Chapter 25
Friday morning, around 12:05 A.M., Blake, Trubel and Marcus respectively parked the three school buses on the long driveway that circled the Swanigan's mansion (the headquarters for the Lunar Owl Coven). The passenger windows to the buses that faced the mansion had been covered up with cardboard.
Alysa and Katherine led the way to the Swanigan's mansion in Alysa's pickup. Trubel's motorcycle and Blake's motorcycle were in the back of the pickup. The makeshift ramp that was used to get the motorcycles onto the back of the pickup was on the bus that Blake was driving.
Once all four vehicles were shutdown, everyone gathered behind the bus that Trubel was driving. Trubel, Marcus and Blake each wore a pair of gloves so no one would leave fingerprints behind and a hairnet to reduce the chances of stray hairs being left behind as well.
Trubel had taken off her gloves and hairnet, and as she held up her smartphone, she asked, "Is everyone ready for me to make the call?"
"I'm ready," Katherine replied.
"We're ready," Marcus added.
"And while she's making her call, can someone tell me what is going on?" Blake asked as Trubel went to make her call.
"I told you what is going on, Blake," Marcus was the one to say.
"All you told me was more of that nonsense about Katherine being a witch," Blake began. "Although the bit about Lucy being abducted by other witches is a nice touch."
"Blake, I'm really a witch," Katherine quickly replied. "Up until now, I was glad that you didn't believe Marcus when he would tell you that Lucy and I are witches, but tonight, you need to believe in witches, because Lucy was in fact abducted by other witches and in just a few minutes from now, we are going to be confronting a powerful coven."
"Which was why I told you to load your bike onto the pickup," Marcus added. "You don't have to stick around."
"Oh, I'm sticking around," Blake quickly replied. "For one, I don't believe in witches or otherworldly creatures."
Alysa chuckled before asking, "Should I show him what I am, Katherine?"
"If you'd like, Alysa," Katherine replied. "Although, he doesn't have a change of pants if he pees himself."
"I'm not going to pee myself," Blake quickly replied. "So, what are you, Alysa?"
Before Alysa was able to respond or woge, Trubel announced, "Diana will be here any second now."
"And where is she coming from?" Blake asked.
"From Portland, Oregon," Trubel simply replied.
"But didn't this plan…" Blake stopped talking when Diana—while looking like a woman in her mid-forties and standing 5' 9"—materialized a few feet in front of him. "Holy shit!"
"Diana?" Trubel questioned. "Is that you?"
"Of course, it's me, silly," Diana replied.
In Portland, Adalind, Elizabeth, Mitchell and Madilyn—as they meditated at Diana's front, back, right side and left side—were each able to see and hear through Diana. However, the four were unaware that Diana could hear their thoughts.
"But you were a little girl when I saw you not all that long ago," Trubel pointed out. "When did you grow up?"
"I didn't really grow up, Trubel," Diana replied. "Nick, Mom, and Grandmother want everyone to believe that I'm a grown-up."
"So, you are able to make yourself look like a grown-up?" Trubel asked.
"I can, but only when I astral project," Diana replied with a slight frown.
"Time out," Blake quickly requested. When everyone turned towards him, he asked Diana, "You are from Portland, and you just teleported here?"
"Blake, she didn't teleport," Katherine was the one to say. "She's here only as an astral projecting spirit."
"Spirit? So, she's a ghost?" Blake asked as he gestured towards Diana.
"She's not a ghost," Trubel and Katherine both replied.
"I'm not a ghost," Diana also said.
"Her body is alive and well in Portland, Oregon, but her spirit and consciousness are here with us," Katherine continued to say.
"Blake, astral projection is like an out of body experience, but when someone astral projects, the person isn't having a near death experience as well," Marcus added. "In fact, astral projection is done deliberately through meditation."
"Meditation," Blake uttered as he threw up his hands as if the word explained it all. "I'm not into all that inner peace, so there's the reason I never heard of astral projection before."
"Okay, well, regardless, Diana is a special type of a witch known as a Hexenbiest, and she, while using her powers, is going to help us save Lucy," Katherine told Blake.
"I might regret asking this, but what is the difference between an average witch and a Hexenbiest witch?" Blake asked.
"Hexenbiests are more powerful than your average witch or warlock," Katherine replied. "In fact, my magic can be compared to a civil war cannon while a Hexenbiest's magic can be compared to a modern-day bomb. And, Blake, that's it for the questions. We need to get inside and get Lucy out."
"Right," Blake replied. "What do you want me to do? And I know that my inquiry was another question."
"Yes, well, that's the type of questions we do have time for," Katherine told Blake. "And to answer you, I want you and Marcus to remain at the buses, and where the people inside the house can see you."
"Why don't you want us to go in with you?" Marcus quickly asked.
"With you two remaining by the buses, it will give the illusion that you are awaiting orders to move in with our remaining backup… or at least that is what I'm hoping for," Katherine replied.
"And what if they target the buses?" Blake asked.
"As long as you remain vigilant you should see any attack coming with enough time to run, duck or roll," Katherine replied. "Alysa, Trubel, Diana and I; however, will be walking straight into the lion's den, where we will have less time to react to an attack. And I prefer that you didn't, but I'm not going to stop you or Marcus if either of you would step into the lion's den with us."
"Since you put it like that, I'll wait by the buses," Blake replied.
"I will also be waiting by the buses," Marcus added.
"Thank you," Katherine replied. She then turned towards Alysa, Trubel and Diana. "Let's move."
Trubel and Alysa nodded before the four turned towards the mansion and walked away.
Trubel, Alysa, Diana and Katherine moved at an average pace, and as they were approaching the front door, Sylvia Swanigan (Morgan's twenty-year-old daughter) opened the door.
"Come in," Sylvia told Katherine. "My dad is waiting for you and your companions. He's in the family room and I'm to escort you there."
Katherine took a breath before saying, "Lead the way."
Sylvia nodded before leading Katherine, Trubel, Alysa and Diana through the foyer and into the family room.
Lucy was sitting in the center of a large sectional sofa and appeared dazed. Morgan sat on Lucy's left while Kyle, Willie and Scarlett sat on Lucy's right. Scarlett's two sisters (Isabelle and Vanessa) where at a card table while playing Rummy. They put the cards down when Sylvia led Katherine, Trubel, Alysa and Diana into the room. Six other coven members (four women and two men) were also in the room.
Annmarie (Morgan's wife and Kyle and Sylivia's mother) was strapped down to a bed in the master bedroom and was mentally struggling to fight off the spirit of Charlotte Kroger as Charlotte was slowly breaking through the protection incantation and taking control over Annmarie's mind and body. Two coven members were posted outside the master bedroom. Other coven members were scattered within the mansion.
"I see that you didn't take my advice to come alone, Katherine," Morgan told her as he stood. "Not that I'm shocked that you didn't listen. It's just that…"
"Stow it, Morgan," Katherine demanded. "I want no trouble from you or from anyone here. I'm just here for Lucy. She and I, along with our three friends, will be leaving now."
"Katherine, Katherine, Katherine," Morgan began while shaking his head. "Of course, your friends are free to leave. In fact, I very much insist on it; however, you and Lucy will not be going anywhere."
"Leaving here without Lucy and Katherine is not an option," Alysa quickly uttered.
"Oh, you, your two friends and your friends outside will be leaving here, Alysa… but I can't guarantee that you or your friends will be alive when you do," Morgan replied. "That's all up to you. So, you and your friends had better rethink your stance about leaving while all of you can."
"We aren't going anywhere without Katherine and Lucy," Trubel replied while crossing her arms.
Morgan shook his head and slightly chuckled as if he heard a bad joke before calling out for Scarlett, Isabelle and Vanessa to take out the trash.
"We'll be happy to," Scarlett—while rising to her feet—replied in her southern accent. Isabelle and Vanessa stood as well.
Trubel quickly reached down and pulled out her collapsible sword from her right boot.
As Trubel extended the sword, Scarlett—the closest sister to Trubel—rhetorically asked, "You think that your sword is going to help protect you from me and my sisters?"
"We are about to find out," Trubel replied.
"Yes, we are," Scarlett replied before woging. Shock appeared on Scarlett's slightly decomposing face as she stared into Trubel's eyes. As she recovered quickly from her initial shock, she hissed, "Grimm!"
Isabelle and Vanessa woged and moved quickly to Scarlett's side.
"You're no match for the three of us, Grimm," Vanessa hissed.
A thought from Elizabeth had popped into Diana's head and while acting on the thought, she shifted her astral projecting appearance to a decomposing body that was more skeleton than rotting flesh and said, "The Grimm isn't the only one who you have to worry about."
"Holy shit," Isabelle uttered as she stared at Diana. "I never saw any Hexenbiest who looked more like a skeleton than a corpse."
"Yes, and most likely you will never see another Hexenbiest like me again," Diana said as she echoed Elizabeth's thoughts. "I'm more powerful than you three, combine… in fact, if I wanted to, I could turn each one of you into Kehrseite before either of you three could bat an eye."
Alysa fully woged when Kyle, Willie and the other coven members within the room each stood or moved into a defensive pose. Morgan acted as if he had been caught off guard that Alysa was Wesen and took a step back.
Diana was aware of the movements around her, but obeyed Elizabeth's thoughts and remained focus on Scarlett, Isabelle and Vanessa.
"I'm untouchable, Morgan," Diana said while echoing Elizabeth's thoughts and not taking her focus away from Scarlett and her sisters. "However, you and your coven members aren't. So, tell them to stand down before I put them down."
"I'm calling your bluff, Hexenbiest," Morgan replied. He then spoke to his coven members within the room. "Take her out."
Magical words were said by the six coven members, but before anyone could fire a shot towards Diana, Diana disappeared and then reappeared behind one of the coven members.
Without hesitation, Diana waved her hand and commanded, "Sleep."
Before the coven member could fall to the floor unconscious, Diana disappeared again, and then reappeared behind another coven member.
While all eyes were on the first coven member to fall unconscious, Diana was putting another coven member to sleep.
Kyle was in motion to check the first person's vitals as the second person dropped to the floor.
"Okay, okay. Stop," Morgan demanded and acting as if he was talking to an invisible entity in the sky. "You proved your point. Everyone stand down."
Diana was behind a third coven member, and she startled him when she replied, "And I'm not even warmed up yet."
Before anything else could be said, Annmarie's piercing scream filled the house that made everyone cover his or her ears, and the scream was accompanied by a small quake that mildly shook the house.
Marcus and Blake grabbed the edge to one of the buses as they rode out the small quake.
Once it turned silent and still, Kyle uttered, "Dad, it's getting worse."
"I know, son," Morgan replied.
Diana dropped her mock disguise of a woged Hexenbiest and returned to her prior human form when Morgan spoke. Alysa shifted back into her human appearance as well.
Upstairs, the two coven members who were posted outside the master bedroom dashed in and recited the protection incantation on Annmarie once again.
Downstairs, Katherine moved closer to Morgan before saying, "I have the feeling that my daughter and I are here because of that scream and the small earthquake. So, what in hell is going on, Morgan?"
Morgan chuckled slightly, as if he had won an argument, before saying, "I had a hunch that you didn't know about your ancestors, and I was right."
"I'm well acquainted with my ancestors, Morgan," Katherine snapped. "I have their journals, and I have read each and every one of them."
"And how far back do your journals go?" Morgan asked.
"My ancestors began keeping journals in the tenth century and I have read each one of them," Katherine replied.
"Mmm," Morgan began as if something didn't add up. "Could there be volumes missing from your collection?"
"On July 18th, 1810, all the journals from 1282 to 1792 had been destroyed in a fire; however, my ancestors who lived during 1810 rewrote what they could remember about those missing journals," Katherine replied. "So, I guess a few things could have been accidently left out."
"Yes, well, I think that your ancestors had deliberately left a few things out during their rewrite," Morgan replied.
"What in hell are you talking about?" Katherine demanded to know.
"Does your journals mention anything about a powerful coven known as Raven?" Morgan asked. "They were active from 1285 to 1790."
"It doesn't and I never heard of such coven," Katherine replied.
"Yes, well, in spite of that fact, you are a descendant from one or more of its members," Morgan replied. "And I know it to be true because my father and I tested you when you and your daughter first moved to Twin Falls, and the test results proved our suspicions of you and your origin."
"Okay, for argument's sake, let's say that you are right, and part of my ancestors were a part of this powerful coven," Katherine began. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Raven members were imbued with the ability to host up to three spirits within themselves without becoming possessed by one," Morgan informed.
"And why in hell would any witch or warlock do something like that?" Katherine demanded to know.
"Any witch or warlock who has the ability to host three spirits within his or herself without becoming possessed and is doing so would be exponentially more powerful than the average witch or warlock. These witches and warlocks would also be powerful prophets."
"Again, for argument's sake, let's say that you are right about everything that you had told me," Katherine began. "How is it that you know more about my ancestors than I do?"
"Like you, my mother-in-law's parents, grandparents and so on, were also from an unbroken procession of nomad witches and warlocks, and she too was a direct descendant from the Raven coven," Morgan began. "So, everything I know about the Raven coven come from my wife's family journals. Anyway, to get back on topic, Gladys—my mother-in-law—was born as a nomad witch, so she had the natural ability to host three spirits within her without becoming possessed. However, since she had joined the Lunar Owl Coven before giving birth to any of her four children, her children have to cast a protection incantation prior to pulling spirits into themselves and then expelling the spirits before the protection incantation wears off…"
"Your wife didn't expel one or more of the spirits in time and had gotten possess by a spirit, didn't she?" Trubel was the one to ask. "That scream and mild earthquake were from her."
Morgan pursed his lips before saying, "Seventeen years ago, Annmarie—my wife—cast the protection incantation on herself and then invited Charlotte Kroger's spirit in. Nineteen years ago, when Charlotte was alive, she was a natural psychic and a moderately powerful witch. About thirty years ago, Charlotte thought that she was going to be elevated to coven leader one day, but that torch had gotten past onto my father instead. Anyway, on Charlotte's deathbed, she received a frightful vision about the destiny of the Lunar Owl Coven, but she passed away before she could fully tell us her vision.
"Gladys and her husband, Charles, were in Germany when Charlotte died, and while the two were on a plane bound for the United States, their plane was hijack by terrorists; however, before the terrorists could fully gain control of the plane, the plane crashed into the sea, and killing everyone onboard. Gladys's death left no one who was safely capable of hosting Charlotte's spirit without risking possession; however, my wife felt as if she could pull it off, and according to the test that my father did on her, she had a fifty-fifty chance of succeeding…"
"As fascinating as your story is, what does that have to do with me and Lucy?" Katherine demanded to know.
"Of all the cities in the world to live in, Katherine, do you know why that you chose Twin Falls, Idaho to move to eighteen years ago?" Morgan asked as if to make a point.
"My parents died two years before my husband and my two sons did, and I felt that Lucy and I needed to leave London and start anew," Katherine began. "As to why I chose Twin Fall to move to… well, the words 'Twin Falls, Idaho, USA' came out of my mouth when I was buying two one-way airline tickets from London for me and Lucy. It felt right though when I said it, so I didn't second guess my sudden impulse to come here."
"Yes, well, your sudden impulse to come here was magically influenced by my father and that was the reason why you didn't second guess that choice to buy those tickets," Morgan informed.
"You or your family didn't know anything about me or Lucy before moving to Twin Falls, so your father couldn't have magically influenced my choice to move here," Katherine countered.
"It's true that my family and I didn't know you or Lucy prior to you two arriving in Twin Falls, but my father did know enough about the descendants of the Raven coven to cast an incantation that would compel nomad witches related to the members of the Raven coven to travel here, and eighteen years ago, my dad did just that," Morgan informed. "You, seven other witches and four warlocks showed up in Twin Falls within three weeks after my dad had cast that incantation. However, you were the only one of the twelve who showed up who could safely host spirits within yourself without becoming possessed."
"I now understand why your father badgered me on joining your coven," Katherine replied. "But regardless of if I had known then what I know now, my answer would have been the same."
"Yes, and seventeen years ago, that was the reason why Annmarie did what she did—without anyone's knowledge of her plans—and invited Charlotte's spirit in," Morgan replied. "As far as we all knew, Annmarie did everything right, but when it came time to expel Charlotte's spirit, Charlotte's spirit had found a place within Annmarie to hide in. For years, we all thought that Annmarie had successfully expelled Charlotte's spirit, but within seven years after Annmarie had invited her in and wrongfully assumed that she had successfully expelled her, Charlotte started to exercise control over Annmarie's body. At first it was when Annmarie slept, but then Charlotte's control over Annmarie's body grew to when Annmarie wasn't asleep. My father attempted to exorcise Charlotte's spirit from Annmarie, but something went wrong during the exorcism and my father was killed. I then inherited the position of coven leader…"
"And it was then that the badgering for me to join your coven had increased," Katherine added.
"The only guaranteed way to get Charlotte's spirit out of Annmarie is for you to draw her spirit into yourself and then expel her," Morgan replied. "And I'm not going to apologize for trying to bring in the only one person who could help."
"Why didn't you just tell Katherine the situation, so Katherine could come in, do what needed to be done and leave?" Alysa asked.
"The six supreme covens and most of the smaller covens, as well, don't bring in outsiders to handle coven affairs," Katherine was the one to answer. "Plus, if I was part of Morgan's coven, all Morgan has to do is order me to draw Charlotte's spirit into myself and I would be magically bound to obey."
"Morgan, it seems that if you want Katherine's help and cooperation, you will have to make an exception about not wanting to bring in outside help," Diana said while echoing Elizabeth's thought.
Morgan appeared to have been deliberating on what to do, and when Morgan didn't reply to what Diana had said, Trubel pointed out, "Seventeen years is a long time for Annmarie to be possessed by Charlotte's spirit. Are you sure that Annmarie's spirit is even still in there?"
"Over the years, we—the coven members—have cast protective incantations on Annmarie in order to keep her spirit intact and to help her to maintain control of her body; however, the effectiveness of the incantations is waning, and it won't be long now before our protective incantations won't protect her anymore," Morgan informed.
"Morgan, I can sense that you truly believe that I can pull Charlotte's spirit into myself without me becoming possess by her, and I'm willing to trust that you are right," Katherine began. "So, I'm willing to volunteer my services, but I will not join your coven."
Morgan considered his options for a few seconds longer before taking a breath and saying, "You knew nothing of your hidden ability, and teaching it to you and then letting you walk out with that knowledge would be a mistake…"
"If you want Katherine's help then you have no other options," Trubel spouted out.
Scarlett held up her hand for everyone to wait a moment while saying, "I believe that there is an option that will satisfy both Morgan and Katherine."
"And what is that?" Morgan and Katherine asked.
"I know of a potion that prevents new memories from forming," Scarlett shared. "And Morgan does have all the ingredients for it. I could mix it within minutes and Katherine would drink it."
"What would be the side effects to such potion?" Katherine quickly asked.
"There are no side effects once the potion wear's off," Scarlett replied.
By now, Elizabeth was aware that Diana could hear her thoughts, and she told her to say, "I'm familiar with the potion, Katherine. It's called a Memory Abyss potion, and it's true that there are no lasting side effects once the potion wears off; however, while you are under the influence of the potion, you will suffer complete amnesia, and you will not retain any new memories for more than ninety minutes. And this potion effects could last up to six hours, which means you will have to be told four times of who you are. And of course, you could go to sleep once this is done and sleep through the effects of the potion."
Katherine pursed her lips before looking towards her daughter and saying, "Lucy, I'm surprise that you're not giving us your input on this."
"She's incapable of speaking at the moment," Morgan replied.
"And why is she incapable of speaking?" Katherine quickly demanded to know.
Morgan took a breath before saying, "Vanessa had gotten tired of her as she attempted to overpower Vanessa and her sisters with magic, so Vanessa forced her to drink another potion—a potion that rendered Lucy unable to speak or think clearly. In fact, Lucy can see us and hear us clearly, but for the next few hours, she won't be able to comprehend what she sees or hears."
"I'm familiar with that potion as well," Diana replied while echoing Elizabeth. "It's called a Mind Scrambler, and it also has a six-hour duration time, and there are no lasting side effects either once that potion wears off."
"Anyway," Morgan uttered as if to get everyone back on topic. "Katherine, I'm willing to go with Scarlett's suggestion if you are, and once Charlotte's spirit is out of my wife's body and cast from this plane, I'm willing to let you and Lucy to walk out of here."
"If I do this, Morgan, you, your family and your coven are to leave me and my family alone," Katherine added.
Morgan pursed his lips before saying, "Lucy began babbling after she was forced to drink the Mind Scrambler potion…"
"Babbling for a couple of minutes before falling mute is one of the side effects of the potion," Vanessa added. "I think it's the person's mind attempting to cling onto importance facts before the person loses his or her ability to comprehend the world around him or her."
Mogan glanced at Vanessa during the slight interruption before he continued with, "Anyway, during Lucy's babble, I learned that Lucy is an active member of the Earth Spirit Coven. So, after she leaves here and her brain function returns to normal, I want her out of Twin Falls and its surrounding cities for at least fifty miles."
"I will pass on your demands to her once this is over with," Katherine earnestly replied. "Anyway, Scarlett, go mix up that Memory Abyss potion."
"I'll be back in a jiffy," Scarlett replied before walking away.
"Does anyone have a cellphone that I can borrow?" Katherine asked as Scarlett was walking away.
"Why?" Morgan asked.
"I'm going to make a video of myself and once I lose my memories, you are going to have to get me to watch that video," Katherine explained. "And my phone is outside at the vehicles."
"I have your daughter's phone," Morgan replied before pulling out the phone. "Here."
"Thank you," Katherine politely replied as she took the phone.
"Katherine, so the ones outside won't get concern for our safety and do something foolish, we should call and tell them that we are good in here, but it might be an hour or so before we can leave," Alysa suggested.
Katherine held up the phone while telling Morgan, "Alysa has a point. They might get antsy if I don't call and tell them something."
Morgan nodded before saying, "Fine, but keep it brief and vague."
Katherine nodded before placing her call to Marcus.
When Marcus answered, Katherine told him, "It's me, honey. I can't go in details right now; however, Morgan and I have reached an understanding. He will allow Lucy and me to walk out freely, but before we do so, I agreed to help him with something."
"What will you be helping him out with?" Marcus asked.
"I can't go into details right now; however, it could take up to two hours to do," Katherine informed. "So, when you don't see us for a couple of hours, don't panic."
"I'll try not to," Marcus replied. "I love you."
"I love you too," Katherine replied. "Bye."
"Bye," Marcus replied before ending the call.
After ending her call with Marcus, Katherine took the time to make two videos of herself. The first video was what she was to watch prior to pulling Charlotte's spirit out of Annmarie by inviting Charlotte into herself and then casting her out. She was to watch the second video once Charlotte's spirit was no longer possessing anyone and her memories were once again gone.
While Katherine was in the middle of making her two videos, the two coven members who Diana had put to sleep had sluggishly woken up. As soon as the two were back on their feet, Morgan explained the situation to them.
Once Katherine was done with making her two videos and it turned quiet, Diana—while echoing Elizabeth's words—asked Morgan, "Say, what was the frightful vision that Charlotte had before dying? Or were you not able to find out?"
"Oh, we found out, and for the most part, the frightful vision was adverted; however, the threat to my coven still lingers, which was another reason why I had wanted Katherine to join my coven," Morgan replied.
"This threat that lingers might be a mutual threat to us all," Katherine pointed out. "So, depending on what it is, I might be able to join you in the fight as an ally, but not as a subordinate."
Morgan pursed his lips before saying, "Dwight Lyndall—the man who owns several bars and exotic dance clubs in and around Twin Falls."
"I'm familiar with Dwight Lyndall," Katherine informed. "And he's a thorn in several people's side."
"He's more than a thorn in the side for me and for my coven members," Morgan replied. "I don't know who he had hired to burn down buildings in Twin Falls, but he had hired someone. Over the past nine months, a skilled arsonist has successfully burned down most every building that my coven members own. Dwight even gives us notice of when and where the next building will be torched, and still we can't identify the arsonist, let alone stop him… or her."
"Okay, I know about the arson fires, and I recently learned that Dwight was responsible for them," Katherine began. "But what I didn't know though is that all those buildings were owned by your coven members. So, here's my question, why is Dwight targeting buildings belonging to your coven members?"
"Even though the Lunar Owl Coven has been in Twin Falls for over ninety years, Dwight wants us gone from Twin Falls, so those arson fires are Dwight's attempt to drive us out," Morgan replied. "But we aren't going anywhere. Now that you know the threat against the Lunar Owl Coven, are you still willing to ally yourself with us?"
"Sure, I'm willing to help out where I can." Katherine gestured towards the appropriate person as she continued to say, "In fact, Trubel, Alysa and Lucy attempted to neutralize Dwight yesterday, but their attempt fell short."
Morgan gestured between Trubel, Alysa and Lucy while asking, "These three attempted to kill Dwight?"
"We attempted to neutralize him; not kill him," Trubel corrected.
"And the only reason why we failed was because Dwight gave the tainted toad that we had given him to his nephew," Alysa added. "His nephew ate the toad; not him."
"Hold up," Morgan quickly requested. "I'm a bit lost. What does a tainted toad have to do with anything? And why would a Grimm attempt to neutralize a man who owns bars and dance clubs?"
Katherine slightly chuckled before rhetorically asking, "You have no idea that Dwight Lyndall is Wesen, do you?"
"I didn't, and to be honest, I was only introduced to the Wesen world within the last nine months," Morgan informed. "And since you seemed to know things about Dwight that I don't know, please enlighten me."
"Dwight is a Ziegevolk," Katherine informed.
"He's a toad eating Ziegevolk," Trubel corrected.
"I'm not familiar with a Ziegevolk or a toad eating Ziegevolk," Morgan replied. "Vanessa, do you or your sisters know anything about them?"
Vanessa and Isabelle shook their heads just before Vanessa replied, "The Tennessee town that we're from is quite small and isolated, so the only Wesen we are familiar with are Eisbiber, Fuchsbau, Coyotl, Reinigen, Mauzhertz and Willahara."
"You forgot Klaustreich," Isabelle informed.
"Right," Vanessa replied while gesturing towards Isabelle. "We had encountered a Klaustreich as well." She gestured towards Alysa as she continued to say, "And now, whatever she is and a Grimm."
"I'm a Blutbad," Alysa supplied.
"Good to know," Vanessa replied.
"So, what is the info on a Ziegevolk?" Morgan quickly asked.
Trubel took a breath before sharing, "A Ziegevolks are goat-like Wesen, and they produce a pheromone through their sweat gland. Now, if the Ziegevolk hasn't eaten a toad in several hours, that pheromone is weak and not very potent, so it would take skin-to-skin contact—like a handshake or another physical touch of some kind—for a victim to become effected…"
"And what are the effects for the victim?" Morgan asked.
"A mild and temporary infatuation towards the Ziegevolk," Trubel replied. "However, if a Ziegevolk would consume a live toad, the pheromone that gets produced will be a lot stronger and a lot more potent, so skin-to-skin contact between the Ziegevolk and his or her victims is no longer necessary, and the effects for the victims at that point will be more intense than a mild infatuation. In fact, without realizing why or how—and not really caring why or how—everyone within ten feet of the Ziegevolk will become mentally and emotionally enslaved by the Ziegevolk."
"That explains why my father's spies would defect and become a part of Dwight's group," Morgan replied. "Anyway, what was the tainted toad supposed to have done."
"The toad was injected with a concoction before it was given to Dwight, and if Dwight would have consumed the toad, he would have temporarily lost his ability to produce the pheromone that he needs to mentally and emotionally enslave people," Trubel replied. "And there's actually a recipe that would have permanently rendered him harmless, but I was missing a key ingredient for that concoction."
"And what is the key ingredient?" Moran asked.
"Dwight's sweat," Trubel replied as Scarlett reentered the room with a flask of a greenish looking liquid. "Without his sweat, I couldn't have permanently render him harmless."
As Morgan gave an understanding nod, Scarlett announced, "I have the Memory Abyss potion ready, Katherine."
"And I'm ready to take it and get this over with," Katherine replied as she stepped closer to Scarlett.
Scarlett handed Katherine the potion and without hesitation, Katherine drunk it.
The effects of the potion began working immediately, and once Katherine was totally without her memories, Morgan, Trubel and Alysa convinced her to watch the first video.
While watching the video, Katherine learned as to why she had voluntarily given up her memories for a few hours. She was also told or reminded that she was not to join the Lunar Owl Coven.
Once the first video came to an end, Morgan and Katherine left the family room.
In Portland, Adalind was able to disconnect from the group without disturbing Diana or the others as Diana astral projected.
When Nick and Emma saw that Adalind was no longer feeding her magical force to Diana, Adalind updated them on what was happening in Twin Falls. Adalind then attempted to rejoin Diana, Elizabeth, Madilyn and Mitchell, but when she couldn't, she joined Nick and Emma as they watched.
To be continued.
