Northwood

Standing inside the house the two girls were horrified. David’s body began reverting back to its human form and by the time he hit the ground the rest of his body convulsed wildly.

“Why is Kane not moving?!” Adline shouted as Nox began approaching the Alpha Adline had become very fond of.

They watched as the shadow man flicked his wrist, his index finger extending towards the sky. In the blink of an eye, all wolves jumped up and many fled into the bushes surrounding the field as quickly as they could. All running to save their lives.

Adline scowled inwardly at their cowardice. How could they just leave Kane there to suffer at the hands of Nox? How could they turn tail and run when he needed them most? They carried on watching as a small group of wolves ran straight towards Mollie’s home, at first, a pang of fear and panic gripped both Adline and Babel but soon they both came to recognize the group as their own.

All wolves shifted before reaching Harvey and Taylor and greeted them all like long lost friends. The front door of the home was pushed open roughly as the group entered. Both Nathaniel and Ethan paused a moment when they saw their dead grandmother laying on the floor, both boys stopped to pay their respects before turning to their sister with panic in their hearts.

“We have to leave! We have to get as far away from this place as possible.” Nathaniel stepped towards his sister and reached for her but as he did so Adline pulled away from her brothers grasp and scowled at him.

“If we leave Nox will only grow in strength and destroy us all. I have to do what grandma Mollie asked me to. I have to trap Nox and I have to make sure he never escapes.” Adline felt a fire in her belly and a passion in her heart. She needed to do it and carry on the tradition and legacy of her grandmother and her family.

“No offence Addle but Nana Mollie was a number,” Ethan turned to his grandmother’s corpse then and frowned, “no offence Nana.”

“Nox was just a fairytale mom and dad used to tell us as a bedtime story,” Nathaniel mentioned as he furrowed his brow not really understanding his sister sudden death wish. “Its nothing more than an urban legend and that man you see out there is Ambrose.” Her brothers didn’t understand the complexity of the situation and it almost seemed like they were making up excuses for why it couldn’t be.

“Ambrose died the second Nox entered his body. Can’t you feel it?!” The evilness and darkness radiating from that shell of a body. It isn’t natural.” Adline murmured feeling wholly responsible for the situation they were now in.

“How do you know all this?” Ethan asked his little sister more than a little sceptical. He didn’t like the thought of Adline venturing out to kill some big bad man that was supposed to be a bedtime story.

“I don’t have time to explain,” Adline cried as she pushed past her brothers for the door, “I have to do something before he kills Kane,” Adline couldn’t lose him, not when she hadn’t told him how she felt about him. Not when things between them had been going well. She had to save him, she had to save her mate no matter what it took and no matter the consequences.

“Well, what do you want us to do about it? Go out there and sacrifice our lives for him!?” Ethan demanded of his little sister quickly. “He traded you off to David like an animal. He didn’t want you Adline! He doesn’t care for you!” Ethan growled at his little sister and begged for her to listen to what he was saying. His words, however, had a very different effect on Adline.

“He wouldn’t have traded me because he wanted to, he would have done it because he needed to.” She replied calmly. “I am not asking you to do anything Ethan, it’s pretty clear to me that you still see me as your baby sister but I can take care of myself! I have survived this long without you two and I can carry on surviving just fine with them.” She motioned towards the members of Kane’s pack, “if you don’t want to be my family they will be!”

Adline turned from her brothers who now bickered quietly among themselves. Walking towards the group she spied Dustin and Esme, Neal and Taylor while Harvey stood out on the deck just staring at the field before him.

“Er....Adline,” he called quickly to her as the others turned in interest to what had Harvey sounding concerned.

Stepping around her grandmother she stepped out on to the porch and saw a group of wolves standing scattered around Kane and Nox. Luce had arrived with what looked like backup and was shouting at Ambrose loudly. The exchange was completely one-sided and as Adline held her obsidian in her hand everyone around her gasped as a black cloud tore Ambrose’s body to shreds. It was like an evil moth emerging from a bloody cocoon in a cloud of rage.

“What the hell is that,” she heard one of her brothers murmur behind her.

“That is Nox.” She replied grimly as the cloud swirled in the air above the group of wolves assembled.

“What the hell is it doing?!” Cried Esme in horror. Never before had anyone seen anything like it, the effect of what was happening struck terror into the hearts of most of those that were gathered.

“He’s choosing his next host.” Adline watched nervously as it hovered over Kane and let out a sharp gasp as it descended over him. “No please no,” she ran for the door and out on to the patio in time to see the darkness rise revealing Kane unharmed but in human form.

The cloud then surged towards Luce and enveloped him in a swirling black cloud that quickly disappeared into his body.

“Oh shit. Now what?!” Taylor called loudly. “Luce was already a bastard can’t imagine what he’d be like now.”

Adline let her hands fall to her sides as she searched the memories her grandmother shared what to do. A sharp pain filled her head as she doubled over in agony trying desperately to cling to consciousness.

Before too long her body dropped to the wooden floor of the porch as her mind was transported elsewhere.

Adline opened her eyes and marvelled as she stood in a field, the bright rays of the sun shining down on her, cloaking her in warmth and joy.

“We are pleased that you made it,” a voice echoed from behind her.

Adline’s heart began beating faster as she turned slightly to look for the source of the voice.

“Do not be afraid Adline. We are here to help you,” another voice echoed as Adline spied five ghostly figures behind her.

“Who are you?” She asked curiously wondering how she knew her name.

“We are the Sisterhood of Luna,” smiled one as they surrounded Adline quickly.

“We keep the balance between light and dark,” smiled another.

“Your grandmother was one of us and now it has been passed to you,” they all sat in a circle around a very confused Adline. “It is now up to you to defeat Nox.”

“How do I stop him jumping bodies?” Adline asked curiously. She didn’t want Nox invading her senses and subduing her consciousness again. It was a terrifying event she wasn’t too keen to repeat. She killed Victoria last time. She didn’t want to think about what he’d make her do the next time.

“He weakens every time he forces his way into a new host. The less fear the host has of him the weaker he becomes.” Another spoke as Adline took in the information she was told.

“How do I get him into the obsidian?” She questioned again.”

“You must take this,” offered one of the women carefully as she dug out what looked like a dagger from beneath her clothing. She held it out to Adline who could do nothing but stare.

“Take the dagger, plunge it into the side,” the woman holding the dagger motioned towards her neck, “press the obsidian to the wound and speak these words to trap Nox.”

All women seemed to take in a collective breath before all speaking the same words at the same time, “vade revertere in tenebris lapidem. Omnia vincit amor inlustret lumine,” they again took in a deep breath before speaking the words in English. “Darkness be gone return to the stone let the light shine and love conquer all.” The words sent shivers down Adline’s spine as the seriousness of the situation dawned on her. She hated that it was now up to her. She hated that if she failed everyone word die. She hated the whole shitty situation she’d been put in because of Ambrose and his lust for power.

“Take the blade Adline and return to your world.” The woman with the blade urged her to take it and almost dropped it in her lap.

“Do not let darkness and hatred cloud your heart young sister,” said another as if she could feel what Adline was feeling.

“We are with you till the very end.” They all finished together.

As if it were a mirage the scene swirled around in a light cloud and disappeared.

Sitting with a start Adline felt many sets of eyes on her as she climbed to her feet.

“Where the hell did that dagger come from?” Someone questions from behind as Adline looked down at the sheathed dagger in her hand.

“I need to go out there. No one follows no matter what you see.” Turning to face her brothers she scowled, “especially you two.”

Stepping off of the porch she felt every single step she took and counted them nervously. As she drew closer she saw Nox holding someone very familiar in his hands.

She looked terrified beyond belief and Adline’s breath hitched as her heart pounded in her chest. “Myrna,” she mumbled as complete panic and fear filled every fibre of her body.

Nox had made Luce shift his hands and so his fingernails were sharp dagger-like stubs that were pressed firmly against Myrna’s neck. His grasp was so tight that it drew blood.

“Release her Luce or I swear I will kill you,” Adline heard Kane’s demands but it seemed they fell on deaf ears as Luce’s grip on Myrna only tightened.

The old woman let out a cry of pain and seemed to chortle, “listen to me Kane,” she whispered with a malicious tone, “don’t cry for me, don’t get emotional.” Luce’s grip tightened again as Myrna now struggled for breath, “live,” she sputtered, “love,” she gasped one final breath. Adline turned away unable to look at Myrna’s face as it reddened with the inability to breathe properly.

Adline heard a sickening sound that made her blood run cold. A crunching sound ripped through the field followed by a gargled strangle.

Lifting her gaze a sob immediately caught in the young woman’s throat as she saw Myrna’s twitching body fall to the ground. Luce holding what was left of her throat. Such a tragedy. Such a beautiful life cut short. Adline couldn’t help but shed tears for the woman she had come to love. A life taken in the most brutal of ways.

The wild scream she heard next sent another shot of terror through her as Luce laughed, “come and get me, brother!”