“Fine. I yield…for now.” I get up and dust my backside, pick up my stuff, and place it by the door. Arryn brings me my mug and winks, whispering, “I’ll go with you when you’re ready.”
I smile and nod. Taking the warm mug in my hands makes me realize I’m colder than I thought, and one sip warms my chilled insides. Perhaps waiting is better for now, but as soon as this weather fades, I’ll be gone. I’m not waiting around longer than I have to.
I come sit on a stool near the kitchen island. “Tell me, Isalora. What do you know about the compound, dogs, and of course, Redmae? Or the others for that matter? I’ve heard the stories Cory has mentioned. Is there anything else we all should know?”
“Well,” she begins, “as far as your sister is concerned, she’s a four-legged animal. She may not recognize you, even with your telepathic gift. We must calculate carefully, and we must strike the compound one evening at a time.”
“So, Moyer has invisible sabretail prowlers during the day, and wolves by nightfall, is that it?” Arryn asks.
“Yes. The wolves are sensitive to the sun. Of course, when it’s overcast, they come out to play.”
“That’s comforting,” I remark. “What do you know about this werewolf gene Moyer concocted?”
“It’s no different than any other werewolf myth I’m sure you have heard, except for one simple fact. It’s a curse in some—to those who carry the Silver Dire bloodline.”
“Yes, Aoes mentioned that to Cory and me. That is why I must give her this serum somehow in the hopes it will bring her human mind back.”
“A human mind in a wolf’s body, interesting,” Arryn says. She looks over at Akira, who is not paying the least bit of attention. He’s now next to the fire, sleeping.
“Do I want to know what you’re about to say next, Isalora?” I ask.
“Sounds to me like I don’t need to. You already know.”
I nod. “Yes, if I don’t get to her first, she will get to me, and I could become like her. Tell me something, these other werewolves, do they change on a full moon, too? Back to human, like Red?”
“No, quite the opposite. My dear, don’t you know?”
“Know what?”
“Some of those Shadow Walkers that roam the night sky are werewolves and roam the grounds outside.”
“Tell me, what exactly are these Shadow Walkers?” I ask.
“They’re all vampires, of some form, that have mutated to different species. Sarmira has used Moyer’s skills to create supernatural hybrids. Through the years, they have been nick named as Shadow Walkers.”
“Aoes didn’t mention any of this.” I’m stunned hearing this news.
“He probably didn’t want you to worry. What happened to Red was a fluke. Dumb luck, if you will. No one could predict the outcome. She isn’t a werewolf. Not like what you would expect, anyway.”
“So, you’re saying Redmae is the only one like her?” I demand.
“Not anymore, no. Sarmira has gotten wise to what has happened to Red, seeking out more Dire bloodlines, thanks to Vothule’s keen sense of tracking. But only five have been found. There are more.”
The hidden Trek coming to my city at Geneviève’s Ranch comes to mind. “Are you saying she has a team of Shadow Walkers on Ladorielle doing her bidding for her? Nyta mentioned that intruders have been spotted, and it explains some missing townspeople, but I’m beginning to think those people were not any ordinary folk, but ones from the Dire Bloodline. How do they hide among our people? Silver eyes are hard to miss.”
“Haven’t you heard of contact lenses?”
“Of course, why didn’t I think of that?” My tone is sarcastic.
Isalora takes in a deep breath, as though to control her temper. “Many Dires live in hiding. They can sense another Dire, though. Thankfully, no other species can sense them. Their only giveaway is the silver eyes.”
Cory must have known I would be in danger, which is why he insisted we seek out Aoes earlier.
“What do you suggest our initial step should be?” I ask, as I take another sip of coffee. “I’m in danger, as well. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes, you are.” She stretches her arm out making a fist. A glow appears beneath her clasped fingers. When the light subsides, she opens her hand. There, in her palm, a small white box appears. “Go on, Rory. Take it.”
I hesitate.
“I assure you it will not bite.” She laughs.
I take the item and open it. “Are those contacts?”
Isalora smiles. “Green is supposed to be your natural color, yes? No one will be the wiser. You can walk around undetected once again.” I wonder if this is why Stella was staring me down so intently earlier?
“The bathroom is down the hall, try them on, see how they fit.”
When I finish putting in my contacts, I walk back out to the living room to see Isalora wiping down the counters in the kitchen. “How do they feel?”
“Very strange. I don’t like them in. It feels like something is in my eyes.”
Isalora snickers. “You will get used to them after a short while. They look beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
“Perhaps I should show you all to your rooms while you’re staying here. Come, this way.”
Akira lets out a yawn, giving a slight roar and startles the dwarfs from their slumber.
“Nice alarm clock,” I tease, giving a cheer to the cat.
Ignoring the theatrics, Isalora guides us to the back hall. “The basement is this way.”
Isalora opens a door leading to a stairwell to a level below. Rough stone walls are accented on the sides, and the steps are also made of the same stone. Once we reach the bottom, I half expect to see a dark, dank cemented basement, but the floors look to be made of flagstone, and the walls are done like in any ordinary house with painted sheetrock. Pictures and family photos line the left side of the room, while on the opposite, windows stand side by side, allowing the picturesque view of the river nestled in the woods. Adjacent from where we’re standing, a big screen TV hangs above a stone fireplace. I watch as the flames ignite automatically.
“It can get kind of chilly down here. This way,” Isalora says, gesturing to a hallway, “let me show you all to your rooms. It’s quite spacious, as you can see. There are additional four guest rooms through that hall.” She points. “Two doors on the right and two doors on the left, are bedrooms. Straight ahead is the only bathroom. Sorry, you will all have to share, although there is another upstairs.”
The first bedroom she shows has two sets of bunk beds. “Thom and Dom, you may like this room in here. You will also be sharing with Cory and Zak.”
I hear grunts coming from the dwarfs. “Well, seeing how we are here to claim our cots, and they are not, I’m taking the bottom,” Thom grumbles. “What say you, brother?”
“Agreed.” Dom smiles and takes off his hat, throwing it atop the other bottom bunk.
We leave the dwarves to their quarters, and she guides Arryn and me to our rooms. Before opening the door, she says, “Rory and Arryn, you two can take one of these two spaces. The door across the hall is Jeoffrey’s area when he comes to visit. This one, however,” she says, as she opens it, “might be to the liking of Akira, as it has a bed fit for him. Plus, the other door over there”—she points to another entrance— “is a perfect escape for your familiar should he choose to go outside.” It’s a glass door and has a view of the river, although the blizzard prevents any scenic view at the moment.
Arryn nods. “Thank you, My Lady, you are too kind.”
“Think nothing of it, my friend. You’re my mother’s huntress. I want you to be comfortable.”
She opens the next door, showing another cozy place. “Alas, dear Rory, here is your room.”
The living quarters I find pleasantly resembles my room back home. I turn to her in surprise. “How did you know?”
“Do you like it?”
“Do I like it? I love it! Thank you so much
. Does the computer I have at home do the same thing as here?”
“Well, you’re welcome, and not exactly. The magic isn’t as strong here, remember? So there isn’t an integrated hologram installed.” She turns to face us all. “I’ll let you all settle in first. Meet me upstairs when you’re done, and we can get started.” We watch as she leaves, disappearing to the stairwell.
Rather than soak up the space where I’ll be sleeping, I set aside my quiver and follow Isalora. I have more questions, and I know she is the closest I have to anyone knowing what has happened to my sister. The brief discussion earlier isn’t enough. I want to know more.
Chapter 14
Cory Storm
The past:
Territories of Ladorielle
It’s a different species that appears one by one, circling, instead of the wolves I’m familiar with. At first, there are only five, then eight, then ten. The pack keeps growing until there are so many I fear we will be their meal instead of the other way around. All of them growl, saliva falling from their jaws and hitting the ground and sizzling on the dirt as it lands. I realize these animals are like wolves, except they are huge, have full white coats and silver eyes. They don’t have a body of flesh but more like a translucent form.
It can’t end this way. This is not supposed to happen.
The undead animals part and sit. A light forms behind them so bright we must shield our eyes. There appears a silhouette of a woman. “Are you the one they call Cory or Cole?” she asks.
Zak gives me a perplexed look.
I shrug. Looking at this being before us with black hair and golden-brown features, I say, “I am Cory Storm.”
“Then you are the one I seek,” she says.
“Forgive me, but who are you?” I ask.
“I am the one they call Terra. I bring with me a warning…and hope.”
I glance at Zak. He looks as puzzled as me. “And what might that be?”
“You face great battles ahead. You must be armed with protection. The weapon you carry will lead you to the path of your destruction.”
“Come again?” I look down at my dagger and watch as the gem glows bright. Startled, I pull it from my waist.
“You’re a conjurer, a mind bender. Your weapon must protect you, and I’m here to seal that protection,” Terra explains.
A surge of power flows through me, like being zapped from a light socket.
I begin to hear multiple whispers talking all at once in my head. As the glow increases, so do the voices.
“Am I going mad? I can’t control the whispers,” I say.
“What voices?” Zak questions. “I don’t hear anything.”
“You can’t hear them all calling to me?”
“Not you, Cory,” Terra speaks, “it’s the blade. All the souls that have been killed from this weapon are trapped and desire to be released. You carry with you the Blade of Hope. Please, give it to me, so I may protect you from the evil souls trapped within its bindings.” She puts out her hand. “If it is not properly fused with the elements, all will be lost.”
I hesitate as I place my palm over the hilt and release it from my belt. I turn it away and attempt to hand it to her carefully.
“Do not worry, it will be safe. Besides, if I wanted your weapon, all I would have to do is this…” In a blink of an eye, my dagger disappears and lands into her hands.
“How did you do that?” I protest.
“I’m an Elemental.” She smiles. “I’m doing what you call…cheating fate. I can see what is to come. I had sensed your arrival a few minutes ago and knew I must reach you before you went back across the channels to the other realm we all know as Earth.” The dagger she holds glows brighter than before. “I cannot tell you everything now. In time you will know the truth. I cannot change what I foresee happening in your future, but I can protect you another way—through this dagger.”
The stream flowing a few feet away begins to rush, as though a flood is about to occur, along with fierce gusts pushing through the trees. Lightning strikes a tree behind Terra and catches fire. She doesn’t seem to fear any of this.
Instinctively, Zak and I step backwards.
Appearing next to Terra are three other women. They all join hands, forming a circle. The dagger is suspended in the air. Zak and I watch as a blue light of energy from the Elementals’ clasped hands, flow to the dagger and illuminates the blade so bright, we have to look away. Seconds later, the blade drops to the ground, all four elementals disappear, and the wolves fade into the darkness of the woods.
“What just happened?” I ask.
Zak shakes his head, stunned. “You tell me.” He looks at my weapon stabbed into the soil. “Well, go fetch it, my friend.”
The blade isn’t glowing, but when I touch it, it burns my fingertips. “Ouch. It’s blazing hot.”
I conjure a bottle of water and douse the dagger, watching the liquid turn to steam, as it sizzles on the hilt, then I pick up my weapon and place it back into my belt.
“Well, that was interesting,” Zak remarks.
“Yeah,” I agree. “Come on, let’s finish our hunt and get back to the cottage as soon as possible. The others need to know what's happened.”
Chapter 15
Rory Fernshadow
The past:
The cottage at Storm River Manor
I reach the upper level to find it empty again and Isalora has disappeared. Where did she go? I ease my way toward the kitchen to see a steaming cup of coffee with a tag next to it, saying Rory.
“How very odd,” I whisper. It’s as though Isalora expected me to follow her, and I would want another steaming hot cup of joe.
“Not that odd really,” a voice says aloud.
I turn around, and nobody is in sight.
“Who’s there? Why can’t I see you?”
“Because I’m in the loft, reading,” the voice says again.
I look up to see it’s the girl, Stella, in the only chair that sits up in that area.
“You’re more than welcome to come up here and visit with me if you like. Isalora has me studying. She’s on an errand and will be back soon.”
Ghosts doing errands. And in this weather?
I grab my mug and go upstairs. Isalora knows me too well, and it has me a little freaked out. If I weren’t so distracted, I would be on my third cup of coffee instead of my second. As I reach the top of the loft, I notice a bench seat under the windowsill. It’s in the same location where the secret portal appears when the portal gate is activated to other worlds. A clever way to hide a gateway to another realm, that’s for sure. I look out past the glass to see flakes still pounding the ground with snow and sit. “So, it's Stella, right?”
She nods. “And you’re Rory.”
“You remembered my name.”
“I have a good memory. Besides, Isalora has been teaching me about a forewarning of others that will come from Ladorielle.”
“You knew we were coming?” This has me concerned. Does Moyer know we’re here, I wonder?
“Of course, I knew. Isalora has the bloodline of a Light Witch,” Stella says, as she thumbs through the book she reads. She smiles at my reaction and explains, “Her mother, Eleena, is a Light Witch. Naturally, it would be passed down through the generations.”
“Wait a minute, she’s a Storm. Her father comes from the bloodline of Necromancers.”
“That’s right. And what of it? And the blood of a dragon, or did you not know?” she adds.
“A dragon? You mean she’s a shifter?” It dawns on me that if Isalora is all these things, so is Wynter. “This is getting all so incredibly complicated.”
“Perhaps I can help you understand.” Stella gets up and walks to the shelf and pulls an album out, flips through the pages, and hands me the book. “See, right here.”
The Necromancer Storm Family
Bryce & Petra: Married
Gavin, Ailbert, & Bram: Sons of Bryce and Petra
Gavin and Ail
bert married the Deagon sisters Isobel and Sara Deagon of dragon descent.
Gavin and Isobel had a son: Arik.
Ailbert and Sara had a son: Ian
Arik married Maura Moyer and had sons Jeoffrey and Chad
Ian married Eleena and had daughters Drelanda, aka Fran, and Isalora.
“Clearly, you can see that Jeoffrey and Isalora were cousins when they married,” Stella remarks.
Looking at the family tree, I realize the forbidden love affair between Jeoffrey and Isalora. “What do you know about the courting of Wynter’s parents?”
“I know it was forbidden. That they rebelled and listened to their hearts, ran away from the kingdom, and married in secret. Isalora doesn’t talk about it.” She pauses, grasping the album from me and places it back on the shelf. Taking her seat on the chair again, she says, “Now, you might understand a little more why they’re sought after. Why Fran, Isalora, and Wynter have all these gifts.”
“I wouldn’t call being a Necromancer a gift,” I retort. “More like a curse.”
Stella smiles. “So quick to judge. A curse because you don’t have that gift?”
“Yes, I’m judging. Look where it’s gotten us.” I hesitate to say more. “And I have gifts, just not an active one.”
Stella raises a brow. “Yes, you’re powerful enough in your own way. You can port, shoot an arrow and most of the time hit your target, shift to a wolf—if you ever find the way to do it—and possess a keen sense of intuition. I sense your eyesight has been enhanced, as well. Don’t you think these gifts are important enough?” She leans in, putting her elbow on her knee, and cups her chin. “How did I do for my first time at this guessing game?”
She has some sharp wit for a young teen. I’ll give her that. How does she know so much about me? This doesn’t make a lick of sense.
“Necromancers are all about death, evil, and dark magic,” I counter.
“Ah, I see. So, you’re labeling them based on birthright? And therefore, they are automatically evil? If everyone thought like you, we would be worse off than we are now.”
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