BLOOD LEGACIES
Chapter 502: Into The Dreamworld

Chapter 502: Into The Dreamworld

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.

I think it’s trying to tell me something. Hayden?

I didn’t waste any time as I rushed to the source. Hurrying towards it like my life depended on it. I came to a halt when I saw the end, just a few steps before the cliff. If I hadn’t stopped in my tracks, I would have fallen over the edge. With a raspy breath and trembling eyes, I peered down into the abyss, its depths stretching endlessly, with no discernible bottom in sight.

"Emma?"

I gasped as I turned and found myself staring at a gigantic Yew tree towering above me. My eyes trailed down its massive trunk and there, beneath its shadow, was Hayden. Without hesitation, I walked toward her.

"You’re so stubborn," she rasped. "This is dangerous, you know that?" she scolded but I only answered with a tight hug, relief washing over me as I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Are you alright?" I asked pulling away.

She offered a nod and said. "I’m fine Emma, that’s the thing I’m safer here"

"W-What do you mean?"

"Come let me show you something"

She sat beneath the tree, next to a pool of black water. As she took a deep breath, I wondered what she was about to do. Her lips parted, but no sound escaped—or perhaps there was a sound, one I couldn’t hear but others could. But who were these others? The question gnawed at me.

But she wasn’t calling for someone but something. My eyes widened as a black dagger emerged from the water, taking the shape of a glassy form.

I gulped at the revelation.

"If I remain here it’s safe and so am I"

"I-I didn’t know" I confessed. "I’m sorry"

A smile found her lips and shook her head. "You couldn’t have known and besides" she leveled her eyes. "I was worried you would dream walk in your condition"

I blinked in confusion. "What are you..." I followed her gaze and saw where her attention was focused. Instinctively, I placed my hand there, my heartbeat skyrocketing and making it increasingly difficult to breathe.

"Calm down," Hayden said.

"I-I-I-I’m calm" I stuttered. Oh my god! I’m pregnant? It can’t be, I made sure I took the pills so how?

"No, you’re not"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Hayden took my trembling hands, and I struggled to keep my nerves from breaking down. My mind was a whirlpool of thoughts, and the last thing I wanted was to be pregnant in this chaotic situation.

"There’s something you should know too," she began, her tone tight. I slowly raised my gaze to meet her eyes, which were filled with sadness and on the verge of tears. Just as she was about to speak, the entire earth shook violently.

"No no no!" Hayden panicked.

"What’s happening?" I asked terrified.

"We’re both waking up and it’s not because of your spell"

I opened my eyes just in time to see a blade coming toward me. In a panic, I wielded my magic and pushed him away. I sat up, following the crash, and found Dan standing there.

"Dan?"

No, it wasn’t Dan—his face shifted to reveal Darren, Luther’s right-hand man. It suddenly became clear who the insider was. Darren must have killed Dan and taken his face. I had always known Darren to be the most skilled at such deceit, and not even other supernaturals could detect him. It was no wonder he was worthy of being by Luther’s side.

"Emma, we have to get out of here now!" Hayden panicked and I nodded as she attempted to reach the door but she was suddenly slammed against the wall with force.

"Hayden!"

Darren turned to me, a smirk playing on his lips. "You did well Countess," he praised "Everything worked according to the plan"

"What?"

He smirked. "It’s only a matter of time now, I don’t want to hurt you"

I spared a look at Hayden groaning from the pain as she held her head. "The Count might not show it but he cares for you" I quickly brought my gaze back to him, disgust taking over me.

"For both our sakes let me walk away with the Banshee"

"Not. A. Chance!" I shouted, slamming him against the wall and pinning him there. He roared as his body collided with the wall, cracking from the force. I summoned just enough power to keep him restrained, but his relentless struggle, with his inhuman strength, began to weaken my magic.

"I don’t want to kill you, Darren," I said with pleading eyes.

He chuckled. "You will have to because I won’t stop, neither will he.

"Then you leave me no choice" I growled and launched out of the window and into the distance.

I gasped, my breathing ragged. "That was intense," I said, catching my breath

"I agreed" Hayden chuckled but then groaned in pain. I quickly rushed to her side to help up. "I think I broke my wrist"

Thank god it was nothing serious, I suppose Darren didn’t aim for the kill.

"The dagger?" I asked.

"Still safe, for now"

She was right because Luther won’t stop or rest until he gets his hands on it.

"What the fuck is going on here?!" Emilia roared from outside the door before rushing in with Vanessa.

"Oh thank God, Emma, you’re okay" she breathed.

"What happened here?" Emma demanded looking around the mess and then at Hayden. "The Banshee is awake too"

"Emilia, we have to protect Hayden at all costs, Luther is after her"

"Yes, I got the full gist from my brother. That was not wise Emma, keeping this to yourself" she scolded. "Don’t fucking do that again! We’re a family and we handle this together" she sighed. "Dace might be..." she couldn’t finish but I understood what she meant. "But he would burn hell for you"

I could only nod because I was suddenly speechless. I knew I took a great risk but I had no choice. Dace would not handle the matter discreetly.

"Where’s Dace?"

She gulped. "The vampires made their first move, Dace had to handle it" Her looks turned sad. "Grayson had to go too, to keep your mom safe, Vanessa was already here. The mansion is guarded to a spot, but I’m the one in charge of protecting you, but it seemed like I didn’t do a good job at that" her eyes taking in the messy place.

I instinctively placed a hand on my stomach and then ran a hand through my hair. Luther had made the first move, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

"Calm down Emma, you’re trembling," Hayden said, rubbing my arms to ease me. But I can’t be when Dace is out there fighting a war, this is all my fault.

"You did well Countess, everything worked according to his plan"

Darren’s words shook me to the core and I stared at Hayden with terrified eyes.

"Emma"

I faced Vanessa who came closer to me with a smile on her lips. "It’s gonna be okay" she assured me and I nodded but I still couldn’t shake off that something was wrong.

"Trust me" she voiced before pulling away from me.

"Vanessa?" I said and then my eyes went wide when she pulled out a weapon and stabbed Emilia.