Chapter 57: The Siege of Redwater

Claire’s POV

The air was thick with tension, the weight of Jared’s warning still pressing down on my chest. The unnatural creature at the gates had disappeared into the shadows as quickly as it had come, but its chilling voice still echoed in my mind.

Claire…

It knew my name. It had spoken my name.

A creeping unease continued to crawl under my skin, even after Derek had doubled patrols and strengthened the barriers around Redwater. It was almost midnight. It was palpable into my bones. Standing up the main watchtower and having surrendered myself with wide eyes against the dark treeline beyond the gates, I soon caught a glimpse of footsteps. Joining me solid and unflinching was Derek, but his jaw shape told me he was just as uneasy as I was. 

"We need to move first," he muttered, his sharp eyes focused on the horizon. "We can't just sit here and wait for them to strike." 

"We don't know when they're coming," I said. "If what Jared said is true, they're not coming as wolves. They're coming under false pretenses.

He balled his fingers into fists. "Then we need to be ready for anything."

A spine-tingling scream erupted from the southern wall before I could reply.

The earth beneath us trembled with a tremendous explosion, a second later. Fire blazed through the night sky.

"They’re here," Derek snarled.

With my heart hammering my ribs, I ran down the watchtower. When I got to the wall, my breath caught in my throat, even though warriors were already racing with their weapons drawn to the southern border.

It was more than just an assault.

A massacre occurred.

Through the shattered portion of the wall, creatures that might have been wolves but were now much more terrible swarmed. They had grotesquely changed bodies, with limbs that were excessively long and eyes that were red with rage. Beneath their flesh, black veins pulsed, and the sound of one of them howling was like metal rubbing against bone.

The creatures lunged before Derek had a chance to shout commands.

The enemy persisted despite the Redwater warriors' valiant efforts. Typical injuries didn't deter them. Even though the blades cut through muscle, the creatures continued to come without bleeding.

Leaping toward me, one of them swiped at my throat with its long claws. It didn't even flinch when I ducked at the last second and stabbed it in the chest. It seized my wrist with iron-like vigor and jerked me forward with superhuman power.

Its mouth opened, exposing rows of sharp, unnatural teeth, and I felt panic.

A gleam of silver pierced the atmosphere. The creature's head rolled across the dirt as Derek's sword sliced clean through its neck. Before it collapsed, the body twitched violently.

"Go for the head!" Derek yelled. "It’s the only way to kill them!"

I was too busy to answer. I was prepared when the creature lunged again. I spun my dagger in my hand and ducked under its claws, then slashed it into the base of its skull. With a shudder, the creature fell to the ground, dead.

Around me, the battle continued, but I knew we were losing the battle. They were too numerous.

Jared had been correct.

Lila had built a monster army.

I spun around, looking for him on the battlefield. With desperate rage, he had torn through the creatures to reach the front lines. He was trying to get to me, though, not just to survive.

"Claire!" he yelled, pushing a mutilated wolf away from his blade. "We need to retreat! We are unable to keep them here.

He was correct. The wall to the south was crumbling. They would massacre us if we didn't flee.

I called out, "Derek!" "We need to regroup!"

He gestured to the warriors surrounding him with a grim nod. "Fall back to the inner barricades!"

As we retreated, the Redwater fighters drew back in close formation, shielding one another. The creatures, however, continued. They trailed behind, moving at an abnormally high speed and contorting in ways that made my stomach turn.

Out of the shadows, one of them bounded toward Nolan.

I didn't think before reacting. I picked up one of the fallen spears and threw it into the air. The weapon impaled the creature through the eye after striking true. With a guttural screech, it fell to the ground with a crumple.

There was no time for relief, but Nolan gave me a thank-you glance. There would be more.

We passed the second barricade, but the night was broken by a loud boom as we arrived at the central courtyard.

From the northern watchtower, flames shot out, consuming the building in a conflagration.

On top of the flaming tower, a shadowy figure stood against the flames.

Lila.

I could see the ruthless smile on her lips even from this distance.

Her fingers curled as though she were holding onto something invisible as she raised one hand.

Like claws digging into my brain, a searing pain pierced my skull. My vision blurred and I fell to one knee in shock.

Lila's icy, mocking voice slithered into my mind.

"You can’t win, Claire."

I gritted my teeth to resist the pressure.

"You were always meant to be mine."

I felt an intense wave of anger that forced her from my thoughts. I made myself get up and look her in the eye from the other side of the battlefield.

"Lila!" I yelled. "Come down here and face me!"

The night was filled with the sound of her laughter.

Purring, "Oh, darling," "Not just yet. I want you to watch first.

The creatures rushed forward with renewed fervor as she raised both arms.

I discovered her scheme too late.

She wasn't here to win the fight.

She had come to destroy Redwater by fire.

Debris was flying down from the fortress as another explosion shook it. The flames were spreading quickly, and the eastern walls were collapsing.

Time was not on our side.

Derek took hold of my arm. "We have to get out of here!"

I gave a headshake. "If we run, she’ll destroy everything!"

He clenched his fingers. "Then we find another way to fight!"

Jared showed up next to us, panting heavily. "Claire, we can't win this battle. However, we can put an end to it.

My heart was racing as I gazed at him. "What are you saying?"

His expression was nearly funereal as he gazed up at Lila. "She controls them. Take her out, and the army will collapse." His jaw clenched. "You expect some sort of trust now?"

His eyes flashed, dejected. "I don't expect your trust. But if we don't stop her, no one here is going to survive."

Considering my own thoughts, I shot between the two of them. This one doesn't even seem like a war, with the fires burning, the cries, and those strange creatures shredding through my people. Devastation. Jared was right. The secret lay with Lila. I tightened my grip on my dagger. "Then we take the fight to her." 

It seemed as if Lila had heard me; a sly smile crept across her face. 

Then a flick of the wrist sent shock waves through the earth beneath us.