Chapter Eighty-seven: Traitor

The three of us spend the rest of the morning walking inland, discussing our plans for the next few days.

Around about midday we decide to stop at a small opening with the tree line surrounding us in a circle. We start unpacking our stuff and set up camp for the day to decide what’s next.

“Honestly, I didn’t even know we’d get this far this quickly.” Elijah says with a shrug.

“I didn’t either. I remember walking along here but there’s much more ground we could cover, I just don’t think it’s worth it. I hope Troy sought out the rest of the vampire covens, as there were a lot of them between here and the human district.” I say thoughtfully.

Elijah looks at me then quickly diverts his eyes away. I sigh.

“What is it?”

“Do you want to go there?”

I look away from him and to the ground, knowing where he means. I suspect we’re maybe a few weeks’ out if we were to go there directly. I shake my head.

“There’s nothing left for me there, and it won’t help our cause. One day…one day I’d love to go there just to pay my respects but for now, I need to stay focused on getting Lukas back.”

Elijah nods. I look to Nuria who’s been distant, or better described as distracted the last half hour.

“Nuria are you ok? You‘ve been quiet.”

She jumps slightly as if I startled her looking a bit spaced out. She focuses herself and looks to me. “I’m sorry Aliana. I won’t lie, I’ve been trying to figure out why this rock gives me the power it does. I’m wondering what it changes.”

I look at her and down at her hands where she’s holding the rock, as if she’s now tethered to it.

“Why don’t you go and try using your powers? See where it gets you?” I suggest, hoping she can relieve some of her worries.

She smiles. “I think I will. I think this is going to be the key to finding my Father.” She says solemnly.

Both Elijah and I nod our heads and smile at her. She gets up and walks away with the stone in hand and her head held high. I look back to Elijah.

“I hope she manages to find what that rock does for her. I think it’s going to be what gets us to Fedori.”

“I’ve no doubt. I suspect she has a lot of powers that even she doesn’t know about. Maybe this rock will help her understand or unlock them.” He says thoughtfully.
I think for a few moments. “Maybe she will be able to teleport more people at once, or even get them through to her Fathers darkness realm.”

I think back to when she pulled me out of it, however my physical body wasn’t there. I wonder if she’ll be able to get us there or pull Lukas out. I ponder on the multiple possibilities this stone could provide for her before Elijah interrupts my thoughts.

“Do you want some lunch? There’s still a bit of chicken left that I can cook.” He says.

I sigh, having had enough of Rabbit and chicken the past few days. But I look for Nuria who has now disappeared, probably testing out what she can do.

“I guess so, what other choice do we have?” I say mockingly.

Elijah rolls his heads to one side menacingly. “I mean, you could eat the grass?”

I scowl at him. “Very funny, but that’s more your thing.” I say with a chuckle causing his eyes to narrow.

Elijah cooks the last of the chicken and we sit and eat together, patiently waiting for Nuria to return. As we wait, I think back to the Crescent Moon pack and wonder how everyone’s getting on. I think about Mandy and baby Rochelle and hope they’re getting on well.

“I think I may try and mind-link Mandy.” I say out loud, wondering what Elijah would say.

He sighs. “You’ve not tried since we left the dark forest.”

I think back to when I last tried to mind-link the pack, remembering it was a few days after we left the dark forest. I tried Blaine, Mandy and Estelle to no avail.

“There’s no harm in trying though, is there?” I ask, wanting a second opinion on the matter.

“I suspect not. Give it a try, but be ready to be disappointed.” He states.

I nod my head and close my eyes. I remember when I was on pack lands it was easy for me to mind-link the other pack members as soon as I took the vow to be Luna. Lukas told me however that when the wolves did leave the pack lands they couldn’t mind-link each other as the connection wasn’t as strong.

I take a deep breath and concentrate hard on envisioning speaking to Mandy as if she’s not far from me.

“Mandy……Mandy can you hear me?” I ask into the void.

I hear nothing for a few moments, only the sounds around me, the crashing of the sea at the bottom of the cliff and Elijah’s soft breaths.

I try focusing on blocking out everything around me, finding after a few moments I hear nothing but silence. Then I call out again.

“Mandy?” I ask.

A few moments later I hear a very quiet response.

“Aliana? Ali is that you?”

“You can hear me? Oh Goddess I can hear you!” I squeal mentally.

“Are you close by? Are you back on pack lands?” She asks excitedly.

“No, I’m the furthest away I’ve been. I’ve not tried mind-linking till now. There’s so much to tell!” I mind-link to her.

“Same on this side, however none of it good.” She links back, and I can tell that somethings wrong.

I start to feel tired, realising that mind-linking like this is tiring me out. “I can’t stay connected too long. This is really straining for me. Give me a quick run-down.” I ask, hoping that another fight hasn’t started whilst I’ve been away.

“Well, no one’s died.” She starts and I can feel relief flow through me. “However we’ve found out how Fedori got his army through. Hugo has been liaising with him. He is also the one who has been trying to convince the other pack members to revolt and had been the inducer of the fires in Elijah’s cottage.”

“What?” I ask, not understanding why Hugo would stoop so low.

“He admitted that he started this because Elijah stole Lottie from him. He made a deal with the dark one that promised him he’d get Loretta back, and Elijah would die.”

“How did you find this out?” I question, not understanding why he’d admin it, knowing it would be certain death.

“His Father was killed by Fedori’s creatures the night of the battle. He’s regretted it ever since and has asked for judgement from Lukas when he returns.”

I feel my head starting to hurt. “I have to go Mandy. How’s the Baby?”

“She’s lovely Aliana. I can’t wait for you to see her, she’s so much bigger than when you last saw her!” She exclaims, and I instantly feel sadness not seeing my niece in so long.
“Give her a kiss for me, Mandy. I’ve got to go. I’ll reach out again soon.” I promise.

I cut off the mind-link to see Elijah staring at me.

“I’ll never get used to that.” He says, and I can tell he’s referring to my eyes turning opaque black.

I roll my eyes at him before looking at him sternly.

“So, it seems they’ve found out who the traitor was who brought in the creatures to the pack lands.” I say hesitantly.

He frowns and raises an eyebrow. “And? Who was it then?”

“Hugo.”

It’s all I have to say before I see the angry expression spread across his face, alongside the anger emanating from him. I see him fighting an internal war and probably has a thousand questions going through his mind.

I sit and tell him everything Mandy just said to me about Hugo’s reasoning and his reason for admitting the truth. I see Elijahs expression change from anger to hurt, to sadness to worry.

“Are they all ok just now though? No more attacks?” He asks, obviously worried for Loretta’s health.

“Yes, no further attacks. No one has died since we left.”

“Are you ok?” he asks suddenly. “You look really tired.”

I wipe my hands over my face, which had started to sweat. “So I’ve found out how to mind-link them but it seems to take its toll. It’s a very similar feeling to finding out one of my powers and trying it out for the first few times. I bet it’ll take a bit of practice before I start getting good at it.” I admit.

I stretch my arms out and yawn, unable to hide my tiredness.

Elijah smiles softly at me. “You should sleep. I’ll keep watch. If Nuria returns, I’ll wake you up, don’t worry.” He says.

I nod. “Thanks, I need it. I hardly slept last night and after that connection I’m shattered.”

He nods and stays where he is. I get up and go over to my bag and whip out my sleeping bag, shaking it to extend it onto the floor. I unzip the top and hop in, my head dropping to the built in pillow, causing me instantly falling asleep.