The Beast's Possession

**Aife pov**

As soon as Zion left and Kala was sure he wasn't hiding in the hall, listening in on our conversation, her eyes turned cold. Kala watched me with what seemed to be.. anger? "What?" I blurted out, taken aback by her cold demeanor.

"Nothing," she grumbled and shifted in her seat. "Anyway, do you understand what voids are? Or do I need to give you more time to process the information before we move forward?"

Honestly, the way her mood kept changing and Kala's revelation about voids, the witches, and true visions - all of that added a new layer of complexity to my already all-over-the-place, crazy emotions.

The base concept of a void, the misleading glimpse into the future it created and the details that could tell it apart from something that could be deemed true left me fighting my own thoughts and beliefs. There was nothing I wanted more than to deem all of Salem's ominous predictions as a void.

If what Kala said held any truth, perhaps there was a sliver of hope buried beneath the weight of my fears. Barely visible, yet still there.

For some reason, I started pacing the room again, but this time, my own steps had a thump to them that helped me anchor my thoughts. "So, Salem's visions are like a double edged sword, in a sense? They can either offer genuine, true insight into one's future or lead her astray with false prophecies?"

Kala nodded, her expression deathly serious. "Exactly. It's a tricky business, dealing with the supernatural. Salem has her gift, but like any power, it comes with its own set of challenges, questionable details and uncertainties. The key is learning to find the right way between truth and illusion."

As I pondered this newfound information, a fresh wave of curiosity washed over me. "And what about the objects or words she might mention in a true vision? You mentioned there are details you can use to tell if the vision is a void, so what makes the vision real?"

"Ah, that's where the real skill comes in," Kala giggled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Each witch has their own method. Salem, for instance, associates specific objects or words with certain outcomes. It's like decoding a cryptic message. The challenge lies in translating the symbols correctly, and that, my friend, requires both intuition and experience." She paused, letting the information sink in. "In Salem's case, she often mentions significant objects or key phrases that have personal meanings to her. It's like her subconscious mind communicates through these symbols, and her challenge is to decipher their true significance. The only issue is that at times, she isn't too keen to mention the details when she reveals her visions."

It dawned on me that the supernatural world held depths I had yet to fathom. Salem's visions were not just glimpses into an uncertain future; they were puzzles that required a keen mind to unravel. "Have you ever encountered a true vision that came to pass?" I asked, genuinely intrigued by Kala's experiences with Salem's visions from the time those two used to be close.

A slight smile played on Kala's lips. "Yes, a few times. Salem's visions have guided the Coven through some challenging moments. But it's a delicate balance. We can't solely rely on her gift, as the risk of misinterpretation is always there. Trust is crucial, both in the seer and in our ability to navigate the unknown. I can't say that I've seen more than the Coven, but let's say there were times I was happy and eager to learn more about her gift. Truth to be told, I knew about Zion before we met.." She whispered the last words, her cheeks turning bright red and eyes focusing on the carpeted floor.

As Kala spoke, I couldn't help but wonder why this was the first time I heard about these details. The trust seemed to be very important for everyone, but witches, well, they took the importance to another level, once hard to phantom. Just as I parted my lips to ask another question, Zion entered the room again. His eyes met mine, concern etched on his face. Kala shot him a knowing look, nearly stopping him in his tracks. Zion furrowed his eyebrows and tore his gaze away from her to focus on me. "You two seem to be deep in conversation."

"We are," Kala chimed in. "And now, it's your turn to share your insights. What's bothering our Luna here?"

I sighed, the weight on my shoulders momentarily lifting. "Salem mentioned a vision, a future that seems mysteriously uncertain. But Kala here has shed some light on the nature of her gift. There's a chance that it might be a void, a misleading prediction born out of stress and pain."

Zion's brow furrowed in concern. "A vision? What did the fucking witch claim she saw?"

I hesitated, wondering if I wanted to speak the words out loud. A part of me feared they would become true once I said them aloud. And yet, seeing the concern Kala and Zion showed me, I sighed and came clean with them. "She spoke of dark times, of a looming threat that could tear everything apart. That could cost my life. But with what Kala shared, I'm beginning to wonder if it's just a manifestation of her own fears and anxieties."

Zion's gaze softened, and he stepped closer to reach out and place a comforting hand on my shoulder. "We'll figure this out together, Aife. Whether it's a true vision or a void, we'll face it together, hand in hand. And if it's in our power to change the course of fate, we will do everything in our power to change it. Especially if we must save your life. That, we definitely will do. Especially Bane."

Kala grinned, grabbing and raising her mug in a toast. "We don't have anything stronger so tea will do. Let's make a toast to navigating the twists and turns together, ensuring our beloved Luna's safety and always staying together. Friends for life?"

Laughing, Zion and I grabbed our mugs and clinked them together, trying to rid ourselves of the tense feeling and the bitter aftertaste of this conversation.

I still couldn't shake off the feeling that Salem's words might have been right, but I did my best to ignore that. If her vision came true, I was sure that with Bane, Zion and Kala by my side, we could come up with a way to make it all better. The only problem was that I wasn't sure if it could be possible. I couldn't just tell my friends that Salem was advising me to leave because Bane was the one who was supposed to hurt me.. He loved me.. He would never.