His Stolen Mate

Chapter 22: The Maze

~Anika's P.O. V~

        Talking to Matthew's father was a bit of a headache, the way he used some words made it hard to understand. I was never good with directions, He told me to go to his castle in this place, which is clearly visible from the middle of where ever I am, the hedges weren't very tall so, it was easy to see a little over them. Had to get on my tippy toes to do it, though. Wait! I can just fly, right? I start thinking of Viper and her form, but nothing happens. "What is happening? Viper? Pearl?" I try to think of them, their voices have gone silent. Oh, no, this isn't good. What if I'm attacked here and I can't shift? "Pearl! Viper! Talk to me?!" I shout their names in hopes they can hear me. Only met with silence, I lose hope for now. Facing the fact they might be gone for a while, I head further in. I tried once to see what time it was on my phone, it had a dead battery. "Can this day get any worse?!" I scream out in frustration. I sat down for a bit. "I can't believe I miss the voices in my head. I wish mom and dad were here. When did this get so screwed up?" 

"Probably the day your ex-boyfriend left you, my Queen." Said a voice I recognize. Jackie came running up.

"Jay!" I get up and run to her too, hugging her. "Oh, thank gods you're alive! I head about the attack and that no one survived." I started crying in her arms.

She hugs me back, "It is good to see you too. However, I am only an apparition, my true body is with Aly and your family along with your Werewolf friend. I cannot see your location, just your soul. Can you tell me where you are?" 

"..." I opened my mouth to say but no words came out, it was as if they lodged in my throat. "It seems that I can't. I want to, believe me, but the words won't form."

She looked heartbroken and sad, "I see." Then she vanished into thin air. 

"Jackie?! Where did you go?!" Again met with silence. Was I hallucinating? I began walking again, talking many twists and turns. Vladimir told me the way, but I am super lost. I kept looking back over the hedges to see where I am to go, yet the castle seemed to get further away. Then something touched my shoulder. "Ahhh!" I screamed as I turned around and saw a monster behind me. It was straight out of a horror movie. I ran away from it as fast as I could, the thing looked like a mindflayer from Dungeons and Dragons. It never spoke to me as I ran from it. It made me run into a dead end. It came closer to me and reached out its hand. It's slimy like an octopus' leg. I ducked and dodged every time it came close to my head. "Enough!" I yelled at it. It stopped for a moment and looked at me in the eyes. I saw no fear, anger or malice in them, just pure curiosity. "Back away." It looked at me as if a puppy had done something to make it's owner mad. "Back. Away." I calmly said to it. It hesitated for a second before doing what I asked of it. "Can you speak?" It shook its head. "But you can understand me?" Then it nodded. "I need you to not touch me. Okay?" It looked down and sadly nodded. "Good. Can you take me to the castle that is up ahead?" It looked to where the castle is and nodded. "Then please, take me there?" It nodded again. I shouldn't have been surprised that demons or what have you exist. If Werewolves, Vampyres and Dragons exist, why not everything else in between? 

        It started to show me the way around this short yet long maze, around every corner I saw a new demon or apparition, none looked at me with fear or hate, only curiosity and wonder. It was sort of strange if I had to be perfectly honest. Passing this one section, I saw a necklace on the hedge itself, the chain? A beautiful gold, what lay in the center? An emerald the size of a half a hand. I really feel a pull to this, I wanted it. It had me mesmerized by it's glow. Right before I could touch it, the mindflayer grabbed my waist and pulled me away from it.

"What was that for?!" I asked him. Loudly. He started moving his hands as if he knew what would happen. I didn't follow any of it. When he noticed that I wasn't following his hand motions, he pointed to me then his head, "My mind?" He nodded. Then he pointed to the necklace and made X's on his eyes. "Oh, so the necklace kills the mind. I see. Thank you for saving me then. But why is it here?" He points to the castle and made a hand crown. Then, proceeded to act out a sealing ritual. "It's been brought here by Vladimir and sealed away?" He nodded fanatically. "Wait... Does that mean I've been sealed away?!" I screamed out of fear. He gave me those sad eyes as he nodded slowly. "You have got to be shitting me. Why would Vladimir do that?!" He pointed back to me and closed his arms around his heart area. "To keep me safe? From Bastian? The Crawler? I can handle myself. Aren't I supposed to be this badass dragon who was once a hatchling to the Dragon God?! I shouldn't need protection anymore." He motioned for backing up. "What?" He made an evil look to the names I said. "The Crawler?" He shook his head. "Bastian?" He nodded. "Aren't I the one who is supposed to kill him?" He nodded again, this time adding one hand higher than his other. "Um...?" He rolled his eyes and pointed at me again then lowered his first hand before raising his second hand. Is he trying to tell me I'm weak? "Wait, you're saying my level is too low?" He nodded once more. I pinched my nose, "Okay, then how do I get stronger when I can't shift?" He pointed back to the castle. "Alright, lead on." Before he started moving, he pointed to the necklace and gave me an angry look. "I get it, necklace and other stuff bad." Sheesh, mindflayers are hard to understand. He again led the way to Vladimir's Castle.

~Bastian's P.O. V~

        It didn't work, the spell may have but her location still eludes me. She was so close to revealing herself to me. Posing as one of her friends was a good idea, sensing she is still alive, I had the chance to converse with her. A spell must have been cast to disguise the location, either that or it's a powerful shield that won't be easy to break. I sat in my enchanted circle and concentrated, I needed her, I needed to kill her. Since we lost Matthew, my leverage has gone with him. This sickens me, I need my master here to help locate my pray. However long that will take, I will be patient for his coming. Many days and nights will pass before he even responds. Of course, I didn't have to kill her, I want to, I had to admit even to myself, the hybrid is exceptionally beautiful. I got a brilliant idea. I shall become younger, make her enthralled with me, then when she least expects it, I slit her throat. I hear the women of this era aren't as sacred as they were in my day. Losing ones flower meant she was betrothed and married, here? They give it to any man willing to tell her complements. My own brilliance knows never to stop growing. I had to laugh at the audacity of my plan as it was so simple, why did I never chance this thought before? I finally found away to break her before I kill her. Preparations must be made before I ask my master for assistance, I needed to look as if I am in my youth again. Once I sense her presence in our world again, that is when she will chance upon me! "Oh, dear. I need a name for this new image I am creating. hm... Ah I know!" I snapped my fingers together and came up with the perfect name. Be on your guard, Miss. Anika Butler. I shall capture even if it takes me 100 more years. 

        After thinking of the name, I asked my companion to search for new garments, it seems robes are a thing of the past. He came back with several items in hand and I tried them all. Satisfied with a three piece suit and a gorgeous pocket watch, I aged myself down to my late 20's once again. Oh, how dashing I once was. I am reminded of my father, my the devils crush his soul. "Yes. I look like quite the suitor, don't you agree?"

"Yes, master." The Crawler replied. 

And there, I shall concoct my plans to "What a filthy word..." Mate, with her. Giving her the best pleasure of her life before taking it away for good.