Erik lectured me about encountering a vampire, which I didn't plan," I said, feeling annoyed.

"How does one leave their bed and end up in a random house? It seems odd," Riley mentioned.

"I have no clue since I found myself in an open field to start," I replied.

I felt a fiery breath in the back of my neck.

"Erik's behind me, isn't he?" I asked.

"Yep," Riley answered as he turned and walked away.

I turned to face Erik. I put my hand on my hip as I held my books in my other arm.

"Are you planning to lecture me again?" I asked.

"Are you planning on hanging out with a bloodsucker?" Erik asked me.

"You sound like a jealous boyfriend," I countered.

Erik looked at me with annoyance. I closed my door and walked to class as Erik walked next to me.

"I'm not a jealous boyfriend. You're my mate," Erik told me.

"I'm aware, but you act like a jealous boyfriend. You did it with Riley, and you're doing it with Dante. Dante is a vampire. I'm sure he would rather kill me than jump me," I reasoned.

That comment earned a look from Erik.

"Why are you looking at me that way?" I asked.

"Because you think guys have honorable intentions," Erik answered.

I groaned as we walked into class. I sat down at a desk as the teacher came in and taught. I sat at my desk, doodling in my notebook. High school is hard enough without having to deal with supernatural stuff.

The day passed as I went to lunch and sat down. My friends and Erik joined me as we ate lunch.

"Hey, Alex, can you help me with something?" I asked.

"It depends on what you need," Alex said.

I pulled out the dream chaser and set it on the table. Everyone looked at it.

"That's a dream chaser," Kira mentioned.

"I know, but this vampire told me it would protect me in my dreams. What does it do?" I asked.

"In witch's lore, it's a magical talisman that protects you from Dream weavers. Dream weavers manipulate people's dreams, making them do whatever they want, including death. A normal person dies in their sleep, but a supernatural being becomes weak. A dream weaver will turn a supernatural being into one of them or eventually kill them," Alex explained.

"Why can't we exist together without harm? Isn't it bad enough we get stuck dealing with our teenage years and high school?" I questioned, feeling agitated.

"Welcome to a dual life," Alex mentioned.

I hoped my senior year in high school went smoothly. It's wishful thinking on my part.

"How did you end up with a vampire anyway? Wolves and vampires are enemies," Alex told me.

"Beats me. I was sleeping peacefully; then, I'm standing in some random field. The vampire said his name is Dante," I said.

"Is Dante hot?" Elena asked as we all looked at her strangely.

Riley gave Elena a look.

"Aren't vampires seductive?" Elena questioned.

"That's what the books tell us, but they get it wrong on so many levels," Alex reasoned.

"Vampires are bloodsuckers who deserved to have their existence wiped from the earth," Erik mumbled.

"Someone's testy," Alex mentioned.

"Or jealous," Kira added.

Erik glared at the twins as I rolled my eyes.

"Relax, wolf boy, no one will steal your mate," Alex retorted.

I shook my head as I ate lunch.

*******
Erik

After school, Ana hung out with everyone while I visited Dante. I showed up at his house and knocked. Then I turned the handle, opening the door. I closed it as I felt a breeze.  I looked up to see Dante close to the ceiling.

Dante jumped down as I stood there. "I'm guessing you have a death wish," Dante told me.

I walked over to the door and opened it and let the sunlight hit Dante, burning him. He hissed and moved out of the sunlight.

"Knock it off!  That shit burns," Dante yelled, moving his hand as it healed.

I closed the door. "Then stop trying to make time with my mate," I warned.

"You're delusional. I have no interest in your mate, you jealous hoe," Dante said, rolling his eyes.

I looked at Dante with annoyance.

"Ana is a hybrid of two creatures that hate my guts. Why in the hell would I tempt fate and jump on someone ending my long immortal life?" Dante asked me.

"Then tell me why you brought Ana here and gave her a magical talisman," I demanded.

"Down boy. Your jealousy is showing. That dream chaser will protect your precious mate from the dream weavers who have a significant interest in your mate," Dante answered.

"Why?" I questioned.

"Because a hybrid is powerful. Hybrids possess enormous power that entices the supernatural world. Didn't it ever occur to your pack that while you're searching for answers, it's best to let Ana embrace her abilities?" Dante asked me.

"The witches told us that both sides are battling and will kill Ana," I replied.

"And you believe the witches? Are you daft? The witches would rather destroy something they don't understand than help it. According to the witches, anything they deem unfavorable, it's a threat. Your mate is a threat to them," Dante told me.

"Vampires lie," I challenged.

"True, but we know a threat when we smell it. Now excuse me, you're stinking up my home. Begone," Dante ordered me.

I stood there, feeling annoyed.

"That means go away," Dante said, shooing me.

I rolled my eyes and left. I hate vampires. I went home to check on Azeral.

*******
Ana

I hung out with my friends, then had them drop me off at home. I went inside and pulled down a ladder to the attic. I climbed up inside and looked around until I found a chest. I lifted the lid and rummaged through the items, pulling out a book. I sat down and opened it, flipping through the pages until I found what I needed.

Dream chasers comprise a pentagram nestled in-between two crescent moons. In folklore, witches use one to ward off evil in dreams. While a dream catcher catches dreams, a dream chaser protects the beholder from harm in a dream.

"Ana?" Mom said.

"In the attic," I answered.

My mom ascended the ladder and entered the attic.

"What are you doing up here?" My mom asked me.

"I'm looking for information," I said, pulling out the dream chaser from my pocket. I handed it to my mom as she held it up as the dream chaser dangled from the chain.

"Where did you get a dream chaser?" Mom asked me.

"A vampire named Dante gave it to me. He said it would protect me, but I don't understand why," I answered.

My mom moved over to the chest and rummaged through the items until she pulled out a book. She opened it, handing me the book. I looked at the girl in the picture who looked like me.

"Who's the girl?" I asked.

"The girl's name is Aspen. She was a powerful witch who created the dream chaser because she wanted protection while she slept. Her parents thought her insane and committed her to an institution. They buried the talisman, hoping no one would discover it. It looks like it returned home," Mom mentioned, surprising me.

"But I'm not the owner," I reasoned.

"Aspen cast a spell on the dream chaser, making it return to her if they became separated. The talisman returns to its owner," my mom explained.

I held up the dream chaser as it glowed, emitting a sound. My life became more bizarre each day. How does someone go from everyday life to a freak show in a matter of weeks?  Did I mention I still had a wolf hunting us while a coven of witches wished me dead? Yep, my life is peachy.