Finishing our conversation, Grayson pipes in, “Why don’t we split up and search the area. Maybe we can get a new scent or tracks to follow? Aleric you could go left, Gabriel can go right and I’ll search around the benches.”
Nodding to Grayson, Aleric and I go our separate ways to search. The brush around the right side was tall and dense. I feel like I am having to search through a jungle more than the woods in Washington. Turning around I see that Aleric is having about the same amount of luck as I am. I turn towards Grayson to see if he has managed to find anything, when I see him walking in circles around the fire pit. I chuckle to myself and think, that man is going to get dizzy after a few more turns.
Grayson’s eyes narrow at one of the benches, as if seeing something near it, “What’s that?” he asks cautiously, pointing to something on the ground.
I jog over, and bend down and pick up a piece of folded paper. The paper is thick and feels like parchment; almost grainy under my touch. I unfold the note as Aleric races towards Grayson and I. Aleric tries to take it from my hand, but I am quick and spin out of his way. Slowly, I read it out loud.
If you want her alive you will come to the rove. Just the three of you and no others. If you bring any other shifters with you we will end her. We will meet at 8pm in three days. We will be watching.
They look at each other and then at me. Well shit. Mother fucking bastards are dictating everything. I’m not one to be told what to do, but with Viola’s life on the line I’ll do everything and anything I have to. I look at Aleric and Grayson, “We’re going right? I mean between two shifters and a quick as fuck boxer we can take on whatever they are going to throw at us right?”
“Sure we can, buddy. Let us get back to Aleric’s and see if we can come up with a plan.” Grayson says, as he gives me a pat on the back. Still clutching the note, I start walking back down the path to Aleric’s.
Once we get to the cabin, we end up sitting around the kitchen table and I toss the note on the middle of the table. Grayson snatches it up and tries to use his angel sense on the paper hoping it will hold traces of any persons that linger. I snatch it back and give him a stern look, “What are you even doing?”
“I am trying to get a sense, what do you think?” Grayson snaps back at me. I can’t seem to get a hold of my anger tonight, as I hear Aleric slamming the cabinet door and making so much noise in the kitchen.
Finally I turn towards the kitchen and yell, “What the fuck is your wolfie ass looking for?”
Aleric’s head pops up and smirks at me, “A bottle of Jack or something. I’m gonna need some alcohol to deal with this.”
“That is actually not a bad idea,” I say nodding.
1...2...3...4...5… I count in my head to try and calm myself. When Grayson interrupts my counting with his irritating voice.
“Alcohol is not going to help us in this situation. All that will do is inebriate us. We will be no good to Viola that way,” Grayson says a little to matter of factly for my taste.
The bottle and the note gets passed between us like it will hold new secrets. Eventually the bottle empties and the note doesn’t seem to hold any more clues than before. I slink down further in the chair but can’t seem to get comfortable.
Aleric speaks up after seeing me squirm, “I have extra bedrooms if y’all want to stay so we can start planning in the morning.” Grayson and I nod our heads in agreement. We get up and follow Aleric down a hallway just off the kitchen. It’s probably a good idea that we don’t start planning tonight, emotions have been high and we have all had a few drinks.
“One of you can stay in this room, and one can stay in the one next to it. I’m down at the end of the hallway.” Aleric points to the two rooms, and starts heading towards his room. As he does I wonder, does Vi ever stay here? If she does, does she have her own room? Has she stayed in one of these rooms or does she stay in Aleric’s room with him? I pump my brakes on that train of thought. Vi wouldn’t have freaked out on Aleric when he told her his true feelings if she was staying in his room with him. I let out a sigh and head into the first bedroom.
The first thing I notice is that it looks and smells like the beach. All the light shades of blue, white and green mixing together on the walls to look like the rolling waves. The queen sized bed in the corner of the room angled out. It looks like the head and footboard are made from driftwood. As I look around, I view that the armoire, dresser and bedside tables look like they’re made of the same material. Aleric really outdid himself. These pieces are beautiful. I am going to have to commission him for the pieces that I need in my home. Looking around, I find two doors, one on the opposite wall from the bed and the other is directly diagonal from the foot of the bed. I check the one closest to the bed first. I open it and see that it is a huge walk-in closet. Not super deep but deep enough someone could fit a good sized bench in the middle. It’s painted the same colors as the room. I walk out and across the room to the other door. It’s the bathroom, my jaw drops in awe. There is a fully glassed-in standing shower, a claw foot tub, a two sink vanity and of course a throne fit for a king. There is also a mirror that spans the length of the vanity. It’s frame and the vanity are the same material as the bedroom furniture. It looks like someone really put a lot of time and effort into this room. I wonder how long it took Aleric to accomplish this. I look around, find extra toiletries and get in the shower. Once I’m finished, I dry off, go back into the bedroom and see if there is a spare pair of pajamas. When I open the armoire I find some sweats. After putting them on I climb into the queen sized bed and fall into an uneasy rest.
14
Grayson
I thank Aleric for the use of one of his guest rooms. I leave it up to Gabe to decide which room he would rather have. He chooses the first door. I walk swiftly past him and go into the second room. After the shit that just happened, my head is still reeling. I mean, who would kidnap Viola and why? I don’t know much about her except what Gabe has said about her in the years we have been together training and from what I have seen today. She’s witty with a sharp mind. Her looks don’t hurt her either.
Viola is one woman I would hate to actually go up against in the ring. With the curves that seem to go on for days and eyes sparkling like emerald stars in the sky, she could knock you out by just looking at you. She’s the one woman I wouldn’t mind having in my life. If only I could see where the others stand, maybe there is a shot after all. I know I kind of made a fool of myself at the bar, but how could I not in the presence of a true goddess. My luck may be out though with the way they both are acting around her, but they need to man up and make a claim already.
As I look at the room itself I’m in awe of the way it’s done. The walls are white, cream, and a hint of grey. They are all mixed together to look like you’re up in the heavens. Taking a look at the furniture, it’s all beautifully crafted. It is made of the lightest colored oak. The way the furniture is made, it looks like it belongs in the clouds. I bend to explore the carvings on the wood as I walk around the room. The legs of the bed, armoire, bedside tables and the frames of the doors have scroll work that makes you think of thunderstorm clouds. Standing, I find the door for the bathroom. The color scheme is the same as the bedroom. While searching for extra towels and toiletries, I undress. In the bathroom is a giant shower with frosted glass that has etchings on it makes it look like storm clouds. I reach in and turn on the water to scalding hot, as I go through the days events in my head.
I cannot believe that Viola was kidnapped. Who would have done that? Why would they say that they didn’t want any others with us? Gabe is human, Aleric is a wolf shifter, and I’m an archangel shifter. I really hope we can pull this off, whatever this is. When I get done with my contemplation and my shower, I quickly find sweats and climb into the queen sized bed and slowly drift off to sleep.
I’m flying through the clouds, soaring through the air. I feel my shape, but it is not my normal form. My wings feel different. I look down at my body an
d I have the form of a dove, a pure white dove. I’m confused. I look around me; there are two other doves with me and the most beautiful rainbow dove I have ever seen is beside us. We are all swirling, doing flips and enjoying our flight together. I look at the world surrounding me and notice we are in a forest of some sort. I try and veer off from the group to investigate, but I am pulled back in. I try to speak but a coo comes out. I try veering off again with more force, but with that same force I am brought back to the group. We seem to be heading in a direction where the trees are at their thickest. Finally, we stop and perch on a branch. We are in a large tree that is close to a cave hidden in plain sight along the mountain side. I look at the others around me and they all nod their heads towards the cave entrance. I swallow and fly off the branch and into the cave. Upon entering the cave, I am transformed into my human form. I slowly peer around the mouth of the cave and look for any signs of life. I have no clue what I am doing here. Finally, I hear faint footsteps echoing along the cave walls. The footsteps sound like they are heading my way. I rush to the side of the cave just out of sight of the light coming from the mouth and crouch down. A figure with dark brown hair, emerald green eyes and fair skin walks into the light. She seems to be looking for someone. Then she turns and her eyes fixate on the spot where I am trying to hide. Slowly she raises her hand to me and beckons me to her. “I promise I have not summoned you to be harmed, Prince Grayson Alexander Johnson of the Stormcleaver Clan. I have come to aid in dispersing your confusion and wondering.
I rise up from my spot and inch closer to her. “How might you help me, stranger? Who are you? How did you summon me while I sleep?” I question cautiously.
“I am Queen Brighid Morrighan Mac Domhnaill of the Tuatha dé danann. I have summoned you because you have been chosen as a member of the queen’s circle. I am here to help you,” she states.
“There hasn’t been a Queen of the Tuatha dé danann in over 150 years. How would I have been chosen as a member of the queen’s circle if there is no queen?” At my questions, I see the other doves swoop down to the cave and enter. They transform into Viola, Gabriel and Aleric. Now I am even more confused than I was before.
“Grayson, you have been chosen as a member of the new queen’s circle for a reason. She will face great evil in her time and will need you to help protect her. Only she can unite our people as they have never been united before. It is imperative that she survive and complete her mission. ALL of our kinds depend on this. You must protect her...” With this said they all began to fade away.
I am startled awake by a rolling clap and the flashes of lightning of a sudden storm, from outside my window. I have sweat covering every inch of my body. I have never had a dream that vivid before. What was that? How did she know me? I lay back down and try to shake off the feeling the dream left me. It is not easy, though. I ended up laying in the bed and just staring up at the ceiling until my eyes grow heavy and close of their own accord.
15
Elder Bres
After using the sleeping potion on Viola, I felt horrible. I hated doing this to her, but I wish she wasn’t going to be the queen of the prophecy. If it were anyone else, I probably wouldn’t be worried, but Viola. Man, I feel like there is a pit in the bottom of my stomach. Something about it didn’t feel right here.
Master Freyer opens up the door and walks outside the compound, his navy robe with a yellow corded belt that holds the robe to his tiny frame sweeping across the ground. His eyes are a very light blue color, almost a milky white. He is an elderly man with greying brown hair which looks like a monk’s cut from the middle ages.
Coming around the SUV, I hear his vexatious voice creeping into my ears, “Good. I am glad you were able to get her with no issue. We’ve been watching her for far too long to let those idiots get in our way. Now why don’t you take her down to the transformation chamber and lock her up. She should be awake soon,” he says pushing up his wire framed glasses. It seems no matter how much he doesn they just seem to keep falling down his leathery face. “Yes, sir,” I say before turning to more members of the coven coming out the door behind him. “You and you, come with me. I am going to need your help.” They both jump up and follow me out to the SUV. I open the back door. Viola’s head falls from its resting place against the door and onto the seat. I quickly move my hand under her head to slow the fall before she hits the seat too hard.
One of the members opens the other side up and gets in while the other grabs Viola under her arms and drags her out of the SUV. Damn, I must have used more of the sleeping potion than I thought. She is out like a light. The coven member who got in the SUV slides through the vehicle and grabs her feet before they flop on the ground. They are holding her and both look at me for commands.
“Follow me,” I say with as much command in my voice as I can muster. They don’t argue, none in the coven argue. They just do as they're told. I wish just once, someone would fight back. But no one does, they are lemmings following the lead of Master Freyer.
We head back inside the compound. As we enter the door, we go to our left and down the stairs, circling on ourselves as we travel deeper into the earth. It is cool and damp down here. We use this part of the compound to help those shifters who transform during special times of the night. We also like to use them for when transformations are hard for the individual. It’s also used as cells to house witches who have gone off the sacred ground, so to speak.
Each cell has a comfy cot, with a desk and chair. There are also two sets of chains in each cell. One set is coming out of the stone and concrete wall. The other set appears to be creeping out of the floor where it meets the wall, ready to pull its victims down with it. Both sets have different inlaid celtic runes to not only slow the transformation magic down but also to stop certain types of magic as well.
I go to open one of the cells when a booming voice comes from behind me. “Put her in the last cell. When she wakes up, I don’t want anyone to hear her if she screams,” Master Freyer commands. We all nod and make our way down the hall to the last cell. This cell is not as nice or as comfortable as the others.
I can’t help the feeling I get as we walk away. I still feel like a rock or heavy stone is just sitting in the pit of my stomach. I do my best to shake that feeling off before Master Freyer sees it, it would not bode well for me if he did. We all walk back up the stairs and turn to go down the hallway.
We walk past the kitchen on our left and enter the main foyer. To our right is a massive set of plantation-style stairs. The first landing has hallways to the left and right that lead to various bedrooms. The massive staircase continues to climb up to the top floor. That landing has hallways off both sides as well, again leading to various bedrooms and offices. At the top of the stairs, there is a set of doors. From here, we all go our separate ways.
I open the doors to enter a room unlike any other. The room has a 12 foot base ceiling, then in the center it domes out like the top of the Taj Mahal. There is a massive stone table connected to the floor in the middle of the room. On one side, the entire wall is floor-to-ceiling mirrors. It is supposed to give it a dramatic effect; to me, all it does is magnify the horror that goes on in this room. I walk towards the mirror and look at my reflection. I am not a horrible looking guy. I have red hair that is a bit shaggy, hazel eyes with long limbs and a thin frame, but I do have some muscles. Some call me a bean-pole, which stung at first, but then I just realized it was a badge of honor.
I exit the room and head down the hall to the right and go to the third door on the left. That is my room. I feel more myself when I am in this room. It is cluttered with books, papers and other research, but it’s my personal space. I hear a loud knock on the door. I quickly go to answer it.
“Master Freyer would like to see you immediately,” the coven member says.
“I'll be right down,” I reply. I go back into my room to grab some of the random papers from the makeshift desk I have and rush out the door. I close it softly and follo
w the coven member to Master Freyer’s office.
16
Viola
“When is she going to wake up? We need her awake so we can question her,” I hear a muffled, but deep, mesmerizing voice say as I begin to stir.
"I don’t know, sir. I didn’t use much of the sleeping potion. She should’ve been up by now.” The second voice is much weaker and seems scared of the first.
I slowly begin to open my eyes to look around, only I’m surrounded by darkness. There’s a faint light coming from underneath what seems like a door on the far side of the space I am in. Through the crack I see two sets of feet blocking the light. I sit up and grimace at the sharp pain coming from my wrists and ankles. I glance down and can barely make out the heavy, thick, silver chains and cuffs around them. I pull slightly as to not alert the voices that I’m awake. I don’t want to make a noise. I need to know what they are saying. I quickly feel the weakness of my body and notice that my restraints are magical and attached to the wall behind me.
I slowly stand and walk to the wall. Upon inspecting where the chains are attached, I see why they feel so heavy. They have ancient celtic runes on them. These runes are meant to trap those with magic and weaken a magical person so they can only use a fraction of their powers. Blessed Morrighan, I curse under my breath. Something clicks and turns.
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