She placed candles in a circle and lit them drawing a ring of blood and a few other symbols, she began chanting. She spoke the words in an unfamiliar language with ease. The words flowing off her tongue like she had known them forever, and a part of her thought that she had.

All around the room shadows began to move. They wiggled around dancing across the room. She opened her eyes revealing bright sea green eyes. The shadows stopped moving as she finished her incantation holding out her hands in front of her.

“Λύκος,” she spoke her eyes flashing the sea green before returning to their normal hunter green.

In the center of the circle a large shadow formed dancing around the circle as it formed into something more. It finally stopped in the center as a wolf. It was large and had bright red eyes. Along the walls of the room even more wolves, smaller than the one in the middle, had formed stalking forward. They all surrounded the woman watching the large alpha wolf in the center. He eyes never leaving its.

It walked forward reaching just the edge of the circle before stopping. It was only a few inches away from her but it was as tall as her. Maybe just a few inches smaller. It’s eyes a deep red, darker than all the other wolves. It growled, rising its chest to appear bigger but rather than feeling frightened of the wolf she felt determined. She felt a strength that she hadn’t felt before. She stood up straighter and held a hard glare looking the wolf in the eyes. They stood there for several minutes not moving not looking away just staring.

The wolf's eyes darted to the left at another wolf for just a second. When the eyes meet hers again it moved back and bowed down to her. Her eyes widened at the wolfs action before she noticed all the others around her who had also gotten down on the ground bowing.

After several seconds the wolf rose up and meet her eyes again, “We shall obey you mistress.” The voice was guff but among all that it was gentle. It sent chill down her spin and a hum in her head as the voice was gone.

“Was that you?” she asked looking at the wolf.

“Yes Mistress, you have summoned up and proved your power and ow we listen and obey you.. You have need to summon us again for we will be with you but in your need call on us and we will come.”

“Wait, how do I call on you again-” but when she had finished they were already gone. She stood there by a large circle of candles half still burning and half without a flame. Quickly she blew out the flames putting away the candles, and washing away the blood on the ground.

As soon as it was done a knock came at the door. It was a heavy knock that rattled the room a little. The woman walked over to the door as she looked around making sure that there was nothing she had missed in the room. She pulled the door open revealing a older gruff looking man. His face covered in scars and his eyes stone cold as they held a glare at the woman.

“It is time for dinner. I was instructed to come and get you and bring you to the dinning hall.” his voice surprisingly kind for his face.

“Thank you.” she said walking toward him and out the door, but he put his hand up blocking her from going any farther.

“You must not appear like that before the king again. Quickly go and change while I wait.”

“But I have nothing else to wear.”

“There are clothes in the closet for you. Change into one of those.” he shut the door leaving her there as she turned around heading to the closet.

Inside their hung many beautiful dresses. She reached out her hand but pulled it back not wishing ot dirty any of the dresses with her filthy hands. She turned going into the bathroom and undressing. She climbed into the water washing off the dirt and filth she had gotten from being outside.

She new that she couldn’t take long so she quickly cleaned her body and hair before climbing out. She climbed out her skin back to the light tan it had been, her hair falling to her lower back no longer in knots and tied together. She walked back into the room and opened the closet again, her hand running along all the dresses. All smooth to the touch and silky as she stopped pulling out one.

A knock came at the door the voice of the man behind it, “Hurry up mama, we must go.”

“Just a moment more, I apologize.”

There was no reply and no following sound so she continued, getting the dress before going back into the bathroom. She out her hair into braids before wrapping them all around each other in a bun, followed by a star clip. She found a pair of earing and necklace that matched the clip placing both of them on.

She stood in front of the long mirror looking herself over to make sure she looked okay. Her pale skin complimenting the dark black and purple dress. The dress going all the way to the floor with a black shawl covering her shoulders. The dress looked light a night sky with the top being a purple, with silver designs, at the top falling to a black as it got lower.

She walked to the door her heels clicking on the ground as she made her way there. She opened the door finding the man still standing there as he was when she first opened the door. He lead her away from the room down the hall.

Soon they stood in front of a large door. There was a lot of talking from behind the door, but the man was unfazed by it and simply pushed the door open walking in as the woman followed behind. He walked through all the tables, to the large table at the end of the room where the King and Queen sat.

“Your Majesty,” the man said bowing as the followed curtsied.

“Thank you.” The king told the knight before he left the room, “Rise Lady Symbola, you need not bow.”

“Come young lady and take the seat next to me.” the queen said.

For a moment Era did not move but after a few moments she built up the courage and slowly walked to the seat beside the queen. When she sat down her heart was beating so hard she felt it would leap out of her chest. Her hands shaking beginning to sweat as she sat there. She had never sat by a queen like this before and it felt wrong of her to do so now. She didn’t deserve to sit next to a queen and king.

The queen turned to her asking her questions and even told her the dress looked beautiful on her. Era began to feel more comfortable as she spoke to the queen. The queen was a kind and gentle woman, unlike hers, and to her surprise she felt at home. She felt like she belonged her and she didn’t know why, maybe it was because along everyone was treating her kindly and not like a servant? Or perhaps because she had a job to do and they wanted to help her to finish her goal. She truly didn’t know what it was but she was happy to finally have somewhere she felt happy.

When Era looked out into the crowd of people she realized how late it had gotten and how many had already left the dining hall. Most of the Royalty was still present but many of the servants and others had left calling it night. She looked back to the queen who was standing now.

“I apologize Lady Symbola but I must head to my chambers.”

“I understand I should go as well so I feel well rested tomorrow.”

The queen looked around before spotting a young servant calling her over, “Mrs. Remida would you escort Lady Symbola back to her chambers.” The servant nodded starting to walk off as Era followed behind her, trying to memorize the halls and the turns that she would need to take.

When they arrived at her chambers she had most of the way memorized but there were a few turns she had forgotten. She thanks the girl before entering her room.

To her surprise her bed had been freshly made, the clothes she had arrived in were gone, and a light blue nightgown hung from the dresser. She walked over grabbing the smooth fabric in her hand before entering to bathroom. She took off the dress she had one letting it fall to the floor as she undid her hair and took off the jewelry she wore.

Her hair fell down her back in small curls. She slide the nightgown on the smooth silk fabric comforting her. She grabbed the dress she had taken off taking it to the next room draping it over a chair in the corner, before turning around heading for her bed. Before she got there, however she noticed the old leather book sitting on the nightstand. She quickly grabbed it wrapping it up in a cloth and hiding it in one of the drawers of the nightstand. She didn’t know what would happen if someone found it.

Once it was hidden she climbed into the bed the covers falling around her as she laid her head on the pillow, falling into darkness.