BLOOD LEGACIES

I flashed my eyes open and found myself in the middle of a cold blizzard. My legs were completely buried in the snow, rendering me unable to move. I struggled to free myself, my teeth chattering violently, and the biting cold made me feel like I would soon turn into a block of ice. desperately tried to navigate my way, but it was nearly impossible to see as the blazing snow whipped around me, obscuring my vision.

My legs gave out and I fell to my knees, the snow building up and almost covered me completely. My breathing grew ragged, each breath becoming more difficult as the cold tightened around my chest. I collapsed to the ground, my eyes on the skies.

Just as I thought I was taking my last breath, the blizzard suddenly vanished, dissolving into a pile of ashes. Black trails spread across the sky like an omen of judgment day. I blinked, watching the ashes swirl and dance around me.

I gradually forced my body to move, not hindered by the snow anymore. I dusted the ashes away and stood on my feet. Taking a cautious look around the area which was now completely free of snow and replaced with ash dropping from the skies. I have no idea how this was possible but I had no time to figure this out.

I navigated through the forest, where tall black trees stood, their branches bare and lifeless. I suspected the ash descending from above came from the withered leaves. The atmosphere was eerie, chilling me to the bone—nature’s dead and haunting side, far removed from any sign of life.

My eyes moved back and forth feeling like something was watching me somewhere on the endless path that led to nothingness.

"Hayden!" I called for the first time but my voice echoed back to me. This was her dream so she had to be here somewhere. I just had to figure out exactly where she was. This place seemed vast, stretching endlessly like a bottomless pit, leading either to nothing or to something unknown.

I think I’d searched for an hour or maybe not because I knew time runs differently in the dream world. The time I spent learning about blood magic in the Library of the Firsts told me so.

"Hayden!" This was the tenth time now and I was beginning to think that I was the one alone now. Where could she be? Please Hayden, let me find you.

"HAYDEN!"

Suddenly, a cold chill blew past me, causing my teeth to clatter. Instinctively, I followed the source of the cold aura until I paused. Just at the corner, a cloak of darkness appeared—formless, waving, and flowing like mist. It spread everywhere, casting a veil over the forest. But what amazed me most was that the darkness seemed to be pointing in a particular direction, as if guiding me toward something.