SWNOVELS Chapter Chapter Fifty
Celine’s Pov:
The alarm screamed at me through my sleep, jarring me awake. Today marked the 125th year since my mother left me for the afterlife. I flopped back on to my pillow and tried not to reflect on just how much the world has changed since that day.
Even Timothy changed. It’s now his preference to be called Tim. For the first time in decades, both Tim and I were leaving the isle. Although I wasn’t told all the details, part of me was looking forward to it.
I showered and hurriedly got dressed as I made my way down to Tim’s office to find out where we were off to. I arrived to find his office door open and waiting for me. Noticing he was in a heated discussion on the phone, I hung to the back of his office in case it was “Elder” business. Tim took notice of my presence, motioning for me to come forward before slamming the receiver down.
“Good news I take it?” I teased, knowing by his expression it was serious. “No, that was Eclipse. The rogue attacks have increased. We need to leave immediately,” he huffed, getting up and walked over to me. “Since Victoria died, the rogues seem to be braver, almost as if they know she is no longer there to protect her kin. Even if her kin themselves didn’t realize it.”
“I haven’t been to Eclipse since your mother found your father,” he sighed, slightly agitated. Something had him on edge. “Everything, ok?” I asked, hoping to find out why he was agitated. “This isn’t part of the Goddesses plan,” he revealed.
“Something else has the wilds wound up. And usually that thing isn’t something good,” he continued, rubbing his forehead. Even with all the stress and years, Tim didn’t age a day. “Amelia?” I ventured. The idea of Amy being behind this made it difficult to breathe.
“I, I don’t know. It’s possible. Eclipse has always been one of the favorite packs of the Goddesses. She would know that. While we haven’t seen hide nor hair of her since her departure, that doesn’t mean she hasn’t been hatching a plan to overthrow her mothers. We need to be vigilant,” Tim stressed.
“Why not bring a host of Amazon warriors?” I asked. Obviously, he thought we could be in real danger. “They are useless against Amy,” he sighed. “Especially if she did, in fact, find a small piece of that Ambrosia,” he reminded me. I realized in my heart he was right. But what could I do against someone who was now possibly immortal and a goddess?
“Best not to delay,” I stated, taking his hand in order to portal us there. “Right,” he sighed, reminding me he missed my mother’s magic, as I can’t open a gateway as she could. Yet somehow, I was supposed to be stronger than her?
So far in this life, I felt like nothing more than a cheap imitation. The winds swirled around us as Tim closed his eyes and remembered what the lands used to look like. While it’s not perfect, it should be enough to get us there.
“Open your eyes, Celine. We are here. Funny I had to tell your mother the same thing last time,” he grinned at the memory. His eyes held a far way look, letting me know he contacted the Alpha of this land. “Scouts will be here in a few moments to accompany us to the pack house,” he stated, glancing around at the landscape, looking for anything familiar.
“Whatever you do, don’t use your last name. These wolves believe that pure blood is the best. They may not realize that your father was only half blood. Jennings hid it from the rest of the pack. I will bet they still remember the Beta who left to be with a witch,” Timothy warned me. “From what Gerald has told me, it’s not a good story they tell. More like your mother entranced him and stole him away.”
As I tried to protest, the notion my father left on anything less than his own will was ridiculous. Tim spotted a scout closing in on us, effectively ending the conversation. “Elder, High Priestess, my Alpha welcomes you. If you could, please follow me,” he smiled. “Priestess, I must ask, are you able to shift?” he asked, eyeing me up.
“No, she cannot. We will have to travel by foot,” Tim snapped, causing the scout to raise a brow in my direction. “My apologies Elder. I have heard stories of witches who can shift,” he bowed before motioning for us to follow him.
We walked for about 10 minutes before we came across a dirt road and a black limo with tinted windows parked on the shoulder. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as a prickly tingle raced down my spine. My heartbeat was so loud I was certain Timothy and the scout heard it crashing against my chest.
“Nothing can hurt you while I am with you, Celine, remember that,” Timothy linked. I just nodded my understanding while keeping my eyes glued to the vehicle. The back door swung open as a man dressed in a black suit stepped out and tossed the scout a pair of short.
“In the front,” he barked with authority. “Of course, Beta Main,” the scout bowed. “Elder, High Priestess,” Beta Main smiled, motioning for us to enter the vehicle.
Tim signaled me to enter first. Although the limo was spacious, I still felt a little claustrophobic and trapped. I tried to appear unbothered as Beta Main crawled in, taking a seat across from Timothy and me.
“My apologies. I failed to introduce myself. My name is William Main. I am the Beta of this pack. And I am afraid I missed yours,” he stated, keeping his eyes locked on me.
“I am Elder Timothy White. You may call me Tim, and this is High Priestess Celine Clark,” Tim responded in his official voice. “Clark, interesting,” Beta Main stated. Something in his voice made me believe he doubted we had given my real name.
The drive to the pack house was short and a quiet one. Beta Main did not push my identity anymore. “The Alpha wishes to speak to you both,” Beta Main informed us as he stepped out of the limo.
“If you’d both follow me,” he grinned, as we followed him into a large modern home. He led us up the stairs to a welcoming great hall, motioning for us to enter.
I glanced nervously over at Tim, who appeared completely and utterly unbothered. “Elder and High Priestess, thank you for coming so quickly. I am grateful to the Council for understanding the situation,” the Alpha started.
“But I must confess, Elder, I have lied,” the Alpha continued as an expression of pure rage washed over Tim’s face. “You lied?” Tim growled, forcing the Alpha to submit. “You’d better come clean why we are here or so help me Goddesses,” Tim threatened.
“You must understand. We mean no ill will. After the death of Victoria, we had some strange occurrences,” The Alpha pleaded with earnest. “Victoria?” I choked out. I was unaware they knew of her existence.
“Yes, she was a guarded secret of this pack. None outside of this room are aware of her existence. She is… well, was a witch whose father was a Beta of this pack. She’s related to our current Beta,” the Alpha explained.
“Since she passed, my daughter, Anna, claims she’s made a new friend. A new friend which none of us can see. While this may not seem to be a cause for alarms, as all 5-year-olds have imaginary friends. I can’t shake the impression there is something more sinister at work here,” the Alpha breathed as the stress of the situation crashed down on him.
“From time to time, the alarm system goes off. Or there is an odor of rot in Anna’s room,” Beta Main swallowed as my eyes flickered to Tim. For a moment, the room settled into an uneasy silence. “There is more, isn’t there?” I ventured. “Yes,” the Alpha whispered before swallowing hard. “This imaginary friend keeps asking for Anna to leave with her,” he sighed.
Tim’s eyes flickered back to mine as an icy chill pulled all the warmth from my blood. “Does this friend have a name?” Tim asked. “Amy, daughter of the Goddesses,” Beta Main whispered. My skin crawled as the Alpha’s eyes met mine. The knot in my stomach grew. “Something told us to check our archives and Victoria’s journals.” The Alpha’s eyes shifted to Tim’s, before Tim allowed a menacing grin to creep across his face.
“Time is an amazing thing; don’t you think Jennings? It has a way of burying the past. The truth becomes myth and myths become nothing more than a bedtime story until someone digs it up. Some truths can set things into perspective and others destroy all you hold dear,” the Girl laughed, appearing beside Jennings, startling him. “Timothy, we will need a word with Celine,” the Woman’s voice rang out from behind us.
Without waiting for his reply, the world around me froze before it faded. “We made the mistake of telling Amy all our plans. Anna, she is important, Celine. We must do everything to protect her; without Anna, our plan is over. Tim mustn’t learn this,” the Girl growled. At her words, my heart and mind raced. How was I supposed to protect this child against their daughter?
Tim told me; Amy only came about because of his and my mother’s love for one another. They meant for me to be stronger, much stronger. Apparently, I was to overshadow my mother. Now I was nothing more than a cheap imitation. “Right, I will do all I can. I will die if needed,” I mumbled halfheartedly, feeling more miserable by the moment.
The Girl dragged her eyes suspiciously over me, reading deep into my soul. For a moment, a weak smile crested her face, followed by a sympathetic glance. “Remember, call for help if you need it. Something tells me crossing your path is part of her plan,” the Girl warned as I faded into the world which we lived in.
“High Priestess, William will escort you to Anna. I assume you will want to speak to my daughter, correct?” Alpha Jennings enquired. “Yes, of course. Beta Main, please lead the way,” I replied with a weak smile. William held open his arm, gesturing for me to loop my arm in his. Reluctantly, I gave in, causing his smile to brighten.
We said little as we walked through the halls of the grand pack house. My eyes took in all its splendors. I wondered if it looked this wonderful when my parents were here last. Finally, we stopped at a large, richly stained wooden door. The odor of rot emanated from behind it as the playful squeals of a young girl rang out. My eyes darted to William’s before his hand raced to the handle.
A pain filled scream ripped out from him, as my heart skipped a beat with worry. “Wolf’s bane,” he hissed. Hate filled his eyes as they locked on the door. “It’s mixed with something else,” his voice was gruff as the poisons entered his system.
“Night shade,” I sighed. “Amelia knew I would be coming. Give me your hand. I need to heal you before it kills you,” I demanded, taking his hand palm up in mine.
A light wind swirled around us as I sensed the poisons being drawn from him. Amy knew I was here, and she knew I would help. She planned on it. “Close your eyes and envision Anna’s favorite place,” I whispered. William’s eyes clouded with confusion before he did what he was told. The warmth of the Goddesses surrounded me as I ported us there in an instant.
It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the bright light of a beautiful greenhouse. Which was filled with some of the most interesting plants, birds, and butterflies I’d ever seen. I guess, for most, they probably weren’t a big deal. Being as I lived on a secluded isle for my entire life, they were a wondrous sight.
As I turned my attention back to William, I tried to stifle a laugh as his skin took on a green hue as he struggled not to get sick. “Why did you bring us here? They were in her room,” he hissed as I conjured a single Luna moth to find Amelia and Anna.
“They would have heard you scream, would they not?” I retorted. “Amelia is smart. She would have taken Anna somewhere where she would feel safe. Knowing Amelia, it would be Anna’s favorite spot,” I explained.
He studied me closely, almost as if he didn’t know if he should trust me or not. “Amy and I, many, many years ago, were the best of friends. Almost sisters. She wanted the power of the Goddesses for herself. Her plan failed, and she blames me for ruining her life,” I sighed.
The moth quickly returned and landed on me. As its legs met my skin, it absorbed back into me, revealing the location of Amy and Anna within the greenhouse. I brought my index finger to my lips, motioning for quiet. “They’re here.” I barely breathed for fear of revealing our location.
“Anna, are you sure you don’t want to come with me? An evil witch has come to take you away from me.” Amelia’s sickly sweet voice filled the air, along with the slight smell of decay.
“I wanna stay with daddy. You will protect me and daddy, right?” a young girl’s voice replied. “Yes, of course,” Amelia struggled to suppress her rage at her failure to lure the small child away.
I pulled William and me deeper into some of the larger plants in order to complete my plans. While Amelia, too, was part wolf, our senses were closer to that of a human than a wolf, which was a real plus at this moment. My eyes darted around for anything remotely sharp. Thankfully, someone forgot to put a small set of pruning shears away. While it was crude, it would get the job done.
Cautiously, I peered out from my hiding spot to ensure Amy and Anna were not too close. I swiftly grab the shears and sliced my hand, allowing a small pool of blood to form. From the pool, I drew a rune on the cement floor. For a moment, the small rune glowed before it spread like a wild vine throughout the greenhouse.
“Shift,” I whispered to William, who nodded. I crept out of our hiding spot and tried to sneak around to take Anna away before Amy was completely aware of what was happening. As the sounds of bones cracking and reshaping filled the air, I closed my eyes. “Goddesses, guide me,” I whispered to myself. Instantly, the wind swirled around me. “What in Chaos’s name?” Amelia shrieked. Thankfully, she moved away from Anna without a glance.
In an instant, I found myself behind the small girl who must be Anna. Before she could sense my presence, I placed my hand on the back of Anna’s head. With a slight flash of light, I rendered her unconscious. Before her small body hit the ground, I scooped her up and ported back to William.
“Celine,” Amy screamed. Her anger shattered the glass around William and me as the wild vines of the rune entangled themselves around her. “Quick! Think of somewhere, anywhere,” I whisper-yelled at him, placing my hand on his wolfs shoulder. Once more the warmth of the Goddesses swallowed us up and, in an instant, we were back with Timothy and Alpha Jennings in the great hall.
“Witch, what is the meaning of this?” Alpha Jennings growled as his eyes fell on his daughter. Thick black veins suddenly manifested down the small child’s neck, making their way to her heart. I should have known Amy would kill the child and make it appear I was to blame. I played right into her trap.