Chapter 25 #2
I leaned forward, my heart pounding in my chest. Before I could catch a glimpse of what awaited us, the fairy boy landed on my shoulder, his delicate wings brushing against my cheek. Together, we inched closer to the corner. As I peeked around the bend, my breath caught in my throat.
Before us, the space opened into an enormous chamber, its walls adorned with ancient runes and symbols.
They bore no resemblance to anything I'd seen in my witch books or on my pentagram bracelet. These markings looked older, more primal, and undeniably powerful. I’d guess the symbols were some sort of ancient fairy language.
Most of the prison cells had the usual iron bars I’d seen in werewolf dungeons. But in the center of the room stood a set of massive iron doors, intricate engravings etched deep into their surface. It had to be Willa’s prison cell.
And guarding those doors was a sleeping creature I could only describe as part man, part nightmare—a hulking, rough-skinned figure with the unmistakable features of a fairy.
The long shaggy hair and pointed ears stood out, but his skin wasn’t translucent and pale like most of the fairies I’d encountered.
His skin was dark green and harsh, like the bark of an oak tree. His massive arms crossed over his bulky chest like sturdy trunks.
"By the Gods," I breathed. "What is that thing?"
My hands trembled slightly. We'd come this far and faced countless dangers, and yet the thought of confronting this monstrous guard sent shivers down my spine.
"I’ll get past him," Torin whispered, his gaze never leaving the slumbering creature.
The tension in the air thickened as I studied the sleeping guard, my mind racing with possible strategies.
The butterfly boy fluttered by my side, his tiny hands gesturing toward his neck. I darted my gaze between the prison guard and the tiny fairy, and I finally spotted it.
A thick brass or iron chain hung around the guard’s thick neck. The key resting on his rising and falling chest looked substantial and sturdy, carved with similar symbols that adorned the dungeon chamber.
The man, resting against the prison door with his leg up and head down, appeared vulnerable despite the threat he represented.
"Really?" Robert said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I don't see why our little friend here keeps trying to warn us about the guard.
He's not even as big as me." He cracked his knuckles and smiled.
"I'll shift into my vampire form to take him out and grab the key. Then you and my brother can go inside to get Willa out. Simple.”
Robert smirked.
But the butterfly boy shook his head vehemently, his face grave. He pointed at the guard, then opened his mouth to show his teeth.
Torin chuckled, but I noticed the worry lines etched on his forehead.
"Torin’s vampire fangs are the sharpest and most lethal ones I've ever seen," I said to the fairy boy.
But the boy seemed unconvinced, flying in front of me and mimicking a creature crawling on all fours.
"Wait," I said, realization dawning on me. "Are you saying this guard can shape-shift into…” I paused, thinking about Niall’s words. Powerful fairies, like Hayden, could shift into wolves. “A wolf?"
The boy nodded.
"Is his wolf big?" I asked, my heart pounding.
The tiny fairy flew up and down and left and right as if showing the size of the creature.
"If Torin and Robert remain in their human forms or even shift into their vampires, they'll be big, standing targets."
The boy nodded again, his expression urgent.
"So they'll dodge the creature better if they are in their wolf forms?"
The tiny fairy bobbed his head again, flying to my face, and gently touched my cheek with his tiny hand. The contact felt like fresh air soothing my skin, giving me peace.
“It would be better if the guard shifts,” I said. “Then the key won’t be on him.”
Torin and his brother exchanged determined glances before they moved behind me and began to shed their clothes. Bones cracking and readjusting echoed in the dungeon, and their transformation into massive, powerful wolves was instant.
I turned to face them. The wolves’ muscles rippled beneath their silver fur, and their crimson eyes shone with fierce intensity.
"Okay," I whispered, my voice shaking. "Let's get that key. But before that, let me get my whip ready, just in case."
The tiny fairy flew before me and stared at my golden bracelet.
I willed my witch weapon to extend, but nothing happened. I couldn’t feel the pulse of energy from the bracelet. I tried to summon the power from it again, but nothing happened.
I rubbed my palm over the golden material, feeling its coolness. My cheeks burned, and my eyebrows rose.
“I can’t feel my bracelet,” I said.
The butterfly boy pointed to the ancient ruins and carvings on the walls around the chamber, and it finally dawned on me.
Since Willa was in the prison cell, of course the fairies would neutralize her powers. It made sense—they'd done it to stop my mom from escaping.
The larger silver wolf watched me and barked at me. I narrowed my eyes at Torin’s wolf.
“All of us are going, Torin,” I said. “Don’t argue with me now.”
He let out a low growl, shaking his wolf head.
“Don’t you growl at me. I’m not letting you risk your life while I wait behind the corner,” I said, but then a guilty pang stabbed my chest. “I know you’re worried about me, probably even more since my weapon doesn’t work at the moment.”
The silver wolf exhaled deeply through his nose.
“I’ll be careful, and I have you and Robert.”
Torin’s wolf moved his thick neck as if nodding.
With the fairy boy flying behind me, the wolves and I neared the sleeping guard. The key hung around his neck—my only chance to save my mom.
Torin’s wolf and his brother circled the guard, their movements fluid and silent as the predators they were. The prison guard stirred slightly, snoring softly against the door.
The cold, damp air of the corridor clung to my skin, sending shivers down my spine. But as they closed in on the unsuspecting guard, I couldn't shake the nagging worry that gnawed at me.
I tried to appear strong in front of Torin, but if things went wrong, I could endanger everyone I loved. And I couldn’t shift because I needed to grab the key.
My heart raced as the smaller silver wolf lunged, his powerful form a blur of motion. This was my opportunity to steal the key from the dazed guard, so I moved right before him.
Abruptly, the guard jolted awake, his snarl loud and fierce as he moved out of the way with inhuman speed. The wolf banged his head on the iron door behind the guard. Robert’s wolf tumbled to the ground, shaking his head.
Had the fairy creature been awake this entire time, pretending and waiting for our move?
The fairy guard loomed over me with his massive frame, too close for comfort. Now I had his undivided attention. His menacing glare felt like icy fingers creeping down my back. But I darted forward, my fingers trembling as I tried to grasp the key without getting caught by him.
Time seemed to slow as I reached out, my fingertips brushing against the cool metal. I sucked in a sharp breath as he raised his enormous hand, ready to strike me.
With a swift move, I grasped the key and tugged hard to break it off the chain. But it didn’t.
I yanked again, only to anger the fairy guard further.
He let out a howl, and his sharp talons extended on the hand that was flying toward my face.