608 WE MIGHT FIND TREASURE

23 February, Tuesday, Continued

The guys were definitely taking their time to get over here. It couldn't have been more than 30 meters, and they were like super slow pokes. I was sure snails could move faster.

I contemplated making those few steps back out of wherever I was to see what was taking them so long, but I didn't want to leave my spot. I had a very good feeling about this spot. If I were looking for treasure, I would dig right here where my feet were standing, but I wasn't looking for treasure. So why was I here?

I frowned, suddenly remembering that I had come all the way here to learn how to fight vampires from Black Forest in this once in a lifetime chance to observe real life pros in action, but I ended up sitting out of the party, all by myself in this weird cave.

Sigh. All the people in my life who said I was easily distracted were right.

Suddenly another weird sound, like a whooshing and roaring of a powerful blast of air. And then silence.

I froze. The blast of air had to be very hot because I could feel the hot air gush into where I was and the air stir up like a dragon being roused from its slumber. I looked around the darkness, before, it was just a still and dark unknown space, but now with the air moving, I could sense I was in quite a large cavern.

And then the air currents slowed and there was silence.

"Are you guys all right?" I shifted my feet now.

"F***. That was too close." Ben spoke first.

"Indeed Beta. Please be mindful more of your steps." Ki chided mildly.

"Shut up, dog." Ben growled.

I sighed. Why were they taking so long? Did those guys plan to trip over every trap on their way here? I was dream travelling - I didn't have all night! Well, okay, I did have all night, BUT it was already way past midnight by now, "Do you guys need help?"

I didn't want to leave this spot, but I suppose if I must, I must.

"No princess. Do not move from where you are. This place is full of traps!" Bell warned.

Gee, you think?

But also sigh ~ ❤️ He's so cute getting all panicky and protective of me!

And then Ben suddenly shouted, "Luna Bell! Be careful-"

And then BAM!

Like it was a really loud slamming sound, followed by a low creaking, and then a very familiar sound - a sound I usually really enjoyed - a swish, and voop, and swoop sound of an arrow, or rather a lot of arrows. I remembered how Heller's men had rained arrows on me when I accidentally ran into one of their ambushes and felt my blood run cold because those arrows were now flying towards my mate! MINE!

(Yes, and Ben and Ki too.)

So why was I just standing there? Shaking off the initial shock I spun around. I was too late! Even if I could make it out to the passageway, I would not be in time to shield them from the arrows.

"No! Bell!" The words were torn out of my mouth even as I stepped forward.

But just before I took the next step to sprint over... the wall in front of me cracked and Ben's black wolf burst through to stop in front of me, Bell and Ki on his back.

Ki was glowing, providing the dark creepy place his ambient light - which really added to the general creepiness of the place. But I wasn't going to complain. It was nice to be able to see again - and MATE! I rushed forward and jumped and he caught me perfectly. ~ ❤️ Bell was safe!

(Yes, and Ben and Ki too.)

"Is everyone alright?" I asked, as I wriggled free from Bell's grasp and straightened to stand back on my own two feet again.

{Do I look alright to you, Sam?} Ben's wolf grumbled.

I looked at the broken stone wall his wolf just crashed through, "How did you do that?"

{I used my head.} Ben's wolf chuffed. Hahaha. Ben's wolf liked to make bad jokes too... but it was his strength that was truly impressive.

"You broke through all that rock with just your head?" Wow. I knew Beta Lucas was super strong in his wolf form, but wow. I guess that's what Dad meant when he had ever said that Beta Lucas' bloodline power was being a bulldozer.

"I always knew you were headstrong." I grinned.

Ben's wolf chuffed again.

"It was thanks to Beta's wolf that we are unhurt." Ki smiled.

I gave them a critical once over. Yeah right. Ben was forced to do an emergency shift. Bell and Ki were both still in their human forms, but their clothes were ripped and dirty.

"What happened out there?" Somehow I got the feeling these three suffered more from the three traps along the passageway in the cave, than hunting down the vamps outside.

{Oh, nothing - we were just nearly smashed by a large boulder, air fried to crisp, and then kebabed.} Ben's wolf growled.

I laughed. Hahahaha. Maybe I shouldn't have laughed, but it was just too silly, "You guys should've just walked around it."

Their faces! Hahahaha.

{We could've seriously died back there, you know!} Ben admonished.

"But you didn't." I said.

"Pardon me for asking, goddess, but what is this place?" Ki interrupted.

He was looking behind me.

"Oh this?" I turned around and was quite surprised myself. Ben and I had been too busy exchanging tit for tat to notice right away, but there was a couch set behind me, complete with coffee table and side tables, and vases - the flowers in those vases were brown and dried up - but still in its arrangement.

We were still in a cave, but who furnished a cave with classical Victorian furniture? There was even a chandelier. Ki found a long metal stick with a candle on one end. He produced a lighter and lit it, and then reached the metal stick up so that he could tap a bit of flame on each candle, lighting up the room.

"Oh!" I breathed as I looked at the chandelier - it was so old fashioned - okay, so what was I expecting? This was a cave. It wasn't like they could run in electricity.

I looked at the vases of dead flowers, the pretty red floral motifs embroidered on the upholstery of the ornately carved couch, the lace table cloth on the coffee table. It was a decidedly feminine living room.

Ben's wolf sniffed around, {There's furniture, but it doesn't smell like anyone's ever lived here.}

"That's because vampires have no scent, beta." Ki smiled.

{I knew that, dog.} Ben's wolf growled back.

"There are stairs here." Ki said from the other side of the room.

{A hidden living quarters, protected by traps...} Ben's wolf mused as he looked around the room, {I wonder why.}

"Isn't it obvious?" Well, I thought it was obvious. Bell, Ki, and Ben paused their exploration of the strange place. What? Was it obvious only to me? "The Coven Lord was hiding his mate here."

Because that was exactly how Heller did it too. When he knew the T&T were coming, he hid his mate and daughter in his private apartment and sealed it with traps. I guess when Alpha Solomon's specialist force made their move, this coven lord had planned to sacrifice himself and his men so that his mate might live. Oh wait, but we were talking about vampires, not wolves...

"I might be wrong." I admitted.

"May I suggest exploring the upstairs, goddess?" Ki continued smiling, "This seems to be lived in by quite a powerful vampire once. Powerful and ancient vampires preferred to decorate and organize their living spaces very traditionally. There would be a high chance that we would find treasure upstairs."

Bell was already halfway up the stairs.

"Yes, okay." I said.

{No, not really.} Boo disapproved.

"Wait Bell." I quickly changed my mind. I've long learned that it would probably work out best if we followed my gut instincts, that is, listened to Boo.

But Bell wasn't one to take instructions easily, "Wait here, Princess. I'll go check it out."

And because bossing me wasn't enough, he had to boss Ki and Ben too, "You two, guard my princess."

Stoopid. Well, he should survive it - at most he could resurrect himself and see how he liked it!

Ki came over to me, "What are you doing goddess?"

Was he disappointed that I didn't seem enthusiastic about finding old vampire treasures? Oh right! I had found treasure! (Maybe).

I walked back to the lucky spot, now that the lights were on, my orientation was confused. Now I had to use my lucky sense of direction to find it all over again, "I almost forgot! Ben, can you break the ground here?"

Okay, fine, I had TOTALLY FORGOT about it. I was distracted. But the important thing was I remembered.

{Here?} Ben's wolf was making a face at the rock floor of the cave.

I stomped on its solid surface, "Yes, right here."

And then I backed off to Ki's side to watch Ben's wolf crack it with his massive wolf head.

It wasn't easy because it was the ground. The angle was pretty awkward and Ben had to make a few tries before he figured out how he could crack the floor. In the end, he managed by running up to the second floor and then jumping head first off the corridor overlooking the living room.

BAM! I wished I could explain it with a better sound, but I wasn't EJ, so I didn't have that kind of shuddering crashing sound in my vocabulary. The entire cave shook on impact.

"I didn't know you could smash rocks with your paws too." I said.

Ben's wolf huffed at me, "When I said I was using my head, I didn't mean literally, you know."

Oh. Well, no. Actually, I've always thought it was quite literal.

"What happened?" Bell rushed out of the first upstairs room quite alarmed, "Is my princess safe?"

"Yes, Luna." Ki answered with his usual smile, "Please calm down."

I smiled and waved from downstairs.

"I am calm!" Bell insisted and disappeared into the second room.

Yeah right. ~ ❤️

But it was probably just the mating bond. I heard it had different effects on different wolves. For me, I went gaga, made little hearts in my diary. For Mate... Mate seemed to stress out more... a lot more.

{Earth to Sam...} Ben's wolf was just as impatient as he was, {He's gone. You don't have to stare at the door.}

I was NOT staring at the door! I was urm... thinking!

{So what now?} Ben's wolf looked at the crumbled rocks in the ground, {It's solid rock. Do you want me to break it into smaller pieces?}