Chapter 198: Crossing Over To Volsra

"So what’s the love story? I know bits and pieces but I would love to hear in detail?" Aiko asked once they had started to move away, her serious eyes focused on Cassandra as she sat opposite her.

"It started more than 500 years ago and is quite tragic for the most part but I am hoping for a happy ending," Cassandra began and offered Aiko a summary of what her life had been.

"That’s quite some tragedies you have faced and now we will ensure that you get your fairytale ending." Aiko winked at Cassandra. She carried the same mischief Faris did and she had begun to understand why her mother had chosen her for him.

The carriage and the horses stopped and Siroos opened the door and peeked inside and asked.

"We are outside the borders of the pack. How far can you take us, Aiko?"

"On the outskirts of Volsra. There are thick forests, they will be covered with snow at this time of the year and hardly anyone goes there. Vampires are lazy beings who love to live in their homes and throw parties," she answered, knowing the habits of the vampires, having lived with them her whole life.

"You can open the portal, and I will go inside first; once I give all clear, all of you can follow," Siroos concluded.

Aiko nodded and climbed out from the open door, Cassandra and Lotus watched from the carriage window as she stood alongside Siroos and Faris and waved her hand in a circular movement.

The portal, with a fiery circle, opened and widened. It kept widening until it was the size from which even a carriage could also easily pass through.

"Let me check it out, first," Siroos said.

"Be careful," Cassandra called out to her mate.

He nodded and stepped forward, entering the place through the portal. Aiko concentrated on keeping the portal open, her forehead forming ridges like sand dunes.

Others waited but remained on alert. They could see on the other side, it was like a tundra.

The difference was such in contrast, the gold of the sand in the background had a circle of snow with a fiery circle separating them.

"What a view," Lotus remarked.

Soon Siroos tumbled back, his head sprinkled with freshly fallen snow.

"It’s all clear, I didn’t see anyone. Let’s move."

Everyone heaved in relief as Siroos climbed back on his steed and gestured towards his brother to take the lead.

Faris mounted back at the front of the carriage and grabbed the reins; pulling them, he led the two horses forward, dragging the carriage behind it.

"Hold on!" He called out as Aiko concentrated on keeping the portal open.

The whole carriage swerved, Lotus and Cassandra held onto each other. It seemed to have turned upside down at one point as trees and other similar scenery rushed past them.

"Ehhhh!" Lotus screamed, this was a very new experience for her.

Soon, they found a sure footing and landed on the snow-covered floor of the forest.

Aiko followed them, and in the end, Razial and Siroos stepped through the portal. It slowly fizzled out and became smaller, only to disappear altogether, leaving behind nothing.

The weather took a drastic turn for them. From a mild cool temperature, they had landed into a freezing cold one.

Those of them who weren’t wearing gloves took them out from their satchels and donned them.

"We need to keep moving West for us to arrive at the borders of Unknown Lands which lead to Grimhollow," Razial explained, holding the map Siroos had hand-drawn to indicate the path they were going to choose.

"We should also keep in mind a place where we can spend the night," Faris added as Aiko settled back inside the carriage.

"Before we leave, sprinkle some of this potion here so our scents can disappear. I have already placed all of us under a cloaking spell from prying eyes. Only people with pure intentions can find us. Stephanie and similar ones, can’t." Lotus fished out a small vial from her satchel and handed it outside to Razial.

He knew exactly what he needed to do. Popping the cork with the tip of his thumb, Razial gathered it on his palm and scattered it through the winds.

The silver sand-type material swirled and began to absorb all of their combined scents.

"All done, let’s head out of Volsra." Razial placed the vial in his satchel and followed behind.

The cavern began to move again. Slowly.

The steeds sprayed the snow all around as they trudged through the cold forest floor.

Faris carefully manoeuvred the carriage through the trees so as not to topple it over. Thankfully, the snow wasn’t so thick that horses wouldn’t be able to wade through, but it was a slow process.

The wolf spirit remained on the surface for Siroos and Faris, providing them with their fur and heat. They weren’t accustomed to this much cold weather. Others were.

Cassandra let her magic pulse out and formed a protective boundary around all her companions. They were in the territory of vampires, anything could go wrong.

The utter quietness of this place was eerie, even animals seemed to be hiding. The sliding of the snow from the tall trees at times caused a slight commotion, but other than that, there were no other sounds.

The silence of death lingered in the air.

"It’s like passing through some silent lands," Faris called out, irked by how quiet and dead these lands were compared to theirs.

"Be careful of the mighty yaks, snow leopards, white tigers and other vicious creatures. Leopards and tigers can grow up to the size of an elephant," Aiko called out.

She swiftly climbed out through the open door of the carriage and, like a skilled fox, dragged herself up and perched right alongside her mate.

Faris gave her a curious side glance and let her settle alongside by moving slightly to the side on the wooden flat seat so she could have proper sitting space.

"Have you seen them?" Faris asked curiously, side-glancing at her. He referred to the snow leopards and white tigers.

"I did, once. A magnificent snow leopard. Fur was like snow and ice. Its canines were bigger than my whole arm and its icy blue eyes still haunt me." A shudder went through Aiko as she recalled the terrifying experience.

Aiko’s fear collided with Faris’s comfort and some of her trepidation eased.

"What did you do? Did you face it?" Faris asked, controlling the horses and trying not to panic her.

"Nah! I opened the portal and ran away. Be smart, I didn’t want to become a morsel." She winked at him, making him throw his head back and laugh while saying.

"That’s such a fox move you pulled." He raised his hand with palm facing her.

"I know." And she did a high five with him.

He held the leather reins again with both his hands and urged himself to speak.

"And thank you for today. I had been thinking of visiting her grave but guilt made my feet heavy. I am glad you visited with me."

His smile slightly waned but he didn’t let sorrows engulf him completely.

"That’s what mates do," Aiko answered, watching how his face remained relaxed while speaking to her. He was opening up more and more.

Their relationship was progressing, slowly but it was on the right track.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read