They don't have to wait long. Within seconds, the vehicles started driving through the long, narrow road.However, they didn't go much further as the first vehicle halted suddenly due to the obstacle that she deliberately placed. It's a small labyrinth of vines that are so tangled, that it will take them at least 5 minutes to cut through. Enough to spring their attack. The remaining vehicles followed suit.Once all the vehicles were within our radius, a vampire from our team closed the exit a mile from here, trapping the vehicles between us.There are so many vehicles... I lost count once the mercenaries started coming out of the vehicles.We waited until all of them or most of them were out of the vehicles. My eyes scanned them. They are easily over a hundred. A hundred of them control thousands of captives.They are smart, she contemplated as they scanned the premises, sensing a trap. As they should. Tension is high in the air. Even the wind halt
Willow looked at the ancient building looming before her. There is nothing special about it. In fact, it is creepy and forlorn, perfectly suited to keep the wanderers away. The building screams of abandoned forgotten stories. It's more like a hollow castle... just a huge, lifeless cluster of rocks. Creepy. The silence encircling it enhanced the tension. Anticipation hung hugely in the air. Without any further ado, Willow put her hand on the nearest tree. She can't see anything or rather not see in the right direction. Sometimes it happens. Trees don't have a timeline, they are eternal. It's hard to distinguish the stories it shows and when it happened. Sometimes the imprint is so strong that they are noted by each bark and leaf. And other times it shows fleeting incidents of no value. The strong imprint doesn't mean it has to be a recent event. That's the negative side of her powers. She has to go blindly sometimes, especially when she doesn't have ti
Willow didn't think, didn't doubt it. She took the dagger from her left boot, slit her wrist, and placed her hand over the vampire's mouth.She gently cradled his head at her chest, taking his weight as the drops of her blood coated his lips.At first, it didn't look like the vampire was taking it. It's hard to say. Not even his chest is moving. Sweat gathered on her forehead. Restlessness twitched her muscles, reaching into her bones. Why isn't anything happening? Her throat closed around a hard lump. She couldn't fail after coming so far.She gently rubbed his throat, coercing him to swallow as blood dripped from her wrist and trickled from his mouth."Please... please," Willow whispered vehemently not knowing whom she was begging or for what.After a few seconds, his tongue peeked out slowly and swept over his lips, tasting her blood.Exhilarated, Willow shifted her hand nearer to his mouth, pleading with him to take some more without any
The vampire sat on the throne that was specially made for him by his underlings. Rather he made them do it. After all, their duty is to please him.He held a wine glass in his left hand filled with red liquid. Blood. He swirled the glass and took a sip, sighing in contentment. Ahh... He can almost taste the success. Just a few more minutes into the night and he will get what he wants. Tonight, all his desires will come true.A Millenia... he has waited for a Millenia for this day. Patiently, oh so patiently counting each day, each minute, each second for this very moment. He could feel it within grasp. So close that his fingers twitched, wanting to claw and snatch it with his fingers.But he has promised his Mage that she can have her fun. He wouldn't have entertained her thoughts if it didn't profit him.After all, she is his puppet. All he has to do is bestow her with some frivolous words, tempt her with his touch, making her believe that he is in love
Willow opened her eyes carefully, her mind still groggy from the sleep. She feels like she has been sleeping for ages. Her mind is suspended between reality and sleepiness. She turned and her eyes landed on the male sleeping beside her. Still, out of sorts, Willow took her to fill as she scanned him from top to bottom. If anyone could look powerful at the same time vulnerable then it's him. His battered body doesn't hide the regality with which he carries himself. If she doesn't know any better, she would say he is the most powerful vampire she has come across. In one sleep, he has bulked out. Filled those spaces that have been starved by the lack of blood. He still looks rundown but way... way better than the pile of bones she rescued. His aura also took a subtle change. She can't still pinpoint his category- newborn, master, or elite, other than that he is a vampire. She remembered her eyes before everything had gone black; they are the most
Willow bit into the crispy chicken, its juices trailing down her chin. She moaned into the bite as she said, "this is so good." She is two-thirds into her meal when a weight landed unceremoniously on the opposite chair. She didn't have to look from her meal to know who is, but just to curb that small hope within her, she raised her eyes and met with seething honey-brown eyes. "You stabbed me," Lothaire growled. Willow noticed the change of clothes. He wore a leather jacket, black tee, and jeans. "Yet you are still here. Looking almost new. No harm done," Willow shrugged her shoulders as she concentrated on her meal. She really needs to know the recipe. Her mouth salivated as she thought of eating this daily. It's that good. "You stabbed me. Me. I could crush you with my bare hands," Lothaire gritted, rage bubbling inside him. Willow looked at him as if he was a fly she wanted to swat away. "And I could have used a silve
Willow watched as the rogue followed the lazily strolling couple who were unaware of their impending doom. Soon the couple turned to a nearly abandoned street, their steps lazy, unaware of their surroundings. The rogue gave an evil grin as he rubbed his hands in anticipation. Willow was about to step into his path when two vampires met the rogue from another street. Willow stopped in her tracks, her confusion growing while the newly arrived vampires started conversing with the rogue as if they knew him. The couple strolled forward without the knowledge that they could have been murdered that night. Why would a vampire talk with a rogue? What's going on? Thankfully, she is a fair distance away from them to hear her approaching steps. Willow took her silver dagger that was tucked in her boots and scanned the streets for any further surprises. Just as she was thinking of making her presence known, a familiar voice rumbled
"Willow""Not now Bones""Willow, look at me," Lothaire grabbed her arm, turned, and stared down at her."I said not now Bones. We can discuss your caveman tendencies later when I can process what happened without boiling with rage. Now, let me concentrate on making this guy sing," Willow said to his chest, still not meeting his eyes.Lothaire frowned, not liking the fact that she is not meeting his eyes. He touched her chin tentatively with his right hand and raised her face until she met his eyes.After looking into her troubled eyes for few minutes, he nodded and said,"We will talk later""Ya ya... sure," when hell freezes over, Willow muttered, moving her chin and releasing herself from his hold.She is still shocked at how easily he came down and swooped his neck as if he was snapping a twig. She should be scared. She is. At the same time, she can't help but feel hot and bothered.Willow turned away hiding her emot
Willow puked her guts out."Don't laugh, vampire. This is all your fault. I'm not letting you touch me. Ever again," Willow said vehemently before covering her mouth and beelining to the bathroom.It has been 2 months since Lothaire restored his powers and his throne.After the ritual that bound Christopher completely, they returned to the city dragging their feet. They don't speak about their relationship. No words are needed. They both know what they feel for each other, what they are willing to do for each other. It is inevitable.Willow called Azrian, her team leader on the way to the city. She related what the mage said about the she-wolf and a spell.Azrian is shocked and thanks to her for the information. She said it is the proof she needed to help the werewolf king.Lothaire and Willow set into the routine as king and queen as if they were born for it. There were minor hiccups in the kingdom but nothing that can't be ironed out with
Lothaire opened his mouth and uttered his secret, which he never told to a soul."I can manipulate darkness. The dark does my bidding. The shadows are my slaves," he said without even showing a hint of hesitation. He trusts her that much.Willow is blown away imagining the magnitude of his power. No one walking in the dark is safe from him. And now he can walk under the sun too.Willow realized she is looking at the most powerful vampire in this world. Not just a vampire but one of the powerful beings if any. No wonder he is a king."You can turn their own shadow against them""I can do pretty much anything I want""And no one knows it?""I keep it close to the heart but my council senses some of my power. They have to if I need to be a king. Everyone only knows that I kill people with a blink. They don't know how""And only I know how it is done?""Yes""That's heavy Bones. Then how come you got captured in the f
The land soon became crowded as werewolves and vampires came out of the vehicles. The vehicles alone exceeded 40.A chill slid down her spine in apprehension. Willow has no doubt in mind that she is not coming out of this harmless. She is brave, not stupid.She took a few shallow breaths, clamped her back teeth together, straightened her spine as she held a gun in each hand, and faced the enemy staring them straight in the eyes.From her peripheral vision, she couldn't locate the impersonator nor the mage. They must be watching from one of those vehicles. Enjoying the show, no doubt.Some laughed, some snickered looking at her all alone in the field. They jabbed each other with their elbows as if they couldn't believe a woman can stand alone before an army of over 100 hard-core mercenaries.Willow blanked her mind. There is no room for panic, for error. She has to believe in herself. Lothaire is counting on her.With her powers, she made arm
The terrain they stood on was rustic and beautiful. Upon high, Willow saw green and brown mountains folding into the horizon. So beautiful that they will soon see the ugliness of their world.Lothaire and Willow sat still inside the idle truck, both deep in their thoughts.Willow doesn't know what will happen next. Whether the mage will restore him or will the imposter's army catch up to them. They don't know even if an army remains but since he is imposing as a king, anything is possible.She looked at Lothaire next. Her emotions in turmoil. She doesn't know whether she will be alive by tomorrow or not. Whether he will be. It is so final.Willow wet her lips. "Lothaire I-," she tried to tell how important he became in her life, but couldn't."This isn't over Willow. Whatever you have to say, say it after. I won't let anything happen to you. You have to believe me Tinkerbell," Lothaire professed. He is in awe of her strength. Even knowing she has t
Henrietta, the king's mage is antsy. The men she had sent to capture the real king and his aid must have returned by now. But they haven't.It means something is wrong, terribly wrong. Are they too late already? Has he regained his powers?No. If so, then she wouldn't be standing here alive. It means that they are missing something vital about the aid.No matter. She has to capture them both. Just then the vampire enters the room she is locked in."You promised a captive Henrietta. Yet you failed. Tsk... tsk... tsk. That's so bad of you. Now, what shall we do?" He asked, staggering inside the room at a leisurely pace."My... my king, it's just a minor hitch. Nothing more. We will capture them soon""Is that so? Not according to my reports Mage""Wha... what does it say?""That they are going north. Farther from here. Why do you think they are traveling on that route?""I... I...""Let me tell you. Because they are
A snarl left her lips. She then lifted herself, standing straight, her back stiff, uncaring about the wounds that are still read and hurting on her skin. Her eyes wild, her teeth clenched, she looked like an Amazon ready to go into battle.With the daggers in her hands, her feet apart, she made the tree fold back into itself, giving a feet gap for her to go through.Cold air brushed her cheeks, riffling her tangled hair. Their eyes met- his worries and hers filled with hatred.A few seconds passed before Willow asked him with no emotion in her voice,"You come here and mock me that I couldn't kill you. Is that it?""What!! No. Hear me, Willow," Lothaire scoffed, taking a step back for her to pass through.Willow took two steps to the side giving him a wide berth and never showing him her back. When he repeated the same thing, a crack appeared in her mask. Her voice rough displaying her simpering anger she said,"NOO!!! I don't want to
Lothaire's face is a blank mask as he faces her. He thought he had time before revealing his secret. Instead, he got blindsided."Say something." The sound had been pulled into the vacuum. She could hear a faint buzz ringing in her ears, similar to the moment before a volcano erupts."Answer me," Willow whispered. A chill of apprehension slid down her spine.Lothaire remained stoic. A muscle ticking in his jaw. What could he say that doesn't make him sound like a manipulative bastard? Though he is exactly that."Is it the truth? Are you... are you the vampire king?" Her eyes pleaded silently to him to prove her wrong. To make it all go away. She wanted to close her eyes like a child and pretend that everything was fine. Alas, if only it is that simple."Willow. You don't know the half of it," Lothaire tried to take a step. Though explaining himself to others is not in his nature, he tried, for her."Stay where you are. Don't come any closer.
"Lothaire!!!" Willow screamed, his name tearing from her insides for the first time. Fear gripped her. It tasted unknown on her tongue. Its intensity increased when she realized that he would also get captured again."Lothaire!!! Run!!! Run!!!"She screamed even though knowing in some part of her brain that there was nowhere he could go in broad daylight. But her heart is acknowledging it. It is stupidly begging her to make him leave.The metal bit into her skin, burning with such intensity that she might crumble to the floor if not for their harsh grip on her.Willow dug her heels firmly on the ground, resisting their hold on her.She might have lost her power. But she didn't lose her fighting spirit. She won't go down that easily.Willow grabbed the chains with both her hands, her palm burning immediately, the smell of charred skin thick under her nose, and pulled hard with her remaining step.The werewolves didn't expect her to tug
Willow explained to him as she gathered all of her things from the flat and started packing.Lothaire's fists clenched."You are not coming with me," he said after a minute."No way in hell am I leaving you. Get used to it, Bones. Your skinny ass is stuck with me," Willow said stubbornly over her shoulder as she zipped the bag."It's too dangerous, woman. I won't let you," Lothaire grabbed the passing Willow and held her close to his chest. His eyes looking deeply into hers."News flash vampire. You are not my boss. Drug me, bind me, knock me out cold vampire, but you are not getting rid of me. I will still find a way to be with you until this end," Willow said in a husky voice, his proximity doing wonderful things to her body.Lothaire glanced at the way her chin turned upward. Stubborn to the core. He shouldn't take her with him, not after learning about the danger she will be in. However, he can't help himself but steal these precious mom