"Sage," a velvet voice whispered.

"You are mine, Sage," the voice taunted, possessively. A chill ran down my spine, as the startling words caused my breath to hitch in my chest. I was completely mesmerized by the unidentified voice. My hands yearned to reach out and find the source. It was like the voice was so close yet millions of miles away at the same time. Where was it coming from? More importantly: who was it coming from?

"Only a matter of time till you are mine in every sense of the word."

My body heated up, and I tried to will my mind to focus. Focus. In a foggy haze, I couldn't get a grip on my bearings. Where was I? I tried to look down at my hands, but everything was dark.

I screamed.

And, then I screamed again like my life depended on it.

Startled, I jolted up in bed, my breathing rapid — coming as quick pants. My body was drenched in sweat, eyes popping open. The voice had been so familiar yet so foreign at the same time; I was having trouble keeping my head on straight.

Who could it have been?

I clutched my wrist, as my body's knee-jerk reaction was to spring up from my slumber, causing my arms to flail about. My wrist ended up hitting the wall. I winced instantly, finding it hard to bite back another scream.

My eyes were glued shut.

The nightmare invading my life recently was never-ending. My dreams — now nightmares (at least I think) — did not relieve me of this terrible reality, and it was looking like I could never catch a break. What had I done to deserve this?

As my breathing started to normalize, I didn't want to think about whose voice taunted my dreams. It made me uneasy. It made my toes curl up and my stomach clench; it made my stomach rustle and my senses alert. No matter how hard I tried, I could not shake this feeling.

I could not shake him.

Him. I would have scoffed at myself if I wasn't currently wincing in pain, and if I also was not currently having somewhat of a whole life crisis. I couldn't dare think of his name, afraid he would invade my thoughts. Would be able to find me through my dreams? The thought felt ridiculous, but it lingered nevertheless.

Being unsure of the capabilities of the supernatural, I decided it was too risky to think of my time on the Outside. The Outside was so foreign. By now, the charm of having been in the presence of wondrous technology had faded off, leaving me with just the feeling of dread.

I was as good as dead.

I gulped, my mind turning into a thousand different directions, but I was too tired to go down any single path of thought. Not knowing how long I had slept for — there were no windows in the room I was lodged in — I decided to try giving sleep another chance.

As the once searing pain in my wrist had dulled, my head was nodding back and forth, getting ready to surrender to sleep at any moment. This could all just be a dream. And, I hoped that turned out to be true.

Sleep never came to me, however, a stranger did.

Not even bothering with a knock, someone entered my room and abruptly flipped up the light switch. My eyes stung at the flooding of light; I was still not used to electricity and artificial lighting.

I pushed down my curiosity as hard as I could. I didn't have enough mental bandwidth to think about Borderlanders living underground with electricity. It made my stomach clench; it went against everything we stood for, didn't it? We had decided to live without modern luxuries to prove a point, yet these luxuries — and probably many more — seemed to surround me.

Stop, I told myself.

"Rise and shine, princess," the intruder greeted me, crossing his arms over his chest. My head snapped in his direction.

Once my eyes had fully adjusted to the light, I saw a scrawny man dressed in blue jeans. His face looked to be tied in a knot, and he didn't look like he particularly cared to be here. Or, he did care, but his face did not show it.

"What time is it?" I asked, rubbing my eyes to give the illusion that I had just woken up from a deep sleep.

The intruder did not answer me. Instead, he crossed his arms tighter across his chest and shifted his stance.

"Hurry up, they are waiting," was all he replied.

"Who are they?" I asked in retaliation.

My heart rate accelerated. I had an inkling as to who he was referencing, and I knew it would mean my fate would be sealed. They were going to kick me out of the Borderlands, and I was going to be as good as dead. I could just feel it in my soul, but I had to force myself to not dwell on this — I didn't think I could survive it if I did.

"The Council." That was all he had to say for my blood to run cold. My assumption was right.

The Council was the elected officials of the Borderlands — or, well, the supposed elected officials. An election had not happened in many years, not that many complained. But the Council was in charge of implementing our way of life. They could add or subtract our Borderland guidelines at a whim, not that they would be privy to do so. There had been no additions or corrections in my lifetime — or even Pa's lifetime.

Before my birthday, I had seen some of the three Council members a handful of times in my life. With the slow pace of life in the Borderlands, the Council was usually out helping others or attending to their families. They hardly ever made public appearances, and, as a result, there were many rumors and myths created about them — some good, some bad.

I mentally cursed Memphis for putting me in this position, but I quickly shook my head to rid myself of this thought.

No, I thought to myself, you only have yourself to blame, Sage. Act repentful and maybe they won't kill you, right?

My heart rate eased at this thought. I would be okay, or I at least assured myself that I would be okay. For now. But that thought was very fleeting as Pa's words echoed in my head: "They're going to offer you a proposition, and I don't think you'll like it."

It didn't matter that I was not going to like the proposition like Pa had mentioned. It was out of my hands. I would have to accept the proposition. For the Borderlands. I had done something so wrong, I was willing to accept my fate. I wondered if Memphis and Si would have the same fate as me.

I jumped out of bed, twisting my wrist to stretch it out. I was wearing my clothes from the Outside still. The pants stuck close to my skin, my legs screaming to be released. My tank top had ridden up, and I had somehow lost my sandals in the midst of running away from him — not that I was complaining.

The stranger blinked then said, "follow me."

"But," I stated, nervously, "I can't meet the Council like this."

Catching a glimpse of myself in the lonely mirror, I shuddered at the sight: my hair was all in disarray and the makeup Natasha had applied was now all smudged all over my face. I looked like a low-effort clown, and I was about to see the Council. Maybe it is what I deserved.

"The Council is waiting," was all he responded with before exiting the room. Stunned, I quickly followed behind this strange, nameless man.

On his way out, he uncrossed his arms and instead folded them behind his back. His pace picked up once he realized that I was indeed following him. We did not travel far; for I do not think there was much to travel to in this underground, prison-like shelter.

We passed by a couple of metal doors that led to places I could only imagine. No one else was in the hallway we were walking in, and it had me doubting if everything I experienced yesterday was even real.

Lost in thought, I had not noticed that the man had stopped walking until I almost toppled over from running into the stranger who had yet to say his name. The man sighed before he knocked on the metal door we stood in front of. Not even a second later, Pa opened up the door.

"Pa!" I exclaimed, embracing him tightly. He still smelled like home; he still smelt like the forge.

This could be the last time I ever see Pa, I thought, sadly.

Pa smiled at me, giving a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. "Everything will work out, Sage."

I weakly smiled back, pretending to show that I believed what Pa was saying. He was wrong; I just knew it. If they didn't demand to throw me out, I would have to insist they would, right? It would be a test, and I could not fail Pa a second time.

The Council would not make an exception, especially not for the daughter of a blacksmith. They especially would not make an exception for me after what happened to Ma. Even more so, they could not possibly make an exception for someone linked to one of them...one of the beasts.

"Ah, Sage, your Pa — Chuck — has been talking up a storm in your absence. It is good to finally meet you," Fletcher Wade extended a smile.

I knew who he was instantly. He was the better known of the three Council members. He was a little odd, or so I heard. It was said that he liked to go out in the Eastern fields and frolic around with the wildlife. It could just be a rumor, but the quirky grin he was flashing at me told me there was more to him than meets the eye.

The other Council member present seemed to be Beatrice Fraiser. She was dressed in a big, puffy fur coat despite it being the middle of a blistering summer season. However, the heat that might have been radiating outside was not able to penetrate through the thick walls. How far down were we?

"Tea, my dear?" Beatrice asked, but I quickly shook my head without even thinking. "Shame. Gunther, you may leave. You have lots to prepare."

The stranger who had escorted me here nodded and then quickly left the room, letting the door thud behind him as he left.

"Sage, it is a relief to see you are well," Beatrice moved over towards me and place a comforting, warm hand on mine. She then motioned for us to sit down.

The room we were in was not big at all. It felt more like a closet than a room. A dinky, wooden table rested in the middle of the room with five matching chairs surrounding it. The walls were the same dirt that engulfed all the walls here.

I took a hesitant seat beside Pa and across from Beatrice and Fletcher.

"We are sorry that Councilman Henry could not make it, but he had some responsibilities to take care of. I am sure you can understand," Fletcher mumbled off, twisting several of the rings that decorated his fingers.

"It has come to light that you recently were outside the Borderlands."

I closed my eyes, afraid that if they remained open that the world would start spinning.

"Look what you did, Fletcher! You scared the girl," Beatrice shrieked, and I could hear a light smacking noise.

"I am so sorry. I shouldn't have left the Borderlands —" Pa squeezed my hand — "I accept that. I know I am as good as dead, you don't have to prolong it for my sake," I blubbered out, near crying.

"Sage, dear, open your eyes," Beatrice said a little too cheerfully. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes as she commanded. "You're not in trouble. Actually, it is quite the opposite."

"I don't understand."

"We were made aware of the... connection... you have with someone named Theo. Is that correct?"

My body instantly froze. How did they know that? I couldn't respond back, not with Pa sitting next to me. I couldn't have this be the last memory of me — I couldn't let him think that I was connected to a beast.

"It's okay, Sage," Pa reassured me.

Instead of responding, I just shook my head too embarrassed to confirm their suspicions with words.

"Your Pa is right. It is okay. But, we do need your help. It is no secret the magic protecting our humble Borderlands is fading. How much longer it will protect us is unknown. This should not come as a shock since the strength of the spell has been waning. Unfortunately, the last of the witches who helped with the protecting spell has passed away. Satan rest her soul. Nevertheless, we are unsure of how long the Borderlands will be protected before it fails us for good."

"I'm sorry, I still don't understand how I fit into this," their words entered in one ear and out the other.

Before I could even process any of my thoughts, Councilman Fletcher responded: "We need to find a witch or wizard that will be able to cast a similar spell. And Theo is one of the most affluent Alphas in the world. He should know of many, and if not, he should know of people who do. We want you to use your connection with him to bring us a witch or wizard. Sage, we want you to save the Borderlands. Our future rests in your hands."