Infiltrating dad's castle wasn't going to be an easy foot, but I knew if anyone could get me in, it was Ed, Ed was a master manipulator, it was one of his special abilities, he could blend into any environment.
So, we devised a plan to get into my dad castle, the Castello di Amorosa has never been breached.
Castello di Amorosa, in Napa Valley, was created by winemaker Dario Sattui. It's a meticulously recreated medieval Italian castle.
Although his original intent was modest, the result is not.
The castle covers 121,000 square feet. It has 107 rooms with four separate levels underground and four levels above.
This castle really does feel like a real castle in Italy. It has a moat and a drawbridge, high walls, and towers. Making it so difficult to infiltrate, couple with the number of guard's dad has surrounding the place, in the centre is a courtyard. There's a church, stables and there's even a torture chamber in the dungeon, the chamber must be where dad was keeping amber.
Nick and I used to watch dad torture his victims at the chamber, the walls were noise proof, no matter how much they screamed, no one would hear them.
I was worried dad would torture amber, I couldn't imagine what she was going through, but as long as I felt a connection with her, I knew she was fine.
With the layout of the castle, we came up with a plan.
Three guards were posted out the entrance of the castle, and there was only one way in.
Nick was away, so we knew, I had Ed have one of his pack members spying on him, so we knew he wasn't around meaning the castle's defence wouldn't be as strong as it should be.
And I knew all the secret hideouts in the castle, nick and I used to play hide and seek around the castle as kids, mom would show me all the secret doors and rooms to hide from nick, I knew a secret way into the torture chamber.
But Ed and the rest of the pack have to go in first because none of the guards can recognize them.
So the plan was in place, both my pack and Ed pack was ready, they were to create an opening for me to sneak in.
But to get in they needed to go in with the disguise of being the new recruits of nick's army, so the guards would have no choice but to let them in, since nick was on a mission in search of the witch Hecate.
As Stephen, Ed and the pack drove towards the gate, the guards stopped them.
"State your business" the head guard roared
Ed the master manipulator knew how to handle the guards, so he explained that they were new recruits sent by nick to join my father's army.
Still suspicious, one of the guards inquired for names, knowing the guards would try to contact nick, Ed pretended to be on the phone with nick
"General, the guards at the gate have refused to let us in, am afraid they are delaying the merchandise asked to deliver"
he paused and asked for the guard's name
"What are your names again?"
He turned and asked the guards who were already trembling in fear knowing that if their boss found out there was merchandise for him and it was delayed by them, he would have their heads
"Let them pass"
The head guard ordered
And so, the first phase of our plan was a success. Next the team would split up, and disguise themselves as maids, servants of the house to get access into the main rooms
So they stole the uniforms of some of the maids and tied them up
somewhere nobody would find them.
Karla disguised as one of the cooks and was stationed in the kitchen, it was easy blending in because the castle had a lot of staff so, no one could recognize if there was a new face.
Josh was stationed among the wine workers, when the wine was made, he would get access into the castle to serve the guests
Andrea and Antonia stayed with the artists; dad had a crew of performers performing at every hour to keep the castle lively
Stephen and Ed both succeeded in knocking out two of the guards stationed in charge of torture chambers
Meanwhile while everyone was in place, I sneaked into the castle from the old catacombs underground the castle, only nick and I knew of the underground tunnels leading into the chambers amber was kept.
As my message managed to reach amber, she was hopeful knowing the pack had come to save her, but she was also sad that Jared was dead. I told her how sorry I am for bringing her into this life, this crazy life of mine.
When the time comes, we will need her strength, but as her message got to me about Hecate, I knew what dad was planning. Things was difficult now, because stopping Hecate was almost next to impossible, we have to sneak her out before Hecate arrives or else escaping this castle would be impossible.
After a few minutes I was finally inside the torture chambers and there she was
She was so excited to see me, the joy in her face as she rushed into my hands
We kissed.
She told me how happy she was to see me, knowing I would come to save her,
"What about your mom, we have to save her" She asked concerned
"Trust me, I have a plan" convincing her
But as we were still reminiscing a loud bell rang, it looked like nick, and Hecate had arrived the castle and we had been discovered.
"Seal the gates, we have intruders inside the castle"
Nick ordered as he
commands the guards
As the tension in the castle builds, plan B was in place
Ed and Stephen quickly attacked the other guards guarding the torture chambers and take the keys of the cage and opened the gate that led to the chamber, as Stephen and Ed met us inside the chamber
Shortly after josh rushed in too to join us, he had succeeded in poisoning the wines made, knocking whoever drinks it unconscious.
And Karla also poisoned the food with wolfs bane, knocking out those wolves among dad's army
As nick and the remaining of his men searched for us, I sneaked everyone out under the catacombs and we escaped into the forest where Derek already had a car waiting for us.
Just as we thought we had successfully escaped, we were surrounded by nick and some of the guards. It was an ambush, someone had betrayed us
As I stood there trying to figure out what to do next
"Sorry Damien, I did what I have to, I hope you can understand"
Ed separated from us and joined nick
It dawned on me that Ed has betrayed us.
Chapter ends….