His Stolen Mate

Chapter 20: The Rescue

~Matthew's P.O.V~

        In chains, in a dark room and away from Anika. Bastian was having his revenge on me, after all, it's where I kept him for years. What made it worse for me was not having my queen next to me. I am happy that she isn't, even though the news of her running away hit hard. A feeling of relief and worry washed over me when he said he couldn't find her. Every day for a while now, he has come in and demanded that I tell him where she went. I had no idea, she could have gone to Oregon or back to Idaho, hell, she could have gone to Australia for all I knew. I remember the first time I met her, the strong, independent , young woman who could kick a wolfs ass from hell to high water. She kicked mine plenty of times and from what I saw, she kicks a dragons as well. I knew she would be safe where ever she is, even if I did know, I would never give my queens location away to him. I could never be as strong as my queen, though. I curled myself in as I thought about everything I missed when it came to her. I missed her emerald green eyes and how they would burn with passion when it came to old vintage things. I missed her long wavy blond hair as if the sun itself was born from it. Her peachy lips that help such a sweet taste. Her soft skin as she lay against me. I missed her a lot, I wondered if my own father missed mother.

"Of course, I did." A voice said from behind me. I rolled over and saw my father. "Before you ask. Yes, I am in fact dead. This is saved up magic. I have something to tell you, son."

"uh..." I had no words. How could he be here?

"I will answer your questions soon. Nathaniel's daughter is in England. Using this magic, I teleported her. She will be waking up soon and will find herself in unfamiliar territory."

"..." I became so confused.

"I see I have to explain. Yes, I am dead. I saved up a lot of magic so I could talk to you when the time was right. This magic was from your mother, she wasn't just a human, son. She was a witch. She had a magical object that was placed in me that stored her own magic. Thus why I am here and in spirit form." Less confused, I finally remembered where I was and panic set in.

"Father, you have to go. Bastian-" 

"Cannot see or sense me. I am dead, remember?"

"Are you positive?"

"I am. Now, I have asked Nathaniel and his company to get you out of here. Before that, however," His expression became angry as a hand flew to smack me on the cheek. "That is for leaving your wife! I taught you better! I made that contract for you!" 

"I was trying to-"

"Protect her, yes, yes. I know. That is no excuse. Had I not relocated her, she would be in the hands of our worst enemy."

"I apologize, father. I failed her and you."

"No, you haven't. At least yet. Oh, that reminds me. What do you know about Miss. Butler?"

"That she is an amazing woman. She knows 3 types of martial arts. Loves our time in history especially when it comes décor and old furnishings. She has a temper worse than any raging volcano. She has been in a tough position for the last 6 months and that she only wants to know who she really is. Why she is this special dragon." I answered him truthfully.

"I can answer the dragon part." If I wasn't confused before, I am now. How does he know?! "Talking with The Dragon God and the Werewolf Goddess along with others of Supernatural kind, she is not just one of a kind. Anika's dragon counterpart has only been born once before. Eons ago, the dragon god hatched her from an egg and fought Bastian once before. She died right after the battle and hasn't been born until 19 years ago." Eons? No wonder no one knew about her. The love of my life is out in England waiting for someone to help her. 

"Can you get me out, father?"

"I cannot. They can." It was then that I heard and felt a shock hit the ground. Shrills of something coming towards and going away from where I am. I had to cover my ears and close my eyes, the shrills were hurting my head. When the commotion was finally over, I opened my eyes and father was gone. I head women and children screaming. Growls and howls were heard from further away. But then I heard the shriek from Nathanial himself, he is in his dragon form. A blasting sound came from the top of the area I was in, out from the corner was a wolf I had only seen a few times and a white wolf next to him. The white wolf shifted into a man I easily recognized. Quinton.

"Matthew. Not looking too great there, man." He said while slightly laughing.

"I have been better, yes."

"Can you stand?" Adam asked.

"I think I can." I tried standing up, at first I was shaking from the weeks of being beaten, I somehow managed.

"Good. Stand back. I'm breaking this open." Quinton grabbed the bars, I saw his scales cover his arms as he pulls the metal barred door open.

"Chains too? He was cautious with you." Adam took the chains in his hands and broke the cuffs off. "This does not make us friends. It does make us better acquaintances. And I cannot have Anika come back to us unhappy." 

"What did happen? Bastian cannot find her." Father may have spoken on the where she went but not they why.

"Family drama stuff. Anika was being Anika and pissed off the Dragon God." Quinton rolled his eyes.

"That temper of hers will be the death of her." We all chuckled, albeit uncomfortably.

        With my freedom and with the help of Whitney and Nathaniel, we made our escape from the area. The trees were on fire from Nathaniel while Whitney gave a great flood to their pack house, leaving the wolves in disarray. Nathaniel's claws clamped down on my shoulders as he rose me into the air.

This is a familiar scene.

"Yes, it is. I must thank all of you once again for saving my life."

Hey, if it weren't for your dad and for Anika, I would have left you to die!  It seems Mr. Quinton is still not very fond of me. I wonder if I should tell him more on his other half.

~Anika's P.O. V~

        My head was spinning, the world was upside down and over again. The forest around me had the bark and leaves and pine needles blending together, my stomach wanted to empty itself and I let it. I had to close my eyes to get a better feeling. As soon as I was confident enough, I opened my eyes, the world was still spinning, just less so. I took a look around and smelled the air, this was not the same forest I was just in. The scents are super different and it's a hell of a lot darker. I had no idea where I was or what brought me here. The moon was no where in sight, the trees clouded my view of the sky. This forest is dense as f**k, without a direction, I couldn't tell where North is.

"Calm down, fire cracker, as Nathaniel would say." A mans voice came from the tree ahead of me. He was glowing blue and white. But, his features looked a lot like Matthew's. I wanted to open my mouth to ask but he held up a hand and stopped me. "I am Vladimir." That name sounds familiar to me. Where have I heard it? 

"Vlad... Vlad.. I should know your name, but it's not coming to me."

"It's quite alright, my dear. I am Ga-" He paused for a moment, "Matthew's father." That's right! Now, I remember. Matthew used to talk about him, at least a little.

"Count Vlad?"

"Just Vlad would do, child."

"Right... So, if you're Vladimir then, how come I can see you? You're dead." 

"I should have explained that, however, it has been a exhausting night and I really want to get back to my Resting in Peace." He breathed in then out, "Anika, you know of my contact to your father, you know the super natural world by now, and as I have heard, you had met both of the major gods, correct?"

"Y-Yeah? I guess. Why do you ask?"

"You see, there are forces at play that wish for your death, which you already knew about. The Crawler and Bastian. What you don't know is this." He sat next to me and began explaining Bastian's intent with my brother and I. If he gets his hands on our blood, he could destroy all of the supernatural world, save for only the Fae. From what he had gathered, which was more than I could swallow, Bastian's intent and the reason for his making was to rid the world of unclean supers. I don't think the Dragon God knew, if he did, he would have shared this with me. The being he described that had risen Bastian from his crystal like sleep was actually the Fae God, Nu'romis. Also known as Dryad to the humans. He wants a perfect world of forests, valleys and for nature to retake the Earth.

"That would be bad though. Wouldn't it?"

"It would indeed. He thinks by giving the Earth back to the elements of nature, he could supersede the gods and rule over them. Mankind would not exist."

"Okay, so, you know what I have to do then?"

"Yes. You and your brother must get stronger together. The only reason you failed last time was due to your own power. You being born was no mistake."

"You act like you did it."

"I did. I gave your brother some of your powerful strength to over come the problem we face. I am also the one who sent you here. My labyrinth."

"Oh. Okay." I was confused as hell, "So, what now?"

"You wait here, like a good girl and your family deals with The Crawler. Once he is gone, they will come to you. Promise me, love?" The way he said that made me think of Matthew.

"Promise." I nodded.

"I am glad I talked some sense into your bull thick skull." He chuckled, "Matthew is lucky to have you care for him, daughter-in-law. Please, when you do make the choice," He looked a little more than mad when he said that, "Let it be based on your heart. Not on what others want you to be. I had that once. It wasn't pleasant." He stood up and looked down at me. "This is farewell, Anika, dear. May I see you again in the spirit world." He bowed to me then vanished before my eyes. The hell? Spirit world? That's a thing?