Chapter 49: Unsettling

Elaine, continued her solitary training, pushing herself to master her control over ice and water. What happened at the blue gates could never repeat itself, she was weak and that moment of weakness nearly cost the life of her people.

“You cannot continue hiding in here forever, we both know that you have this under control” Edgar said as he walked into the tunnel where Elaine stood.

“I know but I can’t take any chances, I need to master this if I have any chance of saving our race” she said with tiredness in her eyes.

“You cannot do any of that if you are this tired, they will be here in few hours, I insist that you go and have some rest and when they are close by, I’ll come and tell you” Edgar said holding her in his arms as she relaxed on him which revealed just how tired she was.

“Alright” she said disengaging and made an attempt to move when he swooped her off her feet.

“Exactly what I need” she said smiling weakly.

“I’m always at your service my Lady” Alexander said with a smirk on his face.

He carried her gently up the grand staircase and then to their room, on their arrival there she was already fast asleep and he placed her gently on the bed, watching her as she slept calmly as he didn’t know if he would have an opportunity to enjoy such scenery again.

The sun fell on the horizon, and as twilight drew nearer, darkness was casted over the land, everyone was in their stand waiting for the great war to begin.

“Your majesty, they are very close to the borders” the head of a scout said to Claudia who sat at her high chair with Edgar and Elaine by her side.

“How many?” Edgar said.

“About a three” the man replied and Edgar’s brows furrowed.

“Thank you very much Allen, you can leave now” Claudia said and the man bowed leaving the room.

“What’s wrong” Elaine said looking at Edgar who was lost in thought.

“Those are not all Skylar’s men, he has much more than that” Edgar said and Elaine began thinking too.

“He had about two thousand soldiers loyal to him from the red pack house which are now hybrids, a thousand human hounds and the others Meredith gave him to turn into hybrids” Edgar said in a low tone that showed that he was still deep in thinking.

“If that’s the case, where are the rest? What if he doesn’t want all his resources wasted on this so he could strike again?” Claudia replied.

“He have to think like him, he is a very smart and strategic man it is both his strength and weakness” Elaine said as she smirked in realization of what the plan was.

“What do you mean by that?” Claudia said very curiously.

“I mean that Skylar has definitely found another point of entry into this place, so he wouldn’t need to put all his forces at the war front” Elaine replied and it now more clear to both Claudia and Edgar.

“We need to figure out where that is before it becomes too late” Edgar said.

“Where is the only place in this house that only you and your lineage know about?” Elaine said patiently.

“Why? Do you think he will be able to find it? No one can ever figure it out, not even members of this pack” Claudia said trying to protect herself and her family.

“Skylar has a witch that resurrected from the dead by his side, he has hybrids that are two times faster than any of us here, do you really think we would have a fighting chance if we are attacked from two fronts?” Elaine said in a low respectful tone but Claudia heard the authority in her voice.

“This has been in my family for many generations, no outsider has ever seen” she said folding her hands together.

“What’s the decision your majesty?” Edgar said trying to make her realize that there was no time.

“Well, I’m glad I’m the one showing it to the world” she said with a smile on her face and Elainesmiled back.

They followed Claudia closely as they went towards the dungeon. Deep in the dungeon, there was a growing pungent smell of the bodies of werewolves that had dies inside there. Finally, they made a stop in front of a wall it seemed ordinary till she touched it and it opened up to a pathway, they walked inside gazing at the narrow pathway that led them to where they knew not of. There was a scent Edgar picked, it was subtle and difficultyo notice but in all that he was certain it was familiar.

“Where’s this place?” He said as he looked around scanning the place.

“This is the route to the back of the walls just in case of any attack on the royal family, this is an escape route” Claudia said wanting to open the last passage.

“Stop!! This place smells like sandalwood” Edgar said.

“Yes it does, it always does” Claudia replied.

“If it has always been smelling this way, it must be more intense today is that not true?” Edgar said.

“It is actually more intense than before, now that you sait, I notice it” Claudia said after some moments of concentration.

“Because someone has casted a spell on this place very recently,” Edgar said and paused for a while to see the expression on Claudia’s face.

“Meredith knows where this place is and she placed a spell to lead the hybrids here” Edgar said..

“This is so not what we bargained for, Skylar’s hybrids will rip us in shreds if they get past this wall and make us fight this war in two fronts” Elaine said not with fear and urgency in her eyes.

“Calm down love, it’ll be alright. Only if we had a witch powerful enough to cast a spell that block Meredith’s power” Edgar said as he held her hand and squeezed gently.

“We do have someone like that” Claudia said and they both turned to face her with a surprise on their face.

“How is that possibe? Alex said.

“It is” Claudia replied.

“Is she here” Elaine asked still surprised.

“Yes, she is” Claudia replied.

“Then you must send for her, we need this done now, we do not have time” Alex said.

“There will be no need for that, Rachael” Claudia called out and she appeared.

Immediately, Elaine felt something change in the air, this witch wasn’t a good soul, there was something very off and eerie about her and Elaine felt death looming all around her.

“Edgar?” the girl said in a low voice as emotions filled her eyes.

Elaine turned to face Edgar who just stared at the witch girl with so much familiarity in his eyes.

“Rachael” Edgar said and smiled softly as they both entered into each others embrace.

Elaine watched the scene before her and wondered how her Eddy came to know this witch girl. She didn’t like what she saw and it formed a pit in her stomach, this wasn’t good, not at all.