Chapter 7

• *Stormfall Mountain*
• Alpha Cesa was sitting in the lounge when Safa strolled in. Kissing her on the head before he sat on the lounge chair. “The tunnels to Sigmison need a lot of work.”
• “How bad is the situation?” Alpha Cesa continued to nurse their daughter.
• Pushing the air out of his lungs, “part of the tunnels have widened while some parts fell in!” Coughing to clear out his throat, “we may have to think of the alternative route.” He raised a brow at his mate.
• Alpha Cesa looked at her daughter watching her little jaw moving up and down as she drank her fill. “It is not like we are overwhelmed with tasks to do. Check out the second route. We need to find a trail that will lead to Sigmison.”
• Safa cracked his knuckles, “I was thinking of a more ancient path!”
• Alpha Cesa’s eyes widened, “NO!” She hissed, “that will take us straight to Master Hounds domain.” She scoffed, “do you remember what happened to the last fool that dared to intrude?”
• Safa began to chuckle, “my ancestors were not all that smart!”
• “It is the male gene that makes you all daft!” Shaking her head back and forth, “To trespass could be the death of you and those that follow.”
• “That is why I will bring an offering. Plead our case and wait! If I do not receive a reply I will respectfully leave.” Safa explained.
• “Who else is stupid enough to follow you?” Alpha Cesa was not pleased with the idea.
• “No one! As you have stated this is a foolish move.” Safa rubbed his face with his hands. “By now Master Hound has to know what is going on. What is the point of having Gods if we can’t ask for help or guidance when it really matters.” Resting his head on the back of the chair, “we have always been respectful. Thousands of years we have paid homage to Master Hound. We have respected his wishes and went above expectations.”
• “What if Master Hound’s price for aiding us is you?” Alpha Cesa’s eyes were watering up.
• Safa’s jaw opened and closed. He had not thought of this, forcing a smile on his face, “it is a price we both will have to accept. For the cost of saving what remains of Dorhelhound … others have paid with their lives to protect their families and clan.” Safa brought his hands together. Resting his chin on the tip of his fingers, “I could lose my life making a plea … I could lose my life on the battlefield … or I could grow old with you. We have no way of knowing what fate holds for us nor can we question it.
• Tears rolled down her face as she studied their daughter who had decided that she was full and now slumbered. “When are you leaving?”
• “In a few hours!” Safa stood up, “First I want one more night with my wife, my mate, my life and goddess of the Stormfall Mountain!” Kissing Cesa’s head he took their daughter into his arms so that Alpha Cesa could stand up as well. “My alpha!” Safa said as he brought his wife to his side for an embrace.
• *Dark Crystal Tower*
• “Is everything set up?” Jabrot asked Ace as he spotted his cousin aiming his feet toward him.
• Nodding his head, “all of the warriors are out and on alert!” Ace pushed the air out of his lungs. “When Balvalur comes tonight, he is going to be met with every warrior that is available.”
• Jabrot could not help but notice how stressed and tired Ace appeared. “Get a few hours of sleep. Faetha and I will take the first shift. We will wake you and Brodey up when it is your turn to take over.”
• “Is Finja still …”
• “That woman of yours has not left your quarter in the last three days. Unless she has to go to the washroom, she doesn’t leave.” Jabrot began to chuckle, “she keeps on saying she has to finish the paperwork before she goes to the underground city.”
• “Yeah!” Ace rubbed his hands down his face, yawning, “Finja says she is close to being done but there is a lot of information that she has to get written down. She doesn’t want to leave the practitioners empty handed.”
• Placing his hand on Ace’s shoulder he gave him a light squeeze, “I will wake you up in six hours.”
• ***
• For hours Ace and Finja had been sleeping. Shifting, Finja’s eyes fluttered open. The urge to go pee was making it that she needed to get up and out of bed. Even though she did not have a cup of tea before they retired for the night. Finja still found that her bladder filled up during the hours of rest.
• Laying on her side, Finja nudged Ace!
• Rolling over, “bed!” He said in a sleepy tone.
• Trying to forget the urge, Finja closed her eyes. With the babies moving around the pressure grew. “Ace, I have to go pee!”
• Wrapping his arm around Finja, Ace snored in her ear. Huffing out loud, Finja used her mind to see if she could spot Balvalur. 'Nothing!' Finja thought to herself.
• Wiggling out of Ace’s arms, Finja sat up so that she could leave to go to the lavatory.
• Glancing at the door, she heard Ace snoring. Sighing, Finja directed her feet towards the wardrobe. Putting on her cloak and grabbing her dagger. Opening the door a crack, once again Finja used her mind to see if there were any unregistered vampires in the location.
• ‘Wake up Ace!’ Finja heard Vuna whispering in her ear.
• Glancing at the spirit of Brodey's mate, “I am just going to the lavatory and back. I will be gone no more than ten minutes.” Finja whispered.
• Closing the door behind herself, Finja glanced around to see if Vuna was still with her. Shrugging, Finja gripped the dagger in her hands and rushed to the lavatory.
• Strolling down the hall the patrol that was scheduled for the night shift was standing where they were supposed to be. Finja continued to move in the direction that she desired.
• A male that Finja had never seen strolled her way, “is everything alright my queen?” The male bowed, giving his respect.
• Glancing around her, she noticed how none of the guards seemed to be suspicious of the man being there. “I just need to go to the lavatory.”
• “I will take you there, with security at its highest, you shouldn’t be wandering around unescorted.” The male smiled.
• There was something in the man's eyes that made Finja grip the dagger handle tighter. “What would your name be?”
• “Mage Coral, my queen!”
• Again Finja questioned this man in her mind, as the need to get to the lavatory became more of a concern. Not wanting to speak with the practitioner anymore, Finja motioned her feet in the direction she had been
• Finja’s hand was on the door ready as she saw the spirit of her mum. ‘Watch your back!’ Her mum had warned her.
• Turning around Finja could see that Mage Coral was still standing there. Turning around, Finja began to push on the door. Doing so, Finja felt a sharp pain in her neck.
• Instinctively her hand went to the spot where she was feeling the sting, “Ace!” Finja whispered as her vision became hazy. ‘ACE!’ Finja yelled a mind link. 'LAVATORY!'
• "By the time Alpha Ace notices you are gone..." The mage took the dagger out of Finja's hand. "It will be too late for you!" He cackled softly.
• Finja placed her hand out as she could feel the weight of her body falling to the floor. The last thing Finja remembered was Mage Coral saying, “I did as you asked. Yes! She was hiding in plain sight. I will bring her to the top of the tower.”
• ***
• Klalxes was strolling the halls with two of his best apprentices, Belcraes and Primythe had been working under Klalxes' guidance for two years.
• "Master Klalxes ..." Primythe studied the guards as she walked past them.
• Belcraes was studying the location not saying a word as he held his hand over the hilt of his dagger.
• "Something is off!" Klalxes stopped walking.
• Each of them studied the guard who did not blink as he stared into the abyss.
• "Klaxes!" Belynor and Sarkoris rounded the corner and were moving quickly toward the small group.
• "We have a spy amidst our own. It is a spell cast by the Dark Brotherhood!" Belynor snapped his fingers in front of the guard's face.
• Primythe glared at her teacher, "I will signal the alarm!"
• "Make haste!" Sarkoris yelled at Primythe.
• "I will find Alpha Faetha!" Primythe turned and ran down the hall as fast as her feet would allow.
• Belcraes, Klaxes, Belynor and Sarkoris all watched Primythe disappear down the hall. "We need to get to the alpha queen now!" Belynor turned leading the way back. Knowing that Alpha Faetha had changed the location where the young queen was to stay for the night.
• Close behind them, "Do you even know where you are going?" Belcraes spoke harshly.
• "Few knew that Alpha Faetha and Alpha Jabrot had moved Alpha Queen Finja to a different location. I and Klalxes were the only ones that knew." Belynor replied not once looking back.
• ***
• Primythe was running down the hallway when she bumped into Lord Ascelius and Black Widow. Placing his hands out so that the mage would not fall.
• Frowning, "What is going on?" The vampire lord asked.
• Huffing, "the guards are under a spell ... the Dark Brotherhood!" Primythe managed to get out.
• Black Widow pointed at Lord Ascelius, "you go to Finja!" Pointing at the Mage, "Get to your station. I am going to set the alarm!"
• ***
• Speeding down to the location that should have warriors moving around and keeping an eye on things. A shiver ran down Black Widow's back as she noticed they too were under the spell. Black Widow was nearing the fire pit when she saw unregistered vampires jumping off the top of the East walls, breaching Dark Crystal Tower territory.
• 'They are here!' Black Widow sent a mind link to Lord Ascelius.
• Even with the fire blazing the guards did not move.
• Hissing with frustration, "BARNACLES!" Black Widow placed her face cover on.
• Surveying the location she manoeuvred to kill the unregistered vampires that were sinking their teeth into the warriors. Black Widow did her best to control the overwhelming numbers who invaded the kingdom.
• 'Find the spell caster and kill them!' Black Widow linked Lord Ascelius.
• Coming out of the shadows, "you look like you could use some help!" Therphira said as a group of practitioners came out of the tower.
• "It is good to see that not everyone has been placed under the caster's spell!" Black Widow said as she ripped the head off her opponent.
• Muttering words, the practitioners began working together to defend their countrymen.
• ***
• Brodey woke up with a startle, the room was filled with the smell of Lavender. "Vuna?!" Brodey waited for a tap or anything that would indicate that his dead wife was around.
• The chamber door was pushed open, "Don't ask me how I know ..."
• Mouthing, "Vuna!" Again Brodey waited for a sign that the spirit of his wife was in the room.
• Speeding into the space Nelle halted in front of Brodey, “Balvalur is here!”
• Forcing the covers to the side and jumping out of bed, “Does Ace know?” Brodey's feet were in his boots and was tying them before Nelle could turn around.
• "Heading there now!" Nelle was running out of the room, “hurry up!”
• Rushing from the North tower to the East wing, Brodey and Nelle did not stop once. Only when they spotted Lord Ascelius rushing down the hall yelling at them that vampires had been spotted and they were heading this way.
• “Balvalur is already here!” Nelle yelled with tears rolling down her face, “it was my job to keep Finja alive.” She wailed.
• Lord Ascelius placed a hand on Nelle’s shoulder, go to Yadal and stay with him. When this is all over, I will come and get you.”
• Beta Brodey and Lord Ascelius wasted no more time and ran to Ace and Finja’s located chamber.
• ***
• The feral vampires studied the walls. "The guards are not moving!" One of the vampires pointed out.
• "Baktard must have casted his spell." His lips were curled into an evil grin. "Blow up the wall!"
• In the cover of the night, 6477 feral vampires charged at the West wall of Dark Crystal Tower. Signalling their arrival, six several explosives had gone off. Allowing the vampires easy access to the territory. "Destroy everything!" The leader of the group spat out as each of them took a step forward.
• Sinking their fangs into the spell-casted guards that could not move, they waited for the warriors to attack them.
• Chuckling, "they are all under the scoundrel's spelling." The feral vampire wheezed out.
• "Not everyone!" Radar came out of the shadows.
• Those who were feeding on the guards lifted their heads. Each of the feral vampires glared at the sorcerors that dared to fight them. Motioning their heads back and forth, they knew they were surrounded.
• Muttering words before the feral vampires could move, the group of practitioners was beginning to cast their spell.
• "ATTACK!" Three vampires yelled.
• ***
• Ace and Finja’s chamber was filled with the hint of lavender. 'ACE!'
• Ace fled up, “Finja!” He yelled. Ripping the covers off of his body. Rapidly he motioned his head around trying to locate his mate.
• ‘Lavatory!’ He could hear Finja in his mind.
• Rushing to the door, Ace ripped it open to bump into his cousin.
• “Finja?” Brodey yelled at Ace.
• Pushing past his cousin and the vampire lord, “lavatory!”
• They were one turn away from the public lavatory. Slowing down his pace, Ace noticed how the guards were not moving. Waving his hand in front of a male's face, the guard did not blink or move an inch. “What is this?” Ace asked Lord Ascelius.
• “Powerful magick!”
• Waving his hand so that Ace and Lord Ascelius would follow him. “Fresh blood!” The two words were enough for both Ace and Lord Ascelius to head toward Brodey.
• "I am going to take a lucky guess and say that Finja was stabbed with the poison dart." Brodey held out a blow-dart needle.
• "There are only a small amount of blood droplets, but it might take us to where Finja has been taken." Lord Aselius suggested.
• Following the scent of blood it stopped at the door that led to the top of the tower.
• "I can smell Finja, her scent is very strong here." Fear was written all over Ace’s face, “the roof!” He hissed. Alore's warning echoed in his mind.
• Ace and Brodey took turns pounding on the locked door, thrusting their full body into the heavy wooden door. Opening a window, Lord Ascelius motioned his body outside. “Continue trying to break down the door. I am going to climb the wall.”
• Ace's heart pounded in his chest as he watched Lord Ascelius disappear and climb up the wall. “If anything happens to Finja I will never forgive myself.” Ace yelled as he and Brodey continued to do their best to get the door to budge open.
• ***
• Nelle rushed into the chamber that Lord Ascelius and Yardal had been occupying. Frantically Nelle was shaking Yardal to wake up.
• Tears rolled down her face as Yardal would not budge, "Wake up!" Nelle screamed.
• Only when Nelle backhanded Yardal with all her straight did Yardal move.
• "What was that for?" Yardal held his hand over the side of his face not understanding what was going on.
• Wrapping her arms around Yardal, "it seems that everyone who is human or shifter are under a spell. And Balvalur and the unregistered vampires are here. And I don't know where Finja is." Nelle let go of Yardal so that she could get up. "We have to go!"
• "I was told ..."
• "It doesn't matter!" Nelle shouted. "The warriors are frozen and the unregistered vampires are here. Everyone will be dead in less than a hour if we do not move." She directed her feet to the door. "How long do you think all of the few that did not fall prey to the spell will last?"
• Running down the hall they could hear hissing, "not long at all!" Yardal pointed at the 25 unregistered vampires that were heading their way.
• Half shifting Nelle got into her stance while Yardal allowed his fangs and claws to push out.
• "Remember everything I taught you!" Nelle said as the first attacker came their way.
• ***
• "Well Baktard ..." Balvalur was glaring at his informent. "It appears you are useful after all!"
• "I told you I would get to the human!" Chuckling, "Follow me and I will take you to the female." Baktard took the lead with Balvalur right behind.
• On the other side of the tower roof, Finja was on her side not moving. The moment Balvalur spotted Finja he hissed, "she got herself blown up!"
• "I know, she wasn't easy to carry either." Baktard snarled at recalling how he managed to get her to the top of the tower.
• With his fangs out he attacked his spy. Struggling Baktard attempted to break free. "You ..." was the only word he managed to get out when Balvalur snapped his neck.
• As the spy's body slumped to the roof, Balvalur glared at the unconscious body. Clicking his tounge, "Tisk, Tisk, Tisk!" Balvalur's eyes were glowing red. "I was going to give you the gift of being in my presents, little Levreh." Balvalur began to bind Finja's hands together. "But you have again betrayed me ... this will be the last time you ever disappoint me!"