Chapter 14: The Quest for a Solution

UNKNOWN

Lira and Boris make a pact to scour the library, hoping to uncover any information about the dragon’s blood tree and its potential impact on the vampire.

Meanwhile, Lyric and Kaiser keep Willow company, who adamantly stays by Andrei’s side. She clings to his icy hand, her tears silently tracing paths down her cheeks.

Lyric hands her a comforting cup of tea and gently rubs her back.

“Willow, sweetheart, he’s still with us. We’ll find a cure, I’m certain of it,” she reassures her.

Willow looks up at her mother, her eyes filled with despair.

“I just found him. I haven’t even accepted him as my mate yet, because duty always comes first,” she confesses in a whisper. “I don’t know what I’ll do if he slips away.”

Lyric exchanges a glance with her husband over their daughter’s bowed head. He shakes his head, stands, and announces, “I’ll go check on Boris and Lira’s progress.” He quietly exits the room.

Lyric turns back to Willow.

“The ancient one you brought back is in the dungeon. How about we go down and…maybe have a little fun with him? Maybe we can get some answers.”

Willow slowly lifts her gaze to meet her mother’s. A determined look crosses her face, one her mother instantly recognizes.

“Yes,” she agrees firmly. “Let’s go interrogate the bloodsucker.”

A fierce smile spreads across Willow’s face.

“I’ll grab my blades.”

Willow and Lyric descend the dungeon steps. The air is chilly and damp. The only illumination comes from the flickering torches mounted on the walls.

Three guards stand near the cell where the vampire is held captive. He’s still ensnared in the net Lira had enchanted to contain him. They’ve secured him to a chair with heavy chains. He’s awake now, a smirk playing on his lips as they enter.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the Alpha Queen herself and her mutt offspring,” he taunts.

Willow chuckles lowly.

“This ‘mutt’ has taken out several of your kind this past week without breaking a sweat. Some of you old-timers made it really easy too,” she retorts, grinning. “Like your two buddies. As easy as slicing pie. And oh so satisfying to watch them disintegrate into nothing.”

He strains against his bonds and growls. “I’ll take great pleasure in killing you, pup!” he roars.

“From where I’m standing, you’re the next one turning to dust,” Lyric retorts.

He glares at her and tries to spit, but it lands in his lap.

“See, too weak to even spit properly,” Lyric teases.

He blinks, and suddenly Willow has a blade at his throat.

“Why is Andrei in stasis?” she demands.

“Awe…” He chuckles. “Figured that out, did you?” He smirks. “We plan to drain him. But we don’t want to kill him. This way he sleeps as we feed and become day walkers like him. No more hiding in the shadows. It will level the playing field against you shifters,” he reveals.

Willow scoffs.

“That won’t work. You can never regain that privilege. Your Goddess and ours will never allow that. You fools sealed your fate from the start. Thinking you were superior, more significant. Corrupting a gift into something evil. Taking lives and turning them into monstrosities like yourselves.” She leans in closer to his face. “Do you really think you’ll receive another gift from the Goddesses?”

She throws back her head and laughs.

“Taking his blood would be too easy. If this is the plan your idiotic king came up with, he must have been dropped on his head. Or…was this something you ancient assholes came up with?” she snarls.

He grins.

“Maybe.” He shrugs. “Either way, he’s done for. There is no cure for him. Not anymore.” He starts laughing manically.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lyric asks.

“Well, the only one who can remove the thorn from his heart is his beloved, and we all know she rejected him centuries ago, and now she’s dust in the wind too!”

“He needs his mate to remove the thorn? How?” Lyric asks.

“That’s the beauty! His heart must be opened, and the thorn removed. Then only her blood can close his heart and cause it to pump again, essentially returning him to human status. It’s brilliant. If his mate were still alive, he’d survive, but he’d no longer be a vampire!” He starts laughing maniacally.

That’s when Willow decapitates him and tosses his head on the floor, watching as he turns to dust.

“Willow?” Lyric reaches for her, but she backs away. Her green eyes meet her mother’s.

“This is not what he wants, Mother. He has been an honorable vampire king. A man of integrity! He can’t just be reduced to a human!”

“Willow,” Lyric says sternly. “We don’t know that for sure. He could have been just spinning a tale. They don’t know that Andrei has another beloved. They don’t know about you. I don’t believe the Goddesses would allow Andrei to perish this way. There is a purpose. There always is,” Lyric reminds her.

“We need to talk to Lira. She may have a better handle on this. In the meantime, you need to commune with the Goddess. Perhaps she’ll show you a sign.”

Willow stares at her mother.

“There has to be another way,” she pleads. “This would destroy him.”

“Come. Let’s go talk with the others. We will find a way, Willow. I have faith.” Lyric wraps her arm around her daughter and leads her away from the dungeons.

WILLOW

I feel like I’m dragging my feet as I follow my mother to the library where my brother and Lira are engrossed in ancient books, desperately searching for a cure for Andrei. They look up as we enter.

Father pulls Mother into his arms, places a soft kiss on her temple, and gives me a sympathetic look.

“What did the vampire say?” he asks softly.

A tear slips down my cheek, but I don’t bother to wipe it away.

“He said only Andrei’s mate can remove the thorn. He said his heart needs to be opened and the mate can remove it. Only her blood can close the wound and cause his heart to start pumping again,” I say quietly.

Boris jumps to his feet and looks at us.

“Well? What are we waiting for? Let’s go do this!” He heads for the door.

“I can’t!” I cry out. “If we do this his heart starts pumping!” I stare at my brother.

“And?” He looks at me then our parents.

Lira rises from her seat.

“A vampire has no heartbeat,” she states.

Boris looks at me, his face a mask of confusion. Then, as if a light bulb flickers on, his expression changes.

“Wait, are you saying that if she does this, it could save his life but turn him back into a human?” he questions.

Lira gazes at me, her eyes filled with sorrow. “I wish I knew, Boris. Andrei has been around for centuries. What if it does turn him back into a human, but only for a fleeting moment because he’s too old to sustain life? There are just too many unknowns,” she admits.

My mother chimes in, “Have you found any references in the texts about this happening before?”

Lira shakes her head. “No, nothing so far. I’ve asked Eros to journey to the Arabian Sea, to the four islands where the tree that produces dragon’s blood sap grows abundantly. There’s a coven of witches there who harvest the sap and use it to make potions.

“They sell these potions to the entire paranormal society. I’ve bought from them before. I’m hoping Eros can find someone in their community who can help.

“In the meantime, I’ll do my best to keep him comfortable. You should focus on protecting our kingdom,” she says, her gaze fixed on me.

My father speaks up, his voice steady and authoritative. “She’s right. The vampire king won’t be sitting idle. He doesn’t know Andrei is in stasis. He’ll still be plotting his next move, which, as we’ve learned, includes targeting your brother and our kingdom.”

Boris interjects, “I’ve already called for reinforcements. I’ve reached out to Roman and the Rare Chosen pack. The Americans will be here by tomorrow. I’ve also contacted Uncle Gunnar and the pack from Germany. Alpha King Carlyle said to call him if we need more help.”

Lyric, my mother, gives a small smile. “It’ll be good to have everyone here. Your aunt will be thrilled to see everyone. I know Ridge misses his brother and his friends. You, my dear, need to rest,” she instructs me. “Go upstairs, take a bath, and relax. I’ll bring you some food, and then you can get some sleep.”

I respond, “I’ll take the bath and the food, but I’m going back to the infirmary to sit with Andrei. I need to make sure he’s safe.”

My mother nods, understanding my decision.

I head to my room and start filling the tub with water. Genisis stirs in my mind.

~“Andrei is in stasis, but I think I can mind-link with him,”~ she suggests.

“We can try. If it doesn’t work, I’ll reach out to the Goddess. Hopefully, she can help, especially if Eros comes back empty-handed.”

~“Andrei is strong. He’ll fight to come back to us,”~ Genisis assures me, pacing restlessly.

“I hope so,” I reply, sinking into the fragrant water and leaning back.

I let myself drift off, the warm water enveloping me. My body relaxes, and I exhale deeply. Slowly, I fall asleep.

~“Willow, listen carefully. Andrei must stay in his current state for now. The vampire king is getting closer, but if he believes his brother is dead, he’ll stop pursuing Andrei. I promised you a mate, and he is a strong one. He’ll rise again, stronger than before, but we need time to uncover the vampires’ plans. They aim to annihilate all creatures and rule. You were given more gifts than even my warrior wolf. You have one more gift coming. I’ll reveal this gift to you soon, my child. Keep faith and know I’ll return your mate to you,”~ her voice fades in my head, and I slowly wake up.

I sit up in the tub, realizing the water has turned cold. I drain the tub, grab a towel, and dry off. Wrapping the towel around myself, I head to my closet.

~“Willow? Are you dressed yet?”~ my mother mind-links me.

~“Yes,”~ I respond.

Soon, my mother enters the room, carrying a tray. She sets it down on the small table by the window, pulls up two chairs, and sits with me. I pick at the food but manage to drink the tea. I know it’s a special blend that Lira brews to help me stay calm and relaxed. I give my mom a grin.

“You’re always worrying.”

She reaches for my hand and gives it a gentle pat. “I love you. I know you’re strong and fearless, but you’re still my daughter. Sometimes, in my mind, you’re still that tiny pup I held for the first time. I was so scared to let your father hold you, afraid he’d drop you!” She laughs. “He was more experienced than me at the time, already raising Boris.”

I chuckle. “Well, the Goddess visited,” I say quietly. I set my cup down. My mother looks into my eyes, waiting for me to tell her what the Goddess said.

“She wants Andrei to stay as he is for now. She wants us to act as though he’s dead. She says that will deter the vampire king for now. Then we can better understand his plans. She promises Andrei will return stronger than before, and I will receive another gift yet to be revealed.”

Lyric looks at me, a frown creasing her forehead. “You can already manifest fire, conjure water, create weapons from freezing it, move the earth, control the wind, transform into smoke and disappear, spirit walk, and have visions. What else could there be?”

“I don’t know, but I have a feeling that whatever it is, it will be the deciding factor in how this all plays out. I don’t know when I’ll receive this gift, but I assume it’ll be soon. And most likely, it’ll come unexpectedly, just like the smoke did.”