DARKEST ( Supernatural Beginnings Series) Book Three

Wolf Council Part Four

The look in Vernice's eyes made me feel uneasy as she held Alexis' hands in hers with an onslaught of questions flowing through her at the mention of "the Camp". Alexis is still standing in the bedroom doorway, looking calm and unperturbed by Vernice's reaction.

"Slow down Auntie, it seems my instincts were right about you being in the Camp before was right after all." She said, making Vernice look a bit bewildered about what she meant, but I more than understood her words just now.

"What do you mean?" Vernice asked.

"Hmmm, before we get into all of that, I suggest we eat first. You won't like what I'm about to tell you, but given this house before us, there is no better time than now," Alexis said, finally moving from the door and walking back down the hall, toward the stairs, and to the dining room, with us three trailing behind her.

The long oak table was now filled with a sumptuous feast. Some of which include my favorites. I was surprised until it dawned on me. This was a magic memory-style house where a piece of our memory would be stored and maintained in his house the moment we stepped inside it.

The layout of Vernice's house caused Tamzin and my memory of the vacation house where our family spent our summers. The many food delicacies took pride in there due to my parents' roots in the eastern country before settling down here in the western country to build the Red Claw kingdom. The fish soup and steamed pork buns were my top favorites as a kid. It had been so long since I had a taste of these things. Before I knew it, my feet had carried me to a chair at the table and I took my seat all ready to dive in.

Mariana let out a chuckle as she watched me. I rubbed my hands together, looking around the feast on the table, trying to decide what to try first. A bowl of fish soup was placed in front of me before I could grab a steamed bun. Tamzin sat next to me with a smile and handed me a spoon to begin eating with.

“Try the soup first, Alpha, then you can devour as many steamed buns as you like,” she said.

Then she served herself some of the fish soup as well. I nodded in thanks and slowly sipped the soup that tasted exactly like the one in the town where the old vacation house was back then.

“Is it me or does this house look more and more like the vacation house we used to go to during the summers Dad?’ said Harold as he ate one of the steamed buns I had my eye on at the table.

“Dad, you really are late on the uptake, I even figured out this is a memory house. So, of course, it’s the vacation house you visited in the summer with Grandpa just slightly altered with a few of our memories added to it now since we arrived,” said Mariana, with a hint of amusement in her eyes. Harold looked back at her with a feigned hurt expression. Laughter rang out around the table as we enjoyed the food. For now, putting at the back of our minds the discussion to be had later and what to expect after the three days were up in our forced stay in the Wolf Council headquarters.

Two hours later, we all sat in the living room, its first appearance now gone and changed into a mixture of the memory of each of our first thoughts. The walls were painted a soft, muted beige, creating a soothing backdrop for the room's earthy tones. Deep, chocolate-brown wooden beams adorned the ceiling, adding a touch of rustic charm. Large windows framed in rich, mahogany wood allowed a flood of natural light to spill into the room during the day, while heavy velvet curtains in a deep forest green could be drawn to create an intimate, cocoon-like atmosphere in the evening.

My wolf stirred, sensing something within the magic of this place. How could all our memories upon entering blend together to fit into such a coexisting space? Somehow, we all have a memory of this place but with different views, just like the other two existing worlds. This happened before, right before I met Alexis. It wasn’t that our memories were different. The vacation house was a fixed point in the three worlds timeline. Meaning there was no coincidence we were sanctioned to be housed here for three days.

Knowing that the head judge was on our side, there must be something to find here there as Vernice had suggested. None of us knew what that would be, but we would have to count on those first memories logged into this place and going on a scavenger hunt as one would put it with the clues left here and solve whatever the judge was giving us time to find before the final verdict.

In the center of the room, a large wooden coffee table held an array of tea treats and drinks on elegant trays. Delicate porcelain teacups and saucers were arranged neatly, accompanied by a selection of fragrant teas in ornate tins. A silver-plated tea set glistened under the gentle light of a chandelier overhead. Plates of delicate pastries, both sweet and savory, were artfully displayed, tempting the palate.

However. None of us were in the mind of delving into the savory scene. All eyes were now on Alexis as she stood up to stand before us in front of the fireplace. A thick, plush rug in a Persian design covered the polished wooden floor, offering a soft landing for weary feet. The flames within the fireplace danced with a mesmerizing, ever-changing glow, casting a warm, golden light over her as she finally began to speak.

“If you haven’t guessed by now, Vernice’s memory house has created a fixed point in time for all of us regarding this house. I wasn’t sure at first, but after Vernice left the kitchen to talk with Wolfram and Tamzin, this showed up along with a picture on top of the kitchen counter.” Alexis said, motioning toward Mariana, who also stood up and handed a folded piece of paper with a photo inside.

The folded paper was just a jagged piece like that of a puzzle. The photo drew not only my attention but also Tamzin, Harold, and Vernice.

“It's Mom!”

“It’s Dad”

Where did this picture come from?” Harold, Vernice, and Tamzin all spoke at the same time. In the picture, my wife and Tammy’s husband stood together with two people we all knew very well. Trish Mane and Max Fiery were behind them was a cabin. The surroundings look to be that of a camp. Confused, I could only look up at Alexis, who gave us time to adjust to what we were seeing.

“Let’s start with Beta Tamzin’s question, which is on the right track to where I’m headed with all of this and the camp. The photo in your hand is indeed from this place, Wolfram, but not in your memory as the vacation house. This memory comes from me and the cabin Mari and I came across in the second world known as the new Camp.”

“How is that possible? Mom and Uncle Mason would never…let alone Trish and Max,” said Harold, with an obvious frown of disapproval at what Alexis may have been suggesting. My wolf and I picked up from her tone that she was suggesting something entirely way beyond what we could comprehend right now.

“Dad, calm down first, we have to look at things objectively moving forward. Emotions can’t cloud our judgment, especially with this puzzle to solve,” said Mariana as she walked over to her father to comfort him.

“Puzzle? You mean this piece of paper?” I asked, finally taking a look at the paper the photo was wrapped in. Letters flittered all over the piece of paper jumbled up and unrecognizable. It was clear these were meant to be words but were purposely scrambled for the unintended eyes.

“ That’s right, Alpha, now we have to find the other pieces that connect to it. My guess is the pieces are here in the third world or better, inside this memory house or Wolf Council Headquarters. Whoever hid these needs specifically set it to the moment we were all together in order for this lining spell to activate.” Alexis continued.

“I’ve got it! I’ve seen this spell before!” Connie suddenly exclaimed in wonder, jumping up from her seat and hurrying over to Vernice.

“What did you figure out Mom?” Mariana asked as everyone waited for Connie to say what she knew. Smiling, she glanced at Vernice, who looked lost in thought until Connie startled her.

“Vernice, this is a memory house created by you based on your last moments here, right?”

“Yes, it is.”

“So, if the picture and paper showed in the kitchen where I’m assuming was Mari’s and Alexis' last viewpoint at the new camp, then the other piece should be………….”

“The last point in this place that memory stops on that day!” Vernice stood up excitedly, but then her mood changed just as rapidly as her excitement came.

“What’s wrong, Vernie?” Harold asked in concern.

“I can’t go there, Harry.”

“Why not? If the second piece is there, we must, now that the spell has activated, we are on borrowed time, it’s important that we find out what needs to be known. You, as Vice Chair, should know this.”

“And I do, but at the cost of seeing them die all over again right here in the basement as I did back then, is something any of you are willing to see when I myself can barely even bear it.”

Tamzin walked toward her daughter and embraced her. Vernice’s soft sobs were heartbreaking but we all knew there was no way around facing this pain. She told us before that she couldn’t find any clues anywhere else in this house, but the one place she couldn’t bear to look was a glaring neon sign that what we needed would be there.

“Sometimes the best way to deal with an unbearable pain is to face it head-on. We are here with you now, Vernie. You aren't alone anymore like you were back then. Let’s face this pain together and while we do, let’s heal through this by finding what whoever is behind this spell wanted only one of us to find.” Harold said. Watching Vernice intently to make sure she heard his words.

At that moment, I was deeply proud of my son. He may not have felt he was suited to be king, but there were times when his leadership and understanding shone through him, even at times when he seemed a bit aloof.

Vernice released herself from Tamzin’s embrace, wiping her tears away with her hands. She seemed to have found solace in Harold's words. Straightening her stance, she took a deep breath and then smiled at my son who had been like a big brother to her for many years. Connie walked toward her with her impeccable timing and took one of Vernice's hands in hers. This action also seemed to give her strength as she nodded at Alexis, having made her choice on the matter.

“We’ve got you okay. I will hold your hand and be your strength from this point on. Whenever you are ready, we will be with you all the way,” said Connie with a calm and gentle voice. Her tone was slightly melodic in nature but it also carried a hint of witchery that my senses picked up on in surprise. Looking over at my son, he gave me a sneaky wink and that confirmed that the Sabers weren’t just Hunter’s like I originally thought.

“We can go now before I lose my nerve,” said Vernice.

“Auntie Vernice, I’m very proud of your bravery right now,” Mariana said, causing Vernice to smile once again.

“Indeed, on your call then,” Alexis said. She looked at me as I held the piece of puzzle-shaped paper in my hand.

“You want to guard that or me,” Alexis whispered as we followed behind Vernice, who led us toward the basement of the house.

“I think it's best it stays with the one who found it. My instinct says this part in particular is important.” I whispered back, handing the paper back to her. We had no clue what we would see or what was waiting for us inside the basement of this vacation house. Now knowing it was also tied to “the Camp”, we had to be on guard for what Suxhen or his mother may have left behind.