Chapter 6

The forest was surprisingly gentle. No chirping from birds, no predatory animals roamed, even the tall trees refused to dance to the tunes of solemn winds. Beyond this forest was the one and only glorious abode of The Crimson Prowlers Pack where Green would currently be in. Perhaps this forest and its inhabitants feared her wrath too or perhaps I was simply over thinking.

I heaved a sigh. It's been over an hour I stood at the center doing nothing but thinking. I only had one ace move up my sleeves and if it failed, it could probably be my end. But I wasn't ready to die yet, not in the hands of weaklings of Prowlers Pack. At the same time, I couldn't force a single muscle in my legs to move. I wasn't scared of her but for my ace move. My eyes lowered to the dry leaves roaming beside me and in a strange way, I was reliving the memories of the day before.

***

“This," I said as I scanned through the forest with a smile of admiration. "Is the perfect place."

“Are you sure, I suggest we go deeper." Peter responded beside me. His countenance still hinting faint worry.

“Unless you want us to be fighting wild animals then I'll gladly follow you." I chattered while I walked away from him. Throwing my hands in the air as I took in fresh air of nature.

“We're talking about a powerful spell here Zeus. You're going to invoke lightning; don't you think it will cause chaos enough to grab the attention of humans?" he argued.

“Stop exaggerating this issue, Peter." I shot him a smile. "It's just lightning."

“Mystical lightning," he corrected.

“Whatever." I rolled my eyes. "Mystical or not, lightning is lightning."

“You of all people should know better. You're a sorcerer."

“Peter will you please stop blabbing about nothing and let me just concentrate on practicing this spell." I waved him off.

He heaved a sigh before wriggling his head.

“Your stubbornness is something else!"

I laughed before I removed an enchanted brown wrist bead alongside a lighter from my pocket.

“According to the spell, you have to first light the loose rope tied to the bead once you wear it. And then—”

“I know the spell, something I've read over and over again." I smiled at him. "Just keep quiet and watch the magic happen."

He closed the spell book noisily.

“You're full of yourself today, you know that?"

“You can't blame me, it's exciting thinking I'm going to control lightning."

“I don't see how letting loads of mystical charges course through one's veins is exciting."

He rolled his eyes.

“Oh, trust me, it's exciting!" I chirped with a bright smile. "Now keep some distance from me, I'm starting now."

“Just be careful,” he whispered as he took few distance away from me.

My smile faded as I took deep breaths. It was just a simple procedure. Light the enchanted bead on my wrist, call its spell and tame the power of lightning. And so, without further thoughts, I wore the bead on my right before lighting it. If I had expected its blue flames to burn my skins, it didn't. Rather, I felt it draw energy from me.

“The Winds and tides bow to your presence," I started on a solemn note.

“The cloud darkens upon your arrival. Your light travels beyond the unreachable. You open and close doors of realms at will."

The winds stormed against my body and indeed the cloud were gradually darkening as trees began to dance haphazardly. It was working, I was going to get this spell at my first trial!

“Incledia!" I raised my voice and lightning roared amongst the clouds. "Erylia, suptum," the intensity deepened, and I could feel my body struggling to stand against the winds.

“Incledia! Erylia Suptum! Incledia Erylia Suptum!" I roared and so did the lightning gather in the skies.

“I call on the element of lightning!" I faced the sky with twitching eyes. "Give me your strength! Give me your power!"

In a split moment, one I totally didn't expect, several rods of lightning descended on my body with rage. Half of my clothes burned off instantly as I screamed in agony.

“Zeus!! Zeus stop this spell, it's too much for you!" Peter screamed but I wished I could stop it. The lightning coursing through my veins drove me insane. I couldn't feel my legs, my heart thumped like it was going to explode any second, my skin burned like wildfire and an unimaginable pain scorched my head as I tried to tame it.

“Zeus!!"

That was the last I heard before silence descended. No, this wasn't silence. My ears must have gone dead from the ringing. I thudded to the ground, engulfed in my pain and unable to feel my body. All I could see was, dust settling to the ground and my friend scurrying towards me. This spell was certainly not exciting.

***

My eyes faintly responded to the bright light dawning on me. My ears picked the tweeting of birds nearby and my nose could pick the scents of flowers surrounding me.

How was I here? In this beautiful place or was this what death looked like?

“Why are you on the ground?" I heard a familiar voice say. Sweet and gentle, my eyes widened immediately, and I rose on my back only to see my mother. Seated on a stone chair before me. There she was with her graceful smile and her beautiful eyes. Her blonde hair was just as shiny and perfect like I remembered. Complementing her Red medieval gown. One she used to wear as Regent.

“Mother." My lips parted in oblivion while tears soaked my eyes gradually. This was my first time seeing her after her death. I could tell her so much, how much The Hunters were cruel to me or how unfair the supernatural world has been since her departure. That I miss her, I missed seeing her smile, I missed her correcting me for my wrongs. Yet, I remained like a statue. Lost in her eyes.

She extended her hand towards me, and I stared at her perfect skin, the same hand that made my favorite meal.

“Why do you want to remain on the ground?" She asked softly again since I refused to make a move.

“I got hit by lightning." I mumbled but I had much more than that to say. Yet it felt like a force held me back.

“It must have hurt." She sighed as she joined me on the ground. Holding my cheeks in her soft palm.

“Very much." I confirmed as a tear trickled to my face. "Am I dead?"

She wriggled her head slowly. "You're struck in a limbo, little one,” she replied, and a tiny smile crept to my lips. She made me recall a nickname I had long forgotten.

“How can my son be shaken by just lightning? My Zeus is a strong boy."

I turned my glance away from her.

“I'm not strong mother. I nurtured my werewolf powers and failed to nurture my Witch powers."

“That's not why you fell."

“I'm not like you, mother,” I said to her endearing face. "You have mastered all forms of magic. The elemental and dark sorcery. But I," I pursed my lips. "I was never good at Elemental magic."

“You failed to understand the spell, little one,” she whispered as she stared across the forest, smiling.

“There is a clear difference between Elemental magic and Dark sorcery.

I became powerful not because I mastered this two but because I understood them.

Dark sorcery requires you to tame that spell for its full use, but Elemental magic doesn't work that way." She wriggled her head.

“Elements are what makes our world, they're what makes us, what drives us. Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, lightning, they existed before us. They are like our gods, and so their spells deserve to be treated with respect.

You can't tame lightning, Zeus. It is the element that tames you, that gives you strength." She pursed her lips as I stared dumbfounded.

“That is why you fell Zeus. You tried to command the power of gods." She gently stroked my hands, but I was still confused.

“There's a difference between knowing a spell and understanding it. I want you to know that and this time," she paused again while her hand trailed to my cheek again. "I want you to stand tall like the warlock you are. You're Zeus Hunter, and you don't belong to the grounds.

I love you."

***

“Zeus?" I heard another familiar voice say but this time, the environment was different. It wasn't that peaceful place I shared with my mother; it was my room.

“Thank Goodness you're awake!" I finally recognized his voice, the man seated by my bedside. Peter.

“What happened?" I asked almost in a whisper.

“You got struck by lightning, you've been unconscious for a day now,” he said in a worried fashion. "The spell was a total disaster Zeus. We weren't sure you were going to make it."

I gulped down my saliva while my eyes darted to my bedsheets. The memory I shared with my mother wasn't a dream, I knew that. I could still vividly remember her words.

“There's a difference between knowing a spell and understanding it."

“I think you should forget this mission. It's impossible." His voice tousled my thoughts.

“No." I disagreed almost immediately.

“Don't be foolish Zeus. You almost died from practicing this spel—”

“I know." I cut him off. "But I have to meet her. I need to know why I keep seeing her in my dreams."

“Zeus, Green is nothing but—”

“I don't care Peter!" I raised my voice against his with a sharp glare. "I have to do this."

“Is it with the same spell that almost claimed your life?" He retorted.

“Yes." I answered before alighting off my bed.

“I failed to understand the spell and that's why I almost died."

“So do you understand it now?"

He asked stopping Midway from entering my bathroom.

“No. But I'm still doing the mission regardless."

***

I gulped down my saliva hoping my pessimistic thoughts would be swallowed alongside too but it didn't. I still didn't understand what my mother meant but at the same time, I craved to meet Green. I had to choose—risk getting roasted with lightning or understanding this spell to meet a monster.

I closed my eyes and heaved a sigh. I lit the enchanted bead on my wrist and sealed my eyes again.

“The Winds and tides bow to your presence," I started on a solemn note.

“The cloud darkens upon your arrival. Your light travels beyond the unreachable. You open and close doors of realms at will."

The trees began to dance to the tunes of the winds while the cloud gradually darkened.

I took another breath, this time neglecting all the pessimistic thought in my head.

“Incledia Erylia Suptum! Incledia Erylia Suptum! Incled—”

I continued feeling a considerable amount of energy being drawn from me. I was going to make the final call, one that could swap my fate. A near death experience or survive to meet Green.

I stared straight into the sky with eyes that refused to twitch in fear.

“I call on the element of lightning!" I yelled and instantly, a blue long stroke roared through the sky.

“Lend me your strength! Lend me your power!"

If I had expected to be roasted, then I was wrong. Bands of lightning descended on me but this time it didn't hurt. It was certainly overwhelming, but it gave me strength. It was like I was invisible. My hearing and sense of smell went on another level. And even though I couldn't see it, my eyes were glowing a bright shade of blue!

I smiled to myself. This was what my mother meant by understanding a spell. My gaze darted to the Prowlers Pack. Even though it looked so far, the new wave of adrenaline coursing throughout my body made it look easy. Rather than running through branches and across the tarred roads of Prowlers Pack, I preferred to act like lightning itself. So, I picked pace, with each step causing a gentle tremor. Without further thoughts, I jumped. High into the skies, where I could see Prowlers Pack and its tiny inhabitants. The winds stormed against my body, I could feel the taste of wet air salivating my tongue, and my eyes squinted trying to find the Pack House. This was another level of power and at this point, I had no doubts my spell would work on Green regardless of her immunity.

A smile crept to my lips once I found Pack House at the center. I threw my body briskly into that direction like a god I was. And within a split second I landed lightly before the mansion.

“Incledia!!" I muttered almost immediately as I got my right palm against the floor causing time around me to halt. My smile deepened as I examined guards who were totally stuck in their time. And with confidence, I marched into the building with tiny bits of lightning still emanating from my body.

I almost halted as I came across a beautiful white-haired lady. No doubt, she was Green's bodyguard but that wasn't why I was here. Hence, I headed straight for the second chambers.

Once again, I felt those unusual sparks and excitement as I reached for the door. Yet again, Impulse was reacting to this feeling. I gulped down my saliva before pushing the door wide open.

I found Dragon Lord Eren and Regent Vera with their mouths wide open and eyes exclaiming to one direction. Even though I was temporarily granted the power of lightning, I felt like my own time had slowed as my eyes finally found her. The Vampire Queen, with her back towards me and The Lycan in her grasp, about to be strangled to death.

My heart started to race as I took slow steps in oblivion towards their frozen status. Her head slightly turned, and I frowned. She left the Lycan in the air and slowly turned to me. My eyes exclaimed as realization struck me. This wasn't supposed to happen, this was a powerful spell yet Green was still able to break away from it. Just like Peter acclaimed, she was truly immune to my spell!

Immediately our eyes met, all my thoughts cleared as I became enchanted in those beautiful flaming green eyes.

“Mate!" I heard a voice yell confidently and joyfully in my head. A divine bond, one so strong and pleasant instantly formed between us. It wasn't one I could grasp but it was powerful enough to feel.

My entirety shuddered as the excitement and sparks coursing my veins dosed heavily. This beautiful feeling was rushing out to me at once that I became oblivious of my environment.

If I had expected to see a monster in those eyes, then I was wrong. It was something else. My eyes fell on her glistening Rosy red lips, one I instantly felt a lustful desire to kiss. Her skin shone like the morning sun, her long blonde hair made me fantasize running my fingers through each strand and her green medieval gown simply complemented her perfection.

“I should have known quicker," her soft silky voice tousled my thoughts. Rather than pass a taunting feeling of fear, her voice felt soothing to my ears like my mother's.

“That this is the antic of no other than the famous Zeus,” she finished eloquently with a straight face. Yet I still melted at her astonishing beauty.

I smiled, secretly thankful to the moon goddess that the Vampire Queen, a monster the world feared was my mate!

She was everything I needed. Strong, fierce, and above all, the most beautiful woman I had ever set my eyes on.

“Is this how you prey on your victims?" Her brows arched into a slight frown. "Using meagre spells of lightning?"

“I am mor—”

“You must be craving death badly to have come here, Werewolf,” she cut me off sternly while she took slow steps towards me. My eyes caught glimpse of her necklace, gleaming its shade of green just like her eyes.

“Of all places you decided to visit, you chose here, where powerful people are gathered." She pursed her lips. Her gaze still strongly held mine as if she were trying to read my mind.

“What did you come here for?" She queried as we stood inches away from each other but all I wanted to do was hold her tight in my arms, kiss those lips like my life depended on it.

“I came for you." I responded, further closing the gap between us so our breaths collided. I wasn't even sure any man was allowed this close to her without his head being decapitated but here I was. My head still intact and her cheeks faintly hinting a blushing pink.

“To confirm if the most beautiful woman belongs to me or not."

She scoffed.

“Know your place, Zeus. I belong to no one."

“Then do to me what you usually do to men who crossed their place." I chirped back and I instantly saw a flash of hesitation grace her eyes before it reverted to its sternness. She inched closer, our chest grazing against each other and her lips almost meeting mine. I could feel every part of my body levitating with another wave of excitement, stronger than before. She was teasing me so badly, but I dared not to make a move. For all I know, she could still hurt me if I hit the wrong buttons.

“Look into my eyes," she commanded softly yet in a demanding tone.

“tell me, what do you see?

I will give you wealth, fame, power, authority, even your deepest desire because why?

I am a god. Reject me and all these things you shall have. Accept me,"

My eyes twitched as her right finger slowly ran across my lips seductively.

“And I'll gladly make your life a living hell,” she pronounced in the deadliest voice I had ever heard. But I smiled. I was supposed to be scared of her like everyone else in the Supernatural World, instead, I instantly fell to the trap of love.

Bond or not, I wanted her to be mine and mine alone. To wake up and find her in my cuddle, sleeping peacefully. To enjoy all day, lost in her beautiful eyes, for the sparks to never stop. This was a dream.

A dream I was willing to chase.

“What will it be Zeus? You don't have much time left." She broke my thoughts again and my eyes darted to my wrist. The enchanted beads on my wrist were almost burned out signaling my spell was gradually coming to an end.

I gulped down my saliva before returning to those eyes. I held her finger in place and surprisingly she didn't wriggle from my touch. She was enjoying it too, secretly.

My smile deepened.

“I would be a fool to throw away the most precious person in my life just for material things. I would never reject you, Green."

She rewarded me with a sinister smile, but her eyes said otherwise for a split moment.

“Since you've decided to be foolish all for love you can never get, I want you at City of Marr tomorrow morning for your punishment."

“As you wish, my lady." I blurted like an enchanted fool but indeed I was. Love made me like this.

“You should leave now, unless you want to be maimed by Damian's guards,” she muttered, and I easily obeyed. Letting go of her finger even though I didn't want to. I took stealthy steps backwards still retaining my smile.

“Zeus!" She called on a stern note. "Don't make me find you."

I nodded. I knew within myself that I had chosen the path of pain and suffering. But I chose to trust our mate bond regardless. That my dream, wasn't too far to reach.