As the vision circle dissipates, the world around me regains its clarity. I turn my attention back to Reaper, 'How long did you stay with Alec?' I ask.
'A hundred years roughly, until the witches imprisoned him in that dungeon. I couldn't follow him through the portal to Pandora’s Box. The witches kept repelling me with their magic. It closed before I reached it. After years of searching for Alec, I returned to Silverfay Forest and remained there for hundreds of years until you arrived.'
Sympathy washes over me. 'I'm so sorry, Reaper. That's a lot for anyone to go through.'
His eyes, gleaming, meet mine, and he nods in acknowledgment.
'When we visit Alec tomorrow, I'll give you two some alone time to talk and catch up,' I assure him, offering a heartfelt smile.
'I'd like that,' Reaper replies with gratitude.
For a while, a comfortable silence envelopes us as we quietly keep each other company, our gazes fixated on the moon that casts a silver sheen on our surroundings.
I notice Reaper struggling to remain awake. 'Goodnight, Reaper,' I whisper, leaning closer and placing a gentle kiss on his sleek, obsidian beak.
'Night, Luna,' he caws softly, spreading his wings as he takes flight, ascending to his moon tree.
Deciding to linger a bit longer in the night, I walk to the lake. The gentle ripples reflect the moon's luminance on the water's surface. With my wand tucked into my back pocket, its tip playfully poking out, I lay on my back, hands clasped behind my head.
My gaze wanders upward to the stars in the clear night sky, each twinkling light telling its own story.
Suddenly, something zips through the air over me, catching my attention. It appeared to be a little stone.
Curious, I sit up, my brows furrowing in perplexity. Before I can process the oddity, a presence materializes behind me, stealthy and swift. A hand deftly plucks the wand from my back pocket, and I’m suddenly filled with dread.
Startled, I spin around, only to find myself ensnared. A firm hand clamps onto my arm, wrenching it behind my back with an unexpected force. As I pivot, a knee digs into my back, causing me to collapse onto my knees and then onto my stomach. Panic surges through me, and I let out a startled scream.
My assailant, however, wastes no time. Straddling themselves on my back, they exert control over my form. A man's voice, smooth and commanding, cuts through the night air, 'Dreamus Sleepous.'
Suddenly, a wave of drowsiness washes over me, my eyelids growing heavy. Despite my struggle, the enchantment takes hold, and the world blurs into darkness as consciousness slips away.
As I reluctantly open my eyes, the world greets me in a disorienting haze. The surroundings are fuzzy, and it takes a moment for my senses to acclimate. The biting cold air, the rope around my wrists, and the pressure of a hard brick wall against my back are the initial sensations that claw their way into my consciousness. A shiver courses through me as I realize I'm seated on a stone floor, the coldness seeping through the fabric of my clothes.
As my vision sharpens, the grim reality crystallizes—I'm confined within an antiquated cell, a dungeon of sorts. The air has a musty scent, and the muted light filtering through small, barred windows only intensifies the ominous atmosphere.
Attempting to establish a mind-link with Magnus, I encounter an unexpected barrier. The connection is mysteriously blocked, leaving me in isolation. Panic flares briefly, but I quickly rein it in, reminding myself to stay composed. I attempt to free my hands, but the rope only tightens with my efforts.
Drawing a steady breath, I talk myself through the unsettling situation. 'Take a deep breath, Nina, and stay calm. Let's examine the situation.' I assess the facts at hand—kidnapped, imprisoned, wand stolen, and mind-link rendered useless. No injuries, at least not beyond the lingering discomfort of the rope burn encircling my wrists.
Now, faced with the pressing question of who orchestrated this abduction and the motive behind it, I focus on the tangible task at hand. My attention turns to the rope binding my wrists. I concentrate on the rhythmic chewing motion, determined to unravel the knot and spit out the tiny, prickly fibers, hoping to at least free my hands.
As the rope finally falls from my wrists, footsteps echo ominously, drawing my attention from the cold cell floor. I lift my gaze to discover the Wolf Council, led by Alpha Bennet and Hank, standing before me, all wearing smug expressions. An additional figure, shrouded in a hood, lurks behind them.
'Alpha Bennet, why am I here? Why did you kidnap me?' I demand and narrow my eyes at him.
'Welcome, Luna. I see you've settled comfortably in your cell,' Alpha Bennet chuckles, a self-satisfied glint in his eyes.
I scoff, unable to contain my irritation. 'Comfortably is far from the term I would use! Now, answer my question!' I demand, my eyes narrowing in defiance.
'So dramatic,' Alpha Bennet remarks casually, 'and I didn't kidnap you, for starters. Kadva did.'
'Who is Kadva?' I ask with uncertainty.
The hooded figure steps forward, revealing himself as Kadva. With a calm demeanour, he extends his hands, and a mesmerizing display of magic unfolds. A blue magic sphere hovers above his palms, transforming into glowing spheres of water.
'I'm Kadva,' he introduces himself, his tone carrying an air of sincerity.
'How did you manage to do that? Who are you?' I ask, astounded by the unexpected showcase of magic.
'Kadva is a mage,' Alpha Bennet interjects, his tone suggesting an air of familiarity.
'A mage? My coven sisters would love to meet you. Well, before you kidnapped me, of course, but I'm sure they'd want to meet you for less than pleasant reasons now,' I remark, a frown etching across my face.
'I'm just following orders,' Kadva defends himself, his eyes under the shadows of his hood, reflecting a hint of discomfort.
'Following orders? You work for the Wolf Council?' I press, seeking clarity.
'The one and only,' Kadva responds, his admission delivered with an uneasy demeanour.