A Tale of Red Riding: Rise of the Alpha Huntress (The Alpha Huntress Series Book 1) (19 page)

Chapter 21

Red was deep below the surface of an icy pond, blissfully at peace and sinking deeper and deeper into the dark abyss, just as she had been after the escape from Ice’s palace. She thought of how easy it would be to drift off into sleep forever, and never again have to concern herself with the duties of being an Alpha Huntress—or having to ask her friends to risk their lives in battle—or face the coming of an evil lunar god plotting to bring eternal night.

The moment of tranquility came to a startling end when an image of Ragnarok invaded her mind. His eyes were blazing with fire as he reached for her through the Moon Temple’s gate.

“Set me free, Alpha Huntress.”

Drifting further into darkness, Red saw herself as a werewolf wearing sleek battle armor. She stood before her friends and family atop a hill in the dark forest. They were waiting in silence for her to command them into action.

In the sky above, the moon looked like a flaming ball of fire. A shower of blazing moonrocks was raining down. Red could only watch in paralyzed fear as they slammed into the earth and consumed her loved ones in a blazing inferno.

“It’s not like you could ever have saved them,” Wolfgang said.

Red looked over to see Wolfgang was standing at her side, glaring at her through eyes glowing red with pure evil. The good she had once sensed buried deep in his heart was gone. Only hate and rage remained. He had become an agent of darkness who would bring chaos and destruction in his wake.

“Alpha Huntress, we are now one.” The voice that came from Wolfgang was not his own; it belonged to Ragnarok.

Red tried to speak, but the words didn’t come out. Instead, she snapped back to the realization that she was still submerged in bone-chilling water, out of breath, and seconds from drowning.

“Is this really how it’s going to end for me?”

The voice of the first Red Riding spoke softly in her mind.
If you are to survive what is to come you must believe that the power of the Alpha is yours to command.

“I don’t know how. Please, show me.”

In mere seconds, Red’s body temperature spiked to near burning as the Alpha Power began to course through her veins. She started kicking her legs so fast and hard that it took only seconds to reach the surface of the pond.

When her head emerged from the water, Red took in a gasping breath. The air was thick with smoke and blazing soot that burned in her lungs. She looked around to see that the lake was deep in the heart of the forest. Towering flames engulfed the trees and illuminated the midnight sky.

Red swam to the shore and clawed up onto the land. The heat from the flames was so intense that she couldn’t wait around to recover. She was soon dashing aimlessly down a rocky path. It didn’t matter how far she went, it was impossible to escape the inferno. All of Wayward Woods would burn to the ground, and nothing could be done to stop it. The idea that her failure to rise to her calling would lead to such destruction consumed her heart with rage.

“Why me? Why do I have to be the one to do this?”

With the trees ablaze all around, Red had to push through a thick patch of bushes overgrowing the path. The sting of the thorns scratching and cutting into her skin brought back the memory of the dream she had on the first night at Granny’s house.

Just as before, she emerged into a clearing where the Omega Gem sat atop a stone pedestal. A quick glance around the area and a sniff of the air assured her that the wolves that had attacked her last time she was there were not around.

“Come forward, Red Riding,” whispered a woman’s voice.

With each step closer to the Omega Gem, Red felt a growing tingling sensation throughout her body. She could only describe the feeling as godlike. A voice with a sinister tone spoke out in her mind. It told her that with the gem, she could have power without limits. Her thoughts began to swirl with ideas that were both thrilling and disturbing.

Red saw herself as a tyrant queen sitting upon a throne constructed of colorless moonstone. Her iron fortress towered high atop a hill, built on the burned remains of Ice Seether’s palace. Looking out a window, she gazed out onto the charred remains of a once great metropolis. She then looked down to see she clutched a golden scepter, studded with the Omega Gem. She knew that it had given her the power to become the supreme goddess who ruled over everyone and everything in Wayward.

“I won’t allow myself to become that,” Red said.

“That is why you, and none other, must wield the Alpha Power.” A beautiful woman emerged from the forest wearing a red cloak over a flowing green dress. Her braided red hair was adorned with ribbons and white wildflowers.

“I know you.” Red somehow recognized this woman to be the one that had come before her, the first Red Riding.

“You carry much fear in your heart, young Alpha Huntress. You must bury it down deep if you are to face the darkness that is upon us,” the first Red Riding said.

Red looked away in fear. “I’m not ready for this. There has to be somebody better to take up this quest. Someone that knows how to lead people into battle and isn’t afraid to ask them to risk their lives.”

The first Red Riding held a hand near the Omega Gem. “There is another who can command the power, but would use it for great evil.”

“I know all about it. Ice tried to take the power from me,” Red said.

“Ice Seether’s quest for the Alpha Power is a futile effort. On the night she was born, her parents employed a vile spellcraft to steal the power. The lunar deities rejected Ice because of her impure bloodline. Even she does not know that her ancient ancestors used dark enchantments to gain the power to become werewolves.”

Red considered this, coming to an unexpected revelation. “When the Alpha Power rejected her, she was left with hair and skin as white as ice. How do I know that?”

The first Red Riding smiled at Red. “Because I know it. The strength of all the Alphas that came before you resides in your memory. They will guide you along the way, if you allow yourself to listen.”

Red looked into the eyes of her predecessor and realized that there had not been just one previous Alpha. Six had come before her. As their faces appeared to her, both men and women alike, she was overcome with a troubling thought.

“None of them are from the same bloodline. The Alpha Power chose them. How is it that this time the power came to me, your descendant?” Red asked.

“The reason for this is not mine to reveal.”

Red snarled. “Why not? What are you not telling me?”

“You will soon discover that truth on your own. Do not let it cause you to lose sight of what needs to be done.”

“What needs to be done?” Red shouted. “Tell me. I’ve had all I can take of these half-truths.”

“In three days, the Alpha Stone in the Moon Temple will illuminate. For seven minutes, the moon gate will open. Ragnarok will try to use it to enter this world, but only the Alpha can bring him through.”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about. I would never do that,” Red said.

“Don’t allow yourself to believe it will be so simple. Ragnarok has vast influence in Wayward. He will stop at nothing to force you to help him. Or find another to do it in your place.”

Red raised a fist. “Then I’ll have to make sure he can’t do that.”

“To put a final end to Ragnarok, you will need the Omega Gem. Finding it will be a long and difficult quest. Be warned that there are many others seeking it. They will commit the darkest of deeds to possess it.”

“But won’t using it turn me into a tyrant?”

The first Red Riding placed a hand on Red’s shoulder and looked her in the eyes. “Not if you stay strong and remain true to what you know is right.”

Red glared at the Omega Gem. “What could happen that would turn me into something so terrible?”

“I cannot answer that for you. Search your heart and you will find the truth.”

Red sighed. “You’re not being helpful here.”

The first Red Riding turned and walked toward the trees. As Red watched her go, she realized something she had not considered. “Wait! You said there is another who can carry the power. If it isn’t Ice Seether, then who is it?”

“Wake up, Red Riding,” another voice said.

Red snapped awake and was looking up at Wolfgang’s face. He was shouting in her face, though his voice was distant and distorted. She was flat on her back in the mud outside Granny’s house. The fire orc that had stabbed Ethan was lying slain only a few feet away. Its eyes were wide-open and looking right at her.

“Red, wake up!” Wolfgang shouted at the top of his lungs. This time his voice came through like a siren blasting in her ears.

Red sat up, holding tight to her aching head. “What did you do to me?”

“What did
I
do?” Wolfgang grunted. “Grenda asked me to bring you inside. I came out here and found you taking a nap in the mud. Are you okay?”

Red stumbled to her feet and started walking toward the house. “I was trying to find out who else could get the Alpha Power, and you had to go and wake me up.”

Wolfgang dashed after Red. “What did you just say about the Alpha Power?”

Red opened the front door of the house and stepped inside. “Forget it. None of it has anything to do with you anyway.” She slammed the door in Wolfgang’s face, leaving him outside.

In the living room, Ash and Dote were sitting on the couch with tears in their eyes.

“Red, I’m so sorry,” Dote said.

“We didn’t know he was your father,” Ash said. “It feels like we should have.”

“Why are you two crying? Where is he?” Red asked.

Dote whimpered and pointed to the stairs.

Red was so overwhelmed with mixed up emotions that she couldn’t find the words to ask if her father was still alive. With each step up the stairs, her concern for his well-being faded away and turned into anger. It didn’t make a bit of sense that he had hidden the truth from her when they had first met. All the deceptions that she’d been dealing with had about pushed her to the limit.

“If I find out one more person has been holding back on me, there’s going to be serious trouble.”

Red’s anger faded as soon as she reached the door to her parents’ bedroom. For a tense moment she stood petrified, holding out a hand an inch short of the doorknob. There was no way she could have prepared herself for what might await on the other side. If her father was no longer among the living, it would be the first time she ever had to endure the loss of death.

When she finally found the courage to open the door, she was startled to find Grenda standing on the other side. Her complexion was ghost white, and she was so groggy with exhaustion that she could hardly stand up straight.

“Is he …?” Red couldn’t get the rest of the words out.

Grenda took off her glasses and wiped the lenses clean with her dress. “Your father is still with us. It took a mighty powerful spellcraft to undo the damage. I was just able to drag his tail back to the world of the living.”

Red took a deep breath of relief. “Then why do you look so grim, Granny?”

Grenda stepped into the hallway and closed the door. “Your father blames himself for your mother’s death. He feels if he had been a stronger warrior, he could have saved her life and not been forced to abandon you to be raised by strangers. He believes he failed you, Red.”

Red nodded in understanding. “I would like to talk with him, if I can.”

“That will be fine. Just know that his grip on this world is not strong right now. If you hold any grievances against him, this is not the time to voice them. If he’s pushed too far, he could slip away, and I won’t be able to bring him back again.” Grenda stumbled away and entered her own room.

As Red stepped into her parents’ room, she saw her father lying on the bed with his eyes closed. A strange blue aura emanated from bandages wrapped around his massive chest. Each breath he took sounded like it came from a snoring grizzly bear. For a lingering moment, Red tried to find the words to speak, but couldn’t come up with a thing to say.

“Red Riding, I know you’re there. Step closer, so I can see your eyes.” Ethan’s voice was frail and distant.

Red took another step into the room. She was startled to see Ethan had pasty white skin and eyes that were hollow and lifeless. She took a deep breath. “Granny told me about what happened with my mother and the choice you had to make to save my life.”

Ethan looked away in shame. “I’m so sorry, Red. If I had been stronger, she would still be here with us.”

Red sat on the edge of the bed. “You don’t know that. If you had stayed, we might all be dead. I don’t think we can know one way or the other.”

Ethan strained to pull himself up to a sitting position. He gazed at Red with great pride. “You look so much like your mother. If she could see you now, she would be glowing with joy over the young woman you’ve become.”

Red shamefully frowned. “She might not think that if she knew how much trouble I’ve been. I’m not always the most agreeable person. I get into a lot of mischief.”

“If you told me any different, I wouldn’t believe you were a true Riding.” Ethan let out a belting laugh. It made him cough from the pain it caused in his chest.

Red began to weep a little. “It’s been so hard not knowing where I came from. Until a few days ago, I had no idea if I had any family, or if my parents were alive or dead, or that my last name was Riding.”

“Red, you have to understand, I didn’t want to have to leave you. I didn’t know what else I could do. I had to get you as far away from this place as possible. Everything had to be left behind. Not just your name; your memories would also have put you in danger.”

“My memories were taken from me?” Red asked.

“Not taken away. Buried down real deep. There are forms of spellcraft so vile that we can be hunted down through our feelings. Specters called Soul Hunters will search the world over for you. All they need to know is what you love the most, hate the strongest, or fear more than anything. They’ll hunt for years if it takes that long, but they will find you.”

Red shivered in fear. “Is that why you erased all signs of yourself in this house?”