CHAPTER 411: NO SCENT

Nicholas~

I stood there in that blood-soaked bathroom, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest, staring at Katrina’s lifeless form on the cold tile floor. My best friend, my sister in all but blood, lay there pale and unresponsive, even after Queen Natalie had poured every drop of her celestial magic into healing those horrific slashes on her wrists. The air was thick with desperation, a metallic tang of blood mingling with the faint glow of lingering starlight from Natalie’s hands. Zane knelt beside her, his massive frame trembling with barely contained rage and grief, whispering pleas for Kat to wake up. Sebastian, my dad, hovered nearby, his vampire senses scanning her over and over, while Mom gripped her dagger like it could somehow fight off this invisible enemy. Uncle Jacob and his brothers— Tiger, Eagle, Bubble, and Fox—crowded the doorway, their faces a mix of shock and helplessness.

"Why isn’t she waking?" Zane’s voice cracked, raw and broken, as he cupped Kat’s cheek. "Natalie, you’re the Celestial Princess. You’ve brought people back from the brink before. Do something!"

Natalie’s tears streamed down her face, her blue eyes— so like Kat’s—filled with anguish. "I’ve healed everything, Zane. Her body’s perfect now. No wounds, no poison, nothing. But her spirit... it’s like she’s locked away, choosing not to come back."

I paced like a caged animal, my hair disheveled from running my hands through it too many times. My hybrid blood boiled—vampire speed itching to run, werewolf strength urging me to smash something. "This can’t be happening," I muttered, my voice hoarse. "Kat, you stubborn idiot. You always fight. Why not now? Talk to me! I’d tear down the damn world for you!"

Bubble, who’s kind heart couldn’t hold his sobs, murmured, "Come on, Kat. Wake up and talk to me like you always do. This isn’t funny."

Fox tried to crack a weak smile, flames flickering faintly in his palms. "Yeah, who’s gonna tease me about my ’puny sparks’ if you’re out cold? Get up, princess."

But the jokes landed like stones in a pond, rippling out into silence. Eagle’s wind spirit stirred a gentle breeze, rustling the curtains, but it did nothing to lift the heavy pall over the room. Tiger positioned himself at the door, his golden-brown hair catching the dim light, scanning for threats that weren’t there.

Then, as if the universe itself couldn’t stand the tension anymore, a soft, ethereal glow filled the room. It started as a shimmer in the air, like moonlight filtering through invisible clouds, and coalesced into a figure. The Moon Goddess—Grandma herself—appeared before us, her form radiant and sparkly, just like she always did. Her presence was calming yet commanding, her crystal-clear eyes reflecting a wisdom that spanned eternities.

Everyone froze. Natalie gasped, wiping her tears. "Mom, Kat won’t wake up. I’ve tried everything!"

Moon’s voice was like a gentle night breeze, soothing yet firm. "Natalie, my love. I felt the disturbance in the realms. Your daughter’s spirit cries out, but she is trapped in a limbo of her own making."

Zane’s growl rumbled low. "Then tell us how to fix it. She’s our baby girl. We’ll do anything."

Grandma nodded, her sparkly form shimmering. "Katrina will only awaken when she senses her true mate. The bond is the key to pulling her back from the edge. You must go to the address Rayma provided. There, you will find Vincent. Only his presence can stir her soul."

"Vincent?" Sebastian echoed, his dark eyes narrowing. "Mother, is Vincent truly with Rayma like he claimed?"

"I can’t say for sure but I feel it." Grandma replied.

"But if it’s the only way," Natalie interjected, her voice steadying with resolve. She looked up at Grandma, hope flickering in her eyes. "Mom, will you come with us? We might need your guidance."

Grandma shook her head gently, her brightness dimming slightly with empathy. "Not yet, my dear. You must go first. Face what awaits you as a family. If I am truly needed, I will appear immediately. Trust in the balance."

Natalie swallowed hard, nodding. "Okay. Okay, we’ll go."

She stood, her hands glowing faintly as she prepared her magic. "Everyone, prepare for teleportation. We leave now. Zane, Sebastian, Cassandra, Jacob, Tiger, Eagle, Bubble and Fox. We can’t waste a second."

I stepped forward, my cocky facade cracking under the weight of fear. "I’m coming too. Kat’s my best friend—my sister. I won’t sit this out. If Vincent’s the key, I’ll drag him back myself if I have to."

Natalie hesitated, her eyes softening. "Nick, it’s dangerous. We don’t even know what we’re walking into, besides—"

"Exactly why you need me," I shot back, my voice fierce. "I’m a hybrid, remember? Vampire charm, werewolf strength. I can handle myself. And Kat? She’s always had my back. Now it’s my turn."

Before anyone could argue, a flurry of footsteps echoed from the hallway. Winter burst into the room, her blonde hair wild, her enigmatic eyes wide with a mix of determination and desperation. She looked like she’d been eavesdropping the whole time—hell, with her dream-walking powers, she probably had been. "Wait! Please, let me come too. Vincent... he’s my brother. If he’s there, I have to see him. I have to know."

The room tensed. Uncle Zane’s eyes flashed with protectiveness. "Winter, this could be really dangerous. We don’t want to loose another person too."

But Natalie held up a hand, her maternal instinct overriding caution. "No, Zane. She’s Vincent’s sister and she’s mated to Nick. If this is about bonds pulling people back, maybe hers matters too. Winter, you can come. But running off on your own."

Winter’s cold facade cracked, relief flooding her features. "Thank you. I swear, no running."

Natalie nodded decisively. "Alright. Let’s link up." She took Uncle Zane’s massive hand in one of hers, cradling the still-unconscious Katrina gently in her other arm, like a precious, fragile doll. Kat’s reddish-blonde hair draped over Natalie’s shoulder, her blue eyes still closed in that eerie peace.

Uncle Jacob stepped up, his elemental powers swirling faintly around him. He grabbed my hand, his grip firm and reassuring. "Ready, kid?"

I nodded, extending my free hand to Winter. She took it, her touch cool but electric, that mate bond humming between us despite the chaos. It was weird—torn between loyalty to Katrina and this pull toward her. But right now, it felt like strength. I held up my other hand toward Mom. "Mom? Come on."

Mom sheathed her dagger and clasped my hand, her warrior eyes fierce. "For Kat. Always." She then reached for Dad who took hers without a word, his brooding expression mirroring mine.

The elementals Uncles gathered close—Tiger with his steadfast presence, Eagle’s winds whispering encouragement, Bubble’s form stabilizing into a more solid shape, and Fox’s flames crackling with nervous energy.

Aunt Natalie’s voice rose, incantatory and powerful. "Hold tight. We’re going now."

A surge of celestial magic enveloped us, the world blurring in a whirl of light and shadow. It felt like being pulled through a storm—winds howling, energies clashing—before we materialized with a soft pop in a completely different place.

The air hit me first: fresh, alive, scented with pine and wildflowers. We stood in a breathtaking forest, ancient trees towering like guardians, their leaves whispering secrets in the breeze. Sunlight filtered through the canopy in golden shafts, dappling the mossy ground. And right in front of us? A house that looked like it had grown straight from the earth. Massive trees bent and intertwined naturally, forming walls, arches, and a thatched roof of living vines. It was organic, impressive— the kind of place Uncle Tiger would dream up for himself, all harmony with nature. Birds chirped from hidden nests, and a small stream bubbled nearby, adding to the serene magic.

"Wow," Bubble murmured, his watery eyes widening. "This place is... beautiful. Like a fairy tale."

Tiger nodded, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "Reminds me of home. Whoever built this knows the earth’s pulse."

Uncle Jacob, ever the bold one, stepped forward to enter. "Let’s not gawk. Vincent’s probably inside—"

But as he reached the threshold, an invisible force slammed into him, shoving him back like a gust of wind. He stumbled, rubbing his chest. "What the—? Some kind of barrier. Supernatural wards, strong enough to stop me."

We all tensed, confusion rippling through the group. Zane growled, "A trap? Rayma’s address led us here, but—"

Eagle’s winds stirred, probing the air. "It’s not hostile, just... protective. Like it doesn’t recognize us."

Fox’s flames flared. "Great. Now what? Knock politely?"

Before anyone could respond, the air shimmered again, and a very handsome man with golden blonde hair appeared out of thin air. He was neither bright nor dark—just neutral, like a canvas waiting for paint. His presence was cheerful, almost disarmingly so, with a twinkle in his eyes that hinted at some ancient power. "Ah, my apologies for keeping you waiting! I didn’t expect you quite so soon. Come, come— no need for barriers among family."

He waved a hand, and the force dissipated like mist. With a cheerful ushering motion, he led us inside. "This way, straight to Vincent’s room. No time to waste, eh?"

The interior was even more stunning—wooden floors polished by nature, walls alive with blooming flowers, light filtering through leaf-woven windows. It smelled of earth and serenity, a far cry from the palace we’d left behind. This man chatted lightly as we followed. "Lovely spot, isn’t it? Neutral ground, perfect for... delicate situations."

We piled into a spacious room at the end of a hallway. Soft light bathed the space, and there, on a bed crafted from intertwined branches, lay Vincent. Or... what looked like Vincent. He was unconscious, his dark hair splayed on the pillow, his features sharp and handsome as ever. But something was off—terribly off.

Natalie’s gasp echoed my own shock. "Vincent? But... he smells like nothing. No scent at all. Not demon, not werewolf, not shadow—nothing!"

Dad leaned in, sniffing subtly. "Impossible. Even humans have a trace. This... this isn’t right."

Winter, still holding my hand, suddenly collapsed to her knees, her face paling to a ghostly white. Her voice trembled, breaking the stunned silence. "Is... is that Vincent? My brother? That person without a scent... is he truly him?"

The room fell into a heavy hush, the weight of the mystery pressing down on us all. The handsome man cheerful demeanor faded slightly, his eyes hinting at deeper secrets. But for now, we were left staring at this scentless shell, Katrina still limp in Aunt Natalie’s arms, the thrill of the unknown twisting into something far more dramatic and heart-wrenching.