Chapter 9: First encounter with the cult

The following couple of days exceeded a blur of schooling and coaching. Jessica's newfound powers grew stronger with every passing hour, her self-belief building alongside her talents. The alphas pushed her hard, testing the boundaries of what she ought to do, but she relished the assignment.

On the fifth day considering their arrival at the Den, Jessica woke up with a beginning. Something felt... Off. The cave became quiet, too quiet. Even the constant historical noise of the underground river appeared muted.

She sat up, straight away alert. "James?" she called softly, however, there has been no reaction. The makeshift bed became empty, with no sign of her pals.

Fear clawed at her throat as she scrambled to her toes. Where are all the people? Had something come about while she slept?

A faint sound caught her interest - voices, coming from close to the cave entrance. Jessica crept nearer, her coronary heart pounding. As she neared the slim passageway, she should make out James's deep rumble, anxiety evident in his tone.

"...Can't be a twist of fate," he said. "They're getting closer."

"We ought to pass," Andrew's gruff voice spoke back. "It's not secure here anymore."

Jessica's breath stuck. Were they about the cult? Had they been located?

She was approximately to expose herself when a new heady scent hit her nose - something acrid and chemical that made her head spin. Before she may want to name out a caution, a thick, choking smoke commenced to pour into the cavern.

"Gas!" Michael's shout changed into a fast accompanied by the sounds of coughing and confusion.

Jessica stumbled lower back, her eyes watering as the noxious fumes unfolded. She reached for her powers, seeking to create a barrier, but the smoke seemed to intrude along with her awareness.

Through the haze, she saw darkish figures pouring into the cave. They wore atypical masks that covered them from the gasoline and carried guns that gleamed with an unnatural light.

The cult. They'd observed them.

Jessica's coronary heart raced as she saw her friends struggling towards the consequences of the fuel. Even their supernatural electricity turned into no health for something toxin stuffed the air. She needed to do something.

Summoning each ounce of will, Jessica centered on the energy inside her. Silver mild blazed from her skin, pushing again against the encroaching darkness. With a concept, she extended the protective bubble around her alphas, giving them a chance to recover.

"Jessica, run!" James roared, already shifting into his massive wolf shape regardless of the lingering effects of the gas.

But she couldn't leave them. Not now, not ever. Drawing on reserves of power she did not recognize she possessed, Jessica multiplied her barrier, forcing the cultists back.

For a moment, it seemed to be operating. The alphas regrouped, their fierce growls echoing through the cavern as they prepared to combat. But then...

A parent stepped forward from the mass of cultists. Tall, with ritualistic scars covering each seven-inch of pores and skin, he radiated an air of secrecy of malevolent energy that made Jessica's belly churn.

"At final," he stated, his voice like gravel scraping over bone. "The Luna reveals herself."

With a gesture, he sent a wave of darkish energy crashing in opposition to Jessica's barrier. She gasped at the impact, feeling it drain her power. How did he become so powerful?

"Jessica, go!" Michael yelled, launching himself on the nearest cultists. "We'll hold them off!"

But it changed into too past due. More cultists poured in, wielding the ones extraordinary guns that appeared to sap the alphas' strength with every hit. Jessica watched in horror as her associates were slowly beaten through sheer numbers.

The chief turned his cold gaze on her, a twisted smile gambling over his scarred lips. "Come now, little Luna. You do not need your treasured alphas to suffer, do you?"

Tears streamed down Jessica's face as she watched James take a particularly vicious blow. He collapsed to one knee, blood matting his fur.

"Stop!" she cried. "Please, I'll... I'll go with you. Just don't harm them anymore."

"No!" The anguished howl got here from all seven alphas without delay, however Jessica had made her selection.

She reduced her barrier, stepping forward on shaky legs. The cult leader's smile widened as he reached for her.

But Jessica had one final trick up her sleeve. The moment his hand touched her arm, she released each ounce of pent-up power she'd been amassing. Silver mild exploded outward in a concussive wave, sending cultists flying.

"Run!" she screamed to her associates, praying they had taken the risk she'd given them.

In the chaos that was observed, Jessica misplaced music of what changed going on. She fought with the whole thing she had, lashing out along with her powers, however, there have been too many. A sharp ache in her neck, after which...

Darkness.

When Jessica came to, she turned into a dimly lit room that reeked of deterioration and darkish magic. Her head pounded, and she or he may want to experience something cold and heavy around her wrists - manacles, etched with odd symbols that seemed to hose down her powers.

"Welcome lower back to the land of the living, Luna," a sickeningly familiar voice said.

Jessica's eyes snapped open to look at the cult leader looming over her. Up close, his scars were even extra terrifying - no longer random marks, but problematic styles that pulsed with an unholy light.

"What do you want from me?" she managed to croak, her throat dry and uncooked.

He chuckled the sound without any actual mirth. "Why, to meet the prophecy of direction. You're the key to unlocking electricity past your wildest desires."

Jessica's blood ran cold. The prophecy. The sacrifice. Was this what it had supposed all alongside?

"My alphas," she stated, looking to preserve the tremor from her voice. "Where are they?"

The leader's eyes glittered with merciless enjoyment. "Worried about your dogs? Don't be. They'll be joining us quickly enough. Can't whole the ritual without all of the gamers, despite everything."

Ritual. The phrase sent a shiver down Jessica's spine. Whatever they'd deliberate, she knew it couldn't be good.

"You might not get away with this," she stated, mustering all the defiance she may want to. "They'll come for me."

The leader simply smiled, aiming to hint one scarred finger alongside her cheek. Jessica flinched far from his contact, her skin crawling.

"Oh, I'm counting on it, little Luna," he said softly. "I'm alternatively looking ahead to it."

With that ominous declaration, he grew to become and from the room, leaving Jessica by myself together with her fears. As the heavy door clanged close in the back of him, she subsequently allowed herself to break down, sobs wracking her body.

She'd attempted so difficult to be robust, to stay up to the future that was thrust upon her. But now, chained and powerless in the heart of enemy territory, Jessica had by no means felt greater by myself or afraid.

As tears streamed down her face, she despatched a silent prayer to something forces might be listening. Please, she thinks desperately. Please allow them to be okay. Let them locate me.

Little did Jessica know, even as she despaired, that her associates had been already on the circulate. Battered however unbroken, the seven alphas had picked up her heady scent path and have been remaining speedy.

The very last disagreement was coming. And when it did, the world might tremble in its wake.