Chapter 23~ Astral Projection
They all sat there…knowing their time has come to prepare for war. They would pull out in two days. Deidre said “Munchkin..I am going to project. I know you don’t want me too..but can you trust me enough to know I will always come back?” Althea tears up and says in a small voice “Don’t make me come get you..” Dee said “I will do short bursts into different areas. It will help us to know what we are facing. Roman..will you ask Mr. Madden to bring a picture of Connie and to join us..in case she has a message for him?” He nodded and linked the dean. They all waited and Althea said “we need a large room with a cot for Aunt Dee to lie on. I have to prepare the room. I have to ward all points of entry, just in case they have a witch.. I doubt they do..but even if they do…we are stronger. I will prepare tea while a room is set up” and she walked out to head to the kitchen after detouring to get the herbs she needs. When Roman had removed the table from the conference room..and got the cot set up… Neil burst into the rolm and straight to Dee. He begged her to be safe..and she promised she would. Althea walked back into the room. She set her candles around the cot in a pentagram shape. Then she lit a sprig of sage and asked Dee to lie down telling everyone to take a seat and they needed complete silence…talking through links only. She then took the sage and ran it’s smoke around each window and door smudging as she went. She walked over to her aunt and handed her the tea…Dee drank all of it and laid out prone on the cot. Althea handed her the photo and a shirt of Connie’s. She began a slow,low chant and saw Dee’s eyes droop….
Deidre’s POVI opened my eyes and I was sitting outside a cell. I looked around and saw 13 maybe 14 people in here. I saw Connie and she looks bad. She has been beaten and from the angle of her leg..I would say it’s broken. I reached her and whispered Connie..knowing she can’t see me I whispered hurriedly “I am from your pack. I can heal you internally but I will leave your bruises so no one knows. But I will take your pain away.” I healed her leg and she had a tear in her spleen and then I touched her forehead and she fell asleep. I shook my head and stepped into the packlands.. I looked around at the people and felt my heart break. Every single woman I spotted had bruises someplace. There was such an air of defeat around them it was painful to see. I got to the training grounds but I didn’t see anyone training..just standing around and talking. They were laughing and talking about the red wolf…every time a woman came anywhere near the men they cowered in fear. I estimated about 300 fighters. Piece of cake for Roman..and I chuckled. I lapsed back into my body and opened my eyes. I told Roman what I had seen and then asked for something of Sydney’s because I didn’t see any sign of her. Dillon raced out of the room. I said we would need several medical transports for the women. Probably the RVs as well. He said we will get everything ready. And when Dillon was back he handed me a blouse of Sydney’s and I allowed myself to be pulled back under…. I opened my eyes and I was in Phillips office. I thought…why am I in here…there’s no Sydney.. and just then the door flew open and there she was. She doesn’t look like she did before..not as put together. Her roots had grown out..her nails weren’t done…she just looked….dirty. Michael had her bent over his desk and yanked her skirt up pulling her panties to the side and unzipped his pants as I darted into the hall. Just ewwwww! I wandered down the hallway..peeking my head through doors…seeing various degrees of sex..mostly forceful. I went to the Alpha’s quarters and popped in… there sat Anna..naked…talking to Nathan lying naked in the bed. Hunh! All in the family, I suppose. I walked around the room while I listened…their plan is to kill Roman because they want his pack.. that’s a joke..but when I heard Anna mention Althea he said you can forget about her! I plan on mating that little halfbreed. She said you said you would finally mate me! And Michael could have her! He said woman you are old! I want a son from the red wolf! You belong to Michael! He has “mommy” issues and he snickered. Well.. I am officially grossed out! Just as I was walking out the door Nathan set bolt upright. He said “do you feel that?” Anna said what? He snarled “Witch!!” And I popped straight up on the cot trying to catch my breath! Althea ran over to me and hugged me tight. I said I don’t know how and I don’t know why, but Nathan sensed me. I almost got caught! Whew! I proceeded to tell them everything I had seen. I told them the entire pack look malnourished. There was no food in the kitchen. The women are being raped..Anna is fucking Nathan.. Sydney is fucking Michael and both men believe Althea is unmated and they both have reasons for wanting her. It’s a perfect recipe for disaster. Roman asked me about defenses and I said I didn’t make it out to the borders but if training was any indication, I doubted it was patrolled well. I did see their weapons. It was hard not to…they were spread out in the living room. They have wolfsbane darts and arrows with silver heads. I said I will make some potions to ward off the effects of both. It will slow our warriors down but they will maintain the ability to summon their wolves. Althea said she will help because she wants to make scent hiding tonics. Roman said we are better armed..stronger…more disciplined…and more numbers. We will prevail..failure being no option. So we set about getting everything ready tomorrow to leave the next day.