We rode in relative peace for a while, aside from knowing that a threat could rise again at any moment. As we passed through a clearing, the hairs on my neck did indeed stand up and my unicorn increased speed. Vampires with crazy eyes emerged from behind trees. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that they were actually zombies. They were walking slowly, and there was something eerie about their eyes. Where had Francine found them—from a prison for the mentally insane?
Alrekur pulled out his boomerang weapon and cut the head off of one vampire, killing it instantly. I reached for my wooden arrows, and as I did, I bumped something and felt it fall to the ground, hitting a rock and then shattering.
"Was that the cure?" Alrekur asked, looking irritated.
I looked down at the bloody rock and nodded.
He sighed. "Well, there's nothing we can do about that now. Let's just kill the rest of them."
I shot some arrows, aiming for their hearts. The first vampire that I hit fell to the ground immediately. I reached for more arrows and hit five more directly in the heart, killing them just as easily. Alrekur had beheaded the other three.
"That was too easy," I said. "What gives?" I jumped to the ground and retrieved my six arrows, sure that I would need them later.
"She obviously sent in the weak ones first," he said as I climbed back onto my unicorn. "Probably hoping to throw us off. If she thinks that we're that foolish, she has another thing coming."
"Let's keep going. There are hundreds of miles to go in this direction before the forest ends. Plenty of time for more surprises."
We had barely made it several yards before feeling another vampire presence. Alrekur and I made eye contact, and it was clear that we both felt it. Just as I was pulling out a wooden arrow, Clara ran out from behind us.
"I thought I sensed you," she said.
Alrekur had his weapon aimed right at her.
"Stop!" I screamed. My unicorn halted, skidding a little. "She's on our side."
He narrowed his eyes. "She wasn't at the castle. How do you know you can trust her?"
"She's my cousin. Well, technically not, since my parents are shape-shifting liars. But she's on our side."
"Is he one of the Fyrsturae?" Clara asked.
"I am Alrekur Vidarsson. You are…?"
Clara stared at him. "I can't believe I'm in the presence of a Fyrsturae, and Alrekur, no less. My name's Clara Erikson."
"Are your parents on our side or not, Clara?" he asked.
"Yeah. They're going to fight for the throne and for the Fyrsturae. Though my father does want to have some words with the king. He's not happy, to say the least."
Alrekur laughed. "I'm sure he's not. Do you want to ride with us on one of our unicorns?"
She winked. "I wouldn't mind riding with you. But I'll just run. No need to give the unicorns any extra work."
He shrugged and his unicorn took off. Mine followed suit and Clara started running too, keeping with the unicorns. We went on for a while and then suddenly both unicorns stopped again.
"What's the problem?" Alrekur asked, looking around.
When the hairs on my neck stood up again, I recognized the feeling right away. "It's Francine."
"I didn't see that coming," he said. "I'd have thought she would've wanted to tire us out before facing you."
"Apparently she likes a challenge."
Francine stepped out from behind a tree with several other vampires. One of the vampires was leading someone who had a bag over their head. I could hear a heartbeat.
"What are you doing?" I demanded.
She flashed an evil smile. "I have a proposition for you. We can settle this war before any more lives are lost. It's all so unnecessary, wouldn't you say?"
I glared at her. "Of course it's not necessary! You have no reason to be on the throne. Especially now that my parents have awakened the Fyrsturae. Do you really think you have a chance?"
"You'll have to consider my proposition before asking that."
The sounds of battle could be heard nearby. I could hear screams, thuds, and the clanging of weapons.
"What could you possibly offer me?"
"Lift the cover," Francine ordered.
The vampire holding the human lifted the bag.
"Natalie!"
TWENTY ONE
I jumped to the ground while pulling out my sword to thrust it up to Francine's throat. Three vampires jumped in front of her, blocking me.
"What are you doing with Natalie?" I demanded, looking around one of the vampires. "She has nothing to do with this!"
"Oh, but she does. She's the perfect leverage, wouldn't you agree?"
Looking over at Natalie, I could see the terror in her eyes.
"I won't let anyone harm you. I promise." I turned to Francine. "Let her go!"
"Only in exchange for your stepping down from the throne."
"You think it'll be that easy? That Alrekur will give it up? Or that any of the other Fyrsturae will let you rule the castle? You're nothing but a descendant of one. Get over it so you can walk away with your life."
"Of course I didn't think it would be that easy. That's why there are vampires and werewolves surrounding your home as well. One word from me and the people who raised you will get it."
"You're lying! How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"I've got proof, since I knew you wouldn't believe me even though I did manage to get your sister." A vampire between us stepped aside. Francine handed me a phone and I looked at the picture on the screen. It was definitely my house and there were wolves and people, presumably vampires, all over the front yard.
I glared at her and looked for any sign that she was bluffing. However, the fact that she had brought Natalie made it clear that she was telling the truth and would stop at nothing to get me to give in to her demands.
"Are you willing to step down from power?" she asked, looking smug.
"You know I won't."
She turned to the vampire holding Natalie. "Hurt her."
"No!" I screamed and ran at the vampire, knocking him over before he had time to do anything to my sister. Natalie stumbled, but I reached out and steadied her. I looked into her eyes. "I won't let them hurt you."
"Just get me back home, pl—"
The vampire jumped back up and grabbed her while at the same time, Francine grabbed me. Before I had a chance to respond, Alrekur threw Francine into a tree. She slumped to the ground, but only for a split second. She jumped up again and this time Alrekur pinned her to the tree.
I looked at Clara. Take Natalie to my car and get her somewhere safe. You'll find it at the secure car lot near the edge of the woods on the side with the airport. Check on my parents if you can, but only if you and Natalie can remain safe.
She nodded slightly, staked the vampire she was holding down, and ran with fangs fully extended at the vampire holding Natalie. She bit into his neck and then twisted his head, breaking his neck. He fell to the ground and she pulled out another stake and stabbed him in the heart. The familiar silver liquid oozed out of the wound.
One of Francine's other vampires was headed for Clara, so I ran in his direction, grabbing a stake from my own pocket. I rammed it in his chest as I reached him. He slumped to the ground just as I saw Francine getting up, glaring at me. From the side, I saw her other remaining vampire charging at me.
Alrekur twisted Francine's neck, threw her to the ground and ran at the vampire running at me, shoving him into a tree and biting into his neck. I turned my attention back to Francine, who had already gotten up and readjusted her neck back to its normal position, just before she grabbed my neck. I pushed her arms away. "You'll never reach the castle, much less rule in it," I grunted.
"That's what you think!" she said as she fought to reach for me.
Behind her, I saw Clara pick up Natalie and run out of sight.
Francine let out a horrible sounding yell, reminding me of a war cry I'd heard in a movie once, only this one brought me c
hills. What was she doing?
Suddenly, and not surprisingly, more werewolves than I cared to count came out from the shadows and walked slowly toward us, baring their teeth. Behind them marched countless vampires. I looked all around and the only ones on our side were Alrekur and me. I wished that we'd thought to have a war cry ourselves.
Francine looked at the newcomers. "You go after him," she ordered, pointing to Alrekur, "while I handle the Sonnast myself. I'm going to take her down personally."
Alrekur must have had a battle cry of his own from his ancient days of fighting, because he let out a scream which was equally as bone-chilling as Francine's. I hoped that at least the other Fyrsturae would make their way to us, although everyone else on our side of the war would have been an even better option.
I reached for my sword just as Francine wrapped her fingers around my neck. I managed to get the sword back around to her neck, even with her choking me, but it wasn't enough to do any damage. Three werewolves walked up to us, growling. Behind them were some of the vampires, their sharp teeth glowing in the moonlight. At the edge of my line of sight, I saw Alrekur killing one vampire after another, trying to make it to me. I'd never seen anyone kill so many vampires with such ease.
My unicorn came into my line of sight as well and as we made eye contact, he ran towards us, his horn lowered. He dug his toxin-filled horn into a werewolf. It yelped and then closed it eyes, slumping to the ground. The unicorn made his way to the next one.
As Francine tightened her grip on my neck, I pushed my sword further into hers, breaking the skin. She let out another horrifying yell, let go of me, and unsheathed a sword of her own, holding it up. "I've had many more centuries of practice than you, little girl."
"I'm a Fyrsturae!" I shouted, and swung my sword at her. Her sword met mine with a loud clash. We danced around, swords sparking and clanging.
The growling wolves started leaping at me, but my unicorn stabbed each one as they did. Howls and whimpers filled the air. Two of the beasts were headed my way simultaneously, so I turned away from Francine for a moment and sliced the head off of one while the unicorn got the other. I turned back and swung at Francine, blocking her sword just before it cut my neck.
I could see Alrekur still killing vampires at an unbelievable rate, but we were still far outnumbered. Where was everyone else? Why hadn't we gone into the woods with a larger group?
Francine's sword sliced my arm and I let out a yell. It hurt worse than a cut should have, and it didn't begin to heal as I would have expected.
"Did you put something on your sword?" I demanded. The pain was so intense that I just wanted to rest and succumb to it, but that was not an option.
She smirked at me. "Only some werewolf venom."
Forgetting my pain for a moment, I charged at her, baring my teeth. When I reached her, I hit her with such force that we both fell to the ground. I opened my mouth wider to rip into her skin.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said. "I've spent the last couple of years building up a tolerance to werewolf venom. I drank some before we found you. It's running throughout my system, and you already have a cut that's going to weaken you in a matter of minutes. You could drink your friend's blood to start the healing process, but he looks a little occupied at the moment."
I looked over at Alrekur, who was fighting off four vampires. The two unicorns were charging at werewolves. I didn't know whether to believe Francine or not. She was definitely crazy enough to build up a tolerance to werewolf venom. It was actually smart, since she was working with and leading a group of werewolves that wanted to eradicate vampires from the earth. I had no other choice except to believe her.
"Why would you warn me?" I demanded, digging my nails into the flesh on her neck.
"I'd rather have you slowly weakening from your wound so that I have the pleasure of watching you suffer as I kill you. It would be no fun if you died too quickly."
I narrowed my eyes, tightening my grip, and digging even further into her skin.
A sound from behind me caught my attention and I looked back. I could see Mattie, Brooke, Karlie, Hailey, and several other vampires that I recognized walking our way. The werewolves jumped toward them, snapping. Mattie and the others each pulled out various weapons and began fighting back. I had to turn my attention back to Francine as I felt her reaching for her venom-laced sword. I could hear the sounds of battle all around me as I grabbed her hair and slammed her head into the ground. Her head made a horrific sound as it hit a rock, which only angered her.
She jumped up, yanking me with her. She grabbed my shoulders and threw me into a tree. I hit my head and saw double for a moment. I shook my head to clear it, but by then she was in my face. Where had my sword gone? I looked around, only to see it on the ground, too far away to reach.
I reached for her, trying to decide my best course of action, since I could either bite her or fight with my sword at the moment. I grabbed her around the shoulders and threw her to ground again. She grabbed me back and we rolled around on the forest floor. She tried to bite me and I put my hands around her chin, shoving her head back as far away from me as possible. I couldn't risk her bite being filled with werewolf venom. I could already feel a horrible pain coming from the cut.
Francine grabbed my arms and flipped me over. She pinned my hands next to my head as she sat on my torso. "I'd like to see you get out of this."
There wasn't any way that I was going to let her win. I put the pain from the cut out of my mind and focused all of my attention on my legs. I pulled them up and managed to wrap them around her while I pulled my hands from her grasp. I flipped her off of me and jumped to my feet before she grabbed me again.
Brooke appeared in front of me from out of nowhere. She grabbed Francine and shoved her into a tree, biting deep into her neck.
"No!" I yelled. I reached for my one stake made of Populus Tremola wood. I found it easily, as its texture was far smoother than the other ones. I ran at Francine, digging it as far into her heart as possible, knocking Brooke out of the way at the same time.
Her eyes grew wide and then began to cloud over as the silver ooze poured from her wound. I wasn't about to take any chances—she could have anything up her sleeve—so I jammed my hand into her chest and ripped her heart out, throwing it on the ground. It felt like acid, and the blood that remained on my hand and arm burned at my skin. Her body slumped to the ground and I started wiping the blood off onto my clothes. My skin wasn't healing because of the werewolf venom.
I looked at Brooke. She was still on the ground, now gagging.
"What's wrong with me?" she asked, between gasps.
"She laced her blood with werewolf venom. We need to get the some of the cure!" I looked around, seeing that Mattie and Alrekur were busy fighting. I bit into my wrist and put the wound in front of Brooke's mouth. "Drink it. Blood from a royal is half the cure. I'm a Fyrsturae so it's even more powerful. Then we need to find someone who's carrying werewolf blood, or find one on our side to give us their blood."
Brooke looked at me, unsure if she should take my blood. She let out a yell of pain.
"Hurry up! Drink it!" I shoved my bloody wrist directly to onto her mouth and she started drinking.
"What are you doing?" Alrekur demanded, suddenly next to us.
"We both need the werewolf cure."
Alrekur swore and yanked my arm out of her mouth. "You can't give her your blood if you're infected with the venom!"
"I can't?" I asked. "I hadn't thought of that."
"No! You'll make her worse. We've only got the one vile of werewolf blood and I can't have two of you drink from my blood. It'll weaken me too much. Alexis, you take the cure and we'll find help for her."
"Are you crazy?" I yelled. "Look at her! She's about to pass out. At least give her half of the cure! If we both have half, at least we'll begin the healing process and we'll both have a chance!"
Brooke shook her head slowly. "Give it to Alexis. She's the Sonnas
t. I'm a servant. It's only right."
"No! Brooke, you can't die! Take half of it!" I begged, tears streaming down my face.
She closed her eyes.
I threw myself down upon her, hugging her. "Don't die," I begged. "Drink the werewolf blood. I'll find some more for me, I swear."
Her eyes opened. "You're going to make the best leader that our kingdom has ever seen. Make me proud."
"No!"
"Promise me," she whispered, starting to close her eyes again. "I'm the luckiest servant in the castle because not only did I get to serve you, but I got to be your friend. I couldn't have asked for more."
Her eyes closed and her hands fell to the ground. I laid my head on her stomach, soaking her coat with my tears. "Don't die, don't die," I begged, knowing that it was already too late.
I felt arms around my back and could feel the presence of Mattie and Alrekur beside me as I began to wail.
"She was very proud to serve you," Mattie whispered. "I got to spend a lot of time with her while she was at the castle. She was honored to be your friend."
I sat up and nodded, tears still streaming down my face.
Alrekur brushed my cheek and then kissed it. "My love, you need to take the cure. She died so that you could have it; please take it."
Too choked up to speak, I only nodded.
He handed me a vial of werewolf blood. I noticed that it didn't smell as bad as it had when I'd given Tanner vials of it. Spending all that time with Toby had made it much more tolerable. I opened it and put it to my mouth, forcing myself to swallow. It didn't feel acidic like the venom, but it still tasted terrible.
As it made its way through my system, I could feel myself getting stronger. Even my cut started to feel better.
"Now for my blood," Alrekur said.
I looked at him, expecting him to be smiling over the fact that I was about to drink his blood. His face was stone serious. He moved his cloak out of the way of his neck. "Hurry up, we're not done battling."
"Won't I infect you?" I asked, my voice wobbly.
He shook his head. "Your blood won't get into my system when you bite, and if it did somehow, the werewolf blood should already be neutralizing the poison in your system."
The Transformed Box Set: Books 1, 2, 3, 3.5 Page 95