Chapter 31: Confronting the Past

Alea's POV

We surged through them, attacking without giving them space to retaliate. Blood sliced through the hallway, the clashing of swords, the muffled screams of soldiers. Everywhere was in chaos, but what mattered was that we were winning and the enemies were falling to the ground.

I turned, my gaze sighting the two guards who were staggering backward while talking to each other in husked tones. “Go and inform Alucard, that she's here for him” One of them said to the other, and that got me squinting my gaze.

Then they lifted their gaze and saw me, both shrieking in fear. “Go!” He urged his colleague who immediately tried to run away from the scene, but I was quick in forming a wind wave with my hand and with that, I prevented him from moving.

He fell to the ground, shifting back away from me in terror and then I moved closer to them, bringing my claws out as I almost digged my hands into the neck of the one standing.

“What were you talking about?” I asked, my voice dark and emanating something ominous.

He didn't want to talk, but when I digged my claws into him, blood oozing out from that part of his body, he finally talked.

“Kairo”

That word made me freeze as my eyes lit up in shock. “What?” I asked, wanting him to elaborate, to make me understand.

“He's here. With Alucard” He said and then I let go of him, the shock on my face weakening me.

I turned my back to the enemy, everything in me just wanting to see Kairo at the moment. Even without looking at the enemies face, I knew it when he stealthily draw his sword out of its sheath and tried to stab me with it, with a flick of my wrist, I turned my sword backward, strucking him from the back.

He groaned, and I still didn't turn. All I heard was sound of something spilling, and I knew definitely that that was crimson. His blood.

I withdraw my sword from his body and I heard a loud thud of him falling to the ground, then I turned. The other one who was shivering on the floor had stood up and raced towards the other soldiers who were still in battle. I knew what he was going for and I ran after him trying to stop him, but I was late. He had clicked on the alarm stone button too quickly.

The whole building started sounding like things were caving in, mysterious birds starting to fill the prison room as they disturbed the peace that barely reigned before.

My jaws dropped, heart aching as I knew the team wasn't that safe anymore. With my eyes burning, my whole body burning in rage, I walked towards the guards who clicked the stone button and struck him with my blade without feeling anything but hatred for him. He crouched down, going lifeless in an instant.

Raven rushed to my side, telling me the same thing I feared—The fact that things were getting complicated for us and might not go easy like we had thought.

“Let's get those people out and get out of here” I said to him, quickly dashing towards the prison which had heavy locks on them.

Everyone of us scrambled, looking for the keys on the guards who laid lifeless on the ground. It took a while, but we found it.

“I found it!” Valen screamed, but was cautious of how loud his voice went. I walked over to him in a rush, taking the keys from him. “Well done, Valen” I ruffled his hair and quickly returned to the prison cells where the people were locked.

I twisted the lock, the door coming open and my gaze landed on the people who were curled up into themselves. The sound of blades clashing must have scared them that they thought we might be here to take them and treat them just like Alucard had done.

“Don't worry. We are here to get you out. There's no time, please step out” Raven was the one who uttered the words, but the people didn't move, they didn't even flinch.

“She's the Phantom Queen. Please trust us” Raven said further, and their faces lit up with what made my stomach churn.

Hope. Excitement.

They believed the Phantom Queen was powerful enough to take Alucard on.

They all stepped out of the prison, and two of the team members led them in the front, while the rest of us guarded their back.

“Raven…..” I called, my voice slow and calculated. His gaze came to mine, anticipating what I wanted to say.

“Make sure to keep everyone safe until you get out of this fortress, I will catch up with you guys” I said, and his face widened in terror.

“What? Why?” He asked, clearly shocked.

“Kairo is here, I have to find him” I said and turned, but he held me, eyes gawking at me with anger.

“You want to risk your life for something you cannot achieve? He's under the control of Alucard, do you still not understand?!” He asked, almost yelling.

Tears blurred my vision, threatening to fall off my eyes. “I…can't just let him be like that. I can't!” I said and sniffled back the tears, being bold and confident once again.

“I will surely catch up with you, so please get them to safety” I assured him, and with a deep sigh, he left, slashing anyone who dared to get in their way.

I took another direction, and just like Alucard had been expecting me, the first door I opened landed me into her palace. Alucard was sitting on the throne, a smirk on her face as she stared at me, like she had been waiting for my arrival, and there he was, sitting beside her.

Kairo.

My breath hitched, heart beating so fast.

“Kairo…..” I called and when he lifted his gaze to meet mine, I could swear he knew who I was with the way his body reacted.

He recognized me.