Not All Heroes Are Guiltless

Chapter 78 (Part 2)

Chapter 78 (Part 2)

Aela’s POV

After the dust from the falling door clears away, I’m struck with awe at the majestic room. Pillars lined around with the bloodline crests. The pillars stretch to nearly enough for a third story. The ceiling comes together with the lupine symbol of unity carved into the top. Underneath it is a mahogany table with five chairs. All are still in pristine condition, unlike everything else in the city. Someone must have a strong preservation spell placed upon it. It was a table that was supposed to last throughout the ages.

A balcony stretches out on the opposite side of the entry. I see another spirit with his back towards me as he stands out, looking through the balcony. His hair is long down to his elbows, and it flutters around him in an invisible wind. He’s tall and extremely muscular, but his pose is rigid much like a ruler. I step on something that makes a cracking sound, and he turns around quickly and alert. He was a warrior.

His face is so familiar to me, and I’m trying to remember where I know him from. He smiles, and I’m overwhelmed with an emotion of being home and safe. I see my father in his face, but his eyes are different. They glow and hum another string of emotions. “AmStar, I thought you weren’t going to make it-“

I stand there frozen and watch the figure more closely. The wound across his chest and neck are deep. He straightens up like they don’t bother him, “Who are you, child?”

“AmAela.” I say loudly and purse my lips in worry. His head turns to the side like he’s assessing me with his one good eye.

His expression drops as he takes a step back almost in disbelief, “You are AmStar’s child?”

“Yes.” I say and keep my eyes on him, and then he looks alarmed.

His eyes shoot between me and Ethan, and then he asks in a rush, “Your parents?”

“I was orphaned at a young age.” I tell him, and he seems angry and almost violent. I prepare for his vengeance to strike at me.

“Raised by that demon?” He says with a growl, and I can feel the power he once possessed ripple off of him. Exactly how the bear was at the spirit gate. This man was one of the leaders of a bloodline. The walls were weak to his onslaught of growls.

“Yes. I came here to seek answers. Originally, Delmar was to blame for what occurred here. My mother doesn’t think he was, and she died during her investigations.” I say, trying to calm him down. He seems to have a decent memory and knows he’s dead, and I’m finding it unusual. He has almost the same comprehension as the Ursa.

“No, he was here and tried to warn me and the other Alphas. He wanted us to stop the festivities that celebrated the birth of lupines and the moon goddess who granted us our gifts. He said he was worried something terrible would happen. We all accused him of jealousy because he had learned he couldn’t take his rightful place as Alpha of the black furs. Even if he was the last of his kind.” The figure said, returning to his original pose.

“Why not?” I asked softly worried I would anger the spirit again.

“He was attuned to another god already.” The man looks almost sorrowful. “Bellar was the reason he survived in the forest for weeks at the young age of only six. He told us he was abused by a demon, and he had to escape, and my son, Dunnell, found him and nursed him back to health. I adopted him as my son and gave him the name Dungan. But his loyalty to Bellar was tied to him too strongly he would never denounce his god to receive the gifts from the moon goddess.”

“You’re my grandfather?” My voice cracks in my insecurity. The man smiles at me, and the warmth of a father’s pride enfold around me. He must have been an amazing father for my dad and Dungan. I smile back at him in acknowledgment of his loving nature. “Dungan is my mate.”

My grandfather eyes shine with joy behind him but then snickers almost like he remembered something funny, “I am glad you found each other. Don’t fear, my sweet child, he has a good heart, although it may be shrouded with shadow. I do believe that it’s his mother’s doing.”

I shake my head, “How so?”

“She was never given the gift of a wolf. The bloodlines of the black and white had fallen out of the graces of the moon goddess. They had children for human politics and were not chosen by the moon goddess. The creature, who was her father, was built on unnatural and horrific magic and used their weakness to create a stronger beast.” My grandfather says calmly.

“Radella Manticora?” I asked with some apprehension. My grandfather nods his head and then looks sorrowful.

“Blood mage.” Ethan says hauntingly behind me. I’m shocked he recognized the name and knew what kind of beast he was.

“The Lunacrity. They can delve into the very fabric of the gods’ domain. Our lineage came from such individuals, which bridged our connection to attune to the moon goddess. Some manipulated it for their own gain. The creature I suspected to be her father was a cannibal and grew his power from devouring body and soul.” My grandfather shivers in fright, “Dungan, when we found him, had the same darkness, and I almost killed him. Dunnell begged me to give him a chance. He said he would teach him not to use or harm us. Over the years, I saw him still grow in power, but we didn’t have any evidence against him feeding off of anyone. We turned him away because we always feared him. It was after he left her that Dunnell informed us his mother was Lana, and he thought she would attack us.”

“Dungan must have escaped with my father. What happened to the city?” I say, hoping he would still be lucid enough to answer some questions. I’m still reveling at learning the connection between my father and Dungan.

“I’m not certain. Madness? A darkness enshrouded the entirety. Howls of wolves rabid and vicious were a constant. I was here listening and planning with the other Alphas to find how to defend our own selves from the attack when the other alphas cried out when their wolves forced a transformation and were a part of the madness.” His sorrow is mixed with some many emotions. “I tried to calm them, but they killed me. I had been the one to send Dungan away with such fowl words. When he might have been the only one that could have saved us. I accused him of things I now regret.”

I clasp my hands together, “If Lana had done this, what was she hoping to gain? All this death and destruction just to frame her son? Seems too farfetched for me.”

“I don’t know. She was angry at us. Mad, she wasn’t given her birth rights. She is a direct descendant to Queen Delia, the mother of Redland.” He says with a sigh, almost like he knows he doesn’t have the answer for me.

“Delia?” I say intrigued. None of my records ever stated she was ever the queen.

“A legendary warrior, protector, and hero. One of the original Lunacrity of our origin.” His demeanor was more lighthearted. His biggest joy as a father must have been passing heritage to his children through stories. “She was the first black wolf. She fought with blades forged from her own heart. Pure white steel.”

“Dungan taught me how to summon a weapon from another plane.” I say, looking suspicious.

“Your mother had the same talent. Dungan also. His though is shrouded in his shadow. Your mother’s were beautiful. She made all the children excited for their living hero.” His eyes drift away, and he inhales deeply, “You have eased my troubled heart, dear child. Tell my wayward son he makes a fine king and mate. I’m sorry I couldn’t answer your questions fully.”

“No, go find your peace. Your words have inspired me, and I’m glad to have a memory with you, Papa.” I say, and just like that, his spirit was gone.

Ethan stands silent behind me. I wipe the tears off my cheeks. “I don’t think we will learn much more here. Let’s leave.”

“Alright, did you find a spirit to help you?” Ethan looks and sees a skeleton on the floor under some debris. I turn away, knowing we don’t have time to bury him.

I hold myself from an embarrassing snob, “Yes, he confirmed a few things and told me stories I’d never heard. Not all my questions are answered, but I have a few more ideas of where to look.”

Ethan shrugs, “That spirit talk skill you do is unnerving. I think you were talking in Lupine. I couldn’t understand anything.”

I stopped and looked at Ethan, realizing he didn’t catch anything of the conversation. Except for confirming, Radella Manticora is a blood mage. My wolf always helped me understand lupine, but I didn’t think I would be able to speak and understand without my knowledge. “Ethan, I trust the spirit. He was my grandfather.”