Chapter 96 - Into The Darkness

"Finally, we're here!" Laina exclaimed with joy as they stepped foot into Adolfa, Capital City of Wolfenheim. 

The city was bustling with life and everywhere she looked, Laina realized that most werewolves looked almost identical to humans. Based on the information she had gathered from the library previously, werewolves had the ability to take on multiple forms. 

They greatly favored their human form as it allowed them to blend in seamlessly with most other Kingdoms. This made it easier for them when they traveled from place to place.

Laina and Kol carefully navigated through the streets. After asking for directions from a few kind-hearted strangers, they finally reached the castle walls. King Kragen's castle was larger than Laina's palace in Kinshearth. 

It almost looked like a small city on its own from the outside. The stone walls were so high, it would be impossible for them to climb over it. They needed to find another way in. 

Just as Laina was about to find a way through the guards, Kol stopped her and pointed to the side. There was another entrance, on the side of the wall. Much to their surprise, it was unguarded. 

"Could that be the entrance to the dungeon?" Kol asked. 

Before Laina could reply, a platoon of guards escorted a number of handcuffed criminals through the entrance. Laina and Kol walked over and glanced into the entrance. 

It was a staircase leading down in the darkness. 

"If that's not an entrance to the dungeon, I don't know what is," Laina replied.

Seeing that it was not heavily guarded, Laina wanted to spring into action immediately. There was no time like right now. She signaled Kol to follow her lead and he did as she instructed. 

Laina shrouded them both in a cloaking spell before following closely behind the last soldier who kept the criminals in check. Careful to make as little sound as possible, Laina and Kol tiptoed down the steps behind the soldier. 

Lit torches lined the walls, providing a dim light to light their path forward. As soon as they began descending down the steps, the entrance behind them disappeared. Laina looked back in shock. It was as if there was never an entrance, to begin with. 

She gulped. -Looks like we just have to keep going.-

When they reached the bottom of the steps, the soldier stopped in his tracks, Laina and Kol nearly bumped into him. He was standing just a few inches in front of Laina. She held her breath as the soldier looked all around. 

He was looking straight at Laina but he did not know. 

"What's wrong?" One of the other soldiers called out to him, wondering what he was looking at. 

To the soldiers, there was simply no one there. 

"I felt as if there was a presence, following behind me," he commented, while still looking in Laina's direction. 

The other soldier popped his head in to look at the staircase leading up to the surface. He too could not see anything. 

"You must be imagining things. Didn't catch much sleep after the night shift, ey?" 

"You're probably right, I must be imagining things." The soldier finally gave up and walked towards the archway that led to the dungeon cells. 

Just as Laina and Kol thought they were safe, the soldier turned around swiftly and swiped the open air with his sword. Kol anticipated his attack, quickly pulling Laina down into a crouching position to avoid the attack. 

Laina could feel her heart beating loudly in her ears, it was as if it was about to leap out of her chest. She turned to Kol and mouthed the words 'thank you' . If it was not for his quick thinking, both of them might have been decapitated already. 

With their heads and lives still intact, Laina and Kol proceed with their plan. The soldiers were busy putting the criminals into each of the cells. This proved to be much more difficult compared to what she had originally imagined. 

Not only were there more cells than she had expected, Laina realized the only thing she had that would allow her to identify Victoria was the portrait.

-But if she's spent a good amount of time here, I don't think she would still look the same.- Laina sighed as she wondered to herself. 

Her best bet would be to eavesdrop on the conversations between the soldiers. Maybe, she might be able to get some intel through there. Laina whispered her plan to Kol. 

To cover more ground, they split up to cover more ground. If one found useful information, they would telepathically inform one another. Laina opted to go further into the dungeon. 

The deeper she went, the more horrid the conditions. Putrid smells of rotten flesh, puke, and bodily fluids all fused together into a horrid stench she would never forget. It took everything in Laina to stop herself from puking. 

"Even if they are criminals, this is no way to live," Laina sighed as she passed dungeon cells filled with criminals sitting in their own filth. 

Just how many criminals were there in Wolfenheim?

Laina came upon a pair of patrolling guards. They chatted away endlessly about mundane topics such as the weather and their daily life. But peppered between the mundane was something of interest to Laina. 

"Did you hear? Apparently, the King is going to bring home a new Queen," the one on the right said to his fellow guard. 

"Bring home a new Queen?" The one on the left asked with great scrutiny. 

He looked from side to side, making sure no one of importance was in earshot of them before he whispered to his friend, "What about her?"

It was easy to deduce that the 'her' they were referring to must be the Werewolf King's original mate, Victoria. 

"Apparently, the King rejected her, finally putting her out of her misery."

"That can't be right. He could have done that a long time ago. Why know?"

"Who knows?"

Laina bit her lip. When she heard them say Kragen might have 'put her out of her misery' her heart sank. What if Victoria was dead? Laina shook her head. She needed to remain positive. 

Judging from the various cells filled with criminals, she realized most of them were men. While it was likely all the female criminals were kept somewhere else, Laina decided to take her chances. 

Using a search spell, she located the cells near her which had female prisoners in them. There were ten of them in total and Laina sprung into action immediately. She checked through each of them, looking for Victoria. 

Before she left the Temple of the Moon, Shylla gave Laina the Howl of the Moonlight Wolf. The High Priestess enchanted the magic whistle with an additional spell. If Victoria was nearby, it would glow. 

With this, Laina went from cell to cell, looking for Victoria. But she did not have much luck. None of the cells had Victoria. So, she decided to check in with Kol to see if he had better luck. 

-Not yet.- he replied. 

So, the two of them continued their search. As the hours toiled by, Laina grew increasingly anxious. What if Victoria was no longer kept in the dungeon? What if there was more than one?

Laina knew she had to keep a positive outlook, surely the Moon Goddess would not have sent her on a wild goose chase. 

-Laina, I think… I think I found her.- Kol's voice popped up in Laina's mind. 

-I'll find you, stay there.-