His Eternal Escape (Book 2 of the Hybrid Series)

Chapter 2: The Catacombs

~Charlie's P. O. V.~

My clock chimed 15 times. Making me wake up from a dreamless sleep. I came back home around 7 this morning. Stretching as I get up. I looked back at the note that Daddy left. I guess I should go and find them. Mom didn't look mad this time. She looked worried and a bit scared last night. I know that mom would never read my thoughts unless she thought it necessary. Before I met them, I decided that I would talk to my werewolf dad. I got dressed and brushed my teeth. Mom and I share the same hair color and length. It was hard to put up, so I left it down and pinned the sides.

I left my room to find my wolf dad. He wasn't in the kitchen. Micah waved to me from the door. My brother and his f*****g appetite. I rolled my eyes and lazily waved at him. I went to look in the entertainment center and found Lily with Caleb. Both were snuggling with each other as they were watching Howl's Moving Castle. I smiled at them. Caleb and Lily have been super close since we were kids. Yet, dad still wasn't here. My grandpa was sitting next to an indoor lava pool. Watching the bubbles rise and pop.

"Hey, Grandpappy?"

He didn't turn around. "It's been so many years since I brought your mother home. I would often find her sitting here contemplating her next moves or sulking." He chuckled. He finally turned to me. "I ended things with Yvvone."

Not surprising. She was a total b***h. "Good. We hated her." I sat down next to him. "Can I ask you a question, Grandpappy?"

He pulled me close. "Of course. What's up?"

It was hard to talk to my parents about this stuff, but with Grandpappy, it seemed easier. "I keep hearing a voice in my head. Not Hydra's voice. A guys voice. He keeps calling out 'My sweet.' 'my one true love.' my anything. It's freaking me out. Do you know who that might be?"

He looked confused. "I am sorry to say, that I don't know." He looked out at the pool for a moment. "Although, if I had to guess? It wouldn't be inside your head. You have both Dragon and Vampyre hearing. Werewolves have ridiculous hearing too. But Vampyres and Dragons have better hearing than they do. Not to mention, you might have gotten Adam's DNA by default because he's a part of your mother. That is just a theory, though."

I sighed and nodded. "A good one. Speaking of my dad. Do you know where he is?"

He laughed a little. "Have you tried the training grounds? He tends to go there to keep up his strength."

I shook my head and hugged my Grandpappy. "Thank you, Grandpappy." Kissing his cheek. I got up and started to leave. "Love you!" I called out.

"Love you too, kiddo." He went back to watching the pools of lava. I quickly ran to the arena. The sounds of grunting and panting were heard from outside of the door. Yep. My dad is in there. I slowly opened the door and saw that he was holding a very long and heavy looking blade.

I looked at where he was looking. "What did that poor mannequin do to you?" It was chopped up, the head was hanging by a thread, there seemed to be fake blood pouring from it.

He stood and placed the blade on the weapon rack. "I was just getting in some exercise." He put his shirt back on. "Hey. You okay? Is this about last night?" I motioned for him to sit on the closest bench.

"Well, yeah. Dad. Someone is talking to or about me. There is a voice, a man's voice, in my head. I have been hearing it all week. But no one else does. Am I going crazy?"

"Oh, baby girl. No." He hugged me. "Is that why your mother and Matt are down there?"

I nodded. "It's freaking me out. And... It's pulling to the catacombs. I can't explain it better."

He took my hand. "Come on. They said for you to meet them down there." I nodded and we left the arena.

We followed his nose until we came upon the entrance to the catacombs. 'Intruders? No. My love's family. She is closer to me now.' I held my head. I wanted this voice to get out of my mind. My dad entered the cave and I followed him. He turned at a lot of corners. I almost kept losing him. 'She's so close to me now. Come, come my dear Charlotte.' I looked in the opposite direction of where my dad was taking me. I couldn't help it. I followed the voice.

When I was deep in the catacombs, I smelled something amazing. I couldn't place my thoughts on what I was smelling. But it was sweet, yet savory. I followed the scent deeper and deeper in. I couldn't tell where I was now. I looked back at where I had come from and knew that I was going to get in trouble with my parents. I have to disregard that thought for now. I shook my head and continued where I was going. However, on the last turn around, something happened. The walls were starting to collapse around me. I was screaming and panicking. I stopped caring where I was going and was running more for my life. I hit the walls and bumped into the corners. I tried to shift into Hydra, but I couldn't. She was being blocked somehow.

"Mom! Dad's!" I cried out. "Grandpappy!" I was crying as dirt and rubble started to fall on me. I looked up and saw that I was about to get crushed. I covered my head and went low to the ground. A massive roar came from ahead of me. I looked and saw that a wing had been extended to cover me.

Unknown: Are you alright, Charlotte?

My heart was pounding. "H-How do you know me?" His massive head came into view. "Why do you look similar to Hydra?"

Unknown: There will be time for questions later. Are you hurt? I shook my head. Good. He moved his wing. The rubble fell off it and his body covered my body.

He was the one I was smelling. "Y-You're my mate?"

Unknown: Charlie, I know that you have questions and are in fear. There will be time for that, I promise, sweetheart. But we need to get this unblocked. You can't stay here if you can't shift.

I was not only afraid, but now I am confused. I looked at where I came from and he was right. The way was blocked. "Oh, great. That just proved Daddy's point." I pouted and leaned against the wall.

Unknown: Matthew did warn you. I didn't think this would break so soon. For that, I am sorry. I should have met you at the entrance.

I looked at him. "So, it was you I was hearing! Why me?"

He looked at me and huffed. Unknown: You don't listen very well, do you? He chuckled.

I scoffed at that remark. "I listen just fine! Rude much?"

Unknown: You might want to try to mindlink your family. I won't be able to dig us out without extra hands. Or paws, rather.

"What? You're a dragon. You have claws." His head touched my forehead.

Unknown: A dragon that has been sealed down here since his birth.

What? Then how did he survive? "Ugh. Fine. I'll try it." Mainly because I felt bad for him. Mom? Can you hear me? ... I waited. Dad?! Can you hear me?! Again, I was met with silence. I started to panic more. Daddy? Father? Dad? Mom? Caleb? Lily? Mikah?! Grandpappy?! Anyone? Oh, gods. No, no, no.

Unknown: Calm down, Charlotte. We'll get you back to the surface. I am sure we can do it. His tail wrapped around me. His head touched my forehead again. I will keep you safe until we find that way out.

Seeing as I had no other choice. He is my mate after all. "Okay, now that we know I can't mindlink anyone, care to tell me who you are, why you're down here and why me?"

Unknown: Who I am is of no importance right now. Other than being your mate, of course. Why I am down here is... A long story.

"We have a long way to go. Come on. It'll help with the boredom." I urged.

Unknown: You are of Aradace blood, correct? I nodded. This castle was taken over by your family. I was sealed before your great grandparents were born. I don't know why.

I had to pause him. "Wait. So, you're older than me?" I wanted to gag.

Unknown: In a way, yes. I didn't start growing until you were born. My eyes went wide.

~Anika's P. O. V.~

"CHARLIE!!" I called out. I was on the verge of tears. "HONEY?! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!" My little girl was lost in here. "Adam?! Have you found anything, yet?!"

"Not yet!" He called out.

I covered my mouth. "Ana. Calm. We will find her, love." Matt was holding me.

Whitney called out. "Nothing over here either, Angel!"

Mikah was using his phone for lighting. "Nothing over here, mom! I'm sorry!"

I gripped Matt's hand. "Me too, mom!" Caleb called out.

I knew my breathing was becoming rapid. "Same over here, mom!" Lily had a shovel.

"Oh, Matt..." I started to cry out of fear of my oldest daughter's wellbeing. "She could be hurt and I wouldn't know! Oh, gods, what have I done?! I should have been home more. I should have talked to her more." My mind went into a spiral.

Matt turned me to face him. "Anika. You aren't doing anyone favors by worrying. I am sure she is fine." He held onto me. "We will find her, my queen." I let his scent soothe me.

We all heard panting coming down the stairs. "My queen! My kings!" One of my knights came running down. "This has just arrived by hawk." Who uses hawks anymore? Talk about lame and old-fashioned. He handed us the note.

Calling everyone back. "ADAM! WHITNEY! LILY! CALEB! MIKAH!" They came running back. "It's from the Yellowstone Pack." I cleared my throat. "'Queen' Anika. The gods may have made you the leader of all mythic kind, but we, The Yellowstone Pack, deny your rule. You are nothing more than a half breed that should have been executed along with your brother. Step down as our 'Queen' and relinquish your title. If you do not comply, then we will have to force you by killing you and your children. This is no threat, Butler. This is a promise." Covering my mouth again. "You are not our queen. You are not fit to rule. If you do not, comply and we do come for your head? I, Alpha Misha Braylin, here by declare war on you."

Adam pulled the note from my hands. "Why would Yellowstone want to attack us? I know Misha's father. He was a friend." I saw my husband's shoulders drop. "He... He was my friend."

Whitney patted his back. "Maybe we can find out more. No one is dying on my watch."

Matt did something I never thought he'd be capable of. "Adam." He talked to Adam with anger. "Your so-called-friend? Just threatened our wife. And our children." He took the note and froze it. After our battle, we all got better at controlling our powers. He threw it. Shattering it into a million tiny pieces. "Our main concern is finding Charlotte. We will prepare for this Alpha Misha. If he dares step foot here? I'll kill him myself for threatening our family."

I have never heard Matt so pissed off. Even when he was chained up from Bastian's torture. "Matt... I-I can't risk our babies."

Caleb held my hand. "Mom. They threatened us. You find my sister, mom. We will deal with this Misha."

Lily hugged me. "Mommy? We'll be okay. We have Grandpappy here. And we can call great grandpa and grandma." When did my kids get so grown up?

Mikah scoffed and growled. "I'll take his head. No one hurts my mother." He crossed his arms. "As the next king of all mythic kind, he will not live long enough to see his threat through." I pulled my sons and daughter closer to me.

I kissed their cheeks and heads. "My babies are all grown up, huh?" I calmed myself down. They were right. I can't let one Alpha scare me. "Go and get ready, everyone. I will try to find Charlotte. We will not let this tear us apart."

"You heard the lady, get moving, guys." Whitney ushered Adam and Matt.

"Come on, Lil. You and Caleb can help me with a project I have been working on. It's going to save mom." They left the area. I let myself have a moment. They didn't need to see their mom or mate falter to pressure. Being a queen is hard, being a queen that has to negotiate on the regular? That's not just hard. It's damn near impossible. The gods bestowed on me great power and I have been trying to live up to their expectations since I was 20.

I felt a cold hand on my back. "I wondered when you would let it out, love." Matt came back. "Come here." He held me close. I haven't really cried since my mom died. I had to be strong for my family. I had to keep it together so they did not worry. I cried into his chest.

I just cried. "I am thankful for these gifts. But sometimes, it's impossible, Matt. I miss my family. I miss my kids growing up. I can't find Charlotte. I'm failing as a mother and a queen. Maybe this Misha is right? Maybe I am not meant to rule."

He lifted my chin and kissed me. "You are not failing. You were given a great deal of responsibility. Yes, Charlotte is missing. But we will find her. I have faith that we will."

"If we didn't think you could handle being THE queen, we wouldn't have given it to you." We both turned to see Lunem standing there. "It has been a while, Child."

Matt and I were on our knees. "Your grace." I said.

She came over and stood us up. "None of that. You saved us, remember." She smiled at us. "Anika. My dear sweet Anika. We have gifted you and blessed you with amazing things. Misha, is not in his right mind. Something... Changed in him. A darkness. It is growing." She looked sad. "As for Charlotte?"

A crack of thunder came down. "He has found her, Lunem." For the first time since I have known the Dragon God, he never smiled. But right now, he is smiling and it's creepy. "Creepy?" He looked at me in offended. "I know it's unordinary. But creepy?"

Lunem giggled. "You needn't worry about Charlotte. She is in good... Claws." Both Gods smiled. "Oidecros and I are watching over her. It was not her destiny, but one we welcome none-the-less."

I wanted to ask. "Not this time, Anika. Secrets will come out when they come out. For once in your life, be patient."

I took offence to that. "Raising 4 kids and being queen of all mythics? You think I don't have the patients?" That earned me a laugh from both gods.

"Oh, Anika. No. You attacked me the first time we met. Or did you forget that?" Oidecros crossed his arms with a smirk.

My cheeks heated up. "I never did get your side of that story, love." I hid my face behind my hair.

"I should tell you. I kissed her forehead out of spite of Oidecros' mortal love. I love him, I really do, but he is a bit of whore." Lunem stated. "Well, he came down and took my curse away. Anika," She stared me down. "Was a bit ungrateful to his kindness. She stood and lowered her head. But then attacked him when he started.."

"Punishing her father for not telling me." He concluded. "I saw my love in her and I tried to take her." He shrugged. It was a big deal back then.

I sighed. "Yeah, that's the sum of it. In any case, are you sure my daughter is safe?" I walked up to them.

"She is. They will rejoin the surface world soon. We promise to intervene if things get too dangerous. You cannot link her, however."

Oidecros crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "We will give you a hint of where to find these secrets." His eyes turned into slit dragon eyes. "Ask your great, great grandparents. This castle did not belong to Aradace blood. The original rulers were cast out. You will find out why."

Lunem and Oidecros bowed and left us. I relaxed a little when they said they would watch over Charlotte. And what did they mean by secrets? "No. You know better than to pry, my love. Now come on. We have a battle plan to come up with and your grandparents to see." Matt moved me away from the catacomb entrance. I looked back and hoped that Charlotte was truly not in any real danger. For now, I have put my worries aside. Pearl and Viper were growling and snarling in my mind as I thought of Misha. Pearl projected images of those wolves dead at my feet while Viper saw them burn to a crisp. I knew we were going to be okay. My kids are blessed. My husbands are blessed. My brother and his wives are blessed and I am blessed. I took one last glance at the catacombs.

"Be safe, Charlie. We'll see you soon, honey." I whispered.