Chapter 142 2-14 ALL COST
\-THIRD PERSON'S POV-
Valen followed the barakian kripling into the dark Lifeless Ebonvale dimension. He hovered in the air looking for the kripling that had taken his younger sibling. His hazy vision experienced difficulties through the unusually scalding atmosphere of the dark-red misty realm with canyons of ocean-deep silty valleys.
The volcanic mount spewed boiling lava in various areas, and the canyons trembled. Several ruby boulders with wavy patterns and dazzling minerals eroded into the hollow. No civilization was evident.
Cough!
The toxic atmosphere began to affect Valen. He placed his right index finger under his nostrils to reduce his intake of the alien air. Zuzu plunged into the abyss of the canyon to chase after the monster. The bald eagle guardian shared the vision with her master as she latched on the kripling's worm- like smoky tail.
Venus screamed incessantly, thrashing and violently fighting a futile battle. She could not connect a blow. Luckily, Valen teleported in front of him, landing on a butte with an enraged Nyx at his side. Then, using his power, he created a white cuboid shadow-
resistant prison to close down the dimension. It trapped them inside a box that he could control.
The kripling's defense aimed to inject Valen's worst fears into his head. Thankfully, this was a lesson already passed with Miriam. He quickly
trounced the mental attack. The kripling screeched to intimidate Valen, who was too intent on saving his sister to let fear overpower him. Mind over matter. He would save Venus at all costs.
"Clear your anger to overcome him," Zuzu whistled to Valen as she positioned herself behind the enemy, flapping her wings.
"They feed on your anger to recharge their limited power," Nyx added with a roar, indicating that they were challenging the enemy.
Breathing hard, Valen thought of the love for his sister instead and let that channel his energy into a calming peace. His breathing regulated. The
kripling realized that Valen was smarter and more capable than his master estimated. It infuriated the monster.
Seeing that he did not stand a chance against the Alpha crown prince, the enemy took a solid form. A silvery claw from his callused knotty finger sliced Venus' wrist as her blood leaked. He managed to bite into her wound, soiling his demonic venom into her pure alpha bloodstream.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Venus writhed in pain. Agony like white, hot knives punctured into her skin. The anguish erupted in her skull with a terrifying blankness until she fell unconscious. Valen's guardians latched onto the barakian kripling with teeth and claws, while he clung to Venus. Zuzu's feet gripped the collar of his black cloak while Nyx bit the hem.
Having no choice in his struggle to be free, the kripling released Venus and gasified to his smoky form, stripped of his cloak. Valen flew up to catch her swiftly descending body in his strong arms. The cloak went ablaze and disintegrated into ash as the kripling flew away. Nyx and Zuzu charged to pursue the kripling into the next realm of his destination.
The blood on Venus' wrist turned black, drying and retreating into her
system as the wound fizzed. Instantly, she went pale and was gaping as her ivory skin shriveled. As Valen's terror increased, his heart pounded violently against his ribs, sending reverberations through his body. He placed a hand on her chest, his fingers
shaking as his palm sensed her heart's slowing pulse.If Venus did not receive treatment immediately, she was bound to dissolve into a skeleton. Valen could not afford to let her join the undead. Knowing the restrictions of battling a kripling with his injured sister in his arms, Valen teleported back to the troposphere and then to Dark Wolverson after calling back his guardians. Exactly arriving at the pack house.
Horrified, Sianna and Vance ran over to their children. Vance took Venus into his arms, carrying her over to the grey leather couch in the living room. He gently laid her down and Sianna placed a cushion under her head.
Devastated, Sianna sat next to her daughter and examined Venus. No wound was apparent except that her blood was tainted by the kripling. Black veins bulged all over her white- as-a-ghost body. The kripling's dead cells flowed inside her blood vessels, thus contrasting with her werewolf genes. It gave her a high fever and a blue rash. Venus' body mass was steadfastly declining as she struggled to breathe. Her closed eyes became sunken and hollow.
"Valen, heal her." Through the tears, Sianna demanded from her alpha- wizard son. In their presence, the galloping change in Venus was visibly
noticed. Evolving into an aged corpse, her long wavy black hair thinned with alopecia.
He nodded and placed his right palover Venus' chest. A purple glow emanated and he closed his eyes, concentrating. A soft supplication whispered from his heart. A few seconds passed. With remorse, Valen opened his eyelids.
Vance inquired with his voice cracked. "Why isn't she waking up?"
Valen heaved a sigh, almost panicking. He failed to revive Venus. He had channeled his healing energy into her, who was unresponsive. It made him feel worse that both his parents' distraught eyes rested on him for some kind of explanation.
Vaheed's heart panged. He was dumbstruck with grief as he helplessly observed the demise of his twin.
Tonight was a disaster for the werewolf kingdom. Marlene rushed right over to the couch. "The Kripling's blood had drained her energy and had eaten up too much of her red blood cells. Her body will need time to heal."
"Perhaps a blood transfusion will help, "Sianna croaked a suggestion, desperately looking at Marlena for
consent.
"Use my blood." Vance offered, rolling up his sleeve immediately. "No. I have white energy in my blood.
It would be better to use mine." Sianna insisted, knowing that her blood with healing essence would be the best option to restore her daughter's plasma and blood cells.
Vance opened his mouth to disagree but Sianna shushed him with a deadly glare. He did not wish to see a needle piercing his Luna's delicate skin. She was being stubborn and arguing could cost them both their daughter's life. Therefore, Vance surrendered to her
wishes.
Duke swiftly went to get the suppliesand came back. Vance held his breath. Sianna caressed Venus' frail milky- white hands. Marlena quickly attached the tubes with syringe tips and inserted each into Sianna's and Venus' inner elbow area. The blood flowed
through the tubes and after five minutes, Venus's breathing stabilized. Color gradually crept into her ivory skin but her unconsciousness lingered. "It's working," Vance said, more to himself than to the others. His shoulders relaxed, but concern remained.
VANCE'S POV-
Sianna contributed a great quantity of blood to Venus and it rendered her unconscious. Watching them with my
heart in my throat, I was torn between Sianna's agonizing lethargic form and Venus' pearly white corpse-looking skeleton that her body had degraded to. Though Sianna's suggestion worked excellently with Venus' skin returning
to a vision of perfect health and her heartbeat becoming stronger, she remained in her coma. Nevertheless, the healing essence in Sianna's blood contained the dark matter in Venus'.
Duke helped me by carrying Venus while I picked up Sianna and took them upstairs to the alpha floor of the pack house. Vaheed followed while
details Valen spoke with Marlena, communicating additional about the kripling. Dr. Stone and David
had arrived along with two nurses room
They instantly converted Venus' into a hospital ward, connecting the IVdrip care and heart monitor for supportive
A dismayed Vaheed stayed by his twin sister's side while I lay in bed watching
my mate in the largest room. Despite the enemy being strong, we prevailed and triumphed. Our moon goddess' sacred stone was safe, Venus would recover and there were no fatalities.
My nose nuzzled into the crook of Sianna's neck as I hugged her. I needed her scent to calm my flaring emotions.
In the dimly lit silence of our substitute bedroom, I drowned in it. Floating away into a serene river. had gone to inspect the ritual temple to reinforce the magical barriers and stabilize the power of the relics on the altar. She returned at the Miriam
moment I closed my eyes to mull my thoughts. Using her telekinesis, Miriam announced her presence and I asked her to meet me on the fifth floor. I allowed Duke, Blayne, and Raj to console their families. The apprehension was gradually dispelled
as the pack calmed down. We convened in one of the empty bedrooms two doors down. Miriam sat on the green floral chair in the corner.
Marlena stood at my right and Valen sat on the edge of the neatly made queen-sized bed.
"What is it, Miriam?" Assessing the expression on her face, she was troubled. "Will these creatures return for my stone?"
"Marlena and I will work on placing holy light seals at the pack borders to paused, her black brows knitted with
keep the kriplings out." Miriam concern. "My boy, the creatures got what they wanted. They scraped gem fragments from the stone and took the blood of the werewolf princess."
"Why?" I demanded, throwing a murderous glare. Rewinding the earlier events made my blood boil. Undoubtedly, we had a new enemy,
and a powerful one at that.
"It's for a global agenda. The target is the three realms." Miriam closed her eyes in concentration to hone from the
energy in the atmosphere to read it."
This will lead to a bigger battle. One that we've never seen before. I suspect
that the enemy wishes to fuse the powers of the relics into one for a desired purpose."
"It's been six years since they stole the Vampire king and witch queen's relics.
" I reminded her. I thought that the matter was dead.
"My boy, some agendas take time to manifest. The six-year gap confirmed that their feat is laborious and not simple for them." Miriam digressed, looking towards Valen. "Besides, it won't be your battle to fight."
Staring at the elder woman in disbelief, I was getting angrier and my voice scaled to a vicious tenor. "That spawn hurt my daughter and you think that I won't hunt him down!"
"The mastermind is called a necromancer and he is collecting ingredients for his bigger plan. It will not happen overnight. We've got time
on our side. For him to take blood from all three princesses indicates to me that he is neither vampire, witch nor wolf." Miriam sighed, "The blood of the princesses will be utilized to power up the fragments of the royal relics they stole." She knew the realms that were about to enter into chaos. "I need to speak with Ophelia. Obviously, she was not aware of the dark magic at work. The summoning of the kripling might have taken place in another dimension."
"A dimension walker?" Marlena furrowed her brows as she muttered the fact. "They are shape-shifters who move from one dimension to another,
taking whatever forms they needed to survive, especially if they have a specific agenda. They aren't allowed through the dimensions that easily."
I understood and gave a nod, digressing to the safety of my daughter. "Is Venus out of danger? Is normal life possible?" Marlena and Valen remained silent, listening attentively. This required the expertise of the venerable elder.
Miriam was not one to sugar-coat anything. "Venus is alright but her blood will be forever tainted. We must continuously
monitor her. The only solution is to give her a daily dosage of halo-moon serums to suppress the dark mana.
Whether she overcomes it or not is dependent on her." Miriam frowned but assured. "I will do everything I can to preserve her life.'
With a roar of frustration, I turned to face the wall, slamming my fist rightthrough. Black fur shot from my pores to take form on my skin. My wolf was not handling the news well. It wasn't sufficient. They saw my expression
hardened, jaw clenched and eyes shuttering into blackness. A shiver ran down Marlena's spine.
"Dad," Valen stepped forward. "The light essence from Mom and me is strong enough to fight the kripling.
I'm sure they will think twice before attacking us again."
The rapid rise and fall of my chest slowed upon hearing Valen's voice. ' underestimate the enemy." I sternly
Son, I taught you never to reminded him as I fought for control. I turned to face him and my fur receded,inch by
inch. Miriam tapped the armrest of the chair she sat in and Marlena had drawn exceedingly close to her grandmother.
Valen was unperturbed.
"Alpha, homage has to be paid to the services of a kripling." Marlena said Grim Reaper in order to keep the
what I already knew. Sacrifices were always involved in these exchanges. "I suspect that the necromancer's control is almost expired. With the death of one of the kripling, he is weakened and the price to pay will be higher.
Therefore, it gives us time." Unable to curtail my hardened expression, I nodded. "I want my pack safe. Get the halo moon serum to
Sianna immediately. I expect that you will also create a protective pendant for Venus." Marlena and Miriam
accepted my commands. "I'll go alone to meet with the council." Taking out my phone to immediately
transmit an S.O.S., Miriam and Marlena exited the room. Sensing that my son's presence was still there with me, I looked in his direction with the
phone in my hand.
"Father, take me with you." Valen felt the need to accompany me because he was worried about my safety. Our father-son bond deciphered the
unspoken.
"Absolutely not." I rebuked low in my throat. "Your Mom will worry over you.
"I was proud of the way he handled the kripling and rescued his sister. Nonetheless, Miriam's prophecy that he would have to fight such a significant battle in the future alarmed me. He should be with the pack as an added protection. I reassured him, "I will be fine. I'll be home later."
Valen lowered his eyes, not out of fear, but because he desired to argue back with me. He did not agree with my decision.
I went over to him and placed my hand on his shoulder, "Son, please take essential care of Venus for me. And should trouble arise, do not go off by yourself unless Marlena goes with you.
"I With an acquiescing nod, Valen's eyesexpressed that he suspected that my trip would be troublesome. However, this is what Alpha's do. To protect our pack and the people that we love, we will charge into the deadliest storm.
With that, I left the room. Duke immediately rushed from his quarters and joined me in my Hummer. We drove all the way to the heliport.
Blayne was left in charge until our return. Hopefully, I could be back before Sianna awoke.
The supernatural council and I needed to meet. A common enemy who was targeting all three realms had to be girded with powerful mechanisms to use against all of us. We had to make preparations against the kriplings.
Two of their kind attacked us and we killed one. My warriors will require specialized training because one thing was for sure, they will be back.
There were several supernatural entities. To safeguard the three realms, we needed to identify which ones were causing mayhem as quickly as possible. The faster we did it, the swifter we could eliminate those responsible.
First the merfolks and now this. Was there a connection? Or were they also behind this?