A/N: Sorry for the ridiculously loooong wait!

For some reason this chapter was just really hard to write...I mean it took foreverrr and a few tries.

And I'm definitely going to dedicate this chapter to roxietheroxie simply for reviewing every single one of my chapters in BOTH my stories(even though the other one is on hold while I work on this) because reviews make me feel all warm and fuzzy and it really made my day. When I checked my email and saw that I had like 11 new reviews I was like :O

Thanks! :)


Within minutes I was staring up at the building where the council met. Well here goes nothing... I flung the doors open and scrambled up the steps until I reached the door to the council's room. Of course when I ran into the room every single one of the council members' heads swiveled to gaze at me in surprise. Looking at all these important people I had only ever read about made me feel faint and my heart jumped nervously. Judging by the looks on their faces most of them were wondering what right I had to just storm in and interrupt their meeting.

"What's the meaning of this?" the man to the far left demanded with impatience.

Like I was just a bothersome pest that had made it's way into his house. I immediately recognized him as Zane, the reigning sovereign of the shapeshifters. It was hard to not notice the yellow eyes with vertical slits. They stared intently at me. Some small part of me whispered run on account of the slight predatory glint he regarded me with. I had read that snake shifters were intimidating but books didn't fully prepare for reality. I got myself under control with a deep breath.

Then my mind decided to realize that I was standing in front of the most important people in this world. In only my pajamas. Control just flew out the window again. I felt my face burning up and I looked down at my feet.

I was about to stammer some unintelligible response I'm sure but was saved by Madina. She got over her surprise and jumped to her feet.

"Tori, What are you doing here?" she asked bemused. I shook my head to clear it.

"Look I know this must look horrible with me barging in here on your meeting and everything but this is important," I insisted.

The woman to the right of Madina leaned forward in her seat. Safiria, queen of the vampires had jet black hair that cascaded down her back and violet eyes. Right now they were looking at me with keen interest. King Vannier had really dark brown hair and crimson eyes that were a bit disorienting. He simply watched me with a narrowed, thoughtful gaze as he waited for his wife to speak. Well I think I know who's in charge in that relationship, I thought, desperately trying not to smirk. Even though none of the others' expressions changed Safiria seemed really amused all of a sudden. Oops...I think she heard me...

"So this is the witch you were telling us about?" Safiria asked without taking her eyes off me. Madina looked strained.

"Yes. But I really think she should leave now. Whatever this is we can discuss it at home," she told me firmly.

Anger swept over me like a torrent of fire. Who was she to dismiss me like that? I looked at her angrily.

"First of all, you're not my mother so don't tell me what to do," I said tightly. Madina looked like she had been slapped in the face. Geez, she needed to get over herself. Sometimes I even ignore my mother..."And second, like I said this is important and I'm not leaving until all of you listen to what I have to say!"

A rolling chuckle came from the guy all the way to the right by Safiria and Vannier.

"I like her. She's got spirit. I don't see a reason to send her away yet," he said. The leader of the werewolves, Ragnar, looked over at me approvingly. "Go on," he encouraged.

"Yes. Let her continue," came the icy voice of Rihannon, the queen of the Fae. The feature I was drawn to was her hair. It was an electric blue and yet I knew it was completely natural. The Fae normally had exotic hair. Thankfully the book I had read on the council had portraits in it so I could recognize eveyone. It would be even more embarrassing if I didn't even know who was who.

Madina sputtered an objection but I ignored her. At first my heart was beating so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest and my throat was as dry as sandpaper. I took a deep breath and began to describe my dream. As I spoke my voice gained confidence and power and I completely forgot that I was talking to the council.

"The man said, before I felt the pain and woke up, that he was planning on breaking the wards very soon." I swallowed hard. "He said, because you would never agree to help each other guard the portal, that you wouldn't be able to stop him from taking his revenge." I paused to observe the shocked gazes of the council. "Who was he and what the hell did he mean?" I asked worriedly.

There was a range of expressions across the room. Everything from shock, disbelief and even fear. God, who the hell was this guy? He had the council worried. However Madina was looking at me sympathetically.

"Tori, I want to believe you. I really do," she said earnestly. "But this...and I know you went out to a club last night, it was probably just a vivid dream. I don't think it meant anything." Was she trying to blame my dream on being drunk? I almost blew up in her face bu then I took another look at her face. There was something like fear was deep in her gaze. She was covering something up. She didn't want to believe me because she was scared.

I looked at her in disbelief. "What the hell are you on? Do you think I'm stupid? Obviously you know who was in my dream and you've got to be crazy if you think I'll believe that it was nothing. What, now do i get a pat on the hand and a lollipop to make it feel better?" I asked scathingly.

Madina looked furious but I kept going before she could speak.

"Now is it possible?" I demanded.

She hesitated. "Well, theoretically...but it takes years for premonition or spirit walking to-" I interrupted her.

"Ok we all know that so far my powers haven't been playing by the rules. Now is it possible?" I asked impatiently. When Madina didn't answer Safiria did it for her.

"Yes," she told me. Then she turned to the rest of the council. "This is a very serious matter. We cannot allow him to get free. Well if he thinks he can get by us separately then I say we combine our forces." Vannier nodded.

"Together we could stand a chance. The wards would hold."

Ragnar violently shook his head. His gaze was furious. "The packs will not work with anyone else. We will step up security on our own when it is our turn," he growled.

"As will the Fae," Rihannon added.

"Don't be stupid. We stand more of a chance together," Vannier reasoned.

"I don't like it any more than you do dog, but it's our only option," Safiria added.

"I told you we will not consent to working with you, leech," Ragnar snarled.

Safiria jumped upwards to defend herself but stopped when a low chuckle came from Zane. Throughout the meeting he had stayed silent and only listened with a calculating expression. Now he spoke and everyone quieted.

"Why, you all are discussing this like it matters. This child simply could not have seen him and we shouldn't be worrying ourselves about it. I'm not saying she's lying. I think she believes what she says. But, this was simply a dream and nothing more. We all saw to it that he was trapped millennia ago and there is no possible way he could have gotten out."

Ragnar was nodding slowly. I don't think it would take much to convince him as long as it wasn't the vampires' idea. Rihannon looked on approvingly at Zane's apparent "logic" and I knew what her decision was. Safiria and Vannier were still defiant while Madina looked between me and Zane uncertainly. I think she wanted to believe me. I could only hope.

"I believe her," came a drawl from a corner where Kayne was lounging lazily.

Wait. What?

Kayne?

If anyone was surprised they kept it to themselves. I looked at him incredulously. How was it he managed to appear everywhere I went?

Maybe I'm stalking you, came his teasing voice in my mind. Quickly I made sure the shields around my head were back in place. God, he was annoying. Even when he was on my side...

"Jazlyn called," he explained with an exaggerated sigh. "She wouldn't shut up until I promised to come down here," he said with a grimace.

"Kayne, how lovely to see you again!" Safiria exclaimed delightedly. He gave an extravagant bow in her direction, smirk still in place, and she smiled, amused.

A little twinge went through me as I saw how much Safiria liked him. Ok she's married. To the king. And they're just friends. But that little unpleasant feeling still gnawed at the pit of my stomach. You're not jealous. You're not jealous. You're not jealous. I gave an inaudible sigh. It was one thing to argue with yourself. It was just plain sad when you lost. He looked back over at me.

"Tori has the most power of any witch on record so far except the original. If she says she saw him then she really did."

Safiria, Vannier and even Madina looked convinced. I mean Madina still seemed frightened but she had stopped denying that the dream was real. Rihannon, Ragnar and Zane however...no chance. And the vampires only got one vote. Hell, I'm screwed.

"We'll take a vote," Zane relented. "Majority rules."

For a few minutes they seemed to be having a telepathic conversation. No one was speaking but faces were being made all around as they argued and it was...well it was pretty freaky to watch...especially when someone got mad. Which tended to happen a lot... I was sure I had two votes but that meant that there were three votes against me. I could only sit there and hope someone would change their mind. Kayne walked up to me.

"What have you gotten yourself into little witch?" he asked exasperatedly. Before I could open my mouth to protest he smiled crookedly. "I have to say, I'm impressed."

Helpless, I could only grin back.

After a few minutes the council turned back towards me. "We've reached a decision," Zane announced. Ummm duh?

"No," he stated flatly.

"What do you mean no?" I nearly yelled.

"Our races couldn't possibly work together without someone getting hurt and we've chosen to dismiss your dream as just that. A dream. Each race will step up security on their own when they guard the portal but we will continue to take shifts," Rihannon said imperiously.

I was struggling to not blow up in their faces so I stalked out the door before I said something that I would regret. As I exited the room the doors slammed shut, narrowly missing me. I whipped around furiously and glared at the doors intensely. They swung back open with so much force that they slammed into the walls and splintered at the hinges.

"There's a slight draft I think. I'd get those fixed if I were you," I suggested icily and walked off without another word.

"Well now you've made her mad," I heard Kayne sigh.


A/N: So Merry Christmas everyone!

You know what I want for Christmas?

Reviews! :D

*puppy dog eyes* please?