Brooke

I groggily woke up from the dream, my heart racing, still trying to make sense of the strange encounter in that ethereal place, surrounded by sinister purple hues. The vivid memory of it all clung to my mind like a persistent shadow.

Hungry and shaken, I decided to head to the cafeteria for some much-needed sustenance. My stomach growled in agreement, demanding attention.

Once in the cafeteria, I ordered a plate of croissants and a strawberry milkshake topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream. As I sat down at a table and started savoring the creamy delight, my thoughts inevitably drifted back to the perplexing dream.

But before I could fully immerse myself in contemplation, I felt a presence looming over me. I muttered silently to myself, "Don't fucking sit down. Please don't fucking sit down."

However, Damien, the source of my annoyance, chose to ignore my internal pleas and took a seat uninvited. I clenched my fists, feeling an unexpected rush of frustration.

"Hi, Brooke. How are you doing?" Damien inquired casually, as if he hadn't just disrupted my solitude.

I sighed inwardly, struggling to maintain my composure. "What? Why do you keep pestering me? Okay, get up and leave. Why are you trying to complicate my life? You being around me has already caused enough trouble. Whether I push you away or not, it doesn't seem to matter. It all depends on what people see."

Damien grinned, unfazed by my annoyance. "On what people see? So, would they like it if I..." He began to reach out to touch my hand, but I quickly pulled mine away.

I looked around nervously. "What are you doing, Damien? Why do you insist on following me and causing me this distress? You only started this two days ago. If my suspicions are true, why didn't you do this sooner? What's your game?"

"What do you think is happening?" he asked, leaning in slightly.

I sighed. "Damien, I think you like me. And while I appreciate the flattery, I don't share the same feelings. Even if I did, Maylee is my best friend, and she likes you. I won't betray her like that."

"Maylee is your best friend?" Damien questioned.

"Yes," I confirmed.

He chuckled condescendingly. "You're placing your loyalties in the wrong place."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

Damien's smile remained enigmatic. "Well, I just think Maylee wouldn't do the same for you."

"Where is all this coming from?" I protested, growing frustrated. "I don't even want to have this conversation. If anyone saw us sitting together, it would send the wrong message, and I don't want to be part of this drama. So please, leave me alone."

"Why do you hate me so much?" Damien inquired genuinely.

I couldn't contain my frustration any longer. "Why do I hate you? You poured hot chocolate on Maylee when she proposed to you back in Royal Camp. And now you have the audacity to pretend like you're interested in me? Please."

Damien's expression shifted. "Did Maylee tell you why I poured hot chocolate on her?"

"Yes," I replied curtly. "She proposed, and you rejected her."

His smile was different now, filled with a hint of sadness. "That's what she said, huh?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" I questioned.

"I rejected her because I told her I loved someone else," Damien explained. "And that person is you."

I scoffed, unimpressed. "Please, don't be corny. It's cringe-worthy. Get out of my sight."

"No, I swear," he persisted. "And then she proceeded to say horrible things about you. About how you deserved to die and how you're an orphan or something. So I decided to defend you by pouring the chocolate on her."

"Maylee would never say that," I retorted. "Okay, Damien, if your plan to win me over involves coming between us, you've made a grave mistake. Now, I despise you even more for lying about my best friend and attempting to get my attention."

"I don't want to hurt you but I have no reason to lie," Damien said, holding my hands.

I gasped, a sudden sensation of breathlessness washing over me. It felt as if the air had been sucked out of my lungs. Damien's lips moved with words of concern, but I couldn't hear him. My vision blurred, and it seemed like my body was being pulled away.

In an instant, I found myself in a place adorned with vibrant hydrangeas, their colors enchanting. The atmosphere was filled with strange, eerie howls that sent shivers down my spine.

Someone called out to me, and my gaze met an old man with a crown on his head. He appeared despondent. "Amaree, is that you?"

Confusion furrowed my brow. "No, sir, I'm Brooklyn."

"Amaree?" he muttered softly, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"You look so much like her" he cried "my precious baby

"Where are we?"

"My estate"

"Well yeah I'm not Stu- .. I hesitated, no need to be rude this man. Even though he looked insane "which territory is this"

"Territory?" He asked confused "this is the witch kingdom "

"The witch what now?"

"Amaree, why did you dye you hair red. It was nicer in white"

"She said she's not Amaree." I looked up to see the tall, white-haired man, the same one who had appeared in my dreams before, His black attire contrasted sharply with his silver-white hair and captivating eyes. A pleasant aroma surrounded him.

"You again, are you stalking me?"

"Oh yes because you're worth my time ," he said sarcastically guiding me away from the old man and through a path of vibrant flowers.

"What are you doing here, Red?" he asked, addressing me with a curious nickname which made my heart melt "How did you get here?"

"the old man mentioned that this was the witch kingdom?"

"Yes," he replied

"Wow" I said admiring the picturesque surroundings. "It's beautiful."

"More than you can imagine but that's not the point. Red, you're not supposed to be here. If they find you, they'll kill you. You're in danger in the Zodiac City, let alone here."

"In danger? What do you mean?" I inquired.

"There's much to explain, but I'm running out of time," he said, his tone tinged with urgency.

"You're always running out of time " I noted rolling my eyes "like seriously what the fuck is that about don't pull me here if you don't have time"

"They're closing in on me. They're about to discover that I'm the betrayer." He said ignoring my remarks

"Betrayer of what?" I asked, as he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Brooklyn, your powers are about to activate, and when they do, every descendant in the Zodiac will come after you under the orders of the King."

"The King?" I repeated, my confusion growing.

"Yes, Red, the King," he affirmed. "And he wants to kill you. You're the only one who can stop him."

I struggled to grasp the enormity of what he was saying. "How can I stop someone I don't even know? How can I care about something I'm not connected to?"

"You're very special Red and whether you like it or not, you're connected "

I shook my head in denial "what do you mean descendants in zodiac city? Descendants can't enter the zodiac city"

"Oh really" he said smugly "how do you think your queen died"

My heart sank at the mention of the Queen's death. "Our Queen is dead?"

"I guess you didn't know. Look Brooklyn, just be safe," he implored. "Read the book I left for you."

"You left me the book?" I asked in astonishment.

"Yes, read the book," he urged.

" how?, it's in languages Idon't understand"

"Complete you transformation and you'll figure it out. It's crucial for your protection. They're closing in on you."

"Complete my transformation? How do I do that and how do I fit into all of this?" I questioned, overwhelmed.

"Your dad is from the Descendants. He's a very powerful man," he revealed.

"Aiden," I heard someone call him from a distance

"Your name is Aiden?" I asked him.

"Yes," he confirmed, his voice filled with concern. "And now, I must go. Be safe, love."

With that, he vanished.

My eyes fluttered open, and I was abruptly back in my own world, only to find Damien's lips on mine. Shocked and disoriented, I pushed him away, a mixture of anger and confusion coursing through me.

"What the hell?" I exclaimed, my voice trembling with a mix of emotions.

"You fainted, and you couldn't breathe. I was giving you CPR," Damien explained, his expression a strange mix of concern and embarrassment.

"By kissing me?"

I turned to see Celeste, wearing an amused smile, her phone in her hands. Beside her, Denisha sat, her face devoid of emotion, watching me intently.

"FUCK," I muttered under my breath, realizing the awkwardness of the situation and the fact that Celeste had likely taken a picture of Damien kissing me