“We know were Ella is,” Zephra announced.
Giving the witch his full attention, he strode over. “Well, don’t keep me in suspense. Where is she?”
Zephra glanced at Lady Tenille, before looking back at him. “We believe she’s in the Shadowlands.”
Waiting for more of an explanation, which did not materialize, he scratched his head and rubbed his face to wake himself up. “There’s something you’re not telling me. What is it?”
Lady Tenille sat down next to Huron. “The Shadowlands…is reached through a portal, which is easy enough to access. But this realm is a treacherous place and we can’t be a hundred percent certain that Ella is actually there or where her exact location is. It’s a gamble.”
It sounded very much like trying to find a needle in a haystack. He thought back to the scene he had viewed with the devil and sighed. “I have to go. Is there anything else you’re not telling me?” He eyed the women.
Zephra opened her mouth but Lady Tenille rose and strolled over to him. “If you are sure, we will leave right away.”
“Nothing would stop me. Alexander is on his way. He will join us.” He looked around at the others to see whether anyone else would volunteer to accompany him.
King Zayn toasted him with his glass. “Aye, I dare say, I’ll tag along.”
“Thank you,” Marcus said.
Roman shook his head. “I can’t leave. Lucius is returning with news from the emperor, and my situation as prince of the Northern Territories is tenuous. What happened in New York only serves to illustrate that my position is being challenged by these rogue vampires. If I leave, I’m not sure what I will come back to.”
Marcus understood. “Do you have any idea who would try to overthrow you? The reason I ask is that Ella and I have met Gabriel, your leader, once before…and not under the best circumstances.”
Roman sat on the edge of the couch. “Would you care to elaborate?”
Marcus explained their history with Gabriel when he was Raven, a Romany gypsy. The vampire did not appear surprised, but upon hearing the story surrounding his emperor, bid his farewell and left as Alexander arrived.
****
An hour later, Marcus stood with his odd band of warriors in the muted light in the Shadowlands. The pale sun sat low on the horizon and two full moons bathed the gray sky. An eerie silence greeted them. Marcus stared around the swampy forest, taking in their surroundings. They would lose light soon, and not knowing the terrain and what to expect, the best course was to make camp until morning.
“There’s not a breath of air, nor even the slightest sound from any of the night creatures.” He listened for any signs of life but silence greeted him. He checked his blade anchored around his waist and shifted his backpack filled with some basic supplies he thought they would need for the journey. As they traveled into the unknown with their limited resources, he assessed the crew of four men and two women. He hoped that whatever they faced, they would survive and complete their mission to bring Ella home.
“Let’s get moving. We need to make camp for the night.” Marcus checked out the vicinity, which did not look like a good place to stop. The ground underfoot was damp and rocky. There was no protection; they were sitting targets out here.
“I think it’s best we keep moving,” Lady Tenille said. With a flick of her hand, thousands of tiny yellow and green lights flashed before their eyes, illuminating their surroundings. The small creatures hovered ahead, lighting a path for them to follow.
“Fireflies…?” Marcus scratched his head.
Lady Tenille smiled, as she always did. “You know them as such, yes. But did you know they’re actually beetles, not flies? Of course, fire beetle doesn’t sound quite so charming. Anyway, these nocturnal insects will light our path and guide us to our destination. I believe we are headed for Mount Timor. The mountain of fear. Are you ready?”
Several questions popped into his head, such as how the bugs knew where they were headed, but as he eyed the unusual woman who always surprised him, he thought it better to let her take the lead and carried on. The world he lived in seemed far away compared to these hidden realms that no mortal ever traveled to or knew of their existence. As the group marched through the tall grass, following their guide, he could hear the king of the Fae joking with the others, who laughed at his musings.
Marcus fell in step alongside Lady Tenille as the others walked at a steady pace behind. “Have you been here before?”
The lady slid her gaze at him but carried on walking. “I have. Once. We can visit these planes if necessary, but each is unique. And there are consequences if you enter uninvited. Each place has its own set of laws to be followed. Each territory has its own ruler, just like in your world. This land belongs to the Morrigan.”
Marcus stopped. He had not realized they were in their enemy’s lair. For the first time, a sense of getting close to his wife filled him with exhilaration and a rush of energy. But he wondered whether this journey, with the numbers they had, would be successful or whether he had misjudged the woman before him.
“What consequences? You’ve led us here and yet there are important details you’ve kept hidden from us. Are you leading us into a trap?” he said quietly, not wanting to alert the others to his fears. Marcus grabbed her arm, stilling her. He couldn’t help but ask the question. All along, he had accepted Lady Tenille’s word. Trusted her.
