Losing The Light Of The Moon

Blast From The Past

Chapter 29: Blast From The Past

MATTIAS

Stealthily making our way towards the border after shifting into our wolves, Guntur astonishingly linked out, You, my friend, are a genius! Nicely done with the secret tunnel, but we probably need to make this quick before they notice we’re gone. So, there’s no time to debate about backing out. You sure about this?

I’m sure, I confidently replied, I’ve always wanted to know what was back in there. We are going into the Forest of the Vines!

We patiently waited for the guard change, swiftly going down our usual path and making it out unnoticed while they swapped out. Running as fast as we could, we were soon standing side by side in our human form at the edge of the forest. 

“Alright, quick exploration, then back to the house,” Guntur lightly warned, pulling his bracelet from his backpack and snapping it onto his wrist before he took a few steps in, “Let’s go, Rebel.”

Making our way further into the dead woodland, I had a wide grin on my face, adrenaline rushing through my veins as I looked around at the weirdly shaped snags. Soon, we came towards a clearing—and it was just as cool....

“Whoa, this is wicked!” I exclaimed, looking ahead at the old run-down stone house ahead of us, “Hey, do you see that—"

Before I could finish, I was sent tumbling hard onto the ground, immediately feeling several paws on my chest as I looked up to see four snarling grey wolves above me. 

Frantically turning my head to look for Guntur, he was surrounded as well—only he wasn’t moving—in fact, his eyes were closed...and there was blood all over the top of his head, splotches of red entangled all in his brown hair. Mine ended up closing only seconds later as something hard hit the side of my head—an intense pain shooting through my brain just before everything went black...

**********

TATIANA

As we all appeared at the entrance of the Forest of the Vines, my breath stilled in my chest, my eyes glazing over taking in the dark and dreary forest ahead of me—the same reaction I had every time I arrived here—even after all these years...

It was too quiet, causing my heart to pound hard in my chest. I attempted to conjure another vision and received nothing, making it worse. 

“I can’t see anything, but I know they went in there,” I cried out in despair, “Go, quickly! But please be careful and aware—The Forest of the Vines has many hidden dangers!"

Apparently, Priscilla informed Lorenzo where we were, as Raven brought Lorenzo and Horacio to the forest.  Horacio peered over at me, his eyes devastated, right before he bolted into the dense forest to search for Mattias and Guntur.

Quickly coming to my side, Lorenzo worriedly asked, “Tati, are you alright? The boys...what were you able to see?”

I exhaled out heavily, “I saw them here, Lorenzo, in this spot, but I don’t think they are here now. Why can’t I see them if they aren’t here?”

“I think we both know why you have difficulties here, Tati,” Lorenzo comforted, slowly turning his hardened gaze towards Persephone and Reina, who were standing off to the side with guilt-ridden expressions. 

Soren, Umar, and a large number of warriors came barreling towards us, as I took several steps back to shift Soren to his dressed human form as Umar shifted beside him. Rushing over to me, Soren frantically begged, “Tati, please! Tell me you saw what happened and you can get us to the boys!”

“No, unfortunately, everything is still in place here, Soren,” I heart-wrenchingly admitted, “My vision only showed me the boys running into the entrance to the forest, but Horacio, Nicholas and the others are in there now helping to search for them. Make sure your men are careful in there.”  

My crushed gaze turning to Umar, I choked out, “Guntur must have put the bracelet on right before they came in, which is why the vision hit me so abruptly—but I was able to see them. Unfortunately, I cannot see what happened afterwards or where they are now. I’m so sorry, Umar!”

His chest heaving, Umar charged into the densely shadowed entrance with Soren on his heels, his voice cracking as he bellowed out his warriors behind him, “Teams of four! Split into your perimeter, but be aware, it’s incredibly dangerous in here! Be careful! GO! FIND THEM!”  

After they disappeared, I hesitantly took my first steps into the forest with Lorenzo remaining by my side—another moment of deja-vu—as Persephone spoke up for the first time since our arrival, cautiously breathing out, “Tati, I know what you must be feeling right now. I’m so—”

“I’m feeling many things currently, Persephone,” I stoically stated, refusing to meet her gaze, “But, as our powers do not work here, let’s just see if there is anything we can do to help find Mattias and Guntur, shall we?”

“Sister,” Reina softly began, “Please, don’t shut us out. It’s hard for us to be here as well.”

“And understandably so, Reina,” I unevenly breathed out, “But, no matter how hard it is for all of us, we need to help in any way we can, even if it is simply assisting them with the layout and hidden areas of the forest—something we know better than anyone here.”

Walking past the dead misshapen trees and black foliage covering everything it could along the ground, I took the same path as I did back the last time I had this sinking feeling in my stomach, only this time I was walking instead of running.   The well of tears in my eyes streamed down my face as I begged silently in my mind, Please this time—please, just let the boys be found safe! 

Lorenzo placed his arm around my waist, protectively pulling me close as he comforted me, “There’s nothing more you could have done, Tati, then or now. We’re lucky you had any vision at all, honestly. Thankfully, you had the foresight to place that spell on Guntur’s bracelet. It could have been much later before they were discovered missing.”

“Thank you, Lorenzo,” I exhaled out heavily, “But I’m afraid I still feel quite guilty that I have let Soren and Umar down. If only I weren’t helpless here.”

“At least you are still allowing Lorenzo to lend you comfort, Sister,” Persephone hurtfully stated from behind us, “Reina and I also feel quite helpless, you know. We want to help just as much as you do.”

“I know you do, Persephone,” I honestly replied in a soft tone, a twinge of guilt shooting through me, “And I’m sorry if I am distressing you or Reina. It is not my intention. I’m afraid the Forest of the Vines has never brought out the best in me.”

As we reached the opening I knew all too well, I looked over at the old, run-down stone house towards the back, as Persephone and Reina came to stand beside me. Glancing over at them, I saw the self-condemnation in both of their devastated round faces, instinctively reaching out to grab Persephone’s hand, gently wrapping my fingers around it as I felt her desperately squeeze my hand in return, her eyes full of regret as she slowly turned her head to look at me.

Letting out a hastened breath, I couldn’t stop myself from trying to make my powers fruition, releasing my sister’s hand, and attempting to expell a dose of power from my palm—but much to my expected disappointment, I soon discovered, the Power of Three were still disarmed in this forest.

“So, it is still in place,” Lorenzo murmured, his expression full of concern as he looked at me.

“What is in place, Lorenzo?” Nicholas curiously questioned him, coming out of the darkness from the side.

“What is this place?” Tink cautiously asked as she walked up beside him, looking all around, “It’s eerily still and quiet in here—really creepy! Especially that house!”

Lorenzo quickly attempted to divert Nicholas, urgently asking, “Have you found anything yet?”

“No,” Nicholas uneasily breathed out, “Nothing, which brings me back to—”

Just then, we all saw Jace’s head snap to the right as he stood several yards to our left, before I heard him take in a deep inhale of air through his nose as Nicholas immediately ran towards him, worriedly asking, “Jace? What is it?”

“Blood,” Jace reluctantly breathed out, running across the dead grass with Umar, Nicholas, Gavin, and Horacio on his heels, all their heads looking side to side, “A lot of it.”

“I smell blood too, but over here,” Constance breathed out from our right, going the opposite way with Tink, Beast, Carson, Charlotte, and Madeline following her.

Glaring dismally at my sisters, who looked back at me stricken with fear, I cried out in despair, “That’s not surprising—There’s been a lot of blood shed here.”

My heart shattered as Jace broke in then, reluctantly stating, “I’m afraid this is fresh blood and as I feared, quite a bit of it. I’m afraid Mother was right—Mattias and Guntur were here.”

“We’ve got fresh blood too,” Carson sadly stated, as Horacio bolted over, “and a bunch of paw prints. Looks like at least four wolves.”

“Four here as well,” Gavin sighed out, “It looks like they were ambushed.”

“Ambushed?” Soren furiously shouted out, his eyes angrily darting over to Persephone and Reina.

“NO!” Umar devastatingly screamed out, crouching down, and slamming his fist into the ground as Nicholas and Jace knelt beside him, placing their hands gently on his shoulders.

Overwhelmed by the news that the boys were more than likely seriously injured, I whispered out dejectedly, “Their witch has visions, Lorenzo. She had to see they were going to be here.”

Turning quickly, I called out, “Raven! Cloak the area with the spell we worked on last week! See if you can find where they went!”

Raven looked at me incredulously, curiously stating, “But you can do it quick—.”

“You can do this spell,” I urgently interrupted, “Please, just like we did last week!”

Continuing to look at me with a perplexed expression, Raven extended her hands out, emitting her bright pink aura and slowly blanketing the entire area in the spell. I was beginning to worry as nothing was coming forth, but finally, footprints—both human and wolf—soon began to ever so slightly glow, leading up to a tree just past where Umar, Nicholas, and Jace were kneeling on the ground. As soon as it hit the base of the tree, the center of the trunk lit up, revealing the entrance and exit of our kidnappers.

Soren heatedly bellowed out, “DAMMIT! What the HELL were they doing in here? They knew this forest was forbidden! THEY BOTH KNEW NOT TO COME HERE! If I could have burned this place down years ago, they wouldn’t be in this mess!”

Tati, what is going on? Are you alright? You’re so pale and you had Raven perform the spell, Horacio echoed out in my head, Please, say something!

I’ll be fine—it’s complicated, Horacio, and there’s no time to explain, I urgently returned, tears running down my face again, Right now, we just need to find Mattias and Guntur!

Horacio worriedly replied, This isn’t like you, Tati, you look physically ill. Lorenzo—he’s staying so close to you. Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.

I can’t talk about it right now, Horacio, I desperately returned, Don’t worry about me—just concentrate on the boys! I promise, I will explain later.

Alright, just please...calm down for me, Horacio softly comforted.

Turning towards me, Soren frustratingly shouted out, “If you could have rid everyone of this place after we rid ourselves of The Chosen, Tati, they never would have been here in the first place!”

While everyone looked back at me stunned at his outburst, Lorenzo’s protectiveness of me was unwavering as he released his hold on me, taking several steps forward as he steadfastly replied, “You know we all did everything we could here, Soren, especially Tati. You are understandably upset, but don’t attack her, especially when you know if she hadn’t put her life on the line—choosing to go against them on her own—The Chosen would never have been defeated!”

“What are you talking about?” Nicholas disbelievingly broke in, “That’s impossible! When The Chosen were defeated—Auntie would have been a child!”

My eyes despairingly fell to the ground, but I felt Persephone and Reina’s gazes as Lorenzo vehemently boasted, “You’re right, Nicholas. We all found ourselves reacting just as you are now that day—the day Tati indeed defeated The Chosen all on her own—when she was ten.” 

Silence followed Lorenzo’s admission of my youth, but I didn’t look up to see their reactions—I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to deal with the questions that were inevitably going to be asked—I didn’t want to relive it all again, especially when it came to my sisters. I have avoided reliving that moment at all costs over the years for a multitude of reasons...

There was one voice that suddenly popped into my head just then, however, that gave me an unexpected sense of calm and adoration from my overwhelming thoughts, as Horacio slowly sang out my name—his tone filled with unadulterated affection and reverence, Tati. Unfortunately, the amazing feeling of hearing him address me in such a loving way only lasted for a fleeting moment...

“I blame myself for that—I underestimated that beautiful little fairy who outsmarted me that day,” a shaky high-pitched voice sang out through the darkness, “Though admittedly, even at ten, she was more powerful than any witch I have ever known—I would dare say not only does she rival my powers, but even the powers of the Firebird Phoenix. Count yourself fortunate to have her training you, Raven.”

I heard my sisters gasp as I closed my eyes tight and took in a sharp breath at the familiar sound—the voice that had haunted me for many years—both past and present, if I faltered from my resolve to keep those years from filtering back into my mind...

Mother?  Jace privately questioned, his tone full of concern, Who is this?

The Leader of The Chosen, I reluctantly returned, hating to even think of her name, Frieda.

Directly after, Horacio slowly called out my name, only this time his tone matched Jace’s, Tati—is this Frieda? My eyes were still closed as I gave a slight nod before raising my head up, slowly opening them.

As usual, Frieda attempted to taunt me, derisively continuing, “Even though I’ve managed to put you at a disadvantage now—something that pleases me a great deal—if anyone can find those boys, it’s you, isn’t it, Tatiana? You are so cunning and masterful, it’s only a matter of time before the witch that has Mattias and Guntur meets her match much like so many of us have!”

Everyone looked up towards the sky in shock—except for Jace and Horacio, whose gazes I noticed were glued on me—Soren and Lorenzo’s jaws dropped slightly as she added, “By the way, Soren, it’s not nice to threaten burning someone’s home down. You should be ashamed of yourself!”

“Uh—who is that?” Tink exhaled out anxiously as Beast protectively took two steps forward to stand directly behind her.

“Not someone to trifle with, Tink,” Alastor uncomfortably replied, “Though I was unaware of any association with the Power of Three until just now.”

“Apparently, you and I are unaware of quite a few things, Alastor. Lorenzo? Soren?” Nicholas quietly drawled out, “Has she always been able to do this?”

“Yes, which is one of the many reasons why the Forest of the Vines has been forbidden!” Soren furiously spat out.

"But today has been special, hasn’t it, Soren?” Frieda amusingly snapped back, “So many visitors in my forest...it’s kept me quite entertained, though I am rather hurt you haven’t given the younger generation a full history lesson of The Chosen, especially my tiny fairy’s role. I guess I will have to be satisfied that you still seem to be plagued by our encounters over the years, Tatiana. We are tied one to one, aren’t we, dear? Though with all your suffering, loss, and forced isolation over the years, perhaps in the end, I am the victorious one! Such a shame—being torn away from Julien and Jace in such a way—forgotten and replaced in their hearts—and everyone else’s for that matter—by Callisto for so many years...and then only able to return—to one of them.”

I saw Jace’s mouth open to say something, quickly raising my hand to silence him before I lifted my head towards the sky, whimsically countering, “Hello, Frieda. I see your love of mind games has not changed over the years. And it appears, as I suspected, you are still quite tied to your favorite forest and safe house. At least this time, thankfully, you are locked up in a cell—incapacitated for the most part. I outsmarted you in so many ways—shame I couldn’t figure this one out. So, perhaps you should follow the advice I gave you years ago—speak only when you must and only briefly then!”

A loud laugh echoed through the forest as Frieda quickly replied, “Oh, I have missed our repartee, Tatiana! Your fast thinking quips and fearlessness...you haven’t changed a bit!”

“Yes, we have such a long history with one another of quips, quotes, and quandaries, don’t we, Frieda? A never-ending game between you and I.” I scoffed, knowing I was giving Frieda exactly what she wanted—hoping I could get from her what I wanted in the end—information on what happened in the Forest of The Vines.