Two pictures today! These are different to my normal pictures and aren't really the inspiration for my story scenery. The other day, I went to London for my sisters finishing GSCE treat. In the morning, she saw Wicked- I didn't. I went to see a Pink Floyd exhibition instead. In the evening we went and saw Phantom of the Opera. It was AMAZING!!! These are some of our pictures whilst we walked to the theatre. The first one is Buckingham Palace. I am almost 19 years old and live about an hour away from London and I had never seen the Buckingham Palace in person before then. The other Photo is a view from a bridge in St James Park. I'll add some more London photos next chapter too.

"Then why are you here?" I snarl at him. He stays silent for a few seconds.
"To tell you where to find the men you're hunting." My eyes widen in surprise.
"What?" I ask, gripping my weapon tighter. This must be some sort of trick. 

"I know you may not believe me," he starts and I frown. "But the attack on the square was not my plan, I had no idea that my King was planning that." His voice stays monotone as he speaks behind his mask. I gulp as the memories resurface. 

"I do not kill defenceless people, especially children." It is silent for a few seconds whilst I consider what he says. 

"They are one-hundred miles east of here. Hiding behind a shield that stops them from being seen or sensed by shifters. It's not a physical shield, you will be able to easily pass through," he begins. "There are at least two-hundred NightShade warriors hiding there. They're in a clearing. It won't look like there's anything out of the ordinary, however, you'll get a sense of wanting to turn around, of not wanting to be there. They have no traps or alarms around the shield. The clearing is a large circle surrounded by woodland. The shield starts once you step out of the woods and into the field. " I shake my head, unsure what to believe. This could so easily be a trap.  

"Why?" I ask. 

"I already told you, I don't agree with murdering children and defenceless shifters."

"No, not that," I snarl. "If you're so against the monstrosities your king ordered, then why are you still following him? Why are you still his warrior?" I ask with a growl. 

"Because I owe him everything," he whispers before his voice darkens. "You have my help today little dragon girl, use it wisely. Tomorrow I am your enemy again."

"How do I know this isn't a trap?" He laughs.

"It may very well be, I've not given you a reason to trust me. It's your choice. Hunt for vengeance, even if it means risking your life and your friends, or flea and tell your people that you could not find them and keep your friends safe. It's up to you," he shrugs. I've already made up my mind. He knows it too. I chuckle softly, but there is no humour in it. 

"We both know that even if I do not go after the NightShade's today, my friends and the people of Shadow are still in danger."

"It appears that you've made up your mind," he says. I nod my head.

"One more thing," I say. "We will be capturing some of the NightShades and executing them. Make sure your monster of a king hears their screams as they die. Make sure he gets our message," I hiss. He nods his head. 

"He'll get your message and I'll get my orders to kill you and your family, publically." I gulp as butterflies rush through my stomach. No one touches my family. If I feel my family are in danger, there's nothing I wouldn't do to protect them. 

"But I'm not stupid enough to go after your family," he chuckles deeply, before appearing in front of me. "You, however, are too much fun just to kill. When I get my orders to kill you, I will. But not without some fun first." I snarl at him. 

"I know you enjoy our game as much as I do. The thrill of the hunt and the danger excites you, doesn't it?" 

"That was before my people were brutally murdered. Before I watched children and shifters die horrific painful deaths right in front of my eyes," my voice snarls. "If I think you're threatening my people, then I'll kill you." He laughs deeply and nods his head before turning and walking away. Once he's disappeared, Serenity snaps awake from her trance. I am nervous, he knows where we're going to be, he could easily be going to inform his warriors that we are coming. It is a risk I have to take. 

"Get anything?" I ask Serenity, already knowing roughly where they'd be. 

"There is lots of magic being used about one-hundred miles toward the east. They've woven their magic into the forest to camouflage their presence," she says. I nod my head. 

"Let's go then," I tell her. I then speak through the mind thing that Daniel gave us, telling the others where we think they've been located. 

"Don't attack until all of us are present," I say through the link. 

"We won't," Daniel says. Serenity shifts and we take off. As I look into the forest below, I see him watching. 

It isn't long before Serenity swoops into the forest and shifts. 

"We are close to the magic," she says. "The Earth is tingling with it," she whispers. I can sense it too, now that we're closer. Like the masked man had said, I feel like I want to turn from this place. To walk away in the other direction. We creep forward slowly before coming to a stop. Toryn and Tanya are here as are the others. We draw our weapons and walk silently through the forest, in human form now. The treeline comes to a stop around a large green clearing. Easily to fit over two-hundred NightShade warriors. The grass clearing looks beautiful, full of wildflowers and surrounded trees. There is even a small lake in the centre. We stay crouched in the shrubbery. We can all sense the magic now, it pulses toward us from the clearing. Though we can't see anything out of the ordinary, we can feel their presence. I take a deep breath. The masked man said that once we step into the clearing, we're stepping through the shield that blocks our view. We'll be in their camp. 

I pass on the message through the link to the others, using the mind-reading enchanted item from Daniel. They all nod understanding. 

"Serenity," I say, through the link. "Perhaps you should travel under the ground, take them by surprise." She smiles and in her human form, dives into a newly formed hole in the ground. "The rest of us will attack in human form so we can focus on using our powers more," I say. Everyone agrees. "Serenity and I will focus on capturing some of them. Though if you could incapacitate some of them instead of killing them it would be a lot easier. We want at least fifty prisoners for interrogation and execution," I instruct.

"Some of them will try to fly away, they have these unusual flying devices," Andrea points out. I frown thinking then smile as I see the lake in the middle of the clearing. Though I can summon water, it already helps if there is already water for me to use if I plan on doing something big. 

"When we step into the shield, protect me for a few seconds, I'll make sure none escape. I need something to enchant." Fiona, Maryanne's sister, hands me one of her simple silver rings. Jewellery is easiest to enchant. 

"It is going to get cold," I tell them. "Now remember, we don't know what is going to be inside the shield. Be prepared for anything. This could easily be a trap."

"They are likely to know we've entered straight away," Oliver tells us. I nod my head. 

"We shouldn't come in at the same place," I agree. I take a deep breath. 

"There could be close to two hundred NightShades in there. Be careful." I instruct, spinning my swords. "Let's get into position." Everyone moves silently around the edge of the forest. I take a deep, nervous breath. The clearing looks so beautiful with its calm lake and wildflowers swaying in the wind. I know, however, that as soon as I step into the clearing, it will all change. 

"Now!" I shout as we head into the unknown.