DARKER ( Supernatural Beginnings) Book Two

Long Time No See

Ward

The pull of our mate bond is what woke me up from my slumber. Stella was anxious and frustrated about something, but was not in any immediate danger. Tuning my senses, I didn’t hear any of Tyson’s movements, so he must be elsewhere. I still needed more time to recuperate, my body took longer to catch up to this world, being a soul healer of two lives, of course.

Our children were already out there on the battlefield, fighting against Suxhen’s twists and plots. While he and I were just getting started, we had a deep score to settle between us and I would not let him have his way. I felt torn from making him my apprentice back then. That was my greatest sin.

I thought he'd be different from his mother, knowing who and what she was, but his inept ability to wear many faces kept me in the dark for some time before I caught on. I found myself trapped in two lives, living them simultaneously, my soul splitting in between two worlds. With this one now awakened and free, it was constantly on the search for the other. To make matters even more strenuous, I could feel the call of unrested souls who had been long overdue for their passing into the underworld.

Finally, gaining the strength to get out of bed. I took a look around the place Tyson had brought me to in order to recuperate, awed at the meticulous care and detail he put into his bungalow home. Venturing to the kitchen, I found a tea set with my favorite Oolong tea waiting for me to steep and drink. Beside the tea set was another tray with Madeline cookies on one plate and slices of vanilla pound cake on another. Underneath the edge of the tray was a sheet of paper.

Tyson had left me a note of his whereabouts. It would be some time before he returned. As a timekeeper he had a mission to uphold. I logged the instructions and care routine for this place to my memory after reciting it a few times. Then, with the tray filled with tea cakes, I headed out to check out this garden of his. He always had a green thumb when it came to nature. Finding myself on the patio, enjoying the breeze under the stunning pergola. The air tinged with a rose-scented sweetness, bringing calm to my somewhat incomplete soul.

This peace, I felt for now, would come to a head soon enough. It was something I couldn't explain just yet but I felt it deep in my bones. The tea set magically appeared before me on the patio table as if telling me to not worry and just rest. After drinking three cups with a few treats in between, I found myself dozing off and into a beautiful start of a dream.

I awaken and find myself standing near a solitary fountain, now cracked and crumbling. In an instant I knew that my soul had pulled me to this place that I knew at a glance used to be the enchanted garden. Once adorned with intricate sculptures and flowing water, it stood as a somber reminder of what once was. Instead of crystal clear water, murky and stagnant pools remained, its surface covered with a film of eerie, iridescent algae.

How many times have I been here? In the past, to guide a wandering soul, even to heal the once with lingering regrets and those who needed help with their departure. The air was diffused with an unsettling stillness, but I did not feel threatened by it. Did a soul need my help here? Was it departing or did it need healing?

Darkened , twisted flowers loom in the corners of the garden by the fountain, their petals appearing wilted and desolate, colors muted and faded. It was in stark contrast to the view up ahead of an amber glow casting over a portion of the landscape, the garden taking on a new enchantment . As if the garden itself had become a realm between worlds. In reality, that is exactly what it was. Hope had finally been brought to this place that was so innocent yet caught in the crossfire.

Up ahead was a very familiar cave. The more I looked at it , the more I felt the need to go there. The magic cave is cleverly disguised by ancient illusion spells, but for a soul healer, these illusions did not work in my eyes. It appeared as an ordinary rock formation to others, but for me all I needed was the right incantation. I closed my eyes and thought back to the last time I was there. It had been so long since I gained access, I wondered if it would still work after I used it.

“In lands of old where secrets lie,

A soul healer seeks the sky,

A magic token, sacred key,

To grant access to a cave, you'll see.

Step inside, brave soul divine,

Where wonders wait, your path align,

In this magic cave, be blessed,

A haven of healing, peace, and rest.

Grant me passage, cavern's grace,

To help the lost souls find their place,

Through winding tunnels, shadows wend,

Soul healer's journey, let it transcend

By roots of trees and waters deep,

In this token, powers seep,

An emblem of my sacred art,

A symbol forged from love's own heart.

Beneath the moon's ethereal glow,

Whispers of winds begin to flow,

The incantation softly sung,

Unlock the gate to realms unsung.”

In a moment a concealed archway appeared, the pathway up ahead would lead into the base.

I’m greeted by grand, life -sized statues of mythical creatures each standing sentinel at different points along the main corridor. These statues were more than just decorations, they spring to life at any unwelcome intruders. My senses tuned to a group of voices and magic attacks up ahead, but the statues had not activated. Was there no enemy afoot? Or was something else going on?

Compelled to move toward the voices, the six different scents hit me like a tidal wave. The scents belonged to Mila Henry, Mariana Saber, Phoenix Lightshade, her babies and an unknown source. The smell of smoke filtered the air up unhead, but what surprised me when I reached the point of attack was the golden trail braid that stretched out like a long rope toward a hidden nook room deeper in the base of the cave. Following the trail, it led me to those three, who were interrogating someone balled up in a corner. Before I could speak, Mariansa spun around fast, pinning me against the cave wall with a blade pressed up against my neck. She noticed who I was in the next second, gasping in utter surprise. It was clear they hadn’t expected to see me so soon after I left some of my blood at the moon's door for the cure.

“s**t! Mr. Dorian, I’m so sorry.” she said, releasing the blade from my neck. She backed up a few steps and slightly bowed. She reminded me of her mother a lot at that moment. I wouldn’t hold her responsible for the duty she was meant to do as a hunter.

“What did you say?” Mila asked, but she couldn’t move for the time being. They had tied the person in the corner with a gold-braided rope. Mila was controlling the rope's power in her hand. She didn’t lose this skill after all back then. It made me wonder about another thing, but she and I would talk about that later.

“Long time no see Mila.” I said as I waved a hand at her. She looked up with tears in her eyes and smiled.

“ You can bet your ass on that,” she said, moving her attention back toward the captive.

“What should we do with him?” Phoenix asked. It was good that they hadn’t decided yet. What I felt from the soul in front of me wasn’t menacing, but something very very familiar.

“ I could help with that somewhat. In fact, I think that is why I was brought here.” I said, Phoenix and Mila gave way for me to approach. The man's posture was hostile but he was also extremely scared. How long had he been in this cave? And what was he so afraid of? I approached him slowly, then bent down to face him. His eyes were slightly glazed and unfocused but his hearing was sound as he responded.

“Are you the soul healer?” he asked. I wasn’t surprised because I had figured out who he was too. He was a supreme wizard from the moon family, but who had made him become like this? His relationship with my wife and mate was something I could not ignore. If he was there, it meant he was seeking protection. I had a feeling it wasn’t from a person but from something he had done.