A Witch in Time

against nature by using blood magic,” Cross explained to Julianna.
“Blood is forbidden to use,” Elise added. “Because you often have to hurt or kill someone to get their blood.”
“However,” Cross continued, “a long time ago, a powerful mage named Magus Aurelius was able to concentrate his power into three artifacts.”
“Artifacts?” Julianna echoed.
“He infused three objects with the blood of six hundred humans and Lycans.”
The words made Elise shiver. “Why?”
“So that his power would be preserved,” Cross explained. “This was about a thousand years ago. Magus Aurelius controlled a large part of what’s now Central and Eastern Europe, but he was losing his power because the people were rising up against him, with the help of the Lycans. So, he placed as much of his magic into these three artifacts, hoping that one day, the mages would rise up and rule the world. He sacrificed three hundred humans and three hundred Lycans.”
Julianna’s face went pale. “That’s sick.”
“They came back, but we defeated them,” Elise said. “Rather, our parents did. In the battle of Norway, most of the mages were killed, then your dad gathered whoever was left and bound their powers before sending them to the Lycan Siberian Prison.”
“A small faction survived.” Cross’s eyes hardened. “And they found out about the artifacts. It took them nearly three decades but they were able to get their hands on one of them. A necklace that could control people, even without the use of blood rituals.”
Julianna’s eyes widened. “Where is it?”
“It’s still with the mages,” Cross said. “It was used by the mages to try and frame Lucas for murder. They wanted to put him in jail so they could kill him and take his blood, but didn’t succeed. They did manage to keep the necklace.”
“What about the other artifacts?” Elise asked. “Where are they?”
“I’ve been trying to track them down, and I had my suspicions.” His expression turned serious. “Now I’m definitely sure.”
“Sure of what?” Elise’s heart pounded in her chest as she waited for the answer.
“We had it all along. That is, the Lycan High Council had it.”
“The dagger,” she guessed. “It was the dagger.”
“Yes,” Cross said in a somber voice. “I was so close … but I wasn’t sure.” He bowed his head. “I’m so sorry. This shouldn’t have happened if I was certain of what the dagger was.”
“But how could it have transported us here?” Elise said.
“I think …” Cross cleared his throat. “Here’s what my theory is: the mages have been desperate to get at Lucas and Adrianna—not to kill them or stop them from ascending—rather, they want their blood.”
“But why?”
“I think it’s because as children of two Alphas, their blood must have some special property. It didn’t click into place until now, but I believe that when infused with double Alpha blood, the power of the artifacts is magnified. The necklace, as far as we knew, could control humans, but with Alpha blood, it could control Lycans. I believe the dagger would have allowed them to transport people across long distances.”
Elise pictured the scene in her mind. Julianna holding the bloody dagger. The mage reaching for it. “But why did we end up here?”
Cross looked sheepish. “I didn’t anticipate it, but it was you, Elise.”
“M-m-me?”
“Your powers. I didn’t know … I’m really sorry. I think your powers must have amplified the artifact. Along with Lucas’s blood … it’s the only explanation.”
“Wait! Where’s the dagger?” Julianna exclaimed. “That’s our way home, right? All we have to do is charge it up with Elise’s powers.” She slapped her palms together. “Badabing, badaboom, we’re home!”
“It’s not that simple,” Cross said. “I did try looking for the dagger when I realized where we were. It’s not here.”
“No.” Elise felt a dark despair take over her body. “We’re stuck here?”
“There has to be a way,” Julianna’s eyes narrowed at Cross. “You have an idea, right?”
Cross nodded. “When I first suspected that the dagger could be one of the artifacts, I learned as much as I could about it.”
“Why didn’t you ask to see it? Or tell the Lycan High Council?” Julianna asked. “Why all this secrecy? You and your father should have said something the moment you suspected the mages were coming back.”
When Cross didn’t say anything, it was Elise who spoke. “Because he’s a hybrid,” she said in a quiet voice. “They wouldn’t have believed him or his dad.” Despite the fact that there were many hybrid Lycans now that the witches and Lycans were no longer on opposite sides, there were still a few who didn’t trust either side. As a hybrid, Elise knew this and how it contributed to her feeling that she would never be part of either world.
Cross cleared his throat. “As I said, I learned as much as I could about the dagger.”
“And what did you find out?” Julianna asked.
“Lycans didn’t always use that particular dagger for ascension ceremonies. Any dagger or sword was used to cut the hand and make the vow.” During the ascension ceremony, the future Alpha had to seal their vow to protect their clan by slicing their palms with the dagger. “The dagger the Lycan High Council uses in our time belonged to the London clan. It was an heirloom from the Townsend family.”
“Why do we use it now?”
A line appeared between Cross’s brows. “The historical records are murky, but this is what I pieced together: During the ascension ceremony of one of the London Alphas, they were attacked by ‘evil forces.’ The London clan fought them off, but unfortunately, they killed the would-be Alpha.”
Elise gasped. “Who killed him?”
“Like I said, the details are murky. But from what I could interpret, Reed Townsend never became Alpha. Since he didn’t have any children, the title passed on to his nephew. But, the Lycan High Council wanted to honor Townsend, so they’ve been using the dagger ever since.”
“How does that help us now?” Julianna asked.
“If my research is correct, we should be in the right year when Reed Townsend is ascending to Alpha.”
Julianna’s face