Of all the things that he dislikes most in his life, getting manipulated by a force greater than him is one of them. He so much dislikes it when people manipulate him to do their selfish work, acquire or fulfill their lustful position.
But right now, what other choice did he have? Either he ventures on this journey or faces the wrath of a greater force and also endangers the lives of everyone he loves and swore to protect.
If he endangered their lives by refusing to go on this quest, then what would be his profit? What will be his premium? He had gone through hell to keep them safe and protect them from every evil force that was raised against them. He had saved them when all hope was lost, and he burned down every brothel house in their kingdom, killed every kingpin that tried to resist him, and risked his life so many times for them.
No, he will never allow that. He won't allow his efforts to end in vain. He won't give up so easily because of a puny being from the underworld. He's also powerful on his own, and he has been through the worst. Surely, he will get through this.
Alpha Rey Reed Smith glanced back for the third time, his eyes going directly to the king's palace, and he fought hard against the urge to break down in tears. He couldn't believe that he was back in the same river where they pulled him out a few months ago. Well, maybe he had fulfilled his journey here. Maybe this is the main reason why he was sent here in the first place.
Alpha Rey; No, he's no longer an Alpha; he's now another human being, but with something that separated him from them. He had the power that was given to him by the blood lord at the foundation of the underworld. He had the power to see thought, read the mind, predict movement, and draw power from anything related to water. Nevertheless, all this was dark power which Rey Reed didn't want.
Yes, he's fast, and he had skills that were drilled into his body by the blood lord, but all this couldn't replace his true identity. He was an alpha with the ability to turn into a hellhound. But now it is gone, all replaced by mind-reading abilities and extraordinary skills.
If all these didn't come with a price, Rey would have accepted it as his fate and moved on with his life, but the blood lord doesn't allow that. The moment he drank from the water of the fountain, it changed everything in his life. He is now bound to something greater, someone dreadful, and that dreadful being is none other than the blood lord.
Rey Reed Smith had fought with the black Phoenix of the Matilda Coven, Beckham, and Kanima, and even defeated the twin Alpha before his Spirit was sent here to the middle land.
He survived the bounty that was placed on him and his pack by Ariel the banshee, survived the hunt of the Pink Killer and even stood against the great Sybold, a huge creature with two horns and winter power, including La Bête du Gévaudan. But with the blood lord, Rey Reed Smith was sure that he wouldn't last a minute and neither did he stand a chance of winning.
Even when he had his full power as a true Alpha, he couldn't think of waging war against the Blood Lord, ruler and keeper of the underworld, not to talk about now that he had lost his power and the only ability he had was the one given to him by the Blood Lord himself.
It's now that Rey Reed remembers Ezra Miller's speech before he jumped into the Styx River when they duelled in the underworld after his training.
Seeing the tall, magnificent building of the King's palace of the Middle Land shattered Rey's heart, knowing very well that he wouldn't be stepping into the palace to bid his friends goodbye. The blood lord had made it clear that if he dared spend another night in the Middle Land, he would regret it greatly.
On other occasions, Rey Reed Smith might have dared the blood lord, but the moment the man appeared to him and showed him the future that awaited him if he disobeyed him and failed to fulfill his demand made Rey conclude that the blood lord meant his threat. He had seen what the man could do, and he wouldn't want to infuriate him again.
There are still many things that Rey wants to do in the Middle Land. He wants to thank Hela for watching over his body when he went to the underworld and all the stress she went through just to aid his revival. He wants to see Garry and Kusandra for the last time, stay until their wedding ceremony is over, and wish them well. He also wants to console Garry concerning the loss of his brother, mourn with him, and encourage him. He also wants to enlighten him on how to go with Middle Land politics, so he won't end up making the wrong judgment since he's not familiar with it yet.
Rey wants to see Linda Boston, Luna of Brandon who was killed by his father for warning the people of the Middle Land about Dylan Knoll's plan.
He wants them to mourn the death of Brandon together because of the good deed he did which cost his life.
But right now, there's no time for all of that. He had to forget about all those thoughts and get out of the Middle Land as fast as possible so Garry or any of the knights wouldn't spot him and come after him. If they glimpse him sneaking out of the kingdom without saying a proper goodbye, they will hold him down. They will inform Garry, and it won't take Garry more than a minute to get him back into the palace and hold him down. That's the advantage of Garry's power. He's a speedster.
Rey Reed Smith averted his gaze from the King's palace and focused on pushing his boat into the depths of the Black Sea, so he could begin his journey as fast as possible. He didn't want to trigger the anger of the blood lord again.
Since the blood lord now has access to his soul and body, he will have to keep doing everything the blood lord wants until he finds a way to break the bond before them and flee to his real home—Earth.
The shore of the Black Sea in the middle of the land exudes an otherworldly ambience as Rey Reed walks on its ebony sand beach, pushing the small boat he wants to use ahead of him.
The riverbank, draped in shadows, is a spectacle of obsidian hues that seem to absorb and reflect the first sun of the day, casting an eerie, yet enchanting, glow across the landscape. The very air carries an ancient mystique, as if the river itself holds the secrets of ages long past.
The water of the Black Sea possesses an uncanny quality, appearing as a liquid abyss that mirrors the star-studded heavens above. Its depths are shrouded in an inky blackness that hints at both the divine and the ominous. The waves move with a haunting grace, whispering tales of forgotten sorcery and clandestine rites performed by the Middle Land in ages gone by.
At times, the water takes on an ethereal luminescence, as if enchanted by the magic that permeates the very air. During the darkest nights, the sea seems to absorb the shadows, turning the waves into a swirling cauldron of darkness that is both beautiful and foreboding. The magical energies coursing through the river give it an otherworldly vibrancy, as if it were a living entity with its own desires and secrets.
The Black Sea in the Middle Land played a crucial role during the war against Dylan Knoll, which also led to the death of King Sebastian. Its depths conceal powerful enchantments, and during the conflict, Caliste summons a ghost warrior from the depths of the water to fight Rey.
Before Caliste became the only witch left in the Middle Land and turned dark, Garry told him that they always harnessed mysterious forces within the water to weave spells of protection or unleash devastating magical attacks. But everything changed the moment Sebastian killed Xavier Knoll, cousin of Dylan Knoll, and hunted Caliste, which made her a dark witch.
The Black Sea is a strategic asset, both a barrier and a weapon, for the Middle Land whenever they call upon the ancient energies to defend their land in the past, and Rey hopes they will be able to restore it, especially now that they have gotten another white witch, Kusandra Dracaena Smith.
With a little effort, Rey pushed his boat into the Black Sea, ready to sail. His small boat was a Caïque, which he had used to cross the Black Sea River with oars in the past. It has a long, narrow shape and a pointed bow.
Finally, Rey settled inside the boat, grabbed the oars, and started rowing for the dangerous quest ahead.
To be continued.