Hybrid Trilogy

Chapter 39 The Key

In Dnscaith Castle, known as the fortress of shadows on the isle of Skye in the highlands of Scotland, Mandrake struck down with unfettered force at the York stone flooring, smashing the stone slab into pieces, he turned roared & was quickly on Cassandra "WHY WITCH, WHY I HAD THE MUTT" Mandrake spat through gritted teeth. Cassandra, gasping for breath & pinned to the floor grabbed his wrist, while his hand gripped her throat, she tried vainly to speak, then blinked, disappearing & reappearing standing next to an angry frustrated Mandrake he looked up & roared once more & made to grab at her again, but this time she raised her flat palm like a stop sign & he froze. "Forgive me my lord" she said quietly "I had to remove us, the Witch Charlotte has more power than I bargained for" Cassandra began calmly "HOW DARE YOU WITCH" Mandrake screamed "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" he added. "I dare my lord, because I indeed know who you are, & I am your protector & we were losing!" She replied a little more resolute, confident that her spell was holding him for now. Just then Drake walked into the main hall where they stood, the dark stone hall was lit by several wall mounted sconces with burning torches with a granite fire place at one end sporting a raging fire & mid way a stone stair leading off to other parts of the castle "mumma" he called running to greet her, Mandrake looked on still unable to move, but impressed non the less with his own achievement in creating Drake. 5-year-old Drake at the sight of his father stood to attention & bowed his head "my lord" he said proudly, this was the first time he had ever met his father & yet straight away he knew him. Clutching Drake to her, Cassandra turned to face Mandrake "my power has grown my lord since I took the life of the lady Alcina, & as such you can no longer hurt me or for that matter your son my lord." She said calmly but firmly, squeezing Drake closer to her. "But you are now, & will always be my lord, master & my love, I have known you since you were born my lord, you have now & will always have my undisputed loyalty" she continued & as she did she put Drake gently to one side & dropped to her knees & bowed her head "I am now the new lady Alcina" she lied "head of all Witches & my coven, I must convene a council of war & I as the lady must lead it, against the forces governed by the Witch Charlotte for the good of Vampires." Cassandra continued feeling evermore confident, she stood up & again in a firm, but calm voice said "now my lord, I will release you from the clutches of my spell, because together we will bring down the Werewolf & together Witches & Vampires will take their rightful place as rulers of both dimensions" Cassandra ended. & with a wave of her hand the freeze spell was lifted. Mandrake's first reaction was to reach for Cassandra again, but she put up her hand "ah!" She said firmly & he stopped but gave her the most malevolent of looks.

"Now if it please you my lord, we can all travel back to the dimension of Witches & bring all the Witches power to our cause then return & provide the humans with no mercy" Cassandra said darkly, clearly drunk on her newly acquired power. Mandrake looked as the wet nurse entered the hall, offering a curtsy to him as she did, then also presenting the same to Cassandra, as quick as a flash Mandrake was on the girl & sunk his teeth into her neck drinking the life from her. Once done he let the still lifeless body of the young Celtic wet nurse fall to the ground "that sounds like a most agreeable plan" Mandrake said blood still dripping from the corner of his mouth "come then Witch let us return to your dimension that I might view it" black smoke appeared from nowhere encasing them all as magic took them to the pepper pot in Godalming.

Back in Loxwood Charlotte looked around for the now absent Cassandra & Mandrake. Time had gone a good deal faster than she had anticipated & as dawn began to break through the darkness, the remaining Vampires all fled for cover, their daylight protectors in hot pursuit. The Werewolf pack began turning back to naked humans, although thankfully magic made sure the nakedness was short lived. "Where did Mandrake go?" George called as he re-emerged from the house, having changed back & dressed. "He vanished along with Cassandra" she replied. And thank the lord he did" came the booming voice of Theon as he threw the dead body of one of his pack, who had fallen victim to the horde over his shoulder. "because if he hadn't have disappeared when he did, then George would be carrying my body" Theon said, "boy that bastard is strong!" He finished "well you look different" Ruby asked as she came out with Unity in her arms "what happened to you Charlotte & any idea where they have gone?" she added "one question at a time my friend" she began. They all went inside so George could set about making some breakfast with Theon's help. "Firstly, during the night my mother visited me" she began "what the lady, here, what during the battle? Ruby asked surprised "yes time was captured whilst she was here, she confirmed some very disturbing & upsetting news given me by Cassandra" at this Ruby handed Unity to one of the other changelings & rushed over to embrace Charlotte "she has murdered my mother" she added quietly "OH,NO Charlotte I am so, so sorry" Ruby replied as tears began to flow at her friends loss "as my mother said the time for grieving is not now, she did tell me that Cassandra only stole her power, not that of all the Alcina, hence the new look" she said running her hand over her body "so Charlotte is no more, I am now the new lady Alcina" she finished

George turned and offered a deep bow frying pan in hand "my lady" he mocked Ruby gave him a very angry look "GEORGE!!" she barked George turned quickly "sorry" he said, the lady Alcina looked warmly at George "do not worry yourself George, I am remarkably calm considering, I suspect that my sister & her Vampire charge have travelled back to the dimension of magic" the lady finished. George again turned "surely she is not really your sister didn't you once tell me that you were an only child?" he asked, the lady Alcina explained how Witches often referred to each other as siblings, but that as, in fact her mother was a twin & unbeknown to her at the time of Jasmine's birth Cassandra was also born & was her true twin sister although not identical. "so, what does this mean for us?" Asked George "mmm" the lady started as she gathered her thoughts "well I will do my best, but if my fears are correct then I must return to guide my people, Cassandra murdered my mother, her mother , but I am now the lady Alcina & like my mother before me I must lead my coven, away from this darkness" the lady Alcina answered. She then took Unity from the changeling who held her "she" said the lady referring to Unity "is the key to all of our survival, & I don't know why, so don't ask, she just is" she finished addressing the room, aware they were all having the same thought (WHY) they all looked at the cute baby Unity in confusion, trying to understand why she might be so important & in turn Unity smiled & gurgled.