Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Clara found herself in the very familiar yet unfamiliar room. It was dark as always and the ever sweet scent invaded her nostrils. Her eyes searched every corner of the room until they landed on the person she had longed for. He was kneeling with hands resting on his thighs, head hanging low, hair covering most part of his face and he looked tired and weak.

Clara dashed towards him. She placed her hands under his chin and gently raised his head up to take a proper look at his face. His eyes were wide open and empty. His smoldering silver eyes had lost their shine and they seemed to be lifeless. Clara frowned and then she held her hands close to his nostrils for a few minutes to feel his breath but Clara felt nothing and panic slowly started to rise within her. She went further by placing her both hands on his shoulder and shook him vigorously but his body responded by landing on the cold floor with a thud. Clara let out a short gasp before her hands flew to cover her agape mouth, her eyes widened as realization hit her hard. He was dead. He had asked her to save him. He had asked her to come find him. He even told her he was waiting for her but she did nothing to save him, she didn't even make any effort and now he's dead. Tears flowed down Clara's cheek as she stood motionless just staring at the body.

"Clara! Clara!" Her friends, including Mira who were already awake, tried to wake Clara up when they saw tears streaming down from her eyes while she was still fast asleep. The tears flowed down from her eyes and traveled along the sides of her ears and finally settled on her pillow. Her friends were worried, and Mira held a confused look on her face. Having dreams about future occurrences was one of the many abilities Clara's kind possesses. But this wasn't anything like a mere dream to her. It was something more. As if Clara could actually step into the future and also be present back here at the same time. That would explain why they are not able to wake her up. What is she exactly? Mira asked herself.

''What do we do now?'' Gina's voice pulled Mira out of her thoughts. " Let's wait" she will be fine" said Mira. Unsure of what to do but she hoped Clara would be fine and come back to them from the place she was stuck in.

Clara was still stuck in the dark room. She wanted to remain in this dark place. She was convinced that she failed. She failed him, even though she never got the chance to know him. It still hurt her alot. But the worries and calls of her friends were getting to her and she knew better than to stay here forever. with one last look at the lifeless body, Clara finally succumbed to the calls of her friends and she opened her eyes to reality. Her eyes first landed on the ceiling and then at the window and Clara could tell from the light that came from the window that it was still early in the morning and the sunrise was yet to be seen.

"Look, she's awake,"

It was only then that Clara took notice of the people that were present in the room and she slowly sat up. Gina and Raya went over to where Clara was seated and they sat on each side, having Clara sit in the middle. Clara had her head facing down in sadness and self blame. Raya and Gina could tell that something wasn't right with their friend so they said nothing, instead they sat close to her and only hoped that their warmth would reach her and make her feel better.

"Are you alright?''said Mira.

Clara's head snapped to the direction where the voice came from and she was a little surprised to see the lady in her apartment.

"Mira?".

"Yes, how are you?".

Clara nodded without saying anything. She looked sideways at her friends who were sitting next to her. Before Clara passed out. she was able to see the light that blasted out of her body when she screamed and how it sent her friends flying.

"I'm sorry guys,I never meant to hurt you, I didn't know what came over me".

"You don't need to apologize, Clara. We know you would never hurt anyone intentionally, it was out of your control but I think there has to be some kind explanation to it and I think Mira knows something" said Gina and Clara raised her head to look curiously at the lady who was sitting opposite them.

Mira remained silent for a moment, trying to figure out how to go about it and she also knows that Clara's origin is not hers to speak of but she had to say something, anything to ease her mind for now because she could already tell that bigger things awaited the girl. Mira took a calm breath before speaking.

"You come from a lineage of gifted people". She paused. Intently watching Clara's reaction.

"Your lineage is known to have special abilities. What you experienced yesterday was an awakening of your gift. Well, I think your gift is yet to be awakened fully. She Said.

"Hehehe...What lineage?. What gift?. I mean, My Mom has no gift, I can assure you of that" Clara let out a nervous laugh.

"And what about your father?" Mira questioned and Clara fell silent. Her father was something she knew nothing about. Her mother never talked about him or how they met, there were no pictures of him anywhere in the house or in any kept boxes.

The thought of not knowing who her father was and her Origin saddened Clara even more. She just nodded her head and decided to drop the topic for now as she felt embarrassed in the presence of her friends. Clara knew she didn't have to be embarrassed but she was anyway. Who in her age doesn't know their origin talkmore of not knowing who their father was?. She asked herself.

"How did you find this place?. Clara asked Mira, who was slightly cut off guard by the sudden change of topic.

What was she supposed to say?. That she was hanging in one of the trees?.Who would believe her if she said that she had always been on their tail since the moment they stepped foot into mystic falls or that she even poisoned Clara in her sleep. Mira mocked herself.

"You said it yourself when we met at the grocery store, remember?" Mira tried to cover her guilt with a smile. Clara could not remember the time when she said something like that but she gave no serious thought to it and then her eyes caught a purple box that was placed on top of a wooden stool.

"It's yours, it came in for you yesterday". Raya informed Clara when she saw the girl looking at the box with knitted brows. Clara's frown deepened. She didn't know anyone who would send her gift here in mystic falls but still, she dragged her tired and sad body over there to take a look at the box. The box was eye-catching, covered in purple glitters and a ribbon tied around it. Clara first untied the ribbon and removed the cover then picked up the small note and read through it.

"8 a.m sharp," the note said. It was only then that something snapped in Clara's mind and she suddenly forgot about her dream and everything that worried her. Her mind had again been clouded by the potion. "Xander," she muttered to herself while she ran her fingers through the red satin dress with a smile and she turned her head to where her friends were seated.

"It's from Xander, he wants me to accompany him to a ball," Clara said with a smile.

Her friends were more surprised by the sudden mood swing. Mira bit hard on her lower lips in anger. She knows exactly what was happening with Clara. The potion is still at work, she thought Clara had broken the spell yesterday when her power surfaced, but seeing the sudden change in Clara, Mira knew she had thought wrongly.

"You don't have to go if you want to. You are still very weak and need to rest." Mira tried to dissuade Clara from going to the ball.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Clara beamed. She ran to Gina and dragged her away from the living room and down to her bedroom. " I need you to put your making skills to work right now, I need to look stunning" said Clara, scurrying away to the bathroom to take a quick bath.

In the meantime, the members of the mystic shadow pack were busy with the final preparations of the ceremony. Everything was in place.

Meanwhile on the other side of the pack's territory. Lucas and the selected few had converged and were already warmed up for the battle, all that was left was to wait for the right timing to strike. Lucas had the most significant role to play because he had to be present at the ceremony and also be present in the battlefield.

Back in Clara's bedroom, Gina was almost done with applying the finishing touch of the make up. Gina took a red lipstick and applied it on Clara's thin lips as the final touch. Clara got up from the small wooden stool and went to stand in front of the mirror and smiled at herself. She was satisfied with Gina's handiwork.

She stretched out her hand and picked the black heels that lay inside the purple box and she crouched down to put them on.

Gina watched intently at her friends because she had never seen Clara this happy before and she was very happy that her friend finally found love.

"Wow...Clara, you look gorgeous" said Gina as she stared at Clara in awe.

Clara was wearing a sexy red evening dress with halter neckline and the unique intricate strappy back showed off Clara's fair back, the satin fabric hung gorgeously on Clara's curves and the front slit revealed part of Clara's slender leg. The red dress matches perfectly with her snow white skin which helped to compliment the black pencil heel and Clara's dark hair. Her enticingly beautiful emerald eyes held charms that made one lose themselves in them.Clara was really impressed, she had known herself to be good looking but not as beautiful as she looked right now. Clara's phone soon started to buzz and Clara walked to her bed and picked it up.

"Hi, yes, I'm ready. Hmm, okay, I will be out in a minute. Yeah sure, I'm waiting" Clara put down the phone and it started to buzz again, Clara pressed the ok button before placing the phone back on her left ear.

"Hi mom". Said Clara but she quickly withdrew the phone from her ears as a result of her mom's high pitched voice.

"Clara!. You finally have a date, I'm so excited right now. Listen mom has to know everything about him, okay. What's his name?Where does he live? Does he treat you right?'' Her mom attacked her with questions.

Clara eyed Gina accusingly but Gina's reaction showed she wasn't the one who informed her mom about Xander. Which means it was Raya who informed her Mom about him." That blabbermouth," Clara hissed.

"Mom, I have a ball to attend, I will call you when I get back and we can discuss my new boyfriend," Clara said with a smile.

"Fine, make sure to use protection"

"Mom," Clara yelled.

"Hehehe, bye darling" her mom laughed before ending the call.

"I swear, I'm gonna kill that blabbermouth someday," Clara said, taking her small purse and exiting the room with Gina trailing behind.

They made their way to the living room and Raya showered praises on Clara while Mira kept trying to hide her uneasiness with a smile. She wanted to leave the place before Xander would come and meet her.

"Guys, see y'all later, I should go now" said Mira while standing up and walking towards the door, leaving no room for argument. She turned the doorknob and opened the door to walk out of the house but Xander was already standing at the entrance with a smile and a white rose in his hands. His eyes held glints of annoyance when they reached Mira who was standing in fear.

"I'm just leaving" Mira whispers, scurrying away like she was being chased by a wild beast.

Xander stepped into the room with a smile. He gave a short nod to Clara's friends before walking up to Clara and gave her the rose. His eyes scanned Clara's length and something flashed through his eyes. He had never seen anyone look more beautiful in red the way Clara did. She was indeed a beauty and he wanted a taste of her red lips.

Xander walked away with Clara and led her to sit on the back seat of the car and he sat next to her before signaling the driver to start the car.