Chapter 34: Powering Up

WILLOW

Sleep is elusive that night. The haunting image of the two human teenagers, their eyes vacant, sprawled on the cave floor at Mihai’s feet, keeps replaying in my mind. I see Saoirse, trapped in a cage, being fed upon by the new turns.

My conscience won’t let me rest. I am filled with a burning desire to tear their heads off! My anger is at a boiling point.

Around midnight, Jenna informs me that both Selma and Beth have slipped away from their homes. So, I decide to tail them, to find out who the vampire is that has turned these two into puppets.

They are doomed anyway. We can’t save them. Either the vampire has killed them, or we will when we take the vampire’s heart.

Jenna joins me as I am about to enter the forest surrounding the pack.

“They just went through those trees,” she whispers to me.

I nod and transform into mist. Floating above the trees, I follow them.

Halfway to the caves, I spot a small clearing and see a female vampire leaning against a tree. Then I see a male, and I instantly recognize them. It is Josephina and Ivan.

I descend and settle in the branches of a tree, listening as the two human girls approach.

“Here they come. This is getting so tedious, Ivan. I just want to finish all this and attack the Royal Pack! Why Mihai dragged us all out here for this pack is ridiculous! I’m getting so tired of his insane ideas,” Josephina complains.

“Hush, sister.” Ivan snarls. “Once we reach the Royal Pack, we can surely make him the brunt of the attack. They won’t hesitate to kill him, and we can slink off and then you, my love, can take over.

“You are his queen. There is no one to stand in your way. After all, Andrei is now dead or at least frozen so who could possibly be the next in line? Have patience, love. Mihai loves his little games and playing with the humans and coating himself in blood is his joy.

“Let him have it for a little longer. If the Royal Pack can’t kill him, we can always send him to the sun.”

“You keep forgetting how old he is, Ivan. He is a master vampire. The master vampire at the moment, because of his age. The power he holds, he rules the rest of us! Hence, king!” she snarls.

“I understand, sister, but he’s losing his mind. Haven’t you noticed? I have. He thinks he’s a god. Now that Andrei no longer walks the earth, Mihai’s ego has shot through the roof. Manipulating him may be tougher, but I’ve seen you in action when you really want something,” Ivan replies.

The two girls enter the clearing and fall to their knees in front of Ivan.

“Awe! My lovelies! It is so good to see you this evening. This must be important news if the both of you are here,” he coos, running his hand over their heads and petting them like pets. “What do you have for me, my dears?” His voice is sickly sweet.

The girls keep their eyes downcast and stay on their knees. Beth speaks first.

“Princess Willow returned to the pack this morning. She is alone, but her team from the Royal Pack are still here. They don’t seem to be packing up to leave. We felt you should know, master.”

Selma speaks next. “I learned that she is here only to check on her team and speak to the alpha about the training. The others don’t believe she’ll be there long, master.”

Ivan looks over at his sister.

“So, the alpha king’s sister is back in camp. We should inform Mihai. He was livid when he learned she killed Gustav. He was Mihai’s favorite general.”

Josephina laughs. “No one is Mihai’s favorite anything, including me. But he’s stuck with me because he declared me his mate.” She shrugs and saunters closer to the two girls.

“Go back to your beds and meet with us again in two days. The darkness is close. We will need more intel.”

The girls nod and offer their arms. Ivan latches onto Beth and Josephina onto Selma, drinking their blood. Then Ivan slits his wrist and feeds both Beth and Selma.

“Go, my lovelies. See you soon.”

The girls rise and move through the woods back toward the pack, their movements zombie-like. From the branches, I watch as the two vampires move with lightning speed and head back to the caves.

I sweep back to the pack and shift as I clear the trees.

“Get some rest, Jenna. Tell the boys. Nothing is happening tonight, but tomorrow we move against the vampires,” I say.

Jenna nods then moves back toward the surveillance tent where Rueben and Victor are watching the cameras.

I hit my cot and close my eyes.

~“Sleep, Genisis. We need to rest in order to power up. We are taking on a crap load of vampires tomorrow night.”~

~“Mate will be here tomorrow. He will power us up.”~ She snickers.

“Yes, I believe he will,” I smile to myself, close my eyes, and fall into darkness.

~“Willow!”~ A voice calls from the darkness. ~“Hear me, child. You must free the Phoenix. It is not her time yet. She must be allowed to fly and bring the healing forth that Ra has in store. Her tears will wash the earth clean and bring all species together. She will be the next in line to help rule the supernatural world beside her mate, but first she must pass her challenges her father has set for her. Release her and set her free!”~

I sit up on my cot, looking around in the dim light coming from the rising sun. Another message from our Goddess. I shake my head. These nightly visions are draining sometimes, but this one feels different. It feels like a promise.