Chapter 2

Elise POV:

“What do you mean this isn’t a dream,” I ask him. I knew I was starting to question reality but this is getting stranger and stranger. What the hell does this mean? Where am I? And why am I here?

“Look around, princess. Does it look like you are dreaming? You must be so sheltered if this seems to be fake to you. Now thinking about it,” he leans into me and takes a sniff. “You don’t smell like a werewolf but you also don’t smell like a faerie. What are you?”

“Did you just smell me? What the fuck,” I say and back up from him. Then it hits me what he just said. “Werewolf? Faerie? What?”

I look at him in total confusion. He just stares back at me like I had grown two heads.

“You heard me. Why are you acting surprised? You are in werewolf territory. How sheltered were you,” he asked me. My eyes widen and I spin around looking everywhere.

I can feel myself starting to panic. Where the fuck did I end up? And how can I get back home? I turn back around and look at the mystery man.

“I really am not from here. I don’t know what realm this is. Or what happened. Where I am from werewolves and faeries don’t exist. I remember going to sleep in my own place, in my own bed but next thing I know I am waking up in this random forest. Wearing random clothes that look like I’m on a movie set. And now you are standing there telling me that not only fairytale creatures exist but I am currently standing in werewolf territory,” I say while freaking out.

He watches me but it's just making me uncomfortable. I sit down and try to steady my breathing.

“You really aren’t from here,” he questions me but the tone of his voice makes me think he doesn’t believe a word I’m saying.

“How can I fix this? I just want to go back home,” I say in a quiet voice. I can hear him walking closer to me. He then sits next to me.

“I can tell you are having a hard time with this news. Do you really believe you came from somewhere else,” he asks me. I nod my head and take a small peak at him. “I’ve always heard stories about there being other realms, ones much different from here. But I’ve also heard it's nearly impossible to go to those realms. I honestly wouldn’t have a clue how you got here or how to get you back.”

“So you can’t help me,” I ask him. I lift my head completely to look at him and catch him already looking at me. “Is there someone here who could help me? If there is, can you take me to them? I know I’m asking too much from a stranger but you’ve already helped me. So I thought it couldn’t hurt to ask for more help.”

“No, I don’t know how I could help you with this. I don’t have the magyck to even know where to start. There is someone who could possibly know but he’s not a good guy. So, I think it would be best for you to find answers elsewhere,” he said.

“But if there is someone who could help me then shouldn’t I ask them? How bad of a guy is he,” I ask. If this bad guy can give me the answers I need on how to get back home then I feel like I should find him.

“Ezra isn’t someone you want to mess with. He’s the dark faerie prince of this realm. Lots of people fear him. He’s not too kind to the werewolves so I wouldn’t be able to take you to him. Besides, I have no clue what he would do to a poor defenseless girl like you,” he said. I let out a sigh of defeat. “How about this? I can take you somewhere that you can stay. I will help you find the answers you need but only because I want to get rid of you as soon as we possibly can. Deal?”

“Wow, what a lovely offer,” I said sarcastically. “Why not just get rid of me now? I’m sure if you can point me in the right direction I can find this prince and have him help me.”

“You don’t get it. He won’t help you. He’ll only use you for whatever his needs end up being and then he’ll toss you to the side. He’s not the helping type of prince,” he said. “My deal is the best thing you are going to get if you want to go home. Plus you wouldn’t even make it a day out there. You were so close to getting attacked by several werewolves and I had to save you.”

“Fine,” I say in a huff. I stand up and clean off the skirt of the dress. “I’ll take your deal but only because there isn’t another option at the moment but I want you to help me fight back. If I’m going to be here I should learn how to protect myself in case you aren’t around.”

“You want me to teach you how to fight,” he asked, repeating what I just said. I nod my head and look down at him. He stands up and reaches his hand out. “Here we do deals a certain way. To make sure we honor our word. Give me your hand.”

I give him my hand and I see his finger transform into claws. My eyes widened once more. This is really happening right now. I’m not dreaming. He stabs one of his claws between my thumb and pointer finger. I wince in pain. He pulls it out and brings my hand to his lips. He licks the wound before it bleeds too much then lowers my hand. Before my eyes I see the wound starting to close but leaves behind a red mark.

“We now have a deal,” he says. “Before we go anywhere, I think I should introduce myself and I should at least know your name. I am Kyros.”

“How did you do that,” I ask, mesmerized by the wound that is no longer on my hand. I look up at him in question.

“We will get to that eventually. Name,” he says demanding to know my name.

“I’m Elise.”