The path from the room had many turns. Soon the doors opened to a large open space with a garden feature central to it all. A manmade pond whirled and splashed while the plants shimmied beneath an artificial wind. This space couldn't even touch the small oasis of the Invictus forest, but it would do for now.

"Come along, child," Ambrose hummed. His voice was like honey, and Visena followed with an awkward smile. They passed a few wolves, Fae and humans alike. The humans looked indifferent while the others seemed to lean in. She caught a few of the wolves sniffing in her direction, which only hurried her along after the strangers. Then, she saw four glass doors with strange markings like the one she had left with a quick turn of her head.

"Do you guys live here?" Visena asked, looking up at the dozens of floors above their heads.

"From time to time," Sybil replied, following the Fae's gaze.

They entered one of the glass doors and kept on walking. Visena's eyelids demanded to be closed, but she held them steadfast. Now is not the time to fall asleep, dammit.

"In here, child." Ambrose gestured to a large room with four more strange-looking beings sitting at a curved desk.

"Are you the witch Council?" Visena finally asked. She didn't know why it took her so long to figure it out. The forced isolation was not helping her brain at all.

"Go sit." Sybil nudged the Fae girl's shoulder, and she followed the momentum. A solitary chair sat in the room's centre, right in front of all the judging eyes.

She obliged Sybil's request and sat cross-legged. "What can I do for you?"

The two Witches central to the table shifted nervously. Visena was surprised that Sybil and Ambrose weren't the Council leaders. They seemed to hold an air of authority, unlike the Witches in the Leaders' seats.

"A friend of yours has... let us know about your... situation. And have requested we hear your plea."

Visena's face scrunched, and she blinked confusedly. "Plea?"

The witches remained silent.

"Uh well, I am being held by the Council because they think I'm dangerous, but I think they are working for an evil alpha, so that's great."

She was greeted with silence once more. "I need to get out of here and back to my pack."

"Your pack," Sybil questioned.

"Yes, I am Wolf and Fae, and they are my pack."

Ambrose tilted his head quizzically while one of the Council leaders spoke softly.

"Sybil, refer to the texts, please."

"What is happening... Who is the friend you mentioned?"

Sybil sashayed across the floor and retrieved a large leather-bound book from floating shelves on the far wall. Her blackened fingers flicked through the pages at blinding speed.

"Do you guys know Calypso?"

Sybil's hand slammed down the book in front of the leaders as they clenched their jaws.

I hit a nerve.

"It is foretold," the female Alderman began, her voice booming in the Fae's ears,

"A hybrid will be born of earth and aether

who will forge a bond across realms

Whoever shall take their heart

Shall rule their kingdom."

Visena's eyes shifted left to right. She had heard and learned a lot of crazy things since losing her memories, but this had to win a medal. "So... Do you know Calypso or not?"

"We do not speak that name here," the Witch boomed. "She is a deserter and chose wolves over her kind. The only reason we considered her request to speak with you was because of this prophecy."

Visena swallowed deeply. "Well... is that supposed to be referring to me? I don't understand..."

"Yes, child," Ambrose purred in her ear. He was dizzyingly close. She kept her eyes down to avoid his gaze—a black hole.

"Will you help me? I need to get out of here..." The room began to spin. Visena had hardly eaten in days, and her stomach felt like a bottomless pit.

"I'm afraid you will need to head back to your cell now, child. The Wolf Council is getting antsy." It was odd to Visena how Ambrose's language flipped between ancient and modern.

"You're strange." Visena yawned, staring into Ambrose's oozing sockets.

She went to stand when the floor seemed to disappear beneath her feet. She was falling, falling, falling into an abyss of dreamless sleep.

...

"Wake up."

Just a whisper in Visena's consciousness. A hot breath against her face.

"Bitch."

A sudden burning sensation rippled around her throat.

The Fae peeled her eyelids apart and stared into the face of a furious Yrsa.

"What did you tell them?"

"What?"

A painful slap whipped Visena's head to the side. She tasted blood.

"I didn't say much. I asked if they would help me, and they sent me back here." It wasn't the whole truth, but it was close enough. Visena groaned, turning over onto all fours. The collar was sizzling against her bare flesh. Yrsa must have taken Gideon's shirt. Gideon. The thought of him made her heart pang.

"If you have done anything to interfere with our plans, we will order for Invictus to be destroyed. We have the power to do so."

"Yeah, I know," she said rubbing her jaw. "I told you what I said. Would it kill you to get me something to eat though? I'm sure Zeir wouldn't want a half-starved mate."

Yrsa growled above her before sudden stomping steps retreated from Visena's cell.

"I'll get you something." T's voice softly filled the space.

"What time is it?" Visena changed the question expertly.

"About nine." T seemed none the wiser. Visena heeded her mother's words about trusting no one.

"In the morning?" She probed.

"Ah no. It's night."

She turned her back to T to hide her eagerness. "Can you take me to the garden to eat? I need to get out of this box," her voice wobbled slightly, and she prayed it made her sound genuine.

"I don't think that's-"

"Please," Visena faced the Praelia wolf again. "Just for my sanity. I need fresh air." They stood in silence for a tense moment before T finally conceded.

"Fine. If I tell you to hide, you hide. Got it?"

"I hear you." The Fae trickery seemed to come easy to Visena as T turned on their heel and marched like they were on a mission. The starving Alpha hurried along behind T through the familiar halls. She didn't take time to memorise the directions. If her half-baked plan worked, she might not have to come back this way again.

After a brief stop at a vending machine, Visena carried her dinner consisting of a tiny pringles can, bliss balls and a mixed bag of nuts. T led her through the doors, head on a swivel and sat her next to the little water feature. They were alone. Almost. A human cleaner polished the floor nearby but didn't even glance at them.

Visena spun on her seat while she chewed through the snacks. Her eyes flitted between three doors. She wasn't sure which door belonged to which species, so she hoped someone would show up soon. Visena ate one chip at a time, much to T's dismay.

Every piece of food.

One by one.

It felt like her plan would fail when she felt a strange tingling down her spine. T felt it too and whispered for Visena to duck behind the plants. She intentionally moved painfully slow when she saw him. Pale flesh and dark eyes. His hair was slicked back perfectly. Not one strand out of place. Not a drop of blood coursing through his veins. Even through the glass, Visena could smell the scent of death wafting from him.

His eyes met hers, and he paused. His form seemed to float above the floor. T shoved Visena down behind a tall Monstera, but it was too late. The Fae had piqued the Vampire's interest.

She lay on the cold floor eating the last few almonds from the bag when she heard a ghostly voice.

"Show her to me."

T's hackles rose to their ears. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The laugh that followed sent a shudder through the Fae.

"Stand up, child."

Visena wished everyone would stop referring to her as a child, but she obliged. T gave her a pointed look, eyes bugging out, which she shrugged in response to. Meeting the Vampire's eyes made Visena gulp. Those dark orbs were soulless. Ancient.

"Hi."

The Vampire seemed to consider her before reaching out his hand. "Come. I believe we have a few items to discuss."

T nearly ripped Visena's arm from the socket. "You most certainly do not!"

"We can keep this between us. Can't we pup?" The Vampire placed his translucent hand over the Praelia wolf's forearm and met their eyes.

T swayed slightly before nodding like a puppet. Then, without a word, T turned and walked away.

"What did you do to T?"

"Simple compulsion. Nothing to worry about, my dear. Come along." The Vampire turned silently and drifted to the door he had just exited. With a gulp, Visena jogged after him.

The silence was loud, and the Fae's curiosity took hold. "What's your name?"

He didn't turn. "You may call me Mihnea."

"That's a nice name... I'm Visena."

"Beautiful. 'Of the forest'"

Visena's brows shot up. "That's what it means?"

Mihnea turned then with a raised brow. "It is your name, child. Surely you should know."

She shook her head sadly. "I don't know much. I lost my memories."

"You fascinate me more each moment."

"Uh, thanks." They turned a corner and reached a very familiar set of wooden doors. "Are all the Council chambers the same? I've been in three now, and everything is pretty much identical."

"Indeed. Come in and sit."

Visena sighed. She was getting tired of being told to go places and sit like an obedient dog.

Again, she did as the 'walking dead man' told her.

One other Vampire was in the room in a central seat. She was striking, with the deepest azure eyes and auburn bob. "This is Thana. My counterpart." Thana tilted her head mockingly. Mihnea tutted lightly, "My dear. We may have an interesting tale to hear tonight." His accent was sharper on some words. Vaguely European.

"Speak, dear one," Thana responded, her accent thicker.

"I don't know where to start..."

Mihnea smiled, sharp incisors glinting in the dim light. "How about the beginning."

A/N

guys, gals, peeps and pals, tell me...

What do you think about Mihnea?

I'm curious if anyone will figure out where I got his name from. (Probably will now that I've said something lol- but I'm proud of my minimal research efforts ;D )

And also please tell me if you're bored lol. Some of my book club readers feel this is not very action-packed... Perhaps they aren't into the slow burn style - if this can even be classified as that.

Did anyone else find that after they started writing, they can't enjoy reading books (just for the sake of it) on Wattpad anymore? I never used to care about minor punctuation things but now that's all I see!

*Cries* I just want to read stupid smut and be mildly entertained!

Anywaysssss,

Until next time x