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EMBER
“We’ve been gone how long?” Cassian asked, just as astonished as the rest of us.
The entire trip, we hadn’t slept, and everything happened so fast. Our assumption was that we were only gone for a day. Granted, the day felt long as shit, but to be gone that long?
“Four days,” Sam answered, sitting across from Cassian at his desk. We were all shoved into his office to catch each other up on the events of the past few days.
“Why didn’t we go through the change?” Griffin asked.
Sam shrugged and Cassian answered, “I guess time works differently in other realms.”
“Or,” Emily jumped in, “the curse isn’t effective outside the Earthly plane of existence.”
Even though we didn’t know it was four days later, it definitely felt like it. My body was two seconds from dropping to the floor for a nap. I would take a dirty carpet against my face if it meant getting a little rest.
We waited for the Ash Hounds alpha to arrive. Cassian called him when we got back and told him to come to the warehouse. It was agreed that everyone needed to be on the same page, and with so much happening on both sides, we needed to talk.
In the past few days, we’d traveled to the fae realm to be rejected by the noble who, in my opinion, wasn’t that noble. He was kind of a jerk, but I digress. We’d made an alliance with a crazy man for his dinky army. That was, if they weren’t arrested by the fae queen’s knights and locked away or killed. Who knew if they made it out, or how many of them survived? It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. Finally, we’d gone to the demon realm and formed a possible alliance. Or enemy. Only time—and a trip to the Underworld—would tell.
And that was only on our end. Let’s not forget that the Ash Hounds were attacked in a gruesome manner, leaving a threatening message that only added to the mounting pressure we faced.
Damn Samara and anyone who helped her! Damn them all!
I didn’t believe in Hell, but if I did, that was where I hoped they’d end up when we were through with them.
Just as I was about to tell everyone I was off to take a nap, Gus knocked on the door to let us know the Ash Hounds had arrived. We headed outside to greet them.
A large man with bushy red hair stood at the center of four other wolves. The elderly one hobbled over to me, his steps slow as he used his cane for support. He tilted his head and squinted, looking me over. Wrinkles covered his face, deep-set from his age and experience. Though, beyond his scrutiny was a warmth and understanding that comforted me, despite his stare. “You look familiar,” he said.
I shrugged, unsure what else to do or say, as I had no idea who he was.
“Since it will be dark soon, you can stay here for the night,” Cassian said. “We have cells to lock up for the change and rooms you can stay in otherwise.” His aura shifted, and I could sense that it pained him to say that because the empty cells were from the members of his pack who had recently passed.
Cassian led all 10 of us inside to a meeting room that I hadn’t even realized was there. I walked past that door many times but never opened it. The room had a huge round table in the center, surrounded by 20-some chairs. Everyone took their seats and introduced themselves. Apparently, Cassian, Emily, and Griffin had met them already.
Medic Niko sat at the end, next to Educator Cove. Then, Warrior Thoran, Elder Silas, Beta Rohan, and Alpha Radolph. Their titles had already slipped my mind. There were too many names to remember at once.
Next to Alpha Radolph sat Cassian, then Emily, Sam, Griffin, and me at the end. Despite being joined at one table, we were still divided among our packs and the hierarchy in which we stood—the alphas in the center, followed by their next in command, leading down to the more “common” members, all the way to the non-members.
It didn’t take long for everyone to get caught up. You’d think with so many people in one room, the discussion would be chaotic. But it wasn’t. Everyone spoke in order and took turns. The pleasant atmosphere relieved some of the stress I’d anticipated before the meeting.
“So now what do we do?” Cassian asked. “How do we even get to the Underworld?”
Half the table turned to Cove, who was already in deep thought. “I’m not sure exactly how to get into the Underworld. Some theories and myths may or may not hold value. However, I do believe you can fill your fifth vial with the spiritual essence of the realm.”
As she spoke, I saw her aura was a beautiful blend of blues and purples with touches of sparkling silver that almost looked cosmic. What a rare aura! She had her own psychic ability, though I think it’s unrealized. But she is in tune with the world in a spiritual sense, and highly intelligent; gifted even. I didn’t know this woman, but I liked her energy already.
“Tell us about these theories,” Alpha Radolph said.
“Well,” Cove continued, leaning forward with her elbows against the table. Excitement filled her voice as she spoke. “They say that you’re ferried across the River of the Dead when you pass into the realm. It’s been said that the river is comprised of lost souls, and touching it is detrimental. Now, one detail that’s been consistent among most tales is that you need to pay the ferryman with something you hold dear. Be it an object, a photo, a necklace; whatever it is, it needs to be important to you, or he won’t take you to the Underworld.”
“We can figure this out some more tomorrow. For now, let’s eat,” Cassian said. I could see it in his eyes—he was just as exhausted, and all this stress was taking its toll on him.
We ate dinner and had light chitchat, forgetting about everything looming over us for a while. It was nice to have a normal meal. One that was surrounded by friends and acquaintances, having a good time.
But after dinner, everyone was pretty exhausted and headed to their rooms to rest and settle in. Fortunately, I was able to lie down and sleep for the night, unlike my werewolf friends, who had to head to their cages for the nightly change.
Desperately needing to unwind, my limbs sprawled out, and I closed my eyes, allowing my breathing to even out. But one thing was nagging at me that I couldn’t ignore.
