Infiltrating The Castle Novels & Stories

“What can we do?” The scene before us changes until I see the castle in one of our lifetimes. We stand on the edge, staring at the valley under the bridge. This castle was built into a cliff side, with the bridge going over something that looks more like a canyon than a valley to me. Valeria stands beside me, once again her hand in mine as we watch the invaders coming. At least our backs are protected and we can see them coming head on. “This is it, my love,” she whispers. “They’re coming for us. Our midnight is coming.”

"Patrick let himself get captured to serve as the anchor. He knew your pride wouldn't allow you to execute him but to bring him to Valemont." Kael flinched at this brutal truth, but he did'n't protest. "The walls of the castle are impregnable to any frontal assault. But if they have the supporters inside the outer bailey, they will try to make a subterranean breach through the old aqueducts." "Then increase the guards at the water gates and flood the lower sluices," I said, stepping up to the table. "And send the detachment of the royal guards outside the western tower."

I struggle to absorb this new reality I’m entering. With every step deeper into the castle, the atmosphere grows heavier; shadows dance around me as if they have a life of their own. Some curl around my wings, and I could swear I feel their cold, caressing touch. The smell is of mold, old and rotten from the lack of light there.

I looked at Birgir for help. He reached forward and clasped her hands. She looked at him with a trust I hoped she would one day look at me with. “Tova, it’s serious. We know the castle has been infiltrated. We know we have traitors in our midst, and we don’t know who they are. We are choosing to pretend that we don’t believe anything is amiss, but in the background, we are investigating and trying to figure out who they are.” She nodded, eyes wide.

I look behind me, the view of the castle obstructed by the trees. We finally come to a stop at an outbuilding–something ancient and crumbling to the ground. Ruins, I realize, stepping closer to inspect the stones. An old wooden door hangs off its hinges. Westfall pushes the door open, and it clatters to the ground inside the building, which is no more than a tight room that smells sharply of mildew. “Is this part of my training?” I ask, suspicion lining every word. “Maybe,” he says, but his tone is something I’ve never heard from him before. He’s frantic, which isn’t like him, and he’s trying hard to keep his unease in check. “There’s been a security breach at the castle.”

Not unless she was made of steel, or healed faster than the moon. As I rounded a corner, I almost crashed into a guard. His eyes were dark, indicating that he had his wolf very close to the surface ready to be unleashed. "What's the matter?" I asked him. We only maintained the state he was in war times, when the enemy could attack at any time. The guard straightened, his expression tense. "Alpha, there's been an intrusion. A group of unidentified individuals breached the castle grounds. We managed to subdue some, but others escaped into the lower levels."

He ran breathlessly, only longing to reach the castle. They arrived at a Cascade: aquarium-blue and filling the air in their space with goodness. They had some rest, only then did he notice that Alpha Marcus had already passed out. He increased his pace until an ancient castle came into view. The castle was tall like skyscrapers having over ten floors in it. It was fortified with thick metallic walls roundabout it. This fortification was meant to destroy any vampire that attempts to come into their territory.

I stand side by side with Klevon, Ninus, and Gezer. I watch the sun dip below the horizon and the sky lights up in a bright orange hue, followed by the appearance of stars. Outside the castle, everything seems quiet. The Stine looks like an abandoned castle. Other than the ice that cloaks its walls, there is also that aura that suggests something is wrong. “It’s time,” says Klevon, his voice low and determined. The others nod. We talked about the infiltration strategy and the search for General Brandon before, so there is no need for any further instruction.

I’d ask Kira for the details later. “I called you here for a couple of reasons. But, I’ll start with the first one: my castle was burglarized while we were in wolf territory.” A look of surprise graced her face and she pursed her lips. “Someone broke into Castle Belfonte? That’s something you don’t hear everyday. It’s almost impossible with your myriads of guards.” “That’s the problem. This castle is impenetrable.” She nodded in agreement. “Kira saw the person who broke in; it wasn’t a vampire, neither was it a human.”

“Only tread where I do. Do not. Make. Any. Mistakes.” They came to a large castle, quite the opposite of the Chamber of Duties but just as large - and daunting, black with a number of vultures sitting on its sky high roofing like the crowns of kings. Suddenly, an incisive chirrup pierced through the air. They'd been seen!