by Shay Laurent
‘Sure. Why not? We plan to continue through the mountains, staying in whatever caves we can find for the next few days, which should take us right up to Crone Keep. We’ll need to scope out the patrols they have running to make sure they are consistent with the information we have and check for any magical alarms in the surrounding area. Once we’ve done recon for a couple of days to get the lay of the land and their routines, we’ll enter through the waterfall entrance at the base, like Dom said. After that, we’ll follow the internal drawings to where the prison area is and break her out. Then we’ll leave the way we came and head towards the Cladden Pack before making our way back inland and going home.’
She waded through the water as she considered our plan. ‘So it’ll be a woman we’re rescuing. Don’t suppose you’d like to tell me exactly who it is that I’m going on this stupid, insane mission for do you?’
‘No,’ I said.
‘Didn’t think so. Well, the plan seems decent enough. At least you factored in a couple of days to scope the place out. I guess you’ve put some thought into this suicide mission you’ve organised. I’m assuming this is someone that the Pack doesn’t want to rescue since you both seem to have gone rogue to do it yourselves.’
I considered what she said. ‘That’s about the size of it. So you’ll be coming with us then?’
‘Emmie seems to think that I need to go along, and if I return without doing it then I’d be up shit creek. So yes. I’ll be going along.’
‘Emmie?’
‘Ah, Emerilla. The Medicine Woman for our Pack. You’d be insane to argue with her about anything. I’ve seen her idea of punishment for ignoring instructions and I certainly won’t be on the receiving end. Surely your Medicine Woman is the same?’
‘I’m not really sure,’ I said, turning with a questioning look to Dom.
He shrugged. ‘I don’t really know too much about her. The longest I’ve ever seen her was at the Alpha ceremony last week.’
Alessia’s eyes just about bulged from her head. ‘What?! An Alpha ceremony? What happened to your Alpha?’
This time we looked at her like she was crazy.
‘Surely you heard what happened?’ I asked.
She arched a brow at me. ‘Obviously not.’
I sighed. She had such an attitude. Since I was sure everyone else in the whole Shifter world probably knew what happened, I gave her a recap.
‘No shit,’ she said. Alessia looked at Dom, ‘So your dad is the new Alpha now? And you’ve run off and left him there. That’s ballsy.’
‘Hey!’ I cut in. ‘He doesn’t need that from you. You don’t even know him.’
I looked at Dom, worried at the regretful look on his face. I knew this was already hard enough on him. I turned back and glared at Alessia.
She held her hands up in apology. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to stomp on any nerves. I’m gonna get out of here before I get all wrinkly and old-looking.’
When she swam back over to the edge, I moved closer to Dom and rested my hand on his arm. ‘You okay?’
He just nodded and started swimming back as well. I decided to stay there and soak for a while. There was so much drama. Mine, Dom’s and now Alessia’s.
I floated on my back, inhaling through my nose and breathing out through my mouth. I soaked in the sound of the hot water slowly bubbling through the spring, enjoying the feel of the water running over me. It was bliss. And for a little while, I revelled in the sensation of thoughtless drifting.
Unfortunately it didn’t last long. A shout from the passage to the main cavern from Alessia shook me out of my reverie.
‘Dinner!’
This was soon followed by a nauseous feeling that told me she was in the middle of cooking meat.
Hope it’s well done.
Maybe Dom will ask her to cook it through? On the other hand, maybe not, since he was trying not to give anything away about me. I sighed again and realised I’d been doing that a lot since Alessia had shown up. More company seemed to equate to more work. Hopefully she’d get a little less tiring as we went, though I supposed if I actually shared more about my life, I wouldn’t need to worry so much.
I got slowly out of the hot spring, checked no one was coming, then stripped down and dried off. I put a different layer of my clothes back on so I felt a little fresher. I left my wet clothes in the hot spring to hopefully dry out a little from the steam; it seemed like a better idea than putting them near the snow. Maybe.
I walked down the passage, feeling more nauseated with each step. Apparently being at the Academy had helped a bit, but since I’d been away for more than a week with no meat at all, the smell got to me almost as badly as it used to. Especially in the moist air. I walked around the corner and into the room.
‘I’m sorry, I told her you didn’t like the smell of meat cooking,’ Dom called, looking uncomfortable about having said so.
‘It’s fine.’ I gave him a smile, not wanting him to add any more guilt to his plate. ‘I’ll just sit near the entrance.’
He nodded, looking a little more glum than I would have liked, but I’d done what I could.
Alessia turned curious eyes to me. ‘What, are you pregnant or something?’
I stopped in place and stared at her, completely dumbfounded. Dom let out a nervous laugh then told her I wasn’t.
I shook my head, incredulous, and walked past to take a seat by the entrance. Dom brought me a couple of vegetables to eat that Alessia had cooked over the fire on sticks. They tasted nice enough. ‘Thanks.’
She nodded back at me, then started serving up some food for herself and Dom. They sat over near the fire. I was a bit envious of their position by the heat while I was stuck near the frosty entrance to avoid the smell they’d saturated our cave with.
Despite Alessia’s stupid question, we ate in a mostly companionable silence, the two of them occasionally making small talk. Once the food was done, we decided to get some sleep so we could leave first thing in the morning.
‘I’ll take first watch,’ Alessia said, once we were sitting on our mats. ‘I’m not so tired yet anyway.’
I didn’t answer straightaway and thought about what could go wrong with that scenario. I obviously didn’t completely trust her yet. We had maps and internal drawings she could steal. I’d apparently been silent too long because she spoke again.
‘Look. I told you why I’m here. I’m not some dangerous criminal. Emmie sent me here to help you guys, I’m hardly gonna slit your throats in your sleep or something ridiculous like that. But hey, by all means, if you’d both like to take shifts all night, I’ll just get some rest.’
Slit our throats in our sleep. Lovely. I’m so glad she mentioned that.
I looked to Dom. He seemed to think for a minute and then said, ‘I’ll take the second watch. Night.’
He laid down and within a few minutes had started snoring. I was still sitting up despite my tiredness after the travelling, the fight and the hot spring, plus getting some food into my stomach.
Something had been bothering me about Alessia and as I began to settle down I threw it out there. ‘Other than whatever that punishment was from Emmie, why would you really stay and help? Surely you’ve got a bunch of friends and your family to hang out with from your Pack?’
She apparently decided that my question was genuine and not sarcastic because she answered me. ‘Not really. I have my mum. I don’t know my dad. And sure, I have a couple of friends but it’s always the same stuff there. I begged Mum to let me go to the Academy, but she said I couldn’t. Never would tell me why, either.’
Huh, interesting. Sounds a little like my life.
She continued. ‘So when Emmie brought this up, I leapt to take the chance to disappear and do something exciting. Even if it is insane. Which it is, by the way.’
I thought it over for a minute and decided maybe she was okay after all. ‘That all makes sense. Well, hopefully it’ll live up to your expectations. I’m gonna get some sleep. You
’ll wake Dom soon?’
She looked like she was reining in a smile. ‘Sure thing. Night.’
‘Night.’
I WAS WOKEN BY DOM lightly shaking my shoulder. From the cave entrance, I could see the morning was beginning to lighten, but it wasn’t time for us to move along yet. I gave him a bleary smile and waved him off so he could get some more sleep.
I sat awake, thinking about Alessia and her life. It was like a mirror of my own; only one parent around, and that parent not wanting her to go off and join the Academy. I doubted the reasons were similar. I could actually understand her jumping at the chance to leave the Pack and have some sort of adventure, especially when she wouldn’t really have any friends around except during Academy breaks.
From my spot near the cave entrance, I watched as the storm eased slightly, the snow falling lightly on the ground. It made almost no noise, and much less than the rising and falling breaths that Dom and Alessia made in their sleep.
When the first rays of sun pierced the cave opening, I decided to get up, shake myself out a little and stretch quietly before getting breakfast ready for everyone. Funnily enough, when I started unwrapping food, Dom woke up almost immediately. I grinned as I continued to prepare it.
Once I had it done, I waved Dom over, then woke Alessia so she could eat too. She grumbled at me a few times before I successfully managed to get her to move. ‘Gee, you’re lucky we weren’t being attacked or anything. You’d have been killed, like, seven times already.’
She huffed at me. ‘Bull. I’d have been just fine. But the only two I smell around here are you guys. Besides you, it’s just steamy air, snow and food. Hardly a death sentence.’
I ignored the continued grumbles and sat to eat my food with Dom. After Alessia had packed up her stuff, she joined us. We didn’t talk much at all through the meal. Once I was done, I got up and packed my things. Just before we went to leave, I remembered my stuff from the hot spring and went to grab it. Once I saw it, I felt a little sad about not being able to enjoy another swim. With one last longing glance at the bubbling water, I made my way out to catch up with the others.
Chapter 18
We stopped in a new cave each night, thankfully without any further attacks. Alessia seemed quite sure we weren’t being followed, pointing out that no one with a brain would be heading so close to Crone Keep.
On the last evening before we reached the end of the mountains, further behind than I’d hoped, we had to spread out to find a cave. I took the middle path, Dom went down, and Alessia went further up.
I’d been walking for what seemed like hours when I finally found another cave. Cautiously I edged closer, sniffing the air to figure out if there was anyone inside. The heat gave it away before the smell this time. I’d just about reached the entrance when I felt the warmth; it wasn’t steamy like the spring, but hot and dry like a fire. I stopped dead in my tracks, about to edge away. The last thing we needed right before Crone Keep was another fight, especially when we’d only just recovered from the last one.
I took a step back when I heard a voice. ‘Wait, Elita. Don’t go.’
My heart froze at the same instant as my feet.
‘Please, don’t be afraid. I want only to talk with you.’
The voice sounded young, maybe around my age. I didn’t know whether to stay or run. To head into the warmth or flee to the cold. I knew if I ran into any trouble inside, the others would eventually come and find me, especially if I didn’t make it to our agreed meeting point by sundown.
‘Really, you are safe. I am alone and wish only to talk with you. It is important.’
It was ridiculous that someone would even know my name in the middle of nowhere on the mountain. Deciding to risk it, I walked inside.
My eyes adjusted quickly to the orange flames lighting the depths of the cavern, and I took in the teen girl in front of me. She had light blonde hair that came down to her waist and wore a simple gown of pale green that matched her eyes. I noticed that she remained still and quiet while I looked her over and assessed whether she was a threat or not.
Eerily, the moment I’d decided everything was okay, she smiled and then spoke. ‘I am Cassandra.’ When I nodded but said nothing, she continued. ‘And you are Elita... White?’
What, she knows me but isn’t sure of my last name? Weird.
I nodded at her. ‘Yes. I’m Elita.’
In the silence that followed, I continued to study her. This time, I noticed her presence. It was... stifling. She seemed to take up a lot of space in the room, despite looking only a little older than me. I tilted my head, wondering what she was. Certainly not human from the scent, but not a Shifter either. A Sorceress perhaps?
She smiled again. ‘Close.’
Freaky.
‘I am a little more than just a Sorceress. Perhaps you might know who I am, if you think about it?’
I screwed up my face, trying to remember the lessons I’d taken with Miss Stone, when suddenly it hit me like a blow to the face. ‘You’re The Seer.’
Another smile.
‘So, uh, why did you call me in here?’
‘Excellent question. But first, please come and sit by the fire. Warm yourself from the cold. I have some food, if you’ll accept it?’
I thought it over, then went and sat. She passed me some food—vegetables and bread, already warmed up, like she knew when I’d arrive. I smiled in thanks and started to eat. It was still hot, like she knew exactly when I’d be here and when I’d start eating.
I looked over my shoulder, beginning to wonder if Dom and Alessia were waiting at the meeting point already, and if they’d come looking soon.
‘Your friends will find us just as soon as I am ready, don’t worry. They are perfectly safe and not overly worried about you as yet.’
‘What do you mean, when you are ready? What is it that you need to talk to me about? I mean, like, you’re The Seer. The original Sorceress. Why do you want to talk to, well, a nobody?’
She gave me a warm smile; it lit up her eyes more than her previous placid and amused ones. ‘I need to talk to you about your mission, and about the prophecy.’
My stomach turned to lead and thudded down. I’d been trying not to think about the prophecy, especially since my attempts at researching it had resulted in the attack, and death of our Alpha and other Pack members. The only good thing that had come from the whole ordeal was learning that my mum was actually alive.
‘I don’t really know anything about the prophecy, or even what it says.’
‘Ah, well since I was the one who made the original prophecy, I can tell you what it said, if you would like?’
Do I really want to know about this prophecy? Well, knowing what it says can’t hurt, right?
I nodded slowly. ‘I’d like to hear it.’
I looked at The Seer and waited for her to tell me. She zoned out and stared into space, and then, without warning, her eyes turned from their light shade of green to completely white. It was like her irises disappeared. Without meaning to, I scooted away from her.
‘On the eve of her eighteenth Winter Solstice, a wolf of White, born of a Sorceress, will come to bear her mark in the Valley of Cladden. Armed with Fang, Flame and Essence, she will purge the Crones of Old from this earth forevermore.’
I stared blankly. It made no sense. ‘Why in Salvatore’s name would I be the one in that prophecy? I’m no one. Surely there is someone else out there, an adult even—or you—who would have an easier job of purging the earth of the Crones?!’
She smiled again, looking quite amused, particularly when I’d cursed. ‘I cannot answer your questions about that, for it will come to make sense to you in due course. However, there is something I must tell you. Despite the Crones trying to hunt you down at your Academy, having somehow managed to acquire information of your whereabouts, the prophecy still lies dormant.’
‘So wait, does that mean that it won’t happen? That I don’t have to do that?’
&nbs
p; I felt a rush of relief so extreme that I sagged where I sat. I hadn’t realised how worried I’d been about a prophecy I hadn’t even understood.
This time her smile turned sad. ‘At this moment, yes. However, that is soon to change if you continue on your path.’
I sat up, dread pooling inside of me. ‘What do you mean?’
Sorrowful eyes locked onto mine. ‘If you continue with this mission, the Crones will discover who you are and, in so doing, the prophecy will be activated. They will try to hunt you down and destroy you, before you are able to destroy them.’
My heart stuttered, almost coming to a stop.
It’s my mother or the prophecy? Save my mother and be hunted by the Crones, or leave her to die and stay safe?
Tears filled my eyes, so full I couldn’t see The Seer clearly anymore. ‘Why? How is that fair? Why would you do that?’
Her gaze dropped to the ground. ‘I did not choose this for you, Elita. The Earth Mother has chosen. I did elect to intervene, to give you a warning, so that you may have a choice in what will come of your life, but that is all I can offer you: this choice.’
A choice that was a double-edged sword. One that could be wonderful for everyone and horrible for me, or another that could be good for me and leave everyone else with the problem of the Crones and my mum to die a prisoner.
Surely it wouldn’t matter to anyone. No one even knows about the prophecy. But there’s no way I could leave my mum there when I have a chance to save her. Is there? Argh!
I don’t know how long passed while I tried to think through my options, but eventually The Seer spoke again. ‘You do not need to decide right this moment. Your companions will be arriving very shortly, and I would suggest they may need some encouragement to enter the cave, just as you did. Though I daresay that would be best coming from you.’
My head reeled. What would I even say to them once they arrived? Dom knew, but Alessia didn’t. I did know one thing for certain, though. Before this, I didn’t realise I even had a choice, and despite it maybe being better if I’d never known, I knew I needed to say one more thing. ‘Thank you. For giving me a choice instead of letting me blindly make it on my own.’