Chapter 53 ~Marked for death: The execution~
(Xander's POV)
The sounds of bullets being released filled the evening. It was everywhere, landing on the leaves, bark and tree trunks… which I realised wasn't an error from the cops. They probably wanted to scare, but not hurt us.
“Come on!” Calvin yelled above the noise. “Let's run. We gotta lose them.”
I checked to see if Yara was exhausted and yes… nearly breathless.
I know you might be wondering why we were running from the gunshots when the bullets weren't made of silver.
If somebody got shot, it would slow us down. If it slowed us down, we might not get to Fiona in time.
We ran with our heels touching the backs of our heads and every time I turned back to check; the cops weren't giving up. They were closer in pursuit.
What kind of training do they give these people at police academy?
“We can't keep running forever, you know,” Yara spoke breathlessly.
“We have to hide!” Calvin spared a second to glance at me.
I searched until I spotted a small hidden cave-like opening in the woods. “Guys, follow me.”
When the cops were not in sight, I turned left and the others followed.
We hid behind a cover of thick bushes.
“Stay quiet.” I whispered to them.
Within a few minutes, we could hear the stomps of their feet approaching closely.
I held my breath.
Inspector Chadwick was the first to slow down only yards from where we hid.
Eventually, the others stopped as well.
“What route did they follow?” A younger cop asked.
Inspector Chadwick switched on his searchlight, pointing it in different directions.
He pointed it close to where we were hiding.
We froze.
The cops kept looking until eventually they gave up. “Come on, let's head back. Looks like we lost them.”
The junior cop sighed, clearly upset. “Dang it! What are we going to do now?”
“Let's head back to the truck… I'll search the missing girl's phone to see what I can find.” Another cop spoke.
They turned and walked back into the night.
By now, we could hear the sounds of crickets. Fireflies danced in the air.
It was getting pretty late.
We waited until there was absolutely no sound of the cops returning before we came out of our hiding.
Yara breathed out with relief.
Calvin turned to me. “We have to head to Ashridge.”
Right.
The problem was… in what direction was Ashridge?
There was just a moonlit night and dense bushes.
“You know what this means?” Yara looked at Calvin.
“We have to shift.” I said.
Calvin, though, seemed pretty unsure. Our scents would be utterly unmistakable if we shifted.
But he shrugged. We had no other option, did we?
Bones splintering.
Limbs realigning.
Fangs descending.
We shifted instantly into our wolf forms. Theon, a large silver wolf with molten gold eyes. Calvin's was a sleek black wolf and Yara’s a brown wolf.
‘Ah! Finally she's free!’ Yara mindlinked.
In our new form, I could see the night through an ashen vision.
Scents and movements were sharper and reflexes faster. ‘Let's go.’
We began galloping through the woods; the breeze combing through our furs, paws crushing every obstruction on our way to Ashridge.
To save Fiona.
–------
(Fiona's POV)
The warriors grabbed Doctor Mel and I. We tried to break free but it was pointless.
We exchanged frightened glances. This was not going to be good.
I could hear the sound of the bell ringing loudly. By now, people would be gathered at the square to watch… my execution.
My vision was blurry, my heart threatening to explode from my chest, my body shaky from tension.
Dr Mel didn't look so far from the same.
So this was it.
Death.
The warriors finally led us to the square and as I anticipated, there were thousands of eyes watching.
There was a huge bonfire in the middle and I knew it wasn't just to light up the night. It would be used to cremate our corpses.
A loud cry rose from Doctor Mel as they tied her up to an iron rod.
One warrior brought out a long whip, and I closed my eyes.
The sounds of her cries and the maniacal laughter of her assaulter filled my ears and brought me to tears.
Her cries were turning slowly to loud screams and each time it was like I was sharing her pain. I wished I could take the pain from her. She did nothing but try to assist me in escaping.
She helped me and now she was suffering because of it.
“Come on. Open your eyes.” Beckett's voice boomed.
I opened my eyes to see him and Isis approaching. Behind them were their guards. One was pushing a trolley that contained some potions, chalice, the hot silver blade and a couple of other torture equipment.
I froze.
“Oh, she's crying.” Isis pouted in mockery.
Beckett's eyes never left mine, and I could still hear Doctor Mel's cries. “Watch and learn from her. So that when it's your turn, you'd be a little more experienced.”
“You're so evil, Beckett!” I screamed. “I swear you'll never go unpunished for this.”
He laughed. “Whatever you say. I don't care about the words of a walking dead.”
I could hear Cassia's laughter ring out.
Eros, the seer, walked out. His eyebrows were creased, and I could tell instantly that he was against this.
By now, Doctor Mel's cries had reduced to whimpers. There was blood all over her body, with deep painful gashes that leaked with pus, fresh blood, and bodily tissues.
A chill went through my spine and I threw up.
Would they beat her till she gave up the ghost?
Even if they wanted to kill us, the least they could do was make it painless.
“Stop!” I yelled when I couldn't take the sight anymore.
All eyes turned to me.
By now I was sure I looked red from tears, snot and veins lining my forehead.
“Beckett, I beg you, leave her alone. Please! You can flog me instead or do whatever. She's done nothing.”
Beckett smirked. “Of course you'll be flogged too. Was that a question?”
The laughter of Isis and Cassia filled my ears and drew bile from my throat. A sharp jolt went through my heart at the cruelty.
Beckett turned to the warrior and pointed at me. “Her turn.”
In a matter of seconds, I felt the first maddening whiplash. It was the bite of a thousand fangs all at once.
I gritted my teeth to prevent a yell. I wouldn't give them that satisfaction.
The others came in quick successions. And I didn't know that the unfamiliar voice screaming was mine.
Eros' voice thundered the night. “Stop this! This is madness! It's wrong.”
Beckett’s smirk turned into a scowl. “You dare challenge me, Eros? Your Alpha?”
The pack froze.
“Slaughter him!” Beckett's chilling voice rose.
A warrior brought out a sharp blade and with one sweep, Eros’ head was dislodged from his body.
I felt the spray of blood on my face, and his head rolled to my feet and his lifeless eyeballs stared into my soul.
“No!”