Filed to story: Wolf Crying Mate of the Alpha by Jazz Ford
As we exit and follow Yiselda, Magnus escorts Alpha Amir and Alpha Theaton inside.
‘To that circle over there,’ Yiselda tells Alpha Bennet. He walks in front of her as they get closer. She pushes him into the circle while clutching his shirt, and they both vanish. We enter the portal and emerge from Pandora’s Box.
‘Where on earth is this place?’ Alpha Bennet asks.
‘Fae Forrest,’ Yiselda replies.
‘Why have I never heard of Fae Forest before?’
‘Because it’s not on any map, it’s a hidden location, and for a good reason. Only few people know of this location,’ she says.
We walk inside, and Alpha Bennet takes his time taking in all the items floating and moving around the rooms. He tilts his head at the self-sweeping broom.
‘This way, if you don’t mind, Alpha Bennet,’ Yiselda says, hurrying him up.
We walk through the hallway, enter the large mirror, and watch as Yiselda opens the door on the right.
‘There is nothing in there? It’s just darkness. Is there even a floor to stand on in there?’ Alpha Bennet asks.
Yiselda smiles at him and turns back to the dark empty room, ‘Materialise,’ she says. A book appears in her hand. Laying it down, she casts the next spell while Alpha Bennet gives her a weird look as he tries to figure out what use the book will be.
‘Sprouto Spawniate,’ she says.
Alpha Bennet takes a step back in astonishment as he watches the staircase of books develop in front of his eyes. Everyone but me is smiling as we walk up the stairs.
Part of me is excited and wants to see Alec, but the other part feels guilty and thinks of Magnus.
We come to a standstill in front of the dark wooden door.
‘What do these symbols mean?’ Alpha Bennet inquires.
‘If the dark ones on the other side escape their cells, these markings will prevent them from exiting through this door.’
‘Like an invisible forcefield?’ He asks.
‘Yes, it will also harm them, inflicting severe pain and injury if they try to force themselves through it.’
As Yiselda opens the door, he responds, ‘I see.’ Alec’s sandalwood and sage scent waft out the door, past me. My body is telling me to run to him. I’m still exhausted from nearly drowning this morning. I muster my strength to keep my feet from running to him. My fists clench, and I walk behind everyone, so they don’t see me struggling to fight myself.
Grimghouls snarl at alpha Bennet and the others. I see I’m close enough for them to grasp me through the bars, yet they don’t seem bothered by my presence. I’m curious as to why they wouldn’t attack me.
‘What are these vicious things?’ ‘I’ve never seen them before,’ Alpha Bennet adds, taking a step back.
‘Grimghouls, with their razor fangs and claws, they can rip someone to pieces in seconds,’ Yiselda adds. Alpha Bennet trembles.
Alec’s stare is scorching through me as we approach the Shadow Reapers. I smile at Lilac and keep my eyes down to avoid staring at him. Unlike the Grimghouls, the Shadow Reapers approach me. Yiselda gives me a strange look, and I shrug. They retreat to the rear of the cell as Reaper lets out a caw.
‘I’m a Shadow Raven. They are drawn to me,’ Reaper explains.
‘Oh,’ I say out loud, receiving more strange looks.
Yiselda explains to Alpha Bennet how they lurch down your throat and take over your mind and body, causing hallucinations.
‘I can barely see them in the dark,’ he says.
‘Illumini,’ Yiselda casts the spell of light, illuminating the cell. You can see the Shadow Reapers now. They don’t seem to enjoy the brightness and scramble to the back corner. They are human silhouettes with black mist emanating from them in the same way as Reaper does. ‘Dimulous,’ she says, their cell now once again dark.
‘I supposed it’s time for you to meet their master, the vampire king,’ Yiselda says, walking towards Alec’s cell.
They approach the cell. I can see out my peripheral vision Alec’s hands clenched around the bars, and his head is wedged between them. I remain behind everyone, keeping as much distance as I can. My hormones are raging as a result of his scent, and Alec appears he is also struggling to hold himself back as his hands tighten around the bars and beads of sweat form across his forehead as he watches me.
‘This is the vampire king?’ Alpha Bennet sneers.
‘Yes, it is him,’ Yiselda confirms.
Alec suddenly focuses on Reaper on my shoulder and begins to laugh hysterically.
‘Hello, Reaper. It’s been a long time, my old friend,’ he smiles.
Reaper caws.
‘You know the vampire king?’ I ask him.
‘Did I not mention that?’ He mind-links.
‘Um, no, you did not tell me that. Care to explain?’
Alpha Bennet scoffs, interrupting the mind-link between Reaper and me, ‘He looks as weak as a wart on a toad’s rear and only looks to be around twenty years old?’
Alec hisses and flashes his teeth at Alpha Bennet, causing him to back away. Alec then returns to staring at me intently.
‘Appearances can be deceiving,’ Alpha Bennet says. ‘He has been here for a long time, and his powers are phenomenal.’ It took the entire coven to get him in here using multiple spells at the same time.’ Yiselda says.
‘How long has he been in here?’ Alpha Bennet asks.
‘More than seven hundred years.’
My heart sinks at the thought that Alec has been alone here for so many years. Finally, I look him in the eyes. As his eyes burrow into mine, my heart beats faster. It’s as though we can peer into each other’s souls. He has a sad and longing expression on his face. His eyes close, and he breathes in. I realise he is taking in my scent and is definitely feeling the same urges as me. It’s evident to me he wants to hold me and touch me. I blush and look away before he opens his eyes.
‘So, this vampire king here had let all these dark creatures on the loose to kill everyone seven hundred years ago?’
According to the stories I’ve heard, he was once a magnificent King until he went mad after losing his blood flame Juniper to humans.’ She was a witch and was burned at the stake only a few days after Alec and Juniper met.’
I let out a gasp and stare solemnly at Alec. It’s hurting him hearing the story. I can see it and sense it.
‘Forth of vengeance, he summoned Shadow Reapers and Grimghouls and ordered vampires out to slay all humans.’ Werewolves attempted to defend humans by preventing them from invading human territory. Thousands of werewolves had perished, and the war was slipping away from them. Witches rushed in to aid, and we’ve been able to keep him here ever since, but with great difficulty and many more deaths. The vampires vanished and have been in hiding ever since. However, I have heard rare stories of people found dead with puncture marks on their necks. Vampires are still around. It’s just that no one has ever lived after seeing them to tell the tale of their existence. After a few centuries, werewolves had forgotten the vampire king, and he became little more than a terrifying fable, told to their pups each night. Werewolves eventually turned on us and almost wiped us all out.’
I’ve unknowingly moved closer to Alec’s cell. My hand reaches towards his cheek. I have to touch him. Yiselda takes my wrist, looks at me strangely, and pulls me back towards her. Her grasp on my wrist is tight.
‘Now that you know he exists, you understand how important it is that we survive so that we may continue to keep Pandora’s Box sealed from the rest of the world.’
‘Why don’t you just kill the king and those creatures?’ Alpha Bennet asks.
‘The vampire king cannot simply be killed. Even if we starve him, he doesn’t die. Instead, he becomes erratic and loses his mind. Although they don’t like sunlight, it also does not kill them.’
‘What about a stake to the heart?’ Alpha Bennet suggests.