The Golden Lycans (Ella) novel Chapter 24

The Stone Gazebo-Part 1 

*Ella*** 

I successfully managed to avoid Austin for the rest of the evening, wondering what on earth I’d say to him, given the fact I had rejected him a little over a month ago…and now a large number of the school believed we were dating. 

Freya, Annabelle and I ended the evening watching a film in our room and it was quite late when we decided to turn in. 

I lay there for a long while, looking out the window at the crescent moon. I just couldn’t sleep, and had no idea why; insomnia was not something I had encountered before. I feel restless and so confined as I lay there, tossing and turning, so I put my dressing gown and slippers on and decide to get some fresh air. 

I open the window and stick my head out before taking in a deep breath of the outside air. It feels great, and I feel like I need a lot more of it, so I carefully begin my descent onto the flat rooftop that 

I now knew so well. 

The sky is clear and the vague moonlight highlights parts of the grounds below me. The basic lights from the dining hall are illuminating the patio a little too, and I sit there for a long time, enjoying the fresh air, the feeling of space and the silence; aside from an owl hoot here and there. I spot a random bat now and then and begin to wonder if vampires were real too. 

I hug my knees, thinking about everything that had happened in the past seven weeks, feeling comforted by the warm air being issued from the air vent. Presently, I lay down on my back on the rooftop, staring up at the stars, thankful for the cloudless sky above. Out here in the countryside and from a large city, I can see so many stars. It is so beautiful. I start counting the number of stars I can see…and eventually…I drift off to sleep and start to dream…. 

I open my eyes. 

Instead of stars above me now, there is a great willow tree, through the leaves of which I can see wispy pink clouds and a bright azure blue sky. I feel the sun warming my face and I feel totally replenished. The warmth from the sun on my face soon spreads to my palms and my finger tips. I feel powerful and energised by both the sun and the abundance of green life around me. It is invigorating and so encouraging to me to be here right now. I raise my hands up in front of my face, surprised to see my palms and fingertips appear to be glowing with a shimmery golden light. I instinctively bring my hands together, feeling a new heat and a strong energy radiating between them. 

Soon, you will wake up Eliana, whispers a voice…. 

Chag 

I sit bolt upright, momentarily feeling disoriented and confused. I realise I had fallen asleep on the rooftop, but despite my initial struggle to sleep, I feel completely rejuvenated and was now wide awake. 

I wrap my dressing gown around myself and make my way back to the window. Freya is still 

asleep, her long tousled hair spread across her pillow like a modern day Sleeping Beauty. It was a 

little before six o’clock on a Sunday, and breakfast wouldn’t be served for another hour. I feel so energised that I decide to put my running gear on and I head downstairs for an early morning run. 

Ten minutes later I am following my usual route and at my usual pace, watching a warm glow appear toward the east, as the sun begins to rise. 

I feel wonderful. 

The colours around me are so vivid and I just feel so connected to nature, today. I can’t help but think about the vague dream I had been having before I woke up, wondering if it meant anything. 

Why and how did a dream leave me feeling so invigorated and alive like this? 

What did it mean, if anything? 

My feet continue to pound down the track I’d been running down the first time I’d met Austin, still without a tree root in sight. I had run down it plenty of times now and there was no reason why I should have tripped the way I had. I had definitely felt my foot get caught on something. 

Why had I tripped that day? I had never tripped while running before, and it still perplexed me whenever I thought about it. 

Presently, my brain shifts to the next important topic on my mind. 

Had Austin found out about Freya’s lie yet? 

Would he think it was my fault and consider me to be some sort of strange and obsessed girl? I was praying this wasn’t the case. 

I emerge from the crop of trees back onto the open field, the sun rising a little higher now, casting a warm golden glow on the autumnal leaves all around. 

Up ahead I can see the willow tree that hugged the old stone gazebo, and as I get closer, in the dim morning light, I am surprised to see that the gazebo isn’t empty, that I am not alone out here on my early Sunday morning run. 

What self respecting teenager would be up at this time? 

I stop immediately with a jolt in my stomach when I get close enough to recognise the figure standing there, casually leaning up against one of the pillars. 

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