Chapter 35 A Hint of Something
Xander
More territory breaches, more unexplained inscriptions driven into the ground.
I had received a call regarding those runes again and today, I think it's time for us to change our strategy with this unknown presence.
We are only three heading to the pack borders to strengthen the pack's security - Elda, the only Seer of the Royal Court, Max, and I.
Standing stones have been lifted and placed strategically around the pack's borders beforehand, each one stands diagonally to the other. Elda stands in the middle, while Max and I hover a few feet away from her, watching the process intently.
She starts to draw inscriptions on each one of the stones. When she finishes, she comes to me.
"Your Highness, I will need your blood to activate the stones. Ancient magic recognizes ancient bloodline, especially one superior to others." She gestures for me to give her my hand, and I show it to her. She makes a small cut in my palm in order to get my blood into a little vial container, then proceeds to put one drop on each stone, until it's completely emptied.
Elda stretches out her hands around her and starts to chant ancient spells I barely recognize.
Abruptly, each stone starts to glow. It wasn't a bright light, more like moonlight trapped under stone. It pulses slowly, rhythmically with the territory's heartbeat. I feel the crescent moon sigil on my collarbone glow once, then fades away, sealing the connection.
Then I feel it, a slight tug in the back of my mind, and I can feel all three of us. It imprints our presence and each person's intent, and direction, and threat level.
I feel the pack members confusion at the sudden intrusion in their minds and I ease their worries. They won't feel the imprints like I do, only this unexplainable connection with the land and the need to respect it, greatly.
Max and I exchange bewildered looks, turning to look at Elda. Clothed in full white gear, her white eyes are now glowing, white hair whips around her in the wind as it picks up, making her look like an apparition as her light illuminates the space.
Then slowly, it starts to fade until it's completely diminished. She nods at us. confirming the Watcher Wards are now in place.
No type of magic can go through here without getting detected, and the thought makes the tension in my shoulders loosen a little.
"Thank you, Elda," I say gratefully. She smiles kindly at me and bows, leaving just Max and I behind.
We stand there in silence. It isn't an uncomfortable one, but peaceful.
"Whoa, that was intense," Max finally exclaims, now breaking it. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
I shake my head and can't help the chuckle that rumbles out of me.
"Come on, Xanny, let's go catch some evil piece of shit." He slings his arm over my shoulder and steers us towards the mansion.
Although the pack feels more protected with the Watcher Wards now enforced, a niggling sense of unease still remains...
A cold sweat breaks out of me as I lay in bed, jolting me out of my peaceful slumber. I try to relax my body and focus on the pressure behind my eyelids, the wards sensing something foreign on our territory.
A shiver runs down my spine as I feel it. It's dark, it's sinister and the malevolent intent of the being is very apparent.
I mind-link Max immediately and ask him to meet me at the borders.
My wolf paces and growls continuously in my head at the unknown presence he feels.
Max runs up to me, bringing with him a few of our able guards.
There's something different about the wards. The pulse of the light seems shallow, the lights flicker once, then becomes dimmer and this lets me know something had passed through these wards.
I turn to the men and order, "Comb very corner of the borders, look out for any traces of magical residue or enchantment. Now."
They're gone in a flash and I also spring into action, the palpitations of my heart beat almost rendering me immobile, but I refuse to cower. Of what good am I as a leader if I run with my tails between my legs, leaving my people endangered and exposed.
Taking careful note of every little details - on the stones, in trees, even in the ground. I place my palm on the earth, closing my eyes and trying to connect with it, but all I feel is silence, only the gust of wind blowing a force of snow in our direction.
We're there for hours, searching the place repeatedly, but we're left with only emptiness.
When we've decided it's enough, we all come together and one of our men steps forward to speak. He bows. "Your Highness, there's no evidence of magic nearing these borders. Nothing out of the ordinary."
I inhale sharply, running my hands through my head at the information.
I nod my acknowledgement. "Thank you all. You may all return to your quarters. A meeting will be set up in the morning to discuss the way forward. Goodnight," I dismiss and they murmur their greetings and I watch until every last one of them is gone.
A feeling of helplessness washes over me. Max places a strong hand on my shoulder and I tense slightly, just realizing he's still hasn't left.
"We'll get through this, Xander. We'll stop at nothing to get them," he says, almost looking unsure of his own words. His green eyes hold a little guilt and I wonder why. It's not like this is any of his fault.
But he's right, I'll do everything in my power to make sure this threat is eradicated once and for all.
We trudge back to the mansion for the second time today, but instead, with a very different aura from before.
Then the realization hits me once more.
Something had bypassed the wards with little effort.
It entered without force, or permission, just easing it's way through and that is even worse than anything I've ever known.