A Burning Sanctuary

Gabriel POV:

Guarding the gates were several men on horses wielding a sword or a spear. I knew at once whom they were and whom they were looking for.

I was lucky their backs were turned, else they would have sighted us.

I ran in an adjacent direction, away from the gates but towards the walls. Jack followed me closely, following the direction of his master.

“Who are they?” Luna asked with fear.

“The General's men. Those bastards” I muttered,

“What do they want?”

“I don't know, but we are about to find out”

I set her down carefully on her feet. We were closed to the wall enough to hear and see what was going on and far away enough not to be sighted.

We crouched behind the weathered walls, peering through the openings to witness a scene that was nothing short of a nightmare.

I had an apparent view of the village. I could see the source of the thick fog of smoke, several houses were burning, Aunt May's included. The village, once a haven of life and laughter, was now engulfed in a thick haze of smoke that rose from the fire consuming countless houses.

My hands clenched into fists, a seething anger rising within me as the destruction and the terror that had befallen my home unravel in front of me.

The whole village was on its knees, and right in front of them were the General's men on horseback. Leading them, unsurprisingly was Nicklaus, the General's second – in -command. He is the worst of the worst and by far the worst man in the world. He would do anything to please his Master, which included going to the very ends of the world or slaughtering a village full of women and children. The entire world trembles before his ruthlessness, and the cowering villagers bore witness to his brutality.

Nicklaus was a force to be reckoned with, a figure who thrived on fear and destruction. His presence alone was a reminder that we were up against something far greater than ourselves.

The man beside Nicklaus caught my eye, I recognized him at once. He led the group I had encountered earlier in the forest trying to kill Luna. I needed not be told who brought this force of destruction to our doorstep.

I should have killed them when I had the chance, consequences be damned. I clenched my fists so tight they hurt.

A cold silence that enveloped the village was suffocating, the only source of sound was the distant crackling of burning wood.

Nicklaus's voice finally sliced through the stillness. His words, laden with a chilling blend of fear, death, and unwavering authority, reverberated

“Where are the man and the woman in the portrait. I know you are hiding them”

I saw one of his men was a holding a portrait. And from a distance, I recognized a clear portrait of Luna and I.

“What in tarnation" I muttered,

How could they have such a clear portrait of us?

“What's going on, Gabriel? Why do they have portraits of us?”

“Calm down, Luna, I'd explain later.”

I shifted my gaze back to Nicklaus

“I will burn the whole village and kill every single of one of you, if I have to”

The Village head spoke up, his voice laced with fear. “We have always been grateful to the General and will never do anything to ruin our relationship with him. The man in the portrait is not of us, we have never seen him before, nor the lady. Please spare us.”

I saw the evil glint in Nicklaus eyes, his lips parted with a slight grin. He pointed to Malo's wife and said, "bring that child”

Malo's wife, Brenda, fell to her knees with her baby clutched in her arms.

“No, please, no, sir”

One of Nicklaus jumped off his horse and snatched the baby from her. She tried to struggle with him, but was punched very hard in her mouth. Malo tried to react, but immediately ten swords were pointed in his direction.

The baby was delivered into Nicklaus rough arms. He raised the baby with one hand and unsheathed his sword with his.

The whole village gasped in horror.

“Malo, please give me up, save your child” I muttered under my breath.