by Sela Croft
I waved for my men to dismount, and I did also, so I could listen. If there were others around, I’d be able to sense them. Hardly breathing, I focused on my surroundings. Then I was aware of Nicolai; he wasn’t far. Soon I should be able to communicate telepathically.
I turned to relay my news but didn’t get a word out. In a flash, my men were down. I hadn’t known that Silvain’s soldiers could cloak their presence. He must have trained a select few with aptitude for such witchcraft.
A prick at my neck was all I remembered before blackness.
I awoke, uncertain of where I was. I looked at the heavy moss on the trees, then recalled my capture. Disappointment swamped me. How could I find Nicolai if I was also trapped? I’d been foolish to underestimate the dark soldiers. Guerilla warfare was their forte.
I was locked in titanium chains. That was bad news. The metal was strong enough to hold me. My men weren’t visible, so I feared the worst. Or possibly, they were detained elsewhere as my captors wished to have me alone. Either way, I couldn’t see a way out of this mess.
Being strong and fast did no good if I was chained to a tree. Otherwise, I seemed unharmed. I dreaded to think what might be in store for me. And worse, what had happened to Nicolai. I’d been his only hope, and I’d made an error in judgment that could cost our lives.
There was no time for self-pity. I had to come up with a solution, and fast. Then there was a ray of hope. Nicolai. He wasn’t far from me. I mentally reached out, then he let me know that he was there. He’d seen them bring me in and was disheartened.
He swore that he’d get me out of this fix. I let him know that I’d come to rescue him, but now I needed rescuing of my own. Nicolai assured me that there were a limited number of the dark soldiers. They were well trained but not great in numbers. We could possibly overcome them.
I’d need to get out of my chains first. I’d have to be clever, and no instant answers came to mind. The soldiers in dark uniforms were at the edge of a clearing, facing the other way.
It appeared they were in a conference. Since I was chained, they had no reason to be concerned. But how could I get free?
Nicolai communicated with me, to let me know all he’d learned since his capture. Silvain’s soldiers weren’t aware of our interchange, since they weren’t telepathic. So far, they hadn’t harmed him. He’d been trying to determine where they planned to take him.
Silvain’s castle was far, but there might be another camp with more soldiers. We’d need to escape before they arrived there. I let Nicolai know that I was prepared to do whatever it took. There were two of us, plus our men, if they were still alive.
We should be able to best the enemy. We just had to figure out how. I ached to be with Nicolai, but I was sure the fighters would keep us separated. They’d do what they could to keep us apart—so our strength was divided—until they had transported us to our destination.
I’d achieved the first part of my plan, which was to find Nicolai. It was the second part—rescuing him—that was going to be a problem. I strained against the chains that bound me, but they were tight. I had to come up with a way to escape.
Chapter 17 – Calina
While I agonized over my predicament, two of the Dark Fighters came over. Each was a strong vampire dressed in solid black. I didn’t need my talent for perceiving events before they happened to realize they meant harm.
Both had savage expressions. One loomed over me. He had a shaved head and a scar on his skull. That seemed to set the tone for his attitude. His lips furled then his fangs extended. My heart pounded, as I struggled to think of a defense against his impending brutality.
“Who are you?” he growled.
That was handy information. If they knew that I was Draven’s sister, the peril I was in would increase dramatically. But they were clueless. I glared at the ugly fighter.
“I asked you a question,” he said, then kicked my legs.
It was going to take more than that for me to reveal information to this beast.
The one behind him had black eyes that matched his stringy hair. He hissed then took a step closer. If they thought I’d be easily intimidated, they were mistaken. The worst had already happened when they’d chained me to a tree and disabled me.
Without my usual skills accessible to me, I resorted to another technique. “Who are you? And I demand to know where you are taking me!”
If I appeared weak, they would take advantage. I had to hold them off by attacking back, verbally if not physically.
The bald one smirked. “Don’t get smart with me. You’re at our mercy.”
I huffed. “So you think.” I rolled my eyes. “You’ve messed with the wrong woman…vampire. My rescue team is coming, and I swear you will draw your last breath.”
They blinked, making me assume they’d believed my bluff. If they didn’t know who I was, they wouldn’t know what rescue party would come after me. Fear of the unknown worked even with the vampire species. I’d made them think, which had thrown them off momentarily.
The fact that I didn’t appear terrorized by their antics was in my favor. My confidence would succeed in shaking theirs. It was a fleeting advantage, but all I had.
The black-eyed one postured before me, then barked, “Do you know the other one we captured?” He watched my expression, but I made sure not to react.
It was better if they didn’t know that Nicolai had a connection to me. Once they became aware of that, they could use it against us.
“You’re dumber than you look,” I said, then sighed. “I’ve been tied to this tree since I met you. How in the world would I know what else you’ve been up to?” I paused. “You give me a lot of credit, though. Maybe I have seen more than you’re aware of.”
I continued to work them, doing my best to get the upper hand and place doubts in their minds. It was a stalling tactic at best but was doing the trick. That was…until the bald one grabbed my hair and stared daggers at me.
I spat in his face.
He yanked my head back and bared his fangs, making me cringe. “You’re a bitch, you know that? I’m going to have a taste of you before we deliver you to the lieutenant.” His black eyes darkened with anticipation.
I steeled myself to be strong. I had plenty of blood in my veins, so unless he drank all of it, I’d survive. It was a disgusting thought that his lips were about to touch my neck. I pulled away from him, but his buddy grabbed my chin.
Then the dark sky lit up like the sun had come out. Bright light burned down onto the forest, causing my captors to cover their eyes. Like dogs in a thunderstorm, they freaked out and scurried about. Confusion set in as they twirled about in amazement, since it wasn’t obvious what had caused the startling event.
Lightning bolts rained down from the sky, searing limbs from trees, light flashing everywhere I looked. I had to squint to keep from being blinded. It was a dramatic show, meant to get attention. Brilliant tactic. It was Mirela’s handiwork. She was sending a message I understood. We’re on our way.
Her skill at manipulating weather was impressive. The vampires acted like god had descended upon them. They ran in circles, trying to determine the source of the disturbance. It was not the type of storm expected in the rainforest.
The lightning sliced through the air like razors, but there was no heavy rain or dark clouds. The blinding flashes hit the ground or burst into flames after striking trees. To the fighters, it had to be an omen, a message sent from above. Yet they didn’t know what to make of it. I marveled at their puzzled expressions and waited for what was next.
I reached out to Nicolai to let him know what the fuss was all about. He’d already figured it out. He knew of Mirela’s rare talents. I had to sit tight until rescue came. Still chained to a tree, I had little choice. Soon, I told Nicolai. And he assured me he knew that, then replied: These vampires are going to regret taking us.
The lightning abated, but it appeared that Mirela wasn’t finished. Hail rained down from the cloudless
sky, pounding on the vampires. She was having entirely too much fun. I smiled inside yet put on a worried expression for my captors. I couldn’t reveal what I knew, as it would give them relief from the trauma.
The minutes ticked by, while the fighters ran for cover under the thick trees, trying to avoid hail that was the size of quarters. Mirela went all out; I had to give her credit for that. She was one sorceress that didn’t appreciate her friends being held captive. I’d have to thank her the first chance I got.
It was all very encouraging, but it wasn’t over yet. The fighters weren’t going to turn us over just because of some weather. Draven better have more planned if he intended to defeat our captors.
Then all hell broke loose. Guardians swarmed into camp, going for the throats of the fighters, who had been distracted by the lightning. War cries echoed through the trees, and the fighters did their best to hold back their attackers.
There was a rustle behind me, and I turned to see Spence. “Relax. I’ll pick this padlock and have you out of these chains in a jiffy.” What a relief; I’d be able to fight.
The padlock popped then the chains fell away. Spence helped me up. “Are you injured?”
“Only my pride.” Then I asked the important thing: “Nicolai?”
“He’s free; I got to him first,” Spence said, then handed me weapons. I was proficient with the whip and the sword, so stepped into the fray to help.
It was a melee. Blood was everywhere. Guardians snapped whips with tips of light to incapacitate the enemy before ripping out their throats. I spotted my men, actively engaged in the fight, and was glad to see that they were alive.
Nicolai was in the distance, fighting alongside Draven. My spirits lifted at seeing him free, but I had no time to dwell on that. Groups of vampires struggled with each other. There had been more dark ones than I’d been aware of. Fortunately, Draven had brought a substantial army faction with him.
A fighter leapt at me, but I plunged the sword into his belly, then yanked it back to decapitate him. That head rolled, so I went after another. It was war, so no time for sentimentality. The torture that had awaited me in their hands would have been less merciless than the quick deaths I was dealing out.
Guardians weren’t coming through the fight unscathed. I saw a few of them drop yet remained focused—lest I be next. Moans rang out, and blood spewed, yet the fighting continued. I wasn’t foolhardy enough to get swept into the middle of the bloodbath.
I hung to the edges of the action, staying safe and fending off any attackers. I assumed that Mirela was doing the same, although I couldn’t see her. I was glad that Draven had coached her in the use of weapons, as well as her vampire strengths. It didn’t pay to be in the middle of a war without vital skills.
It felt good to move, to have my powers again. My arms were a bit stiff from being chained so long, but I didn’t let that stop me. My blood pumped hard, and I breathed in deep gasps as I parried one enemy after the other.
The soldiers went for instant decapitation with razor-sharp swords, or ripped out the throat of an enemy so he could be dealt with later. I was satisfied to be on the defensive, as I wasn’t as well trained as the aggressors. I could protect myself, and that was the point.
I could see that the number of enemy fighters was thinning out, but the battle wasn’t over. A few of the dark ones slipped away, retreating to avoid death. Then a dark soldier cracked his whip at my head, missing by a fraction of an inch. The light blazed and temporarily blinded me. Before I could recover, the whip struck again. I’d dodged just in time to avoid being caught around the neck.
But the whip lashed into my abdomen, and I cried out. As I fell to the ground, I saw Mirela, her green eyes flashing daggers at my attacker. She came out of nowhere and lashed a whip around the vampire’s neck. Then a Guardian soldier, seeing what was transpiring, carved the vampire’s head from his shoulders.
Mirela raced over to me, then dragged me to safety. Behind the cover of thick trees, she leaned me against a rock. “Calina…are you okay? That looked bad.”
I was disappointed to be a casualty, as I preferred to be a fighter, not a burden. But it was too late for regrets. I should have been paying more attention.
“It hurts,” I said. “The light burned here.” I placed my hand on my abdomen.
Mirela’s eyes were filled with concern. “Oh, no…that was cruel.” She frowned. “Will it heal?”
“Yes, I heal fast like the rest of us. But…”
“You’re worried?”
I nodded. “The light struck right here.” I placed my finger over my womb. “Vampires heal, yet…”
“Oh, god,” Mirela said.
My heart felt as though a fist squeezed it. “It might have done permanent damage.” I choked up. “It would affect my ability to bear children.” As a vampire, I could heal from injury, with one exception. Like other females of our race, permanent internal damage could be caused that would prevent pregnancy.
I refused to cry—not then, in the middle of battle. Yet emotional agony gripped me. If I had been damaged, and couldn’t have the family I wanted so badly…
“We will get you the best medical care,” Mirela said. “You are strong; you can’t lose faith.”
I knew that she was trying to make me feel better, and that she believed what she was saying. Mirela was an optimist, whereas life had taught me to be cynical. I had to face that the worst might result, that I’d have to tell Nicolai that our dreams wouldn’t come to pass.
But I wouldn’t do that until I knew for sure. There was a chance I’d avoided that horrible consequence.
The roar of battle had quieted. Mirela and I peered through the trees. A few isolated skirmishes were ongoing, but most had ended. My first glance assured me that the Guardians had won, but not without casualties.
I’d begun to heal already, with no apparent disability. I could move normally, so brushed aside any discomfort. Mirela had saved me. In that split second, she’d incapacitated my attacker.
“You came along just in time,” I said. “You saved my life.”
Mirela nodded. “That was close.” Then she smiled. “By the way, did you enjoy my light show?”
I laughed. “You were awesome. Those vampires couldn’t figure out what hit them.”
“I’ve been practicing,” Mirela said, then turned toward our soldiers. “I see Draven and Nicolai. Let’s go.”
The soldiers were regrouping, cleaning up the mess, and preparing to leave. Nicolai looked up and saw me. He strode over and lifted me into his arms. I hugged him tight and pressed my cheek against his solid chest. “You had me really worried,” I said.
“You should have gotten word to Draven. I didn’t intend for you to put yourself in danger.”
The thought of my injury came to mind, but I pushed it from my consciousness. There would be a better time to tell Nicolai. “I wouldn’t sit at the castle, waiting for you to be rescued…you know that.”
“I know you well, darling.” Nicolai squeezed me against him again. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Draven and Mirela approached.
“You got here pretty fast,” I said.
“As luck would have it, we weren’t far away,” Draven said. “I’ve delayed my plans. Until I get you back to the castle, I’m not leaving.”
“I would say that I don’t need protection.” I smiled. “But clearly I do.”
“I don’t want to think what would have happened if you’d been delayed in rescuing us,” Nicolai said.
“What is all of this about?” Draven said. “What are you doing lurking in the fighters’ territory?”
Nicolai shrugged. “The usual…gaining intelligence. Which brings me to an important item: the message I intercepted.”
“Ah, that will be valuable,” Draven said. “Do you have it with you?”
“Not at this moment,” Nicolai said. “But we can pick it up on the way back. I sensed that we were being followed, so I hid the document in a tree
trunk.”
Draven laughed. “Are we spies now, hiding documents in tree trunks and beneath park benches?”
“It’s the best I could think of on short notice.” Nicolai waved his hand. “It’s not far. I can show you.”
Draven surveyed the damage. “We’ve wiped out Silvain’s men, or those who still breathe will be gone before we leave. My troops are taking care of that.” He took a breath. “The dark leader will be incensed. He prides himself on his guerilla tactics. He won’t take kindly to being outdone.”
“I saw some of his troops flee, so I’m sure they raced back to the castle,” I said. “They will report to Silvain, and he’ll be on our tail as soon as he can gather his forces.”
“Yes,” Draven said. “We must go.” He took Mirela’s hand. “Let’s get mounted up, and I’ll go with you to that hiding place,” he said to Nicolai.
Quin was within hearing. “I’ll wrap things up here,” he said. “Then we’ll follow.”
The horses were tethered just beyond the battle scene. I mounted a spare horse, aware that it had belonged to one of our soldiers who no longer had need of it. It saddened me to think of our casualties, but that was a price of war that couldn’t be avoided.
I rode next to Nicolai, and he guided us to a patch of trees off the road. He went to one covered with thick moss, then leaned over to retrieve a document. He reached into the tree, digging his hand into the knothole, and grabbed the paper.
“I’ll turn this over to my commander,” Nicolai said.
“Let’s get you back swiftly, then.” Draven headed toward home.
It was over for now. A battle had been fought and won, but there would be more. Nicolai would venture behind enemy lines, and the Dark Fighters would pick us off every chance they got. Draven’s men had fought back, but it was a minor win in the scheme of things.
I’d done the right thing by going after Nicolai. I’d made the right choice…but at what cost? It was possible that I’d ruined my chance to have children. It would be difficult to tell Nicolai, if it came to that. Family was what we fought for.