Chapter 40

( Third person POV)

After a few more hours drive, Lucas and the team arrived at a forest that leads to the Viesryan border. They left the SUV, parking it in the forest where it's camou design blended in with the surrounding.

" I guess we'll have to walk from here", Lucas said, " and you guys be on guard. We really don't know how much they've tightened their border security", he explained.

" Sure thing", Koryn said, " but wouldn't it be better if we entered our beast forms? you know, so that we can easily retaliate if we are under attack", she asked.

" No, that's not much of a good idea. Our beast forms release way to much pheromones that the vampires can easily sniff out", he replied.

" Yeah, transforming might ruin the cologne", Jane said, " it's best we keep a low profile", she added.

And so, they kept on walking through the forest, hoping to sneak up on the hidden parts of the border, where the security would be less tight. As they walked, they observed strange plants and animals, not common to Wolfendon.

" Geez, would you look at that?", Koryn whispered while pointing at some creature that looked like a rat with yellow butterfly wings.

" Yikes, that just looks weird", Nyla said.

" It sure would be nice if I could take some of these amimals home", Koryn said.

" Maybe you can get some on our way back", Lucas said, " it'll be easier that way", he explained.

" Sure, I guess so", Koryn said, " I'll make sure to remember", she said.

In a few minutes, they were met by a huge wall covered in vines creeping along it. They had finally gotten to the Viesryan border.

" Well, this is it", Lucas said staring at the wall with both of his hands on his hips.

" There sure are a lot of vines", Jane said, " it's so thick, I can't even see the top of the wall", she complained.

" Well, we'll just have to cut em of. It's that simple", Nyla said as she popped out a dagger from her pocket and went straight towards the wall to cut them.

" Wait! don't touch em", Koryn said.

" Geez, now you care about grass too?", Nyla asked sarcastically.

" It's not that", Koryn said.

" What's the problem Koryn?", Lucas asked.

" Observe carefully", she replied, " this is part of the border of Viesryan and there's no single security guard here, just these vines. It seems senseless that they should leave their border so porous", she said.

" Well, their intelligence is their problem,not ours", Nyla said.

" Don't you guys get it? These vines are the security", she said.

" So what do you suggest we do?", Lucas asked her.

" Open your bags and take out your gas masks", Koryn said to them.

" Urrghh fine.....this better be worth it", Nyla grumbled and took out her gas mask as did the rest of them. When all of them had put it on, then Koryn opened her backpack and brought out a jar with about three bees in it.

" What do you plan to do with them?", Jane asked her.

" To check what these vines actually do", Koryn said, " I suspect two things. It's either the vines move about and try to entangle it's victim or they release a toxic gas to kill or paralyze it's victim. And I'm about to test my hypothesis", she said.

Then she took out a blade and slashed one of the vines, which then released a pink fume. She then opened the jar, and the bees attempted to fly out, only to fall back down, then when Koryn used her finger to touch the bees, they all turned to dust.

" Holy cow", Nyla exclaimed, " what just happened to those bees?", she asked.

" The fumes from the vine caused them to decay exponentially fast even while they were alive. I think it only affects creatures without the immortality gene like us. It wouldn't do anything to vampires which are undead and hence can't decay", Koryn said.

" That was actually a close call for me", Nyla said.

" I'm surprised you admitted it yourself", Koryn said laughing.

" Alright, let's cut these freaking vines and get the hell outta here", Lucas said, pulling out his blade. And immediately, all of them began chopping the vines off the wall. Soon the whole place was filled with the pink fumes. When, they had cut the vines, they began to scale the wall.

On entering into Viesryan, they obviously had to blend in so as not to get easily spotted. The first thing they did was to go to the local market and purchase some traditional style Viesryan clothes. After the purchase, they began to strategize how they would get to the old seer that Jane had told them about. It was already getting dark so they went to an inn nearby and lodged. There they began to discuss their plan.

" So Jane, you got any idea where your old village was?", Lucas asked, " we'll need a definite location if we are to find the old seer fast", he said.

" Well, I do have a general idea where the village used to be, though it would probably be a ghost town by now", she sighed sadly.

" Don't worry too much about it", Nyla said, " we'll get the vampires back for what they did to your people", she said to her, while giving her a pat on the back.

" Yeah kid, they'll surely pay for what they did to you", Lucas said, " but for now, we really need that location", he said.

" Alright, but my memory isn't too clear. It's a bit fuzzy and I can't really remember the details too well", Jane said.

" Sure just give us any clue you got", Koryn said to her.

" Alright, I remember that our village used to be very close to one mountain called the Jade mountain. It was really big and had lots of snow at the top", she said.

" Alright, Jade mountain. Got it", Lucas said as he wrote it down, " any other clues?",he asked.

" Yes yes. At night in the village, we used to play a lot because the night sky always had many brilliant colors. It was really beautiful and our elders would tell is stories as we sat around a fire", she said with tears dropping from her eyes, " my older brother would always tell us stories using music and he was so good at playing the guitar", she said.

" It's okay. You don't have to cry", Koryn said patting her on the back, " I'm sure he's up there in the stars watching over you", she said with a warm smile.

" You really think so?", Jane asked her.

" I know so", Koryn replied and have her a hug.

" That's all we'll ask her for tonight", Lucas said, " she needs some rest and we all do too, so let's get some shut-eye. We move at dawn", he said. On saying that, they all got comfy and slept off, waiting for their mission to commence by dawn.

Meanwhile, back at Wolfendon, there's a huge problem. Reports are getting to the palace that there is a death toll arising in the northern parts of the kingdom. The number of casualties continues to rise exponentially. The queen and Rorhy, the royal medical adviser, rush to the national intelligence unit, where reports are flooding in. It is all over the news and panic has spread round the kingdom.

" Why exactly is happening?", the Queen asks the chief of the national intelligence unit.

" Your highness, we are getting reports of a huge death toll in the northern parts of the kingdom. We first assumed that they were just rumors until we sent our men there", he said.

" And what report did you get from your men?", the queen asked.

" My men confirmed the rumors and the number of casualties is estimated to surpass a million in less than an hour from now" , he reported.

" What could be the cause of this, Rorhy?", the queen asked.

" I really can't tell from here, but if I'm to take a guess, if say it's a bio-weapon from Viesryan", Rorhy said " they're probably already starting to get revenge for the loss of their princess", he said.

" What do we do Rorhy?", the queen asked.

" Well first off, we need to isolate the infected region to prevent it from spreading especially since we have no idea how it spreads", he replied, " I do hope it's not air borne. That'd be the worst case scenario", he added.

" Alright, do as Rorhy says", the Queen ordered the chief of the national intelligence unit, " he's in charge as of now by royal order", the queen said.

" As you wish, your highness", the chief responded with a bow.

" So what would you have us do sir?", the chief asked Rorhy.

" Quarantine the city. Let there be no entry or exit of unauthorized vehicles and personnel", Rorhy said.

" You heard the man. Go go go!", the chief ordered his men as they rushed into a group of choppers to fly to the northern region.

" Also chief, please tell your men to take blood samples from the dead victims and send to the lab", Rorhy said.

" The Royal lab sir?", the chief asked.

" No , the underground lab in the Layfall desert", Rorhy said, " that's a lot less risky. We can't risk whatever is causing this getting into the palace at all", he added. Then he took his briefcase and called a couple of men to follow him.

" Where are you going, Rorhy?", the queen asked, " I need you here. What if something goes wrong here in the palace?", she asked while her fingers moved frantically.

" Don't he nervous, my Queen. I'm going to the Layfall desert. That's where we'll analyse the sample and conduct a few experiments", he replied, " and besides, nothing's gonna happen here at the palace. It's the most secure place in all of Wolfendon. Just make sure you get adequate rest and sleep", he added as he entered into one of the choppers.

" Come back safely and quickly", the queen said to him yelling due to the sound of the helicopter's blades spinning so fast.

" Sure thing. Don't miss me too much", he yelled back as the chopper began to move off the ground.

The people of Wolfendon remained in shock as they had never experienced this sort of bio-weapon attack before and it was more devastating blow to them, being physical combat fighters rather than tacticians. But this was just the beginning and they still have no idea what the vampires have in store for them.