CHAPTER 6: ZOE

After a couple of weeks in Oregom they were finally teleporting to Nena last vision. We were surrounded by large, ginormous trees. Before shutting the door Asia handed me a turquoise colored ring.

***

"Whenever you need help, call for this energy and only then Zoe… I will send one of my warriors to assist you."

Gratefully smiling at her insuring my dimples are her highlight and her understanding eyes mine.

An hour before our hop through the portal. Taylor called his pack while I formally apologized to Asia and Hanna as we all exchanged emotional hugs. When Taylor returned I felt it was compulsory need to assure him to stay and promising her wellbeing.

"I will be fine Tye."

I gave him a chance it back out continue with is normal mundane life, accept his NYU scholarship and work with medicine as he has always dreamt.

"I would never allow you to go through this alone. Together?"

A true best fiend indeed as he stuck his pinkie finger out. A pact the two youngsters made to promise to never leave other, they believed it was them against the world.

I was not too bent up on Taylor going because I knew he could hold his own, hell he is an alpha raised amongst six brothers and four sisters. Making up my mind our pinkies connected, then sealed the vow with a kiss on her thumb.

"Forever."

After the childish memory they laughed as she created a portal to leave Oregom, into an adventure of her own.

***

Once more Taylor huddled up by a tree barfing his last meal.

"I seriously hate portals."

Snapping my fingers to clean the mess as Taylor wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. Gross.

To Taylor's family we are two teens that are wondering the unknown but in heart and solace of mind we were entering a brand new chapter of the reality of our lives.

"So you and Hanna?"

I attempted conversation as we wondered through the perfect forestry and even passed a beautiful pond, clear and fish swimming freely. It felt like someone dearly cared enough to make sure this place does not look as dark as it feels.

"She's great, I think we had a real connection."

Thinking back to how he felt about Hanna, he believe and would swear to the moon she felt the same. Confused as to why she sent him to explore his feelings with another woman made him determined to prove somehow his mind and soul belonged elsewhere.

"I remember when Nena and I went to Oregom, first day I met Hanna. Along the shore side, Aunt Marry owns a stone store. I fell in love with an amazonite stone, Marry said is used for self-confidence, self-esteem and artistic expression. Before I left the teen helping out who was Hanna handed me the stone."

Remembering the day as if it was yesterday, she emphasized her friend's character before passively threatening her best friend.

"You may be man's best friend, but it would be a shame if you 'accidentally' get hexed."

She cackled like a cartoon witch and a moment came when their eyes met, for a second and they both broke down in harmless laughter.

Sniffing the air all signs of laughter cleared to a serious expression, snorting as Zoe attempted to stop herself from giggling.

"What is so funny?"

His focus on her was distracted but to their surroundings.

"You acting like a guard dog."

Pointing that out in the mist of sensed danger was not particularly smart but she continued laughing at her own joke. Taylor tensed as if threatened and began growling and at this point humor escaped leaving at its place hyper awareness.

"Where did the portal take us to?"

His eyes kept flashing and Zoe saw hair threatening to sprout. Trees ruffling as birds flew away, it felt like horror where they were being stalked. Stepping closer to Taylor while focusing my energy to our surroundings, I felt the looming darkness.

"Nena told me about this place."

The visual spell still in mind, she felt her ring finger burn, it hurt and I fought to remove it but it did not budge. Before the pain overwhelmed a loud screech encouraging the darkness to attack it cooled down without leaving a mark.

Suddenly looking around she saw the supernatural energy, one or more decisively different from Taylor. The energy surrounded us and I shrunk deeper into Taylor's security. Whatever stalked us now ran towards us now faster than the speed of light and somehow Taylor managed to grasp him in a chock hold.

"Hello."

What she thought was a monster turned out to be a very, very handsome enigma that greeted before addressing a very pissed off Taylor.

"If you don't mind, could you kindly remove your filthy paws off me?"

He questionably demanded as the shadows darkened to intervene.

"Well I do mind, piece of-"

"Taylor!"

I interrupted silently begging him to let the guy go, to my astonishment he did, internally grateful he trusted me as much.

"Ah, that's better."

The guy dramatically dusted himself off, and the stomach overflowing with butterflies fluttered.

"The name is Christen. I have been expecting you my Vita, what I did not expect you showing up with a dog up your heels though."

Taylor bit the air at the guy with his teeth elongated gaze murdering the Christian guy. His unimpressed expression made her cross her arm in dismay.

"How do you know me?"

Asking the million dollar question she felt overwhelmed the different energy blinding. The constant ringing, slowly drove her over the edge of insanity.

"Before you can answer that, can anyone else hear that?"

Looking around to directly point out the different beings, at that moment all she could feel was a darkness she needed to fish out.

"Hear what?"

Holding the larger hand of my werewolf best friend trying but failing to distinguish and slowly fading out of it.

"Are you even a wolf?"

The man named Christian teased, ignoring the arrogant man I focused my energy enough to allow Taylor to see what I saw and feel how I felt.

"My dear Vita, stop trying to figure out the different source of energy at once. Find one and focus on it."