The Viking Alpha

Trap

(Cassi POV)

They nailed a note to the door for the boys before they left. Explaining what they were doing and if they were not back by tomorrow morning they take the gold that Lucas had kept hidden under the floorboards in the bedroom and go to the portal. With the note was a map to the portal and instructions on what to do once they got to the human world.
Lucas used some of his magic to get them to the outside of the village border. It was a trip but not in the literal sense for Cassi. One second they were on the porch then the next second they were standing in the woods. The border could be seen through the trees.
'Whoa.' Nausea swished in her stomach as the world tilted around her.
'Easy. You're fine. It was a small time lap spell.'
She bent her head between her knees as she tried to breath.
'Yeah. No biggie.' She smiled sarcastically.
'It saved us at least a day's journey. But to be honest I'm feeling a bit drained again.'
'Fantastic. Are we invisible now?'
'Yes. But I'm not sure how long it will last. So we have to be quick.'
'Can't you do that time jump again?'
Lucas shook his head.
'No. That is only for distances. Not to speed up a mission. It's also dangerous to do it often. It is a sure way to exhaust power. If power gets too low in yourself it's lethal. It's like a human suffering from blood loss.'
'Right.' She straightened and looked at the border. She saw passed the trees, three or four wolves pacing in front of the gates.
'Look. Maybe I can do this myself while you stay here and rest. I'm new at all of this but if you tell me what to do I can do it.'
'Not by yourself. Cloaking yourself takes a lot of practice. So I'll just need to harness it from you again. Remember to focus, Cassandra. That is key. Picture yourself as air. You're moving with the air. You're as clear and light as air.'
Closing her eyes while clasping Lucas's hands he began to chant softly.
'Manere stabilis
Manere fortis
Manere patet.'
He spoke the words three times before she felt him gently tug her forward with her eyes closed.
Air. She was air. Blowing through and around obstacles. Completely clear.
She kept picturing the wind on a summer day. Blowing through the clothes on the clothesline in the backyard of her trailer when she was a child. Her making bubbles and watching them float in front of her before they popped.
As they passed the wolves she didn't dare open her eyes. Hearing the gates squeak open slightly before she was pulled through.
'Were here.' Lucas whispered. 'Stay focused.'
Still keeping her eyes closed she let him lead her. The bustling noise of the village she had grown used to when she was here seemed hushed now. She then felt she was pulled out of the sun and into the shadows. When something wrapped around her head she opened her eyes in surprise.
Lucas was tying fabric around her head and hair like a hijab.
'What are you doing?'
'Save your energy. We'll walk in disguise for now.' He quickly wrapped another scarf over his head. Looking around they were in one of the shops. It was completely quiet.
'When we step out act normal. Walk slowly and your eyes down.' He instructed.
'Okay.'
They stepped out slowly and began to walk up the path leading to the castle.
Her eyes slowly peaked sideways as they walked. The village she saw before looked much different from this one. The streets were littered with broken objects. No one really seemed to be talking or even out and about. All the vibrant life she saw once here was now dull. The people looked miserable. It almost resembled a ghost town.
What the hell happened?
They walked up the path further before Lucas clasped her hand again.
'Focus.' He warned.
They passed the guards once they got to the castle entrance.
The castle had a dark looming presence inside. She felt bone cold all of a sudden.
'Where do you remember seeing the album?' Lucas whispered.
'It would be in our-I mean his bedroom. Up the stairs. This way.' She led him to the room. Opening the door she was surprised to see nothing had changed. Her dirty clothes were still on a rumbled pile where she left them. Makeup was still open over the vanity. It was as if no one had been in here to clean it.
Besides the thin layer of dust that now coated every surface, everything was exactly like she remembered it.
Except her album wasn't where she left it. Frantically she opened up drawers, checked under the bed, the closet, and even the bathroom.
'It's not here.'
'Okay. Picture it in your mind. Let your mind guide you.'
She pictured it in her head. The worn frayed peach colored cover flashed in her head. Thinking of the pictures she felt something guiding her. Leading her down stairs and into the library. She opened the door and saw the room was empty. The book was on the floor in front of the sofa.
'It's here.' She rushed forward and grabbed it. Turning she went to run back when she felt as if she ran straight into a wall. Nothing was there. She tried again but with the same result.
'What the hell?'
Lucas stood on the other side of the threshold. His eyes widened. His mouth opened as if he was about to say something.
'Somnum.'
She heard a woman speak behind Lucas over his shoulder. Lucas' body slumped to the floor in a dead weight.
'No!' Cassi screamed trying to get to him. Her feet couldn't get through the threshold.
She saw a woman walk closer and looked Cassi in the eyes with what looked like remorse in hers.
'Sorry, Cassi.' She grabbed Lucas by the wrists and dragged him off.
'No! What are you doing? Leave him alone!' She struggled in vain to get to him. All she could do was watch frantically as he was dragged away. That was then she saw him. He just appeared as if he had been standing there in front of her the whole time. His green eyes were the first thing hers collided with. His beautiful, lying, treacherous, green eyes. She could only stare in frozen horror and shock.
She backed up clumsily. The photo album slipped through her nervless fingers and clattered to the ground.
'Hello, Love. I've missed you so much.'
'No.' She whimpered. This was a trap. His trap. And she just walked right into it.