Chapter 20

What felt like forever later, Mathius informed her it was only about twenty minutes, Xavier made his way back quickly followed by the twins. Aggie had no idea how far they had traveled but given their abilities to move rather quickly she feared they were actually going to be walking the rest of the night before they arrived wherever they were going.

“What do we know?” Aggie wanted to get moving again and stop killing time.

“It seems the paths were connected as we ran into each other on the opposite side. So, what we have concluded is that they sent Navian down the path least traveled so he would be less likely to draw anyone back to them.” Xavier didn’t look like he had encountered any attackers on his little excursion.

“The place where they come together though is odd. Like there was a house there at one point, but it is just gone now.” Ren had changed back and was standing in the meadow just beyond the path, hanging out in all his glory.

“Okay hold on, you’re going to have to put on your pants or there will be a completely different train of thought here and we need to focus.” Aggie only hoped they were still wearable with his speedy removal before.

As Ren complied, his brother filled in the missing details, “We couldn’t get a read on when it was last there or how it was torn down. The foundation hasn’t grown over with grass completely yet but it was a rather large accommodation in its prime.”

“I agree with their assumption. We didn’t want to get too close to the area in case anyone was watching. Our task was to deduce which way lead us to where we wanted to be and it seems that either way is fine. I think the way along the water is actually a bit out of the way and the twins route was a bit more direct.” Xavier was very intense and Aggie had never seen him like this. She also had never seen him in utter darkness, as it was his perfect element. He had never given her cause for concern before, she only hoped he wasn’t feeling the need for a little snack.

“Do you guys agree with his assessment?” Mathius posed the question to the twins. Gryson looked on intently.

“It really is the best. I didn’t see any thing to cause alarm, but we might want to stick to the shadows as we get closer. Xavier, I want you to stick to the darkness. Ren and I will go in wolf form. We will be a bit more inconspicuous, than six full grown adults will be.” Mitchell was in full Alpha mode and more than happy to dictate what they should and shouldn’t do. If he didn’t get on Aggie’s nerves so much, she would have been turned on by his dominance.

On Mitchell’s advice, they started toward this mysterious location to get a better look at this property and get to the bottom of where the house might have gone. In the back of Aggie’s mind questions rolled. Where could an entire house go? What if the house isn’t gone? Could someone actually just make a house invisible? How did they block the wolves from sensing anything? The questions rolled on and on as they walked. Aggie was thankful that given the amount of energy she was using, she wasn’t feeling tired.

“It’s time to take to the shadows.” Mitchell’s voice broke her thoughts. Aggie looked up and couldn’t see anything different about this stretch of the road than the five miles previous. Though she trusted Mitchell’s words, and slid to the side and followed the rest toward the tree line. Xavier disappeared completely from view as he had on the training ground. Though Aggie could still sense him, if she reached for him with her magic. The wolves were at her feet moments later, reaching down she scratched Alpha and Wolfie between the ears. It was her way of saying thank you and also letting them know she was alright.

“Lead the way boys,” Aggie nudged the wolves into the lead and everyone else fell into step behind them. Walking softly so as not to stir the leaves below their feet, Aggie was surprised they still crunched under foot with the crazy weather changes and ice-covered ground. Thankfully, given the colder temperatures, the thunderstorm had warmed things up a bit. She also was attributing her lack of shivering to her magic keeping her warm while walking all these miles to their unknown destination.

The closer they walked, the slower their pace, the wolves were guiding and setting the speed. No one walked around them, and everyone trusted they would keep everyone out of trouble. Suddenly, Alpha stopped dead in his tracks, and Wolfie split off to the side and flanked him but stopped instantly as well. Everyone else froze a number of paces behind leaving a large gap between them and the wolves. The reason for the sudden halt was unknown to everyone except the wolves.

Until Aggie saw Alpha raise his paw in the air and hold it out in front of him. She could have sworn she heard a low growl coming from him. It was a strange thing to see a wolf, or any animal who walked on all fours normally, do.

“What is he doing?” Aggie whispered to anyone close enough to hear.

“I’m not sure, but it looks like he’s resting his paw on something.” Gryson answered her in the same hushed tone. Aggie glanced around at everyone frozen and decided that none of them were going to get any answers this way. So, she tiptoed silently as possible up to the area where the wolves had stopped. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and mirrored Alpha’s action. When she connected with something solid she gasped.

“Get up here now!” Her tone still hushed but insistent Mathius and Gryson complied quickly. Mathius might have taken a slightly quicker approach, as he appeared right beside her in a breath of dust. His hand placed beside hers and she watched his face as the surface of something connected with his palm.

“What kind of magic is this?” Mathius’s question was directed at Gryson who was standing on his other side with a confused look painted on his face.

“I have never seen this kind of display in all my years. I’ve don’t know a single incantation or potion that will make anything this large invisible.” Gryson started to walk along the wall to find the edge of it. He walked for at least seventy feet before he came to a corner. Luckily Wolfie had done the same on his end and only went about five feet before reaching an edge.

“If this structure is this long, how are we to know where the front is or how wide it sits on the property?” Aggie was cautious and worried that they would be walking into danger without more information. “Does anyone have any ideas, besides blindly feeling our way around these walls?” Her voice was a bit louder as her frustration rose. She clasped her hand over her mouth in an effort to rein it in quickly. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly without saying another word. It wasn’t helping her to freak out. They needed to put their heads together to figure things out.

“Why don’t we leave the wolves here as a place marker and fall back to the tree line to discuss our options. Their hearing will allow them to not miss out on anything while they wait here.” Mathius’s suggestion was just what she needed. Anything to take a minute and regroup to get her head back on straight.

“I agree that is a good idea, but I don’t like the thought of them being exposed like this. Can you boys lay down as close to the ground as possible to try and blend in a bit better?” Alpha and Wolfie, complied immediately. Aggie patted them both in gratitude. At least she wouldn’t have to worry about them being seen.

From the trees, Aggie noticed the wolves were barely seen. She hoped that she could only see them because she knew they were there. “Anyone have thoughts about this matter?” Xavier’s voice startled her as she missed his approaching footsteps. It was as though he was floating above the surface of the ground.

“That is what we are attempting to sort out. How do we get in without knowing which side is front facing and where the possible dangers are?” Aggie was using everything in her to maintain a balance in her voice and not lose control.

“One of us could go in first, if we find a door and eliminate any possible threats.” Mathius ever the warrior and not one to back down from a fight, threw out the most preposterous idea.

“You mean, one of us could go in and get killed or taken captive. We don’t want to create more work in the long run. Honestly, if we happen upon the children and avoid the mistress of the house, I’d be all for that course of action.” Aggie was aware how cowardly that sounded but she was in a very honest mood. When she got worked up or nervous about anything it was like she had been doped with a truth serum. She hated to be pulled over on Earth the cops knew everything from what she ate for breakfast that day to when she last pooped or had her period. Those times, weren’t her proudest moments.

A movement caught Aggie’s eye just as she finished her rant. Someone came over the hill from the main road and Aggie frantically got everyone’s attention, everyone fell instantly silent, as though she had cast a muting spell. As the person got closer, Aggie could tell it was female from the swish of her hips as she walked. Even though the woman tried to hide her appearance under a cloak. They all watched captivated and wondering what this woman would do. Aggie just hoped Alpha and Wolfie were in a safe spot and wouldn’t be discovered.

As she came within distance of touching the invisible structure, a hand appeared from inside the cloak. She waved it in front of the building and then froze. Eyes glowing red, she floated her hand back and forth until the walls began to appear. The house was large and bordering on mansion status. Several stories tall and a square distance around. This house was almost half as wide as a football field. It was unbelievable. Why is a house this large sitting out here in the middle of nowhere?

Before stepping inside the front door which opened again with her magic, the woman lowered the cloak on her head to reveal a familiar silhouette. “Yavari,” the name was said on a whisper, but Mathius’s voice dripped with disdain. While Aggie didn’t think it carried across the field, Yavari’s head swiveled around to take in her surroundings before stepping inside. As her feet planted on the floor inside, the image of the house faded with her and the door closed behind her.

“Well now we know how to get in, and we know who is waiting inside to greet us. What would you like to do?” Gryson was no longer flustered by the magic and ready to go, but he was letting someone else make the call.

“This is going to sound completely unlike me but given the fact that she has such a sweet spot for you, Mathius, you’re going in first.” Aggie wasn’t using him as bait, but more like getting even. She was mad that he let her use her royal status to play him for so long and get her way. Even if they weren’t ever an actual thing, Aggie hated that he never actually told her no. This way he could show her what side of things he was actually on.

Xavier, who stood behind her, actually chuckled at her decision. Gryson just nodded, while Mathius growled his disapproval, but didn’t say a single word.

“Once you are inside, you can leave the door open just a hair. One of us will catch it and wait for you to distract Yavari and try to get her into another room. The goal being to remove her from the direct line of site of the door. If you can’t do that then try and remove her from the room completely no matter what you have to do. Getting five more of us into the room while you attempt this will be tricky enough. There is no room for error.

Approaching the house, Aggie flagged down the wolves and they fell in line behind the group. A surge of power and Aggie realized they had shifted back to human form.

“Is Mathius really going to play to her heartstrings to get us in?” Ren’s words were unexpected, but not startling.

“You don’t think I can handle this? If I can take on an opponent on the battlefield, what makes you think this would be any different?” Mathius grumbled and Aggie felt a little remorse for making him do this, but she could think of no other way to get them in the door. Not much time had passed and there was a chance she was still close to the entrance.

Feeling the wall for a door, Mathius found the entrance quickly. He reached for the handle and they all held their breaths. Given the fact that the house was hidden from view, the chances it had a magical locking system were slim. Why else would they hide it from view? Seconds later the latch clicked and Mathius was on his way inside. Aggie reached up quickly and placed her hand in the crack of the door preventing it from sealing. They all gathered in close to hear for their cue to enter.

“Mathius, what a surprise to see you here.” Yavari always the politician never faltered once.

“I saw you leave the castle this evening and given the late hour, I was worried about you.” If Aggie didn’t know Mathius’s true feelings for Yavari, she would have assumed he were actually worried.

“Oh, you need not worry about me. I started taking late walks years ago, while still in my youth. I find they are calming to my nerves.” She never anything away, causing Aggie wondered what Mathius would try next.

“What is this place, Yavari? I haven’t come across it before on scouting trips. I would think you would steer clear of strange places given your status. Had I not seen it change upon you entering I never would have given it a second glance. How did you happen upon it?” Mathius was using her name more and she preened under his watchful eye. She was lapping up the attention like a two-dollar whore. Aggie wanted to throw up or at least gag at the display if it wouldn’t have drawn unwanted attention to them standing outside. Given the darkness no one had noticed the door being left ajar.

“This is my thinking space. I found it abandoned years ago and claimed it for my own. I come here when life in the castle gets to be too much.” Aggie couldn’t believe how she didn’t even flinch or quiver in the slightest. Then Mathius reached for her shoulder and guided her toward another room.

“Surely this is too much space for just yourself. Don’t you get lonely here?” Yavari leaned into his touch and he gently pulled her from the room. That was their moment, Aggie threw the door open and they all creeped in and Xavier silently latched the door behind them. Aggie heard Mathius one room over, “I’d love for you to show me around since I’m here. I feel like we never get to speak alone anymore with your guards always around and my team listening in no matter where we are.” That was their clue to look around.

Aggie took in the space, it was once a polished regal space. Perhaps one of an upper-class citizen, if Ahael had such a thing. She still didn’t have a good grasp on society. The furniture didn’t scream poverty but not quite the same as the rooms in the palace either. It seemed those who lived there weren’t lacking for anything. All of their needs were met.

Hearing the sound of Mathius’s voice get a bit farther, she motioned for Xavier to stay close to him. While she couldn’t speak to him to instruct him, Xavier nodded and headed off in the direction of Mathius’s fading voice.

Feeling a bit more at ease knowing that her team was at least in groups, Aggie motioned for the remaining three to follow her. They roamed through the house and she tried to let herself think like an insane person. Where would I hide a bunch of children? Didn’t Navian say they were in utter darkness?

They had traveled a distance from the front entrance when they came across what she thought at one time might have been the servant’s quarters. While they were empty now, Aggie felt it would be a good place to investigate farther. If she was right, there would be a back entrance to some of the places the owner might not want just anyone to see upon walking around.