The camp fire spits and the flames roar up a meter in the air. I feel the heat and the power in my body.
There it is. I can feel it now. I want nothing more than to embrace it. To breath it in and let it consume me but I force it down. It's not as strong yet but it's there. That ebb and flow of energy surrounding me. Flowing through me and filling me up. It's a gentle caress of an old friend saying 'hello, I'm here.' I almost sob at that familiar feeling of power but I breathe deeply. Calming myself. The liquid from the river Styx is still there. Controlling my connection. One slip up. One wrong move and I put my Mums life at risk. Instead I pull back into myself. Waiting.
Penny is watching Alistair now and she didn't seem to notice the one second that the fire flared. Izzy is prowling through the trees about half a mile away. I can feel her four paws on the damp earth. Her movements aren't as graceful and soft as they normally are. She's on edge.
Jason is in Caleb's cabin. Going through his computer database. Trying to make sense of the complex set up he had. Good luck with that. The guy was a total nerd when it came to technology. I bet he has so many passcodes and fire walls that they'll never be able to break into it fully.
When Carter was alpha, before Hades attack 18 years ago, the pack stood 14 strong. They were the most powerful pack in the world. My dad was the most respected and revered Alpha that had ever lived. He commanded respect, though he never asked for it. Knowing now that he was the son of Hercules it was clear that he was always meant to go down in history. Hades,the God of the Underworld, the Devil himself was the one to bring him to his end and in a way I'm proud that my Dad met his end facing down Hades with pride, strength and love. His death should be a new beginning to this pack. For them to rise up stronger than ever to properly pay tribute to him. For what he sacrificed, but instead they are a shell of themselves. Spitting on Carters legacy. My dad wouldn't stand forhisGwen being treated with such blatant disrespect.
Lukas commands 3 wolves. 3 wolves that are a hollow shell of the proud pack that my father lead. They're broken. Their leader at war with himself and nothing like the man I know as he struggles to prove his place. The dust has settled for now, but not for long.
Shadows start to turn to darkness and the fire dies down to embers. Mum sits with her back to Alistair eating a big bag of popcorn. The sound of the bag carries over the crackling fire. I stand and head towards the house. I feel Penny and Izzy watching me as I move.
Lukas is off in the woods. No doubt setting out some sort of elaborate, romantic setting to try and win me over. I know he's far enough away because even with my returning, dulled senses I can't feel him. I go to the kitchen and help myself to an apple. I crunch noisily as I go up to my room. I slump down in the balcony chair and get comfortable. The forest grows darker and the shadows around Alistair get heavier. As I bite noisily on the apple I gently encourage the bushes and grass to grow thicker around his cage. They stay quiet as they stretch. The tree nearest to him moves closer. Alistair uses his shadows the best he can to muffle the sound. I listen to Izzy's footsteps as she moves closer to the house. I watch Penny's gaze. They don't notice. Not with how intently they listen to my mum and I.
Time passes and we hit 10pm. The full moon is higher but not at its peak. That won't be till midnight. I can sense theStrix in her tree. Completely absorbed by the darkness around her. I reach out mentally to her. I feel darkness and shadow. Not unlike Alistair and Hades but it's lighter. There's a spark inside her. Violet in colour and holding at a steady, strong hum. I delve into it and I feel her let me in with a warning.
She's telling me her secret and I push a pulse of promise to her. The light shines brighter, then I see it in it my mind’s eye. The centre of a three way crossroads. In the island of the three roads is a statue of a three faced goddess with dogs at her feet. Each of the three figures faces one of the roads. There's a young maiden, a middle aged pregnant woman and then lastly an elderly crone. All holding torches in one hand and a knife in the other.
I pull back to myself and stare at her. She stares back with her white eyes that can pear through space and time. Moments pass as I process what she has shown me. I give her a slight nod and turn back to the forest.
I look out over the trees and then I feel it. Footsteps in the earth. Three pairs sluggishly stumbling like zombies. The only thing I feel from them is the effect they have on the soil and leaves. I know they're there but I can't feelthem. There is nothing alive in them yet they walk. Their effect on the soil is sporadic. Like they don't know how to walk in the bodies they have. Every impulse tells me to get the hell away from them but there's something there. I stretch my still limited senses further. Tugging on what seems to be the tiniest speck of dust hovering within the hollow, lifeless husks.
“What are they?”I ask Alistair.
“Skinwalkers.”His voice is tense.
Fuck!
“Don't deviate from the plan.”Alistair commands.“This could be the added distraction we need.”
Izzy freezes in the trees. Penny stands and Jason steps out from the cabin. Mum lowers her popcorn.
“What is it?” She asks, her voice shaking ever so slightly.
They ignore her as Penny and Jason join Izzy in the trees. The second they step into the shadows I move to the railing. I place one foot on top, bracing with one hand then drop from the balcony. The Strix catches my hand and lowers me silently to the ground. Her wings moving gracefully through the air. I'm really starting to love this bird. My bare feet move deftly over the fallen leaves into the shadows by Alistair's cage.
Howling and growling fill the silence as the pack gives chase to the unknown threat. I don't hesitate as I reach in and place my hand over his chest. Warmth fills my palm and Alistair tenses then relaxes into my touch. I flood as much healing energy into him as I can. As fast as I can. His bones pop and crack as they move back into place. The tissue and sinus binding together.
“Penny what is it?!” Mum shouts as she dares a glance to us.
“This is taking too long.”I say down the bond. My powers are nowhere near the strength they need to be for this.“We need you at full strength to get out of here. Not just healed. Take my blood.”
Sweat beads on my brow as I force as much power through myself and into him as possible but it’s like a tap that is only half turned.
“I won't.”He replies, gritting his teeth.“Your blood is a siren song to me. I won't risk losing control.”
A scream unlike anything I have ever heard fills the air. It's cold, screeching and blood chilling. The lifeless footsteps move further away but the pack stops. Lukas draws nearer. His powerful, heavy footfalls slamming into the earth. There's not enough time!
The poisons control on my power lessens just a little bit more and I flood Alistair with everything I have. I don't have time to be meticulous in how he's healed. Only that he is. Alistair arches his back at the barrage of power as it forces his bones, muscles and skin to seal together.
“Fuck Krista.”He groans down the bond.
The packs footsteps draw nearer and I pull my hand away. Alistair inhales deeply as I rush to the centre of the clearing to stand beside my Mum. We portray worry and fear in equal measure as they clear the curtain of trees and shadow to stand in the glowing fire light.
“Are you sure that poison hasn't completely worn off because that power was like a fucking thunderbolt.”He groans down the bond.
I hide my smirk by biting my bottom lip anxiously.
