Journey to the past II

Layla felt all the colour drain from her face.

Riven was to be wed? To whom?

"Strange girl",the man called.

Layla slowly turned towards him, lips slightly parted. She was trembling.

"Why do you look so downcast? Are you in anyway connected to the Supreme Alpha's son?"

Layla gulped. A part of her wanted to blurt out that she was Riven's mate, but she didn't. She didn't know this man. She couldn't just reveal that she was from the future.

Something suddenly ruffled in the bush and the man's head snapped up. He dropped the knife he held and crouched forward.

Layla watched astonishingly as the man slowly shifted into a black wolf. She watched the wolf creep forward and dived into the bush. He returned, holding another rabbit in his mouth. He dropped it beside the fire and shifted back to his human form.

"You're a shifter",Layla said in surprise.

The man remained silent as he grabbed the knife and began to skin the dead rabbit. His hands moved rapidly and soon, the rabbit was stuck on another sharpened stick and placed over the fire. He looked up and Layla stared into identical gray eyes that looked so much like hers.

"I'm not just a shifter",he said finally. "I'm an abnormality. Something that shouldn't exist".

Layla frowned. What did he mean, abnormality? Her confusion must have been evident in her eyes because the man got up and faced her.

"I'm the first of my kind",he said and his eyes slowly changed colour. Layla watched in shock as one of his eyes turned gold, and the other turned white. Sharp fangs elongated from his mouth and red veins appeared at the corners of his eyes.

"What are you?",Layla whispered fearfully.

"A creature with two bloodlines. The blood of a shifter and a vampire",he said.

"What kind of creature is that?",Layla asked softly.

"A hybrid".

...

Layla sat inside the man's little hut, holding a bowl of sweet smelling soup. She was hesitant to drink it though. She didn't trust Riftan, or so he called himself. Her head was still reeling from what he told her.

A hybrid. So creatures like that existed. The more time she spent in the hidden island, the more she knew about the supernatural realm. And never in her wildest dream did she ever think she would travel to the past someday. And yet here she was.

Riftan entered the little hut and sat beside her. He noticed the untouched bowl of soup and looked up at her.

"I know you don't trust me",he said. "But I assure you, the food is totally poison free".

"No...I... I didn't mean to...",Layla stuttered.

"It's okay",Riftan said. "I would feel the same way if I were you".

Layla gulped slowly and took a sip of the soup. It tasted good surprisingly. She took a few more spoonful and dropped the bowl beside her.

"You said something earlier",she said hesitantly. "About Riven's wedding"

"Be careful with the way you call his name",Riftan said. "And yes, he his to be wed today".

"I thought shifters were supposed to have mates",Layla said.

"Seems you're familiar with the life of the shifters",Riftan said. There was a hint of impressiveness in his eyes.

"I am. The woman Ri... Alpha Riven is to be married to, is she his mate?",Layla asked while she held her breathe, waiting for his answer.

"She's not",Riftan said, much to the relief of Layla. "The Supreme Alpha's son has passed the age of meeting his mate. It is an arranged marriage by his father. Supreme Alpha Janus wants to see his children settle down before he passes on to the other realm"

"Children?",Layla asked.

"Supreme Luna Merribel had two pups for the Alpha",Riftan said. "Riven and Belinda. Belinda already found her mate. But since Riven didn't find his, Alpha Janus has chosen a mate for him. And they're to be wed today".

Layla digested what she just heard. She now understood why Riven waited for centuries before he found her. He didn't find her on the age he was supposed to find his mate because she hadn't been born then. Now his father had picked a chosen mate for him.

She felt she was brought back to this particular past for a reason. If she didn't stop the wedding, it would definitely change the future. And Riven would never find her. That was the reason why she was here! To stop the past from affecting the future.

"I must stop the wedding",she said urgently to Riftan. The man stared at her like she had gone mad.

"Stop the wedding? Are you aware of what will happen to you if you try? You will be dead in seconds",he said.

Layla had no other choice but to tell Riftan the entire truth.

"I have to stop it because...because I am his mate"

Riftan stared at her silently. His expression was one of unbelief.

"I know it's hard for you to believe",Layla continued. "But it's true. Remember when I told you I suddenly appeared here, it's because I'm from the future".

"Bullshit",Riftan said.

"I swear on my life, I'm telling you the truth",Layla said. "I was in Riven's mansion, in the library. There was a book. A book of counted shadows"

Riftan's attention was snagged. He frowned and looked up at Layla. "A book of counted shadows. That's a Sorceress's book"

"So I was told",Layla continued. "I opened the book..."

"You opened the book?",Riftan asked in surprise. "Only Sorcerers or Sorceress's can open that particular book. How then did you do it?"

"I don't know",Layla said frustrated. "All I know is, I opened it and a spell caught my attention. I read out the spell and instantly, I appeared in the fields"

"So you're saying you're a Sorceress"

"I don't know",Layla said and heaved a heavy sigh. "I don't know what I am. But I am Riven's mate. I must stop that wedding because if I don't, it will affect the future and Riven will never find me"

Strangely, Riftan believed everything she said. He knew she had to be from the future because she was strange. Her dressing was not from this era. She had no idea of the recent happenings in the hidden island. And she did appear in front of his hut out of the blue.

"Please",Layla pleaded. "I have to stop that wedding. I...I can't lose Riven"

Riftan sighed. She reminded him so much of himself when he was young. When he set his mind to do something, there was no changing it. It was also strange because she had a little of his appearance. The dark hair and gray eyes were peculiar. Could she be a hybrid like him? No, she couldn't be, he thought. She had to be a Sorceress or a very strong witch to be able to travel back to the past.

"Alright. I will help you",he said finally. "But you mustn't involve me if you're caught"

"I promise, your name won't be mentioned",Layla said. She suddenly felt so much courage. Who would have thought she, who had been mute and abused since birth, would have the power to travel to the past and try to stop a wedding? It sounded unbelievable even to her.

Riftan looked her over and shook his head. "You can't go to the mansion dressed like that".

...

The mansion looked the same to Layla. It was decorated beautifully. Different creatures poured through the front doors and Layla looked on in surprise. There were Fairies, Centaurs, Fae, woodland creatures,...a large form cast its shadow over the earth and Layla looked up. Her breath caught when she saw the creature.

A dragon. It flew over the mansion and landed some distance away.

"Stay close to me",Riftan said. He grabbed Layla's hand in his as they entered the mansion. The hallway was decorated with white flowers and was packed full with creatures who came to witness the event.

Layla walked beside Riftan, holding up the grey dress she was putting on. They walked into the large ballroom at the end of the hallway. The wedding was already going on and just as they entered, Layla heard a voice call out.

"...as we join these two souls, Riven Qinn and Jenna Amnell together".

Layla watched the event unfold before her eyes. Riven had his back to her so she couldn't see the expression on his face. The girl he was getting married to had a wide smile as Riven took the ring from the priest. He turned back towards Jenna and started sliding the ring up her finger.

Layla felt her chest tighten. She had to stop this wedding now!

"With the power vested on me, I pronounce you...",the priest was about to seal the union when a loud voice screamed out.

"STOP!!!".

The crowd turned towards the voice and all eyes fell on Layla.