Arrival in the Third World Part One
Mariana
The city's streets were a chaotic tapestry of shadow and neon. Massive skyscrapers lean precariously, casting long, ominous shadows on the cracked and uneven cobblestone streets. Dimly lit alleys wound like serpents through the maze of buildings shrouded in an ever-present mist that seemed to creep from the very ground. The streets were deserted, save for the occasional glimpse of mysterious figures that slinked in and out of the shadows.
“Dad, you said it wasn’t so bad, but this….” Harold, my dad said to my Grandfather King Wolfram with a frown. Regardless, if he had lived the rest of his life in another world, my dad’s home had always been. It would remain here in the third world.
“That’s because it wasn't your son, but my guess is it’s like this now because of the cloud up there,” Wolfram said with a sign. He, too, was sporting a frown, but not towards the city we had just arrived in but at the cloud above it.
As the cloud loomed overhead, it pulsated with an eerie, otherworldly glow, casting strange, shifting shadows upon the shattered remains of skyscrapers and crumbling facades. Electric tendrils of lightning snaked through its core, illuminating its jagged edges with a malevolent, violet hue, a stark contrast to the lifeless, desaturated landscape below.
“It looks to be targeting specific places within the city, doesn't it?” Connie, my mom said, as she, too, kept her eyes on the cloud.
“Either way, we should stay alert from here on out, we’ve got eyes on us,” said Alexis as she moved forward. My eyebrows arched up in surprise as she seemingly found her way through the city. A lot of things were changing rapidly about my mate that concerned me, but in the same boat, I never asked. When we settled down in Grandpa Wolfram's kingdom, it would be something worth talking about. My mind was focused on the camp, but my heart felt that this was something else.
“Stop worrying so much Mari, our Lexia loves us,” Alohi spoke in my mind. She must have felt my conflict on the matter.
The atmosphere was thick with an unsettling stillness, broken only by the occasional creaking of dilapidated buildings and the distant, mournful wail of sirens that seemed to fade into oblivion. A pall of foreboding hung over the city, a sense that something dreadful was about to unfold.
The buildings themselves were a testament to a world gone awry. Towering monoliths of glass and steel had been corrupted by dark enchantments, their surfaces marred with grotesque, shifting patterns. Some buildings defied gravity, their upper floors suspended in mid-air by arcane forces, while others seemed to writhe and pulse with malevolent energy.
We followed behind Alexis quietly, aware of the eyes on us in the shadows. We met a friend of Wolfram's who provided transportation for us the rest of the way. It wasn’t safe to walk around in the city for too long. As I looked around, I understood why.
The city's inhabitants were a motley crew of mystics, outcasts, and those who had fallen victim to the city's sinister charm. They moved silently through the streets, their eyes haunted by secrets and despair. Tattered cloaks and hooded garments concealed their identities, and masks adorned many faces, hiding both their true selves and their emotions.
Homes were scarce and hidden away in the darkest corners of the city. These were not places of comfort but rather fortresses of survival, guarded by wards and enchantments to keep out the malevolent forces that lurked outside.
We met Grandpa’s first at a home just off the outskirts. He greeted us quickly and then ushered us inside. I was surprised again at the ease of my mate and the ease of a conversation between some people here as if she had known them for years. Lexi must have noticed my questioning stare, for she walked back toward me with a light smile, kissed me on the forehead, and whispered in my ear to assure me.
“You forget the Shadow League is my people. Don’t think too much. Whatever you want to know, we can talk after we get to the kingdom safely. For an old man, your grandpa has made a few enemies in his day,” Alexis explained as quickly as she could. I nodded in understanding, looking to find Wolfram frowning at Lexi.
“I heard that you brat! Humph, old my ass, I’ll show you later, how about it, huh?” he said with a scoff, but there was a sparkle in his eyes. He really liked Lexi a lot and I was intrigued and curious about how she and my grandpa met in the first place.
“Name the time and place, old man, and it's on.” she winked and gave him a smile.
“Our ride is here.” said my mother, ushering us along to the other side of the house to the back exit. In this twisted world, transportation was a surreal experience. Floating carriages glided soundlessly through the air, their windows shrouded in enchantments to protect passengers from prying eyes. Some chose to travel by means of shadowy portals that whisked them from one part of the city to another with a disorienting flash.
I was already warned against the use of shadow portals. With the twisted world it had become here, no one knew how that would trigger the curse lying dormant within me. In honesty, I felt fine, but who knew when things would change? After all, Grandpa had dropped a bombshell on me about the arranged marriage pact, but given I had a mate, a true soul wolf hybrid mate. The council should let it slide. But I couldn’t help feeling that Wolfram had left something deliberately out in this whole matter and things wouldn’t be so easy as he originally let on.
As we rode on to Red Claw Kingdom I couldn’t help admiring the sky. Above, the sky held a haunting beauty. Two moons, one silver, and the other crimson, hung low in the night, their light casting an eerie, dual-toned glow on the city.
In the distance, the city was divided by two towering castles, as different as night and day. Kingdom Red Claw, a foreboding fortress of jagged obsidian, exuded an aura of malevolence, its turrets crowned with dark enchantments. In stark contrast, Kingdom Silver Fang, a gleaming citadel of radiant crystal, shone with an otherworldly brilliance, and its battlements resonated with a harmonious energy.
If this was a parody, it would be quite a shocker because one would think my grandpa was the villain due to his vision of the kingdoms alone, yet here he was the ever-revered peacekeeper. His kingdom, his pack, which would soon be mine if I wanted, held massive respect and love for him. Regardless of this world turning into what it is now his kingdom and the people in it never worried or suffered, for they all worked as one united front, meaning I had a lot to learn from him if I chose one day to take over his throne.
The carriage was sleek, an elongated frame was crafted from gleaming, midnight-blue metal adorned with intricate silver filigree that seemed to dance in the soft glow of mystical runes etched along its surface. The carriage floated effortlessly a few feet above the ground, supported by ethereal, translucent light beams.
Gilded wheels, adorned with ornate motifs, hovered beneath the carriage, serving more as symbols of tradition than functional components. The windows, constructed from crystalline panels, were rimmed with pulsating runes that emitted a soft, soothing luminescence, illuminating the path ahead and giving the impression of stars embedded within the carriage's walls.
“This is so much better than horseback,” my mother, Connie, said with a sigh as she sank into the cushioned seat of the carriage.
“It’s more like if you have seen any horses mom?” I asked with a smirk, entering the carriage as well to take a seat opposite her.
“Hey, be kind to your mother you brat! We are still in our prime.” my dad, Harold, scolded me as he entered the carriage to sit next to my mom, followed by Alexis, who sat next to me.
“Where’s Grandpa?”
“How else are we going to get to our destination kid? Even though it flies, it still needs a guide.” Wolfram answered as he tapped on the hood of the carriage. Then I felt the carriage begin to move. Even though we could see the castles in the distance, the trip was still a ways away. The distortion of the third world made things appear closer than they actually were.
The night was shrouded in darkness, the air heavy with an ominous sense of foreboding. Yet, inside the carriage, the passengers felt safe and secure, shielded from the dystopian world's perils.
The carriage glided through the moonlit landscape, its magical runes illuminating the path ahead. It moved with an almost sentient grace, navigating twists and turns effortlessly. I marveled at the view through the crystal windows, watching as the castle drew nearer, its spires piercing the night sky.
“It’s changed so much.” My dad said in astonishment. From the outside, the castle was an intimidating sight, a foreboding fortress carved from jagged obsidian, its surface exuding an aura of malevolence. Dark enchantments crowned its turrets, and ominous shadows clung to its walls. It was a fearsome sight, designed to deter any would-be invaders and protect the kingdom that lay within.
“It’s beautiful!” Alexis and I exclaimed in unison, causing my parents to look at us strangely. Before our arrival here, Wolfram had briefed me on the Red Claw Pack’s kingdom and how its imposing exterior concealed a deeper truth. The castle's dark appearance was, in fact, a form of protection against the enemy. The obsidian walls were enchanted to absorb and dissipate hostile magic, ensuring the safety of the Red Claw Pack and its harmonious energy.
In actuality, I found myself instantly drawn to the darkness of the kingdom. It was soothing something within me. Was it the family curse? I didn’t know, but I felt like a part of me had finally found a home.
“It’s the call of our wolf blood Mari, don’t be afraid, Aasim, and I will help you later,” whispered Alohi inside my mind, and soon I felt a warm flow of energy spread through me. What was going to happen later? The question arose in my mind, but Alohi remained silent about giving me an answer. I wasn’t going to dwell on it either, as I let this newfound energy spread through me as if flowing in my very bloodstream.
“You okay, Mari?” Alexis whispered close to my ear after she saw me close my eyes and let out a sigh.
“Yeah, I’m good Lexi,” I said, turning my head toward her and opening my eyes. A collective gasp rang out inside the carriage with all eyes on me.
“Honey, your wolf’s eyes…….”
“Dad, what do you mean? Is something wrong?” I said, sitting straight up and looking around at everyone as they kept staring at me.
“No, it’s just your wolf's eyes are breathtaking. Here, have a look.” Alexis said. In the center of the carriage cabin, a polished, wooden table rose from the floor with the mere wave of her hand, laden with crystal goblets, a decanter of shimmering elixir, and a vintage-looking handheld mirror. It was so out of place but fit at the same time as it was only present because of my parents and Alexis' thoughts alone.
My dad reached forward on the table, grabbed the decanter, and poured the strange elixir into four crystal goblets. “This calls for a drink, don’t you think my dear wife,” he said, handing her a goblet, which she took without haste.
Meanwhile, Alexis picked up the handheld mirror and handed it to me. She had a deep look in her eyes as she stared at me. Then she picked up a goblet and took a sip, motioning at me to look in the mirror that was still in my hand. I was quickly becoming irritated at everyone’s cryptic silence and Alohi’s chuckle in my head didn’t assuage my irritation one bit. “Just look already Mari, it’s not a big deal, well not yet anyway,” Alohi said, making me frown but become increasingly curious about her words.
Holding the mirror up toward my face, I was greeted by a reflection I wouldn’t even believe was my own. My heart was pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The moment was a fusion of magic and destiny, as the colors within my wolf's eyes began to reveal themselves.
My left eye was a captivating shade of deep purple, like the richest amethyst. It gleamed with an ancient wisdom, a profound connection to the lore of my kind. My right eye blazed with a fiery pink, akin to the delicate petals of a rare flower bathed in sunlight.
Gold swirled in the center, forming a mesmerizing vortex of power, around the edges of my eyes, a fierce red encircled like a raging inferno. Lastly, turquoise danced like a serene pool of clear water. As I gazed at my own reflection, my eyes resembled a fiery lightning strike, a breathtaking convergence of colors that pulsed with an undeniable energy.
Was this the sign of my family’s cursed prophecy being fulfilled before their very eyes, and the uniqueness of my wolf's eyes was a testament to Claw's destiny as the Alpha? By instinct, I knew the colors in my eyes illuminated the path I was destined to walk, the powers I was destined to wield, and the future I was destined to shape for the third world and the werewolf race.
“Alohi, our wolf’s eyes are beautiful,” I said inside my mind.
“Oh, Mari, our wolf’s eyes are more than just beautiful, it’s an awakening to so much more.”
“Is it a curse?”
“No, it is a prophecy, someone has been very naughty, but we have to confirm things first. For now, this is our secret.”
“Got it Alohi,” I said, agreeing to keep quiet even though I had yet to understand anything, if only just for a small part of it.
I set the mirror down, lost in thought. The sweet smell of the elixir hit my nose as Alexis handed me the last goblet that my father had poured for us. I took it and downed it without pausing. The sweet but savory taste flooded my taste buds flowing down my throat with a warm yet slight sting from the obvious alcohol contained in it. A hushed silence filled the carriage, eyes sparkled with a newfound purpose.
Soon we began to feel the carriage slow down until it came to a full stop. Looking out the window, we had made it to the Red Claw Kingdom. The entrance pathway to the castle was a grand and imposing spectacle that heralded the arrival of its ruler, King Wolfram. As we each descended from the magical flying carriage, the pathway laid out before us was a testament to the kingdom's strength and unity.
“Why is that D wad still here?” my dad murmured to my mother, who hit him on the arm, signaling him to behave himself, while Alexis tried covering up her smile with my grandpa, not giving any face, and laughed out loud at his son’s words. Leaving me to raise my eyebrows in question at the obvious disdain in my dad's countenance.
Wolfram took the lead, as we followed behind him in unison. The entrance pathway was a wide, intricately paved road made of dark, polished stone that shimmered like obsidian beneath the moonlight. Torch sconces flanked on either side, their flames casting a warm, flickering glow that danced along the pathway's edges. Beneath the surface of the stones, ancient runes were etched, pulsating with a subtle, protective magic that marked this as sacred ground.
Stone statues of majestic wolves, each carved with lifelike detail, stood like sentinels along the pathway, their eyes seemingly following the King's every step. Their stony forms were weathered by time, a testament to the kingdom's enduring history. Tall, arched gates of wrought iron, adorned with the emblem of the Red Claw Pack, marked the entrance to the castle grounds.
We made our way down the grand entrance pathway, the castle and its surroundings came alive with the energy of our return. We were greeted by the pack members who had gathered to welcome them home. Each face bore a mixture of joy, relief, and unwavering loyalty. But my attention stayed on the man my Dad had a negative reaction to.
He stood just in front of the entrance, though it felt like he was forbidding us to enter. Beside him was a woman but her aura wasn’t any better than his. These two people made my guard go up without hesitation, the scent of them was off and carried a similar scent to my doppelganger Ariana.
“Welcome home, brother. ” the man said as he and the woman next to him bowed in front of Wolfram. Making him scoff at the two people but not greet them in return. I understood at that moment who he was. He was Wolfram’s brother, Ingrim Claw, and an unending thorn when he came to my father, Harold.