Hybrid Trilogy

Chapter 50 Journeys beginning

As the morning progressed & they returned to the square following time to gather provisions, Agnashus stepped forward from the crowd addressing the Lady "I am coming with you my lady" he said defiantly she thought momentarily of arguing, but thought better of it, so nodded.

"So, you stay & see to the coven & look after Isabella" she said addressing Nighmeara, who stood with Niregg at her side "I AM NOT STAYING, IM COMING TOO!!!" shouted Isabella sounding like a petulant teenager. The lady Alcina took a firm grip of Isabella's hands & looked lovingly into the girls hysterical face "My Daughter" she began, soothing Isabella using her calming soft voice "we have no real idea what the outcome of this war will be" the lady continued softly "and if I should" she paused trying to select the words that would cause the least amount of upset "perish." She then said in the calmest tone possible "then you will become the new Alcina, & need to lead the coven, but if we are both there & we fall then the fight would be lost the power will tumble into evil hands. Not only would our world end, but that of the human too." She concluded "I will need you to fight on in the name of Alcina" she added trying not to sound too fatalistic, placing Isabella's hand into Nighmeara's. Then using ('et mens sapiunt') she spoke with Nighmeara "I unfortunately have to provide some insurance, that if I should indeed perish, that my power doesn't fall into the evil." The lady said "but isn't that a bit defeatist dearie" replied Nighmeara. "No so I have cast the (vna vim vitalem) spell, this will isolate my power & knowledge from that of the previous Alcina protecting that power from theft" She finished. "Don'ta you worry dearie, I will look after you" said Nighmeara to Isabella warmly in her broad soothing Celtic lilt.

With all previous tensions forgotten, a group of 30 Witches & Warlocks joined the assembled group of over 30 changelings led by the alfa male George, & to cheers from the other villagers they headed out towards territory one, as they did George, Theon & the rest of his pack all transformed into Werewolves, Unity too changed into her hybrid form. Before the lady Alcina joined the departing army she turned to Nighmeara "I have strengthened the shield, & no Witch can, or will break it & only Isabella can create an opening" she paused taking hold of Nighmeara's hand "she is our last hope should I fail auntie, so please keep my daughter safe" she said reverently, then vanished in a puff of white smoke to rejoin her army.

At the head of the small 60 or so advancing force, the lady Alcina was joined by George, Unity & Ruby & despite their altered state they could listen & they appeared to be able to communicate with the lady "Unity will be safe, won't she?" asked Ruby apprehensively. "don't take on so you three" she replied addressing them all, then turned her head to look at Unity "you are unique, not even I can predict how your body will react in any given situation" she concluded smiling warmly, as they entered a clearing her facial expression changed & she stopped abruptly casting her arms out to halt her group. All around the woodland fell quiet all the Werewolves all began a low aggressive growling and looked around sniffing the air trying vainly to identify what it was that had spooked the lady. Cassandra walked calmly out from behind a tree at the far end of the clearing, George let out a more distinctive deep menacing low growl & went to pad forward, the lady's out stretched hand stopped him & the rest of the pack as they all in turn joined in the snarl all showing their fangs as top lips rolled back in unison.

"So, this is the famed girl of prophecy who is predicted to bring me down & bring about everlasting peace to our worlds" Cassandra sneered sarcastically as she walked around Unity inspecting her, with a haughty air of superiority. Whilst she didn't move Unity gave a deep guttural growl her top lip peeling back to reveal her sharp white teeth. "not much of a savior, is she?" Cassandra said acerbically at that Unity roared her anger swiping at Cassandra dividing her neatly with her talons. The strike served only to disrupt Cassandra's image which flickered then reformed, she then turned to the lady Alcina & with a sickly smile "surely you didn't think I would be fool enough to come in person did you sister?" "YOU ARE NOT MY SISTER!! No sister of mine would be so flippant" snapped the lady in an overly calm voice laced with acid.

"very well Charlotte bring your pitiful band of flea-bitten mutts to my castle so that lord Mandrake & I can dispatch them & you" she snapped back "NO MOTHER" said a young man who came into view distracting Cassandra as she turned flustered "do not defy your farther Drake, or he will punish us both." She rebuked furtively looking about the clearing, as if expecting someone to come from behind another tree. "WE SHALL MEET SOON, BE SURE OF IT" barked the lady with no degree of grace or compassion "oh & Cassandra" the lady spat vehemently Cassandra turned quickly to face her "I AM THE LADY ALCINA, & THAT IS...MY CASTLE & I AM COMING TO TAKE IT BACK" she stated very firmly. Whilst this exchange of words went on, Unity looked wide eyed & captivated at Drake & he in turn did the same, she tilted her head to one side as she looked, almost puzzled as to why she was so transfixed. Ruby looked at both of them, recognizing instantly the look on both Drake & her daughters faces.

The image of Cassandra & Drake Faded away, but the group decided collectively that this would be a good place to camp.

The lady Alcina began immediately trying to work out how she could move the entire army of over 60 strong, straight to the castle, thus avoiding the tiring two days of travel. "Alcina, how could it be that we saw that other Vampire, that wasn't Mandrake was it?" Ruby asked, breaking the lady's mental trance. "no, my friend it was a magical hologram, whom so ever enters its magical field is projected too, it is a very accomplished spell, & the young man's name is Drake, he is a few years older than Unity & also he is with magic" she answered, "why ask?" Alcina added Ruby looked around suspiciously, lowering her voice in a conspiratorial way "because, he & Unity couldn't stop looking at one another & I've seen that look before, on George's face when he looks at me!" Ruby finished with a frown of concern. "Mmm" was the only response from the lady Alcina & then without another word she retreated once more into her mental trance.

A few timeless hours past, the gathered forces cooked & ate, some rested, & then the lady Alcina appeared to have an epiphany  coming out of her trance, immediately jumping up, waving her arms about in a complicated sequence, mouthing some incoherent incantation under her breath, a mist seemed to appear at the edges of the clearing as if from nowhere moving in to envelope all of the group, all of them, even the Witches & Warlocks looked about them, unsure of what would happen. All that is except Unity, who was a that moment wrapped up in a daydream, she couldn't get the image of Drake to leave her mind & she didn't want to ever lose the picture in her head, he was she thought so captivating, so very handsome, his jet black hair, pail almost milk like skin.

The mist that had shrouded them all, began to clear & before them stood the imposing & ominous structure of white source castle, its turreted ramparts now festooned with rotting dark green & brown vegetation & a dark dirty grey stone seemed lifeless consumed with death, as it towered over the surrounding wreckage of the village at its feet seeming to suck the very life out of the air. A moat ran around at the base of the castle & the lady noted sadly that on previous visits the water in the moat had been clear, with fish swimming in it & dragonflies skimming along its surface, now however it had a murky brown black sludge in it, the bodies of dead fish resting on its thick greying muck poisoned by the evil in the very air. There was only one way in or out & that was over the drawbridge, wisps of grey dark cloud wrapped around one or two of the higher towers, to those who had never seen it before, it was a very domineering & oppressive looking