The Shadow Howlers

Gunnar held Bianca in his arms as the tears ran down his face. He didn’t understand what happened. Who killed her? While he sobbed, the door burst open. Zaiden, Selena, and an older wolf named Ella ran into the room. Omar, carrying Alani, came in next.

“Right before Alani passed out, she said she and Bianca had been poisoned,” Omar said anxiously, kneeling next to Gunnar.

“They’re not dead, but they’re barely breathing. Does anyone know what they were poisoned with?” Ella asked as she put her hands on Alani and Bianca. She was the palace healer and centuries old.

“No,” Everyone answered her. Ella rubbed her hands over Bianca and Alani’s foreheads and closed her eyes. She suddenly opened them and looked at Selena.

“This poison came from the gods. Queen Selena, their only hope is for you to save them. Please come here.” Ella said. Selena knelt between Alani and Bianca.

“What do I need to do?” She asked, looking at her two friends.

“Put a hand on each of their foreheads.” Selena did as Ella told her to. “Now close your eyes and imagine cleansing their bodies of the toxins placed in them. Focus on removing all the bad and replacing it with good.”

Selena closed her eyes and focused. She had no idea what she was doing, but she imagined that the poison was leaving Bianca and Alani. After a few minutes, her body felt hot, and the two women began coughing. When Selena opened her eyes Bianca and Alani were looking up at her.

“What happened?” Bianca asked, taking deep breaths. She had felt like she had been suffocating, and then it went away.

“You and Alani were poisoned. Ella said it came from the gods, so it most likely came from the evil sisters,” Selene replied, gently stroking their foreheads. Bianca and Alani sat up and looked around.

“You were able to stop the poison?” Alani asked Selena.

“Yes. Ella said I had the power to do it, but I have no idea what I just did. I felt hot all over, and then you woke up,” she replied. Andrew walked into the room, looking at everyone with concern.

“I just spoke to my spy, who’s with Psyche. He said that the sisters were going to try something, but he didn’t know what. Is everyone okay?” he asked.

“We are now thanks to the Queen. What kind of hocus pocus do these witches have that they can poison us from their realm? Wasn’t Violet the only rat in the nest?” Alani asked, standing up. Omar stood and wrapped his arms around her. He had been so scared that he was going to lose her.

“They may have someone else here. I’m going to begin watching as all the food is prepared. Don’t eat or drink anything unless I tell you it’s safe. Don’t trust anyone other than those in this room. From now on, everyone else is a suspect.” Andrew hoped they would listen to him.

“How are we going to find this mystery person working for Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum?” Alani asked as she narrowed her eyes at him. “How do we know it’s not you? Maybe you’re working both sides. You tell us to trust no one but you, yet how do we know we can trust you?”

“I’m here on behalf of Eros. I have been watching Selena since she was sent to Earth. If I was going to do something to her, I would have had a million chances. I want to keep you all safe or trust me, the wrath Eros and Psyche will put on me will make Aglaura and Cidippe look like child’s play. They love Selena and each other; I would never betray them.” Andrew was impressed by Alani. They needed someone like her who was suspicious of everyone.

“Thank you, Andrew. So what do we do now?” Selena asked. She and Zaiden had just marked each other before Trisha and Polly went missing. They hadn’t even had time to process the power given to them when they were fully mated.

“I think everyone should get some sleep. I’m going to bring in some help. I have a few people who owe me. I’ll let you know when they arrive.” Andrew replied. He left Bianca and Gunnar’s room and went to his room.

Andrew had purposely not told them who he was going to ask for help. In order to fight Aglaura and Cidippe, they would need people who are equally powerful. He sat down and cleared his mind. It was time to contact those in the underworld.

“Nyx, can you hear me?” Andrew mindlinked the underworld goddess of night.

“Who is this?” She mindlinked angrily.

“Andrew.” He responded. Nyx laughed when she heard him.

“Eros lap dog. How have you been? I thought you were busy on Earth.” She loved teasing him.

“That’s why I’m reaching out to you. I need your help. Do you know Aglaura and Cidippe?” Andrew asked her. He knew she did, and she hated them.

“Why would you even ask that question? You know I can’t stand those witches. They have no right to be called goddesses. I’m in the damn underworld, and I’m not as evil as those two. Why are you asking about them?” Nyx looked in the mirror and combed her straight black hair. She was many centuries old but only looked about thirty. She’d had many lovers, but none had excited her in a long time. She was waiting for a man to sweep her off her feet.

“They are trying to kill Eros and Psyche’s daughter Selena. Will you come to Earth and help us keep her and everyone at the palace safe?” Andrew asked, hoping she would agree. Nyx often acted hard, but he knew she was lonely. The gods and goddesses of the underworld weren’t under the same restrictions as those in the realm Andrew came from. They were able to move freely between the different realms.

“You want me to help?” Nyx asked in disbelief. No one ever wanted her help. Most people in the underworld forgot she existed.

“Yes, we need some magic from the gods and goddesses of the underworld to counter Aglaura and Cidippe. They’ve already tried to poison Selena, and they poisoned two of her closest friends, but Selena was able to save them.” Andrew needed her to hurry and agree so he could mindlink his other contact.

“I’ll come. I’ll be there in the morning your time.” Nyx was so happy to have something to do she began packing her bags.

“Thank you,” Andrew replied and closed the link. He then reached out to the next person he wanted help from.

“Hermes, can you hear me?” Andrew mindlinked the man considered the herald of the gods. He assisted people to their final destination, but most of his time was spent in the underworld.

“Hi Andrew, it’s been a long time. What can I do for you?” Hermes answered, running his fingers through his thick, wavy blonde hair.

“I need help on Earth. Aglaura and Cidippe are threatening Eros and Psyche’s daughter, Selena. I need help protecting her and ending them.” Andrew knew Hermes wouldn’t hesitate. He always liked a good fight.

“When do you want me there? I owe those two bitches.” Hermes asked, smiling to himself.

“Can you be here in the morning? Nyx is coming, too.” Andrew replied.

“I’ll be there. We’ll show them what happens when hell comes to Earth. Speaking of which, there’s a lot of talk down here about Selena being quite powerful. A few are contemplating how they can use her power for themselves. So we may be fighting more than the evil sisters.” Hermes warned. Andrew was expecting the underworld to wake up to Selena’s powers, but he hadn’t told the others yet. When Nyx and Hermes arrived in the morning, he would let Selena and the others know what else they could be facing.

“Thank you.” Andrew broke the link and lay on his bed. Everything was falling into place. He just hoped it was enough.