Chapter 110 Shiny Black Marble

*Andrew*

What was going on? Yells and screams could be heard coming from the floors beneath us. All of us inmates on death row were curious as to what was happening.

The guards had left their posts while one guard allowed one inmate, who was sentenced to death for killing a human family, out from his cell.

"If you kill her, we promise we will release you from prison," said the guard. "You can leave this hell hole and negotiate a place within the Rogue organization with the leader of the Rogues." Kill who? I leaned as close I could to the silver bars of my cell wondering who they wanted dead.

The inmate shifted into a large brown wolf and walked down the corridor. Before he passed my cell, I asked him through mind link, "Who are you ordered to kill?"

The wolf turned its head and looked at me with his beady dark eyes and growled, "The black wolf." He then sprinted down the corridor to the stairs in the back. We heard him jump to the bottom floor where he was greeted with howls from other wolves.

He was going up against the black wolf? I laughed. He apparently had a death wish. I walked back to my cot and sat down. But why was Diana here and why were all the guards so keen in killing her?

Just this morning, I was visited by Eric Lockwood in disguise asking information regarding black sapphires then now, several hours later, Diana Lockwood was here and the whole penitentiary was now in chaos. Did this have something to do with the black sapphires which were in Eric Lockwood's protection? If so, what dark magic has it brought out?

"The mages...they have taken the mages!" An inmate from below yelled.

"There is still one here on the fourth floor," yelled the inmate next to my cell. I turned my head and glared at him. He didn't like me. Well, he didn't like all mages. He thought us all to be scammers. He was said to have murdered a mage because the elixir he was sold was a fake. I didn't have the heart to tell him, the person he killed wasn't a mage, he was just masquerading as one.

We suddenly heard cheers and yells erupting from the inmates below us, however the noise died down as fast as it begun. I glanced at my neighbor who was mind-linking with another. I waited for him to tell us the bad news.

"All three wolves are dead," said my fellow inmate in the next cell to my left. The one to my right scoffed.

"Guard! Guard! You picked the wrong wolf to kill the black wolf. Let me out and I'll show her a thing or two," he yelled. He took his plastic plate and started hitting the silver bars, trying to grab the guard's attention who was just standing in front of our cells. "Guard! Didn't you hear me! I want out so I can teach the black wolf a thing or two!" He yelled so loud, but the guard did not move. The particular inmate was going to yell again if I hadn't spoken.

"He can't move, idiot! Can't you see he is frozen to the spot," I told him. "That, my friend, is a power of the black wolf. Now, do you still want to butt heads with the black wolf?"

"Who do you think you are? An expert on the black wolf? If we are all released and shift, we will manage to kill her. She can not take down hundreds of wolves all at the same time," he argued.

"Yes, she can. If she can enter our dreams all at the same night and inflict pain and suffering, she can kill all of you in a wink of an eye," I told him.

"The black wolf is a she?" the other inmate to my left said. I nodded.

"And she is a half-breed," I said matter-of-factly. Both inmates looked at each other, then at me, and laughed.

"There is no such thing as a half-breed wolf who is stronger than one who is pure. Her wolf is smaller than a wolf of pure blood," the inmate on my right explained.

"I've seen the black wolf with my own two eyes. She is bigger than any Alpha wolf and has power given by the Moon Goddess herself."

"You lie! There is no wolf bigger than an Alpha wolf," said the inmate on my right side.

"Shush, the both of you. There is someone here who is challenging the black wolf. Men in black cloaks with red-orange eyes," the inmate to my left said. Figures in black cloaks with red-orange eyes? What is going on down there? Damn, the black wolf! If only I could use my power of astral projection then I could see what was happening!

I got up from my cot and began to pace up and down my cell trying to think. The black sapphires were indeed cursed conjuring spirits who had vowed vengeance against the black wolf. What kind of dark magic could create such a thing? Did these men in black cloaks strike a deal with a demon? If so, what was the payment promised after they have extracted their vengeance? Human souls? Wolf souls perhaps?

My partner had a thing about researching about dark magic, however he never practiced it himself, frightened of the possibility of waking up an unknown demon from the spirit world. If there is a heaven, there is a hell and in hell lies many demons waiting to overthrow life on earth and make it one big smorgasbord. Oh, demons are always hungry and countless souls is every demon's dream.

The black sapphires must have housed a demon who has long awaited for someone to use him so he may extract payment.

I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn't notice a black orb floating along the corridor. The inmate on my right had to grab my attention.

"Mage! Mage!" He yelled.

"What?" I asked, clearly irritated he had interrupted my thoughts. "What is it this time?" He pointed a shaking finger and backed away from his cell door.

"Look! It's a shiny black marble," he answered.

"A what?" I turned around and was shocked to see a small floating black orb infront of our cells. Suddenly, the orb passed through the opening of my cell and divided itself into three. Three to form a triangle, a trinity. Three for mind, body and soul. I guess it needed all three to consume or to make it stronger.

"Don't touch it. It's cursed," I said. However, the two inmates on each of my sides seemed to enthralled by the floating orbs. I backed away. I was already on death row. I didn't want a demon to take my soul. I prayed silently to the Moon Goddess. Even though it was true she had no known enemies, there were others who were envious of her and her children.

"Andrew, my love, why linger here when you can be free? Free to live, free to use magic, free to have the comforts one could ever imagine?" It couldn't be him. He was long gone. I shook my head and closed my eyes. It wasn't him; it was the spirit in the orb speaking. "All you need to do is touch the black star sapphire and you will reign supreme. No High Lord Wolf to listen to, no more Minerva Allen, no more black wolf." I felt a warmth radiate throughout my body. It spread to the tips of my fingers, making them feel light and feathery. I pulled my hands away and hid them behind my back.

"No," I said. Mind over matter. "It was a cursed gem and it will make me do unthinkable things," I said to myself. "Whatever you do, don't touch it!" I screamed at the other two.

"ANDREW!" I knew that voice. I opened my eyes and saw Michael. The Moon Goddess heard my prayer. "High Lord Wolf, your palm print please and type in the security code. Hurry!" The High Lord Wolf scurried to unlock my door.

I heard ear-deafening screams on either side of me and when I glanced at both sides, my eyes widened in shock and the hairs on my arm stood erect from fright. Both inmates were engulfed in red flames. I covered my ears to try and muffle their screams. 

"Andrew, my love, it will only hurt for a moment." I shook my head and began to cry. No, no, no! This can't be happening. This was all a nightmare.

The door finally opened and in came Michael carrying a laptop. He swung at the orb and it whizzed passed me. "COME ON! WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME!" He grabbed my hand and we followed the High Lord Wolf who was running ahead us. Lucas was waiting at a small staircase which led to an opening to the roof. The High Lord Wolf ran up with me just behind him. Lucas and Michael came up from behind me and closed the hatch cover.

"Hurry, inside the chopper! We need to get as far from here as possible and as quickly as possible!" Alpha Connor yelled as he assisted us in. "Fly us out of here! Now!" He instructed the pilot.

We were already moving away from the penitentiary when the hatch began to move. Michael had placed a couple of bricks he had found to at least buy us some time. Suddenly the bricks and hatch cover flew in the air and out came two men with black cloaks. We were already far from their reach. Even if they had the use of magic, their magic was not strong enough to hurt us.

However, they could still use their magic on surrounding structures. One was pointing at an antenna which had began to fall in our path.

"Hold on, people," Captain Hathaway said. I didn't notice he was our pilot. He maneuvered the helicopter away from the falling antenna. I looked around to check if there were more things that could block our path. When I saw there was none left, I heaved a sigh of relief. We were in the clear.

I glanced at the other passengers and saw the relief in their faces, all except for one. In the middle sat a really angry Minerva Allen. If looks could kill, we'd all be dead. I wondered why did she look so angry. She has been saved from impending doom.

"Where are we headed to?" Captain Hathaway asked. Lucas, Michael and Alpha Connor looked at the High Lord Wolf for answers.

"Take us to Wolf Mansion, Captain," the High Lord Wolf said.

I leaned back into my seat and grinned. Even if I was still considered an inmate on death row, at least I will be imprisoned in style.
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*Lucas*

I looked back at Wolf Penitentiary with a heavy heart. Again, I would be leaving someone I dearly loved. I didn't know what would happen to her, but I had confidence, Diana would come out unscathed.

I glanced at Michael and saw the sorrow in his eyes. Diana was a daughter to him. Back in Maine, she would always joke she may not have had a mother, but she was blessed with two fathers and she wouldn't have it any other way. I placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked up at me. Whatever he was feeling was a reflection of what I was feeling. We both left our daughter behind.

Connor sat in his seat, silent. Even though he did not raise her, he saved her when she was a newborn infant. He was as much a part of her as she to us and the inner turmoil of leaving her behind was written all over his face. I could tell he was uttering a silent prayer as he looked up at the heavens above us. I also looked up and begged the Moon Goddess to watch over my Diana and if Amy was out there, to watch over her too.

The helicopter ride was a short one. Captain Hathaway, experienced pilot that he was, landed smoothly on the helipad of the Wolf Mansion grounds. The two Wolf Troops with us quickly ushered the mages inside.

"Lucas, Michael, Connor, why are all three of you standing there?" The High Lord Wolf asked, puzzled. All three of us looked at each other and smiled. We were old and maybe a little mental, but we had to go back for our girl.

"Captain Hathaway, you up for another mission?" I asked him. He smiled at me and nodded his head.

"We need provisions. Tactical gear, weapons, the works," Michael said. Captain Hathaway called on one of his men to get us the things we needed.

"High Lord Wolf, call Ethan Crowne and tell him to have him and his men, including my Beta, to meet us at the penitentiary.Tell him to be ready for war," Connor instructed the High Lord Wolf.

"You're all going back?" The High Lord Wolf looked confused. After all we've been through earlier, we were crazy to go back.

"You aren't a father so you don't know how it feels," I told him, patting him on the back.

"Fathers protect their kids," Michael said. Connor nodded his head in agreement.

"And fathers always save their kids even if it means risking their own lives," Connor added, cocking a rifle Captain Hathaway just gave him.

"We're going back to save Diana or die trying."