“The mages started attacking us a few weeks ago,” Julianna said. “First, at Blood Moon, then at the first ascension ceremony. They also tried to get other Lycans to turn against us.” She scratched her head. “Growing up, we didn’t really learn about mages, but since those attacks, I’ve been trying to learn more.”
“Mages are basically witches and warlocks who have gone against nature by using blood magic,” Cross explained to Julianna.
“Blood is forbidden to use,” Elise added. “Because you often have to hurt or kill someone to get their blood.”
“However,” Cross continued, “a long time ago, a powerful mage named Magus Aurelius was able to concentrate his power into three artifacts.”
“Artifacts?” Julianna echoed.
“He infused three objects with the blood of six hundred humans and Lycans.”
The words made Elise shiver. “Why?”
“So that his power would be preserved,” Cross explained. “This was about a thousand years ago. Magus Aurelius controlled a large part of what’s now Central and Eastern Europe, but he was losing his power because the people were rising up against him, with the help of the Lycans. So, he placed as much of his magic into these three artifacts, hoping that one day, the mages would rise up and rule the world. He sacrificed three hundred humans and three hundred Lycans.”
Julianna’s face went pale. “That’s sick.”
“They came back, but we defeated them,” Elise said. “Rather, our parents did. In the battle of Norway, most of the mages were killed, then your dad gathered whoever was left and bound their powers before sending them to the Lycan Siberian Prison.”
“A small faction survived.” Cross’s eyes hardened. “And they found out about the artifacts. It took them nearly three decades but they were able to get their hands on one of them. A necklace that could control people, even without the use of blood rituals.”
Julianna’s eyes widened. “Where is it?”
“It’s still with the mages,” Cross said. “It was used by the mages to try and frame Lucas for murder. They wanted to put him in jail so they could kill him and take his blood, but didn’t succeed. They did manage to keep the necklace.”
“What about the other artifacts?” Elise asked. “Where are they?”
“I’ve been trying to track them down, and I had my suspicions.” His expression turned serious. “Now I’m definitely sure.”
“Sure of what?” Elise’s heart pounded in her chest as she waited for the answer.
“We had it all along. That is, the Lycan High Council had it.”
“The dagger,” she guessed. “It was the dagger.”
“Yes,” Cross said in a somber voice. “I was so close … but I wasn’t sure.” He bowed his head. “I’m so sorry. This shouldn’t have happened if I was certain of what the dagger was.”
“But how could it have transported us here?” Elise said.
“I think …” Cross cleared his throat. “Here’s what my theory is: the mages have been desperate to get at Lucas and Adrianna—not to kill them or stop them from ascending—rather, they want their blood.”
“But why?”
“I think it’s because as children of two Alphas, their blood must have some special property. It didn’t click into place until now, but I believe that when infused with double Alpha blood, the power of the artifacts is magnified. The necklace, as far as we knew, could control humans, but with Alpha blood, it could control Lycans. I believe the dagger would have allowed them to transport people across long distances.”
Elise pictured the scene in her mind. Julianna holding the bloody dagger. The mage reaching for it. “But why did we end up here?”
Cross looked sheepish. “I didn’t anticipate it, but it was you, Elise.”
“M-m-me?”
“Your powers. I didn’t know … I’m really sorry. I think your powers must have amplified the artifact. Along with Lucas’s blood … it’s the only explanation.”
“Wait! Where’s the dagger?” Julianna exclaimed. “That’s our way home, right? All we have to do is charge it up with Elise’s powers.” She slapped her palms together. “Badabing, badaboom, we’re home!”
“It’s not that simple,” Cross said. “I did try looking for the dagger when I realized where we were. It’s not here.”
“No.” Elise felt a dark despair take over her body. “We’re stuck here?”
“There has to be a way,” Julianna’s eyes narrowed at Cross. “You have an idea, right?”
Cross nodded. “When I first suspected that the dagger could be one of the artifacts, I learned as much as I could about it.”
“Why didn’t you ask to see it? Or tell the Lycan High Council?” Julianna asked. “Why all this secrecy? You and your father should have said something the moment you suspected the mages were coming back.”
When Cross didn’t say anything, it was Elise who spoke. “Because he’s a hybrid,” she said in a quiet voice. “They wouldn’t have believed him or his dad.” Despite the fact that there were many hybrid Lycans now that the witches and Lycans were no longer on opposite sides, there were still a few who didn’t trust either side. As a hybrid, Elise knew this and how it contributed to her feeling that she would never be part of either world.
Cross cleared his throat. “As I said, I learned as much as I could about the dagger.”
“And what did you find out?” Julianna asked.
“Lycans didn’t always use that particular dagger for ascension ceremonies. Any dagger or sword was used to cut the hand and make the vow.” During the ascension ceremony, the future Alpha had to seal their vow to protect their clan by slicing their palms with the dagger. “The dagger the Lycan High Council uses in our time belonged to the London clan. It was an heirloom from the Townsend family.”
“Why do we use it now?”
A line appeared between Cross’s brows. “The historical records are murky, but this is what I pieced together: During the ascension ceremony of one of the London Alphas, they were attacked by ‘evil forces.’ The London clan fought them off, but unfortunately, they killed the would-be Alpha.”
Elise gasped. “Who killed him?”
“Like I said, the details are murky. But from what I could interpret, Reed Townsend never became Alpha. Since he didn’t have any children, the title passed on to his nephew. But, the Lycan High Council wanted to honor Townsend, so they’ve been using the dagger ever since.”
“How does that help us now?” Julianna asked.
“If my research is correct, we should be in the right year when Reed Townsend is ascending to Alpha.”
Julianna’s face brightened. “That means the dagger is here!”
“And Townsend is also the first son of the two Alphas, about to ascend himself.” Cross added. “We could potentially be able to recreate what happened at Lucas’s ceremony.”
“But how can we be sure?” Elise asked. “It’s not like we intended to come here in the first place.”
“I’d like to believe we were brought here for a reason,” Cross said. “The dagger and another child of two Alphas are right here, where we are now. It can’t be a coincidence that we were brought here. With the dagger, Reed Townsend’s blood, and Elise’s power, we have a way home.”
She didn’t want to say aloud what they were all probably thinking: that it might not work. But then again, what else could they lose? “I suppose … we should give it a shot.”
“Great!” Julianna looked much more positive about the whole thing than Elise felt. “So, how do we get close to that dagger?”
Cross stood up. “I need to gather intel.”
“We can help,” Julianna offered.
He shook his head. “It will be easier if I go alone for now.”
“But—”
“At least for now. We don’t know what to expect out there.” he said. “I’ve taken precautions and put protection spells around this house. But, don’t try to leave until I’ve come back.”
>
“Where are you going?” Elise asked.
“I have to learn more about Reed Townsend.”
“And how do you plan to do that?”
“I’ve picked up a few tricks here and there,” he said cryptically. “I’ll be back in the morning.”
And once again, he disappeared.
Elise stared at the empty spot where Cross had been, wondering where he had gone to. A heavy silence crept over them.
“We’ll be home in no time. Right?” But Julianna sounded like she had lost some of the confidence she had earlier.
“Of course.” Elise slipped into her sleeping bag. This had to work. Otherwise, she didn’t know what else to do.
Dawn was breaking by the time Elise was awakened by the heavy footsteps walking across the wooden floor. Her wolf didn’t sense any danger, which meant it knew who was in the house with them. She sat up immediately. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she looked up at the tall figure by the fireplace.
“It’s me,” came the reply.
Cross.
Her vision came into focus in the darkened room, and she sighed in relief. “What did you find out?”
“And what are you wearing?” Julianna’s sleep-rasped voice piped up from the sleeping bag beside her.
Cross grinned. “I had to blend in while I gathered intel.” Dressed in skin-tight pants, boots, and a loose white shirt, he looked more like a pirate than a Viking.
“You wouldn’t have happened to gather some coffee, did you?” Julianna sat up and brushed her hair back with her fingers.
With a wave of his hand, two mugs of steaming hot coffee appeared on the floor next to the sleeping bags. “My father insisted that coffee was the first thing I learn to make, after water.”
“Oh. My. God.” Julianna’s eyes widened as she took in a whiff of the rich aroma. “You can make coffee?” She took a sip of the liquid and let out a sigh. “Marry me, Cross. Right now.”
Elise chuckled and to her surprise, Cross actually blushed. “Thank you, Cross,” she said as she took sip from her own cup. “What did you find out?”
He sat down cross-legged next to them. “As I suspected, Reed Townsend is about to ascend to Alpha sometime soon, possibly in the next week or two. His parents passed away over six months ago in an accident.”
She didn’t know why, but she felt a pang of sympathy for this Reed Townsend, despite never having met him. But she supposed anyone would be devastated if they lost both their parents suddenly.
“The Lycan High Council has approved his ascension,” he continued. “They’re ironing out some details, but as soon as they arrive, they’ll proceed with the ceremony which could be any day now.”
“How did you find this all out?” Julianna asked.
“I located his home,” Cross explained. “It was surprisingly easy, given that he’s also the duke of Huntington. I just asked around, and some people directed me to where he lived. I waited until everyone was asleep, then I went inside and read through his mail. It took a while, but that’s what I was able to piece together, based on his correspondences with the Lycan High Council.”
“Good job,” Julianna said. “Did you find the dagger?”
He shook his head. “There was no time to search the entire house. I went to the office first, since I guessed that’s where his most important papers and items might be, but no sign of the dagger.”
“It might be in another home, especially if it’s an heirloom.” Elise said. “I mean, if he’s a duke, he probably has several estates all over the country. You might have to check them all.”
“How do you know that?” Julianna asked.
“Er, I mean … I do read books.” She felt her cheeks go hot. “Jane Austen and uh, some of those romance novels Aunt Jade used to lend me.”
She thought Julianna would mock her, but instead, the other woman clapped her hands together. “Great! Maybe you can figure out what clothes are appropriate for me to wear.”
“Clothes?” she asked. “Why?”
“Julianna,” Cross began. “You should leave things—”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Cross!” Julianna got to her feet and placed her hands on her hips. “If you think I’m going to stand around and do nothing, you’re mistaken.”
“But Julianna, it can be dangerous out there for you two.”
“Is it because I’m a girl?” Her voice raised by a decibel and a dark brow lifted. “Cross, I’m going to go crazy if I have to stay here another day. Besides, I’ve been a member of the Lycan Security Force for years. I can certainly protect myself, and I know how to lead investigations. With you and me searching together, we can cover more ground.”
“It’s not that I don’t think you’re capable.” Cross shook his head. “I’m already taking a risk by talking and interacting with the people in this time period. Who knows what kind of damage we could cause to the future if we were at the wrong place at the wrong time?”
“But, if you have my help, we can find the dagger faster and get home sooner, right?” Julianna reasoned. “Don’t forget, finding the dagger is just the first part. After that we somehow need to get some of Townsend’s blood on it and then have Elise use her power to zap us back home. How were you going to do that all by yourself?”
“I was going to do it clandestinely. Maybe place a sleeping potion on him and then take some of his blood.” Cross said. “But I suppose you’re right. If we wait too long and he dies during the ascension ceremony before we find the dagger and get his blood, we might lose our only way home.”
“Hey, I’m not going to stay here if you guys are going off to look for the dagger,” Elise said. “I’m coming with you. Don’t even think of saying no, Cross.” And if she were truly honest with herself, although she was scared of going outside, part of her was curious. What would it be like walking around in Regency London? She’d really only seen it in movies and read about it in novels.
“All right,” Cross said with a defeated sigh. “Looks like I’m outnumbered. But you both have to stick close to me when we’re outside. And don’t talk to anyone.”
“Aye, aye, captain!” Julianna said. “Now, how do we get some clothes so Elise and I can go outside without causing a scandal or ripping the space-time continuum?”
Acquiring the necessary clothing for the two females was harder than it seemed. For one thing, it would take Cross too long to learn how to recreate the fabrics and then how to construct the clothes. So, they decided he would have to steal the necessary clothes instead, popping in and out of some of London’s finest dressmakers’ salons without being detected.
Even then, it took him several trips, because he forgot the three or four layers of underthings that ladies wore in Regency times, plus a few other accessories and personal things they needed to look presentable to the outside world. “I never realized how hard it was to be a woman,” Cross said with much humor.
Elise was actually glad to be wearing real clothes and happy in the fact that she could wear gloves without looking weird. From the piles of outfits Cross had provided them, she chose a light-blue empire-cut gown in a rich satin fabric and gloves that went up to her elbows. “I’m just glad we didn’t get transported someplace where corsets were necessary.”
“Hey, this actually isn’t too bad,” Julianna said as she twirled around in a gold and white silk gown. “I’d rather wear something like that,” she indicated with her chin at Cross’s buckskin pants, shirt, and boots with her chin, “but I might make the stuffy London ladies faint.”
“You look great, Julianna.” Elise tapped her finger on her chin. “There’s just something it needs …”
“The hair,” Cross gestured to Julianna’s short bob. “You have the wrong hair.”
Julianna ran her hands through her cropped locks defensively. “What’s wrong with my hair?”
“From what I’ve observed while I was outside, ladies have long hair in these times.”
The look of horror on Julianna’s face was unmis
sable. “Don’t you dare!”
But it was too late. As Cross waved his hand over Julianna’s head, her short dark hair began to grow and lengthen until it reached down to her waist.
“No!”
“It’s not that bad,” Elise said as she pinned her own long red hair up. “I can help you fix it.”
“Ugh!” Julianna gave a strand a tug. “It’s so heavy.”
Elise thought the long hair actually suited Julianna as it softened some of the more angular lines of her face. Not that Julianna wasn’t pretty, but Elise suspected she often got compared to her mother and her two other sisters. They were beautiful in that exotic, sensuous way of the petite and curvy, while Julianna was more on the tall and athletic side like her older brother and father.
Reaching for the hairbrush, she ran it through Julianna’s now-lengthy locks until they gleamed, then used the leftover pins to put them up. “There,” she said. “Now it looks perfect.” The thick, ebony curls were piled on top of her head artfully.
“I can’t wait until we get home,” Julianna grumbled. “I’m going to take a nice, long hot shower, then I’m going to chop all this off.”
Elise smothered a laugh. “I think we should be all good.” Both of them certainly were wearing enough layers of clothing. “What’s the plan?”
“I’ll take us to Hunter House,” Cross said. “That’s where he lives. From what I’ve read, the ascension ceremony is set to take place there.”
“We won’t get too close, will we?” Elise asked.
“No,” he answered. “We’ll observe from the outside across the street but no closer.”
“Good thinking,” Julianna said. “It’ll give us an idea of what the house is like, then maybe we can figure out how to infiltrate it or possibly observe Townsend’s daily routine. We’ll need to know the best time we can nab him and get some of his blood.”
“The street where he lives isn’t too busy, but we’ll have to be careful no one notices us. I’ll transport us a block away, in an empty alley I’ve been using. From there, we can walk by the house.” His voice turned serious. “For now, we’ll take one lap around. That’s it. Don’t talk to anyone, and try to blend in.”
A Witch in Time Page 5
