Woven Fates - The War

Mind Probe

“Nobody mentioned sleeping in cold caves when we discussed this quest.” Todd grumbled as he tried to get comfortable on the hard stone floor.

“At least there are no bars,” Liam murmured.

“Oohh man, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take you back there.” Todd apologised.

“I never really left.” Liam grimaced. It had been eight years since he and Jordan had been held in the dungeon of Hadleys castle and for the most part, he was OK. He had to admit, the cold cave had taken him straight back to that place and it didn’t sit well.

“I’ve told you already, shift and you’ll be warmer.” Lachlan reminded them.

“My wolf can be a bit scattered. Micah never did focus extraordinarily well.” Todd shrugged.

Liam laughed. "You mean Micah is a complete lunatic when you try to get him to sit still in confined spaces."

"Hence the reason I only bring him out to run or fight." Todd shrugged. "But he's extra crazy now Amelia has a wolf."

“Well, work it out because there will be no fires while we are here. They will spot us straight away.”

“Do you think this is it?” Liam asked as he watched the castle across the ravine.

“I hope so, I’m ready for home.” Todd smiled, thinking of Amelia and his daughter Mirabelle. She would be turning five soon and a little part of him always hoped the quest would end before her next birthday.

“Me too. Comfortable bed, my beautiful mate and my family. Can’t wait. But there’s no going back until we can all have that.” Liam replied, looking at Jonas.

Jonas nodded quietly. When he was able to return, it was only ever to spend time with his son Joseph. He had named him after his father, hoping Valentina wouldn’t mind once she awoke. Valentina remained in a state of sleep.

“Hey Uncle Jo, you know we’re OK with being here, right? We might grumble about missing our partners, but we are fully prepared to stay the course until Valentina is restored.” Todd said quietly.

Jonas smiled. It hadn’t taken long on the quest for the boys to start calling him Uncle Jo. He liked it. He had wondered when he realised Valentina was his mate if he would cope with no longer being a lone wolf, but over the last five years, he had fully embraced it. All the children now called him Uncle Jo too. He had taught them all to ride horses when he was home and made them wooden swords so he could have sword fights with them. The thing he had always run from had become his favourite thing in the world. Family.

“I know boys and I am very grateful,” Jonas replied.

” How long are we going to sit in this damn cave?” Lachlan muttered. There had been no movement for a month and yet every rumour, every piece of verified documentation, every whisper in a tavern had led to this place. A week earlier, they had decided to make their way to a tavern for a meal and a warm bed. After nightfall, the room had suddenly fallen silent as a group of extremely beautiful, intoxicating women had arrived. They had made their way straight to their table and introduced themselves. They had been friendly, to say the least, attempting to seduce the men. All four of them knew immediately what this was and had resisted their attempts, although realistically, it hadn't been that hard. The women had chosen the wrong men to attempt to seduce.

During the night, one of the wait staff had taken it upon themselves to warn the men of the consequences of leaving with the women. He had told them the staff had taken to sleeping in the hotel at night so they could not be caught out alone after dark. To many of them had already gone missing, only occasionally to be seen again, but not as they had once been.

Hours later, right before closing time the man had been found with a wound to his neck. He had still been alive but had begged for death. It was well known that once they had marked someone, they came back until that person was turned. Todd had called the Young Vampires and they had organised collection of the man to ensure that did not happen.

The group had followed the women to see where they went. They had fed on some night workers, the screams had sickened them. It still haunted them that they had to let that happen to be able to follow them to their den. Those victims vacant, staring eyes rarely far from their minds.

They had shifted and followed them back to the castle. They had then found this cave to watch them. Night after night, the women left but no one else. If the Original Sire was there, how did he feed?

“You know we’re going to have to go down there, right?” Jonas sighed.

“The question is, do we do it at night after the women leave or during the day?” Lachlan answered with his own question.

"It's hard to imagine they wouldn't have some kind of guard watching over them by day." Jonas muttered.

“I wonder if we can get some support?” Todd asked, thinking of Will.

“Could try.” Liam shrugged.

Todd opened up a mind link to Will. As Jonas and Lachlan watched, his head began to twitch and he shook it over and over as if trying to clear something from his mind.

“Todd, close the link!” He heard Will scream before all went quiet. He had closed the link.

“What the hell was that?” Jonas asked as Todd sat back on the stone floor and held his head in his hands.

“It felt like someone was inside my mind. It started with a scratching at the edges, but then it became like a hailstorm in my head.” Todd replied.

“I wonder if it was the mind link that had attracted them?” Jonas asked.

“No, I have felt it too. Like gentle probing. I just didn’t realise until now that’s what it was.” Liam sighed. “They know we’re here.”

“And if they know, they can no doubt anticipate an attack.” Lachlan surmised.

“What now?” Jonas asked.

Suddenly, a portal opened and Will walked through.

“This is probably safer, although opening a portal wasn’t smart. What did you need me for?” Will asked.

Liam and Todd both jumped up to hug Will.

“How is everyone?” Todd asked.

“All very well. They are safe from the uprising happening in the realms. Wyatt chose well to do what he did and is plenty strong enough to maintain the force field over the Fae castle.” Will informed them proudly.

“The uprising?” Lachlan asked.

“Nothing you need to be worrying about right now. This situation needs your focus. They are indeed probing your minds. I have put up barriers, which means they know there is someone here with magical abilities. The mind trying to probe yours is old but still sharp as a tack.” Will warned them.

”Great.” Liam rolled his eyes.

“Liam, I am talking thousands of years old. This has to be the Original Sire. This is good news; it means you have found….” Wills face screwed up as if he was trying to understand something. “Her. The Original Sire is a woman!”

“What?” Lachlan asked.

“She is talking to me, definitely female.” Will confirmed holding up his hand for silence. “She is wondering why you wouldn’t just come to the castle if you have questions. She says she does not wish to kill the son and grandsons of Richard. That they lived in peace for a long time.”

“So, she knows who we are then?” Lachlan asked.

Will nodded, holding his hand up again.

“She would like you to come to the castle.” Will passed on the message.

“Hell no, we saw what those hellions of hers did. Not happening.” Liam refused.

“I can’t, I can’t connect with her. I have lost the connection.” Will shook his head.

“This feels dangerous.” Jonas murmured as he sat back against the wall of the cave.

“I am sick of this stone, it’s cold,” Todd grumbled.

“For the love of the Goddess, shift!” Lachlan snapped. “We are this damn close, can you please stop complaining about the cold.”

Will waved his hand and the opening of the cave closed over like a solid window. The cave instantly felt warm. Sleeping bags appeared and a warm meal.

“Does that help?” Will asked.

“Goddess yes!” Todd nodded.

They all sat down and enjoyed the meal.

"I don't know that I will ever get used to seeing you like this." Liam said thoughtfully. Will had changed significantly over the last five years. He was more serious and focused than he had ever been before. Todd and Liam had often reflected on hos these years had changed them all.

“I must return soon, but I will keep the barrier up. Just let me know when you want to leave, and I will lower it for you.” Will smiled.

“Thank you Will. It was nice to see you again.” Jonas smiled.

"I have a message for you from Mack. He wants to know when you will be home so he can practice his skills with a weapon with someone bordering on competent." Will smirked.

"Well, I think I'm just going to take that as a compliment." Jonas laughed.

"Of course you should, you're the competent one." Lachlan laughed.

Liam laughed loudly. "Mack and Wyatt are like the no filter twins."

They all laughed, each of them had at least one story to tell about either Mack or Wyatt and their straight forward way of dealing with things.

Will nodded, looking beyond Jonas to the opening of the cave. They all turned to see a woman floating in front of them.

“Well, you are unmistakeably Richards family.” The woman said, looking at Lachlan. “You.” She said pointing at Liam, “Are his.” She again referred to Lachlan. She then turned to Todd. “If I didn’t know better I’d have thought Aldrich himself were standing in front of me.”

“You knew my father?” Todd asked.

“Gwendolyn brokered the peace deal with your father, Ailwyn, Robert and Jaime, although she did so as a representative of the Original Sire. So what are you? Their representative or do you represent yourself?” Lachlan asked.

“You are shrewd, just like your brother and father. I am the Original Sire. I would like to have peace again.” The woman replied.

“We have seen the work of your hellions. You do not seek peace.” Lachlan replied in disgust.

“Careful Lachlan.” Jonas cautioned his brother.

The woman’s cackling laugh echoed throughout the ravine.

“If you are looking for the cause of their behaviour, look no further. They were quite smitten with you four and you rejected them. They don’t always handle rejection well. They will come again and again and they will wear you down with their beauty and sensuality and eventually you will come to us.” Gwendolyn assured them.

"They were murdering people long before we arrived." Liam reasoned.

"But your arrival has only increased their hunger. Mark my words, you will come to your senses." Gwendolyn smiled seductively.

“Never!” Lachlan spat angrily.

“Oh you will, son of Richard. I promise you that.” Gwendolyn smiled.

"How is that brokering for peace? Jonas asked as she disappeared.