“Peri was kind enough to have one of the fae warriors flash us to Phoenix. All of the victims scattered throughout the city actually lived at the same apartment complex, so we went there first. It was crawling with vampires.” He paused and pinched the bridge of his nose. Vasile noticed for the first time since Dillon had arrived the alpha look exhausted.
“From there,” he continued, “we simply tracked the vampires, and they led us to a compound. We watched the place, the comings and goings, for three days. During one of those days, some elves showed up,” Dillon said, turning his eyes to Thalion.
Thalion nodded. “My father, Ludcarab, and the elves that were loyal to him. Now I have confirmation that he is indeed in league with the Order.”
Dillon nodded. “They have significant numbers. We saw fae, pixies, wolves, even some warlocks. The only thing we didn’t see was a djinn. Based on what Jacque told me about her friend, I’m assuming they still don’t have a healer.”
Vasile shook his head. “As of right now, there are only seven in the world. Two are with my pack and five are with Peri.”
“Did you see a high fae?” Peri asked.
“How would he look any different from a non-high fae?” Dillon asked.
“He’s like a proud peacock and doesn’t suppress his power. You would have felt him.”
Suddenly a pulsing started in Vasile’s chest, almost like the feeling you get when listening to very loud music with a strong bass. He looked around and noticed that others were pressing their hands to their chest. Everyone, that is, but the fae.
“It would have felt similar to that,” Peri said, making it clear that her power was causing the vibration in their chests.
“No, we didn’t feel anything like that,” Dillon said.
Peri glanced over her shoulder to Vasile. “I have no idea what he could be planning,” she said. Then to the rest of the room she said, “Alston, a high fae, has joined the dark side and is working with the Order. He was behind the capture of the Romania pack healer. He’s powerful. He’s been lying low.”
Vasile stepped forward and turned his attention back to Dillon. “Do you have a location for us?”
Dillon nodded. “I think we should head straight to their compound. It might help lessen innocent casualties and possibly we could take out their top leaders.”
Andora addressed Dillon. “Thank you for risking you and your mate’s safety to get us that information.”
Dillon bowed his head and then stepped down off the platform.
Andora motioned for Vasile, then Peri, to come forward. They climbed up onto the platform and faced the large group.
“We need a battle strategy,” Andora said. “There are few, if any, who can match both of your knowledge in regard to war.”
“Each race has its own supernatural strengths,” Vasile said, glancing at Peri who gave him a nod of agreement. “I think the best thing we can do is play to those strengths. We wolves are strong, fast, stealthy hunters, and vicious in our attacks.”
Peri stepped forward, her form thin but in no way delicate. She held herself with regal power, and only a fool would think to underestimate her. “The fae have the ability to wield magic, the elements, and illusion. I think we might be best utilized to draw the enemy out.”
Taking their cues from Vasile and Peri, the other leaders began to speak one after another.
“The warlocks,” Cypher began, “can wield some magic, though not as powerful as the fae, but our real contribution will lie in our brute strength and stamina. We might best serve as the second line of defense when the first wave needs a break.”
“The elves are fast, light on our feet, excellent with bows, and nearly unbeatable with a sword or dagger. We can use our archers to help take down their numbers and join the wolves in attacking once the fae have drawn them out. Our weapons have been bewitched by Cyn, my mate, to be unerring in their trajectory. Where they’re aimed, they will hit true,” Thalion said.
“Each of my clans have different strengths,” Anora said when the elf prince was done. “Our elementals can command the weather. Our luminous hold power over light of any kind, able to manipulate it and strengthen it. Our healers can offer tending to the injured. Our mentalist sprites can read minds and control weaker minds up to a point, depending on the strength of will in the person they are attempting to control. It’s easier with humans and more difficult with supernaturals. Our seer sprites have visions though they cannot be drawn up at will. But we can keep in contact with them, and they can let us know if they have any information about the plans of the Order so that we might be one step ahead of them.”
The king of the pixies spoke next. “Like the sprites, we have many clans. However I gave my people the option to volunteer, and only two of my clans offered. I don’t hold it against them. The pixies rarely leave our realm and don’t care to meddle in the affairs that affect the humans. That said, the two clans willing to help both have the ability to trick the eyes of individual people, not mass groups, and we are small and stealthy. If we need to do some recon before battle, we can do that, and if we need to sniff out the leaders, because we all know they will not be in the midst of the battle, we can do that too. One of the clans coming also has the ability to travel in a similar way as the fae, a flashing of sorts. So, they can move swiftly without drawing attention to themselves.”
Lastly, the massive djinn turned to face the crowd. He stood almost seven feet tall, towering over everyone there. “I am, obviously, the only one of my kind to join you. My brother, the current history keeper, is already in this realm, and we rarely have more than one djinn in the human realm—in any realm, actually—at any one time. I am very powerful, but my power is unrestrained and uncontrollable. Any djinn must be careful how he uses his power lest he destroy the entire human realm as we know it. It is best if I am used as an absolute last resort. I honestly don’t know how much devastation my power unleashed might cause.”
Andora glanced at Vasile and made a motion for him to continue. “I would recommend the fae flash us to a location a safe distance from the headquarters of the Order but close enough for the fae to draw them out,” he said.
Dillon nodded. “Yes. There is an airfield about two hundred yards from their compound. A stretch of trees separates the field from the compound. It could provide a barrier, so we wouldn’t be seen by any sentries from the building.”
“Looks like we have a plan,” Peri said to the leaders. “I assume the rest of your warriors are just outside.” They nodded in response.
“Excellent. My warriors will take them as quickly as possible. But before we all go, Dillon and I will go first to make sure we have the all clear.” She paused and looked around the room as if attempting to find someone. When her search seemed to fail, she glanced at Vasile. “I’m going to say this and then swear you to secrecy. I can honestly say I actually miss Jen at this moment. She has the ability to pump a crowd up before battle.”
