CHAPTER 134: MOUNTAIN OF EMERGENCE

Having arrived at the foot of the mount, Olexa and Mona stood before the gigantic land mass, amazed at its sheer size.

"So, am guessing we are going to have to climb to the top huh?" Mona asked, looking at the mountain.

"I guess so," Olexa replied, sighing.

"Alright, let's go," Mona said and began moving closer to the mountain.

"Mona," Olexa grabbed her by the hand. She turned and looked at Olexa, raising her eyebrow.

"Thank you, for coming with me. And for everything. It truly means a lot," Olexa said.

"That's what friends are for," Mona smiled. "Come on, we have a mountain to climb."

Olexa smiled, nodding, as they both headed to the mountain. They walked up the mountain and got to a point where they had to use their hands to begin climbing.

Olexa had the advantage, being a werewolf. She extended her claws and climbed with more ease, unlike Mona who would have to use some gear.

They worked together, with Olexa helping Mona every step of the way, as the mountain was steep. It was a difficult climb but they were able to get to the top, despite the few times Mona lost her grip and almost fell.

Reaching the top, they both lay on the floor, catching their breath. Having rested for a bit, they got to their feet, dusting off the dirt on their clothes.

They looked around and saw the place was totally deserted and barren, just as Commander Glenn had said.

"What exactly are we looking for?" Mona asked.

"I honestly have no idea," Olexa replied.

They walked around the perimeter trying to find anything that would give them a clue at least, that their efforts were not in futility.

Mona found a concrete slab embedded in the ground. It seemed to be the only odd thing there.

"Over here," she said, calling Olexa's attention. Olexa rushed over and bent down, looking at what Mona found.

"What does it say?" Mona asked, as she couldn't read the tongue.

Olexa furrowed her brow wondering what it meant. As she looked intently at it, all of a sudden, the words rearranged and she understood what it meant. Her eyes widened in shock.

"What is it?" Mona inquired, seeing Olexa's reaction.

"Did you see that? The words rearranged, and I now understand what it says," she replied.

"It did? It still looks the same to me," Mona furrowed her brow, looking at it. With that experience, Olexa knew she was at the right place.

"What does it say?" Mona enquired.

"Only to those who are worthy will we be revealed."

"Worthy? Worthy of what?" Mona asked, and they both looked at each other.

They then heard a clicking sound underneath them, and the ground parted ways, causing them to fall in. They fell down a depth of more than fifty feet.

Mona screamed as they fell into the dark depths. With her wolf reflexes, Olexa was able to land on her feet catching Mona.

"Thank you, Olexa," Mona said as she got off Olexa.

They looked up and realized they had fallen deep into the mountain. There was no other source of illumination other than the minute one from way up high, which barely gave any visibility.

"What is this place?" Mona asked, arming herself with her sword. She noticed a blue reflection in the dark. She looked closely and saw the blue color blink.

She screamed moving back.

"What is it?" Olexa asked, turning quickly.

"Something's there," she replied pointing in the direction she was looking at, holding out her sword firmly.

Olexa looked and gasped.

"What is it?" Mona asked.

"We're surrounded," Olexa replied. Mona fidgeted, feeling like they were doomed for real this time around. "Drop your sword," she requested.

"What?!" Mona couldn't believe what she just heard.

"I said, drop it!" Olexa said with gritted teeth.

Mona was uncomfortable about the request but dropped it anyway. More of the blue reflection became visible to them and Mona saw they were actually surrounded.

"We come in peace," Olexa said raising her hand. "My name is Olexa, daughter of Jasmine. She asked me in a vision to come here, but I don't know why."

"I could smell Jasmine's aura while you were without," a deep voice responded in the dark. Then a hefty bearded man with long hair emerged from the dark, standing right in front of Olexa.

He had the same beautiful blue eyes Olexa's mother had. Olexa gulped looking at him.

"No one has dared to come here, after the Lycan wars. So the moment you said my daughter appeared to you in a vision and asked you to come here, I knew she was actually the one," the man said.

"My mother is your daughter?" Olexa asked.

"I wondered when I was going to get to see you, child," he replied. "My name is Yana."

Olexa smiled, feeling more at ease.

"Welcome to the clan," he said, stretching forth his hand to her. Olexa stepped forward and gave him a hug. She felt at peace and at home.

"Meet the rest of the family," he declared, gesturing with his hands. Light from blue crystals illuminated the place, and she saw the rest of the True Bloods.

Olexa's eyes widened in amazement. She saw them all standing on various levels of the mountain. They all had the same beautiful blue eyes her mother had, just as she had also. Mona was amazed as well.

They began coming close to her and greeted her, placing their forehead on hers. That was a strange manner of greeting, but she could feel the sincerity and love from them.

They didn't pay Mona any attention. It made her feel awkwardly ignored.

"But I thought all True Bloods were extinct, after the war," Olexa said.

"That's what we wanted the world to believe," Yana replied. "Yes, the war was brutal, but the coalition of the inferiors, witches, and humans, didn't stand a chance at winning the war."

"By inferiors, you're referring to the werewolves right?" Olexa chuckled. Yana nodded in acknowledgment.

"I made the move for a truce and asked that they take the glory for the victory, and leave this land for good, while we lived a quiet existence since the world feared us. Wisely, King Vontrap the eleventh agreed to it, as did the rest," he added.

"Oh my! I never knew," Olexa remarked.

"And now they're choosing to restart a similar war that was ended over a thousand years ago. How pathetic of them. I guess that's why they are inferiors," Yana said with disdain.

"You're aware of what's going on?" Olexa was surprised.

"Jasmine reached out to me when she was apprehended, the same way she came to you in a vision. True Bloods are able to communicate that way," he responded.

"Really?" Olexa was amazed.

"She was aware of the consequences of leaving the clan, to live with the inferiors. Yet she chose to defy our rules. So she'll have to face the consequences of her defiance," Yana said.

"But she's your daughter. And they are using her to weaponize humans into creatures that are an anomaly to nature, to cause carnage in the land. Please, we need your help. She's your family," Olexa solicited.

"It is our rule to not get involved with the affairs outside our clan. So child, as much as it hurts me to disappoint you, we cannot go against that rule that has kept us safe," Yana said.

"Please, grandfather," Olexa fell to her knees. "Help your family."

"There is no going back on that decision," Yana was resolute.

The other True Bloods looked pitifully at Olexa, feeling sad.

Olexa got up on her feet, wiping her tears.

"You never abandon family, no matter what!" Olexa said to her grandfather.

"Show me the way out," she requested.

One of the True Bloods escorted her out, as Yana stood, watching his granddaughter leave disappointed.