Chapter 41

Forest's POV

I stood at the entrance of the cave, staring at the steps in front of me. They seemed to lead to nowhere. They went down a few steps and then seemed to just disappear, evaporate into the blackness.

I had already tried to shine my phone torch to light up the steps, but the darkness just seemed to swallow the light, like a monster swallowing a fly.

I gulped before looking over at my dad. His eyes showed conflict, he wanted to help me, wanted to get Aria back, but he really didn't want to set foot into the lair of the fae, the creatures who kept him as a slave for so long.

"The Fae aren't evil," My dad said, staring into the darkness, "But they do like to keep 'pets'. Don't give them your name and you'll be fine."

"You don't have to go you know," Skye said softly, she could see the conflict as well. My dad shook his head, shaking it off.

"I'm alpha," Was his only reply, "It's my duty to help those in may pack, and I'm a dad, it's my duty to help my son." I smiled gratefully at him.

"Thank you," I said, pulling him into a hug, a rare show of affection on both our parts. I loved my dad, I just showed it in other ways. I never really hugged him, only Aria or mum. I just worked hard for dad, made him proud.

Taking a deep breath I slowly edged closer to the steps. "Remember," Skye said from behind me, "Whatever you do, don't give them your name." I nodded before following my dad down the steps.

After only three steps I looked back, but the entrance seemed to have disappeared, "Dad," I said quietly.

Without even looking behind to see what I was on about, he quickly reassured me, "I told you, no light gets down here. The entrance is still there, just the light is hidden, overcome by the dark."

I nodded before remembering he couldn't see me, "Ok," I looked around, which was pretty useless seeing as everything was black, "how far down is it?"

He though for a minute before replying, "About a mile, it should take us about half an hour, give or take, depending on if, or more when, we get stopped by the faeries."

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We walked in silence, my dad leading in front, not needing to see to know where to go, I used my werewolf senses to follow him, listening out for where he went, following his footsteps.

It was complete darkness. It was silent. The only sound being our footsteps, echoing loudly down the pathway.

I tried to look around, to get any sense of where we were, or where we were going, but the darkness was so thick, so deep, I couldn't see a thing.

Suddenly, my dad stopped. I halted behind him and was struck by the defining silence that seemed to over take us.

"They're here." My dad said.

Suddenly it wasn't so dark.

The light glowing from the group of fae in front of me was a massive contrast from the darkness I had gotten used too.

"Ah, Atlas, you came back." A female fae smiled from in front of me.

Her smile didn't look taunting, malicious or sarcastic, her smile looked genuine, as if she was actually happy to see him.

"Hello Lucy," My dad mumbled quietly, I could dimly make out his face, blank, emotionless. I had never seen him this way, it was so far from what I was used to.

Lucy, Lucy, Lucy! When I was young, my dad would always tell me stories about the dark, 'Never go into the woods after dark. Never go into the woods alone,' He used to say.

Many nights he would tell me stories of the different creatures that lived in the woods. One such creature, was a creature called Lucy, she lived in the darkness, but she wasn't evil. She would look after you, but she'll never let you go. Tenacious Lucy, the creature who owned anything and everything.

Lucy. The Fae my dad gave his name too.

"Why did you return?" The fae said, only looking at my dad, "You got out, most would kill for the opportunity you had, but your back. Why?"

My dad didn't seem put out by their question, but he knew the fae better that I did, he was probably expecting their question.

"Someone has taken my son's mate," He stated, his voice not wavering, "They took my daughter, they harmed my family, I will do anything to get her back, even if that means coming back here."

The fae looked slightly taken back, "You care more about your family then your parent." She said, lost in thought, "Your parents wouldn't even try to petition us to get you back, the wouldn't even ask, and yet you come back here, to your personal hell, for your family. She's not even a blood relative."

I bristled at her words, I had never met my grandparents, dad had always talked highly about them, and yet it turns out they really didn't care about him.

"I am not my parents," My dad calmly stated.

"Clearly," The fae huffed, almost under her breath, "And who is this you bring with you, your son?" She asked, her piercing eyes seemed to look straight in my soul.

I nodded, "My mate needs my help," She just smiled at my certain tone.

"And what's your name," She asked, I was about to tell her before everyone's warning came back to me.

"That's not important now."

"Well," She said, spreading her arms by her side, "You have proved yourself to me, I will tell you what I know,"

I looked at her, gobsmacked. "W, wwhatt, What?" I gasped, "You mean you'll help us."

She nodded.

"Why?" My dad asked, he looked confused, and he knew this fae.

"I want to help," She stated. "Those men, they came down here. At first we ignored them, but then they started attacking us, murdering my kind."

That's horrible, "Why? Why did they hurt you, what did you ever do to them?" I asked.

She answered at a whisper, "They wanted us angry for when you came I think, they left a message at the bottom of the tunnels for you. But you are not those men, you care for your family and for that I give you my respect. I will help you."

"The note," My dad asked, "Where is it?" She held out a piece of paper, which he took and put in his pocket.

"We'll open this at the surface," I nodded, he turned to Lucy, "Why are you helping, you were so angry I left."

A crumpled copy of a smile graced her lips, "I need to repent. I was young when I took you, but now I see it was wrong. You are pure of heart and deserve better than being trapped down here for years."

I smiled, "Well, now that's settled, we might want to get to the surface, time is ticking, we don't have long left."

They both nodded and we made our way back up, Lucy lighting the way.

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Even though I could see this time, I didn't stop to look around. I didn't care what the cave looked like, I only cared about what the note said, and finding Aria before it was too late.

I couldn't see the exit until I passed through it, one minute I was walking in semi-darkness, the next I was in the bright sunlight with my family and friends staring at me.

"You're back," My mum gasped, bringing me in to a tight hug. I nodded, hugging her back.

"Did you find a note?" Ash asked, I nodded, "What does it say?" My dad pulled the note from his pocket and began to read.

Wow, I am impressed, you managed to bypass the faeries. One more victory for you, but still more challenges lie ahead. You look for what you seek, but like many before you, it may lead you astray. Just look at the Fire wolves, they searched for redemption, but all they found were sins.

"For once in their lives, couldn't they just say, 'here is Aria, you win'" Ash muttered from beside me. I was inclined to agree.

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I will solve the riddle. I will find Aria. I will win.

It's not a question of if, it's a question of when.