Chapter 145: To Snow Mountain
The sun was just about to set. Viktor and Alfonso were outdoors the cabin watching the sun set .
Viktor leaned his back against the wooden railing, and his thoughts flew very far away-to the time he spent with his half-brother, Alpha lleus. Several months had gone by since they saw each other, and the pain of being kept from his brother hurts him more.
"I still wonder how lleus is holding up in that ," Viktor said.
Alfonso glanced at him, his expression thoughtful. 'You've spoken of him often. I'm curious to meet the him myself. From your stories, he seems like a remarkable leader."
A familiar voice from behind respond before Viktor could answer him. "You won't have to wait much longer."
They turned sharply, and Daisy came through the light in green robes.
Daisy!" Viktor exclaimed, his face light with surprise and excitement. "You're back!"
Daisy nodded, her small lips playing in a smile. "It's time, Viktor. You and Alfonso must see Alpha Ileus."
Victor's heart flipped at the words. "After months and months, I will finally get to see him again."
Alfonso, took one step forward. "Why now? What has changed?"
Daisy's face grew serious. "Now some alliances will be formed, but this time it would be much stronger. Alpha Ileus needs be come alive; but the journey will be tough-so let me expect you all to be prepared for that".
Viktor squared his shoulder, and he told her, "We've done everything according as you guided, and we have the spider rose flower too."
Daisy nodded softly.
Alfonso turned and ran into the cabin, returning a moment later with a small, box-framed case of wood. Opening the case, he revealed inside the spider rose flower; dark, velvety petals shimmering in the dim light.
"We preserved it," Alfonso told her, holding out the flower.
"Well done," Daisy said, "The flower is one's passport into the stronghold of Alpha Ileus safely.
When they group began packing up and getting ready to leave, a loud crashing noise boomed from the edge of the forest. Turning in its direction, a few werewolf soldiers emerged through the trees at a distance, their eyes aglow with hostility, Adams Weasley was with them.
"Well, well," Adam said. "Planning a little secret journey, are we? Without informing Araidne?"
Viktor stepped forward, clenching his jaw. "This does not concern you, Adam."
Adam chuckled, "Everything on this territory concerns me. Hand over the spider rose flower, and maybe I will not drag you back to Araidne in chains."
Daisy stepped in front of Viktor and Alfonso, her voice cool, calm, but commanding. "You have no authority here, Adam. Stand down."
Adam grinned hard. "Oh, I think I do. Get them!."
The soldiers growled loud as they charged. Viktor and Alfonso raised their sword, ready for battle, while Daisy raised her hands and whispered incantations. A mist started to circle around them, thickening by the second.
"Hold on to each other," Daisy said shortly.
Viktor clutched at Alfonso's arm, the other hand clutched over the box.
"Is that Sorcery?" Adam whispered in shock.
With that, the mist got cleared off to reveal a snow-capped flank of mountain and Viktor, Alfonso, and Daisy fell on it.
"Where, where are we?" Alfonso asked, shivering not just from the cold but from the tide of adrenaline that coursed through his body.
"The Snow Mountains," Daisy answered as she wrapped her cloak tightly over her body. "It is the first step in the path that takes us to where I hid Alpha lleus body."
Then Viktor looked around. Cold air left through the mouth. "That was great. You saved us, Daisy."
She smiled briefly back at him. "You're welcome. But we're not out of the woods yet. Adam won't go down without a fight. We need to hurry."
Alfonso frowned. "How did they find out about this? You don't think someone's been following us?
Daisy didn't say any more for a while, her face was plain. "That's possible, Araidne has a long arm and her soldiers are everywhere, but that's just one thing we can't let cross our minds right now. Our priority is to get to Alpha Lleus and fast."
As they walked the snow ahead of them, Viktor thought of this girl, who used to be such a loyal handmaid to Reika.
"Daisy," he said, "You have risked so much to aid us. Why?"
She looked at him, her voice soft. "Because I believe in Alpha lleus leus. He is so much more than just a leader-he is a hope for all of us. And I believe in Queen Rieka, she saved my life. You and Alfonso are very important in this mission."
"What is coming?" Alfonso asked.
"Araidne herself has become uncontrollable, declared war against witches, and all will soon be where her reach covers even far beyond. But my hid out is a few shelters away. Let's keep moving."
Viktor nodded resolutely with an accent then. "Whatever it takes then".
They continued upwards, silent except for the crunching of their shoes in snow and the periodic wail of wind. The ascent was hazardous: bone-chilling cold- but Viktor refused to give up an inch.
After a while, night's darkness fell, and they reached a narrow ledge chiseled in the rockface of the mountain. Daisy peered out.
"Here it is," she said. "Beyond this path lies the entrance to where Alpha lleus's lays."
Viktor flushed with joy. Just a few steps more, and he would be back with his brother again, part of something bigger than himself.
But just as they were going to make those last few steps, Daisy whirled on them and they stopped on their track.
"Just remember, the spider rose flowers must be held by the entrance or else we won't be allowed in without it."
Viktor lifted the box higher; weak, the flower inside pulsed faintly . "We have it here. Now let us get this done with."
First in the row was Daisy, followed by the rest of the team. they all really hoped they will be able to save him.