The vampire kingdom is a dark, damp, and cold place as Willow expected. She scrunched her nose as her foot landed on another muddy puddle, slowly ruining her sneakers.
The vampire kingdom is located between the werewolf and fae kingdom. Hence, it is colder than fae and damper than werewolf one where cold is a constant companion.
"I hate this place," Willow muttered under her breath. Fae likes sunshine and autumn. The dewy, fresh smell of the leaves, the scents that a flower emits while blooming, the warm sun rays on the skin, everything is wonderful. Which is not the case with this kingdom.
Willow quickly ducked behind the tree before they could look at her. She unzipped her hoodie and took out the ring she always carries. It is a special ring given by Brenda to every member of her team. This ring can conceal the nature of the wearer. In other words, it hides the smell and aura of the wearer. She swiftly wore the ring on the forefinger of her left hand. After taking a few deep breaths to calm her heartbeat, she made the vine of the tree grow longer. Holding the
"Did all the vampires in this kingdom go to the same school?" Willow drawled, hiding the rising panic inside her behind sarcasm. "What did you say, bitch?" The vampire advanced, trying to corner her with each step. Willow checked the warehouse behind the vampire as if his presence doesn't concern her. Only one. Good. She can use her power but overuse may leave her defenseless later when she may need it more. She doesn't know who else found out about her. Even now, someone could be approaching the warehouse or already heard this vampire and might be waiting for her if this vampire fails. She couldn't risk it. Decision made, Willow completely dropped to the floor and swiped her right leg tackling the vampire to the ground before he could bat an eyelash. But the vampire is fast. He swiftly stood up and grinned, licking his fangs. "You want to play, doll? Let's play," the vampire made a rude gesture clutching his crotch. Willow wri
If she has to do it, she must do it right. Willow closed the journal and put it back in her bag. Her hands accidentally brushed the red file that Guild's head gave to her. She backed her hand as if it had been burned. The red file laid there at the bottom of her bag, taunting her to open. Without looking at it, she closed the bag and dialed the phone number Reagan. She refuses to call the Guild's head. If she wants the details, she can ask Reagan. And she would bet her last penny that Reagan would make her sweat before indulging her. Good. That old crone deserved it. "Reagan, we have a situation," Willow said glumly in the form of a greeting. Reagan, sensing the seriousness, kept her mouth shut. Willow relayed what she saw in those warehouses to Reagan. Reagan for her part kept quiet and didn't ask questions. After she filled her in, Reagan said, "this is more serious than we thought. I don't think you should be handling this alone. Shit Willo
Once she put down the phone, Willow started adding to the list on her journal.She needs to find who is behind this- the head honcho. From the groups of mercenaries, she is looking at a supernatural being who has lots of money at his/her disposal. But then, all vampires are rich. Could it be a member of the Elite council?There is a motive- Coveting throne. If the king can be shown as useless to the people, then it would become easy for the member to dethrone him.But why would they need the blood of other supernaturals? What about the mage? If it's a member of the Elite council, then it would be inner politics. Why drag other supernaturals?All this guesswork is getting her nowhere. She needs proof. Solid evidence leading somewhere.Rescue all of them at once. Even if she leaves one of them behind, the mercenaries will alert the head hydra making it impossible to rescue again.What's the deal with the king? Pe
Their discussion is interrupted when the security guard brings her a box. Willow would have checked if not for the person before her. His presence is intimidating the hell out of her.She carefully tucked it in her bag and pondered whether she should inform him of the situation or not.His presence has thrown her off-loop. Should she tell him? What happens if he is in league with them?Willow bit her lip in indecision. He could ruin everything she has achieved so far. He could kill those captives. But then, if he has to kill some supernaturals he could have already done that. With his power, he doesn't need minions or this charade of kidnapping.But if he is not in the league with them, then she could use some help. Deciding it's worth a gamble, Willow faced him and took a long breath."What is it, fae?" He asked, noting her jutted chin as if she had come to a decision."Do you know why I need this?" She asked, waving her bag."I don'
After finding the right question, it was not long before the vampire cracked under Willow's fists."There are five... five places," the vampire said in between breaths.Willow sucked her breath in shock. She has guessed at least 3 breeding houses. But five... five means she is missing two places. Two places where there could be 200 more hungry captives."Where? Tell me where they are?" Willow shouted, losing her patience.The vampire uttered the addresses before losing consciousness.Willow dropped her grip from the vampire's shirt she unintentionally grabbed during the interrogation.She has placed. But she needs time. When to attack... something big is going to happen in the coming days... but what?She is missing something. Willow paced the room as she thought hard. What's going to happen in the coming days?She gripped her hair in frustration."Fuck! Fuck! You bastard, tell me what the big event is!" Willow shouted at the top of her lungs. Alas, th
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 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