Page 93 of The Silent Mountain
“If it’s true, it means that someone is still alive and doing Aengus knows what,” Stefan says.
“Alana said the other realms are facing troubles too,” I muse. “It would certainly underline your theory, Erin. One person alone can’t make all that mess.”
“It’s just assumptions though,” Stefan points out.
“Then, let’s look at the proof we have,” Erin suggests.
“The mare that appeared and haunted Alana. The harbinger told us it is from another realm and was brought here,” I say.
“Then, we have the sea monsters attacking,” Stefan adds. “We don’t usually have them in this area. Not that many of them at least, and they are usually so deep in the ocean that they don’t bother us.”
Erin tilts her head, furrowing her brows. “We have the nachzehrer,” she says. “And not to forget that situation with the queen, when she was lured into the ocean.”
“And we still don’t know how that could have happened. Something must have either abducted her or led her there,” I say, a shiver going down my back when I think of how I couldn’t reach Alana through our bond, and how I couldn’t find her anywhere. On an impulse, I reach out to her, trying to feel her through the mate bond, relieved when I can feel her somewhere on the clan grounds.
“Erin’s theory is beginning to sound quite likely,” Stefan mutters. “But how to fight something invisible? We don’t know who or what it is, we don’t even know if it’s truly attacking us or if we just are unlucky for our closeness to the ocean.”
“Both could be a possibility,” Erin agrees.
“The birds were our first lead,” I say. “Maybe we should start focusing on them again.”
“We don’t know how they got cursed,” Stefan says. “Or, as we now know, how they came in touch with dark magic. That’s why I am hesitating to give advice. A rash decision could hurt us all.”
I sigh, well aware that he isn’t wrong. “Talking about birds…“ I pause. “Erin, how is Ludwig doing?”
“Bad,” she mutters sadly. “It progresses faster with him than with Barbara, maybe because he was already weakened and tired, and losing her made him lose all hope. He had nightmares yesterday. That’s how it began with Barbara.”
Stefan sighs tiredly. “Can’t you help him, Erin?”
“The black magic runs deep,” she says. “Whatever it is that infected him is not from this world. I was able to make the protective potions from my knowledge about it, but I can’t beat the darkness itself.”
“How do we beat the curse or dark magic?” I ask. “Theoretically speaking.”
“By erasing its roots,” she says.
“Which brings us back to the problem,” Stefan mutters. “We don’t know the root, and chasing the birds blindly could prove to be a bad decision.”
“We will have to make a decision, eventually,” I point out. “You are my advisor. I need you to analyze which path will cost us the least clan members.”
Stefan sighs once again. “I will,” he finally says.
I lean back, about to take another sip from my drink, when Alana links me.Favian! I just met Elio and Cassie. Cassie is completely distraught. It seems like something is off with Ludwig!”
thirty
The Attack
*FAVIAN*
ThemomentItoldErin what Alana said, she was already up on her feet and running out of the room. Stefan and I follow her at some distance. I want to give her the time to reach Ludwig first. He is her patient, and she deserves to be there first.
On our way, Alana catches up to us. “Do you know what happened?” I ask her.
“No, Cassie was in full panic. Elio went with her to calm her down.”
I feel the signature twinge of worry and simmering anger in my chest at my brother doing something reckless again, but I try to fight it down. I promised him I would trust him and his abilities more. He is not a child anymore, and he had the potion, so he should be safe. All he did was go with one of our witches, to make sure she keeps it together and to check on what’s going on.
That’s being responsible, and nothing I should feel angry about.
