Chapter 543: A Message Through the Shadows

Chapter 542: A Message Through the Shadows

One Month Before

Two days passed after Tobias left the building.

Two long days.

Two days where the images from the dungeon refused to leave his mind.

Even now, as he sat alone in William’s chambers, Tobias could still hear the sound of Victoria’s laughter echoing inside his head.

Louis had died screaming, and Victoria had watched it happen with amusement.

Even Selith had smiled with delight as she cut up Louis.

Tobias pressed his fingers against his forehead slowly.

His stomach twisted again.

Even Ryker had been unusually quiet since that day.

The wolf had not spoken much.

Not since they had seen what truly lurked beneath that building.

There was no room for doubt anymore. He had wanted information and he had gotten it. Victoria was behind the plague, which was really just black magic.

Tobias exhaled slowly.

*We cannot stay here much longer,* Ryker finally said.

"I know," Tobias replied quietly.

The longer they remained inside the Blood Moon pack, the more dangerous it became.

Victoria trusted him.

But that trust was fragile.

One wrong step and everything would collapse.

Which was why the message that arrived that afternoon nearly made Tobias freeze.

It came through a guard.

At first Tobias had thought nothing of it.

Guards came and went often around the pack’s territory.

But when the man approached him, something felt... strange.

The guard bowed his head slightly.

"Sir William."

Tobias glanced at him.

"Yes?"

The man spoke quietly.

"Someone asked me to deliver this to you."

He slipped a folded piece of parchment into Tobias’s hand.

Then he stepped away immediately.

Tobias frowned slightly as he watched the man disappear down the courtyard.

Inside his mind, Ryker stirred.

*That was strange.*

"Yes."

Tobias returned to the chambers before opening the parchment.

Only once the door was shut behind him did he unfold it.

The writing was short and precise, and he knew just from reading the letter that it was from the Silver Creek pack.

Tobias’s mind immediately began turning, but first he needed to confirm if this was real or if it was a trick. So later that evening, he went looking for the guard. He moved discreetly so as not to alert Victoria.

And thankfully, the guard really was from Silver Creek. Tobias discovered that there were more of them who had infiltrated the Blood Moon pack, working as guards.

Tobias had no idea if the goddess was working in his favour. He could only hope so.

Either way, it was an opportunity.

And Tobias had no intention of wasting it.

That night he wrote his first message.

It was short, but it was enough. Some guards worked in the dungeons where Annabeth and Nathan were kept. They brought food down twice a week and also cleaned the dungeons, especially if there was anyone who died.

He started communicating with Annabeth and even sent a message to the pack too, telling them to start preparing. He also instructed them on the ropes to be created, and how sturdy and long they should be, and also to leave any luggage that would slow them down.

He was able to communicate freely because he had let Victoria know that he was sick after what he witnessed her do to Louis.

Victoria had laughed at him and told him he had a weak stomach, that it was just a small ritual. Tobias had almost pointed out that they had drawn symbols on Louis’s body and that he had watched as Louis’s blood turned black, but he said nothing and told her that he was sick.

She had sent healers to examine him.

Twice.

And when they confirmed that Tobias was indeed ill—which was news to him—she had come to see him herself. But like always, he rejected her advances.

Thankfully, there had been nothing in the chambers to implicate him because her eyes had roamed everywhere when she came. She had even asked him what he did with the money he received from her.

But he had smiled and told her that he was saving it for something special, and besides, he preferred seeing the money in his account rather than it being used.

She had bought that excuse and then instructed him to visit her immediately once he was well.

Tobias didn’t plan on doing so.

He exchanged letters with Annabeth. She informed him that she had found Benny and that Benny had a way to get them out, that there were hidden compartments in the dungeons where they were.

He had informed her of Louis’s death, and then they had started making plans on how to get out of the west.

The disguised guard delivering the letter would also help deliver a key to them.

A key that would unlock the dungeon cells.

The letters moved quickly between them as they made plans.

Guard to guard.

Message to message.

Each one carefully hidden.

Each one burned after reading.

Days passed as they tried to pick a date for their escape until finally a night was chosen.

Everything would happen then.

Annabeth and Nathan would escape the dungeon using the hidden passage Benny had discovered.

They would get out of the dungeons, meet Tobias and the others at the cliff, and get away from the west.

It was dangerous but straightforward.

It was supposed to be easy.

Victoria didn’t suspect a thing that was happening right under her nose.

They had picked the night because it would be easier to move.

The night finally arrived.

And just as Tobias reached for his cloak, he heard a knock at his door.

Tobias froze.

That was not one of the guards he had been consulting with, or rather those posing as guards. This was different.

Tobias walked toward the door slowly.

When he opened it, a guard from the Blood Moon pack stood outside.

The man bowed slightly.

"Sir William."

Tobias kept his face calm.

"Yes?"

The guard straightened.

"The Luna requests your presence."

Tobias felt the air leave his lungs.

"Now."