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“ A va! Ava wake up!” Someone was shaking her.

Opening her eyes, she turned and saw Henry’s face. “I think you were having a nightmare,” he said, concerned. “Are you okay?”

She sat up and looked around to clear her mind. She was not in the forest. She was at home, in her bed. Henry was with her. Realizing she was safe, she looked at him. “I’m fine.”

“What were you dreaming about?” he asked, brushing the hair from her face.

“Just a bad dream about my mom. That happens sometimes. I’m fine,” she answered.

But it had been another one of those strange dreams about running through the woods toward the glowing tree and the man calling her name.

Why did she lie to him? Unsure of why she felt the need for dishonesty, she knew for some reason she didn’t want to tell him about her recurring dreams. They felt too important, too personal.

It had been a couple of weeks since the Halloween festival and Henry had gotten in the habit of spending the night frequently. Their relationship was progressing rather quickly, and he had proven to be a kind and attentive boyfriend.

She wasn’t initially looking for a relationship.

She wanted a fling, some fun. Someone to flirt with and maybe companionship, but over the last few weeks she was feeling drawn to him.

As if she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to be in his presence, needing to be around him.

He radiated sensuality. Underneath the handyman persona was a suave man, smooth-talking until she became a puddle of nerves.

She’d never experienced anything like it.

It came so easily for them. They never argued; never even got irritated with each other.

He was always kind to her; helping her fix things around the house and providing a comforting presence.

And the sex. She’d never known pleasure like that before.

Every time he kissed her it was as if she lost control of herself and was pulled into a haze of desire. It was almost too easy.

He pulled her to him, and she settled onto his chest as he stroked her hair. “Are you sure you’re alright? You’re having nightmares a lot.”

He was right. She was having them almost every night, but she didn’t admit it to him. “I’m fine. They come and go.”

What she didn’t say was she was exhausted, barely sleeping these days. Ever since moving to the farm, these recurring dreams appeared and had been getting more frequent, as if she was getting closer to something she couldn’t yet see.

She trusted Henry, and though she wasn’t ready to talk about the dreams, she decided to reveal a little to him about what she found.

She tilted her head to look at him. “Remember when you said there were rumors about witches and stuff here?”

“Yes.”

“I found something,” she said.

He sat halfway up, looking down at her. “Really? What? ”

Though she had brushed off most of the whole ‘love’ part of the fortune, the old woman had said she could trust him. She knew it was silly, but it brought her comfort for some reason.

Rising out of the bed, she threw on her robe and opened the top drawer of her dresser. Digging under her clothing, she retrieved the book and handed it to him, sitting back down on the bed. “This.”

He carefully regarded the tome. “Wow. Is this real?”

“I think so. Okay, so… please don’t think I’m crazy.” She took a deep breath. “But when I touched it for the first time, it made me sick.”

He looked at her, incredulous. “Really? What does that mean?”

“I don’t know.” She laughed quietly. “Eleanor joked that my house was haunted.”

“Eleanor saw it too?”

She nodded. “We found it together. I promise I’m not crazy…”

He placed his hand on her face. “I don’t think you’re crazy. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I didn’t think you’d believe me.”

“Of course I believe you. Can I look inside?” he asked as he removed his hand and looked back down at the book in his lap.

“Sure.”

Henry opened the book, treating it with reverence as if he was afraid it would break.

“It’s in a different language,” Ava said.

“I can see that. How strange,” he said as he stopped on the page with archways and symbols. “What are these?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know… but they look like portals or something?”

“They do. But portals aren’t real.” He laughed, but there was a brief flash in his eyes. A subtle expression that almost looked like he was deep in thought. Maybe he didn’t believe her; he was just humoring her to be kind.

“I never said they were,” she teased. “That’s just what it looks like.”

“Have you found anything else?”

She pulled her robe tighter. “No. But?—”

He met her eyes and took her hand. “But what?”

“I think there’s something in the forest.”

Henry scrunched his brow. “Like what?”

She ran her thumb over the top of his hand. “Like shadows or something. Like—” She paused. “Like there are people watching me.”

He frowned. “People? Watching you?”

Exasperated, she let out a breath. “I don’t know, it’s just…” She tugged on her earlobe. “I feel them. And see shadows moving.” She stared at him. “Oh god, you think I’m crazy.”

He shook his head enthusiastically. “No no no. I believe you… but—” He hesitated. “Do you think it’s the lack of sleep?”

It didn’t seem like he believed her.

She sighed. “Probably.”

“If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll install a security system for you.”

“Thanks.” She gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll think about it.”

Later that evening, Ava was snuggled on her couch with a cup of chamomile tea to catch up on some reading.

She was in the middle of an epic fantasy series about dragons and politics and war and hadn’t had as much time to read in between managing the farm and spending time with Henry.

She was lost in an intense battle scene, swords clanging, tension rising and one of her favorite characters was gravely injured.

Luna was nestled at her feet, fast asleep, now a constant companion at the farmhouse.

It was getting late and though she was starting to get tired, she wanted to finish a couple more chapters before going to sleep, needing to know what happened next.

But Ava found herself barely able to keep her eyes open and nodded off, the book face down on her chest.

She was interrupted by frantic growling and pawing at her face. Sitting up, she saw Luna awake and staring at her. “What is it?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

A small feminine voice replied in her head as the cat evaluated her. Hello, Ava.

Panicking, Ava jumped off the couch. “Did you just talk to me? How?”

I can talk to you in your dreams. But in our world, we can communicate any time, Luna replied.

“What? Our world? I’m dreaming?” Ava said shakily, staring at her feline friend.

Luna tilted her head. Yes. You’re dreaming, but this is real. I’m not an animal of this world, I come from another realm.

“What?” Ava blanched.

Things are not as they seem. Those pictures in the book are portals. You were right.

“Portals to where?”

Anywhere. Other worlds, realms. There’s one in the forest.

Ava gasped and stared at Luna. “Here? On this property? Where does it lead?”

Home.

Shaking her head, Ava replied, “This is my home.”

No, it’s not. You’ve always wondered, haven’t you? Why you were different. How your mother could do magic. It’s because that’s where your family is from. The book you found. It’s sacred. You mustn’t let her attain it.

“Who?”

The demon queen.

“I don’t understand,” Ava pleaded, shaking .

You must find the map and go home. To Eorhan.

“Why?”

Because it was prophesied.

“What was prophesied?

I don’t know all the details. Only that you must go back.

“What do I do?”

Find the map. Find the portal. You must go home.

“I… I can’t.”

You can and you must. I know the Elderoak calls to you. Whispers to you in your dreams. It is your destiny, Ava.

“Elderoak?”

The Elderoak is a sacred tree. Revered by your people.

“Can’t I just search the property for the portal?”

No. Your grandfather made it so the portal is invisible unless you have the map.

“He could do magic too?” Ava had never seen him do it. At least, not that she could recall.

Of course he could. Most of those from our world can do magic. To find the map, you must look in the place where life is created. Only then will you find the answers you seek.

“ What does that even mean? Please tell me more,” she begged the cat who was still staring at her seated on the couch.

You must hurry. There isn’t much time left. She’s coming. Eorhan needs your help.

Ava awoke and scanned the living room, her eyes landing on Luna who was still asleep at her feet on the sofa.

Everything seemed normal, though the eerie feeling from her dream remained. Thoughts of talking cats and mysterious portals swirled about in her head, blurring the lines of what was real and imagined.

She tried to calm herself by denying the plausibility of these strange occurrences. Animals couldn’t speak. She knew that. It was just a weird dream. Probably because she had been reading, it was late and she was exhausted.

And yet.

Something continued to badger her, to push her to believe. To accept. Magic .

She stood and headed to the kitchen for a glass of water. After taking a long gulp she set the cup down harder than intended. Deep down she knew it was true; all of this meant something.

Clenching her fists she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, her body overcome with anger.

Her mother died, then Grandpa and now they’d left her this disaster, keeping secrets her whole life.

If this so-called prophecy was true, why didn’t they tell her?

Why didn’t they go back to their world and face it? What were they hiding from?