The Silent Soldiers

handedly caught the person that has been betraying the pack. I can assure you that Adriana WILL be punished.” Just then Dante, Jenna’s dad, entered the room.

  “She left the property before we could find her, sir,” he said as he bowed to my grandfather.

  “I want guards around the clock searching the property in case she returns,” Grandpa told Dante.

  “Yes, sir,” Dante replied.

  “Let the front gate know that they are to notify me immediately if she returns,” Grandpa added.

  “As you wish,” Dante said.

  “I can help search for her tonight if you need me,” I told Grandpa.

  “No!” he shouted, “I want you to go to your room and get some rest,” he added in a calmer voice. I could tell it was taking much effort on my grandfather’s part in order for him to try to remain calm with me. “Do you realize she could have been leading you into a trap?” I hadn’t thought about that before. I shuddered at the thought of being captured by Nhados. I realized how close I had come to being under his control. I knew where grandpa was coming from in looking out for my safety. But I knew deep down that I was stronger and faster than any werewolf.

  “I’m sorry, Grandpa,” I said as I dropped my chin down to my chest.

  “Please, go to bed and get some rest. You have a long day ahead of you,” he said. I silently rose from my seat, my pride a little hurt, and walked toward the door to the foyer. “I love you, Luke,” Grandpa called out after me. I stopped and looked back at him over my shoulder as a tear began to roll down my face. “I would absolutely die if anything ever happened to you,” Grandpa added.

  “I love you too, Grandpa,” I said and turned my head back around and walked out slowly making my way up the stairs back to my room. Without any further thinking I took off my clothes, threw them on the floor, and crawled into bed. The last thought I had before I drifted off to sleep was the evil stare Adriana had as I stared down from the iron grip she had on my neck. I secretly hoped she would remember what I did to her every time she looked in the mirror.

  14

  I woke up the next morning with someone pounding on my door. I got up groggily and put on my clothes to answer it. I stared out the door at a smiling Ava.

  “Rough night?” she asked.

  “You could say that,” I said a little grumpily as I walked toward the kitchen to get a soda. I heard her close the door behind me as I headed to the fridge.

  “What the hell happened last night? The mansion is in a frenzy this morning. I heard someone say you were attacked last night in the woods out back,” said Ava. Ava went to the fridge and grabbed a soda of her own and we walked over to sit by the fireplace.

  I told Ava the story of the previous night’s events, and knew it wouldn’t be the last time I had to repeat it. I had hoped to be able to tell the whole group at once but it seemed that wasn’t going to happen.

  “I can’t believe you went out there all by yourself,” said Ava.

  “I’ve already been scolded for going out alone,” I said sarcastically. I couldn’t believe that Ava was giving me a hard time about it too after what I had been through.

  “I’m sorry, Luke, it was wrong of me to lecture you. As your friend I should be more supportive,” said Ava.

  “It’s ok; I know I shouldn’t have done it. I wasn’t thinking about what I was doing.” Ava gave me a little shy smile. There was another knock at the door. This time Ava rose quickly to answer it. Jenna and Matt both followed Ava back over to sit down with us. They wanted to know what happened, so I launched into the story of my attack again. By the time I finished I realized I was really getting sick of the story.

  “I wonder what she was doing out there at that time of night,” said Ava.

  “I thought she was probably doing something she shouldn’t be out there. That’s why I followed her,” I replied.

  “She was in charge of watching the cameras last night. My dad had the night off. When I asked him about the lights he called down to the desk and nobody answered. He immediately went to inform your grandfather that there was a problem. She turned out the security lights so the cameras wouldn’t pick up her going into the woods,” Jenna explained.

  “She has mentioned her “master” twice now. Once during the phone conversation I overheard. And she mentioned it again last night while she was threatening me. I think we can assume she is more than likely talking about Nhados,” I said.

  “You’re probably right about that. What I don’t understand is why she would betray the pack. It’s a crime punishable by death in the shifter community,” Jenna said.

  “I wonder if she will come back to the mansion,” said Ava.

  “She would have to be a complete idiot to show her face here again,” I said.

  “Ok, enough about Adriana. Tell me what you guys found out yesterday about the sword,” said Ava, conveniently changing the subject. I told her everything we had learned about the Koichi sword. I also told her we knew where the location to the entrance was as well. The only thing we don’t know is what we will face, not only at the entrance, but also what will be waiting for us once we enter the under world.

  “You know Nhados will be guarding that thing with all the power he can get his hands on,” said Matt.

  “Let’s think about every type of creature we can come up with so we can do a little research about how to kill them,” I suggested. We started with the most obvious ones: vampires, shifters, and witches.

  “I think I can take care of any of the witches that come our way. Demons come in all shapes and forms. I think the ones that don’t die by physical force will have to be killed by magic. I have been studying demonology for the past couple years. It has sort of become a hobby of mine. I think there are a couple spells I can create, especially now that I am more powerful, that will knock out any of the magical ones,” Ava said.

  “That leaves us pretty much down to one, and that is Nhados himself,” said Matt.

  “What exactly do we know about Nhados and his powers?” I asked.

  “Nhados is a shifter. He takes the form of a black panther,” Jenna started. I noticed she had picked up my laptop and was reading from the Silent Soldiers network. Jenna continued, “Nhados is also a very powerful wizard. So powerful that he has been able to keep himself alive for over a hundred and fifty years according to this. He has been in control of some very dark magic for over a hundred years. Several groups have attempted to assassinate Nhados, but he always seems to escape somehow. He has a twin brother that is also a wizard. It says here that his brother, Thados, is an ally to the Silent Soldiers,” Jenna read.

  “That’s it!” Ava exclaimed.

  “What’s it?” I asked.

  “Thados is the key to defeating him,” Ava said as if it were completely obvious to everyone.

  “And how exactly is that?” Asked Matt.

  “Not Thados himself, but his blood. Binding spells made of beings own blood is more powerful than any other spell. If we can create a spell using Thados’ blood, we can bind Nhados’ powers and attack. Being twins will give their blood the same genetic makeup,” Ava explained.

  “You know what? That just might work,” I said, “Look and see if it tells where to find Thados, Jenna.”

  “You’re not going to believe this but there is actually an address listed,” Jenna said with a giggle.

  “Jenna, you write down the address while I find Grandpa and tell him we need a car. Meet us in the foyer when you’re done. Ava, you and Matt gather any supplies you might need for a spell just in case we run into trouble,” I told them.

  “Look at you Mr. fearless leader,” Ava said with a smile. I smiled back at her before I turned and walked to the door to leave the room. I called back to Jenna to pack up my computer and bring it with her as I walked out the door. She seemed to be the one that used it most often so it might be handy for her to hold onto it.

  I found Grandpa sitting in the great room reading a book
. I was very nervous, but I was determined to be the leader he hoped I would be. I walked to him with great confidence as I told him,

  “I need a car to take us into Little Rock as soon as possible.”

  “What do you need in Little Rock? I’ll have anything you need delivered to the mansion, Luke, you know that,” he replied.

  “I need blood from Thados,” I blurted out not thinking twice about it. That definitely got his attention. He stood up and walked over to me to listen to what I had to say.

  “You have my attention, Luke.”

  “We have less than two weeks to get this sword. In order to get it I have to defeat who knows what down in the pits of who knows where. I have a great team to help me with this, and we have been doing some research.”

  “Go on.”

  “We know where the entrance to the sword’s location is, and we know how to defeat Nhados. The only thing we need is blood from Thados in order to do that,” I said as I watched his eyes get bigger with surprise as what I was telling him sank in.

  “You have definitely been doing your homework I see. You seem to have learned as much in a few months as I have in the past 14 years, Luke. I have to admit I am very impressed indeed.”

  “I will arrange for a car under one condition. You must allow me to escort you there and back. Before you object let me tell you why. I promise not to interfere in any way. I want to make sure you are safe being away from the mansion. I also think u will have greater success with