August had left abruptly, leaving my body feeling suddenly cold and alone. I had let myself into the apartment and immediately flopped face down on my bed. After a while of my mind running around in circles, I forced myself to get up and go into my bathroom to wash up and get ready for bed.

I had a terrible feeling about the story that August had told me. There was a reason he had told me those things, about the wars and the prophecy; a reason he had taken me to that place. It had meant something to him, more than just a piece of history. I had seen the pain and sadness in his eyes as he had spoken. The way his voice had sounded, how he told the story, was as if he had been recanting a memory and not just facts he had learned. It felt as if there was more that he wasn't telling me and in my bones I knew it was something I probably didn't want to learn. Fear trickled into my head as so many possibilities swept through my mind, each one more bizarre than the one before.

As I slid underneath my covers, the cool sheets reminded me of August and the coolness of his body. Memories of his fingers laced through mine as tingles danced along arms flashed across my thoughts as I tried to get comfortable. I watched the shadows dance on the walls as I longed for sleep to come. I tossed and turned for what felt like hours until finally the first tendrils of dreams began to push against my mind. I welcomed oblivion and let myself fall into darkness.

⬤⬤⬤⬤

Rain pelted my skin like needles, thunder rippling through my body as I ran. The long dress I wore sticking to me like a second skin, the fabric around my legs snagging on thorns and winter-bare branches. My breath was loud and ragged in my ears, my heart and mind frantic as I searched for somewhere to hide. But the world was dark, the storm blocking the moon and stars leaving me in darkness except for what it allowed me to have.

Lightning flashed and I saw a tree, its roots growing up from the ground creating a small pocket beneath the massive trunk. I started to run towards it but the sounds grew closer, pushing me to keep going. The snarls of wolves reached my ears through the roar of the storm around me causing my legs to work harder, my bare feet slipping in the mud. The smell of ozone surrounded me as I fled, orbs of fire and crackling light whizzing inches from my head, sizzling out as they hit the wet ground or nearby trees.

Panic began to set in. They were getting closer. They were going to catch me! Suddenly, a hand grabbed mine and pulled me in a new direction. Looking over, I saw that it was a woman with long blonde hair and the most beautiful face I had ever seen. Something about her felt familiar but I knew I had never seen this woman before, surely I would have remembered such a face if I had. She didn't say a word as she guided me through the forest, deeper and deeper, until the sounds of the wolves had faded and the orbs had long since stopped.

We slowed our pace and finally reached a small clearing. Here the trees were still green and thick with leaves as if it were already spring. The storm raged on a distance away, thunder still vibrated lightly through the ground but in this place there was no rain, only angry storm clouds high above the tops of the trees. There was a small fire burning in the center and the woman approached it to feed it a few more limbs.

"Who are you?" I finally asked.

"That doesn't matter right now, Nevada." Her violet eyes met my emerald green ones and I saw the pain in hers momentarily before it was replaced with determination. "You must leave this place. It isn't safe for you here."

"How? I don't know how I got here or even where here is!" I told the woman in frustration. "I only know that I went to bed. Next thing I know I'm running for my life because of wolves and gods know what else! And no one will tell me what the hell is going on!"

The slight surprise in the woman's face at my words was unmistakable but it quickly disappeared. She made her way to stand directly in front of me and I realized we were the same height. She studied my face for a moment and a sad smile graced her beautiful face as she looked at me. Raising her hand, she placed her palm on my cheek and I felt it begin to grow warm.

"You're going to wake up now and I'm not sure how much you will remember," she said as the surroundings began to blur and fade, "but if you remember, tell August we are coming. We will be there as soon as we can. If nothing else, tell August!"

She began to fade away, her voice echoing in my mind as she disappeared with the clearing, the ground beneath my feet along with it. I was enveloped in darkness and I could feel myself falling. Unable to hold it back, a scream ripped from my throat moments before my body slammed into something, knocking the air from my lungs.

●●●●

My eyes shot open and I sat bolt upright in bed, gasping for air and sweat drenching my skin. I pushed my blonde hair from my face as I looked around. The first hint of the sunrise could be seen through my curtains, and the apartment was completely quiet except for my breathing.

I tossed the cover away and got out of bed, my clothes sticking to my skin as something nagged at my memory but I couldn't place it. What had woken me up? A dream of... what? A lone image was blurred in my head but the face was slightly distorted, making it difficult to recall the details.

I couldn't think, my clothes distracting me from everything. Hastily pulling my shirt and shorts from my body, I made my way into my bathroom. I turned the shower on and tossed my panties into the basket beside the door and stepping under the water.

There was so much going on and I had no idea where to start. I could already feel the first vestiges of a headache starting to form in the back of my head. I hoped the shower would wash the grime from my body from the night before along with the intense dream that I couldn't seem to remember other than a distorted face.

I closed my eyes and let the water flow over me, relaxing my muscles and soothing away the tension.

'Tell August we are coming.'

A female voice infiltrated my mind and my eyes burst open. I was still alone in the bathroom, so where had the voice come from? The distorted face came to mind and the voice repeated itself, almost a whisper in my ear. But what did it mean? Whatever it was, I had a strong feeling that it was extremely important and I knew I needed to tell him.

I quickly stepped out of the shower and dressed. I flung open my bedroom door and raced down the hall. The living room was empty and there was no sign of anyone, not even Nova in his room but that didn't actually surprise me. He hadn't been home much in days and I missed him. I found a note on the kitchen counter from him, however.

Nev-

Had a few things I needed
to take care of. I'll
Be home later.
Stay in the apartment!
It's not safe.

-N

Well at least I knew he was still alive and had come home at least for a minute. I was well aware that nothing and nowhere was safe anymore but I couldn't let that stop me. The urgency in my mind wouldn't let me just sit around and do nothing. I grabbed my phone and my keys and made my way out the door. Locking it behind me, I began to walk. I had no idea where I was going or how I would find August, but I had to try. I needed to tell him about the dream even if I didn't understand it, but it felt like my life, and maybe even others', depended on it. Maybe it was also irrational but at that point I didn't care. I was going to find him, one way or another.

⬤⬤⬤⬤

After a while of walking aimlessly around my neighborhood, in shops and restaurants, anywhere I passed, I realized something. To say I felt like an idiot would be an understatement. Not only did I not have the slightest clue as to how to find August. But I was searching for a vampire, in the daytime!

Was that even possible? No, it wasn't. Wait... The first time I had met August had been in the daytime! How, I had no idea but it was broad daylight. I had forgotten about that until now, he had always been at the bookstore after the sun had gone down but how could I forget that? It was a major fact to just overlook. I vaguely remembered hearing something years ago...

Damn, the thought slipped away before I could grasp ahold of it. I was starting to get frustrated with my inability to figure things out. It was almost as if the universe had conspired to keep me continuously confused. It suddenly felt as if I didn't know anything, an ignorant child thrown into a maze, a web of unknown things surrounding me.

My phone buzzing in my pocket dragged me out of my thoughts. Taking it out I saw it was Nova.

"Hey," I answered casually, as if everything was normal.

"Where the hell are you? Are you okay?" His frantic voice came loudly through the line.

"I'm fine," I answered with an eye roll even though he couldn't see it. "I don't suppose you would know where I could find August would you?"

"That vampire? No, why would I? Nevada, I told you not to leave the apartment," Nova scolded me as if I was a child. "It's not safe."

My blood started to boil and my power rose at his words. I squashed it back down and attempted to calm myself by breathing through my nose. It helped minimally but I responded nonetheless.

"You have barely spoken to me in days, Nova. Why on earth would I listen to anything you told me to do?," I bit out through gritted teeth. "I don't obey commands. I am not a dog."

I could feel my body beginning to lightly hum and I forced my feet to move, hoping to walk off the energy that was slowly building. Nova was quiet for a moment before he replied.

"I know you're not a dog, Nevada," he said patiently. "But I woke up this morning and came straight home because something is wrong. I feel like bad things are about to happen like I did before the wolves."

"Yeah, well you didn't seem too worried about me when you left. You're my best friend and your punishing me like I did something," I replied, my voice breaking as a lump began to form in my throat. "We are supposed to be there for each other and you are obviously hurting but yet you push me away and then expect me to act like I'm perfectly okay with that?"

His sigh crackled through the speaker.

"Where are you? I can come pick you up," Nova said, avoiding my question.

I looked around and saw that I was almost back to the apartment. After telling Nova I didn't need a ride, I hung up without another word. I tried to calm my thoughts, anger crawling under my skin, threatening to leak from my pores as pain stabbed my heart. I loved Nova like he was my own blood, a connection between us that I had always been thankful for. And yet, he had easily pushed me away.

There were secrets being kept, something bigger and more dangerous than just some angry wolves. Nova, my best friend that I had known my entire life that knew me better than anyone, knows more about what's happening than he will admit to me. And he never bothered to tell me or even mention anything, no warning. He had hid whatever it was from me or lied to keep me from finding out for some reason. I tried not to jump to conclusions but he had made it obvious he knew more than I did. He knew and never said a word.

I let myself into the apartment and took a seat on the couch. Nova joined me seconds later, pulling me into a tight embrace.

"Oh, thank the gods! I am so glad you're okay," he exclaimed as he pulled away and looked me over for, I assumed, visible injury.

"I'm fine," my voice was flat and I kept my face blank.

"Why did you leave?" he asked, brows furrowed.

"I told you. I was trying to find August," I grudgingly answered.

I didn't look at Nova, feeling embarrassed about looking for a vampire that he had no idea I had grown closer to. I studied my hands for something to distract myself as I anticipated his laughter. After a bit of silence, I looked at him in surprise when I realized he wasn't going to. Instead, he was looking at me with a thoughtful look on his face.

"What?" I asked nervously.

"Just wondering why you were looking for him," he answered with a shrug. "I didn't know you knew him that well."

"If you had been around maybe you would know," I sighed and shook my head, "I had a dream and woke up with a blurry face of a woman in my head and a memory of a female voice saying, 'Tell August we are coming.'"

I looked back at my hands. After saying it out loud it sounded ridiculous, even to my own ears. Maybe I had reacted too strongly. The more I thought about it, the less sense it seemed to make. I had felt so sure of myself at the time and, even though I was having doubts, I couldn't shake the feeling of urgency to find August. But why?

"A dream?" Nova asked with mild surprise. "Do you remember anything else?"

Why was he interested in my dream? It was just a dream. Wasn't it?

I looked up at him and shook my head.

"No, that's it. But I feel like I need to find August. I can't explain it," I answered. With a frustrated noise I stood from the couch and began pacing the room. "I don't know, Nova. I know it doesn't make any sense but I need August here."

"You don't even know the guy, plus he's a vamp." The disgust was evident in his voice.

I glared at him.

"I told you it doesn't make any sense. And I don't have to know him to know that he is part of the reason either of us are still standing here," I snapped at Nova.

"I was doing just fine on my own," he replied with irritation.

"Yeah? Well I sure as hell wasn't!" I snapped, stopping beside the couch with my arms crossed. "How exactly would you have protected yourself and kept that wolf from ripping me to shreds?"

Nova's face fell and I could have sworn that I saw a flash of guilt in his eyes before he turned away. He didn't say anything, merely pressing his lips together before putting his face in his hands.

"See? That's what I thought," I said and resumed my pacing. "Now, do you have any idea how to find August? Anything?"

I tried to reel in my irritation at him and attempted to calm my nerves along with my voice. Normally, I was calm and hard to anger, but something had changed that night. Something had shifted inside of me, leaving my nerves frayed at the edges and my patience thin. The near constant hum of magick was growing slowly but steadily, increasingly harder to ignore. If I couldn't do something about it soon, I feared I may burst out of my skin.

"All I know is that he knows Hatter," Nova replied, his voice slightly muffled by his hands. "I still haven't decided if that's a good thing or not."

I joined him on the couch and gave him a curious look.

"Hatter? Your new manager and also the vampire from the bar a few weeks ago?" I asked a bit confused. I had remembered his obvious yet odd reaction to the vampire from the night of the attack and had been wondering what the deal had been.

Nova only nodded, his face still covered but I didn't miss the unmistakable pink tinge to his ears.

I opened my mouth to say something more, to question him further but the words never left my throat. The air in the room suddenly grew thick and it was difficult to breath. It felt as if a weight was pressing in on us, like the force of gravity had increased. My chest felt heavy, tight like I was being squeezed in an invisible vice. My heart pounded in my ears as I looked at Nova, my eyes wide in panic.

"Nova? Is that what I think it is?" I choked out. I could tell he was feeling the same thing, his body tense and his jaw set.

He nodded, his now violet eyes focused intently on the door.

"Someone is trying to get in," he growled quietly, anger lacing his voice as it blazed in his eyes.

******************************
A/N:

(This is the distorted image Nevada saw in her head after she woke up.)