The early morning light filtered through the cottage windows, casting a warm glow over the room where Emily, Aiden, Sarah, and Marcus were gathered. The air was thick with anticipation as they prepared for their next move.
Emily broke the silence, her voice steady. "We need to find the wizard's house. It's our best lead right now."
Marcus nodded, though his expression remained cautious. "It's a risky journey, but if we're going to uncover the truth about Aiden and the Godfather werewolf, it's a risk we have to take."
Sarah looked determined. "We're all in this together. Let's do it."
Aiden, though still grappling with the revelation of his possible connection to the werewolves, was resolute. "I'm ready. Let's go."
They began preparing for the journey, packing essentials and studying the map Marcus had deciphered from the ancient texts. Emily and Sarah gathered food and water supplies, while Marcus sharpened weapons and ensured they had enough protective gear. Aiden, though still recovering, insisted on helping and made sure they had enough blankets and firewood for the cold nights ahead.
With everything ready, they set out, the weight of their mission pressing on their shoulders. The journey was long and arduous, but their determination drove them forward.
As they walked through dense forests and rugged terrain, the group faced numerous challenges. On the second day, they were ambushed by a group of bandits who mistook them for easy targets. A fierce fight ensued, with Marcus and Emily showcasing their combat skills, while Aiden and Sarah provided support. They managed to fend off the attackers, but not without sustaining a few injuries.
A few days later, they encountered a treacherous river that had swollen from recent rains. The current was strong, and crossing it seemed impossible. Marcus devised a plan to build a makeshift raft using fallen logs and vines. It took hours of hard labor, but they finally succeeded in constructing a raft sturdy enough to carry them across. The crossing was perilous, with the raft nearly capsizing multiple times, but they made it to the other side, exhausted but unscathed.
As they continued their journey, they found themselves being stalked by a pack of wolves. The wolves' eyes gleamed with an unnatural intelligence, and it became clear they were being controlled by someone—or something. The group had to stay on high alert, setting traps and taking turns keeping watch at night to ensure they weren't attacked in their sleep. One night, the wolves launched an attack, and the group had to fight them off in the darkness, the air filled with snarls and the clash of weapons.
Despite the hardships, they pressed on, driven by their quest for answers. Just as dusk began to settle one evening, they arrived at the location marked on the map. Before them stood a dilapidated cottage, overgrown with ivy and surrounded by an eerie silence. It looked abandoned, yet something about it felt alive with hidden secrets.
Marcus stepped forward cautiously. "This is it. The wizard's house."
They approached the cottage, their senses heightened. Emily pushed the door open, and it creaked loudly, echoing in the stillness. Inside, the air was thick with dust, and cobwebs adorned every corner. It was clear that no one had been here for a long time.
They spread out, searching for clues. Emily's eyes scanned the room, landing on a large, ornate chest in the corner. She called out to the others, and together they approached it.
Aiden knelt down, carefully opening the chest. Inside, they found a collection of old scrolls and strange artifacts. Among them was a journal, its pages yellowed with age.
Marcus picked up the journal, flipping through its pages. "This must be the wizard's journal. It might hold the answers we're looking for."
Emily leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "What does it say?"
Marcus began to read aloud, detailing the wizard's account of his capture and the experiments he was forced to conduct under the Godfather werewolf's command. The entries painted a grim picture of the werewolf's hatred for humans and his plans to dominate both the werewolf and human worlds.
As they continued rampaging through the old texts and books in the dilapidated cottage, the group remained vigilant, knowing that danger could lurk around any corner. Emily carefully sifted through ancient scrolls while Aiden and Sarah examined a dusty bookshelf. Marcus, engrossed in the wizard's journal, flipped through the brittle pages, searching for any useful information.
Suddenly, the sound of a door creaking open echoed through the silent room. They barely had time to react before arrows whizzed through the air. One struck Emily in the shoulder, causing her to cry out in pain and collapse to the floor.
"Emily!" Aiden shouted, rushing to her side.
Before they could comprehend what was happening, a figure stepped into the room, chanting an incantation. A wave of dizziness washed over them, and their vision blurred. Within moments, they all succumbed to the spell, falling into a deep, unnatural sleep.
Hours later, they awoke groggy and disoriented, finding themselves tightly bound with ropes. The room was dimly lit, and a dull ache pulsed through their heads. Emily, still bleeding from the arrow wound, winced in pain.
Marcus struggled against his bonds, his voice weak. "Emily, are you okay?"
She nodded, though her face was pale. "I'll be fine. We need to get out of here."
A soft, eerie voice broke the silence. "I see you all are awake."
They turned to see a girl standing in the corner of the cottage, her eyes cold and calculating. She stepped closer, her presence commanding and unsettling.
"What are you doing in my house?" she demanded, her tone sharp.
"In your house?" they all asked in unison, their voices tinged with disbelief.
The girl smirked, her gaze piercing. "Yes, my house. Now, answer my question before I decide to finish what I started."