* * *

Sage recalled a growing prickle in the better part of her nose, one that she couldn't place as being a familiar feeling. But after hearing the warning shouts of Remus and Andy, she was left floating for a bit—

All before she was let go to an everlasting fall, only to be stuffed into a figure much too small and dainty for her soul. The warmth surrounding her was strange, as were the dulled-out smells surrounding her.

"Mistress...Mistress! Please, please be alright. Please, goddess, please hear me!" Sage's eyes popped open, she had not been called Mistress by anyone other than the witches she had saved and joined her pack.

"What—" The moment a sound had escaped her lips, the few women in the room looked to the ceiling in thankful appreciation. Only until one female had come forward with her hands grasped together.

"Thank you, thank you for your return. For not leaving us." The woman sniffled, Sage had no recollection of this female, so she reached her hand to caress her cheek. The affection was reciprocated and a kiss was laid on her palm before she sighed into the touch.

"Mistress Willow, would you like some tea? It will help your headache, I'm sure of it." Another voice offered and she nodded with a small smile, realizing that she was completely nude in a tub—That they were all huddled in an ill-fitting bathroom.

"I'm alright. Just tired." Sage's voice was strained, but it was enough for the women to reel in their worries in. But it still didn't amount to a location, that was her mission.

"Shall I call a healer, mistress?" A female asked, and she shook her head. If they took to looking at her altering migraine, then they might be able to pinpoint just what was happening.

Not to mention, her heart was pulsating at the idea of not having either her magic or her wolf.

Answer them, Willow. Or else they'll return to that fuckface.

Darius! You are with Mama Willow!

Oh, bless it be. I'm so sorry, Wolfie. I thought this would be the best idea but I can't escape. Father says it's a type of purgatory. I'm barely able to return to hell. This plane is awful.

Sage didn't know what Darius was talking about, but she offered another smile and claimed that tea would do her will. As would some rest.

It was somewhat familiar, the small actions of the witches washing and drying her. But why were they being so attentive?

Upon leaving the bathroom, she was escorted through the room and caught wind of a few guards. She couldn't identify whether they were wolves, but it didn't matter. Not when their eyes were so red, it spoke clearly of what they were.

A non-active Draugr.

She would have to tell Torin that there were enough to reign hellfire on unsuspecting packs.

"Mistress, are you hungry? You haven't eaten much since yesterday...Master is worried." Sage had turned to the female and nodded her head.

"Small meal is okay..." The witch eagerly nodded and hurried off in another direction while the other few continued their walk into the room.

The swarm of witches was large, and upon her arrival, Sage recalled her need for attention to detail, but it was getting challenging to see so many desperate faces among the rest.

"Estrella, shall we get the Mistress' bed ready?" The question had been directed to the woman beside her. But Estrella had denied it and had ushered her to sit down.

Within moments, the table before her was set up and dozens of dishes had been placed. Only for those remaining in the room to take to the wall much like before.

They aren't allowed to eat until you do.

Why do I feel sick?

That bastard fed off your body recently. I'm guessing it's transferred...Eat. They are near skin and bones.

Sage had dug into the food, and the breathless sighs of relief had been downplayed regardless. And she finished one full plate before taking hold of her water. "Mistress? Are you finished?"

She nodded and was soon escorted once again to another area—one that was just as colorless as the last, only this time it sparked a bit of familiarity—the smell, at least.

"Master is coming tonight. Juniper could not lie to him, Mistress. I'm sorry." Sage remained silent and nodded again, only to take in the better part of the room.

No windows?

Not that Willow could find, from what I've gathered—This is where she would go when she wasn't at the other facility with you and the rest.

Darius, I don't understand.

This is that bastard's main headquarters. It's well-built and magically fortified. Whatever magic you've unlocked will only be allowed in once. The enchantments grow stronger once an attack has been made. It won't happen again.

Witches try to find where my soul go, when I go back I can't help because I don't know where I am.

Can try to find some clues, wolfie, I'm sorry I can't be of any more help.

Sage couldn't be angry, not since she was going in this blind and found Darius already waiting for her. In seeing the better part of Willow's bedroom Sage realized that there were little fragments of who her mother is as a person.

Flowers that made the room smell beautiful and welcoming, candles and paints. The picture of a normal sky and clouds caused Sage to smile.

When was the last time her mother had seen a view like this? Not only that, but it didn't give any bit of detail that she needed to be on the lookout. Sage was much too clueless about modern styles to know if furniture could be at all helpful.

Can witches walk my mind again later?

Perhaps that could work—make sure to keep your eyes peeled.

Sage continued to look about, taking the moment to go and act normal according to Darius—As Willow would paint around this time while the others ate.

A knock on the door sounded out, informing her that it was time for their daily prayer. She hurried to clean herself, almost speaking out that two others aided her in getting dressed, cleaning from her paint sploshes, and tying her hair back.

"Is Master upset?" Sage questioned, and Estrella shook her head.

"Of course not, Mistress, he's worried that he was too careless...He wants an early night with you. Juniper is already preparing the ceremony." She blinked at the schedule, not even knowing what time of day it is was starting to play a few mind tricks on her.

She recalled that Mystic Grimm was a few hours behind Crescent Moon just because it's far away, so perhaps that would be the perfect stance.

"What time is it?" She questioned. Estrella stopped momentarily and leaned forward towards the grandfather clock. "Still early, almost noon." From Sage's small talks with Enzo previously, she could place that Vampires weren't particularly liked by the sun.

With Armond's unknown status, perhaps he doesn't like the sun either.

Upon exiting the room she had painted, and walking through the same rugged area she had eaten. A line of witches had followed her, all in front and behind her. Their hands were gestured behind them, and Sage had gotten a straight look at the bracelet that shunned them of their divine powers.

She felt the urge to rip them off but remained unmoving. It was difficult to operate without wolf, for so many years Sage was used to the small influxes of her beast putting her own instinctual input in things such as this.

But that was much too impulsive right now, and she needed to remain calm.

Ever so often, there was a set of Draugr here and there to linger in the hallway. It made Sage uncomfortable, especially when the witches were just as evasive of them as well.

"Ah...Mistress, I was worried you wouldn't be coming today." A male spoke, one of the first she has seen that wasn't a mindless zombie. She wasn't sure if she should smile in greeting, so a small tilt of her head was all that she needed.

Don't speak to any males. The sadistic asshole has strict rules wherever you go.

It was good that Sage had listened to the inner voice but still felt hateful of this type of submission behavior. Yet when she asked Darius, he remained silent for a moment too long.

It's not safe to speak with so many beings present. I am here, and I'll always be here with you, Sage. You're my person, but right now, you're in much more danger than you could ever realize. Just act with the headache and remain aware.

The strange vampire waved towards Dragur, and they opened the door leading to a small staircase—one that was much brighter than she imagined.

And even without her wolf, the looming scent of rain filled her nostrils as she was aided up the cobble steps in a circular pattern. Only to be introduced to a beautiful building, and she smiled in delight to see the sun shining into the given windows.

It was clear that Willow's body was begging for the smallest fraction of sunlight that passed through the temple's glass. But Sage couldn't stop smiling at the intricate details. It was utterly beautiful, however, when she tried to reach out to Darius, he didn't respond.

Which meant that it was not safe yet. Perhaps when she would get a moment alone, she could—

"Mistress?... Will you join us?" Sage turned for a moment, her eyes flickering between the glass and back to Juniper before joining the created circle.

Thankfully, she knew how to join in properly, though an inner tension had started to little through. Was Darius creating a headache for her to act upon?

Sage tempted to will herself to participate, but after a few songs, it seemed that their time in the most blessed and unweighted place was up especially when the growing pounds of a fist echoed from below.

She took one last look around the temple and smiled at the images of the goddess herself. The details were exquisite, and she would certainly be able to recreate them.

Upon entering the bland enclosure, she was followed by another set of men—similar to the one before but much more stern-looking. Yet this time, she was left by her lonesome, the witches going off to their separate doors and closing them swiftly behind them.

Everyone is retiring. Time is different here.

Different how?

The vampires hardly need sleep but operate against the sun. He's been using this tactic for a long time to force submission on the others.

I don't submit.

I'm afraid you'll have to, if you do something reckless in your mother's body she'll have to face the consequences—If you die here, Willow will die in yours. Be very careful.

What do I do, I know it's 4 o'clock time at home. What can I find?

I'm not sure wolfie, we've been looking for clues for ages and haven't come up with anything other than the temple.

The temple? The pretty glass?

Yes. That's the Moon Goddess. In whichever temple this is, they treated her and the triquetra as the highest form of spiritual energy. I can't find anything else out; the religion is outdated in the werewolf community.

They continued to go back and forth, only to realize that there were other wolves here as well—females, all in need of help and a savior. This made Sage antsy, but as the voices grew closer, the headache soon relapsed into a much stronger force.

When he comes in Sage, you need to get on your knees.

What? Why?

Because that's what he expects Willow to do, there's a process, alright?...I'll help you but we cannot speak, you'll have to trust me.

I trust you, Darius.

With that, Sage was subdued in the back of her mother's head, and the instant being of Darius awakened. It felt odd, sharing the body with another—Evidently, the body wasn't her's, to begin with, either.

Darius' instructions weren't all that detailed, but he knew what Willow was going through as he'd had a first-row seat this entire time.

At first sight of her enemy, Sage had wanted to either lunge forward or revert back to the same girl she once was before her brothers saved her.

But Darius had taken control, and thankfully so.

"My dear, how is your headache?" The man questioned, unbuttoning his attire before making his way forward towards her. His hand molded underneath her chin to get her to look up.

"Better, sir...But it still hurts." Armond hadn't noticed any slip-up in the voice, and Sage had mentally sighed in relief.

It still didn't impose that the danger they were both in would result in punishment if she didn't act accordingly, so she sheltered back—Viewing it as Darius would.

"I have another tonic with me. Take it and get ready for bed." He offered the small vial, and her hands gripped it while she whispered a grateful 'thank you' and turned to the closest.

I don't like this.

I know, Wolfie. Just hold out a while longer. Whatever the witches are doing, they'll send you back soon. Just remember not to force any movement. You're much more physically attached to this body than I am.

Upon watching the scene play out, Darius followed the instructions to the very limit. Sitting at the side of the bed with a brush in hand, replaying the motion of running it through her locks.

It felt familiar to the body she was in, as though it was a normal interaction. Only to have the brush slip out of her hands so Armond could continue the task. "Are you hungry?"

Sage felt a swallow stuck in her throat. It was intentional—his actions, his mouth breathing, induced a shiver through her body, implying what was yet to come. It was a blessing that Darius had a plan.

"I've eaten."

"Good. It's dangerous to eat when you're hungry, did you know that...My love?" The smile was small and forced, but Armond seemed oblivious to what was artificial to real.

Not with the operation he runs here. "Come, we'll start early."

Sage had caught his actions, which were as delicate as she recalled, though his hands were warmer now that he had captured the heat off her body.

It was instinctual to resist the actions, but a very generous demon took over her willpower. However, when she was soon laid on her back, and the vampire parted his way through her legs, panic began to spread.

"The tonic should leave no taste...Would you like to wager that the witches had made it correctly this time? I hate when they spoil my meal." The gasp had escaped her without notice, and the surprise countered his quickened actions. Sage—Willow had fallen into the correct pursuit as they had every night prior.

The hiss that introduced his elongated fangs had caused a strip of panic to trigger Sage from her own past experiences of his feedings.

It doesn't hurt, not like before...He's come to favor Willow over the years.

Darius knew that this was a traumatic part of Sage's tortured life, but there was little to be done. His powers limited him here, trapped in his shadow's mother—Something that was never meant to happen but will hopefully help them in the future.

Darius' voice continued to speak to her as the fangs had slipped easily into the already scarred bite marks. The moan had been much louder than she would've liked to admit.

It was both delicious and damaging.

Arousing and agonizing.

It took her half a moment to realize why he had placed her in such a way, but his lower appendage had snuck his way in between her thighs, and she choked on her tears.

The pleasure was reduced to pain, and Darius tried his best to minimize it—The only thing he could do for Willow and, now, for Sage.

It felt like hours, both the sensation building up in her core to the impossible seduction lurking in her body due to his bite.

But all for not, everything had suddenly turned black.

At first, Sage wondered if it was Darius's doing, but she felt herself walking through the scenery on her own terms, much like she had with Aurelia all that time ago.

"Darius...?" She felt her voice echoing. Looking at her hands, she grinned to see the small scar she had received upon joining Crescent Moon. Again, the tattoo on her shoulder had been another indication that she needed to return to her own body.

Or was it in the process, anyway?

"Sage?...Sage!" The voice felt panicked though somewhat familiar to her perking ears. And suddenly, through the darkness, a being had launched herself forward into her unprepared arms.

The scent filled her with warmth and love, a much-needed solace to what she had just endured.

"Mama?"

"They're waiting for you, sweetheart. Thank you for being so brave for me." Sage looked into her mother's eyes, shining brightly but tear-filled—much like her own.

"Mama...He's—"

"I know. He—Never mind that. Go to your mate, your pups. You'll find me soon. I know it."

With a parting kiss to her temple, Willow had bypassed Sage's person and returned a dimming light, while the one her mother had come from was still shining.

Was she meant to go through?

"I love you, sweetheart. Tell your father I love him...He and your siblings, and my grand pups. Please, tell them all." With that, Willow had disappeared into the undercover of darkness, leaving Sage lonesome.

Which wasn't particularly new, considering how she grew up.

She walked toward the light, but the dimming had started to cause her a bit of panic—

Sage, get through that portal. NOW!

The rushed enforcement of Darius' voice had shocked her, especially when the sounds of her loved ones on the other side started to become more than just background static. However, she had missed it by a smidge, yet thankfully it had been torn back open and a gloved hand had gripped her by her shirt and yanked her forward.

Descending back to where the soul truly belongs, the force of a steel grip was a last resort. The final words that Sage heard from her mate before entering complete darkness and a heavyweight filling her chest were, "Hold her down!"

___

Date: 3/24/25

Time: 4:07

Words: 2993