Surrounded by the aftermath of the devastation, I notice a nearby soldier gasping for breath. I swiftly kneel beside him, gripping his vest to pull him up. The desperate situation calls for answers, and I interrogate the soldier with a steely resolve, 'Tell me, how did you locate us?'
He strains to breathe. I tighten my grip, conveying a potent threat. 'Tell me now, or I will end your life right now,' I warn him.
He coughs, spewing forth a small amount of blood. 'A few werewolves from the Wolf Council survived. In exchange for sparing their lives, they disclosed the exact locations of each pack on a map. Army units have been dispatched, and the majority of wolf packs have already been eradicated,' he admits.
Horror grips me as the implications of his words sink in. I take a step back. 'You're trying to kill us all?' I utter, my voice fraught with trepidation.
'Of course. You are all a threat to humankind with your magical abilities and shifting capabilities,' he declares callously, a burst of chilling laughter punctuating the air before falling unconscious.
A profound despair washes over me, manifesting in tears streaming down my cheeks. A sombre truth hangs in the air as I turn to face Alec, Magnus, and the others. 'He's right. The humans will never stop now that they know we exist,' I state. 'We have two choices: stay and face certain death or return to Mysteria,' I announce.
I take charge, cutting through the atmosphere with determined strides towards the battered packhouse. The aftermath of an explosion has left its mark, and the left side is in ruins.
Entering my bedroom, I swiftly gather essential items, stuffing them into a burlap sack. Among them, I retrieve the book 'Mysteria: The History of Supernaturals,' cradling it in my arms as I return to the group gathered outside.
'I just finished reading this book before the Wolf Council had me kidnapped. It describes how supernatural beings originated from another dimension, a world known as Mysteria. Thousands of years ago, a portal was opened, allowing humans to access Mysteria and supernatural beings to enter this world. When humans waged war in Mysteria, the portal was closed and has never been reopened since. They forced the majority to return here, only allowing a few peaceful humans to remain in Mysteria. This book demonstrates how to open and close the portal,' I explain, extending the book towards Kadva and Yiselda.
Kadva scrutinizes the page, passing it on to Yiselda.
'Do you believe we can open it?' I ask, hopeful, my gaze shifting between Kadva and Yiselda.
Yiselda, with determination, meticulously peruses the pages of the book. Contemplation etches her features as she reads the text. 'It takes a great deal of magic, Luna. But I think we can do it,' she asserts, a nod accompanying her confident words. With a decisive gesture, she places the open book flat on the ground. 'Let's do this,' Yiselda declares, her hands extending in readiness.
Alec interjects, 'There is something I need to do first,' he announces. We watch in awe as Alec opens a portal to Silverfay Forest and summons the Grimghouls and the Shadow Reapers. The Grimghouls, one by one, leap through the portal and seamlessly transform into their pixie forms upon reaching the other side. As the final one returns to their realm within Silverfay Forest, Alec decisively closes the portal.
His attention then shifts to the remaining entities under his command—the Shadow Reapers. Raising his hands, black tendrils spiral forth. Another portal unfolds, revealing a vast and solemn graveyard. The Shadow Reapers, acknowledging their call, dutifully enter the portal, disappearing into their resting places.
Yiselda cannot contain her disbelief. 'After all this time, all I had to do to change them back into their natural forms was to return them to Silverfay Forest and the graveyard they came from?' she growls, her frustration apparent.
Alec, however, responds with a smirk.
I grasp Yiselda's hand tightly, and Kadva takes hold of my other hand. The circle completes as Fern, May, Lilac, Ela, and Ria join, forming an interconnected chain. Holding hands, our magic channels together. Yiselda initiates the chant, and we echo the words in unison. Slowly, our eyes begin to glow as the magic flows through us. The sensation is intense, and I feel the drain on my energy—the very essence of my magic being siphoned away. The strain is visible as we share the struggle to remain standing.
Reaper channels his power into me. The surge revitalizes me. The portal, a manifestation of our combined magic, starts to crack open, revealing the luminescent gateway to Mysteria.
'I see it. Keep going, Magnus!' urges, as he fights against more incoming soldiers. The witches, despite their fatigue, maintain their grip on each other. The portal widens, offering glimpses of the fantastical realm beyond. Strange eyes and exotic features watch us from the other side. A diverse array of beings populates this realm—some with vividly coloured eyes, others with green skin and tusks. A pair of individuals—a woman with long black hair and violet eyes and a large, handsome man with brown hair—approach. An armoured figure bearing scars and a rugged appearance strides forward as well.
Strange horse-like mounts gallop by, riders adorned in medieval attire carrying jousting lances. Flags of purple and gold flutter in the breeze. The realization dawns upon me. Our portal has opened in the midst of a jousting competition in Mysteria.
'Magnus, get all our surviving pack members to jump through the portal now, and Alec, do the same with the vampires,' I urgently instruct.
Numerous pack members, a mix of familiar faces including my parents and Jim, Pipsqueak, Ryker, Astrid, Flint, Zak, and Josie, bound through the open portal. We maintain our hold on each other, knowing that releasing our grip will trigger the portal's closure.
'We will be the last to leap over,' I convey as I exchange determined glances with Yiselda and Kadva.
I look over my shoulder at my beloved fated mates. 'Alec, Magnus, you must go. We will follow both of you,' I urge. However, my plea is met with a united front from Alec and Magnus.
'No,' they declare in unison, a synchronized defiance. Magnus locks eyes with me, and Alec echoes his sentiment. 'We aren’t going through unless it’s with you.'
I make the tough decision to release Yiselda and Kadva's hands. 'Quick! Go, it’s already beginning to close!' I urgently command.
Yiselda and Kadva respond, leaping through the narrowing gateway. Lilac, May, and Ria follow suit, accompanied by their familiars. Ela and Fern, last in line, leap, bringing their familiars into the magical embrace.
Alec seizes my hand, and Magnus clasps the other, forming a united front. Together, we make the collective leap through the portal, our bodies carried across the magical threshold to land gracefully on the grassy terrain of Mysteria. The scene unfolds before us, and we find ourselves face-to-face with the breathtaking beautiful young lady with violet eyes.
The portal abruptly seals itself with a radiant explosion of sparkles, creating a mesmerizing cascade that gently rains down upon us. The sparkle-laden air settles as we absorb the serene beauty of our new surroundings. The young lady before us, adorned with a regal air, emits a giggle that reverberates like musical notes.
'Is this Mysteria?' I ask, my eyes wide with wonder as I look up at her.
'Yes,' she responds, the sweetness of her laughter lingering in her words.