Naya's P.O.V.
Present. 

"I have no contact with him, I wear a talisman myself to keep him away, I don't know how."

I turned away, ignoring her useless cries. Ocean commanded his men to carry on getting the Talismans out from the castle. He will come when he feels the veil getting thinner then, after all, he's a hellhound. I entered the thick woods, using the torch light as my guide I looked for an anomaly in the ground.

"I can see better in the dark, tell me what you're looking for." He took me by my hand and tugged me with him. I kept the flashlight still.

"A flat ground in the middle of unruly grass." We walked parallel to the castle instead of following the narrow path that was once clear of over grown shrubbery.

"Flat ground? No one's been here in centuries, where would you find flat ground?" He was shaking. I could tell he was angry for trusting Lea for years. I brushed my thumb across the back of hand, trying to soothe him. The clouds moved away brightening the area and the light broke through the trees and shooting diagonal straight lines right on the flat ground. Like pointing arrows.

"There." We picked up our pace and stopped right next to the edge of the wide rectangular void.

"What now- DAMNIT." He tried to walk into the rectangle but his feet bashed against an invisible barrier. "Okay what the fuck is that.?" I dropped to my knees next to rectangle. I remembered Elaria circling the tomb with a witches ladder.

Regan was half Nymph and half Fae. I knew she was a Fae because of her wings but she knew how to hide her Nymph side. Granted I didn't know about her life outside these walls but hybrids were sociopaths, perfect chameleons. A nymph was mischievous by nature but a hybrid was much crazier.

"What are you looking for?" He started doing the same and with claws he managed to dig in faster pace than mine.

"A witch's ladder. It's charmed braided chord with a lot feathers, bones and charms-" He wouldn't know what charms were in witches' term because he wasn't there. "They are herbs, from mistletoe to valerian but they probably look like dry twigs now."

"What's the reason for it?"

"Each knot was created with a spell by ten powerful witches. Elaria, she was the leader of the Coven in Tiscan, told me that this spell keeps a supernatural body intact." I had a lot of explaining to do after we got out of this predicament. Considering plan A with Lea didn't work, I needed plan B. One where the spirits were forced to thin the veil so Hayden could find us.

"Whose soul?"

Just when I was about to answer him, an eerie form of green light sown from near the moon. Everyone was astounded as I was. I didn't know my human form had any command over the Spirits.

That's when the air around us began to thicken, white foggy mists started to rise from the ground. The damn half hellhound felt the presence of the spirits but this time, I had the upper hand. I had what he wanted.

I had Regan.

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http://www.witchcraftandwitches.com/terms_witch_ladder.html

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"Keep digging. This is who he wants. He thinks Regan is dead and that her soul is on the other side. He kills us every life because the Spirits takes our soul and keep us in a limbo unlike every other supernatural creature who dies and goes to the other side."

"The Darkling is half Hellhound therefore he can survive in the limbo and take that route to the purgatory to find Regan's soul. But I made a deal with the spirits to keep her soul separate and when I needed them to, to release her soul back on earth. I needed Regan and Hayden to be at their most vulnerable to catch them.

"Just like before. How we caught the hybrids the first time. At their most weak state, when their guards were down. The night he escaped and tried to entered the spirit world I made a deal with the Earth spirit.

"I made the witches cast a binding spell on her body, ready when the spirits returned her soul when I asked. This is her burnt body covered in ointment slab to prevent her from decaying. Once we find the rope and break the binding, the soul will return to her body and he will have his Regan."

The fog was thickening. I needed to get his attention.

"We're giving him what he wants?" He paused. "Wait, how's that even possible?"

"Yes and keep digging and have your claws ready." I slapped my hands together, ridding myself of the damp dirt. "I need to distract him"

"NO." He stood too, making his way towards me. "I'll do-"

Suddenly a scream emanated from one of Ocean's men followed by a thud. The atmosphere grew greener indicating the veil was thinner and closer. If he killed us before I could get through to him, everything I did, would be in vain.

"Keep digging. I need them to release the talismans and the bound needs to be broken." I walked towards where the thickest white fog, merging with the green smoke. "He can't see it. He needs to see it. I need that bond broken." I ordered my Alpha mate who had trouble accepting orders but when another grown and a thud echoed across the woods he gave me a curt nod and got back to finding rope.

I walked through the eerie forest the similar green light at my feet from centuries ago. Only I wasn't wearing a dress and a crown, I was equipped with automatic guns and an army knife in one of my leather boots. My long ponytail swayed side to side with each step.

The end was near.

The hammering began once again but with a much quicker pace. Some cursed and some downright walked towards where the fog commenced from. I watched as an enforcer named Garret flew across clearing and against the castle wall.

"HAYDEN." I screamed. I wanted him to know that I knew his real name. "I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT." The shadowy figure emerged from the trees near the Iron gate. He couldn't get in so he just stood there, watching like a predator.

"You remember." His voice was a whisper, ridding the winds that brushed against my ears. "I thought I killed you, too bad, I'll have to do it again." The wind chocked me just as he extended his arm. I didn't fight it because I knew it wouldn't last too long. I heard Ocean cry out.

A gunshot broke through the trees, Hayden's head flew back and unfortunately for us, his body was still attached to it. I could breathe again. Everyone needed a secret weapon and Josh was mine. That kid might just grow up to save the world one day.

Flashback

"You took your time, I thought you'd come to see me at the clinic. AH! You broke my heart." My over the top dramatic greeting was aimed towards Josh. Whoever categorised 19 year old boys as men had never seen Josh's patchy beard. I laughed point at his jawline.

His glum face finally broke into a smile, he cupped his chin, trying to hide his baby hairs.

"You look chipper for someone who nearly died." The dark circles under his eyes overshadowed his young features.

"Uhh, chipper, have you been talking to my parents." I realised that Northern had some phrases that Western didn't use even though the overall language was the same.

"They were so worried." I got up from the sofa in our lounge to engulf him in a big hug. He was extremely tall but didn't have the width as Ocean, Aaron, A.J. or Lyon. That would come with time. "I was so worried. I thought it was a lie when they told me you died. I came here to check." His voice quivered.

He also didn't have much control over his emotions and soon I realised that neither did I when it came to my mate.

"Don't worry, I'm better now. No fatigue, no headache or nausea." I patted his arm once we pulled away. "Do you want something to drink or eat?"

"NO, no. I am actually on duty. I just came by to see you." He sat upright, ready to bolt anytime he was summoned.

"Ocean old me you're being a good boy." I ruffled his hair making his groaned before pulling away.

"I promised the spirits that I'd be good if they didn't take you. Well, now I guess I have to." He rolled his eyes, mocking me. I slapped his arm playfully. "So, reincarnation, how's that coming?"

"I haven't had any flashbacks since coma or whatever they are calling it." I paused then decided to break the pact I made with Ocean. I needed his talent and I trusted him with my life. Even if he was to betray me, he still owed me one.

So, I picked up the pen and paper and started to write.

I need you make 5 iron bullets. You can't tell anyone. Make it for
your own rifle. I need you on a tree top, miles away when time comes.
Nowhere near where we will be but I need you inside the gates.
You shoot him the minute he gets his hands on me or Ocean.
He won't kill anyone else, it's just me and him that he wants.

End of Flashback

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I hope you enjoyed this. As you can tell, this is so close to the end. I hope you're looking forward to it. -Kat