Chapter 7: Chapter seven

“These herbs are very rare, see? They thrive under moonlight making this realm perfect for them to bloom…”

Briar nodded half listening to what Hannah was saying and looking around the woods.

They had come here to collect herbs. Briar had been thinking of how to get Hannah to follow her outside and the opportunity fell on her plate like a platter of Gold. Hannah had needed to go collect some herbs and Briar decided to accompany her.

It was dark as usual so she couldn't see much of anything but she could sense it. Alaric and the others were close by.

“They're beautiful. Do they only grow around here?” Briar said.

“Well, we magically enhance them to grow within the shield but they grow outside too.”

Briar hummed.

“Have you ever been outside the shield before?”

Hannah paused at picking the herbs. “Technically, yes. Whenever I go back to the human realm, I leave the shield but Selene doesn't let me remember. I always leave with her since I'm not…really good at flying, you know, with the broom” she said the last sentence like she was embarrassed.

Briar put on her most mischievous face.

“Do you want to?”

“Briar no.We shouldn't.”

“Come on. It'll only be for a minute. No one has to know.”

Hannah bit her lip, considering but Briar could see it in her eyes. She was sold. She didn't wait for a response though–she walked until she felt the barrier slide over her. She was out.

“See?” She called out.

Hannah laughed and ran over. She gave a weird look. “It feels the same.”

Briar didn't know why she expected it to feel any different. Not like she had time to dwell on it. In that moment, Alaric was behind Hannah holding the back of her neck. Then he whispered something in her ear. Compulsion.

Hannah's body immediately relaxed and she guided him, letting him get past the shield. She did the same for the other vampires then, and finally Briar. She tried not to look too guilty as Hannah did it with a blank, slightly pleasant expression on her face. Screams could already be heard from inside the fortress.

“Hide.” She told her. Hannah nodded and ran towards the back of the fortress. Briar on the other hand,ran head straight for the front door. Inside was Chaos. Witches casting spells on Vampires and Vampires snapping their necks, draining the life from them. She ducked as a witch hurled a streak of flame at her, the heat grazing her arm. One of the guards charged towards her spear in hand. Briar didn't have a weapon so all she could do was dodge. A

Vampire came to her aid and snapped the guard's neck. She picked up the guard's spear, testing the weight in her hands. It would do nicely. She ran up the stairs and saw Alaric battling with a witch.

“Briar!”

“I need to get to the moonstone.” She said and kept moving. She didn't encounter any witches as she went further but she could hazard a guess as to why. Thanks to Hannah she knew where the matron's room was and when she got there, there were four male human guards already waiting for her, spears in hand. She knew the human guards were under some kind of spell that made their only purpose killing.Briar got in a defensive position weighing her odds, her heart racing, sweat beading her brows. She couldn't take down four.

Just then Kieran appeared at her side. Everyone startled , including her.

“You are very foolish.” he drawled. Briar watched in horror and confusion as the guards pierced their own hearts one by one with their spears.

Her head whipped to Kieran who was smirking. “What just…how did you…?

“Mind compulsion. Don't just stand there gaping like a dying fish. Open the door.” The last sentence was heavy-laden with compulsion and Briar found herself walking to open the door against her will.

The witches were already waiting for them. Briar did a quick count. Thirteen of them were in a circle facing her and Kieran, the moonstone placed on a pillar in the middle. It was large, like the size of a child's head, had jagged edges and glowed blue.

“You betrayed us.” Selene said,malice in her voice. “I'll make sure your death is painful.”

Alaric,Tobias, Azriel and two other Vampires came in just then. Right on time.

Alaric stepped forward.

“Amara, there's no need for blood to be shed. Give us the moonstone.”

Amara, who Briar was certain was the matron, stepped forward too.She looked to be in her mid sixties although it was hard to tell. She had a face that looked both young and old at the same time. Her long silver hair and robes billowed slightly around her, wand in hand.

“Never.”

Amara cast her wand to the ground with an inhumane scream. A shockwave tore through the room. Cracks split the marble floors like spiderwebs. The walls shuddered and Arches groaned under her weight. Panic welled within Briar The witches were going to bring the building down. Alaric grabbed her arm pulling her back. The other vampires surged forward trying to get to the moonstone.

Alaric carried her, bridal style and vanished from the crumbling fortress in a blur of motion.

He came to a stop at a safe distance in the woods and set her down. His eyes searched her. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, breathing hard.

"What about the others?"

"They'll be fine." He said.

It didn't seem like it as the fortress was already collapsing on itself. But as she looked closer, she could see the Vampires, coming towards them, their forms blurring through the air.

Some were bruised from the collapse but otherwise, they looked fine. She saw the moonstone in Tobias' hands as he landed. The Vampires cheered and Briar couldn't help but cheer with them, a real smile forming on her face since she arrived at Kaelindor.