Chapter 13

Birds darted into the skies haphazardly, the sounds of twigs crushing under our soles spread abroad the forest leading to the Oasis Haven Coven. We trotted in hundreds and the grounds responded with gentle tremors.

I for one enjoyed the determination, the thirst for blood that drove my army towards Oasis Haven. But there was something else I enjoyed. Zeus running breathlessly by my side. The both of us were leading the war front and I wouldn't deny, I was surprised. The only person I knew that could keep up with my speed was Eren, but Zeus changed that view.

He didn't even look like he was trying nor tired. His eyes were blazing with firm determination and focus. They weren't bright nor endearing like they used to. Instead, his eyes expressed only one thing. Nothingness. Regardless, I still admired his shiny black uniform tightly fitted against his body. I loved the way his blonde hair danced in synchrony with the winds. And somehow, I craved to see what his Wolf would look like. I didn't even know its name yet nor could I know the exact measure of his Wolf's strength.

A smile birthed on my face, assuring myself this war would be one exciting ride.

“Lady Green!" One of my commanders yelled from my rear. My gaze instantly set to the black smoke that ranged in the skies.

“Take your positions!" I ordered. "Vera's noticed us." I glanced at my mate as we continued trotting towards the gigantic coven.

“I'm about to go all out, can you keep up?" I asked. He glanced at me for a brief moment without an iota of emotion.

“On your call,” he simply said. I almost frowned wondering if that was a bluff, or he really meant it. I returned my gaze to the Coven in sight meters away. There was only one way to test him.

“Get ready to attack!!" I called.

“Yes!!" My ladies screamed with passion and excitement booming in their voice.

“Full speed to the Oasis!!" I commanded and as the next second came, I felt a powerful jab of air blow beside me as Zeus launched like a predator about to tame its prey. I almost gasped but this was no time to slack or be amazed. I was better than him. And with a profound jealousy that ignited, I launched too. Almost feeling weightless as I raced vehemently alongside Zeus.

And in a minute, we were out of the forest, in the vast lands welcomed by scores of Witches rooted firmly by the Oasis boundaries.

“Witches of The Oasis!" Vera yelled. "Attack!!" She declared and immediately, large balls of fire descended upon the vast lands we travelled on. Dawning on my fellow soldiers like an eagle hunting for its prey.

I frowned as cries of my fallen screeched through the heated air. I glanced at my mate, but he wasn't even shaken in the slightest. He kept his eyes on the goal, to break through those witches.

“March on!!" I commanded, this time our pace slowing as we almost reached for their boundary. My gaze kept switching between the skies and my front occasionally. The fires descending was one that burned my Vampires to ashes, and I was certain they still had more in store.

“Take your highest speeds, slay them without mercy. Feed on them like the food they are." I roared as our meters were briskly closing gap.

“Drop the veil!!" Vera commanded in return.

“Asteris malambus kora!!" They screamed as they changed their spells in high spirit and immediately, a blue shade gradually descended few inches before them.

Zeus and I briskly notched up our efforts, our legs almost not touching the ground as we raced to enter before it closed. But in the end, we failed. The both of us stood before the magical shield trying to push our hands through but to no avail.

My teeth gritted noticing those pathetic witches laugh in obvious mockery. In their eyes, one could tell they seemed confident of victory.

“Launch the fireballs!" Vera commanded and they began to chant their irritating spells. My eyes followed each fireball as they landed on scores of Vampires meters away. Burning them out of existence instantly.

I closed my eyes as I took deep breaths trying to put every piece together. To begin with, I could hear Vera's voice, but I didn't see her amongst the sacrificial lambs. Secondly, with the Oasis Haven Coven shielded against entry and the continuous launching of fireballs, my army wouldn't stand a chance.

This was Vera's game. Rather than let her lambs face off against me she decided to opt for the defensive. To keep on launching fireballs till I had no choice but to retreat.

“There are too many of them, I can't break the spell." Zeus muttered causing my eyes to jolt awake. We stared at each other; he was probably hoping for one miracle plan to surface. But I on the other hand, was wondering why he was different. Ever since the morning dawned, he entirely became a new character. Like a monster lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right time to strike.

“What are we going to do Green?" Martha said as she joined us. Her expression stern and lacking compassion just like Zeus. Even though we were currently the losing side, both of them still maintained their focus.

“We continue with the plan." I responded. "Lilith was right, Vera is deploring all her minions to the front. I'm sure behind these idiots there are few people left to protect the witch’s gem."

“But we still haven't found Vera. She could be anywhere." Zeus noted.

“Yes. Whether we like it or not, she's dangerous than these ones and I'm not sure we are ready for any other unprecedented attack." Martha added.

“Leave Vera for me. You two should just focus on your respective roles. Martha, be Zeus's shield till he reaches the tunnel. And Zeus—”

“I know what to do,” he answered sharply.

“In that case then, I guess I have to handle these ignorant fools." I heaved a light sigh as I toned with heavy dose of lust.

“You can't do magic, and you can't break the spell, Green," Zeus quickly interjected. I smirked.

“I'm a being made from magic, remember," I quoted as I stepped forward.

“Vera!!" I roared and immediately silence descended across the lands. The fireballs stopped and the eyes of Witches before me began to twitch. The confidence that was once there began to waver.

“Ask your minions to drop this shield or else I'll gladly bless this day with a nightmare."

“I won't!" She answered. I smiled.

“Why can't you step out where I can see you? Are you this scared of me? You send your fellow Witches and Warlocks to the war front while you hide in the shadows like a coward!" I retorted and then afar off, above the roofs of Coven House, there she was standing firmly. Her gaze set on us, hinting a mixed feeling of anger and fear.

“Leave. There's no chance for you here Green,” she ordered.

My smile deepened.

“I'll say this one more time. Drop this shield, give me the Witches gem like a good obedient little girl and I'll forgive you for killing my Vampires."

“I won't ask again Green. You and your remaining vampires should leave my ground!"

I inched closer to the force shield again.

“Oh well," my smile vanished as I rubbed my eyebrow lightly.

“Since you've decided to be foolish, then you leave me no choice."

I touched the force shield and like I expected, it didn't allow me through. I took a deep breath and then my eyes sharply morphed into sparkling shade of green. I let all the anger I had bottled within me to spread across my entirety. And in a split second, my body lit up in green flames.

The Witches retreated a few steps, mumbling incoherent words. My lips parted slightly revealing my glittering fangs craving for their blood. Claws protruded from my fingers and my senses peaked on a higher note. The flames dosed on a dangerous level causing them to retreat further.

And without further thoughts, I forced my body against the force field.

“Strengthen the veil!" Vera commanded.

“Asteris malambus kora!!"

“Asteris malambus kora!!"

“Asteris malambus kora!!"

They chanted but I continued to force through like it was nothing. Once my hand got through, half of them shrieked, loosing focus in the nonsense they were chanting.

“Continue the spell!!" Vera screamed but as my right leg got through, the vast majority of them ran helter-skelter.

I increased my flames and as the next second came, my whole body got through. The veil collapsed as all of them took to different directions.

“Knights of Marr!!" I yelled in a devilish tone. "Shall we?!!" I raised my hands in a grand gesture and immediately the ground quaked as they ran past me like the wind, chasing the minions like their life depended on it.

I took another deep breath while my flames died off. I looked straight to the Coven House and there she was still standing on the roof. I smiled and immediately trotted straight ahead. Amidst the helpless screams, the blood that sputtered across the grounds, I ran. Ran with delight in my heart.

“We won't let you through, you monster!" Three Witches quoted meters before me, but I hissed. Increasing my pace so I got to them in a jiffy. Before any of them could even find a tongue to chant a spell, my arms had already beheaded them.

Vera jumped down from the magnificent building as I arrived the Coven house, studying every corner for any surprises. Unfortunately, there were none. This battle was going to be between us two.

“Isn't it delightful?" I chirped with an innocent smile.

“That I'm going to crush you in your home, while your fellow members are dying horribly."

Her palms curled into a fist as rage fueled in those brown irises of hers.

“I mean, isn't the sight of their blood wonderful?" I pointed briefly at bloods flying haphazardly in synchrony with their screams.

“My witches and I have vowed to protect the gem till the end."

I laughed.

“How can you protect something that is already lost?"

She took an offensive stance immediately, her eyes changed to a threatening scarlet color.

“I call on the element of lightning!"

She clapped her hands together and immediately, red lightning descended. Roaring amongst the darkened skies and touring across every inch of her body.

“The element of fire!"

Her body instantly lit up in Orange flames.

“The element of water!"

Ice began to encroach her palms.

“The element of wind!"

The winds began to blow roughly, smashing across my body with powerful jabs but I still remained firm in my position.

“The element of Earth!"

The grounds quaked violently but I didn't waiver regardless.

“Lend me your strength!! Lend me your powers of destruction!!" She chanted while the intensity of each element boomed.

My eyes changed into a sparkling green again as I planned to make a move. My legs refused to move. I looked down only to find stones molded across my leg holding me down. I struggled against their force, but I failed.

“Seridia!!" She chanted and a large ball of fire launched from her hands towards me. My eyes popped. These were mystical elements that could inflict severe injury to me, most especially fire. And on that note, my body instantly lit up in green flames and I jumped before it got me.

“Selilia!" She chanted again while I was midair, and a tornado descended from the skies. Twirling me around till it threw me to the ground.

Half of my bones broke but as I arose, my anger fueling up, they healed up in a second. I tried to reach for her again.

“Cerilia, Seridia, Selilia, Demitry!" She chanted and my legs got stuck again. My breaths were suddenly leaving my body, I couldn't breathe in but only expire. She was dragging the life out of me. My muscles constricted as I felt raging pain in my head, my veins became very obvious as if they were going to burst from the pressure.

Water seeped out from the ground, surrounding me and as Vera changed her fingers position, it climbed up to me. Soaking my uniform and travelling across my skin. It began to ice around my body, piercing through me. And as blood gushed out of my injuries, the ice dug in further.

She changed her fingers again and powerful jabs of air came in slices towards me. My uniform tore is slashes and my face, inflicted with several small deep cuts.

I fell to my knees, unable to gain proper control of my body. She changed her fingers again and long rods of red lightning descended upon me from the skies.

I screamed as magnanimous currents rushed through my muscles making me numb. My claws receded and my canine were gradually closing in, but she didn't stop. Instead, she intertwined her fingers in so many ways whilst muttering incoherent words I couldn't pick. Whatever she was planning next, was certainly most lethal for me. But I couldn't do anything. I was dominated by her mystical elements.

She clapped her hands and a lion made of fire conjured up. It launched towards me with a speed I couldn't comprehend. This time I knew, I wasn't going to escape its wrath.

The next thing I knew was a loud explosion. My ears were ringing bells, my injuries bleeding profusely unable to heal up properly. I couldn't feel my limbs, my vision was completely hazy, and my insides were burning like brimstone fire.

Regardless, I wasn't going to give up. I had gone through much worse than to just give up on my dreams. I arose in a wobbly fashion unable to comprehend how I was able to do it in the first place. My gaze returned to Vera who held a satisfactory smile. Anger ignited again, dominating my pain. My eyes morphed into flaming green again while claws and canines protruded.

Fear struck in her eyes for a split moment but then she started the spell all over again. A boulder bore out of the grounds and launched to me, but my body shattered it to pieces as I strode towards her.

“Don't you have any other tricks, silly woman!" I scorned while lightning struck me, but I continued my gentle pace regardless.

The ice, air, and fire came but I took them all.

“You can do better than this Vera." I growled and as she tried to start a new spell, I trotted to her face. Held her neck with my right, raising her above the ground. Her breaths were receding, her legs fighting against the air while her hands struggled to break free from my grasp.

I buried my claws deep inside her neck causing her eyes to widen.

“Y-you m-monster!" She cried. I thought of smashing her against the building but then I realized there was a tunnel underneath. I flashed a devilish smile before smashing her to the ground.

The grounds quaked as it tore from her impact. Blood gushed out from her mouth and nose, and her body went numb. Her eyes were now soaked with tears, conveying only two things. Pain and regrets.

But I wasn't done with her yet.

“Stand up," I growled but her condition wouldn't let her. I bet she couldn't even move a finger.

“Just one strike and you've already conceded defeat Vera. Stand up you bitch!" I yelled. I wasn't going to let her off the hook easily. I lowered to her again, turning her neck.

“N-no..." she whispered. "Y-you can't have my b-blood,” she stammered but I growled studying the pulsing area around her neck. Without further thoughts, I buried my fangs into her skin, filling my tongue with a sizeable amount of her blood.

I only needed a taste of her blood to ruin her completely. And so, I pulled my fangs out while she exhaled.

“You see, I have no interest in drinking your blood,” I said with a smile. "Your blood taste horrible to be honest." I winked.

“But you see, not only you have a few tricks up your sleeves. I have mine too. The Vampire Curse." I pursed my lips as she stared hopelessly at me.

“It's kind of a gift I was blessed with you know. The moment I have a taste of my victim's blood, whatever I curse you with or say will happen,” she gasped.

“And I know just the perfect curse for you darling," I ran my finger slowly across her face. She wriggled her head, but I focused directly into her eyes.

“I curse you Vera, from this moment onwards, your magic has been stripped away from you. Your injuries will heal up slowly. Whenever you shall sleep, you shall have nothing but nightmares of this day. And whenever you're awake, the cries of your fellow members who died today is all that will haunt you." I pursed my lips as my eyes reverted back to grey.

I stared at her miserable status, satisfied with the evil I had done. As I arose, the sun began to dawn on my blood coated status. And as I stared at the clouds, all I could worry about was Zeus.

If he were successful or not.