Chapter 41 The Secret Chamber

(Hope POV)

We dropped off Alicia and all the grocery items she bought at her family's new home in the territory's housing area. A Kia Soul was parked in the driveway. Inside, Alicia's mother and brother were fixing all the furniture and appliances that were delivered. A man was setting up their TV in the living room. Oliver remembered the two television sets I had him purchase for the staff's quarters. He excused himself to check if the television sets were being set up there as well and said he will be back right away to pick us up. Alicia and I entered the house, each of us carrying grocery bags. I placed the grocery bags I was carrying on the floor of the living room area while Alicia placed hers on the dining table.

A middle-aged woman with Alicia's hazel eyes and freckles walked towards me with a big smile on her face. " Luna Hope, I can't thank you enough for all this." She bowed at me then gave me a hug. I blushed.

"Luna Hope, this is my Mom, Miranda, and my brother Adam." Her brother waves at me, his attention at the smartphone his sister just gave him.

"Mom, here's all the grocery items you had me buy. Plus, here's a phone and some money." Alicia gives her mother a box that had a smartphone in it and some cash. "I wanted to buy you a washer and dryer, but Oliver said you can do your laundry at The Trusted Home. You are always welcome to come visit. Maybe I can get you the washer and dryer next paycheck."

"Honey, you don't have to buy everything right away. Just one at a time," Miranda said.

"Mom, I promise I'll buy you everything you want. No need for you to work anymore ok? If you need money, you know where to find me."

"Alicia, you gave me so much money," said Miranda, handing back some of the money Alicia just gave her. Alicia shook her head and pushed her mother's hand back.

"Keep it, Mom, open a savings account. You know, for Adam's education," Alicia instructed. Her mother nodded her head and placed the money in her purse which was on the kitchen countertop.

While they talked about what grocery items Alicia forgot to buy, I secretly put a protection charm around their house just in case.

Oliver honked outside, signalling it was time for us to head back home. We said our good-byes and drove to the mansion.

Dinner was already being served at the mansion. I asked Alicia if she wanted to join us for dinner and she said she wanted to eat at The Trusted Home.

"Alicia, is it ok if you'd come with me to the conjuring room. Around 8PM? Meet me at my room?"

"Of course, Luna Hope. Anything you need. Do I need to be in a certain attire?"

"You can come in your pajamas," I answered. "If you feel tired, you can sleep there."

"Ok. I'll see you later then, Luna." Alicia bows and walks towards her building.

"Hope, I've been waiting for you." I turn around to see Alexander behind me. I run towards him and gave him a big hug. I wanted to let him know I missed him.

"Alexander, I missed you. And to think I was only gone for five hours." I kiss him on the cheek.

"You had fun? It seems like you did. It's clear skies from here and beyond. Let's go inside." Alexander guides me to the mansion. "Have you had dinner?"

"I'm stuffed from Angela's Diner, but I can maybe have dessert later. By the way, I have an 8PM date with Alicia at the Conjuring Room."

"Look at you. Suddenly so busy. No time for me?" He playfully asked.

"I'd have more time if people would quit giving me spell books." I giggle.

"Ouch. I actually have a book of spells I want you to study."

"See what I mean?" I rolled my eyes at him. We both laugh. He guides me to the stairs and to our floor, but instead of entering our room, we enter his office.

Fine, I pictured his office to be like my principal's office- messy, small and smelled like feet. I was wrong. His office was neat, modern and wow, spacious!

A big wood table whose legs were designed to form the letter "U" was near the door. He only had a laptop on top of it and a pen. In the middle of the room was a "U" shaped white sofa and a glass coffee table. On the wall was a huge TV which Alexander hid via remote.

"Nice office. Don't tell me, this wall opens to a bedroom with a bathroom." I pointed to a wall as I sat down on the sofa.

"How did you know?" Alexander sat beside me and pulled me into his lap.

"Your mom has the same thing in her conjuring room. Plus, I remember you told me this morning you slept here last night," I answered.

"So attentive. My office is sound proof. You can scream here all you want and no one will hear you." He winked.

"Oh my gosh! That's just too much information. Maybe we can test it in the future." I smile. "So, this book of spells needs to be discussed in private. What do you need me to do that's dangerous?" I ask him.

Alexander heaved a sigh. "One burden after the other. I know we've been putting you through so much stress. You haven't even been here for a week and already we are making you do all the things others, like myself, have trained for years to do, while we give you a couple of hours to master a book." He kisses the palm of my hand and puts my palm to his cheek. "I need you to conjure a secret chamber. A very powerful mage does it for the Clan of Wolves. That mage is under lock and key by the High Elder himself. The only one I know of that is as powerful is you, my love." He reaches over to the coffee table and picks up a small leatherbound book with a lock. "This book belonged to your mother. She was instrumental in conjuring a secret chamber during the War according to my mother. Only she and the mage were the only ones who were able to do so." He hands me the book and I brush my fingers on the lock.

"How am I suppose to open this?" I asked. There was no keyhole.

"I was hoping you'd tell me," Alexander said.

I scrutinize the lock for any markings and I see a very small and faint symbol of the Crescent Moon and Star just like my locket. Maybe the incantation from my locket will open it.

"I, daughter of Lupa, bend thee to my will," I chanted. The lock opened. I smiled. Lucky guess.

"Brilliant as always. I knew you knew how to open this book. What did you just say? You actually just said something foreign." Alexander told me.

"I said something foreign? I spoke in English. I just said what is engraved on my locket." I turn my locket over and show him the inscription engraved on it.

"It looks like symbols to me. Heiroglyphics even." Alexander rubs his thumb on my locket. "I believe you are the only one who can read it."

I open the book, I scan through it and show Alexander some of its pages. Alexander looked at me with confusion. " Hope, are you sure you can read that?" He asked.

"Yes, it's in English and it looks pretty simple." I scan through the other pages. "Sorry, nope, I spoke too soon. It's not simple at all. I need to commune with the Moon Goddess before I'm able to create a secret room. Basically, I have to tell her what it is for and who will take part in the secret chambers. Sooooo, what is it for and who will be with you, Alexander?"

"I need to meet with the Alpha of Midnight Moon pack in secret. It is for the survival of their pack," he answered.

"Midnight Moon..." I try to remember all the Alphas in attendance at the meeting of the Clan of Wolves. "Luciana Hemming?"

"Good memory. Yes. Her."

"Anyone else?" I ask him.

"Maybe Mark and Luciana's Beta or anyone she feels she can trust to keep this information secret," Alexander replied.

"Alright. Only four of you. Well, five because technically I will be present. Basically, I will be the meeting's secretary. It says here if anyone were to betray the grounds for which the secret chamber was made, a wound will be inflicted by the Moon Goddess on the traitor's body. It will only heal when the traitor admits to his sins."

"It says that?" Alexander asked, clearly surprised.

"Yes." I glanced at Alexander. He was now in deep thought.

"Does it say where on the body?" He asked.

I flip through the pages of the book looking for an answer. " It doesn't say where on the body. I'm guessing it's somewhere we can't see, but somewhere painful enough for the traitor to admit his betrayal." Alexander nodded his head. He seemed to agree it was the most logical explanation. I turn my attention back to the book and read further.

"Once I make the chamber, a small doorway will appear near the individual that only he or she can see. Anyone who follows who is not a participant will be sent somewhere else," I read aloud. I remember what Oliver and David had said when they followed Alexander. Now I know. "Best time to make it is during a clear night sky like this one." I get off of Alexander's lap. "Let' s do this now. Send Alpha Luciana a message about your meeting tell her to wait in her office and tell her to erase the message once she's read it." I close the book. "I need a communing space."

"That's easy. My mother has one in her conjuring room. Let's go find Mama." Alexander stands up and takes my hand so we could go find his mother.

He opens the door of his office and we find Alicia standing at the hallway. I look at the clock on the wall of Alexander's office. It said 8:10PM.

"So sorry Alicia if I had you wait. Come with us. I need people I can trust." The three of us head downstairs to the lounge area.

"Mama, where are you?" Alexander calls his mother.

"I'm here, dear." Diane emerges from the dining area.

"Mama, we need your communing room. We are going to do this now." Alexander gives his mother a look and Diane nods.

Mark comes running into the mansion followed by Oliver and David. "We're here, Alpha. What do you need us to do?" Oliver asked.

"Oliver, get all the trusted men. Pick five to help guard the basement, the rest will guard the mansion. No one enters and no one leaves. Any household staff already here will remain here until I say. Mark, David follow us to the basement," Alexander ordered. "After you are done Oliver, come to the basement. I need you to guard Hope."

Diane leads us to the secret door of her conjuring room. After she opened the door, she took her remote and the room shifted. The beautiful waterfall moved to the side and into a small chamber. The hydroponic garden and her laboratory moved into the walls. The floors tiles were now covered with a carpet that had a huge circle with a star in the middle. The wall in front of it opened to a tiny window, the moonlight from it, hitting the star in the middle. Around the circle were small indentations. Diane left the room and when she came back, she had brought some candles with her. One by one, she placed a candle inside an identation then lighted them up with a lighter.

I told Alexander and Mark to stay in the lounge area of the recreational room. Their door will open there. I asked Alexander if he had messaged Luciana to wait and he said yes. I tell him if all goes well, the doorways should appear within ten to fifteen minutes.

"I will be in a deep trance. No one can wake me while I'm doing this. If I die while doing this, everyone in the secret chamber dies with me. So before I conjure this chamber, I need to put a protection charm around this room."

Howard suddenly appears with Oliver. "We're here. I'll help keep watch." He kisses Diane on her cheek. I smile at them. Now, where was I? Ah, protection charm.

I put a protection charm around the room. The green light envelopes the conjuring room and the entire basement. I tell Alicia and Oliver to stand beside the circle and to let no one enter it while I'm performing my magic, explaining it is a matter of life and death. I put a pillow where the star was located and kneel on it. I put the book down beside me. I look into the moonlight and close my eyes. I form a triangle with my fingers in the middle of my body. I start to feel the heat of the moonlight.

"I, daughter of Lupa, ask the Moon Goddess for her guidance and her blessing," I chanted.

I felt myself float in the air and fly through the clouds. It was an amazing feeling. I looked down at what I was wearing. I was wearing a white silk dress that fluttered through the wind. I suddenly felt what seemed to me to be arms circling around me, like I was being held in someone's warm embrace. It pulled me towards the moon, where the stars twinkled like diamonds beside it. A white mist shaped into a woman with her arms outstretched welcomed me.

"Hope, my child, we finally meet again. What do you ask of me?" The Moon Goddess asked, smiling.

"Moon Goddess, I need to conjure a secret chamber. It's purpose is for the survival of the Midnight Moon pack. Four will be in attendance, five if I include myself," I answered, quite briskly.

"I know, my child, war is brewing. This is why I have taken it upon myself to prepare you for what lies ahead. I see you have already learned to control the elements. As I have said, listen to your body." The Moon Goddess reminded me. "You may have many enemies, however you also have many allies. Hope, forgiveness is much stronger than vengeance...it allows all wounds to heal." She smiles at me. "I know you have that power. You have already touched one life." I have already touched one life? I looked at her, puzzled, hoping she would explain what she meant. Unfortunately, she didn't. "I will open the portals for the four. Once they exit the chamber, you will awake. Go now, daughter of Lupa. Be blessed." She waved at me and just like that, her silhouette was gone.

I felt myself slowly float down away from the moon and in a flash of light, I find myself seated in a room with a circular table in the center.