395- The Attack
POV Viktor Averwyn:
And if the attack came from there, others could strike from different directions too.
When we left the office empty, we stopped seeing what was happening around us. The time we lost going down to receive the box could prove fatal.
What had only been suspicion became certainty when we heard screams and snarls. The wall gates were thrown open and we burst through while Cezar ordered two guards to remain above firing down and the others to follow us.
My heart nearly leapt out of my chest when I saw the massive horde spreading through the village, coming from the direction of the passage near the mine.
My wolves began transforming and fighting, guards descending with silver-loaded weapons, while my focus locked onto the castle.
Where only one guard remained at the gate during the day.
Seraphine and Daciana were inside.
Fuck!
I lost my mind.
I leapt onto two wolves charging toward me, already landing with my claws buried in their chests, ripping them open violently. I roared, tearing out their hearts and throwing them to the ground.
More came, like cockroaches scattering in every direction. Lonut and Cezar attacked them furiously. Meanwhile, I kept slaughtering whoever crossed my path, ripping open stomachs and throats.
My terror grew.
Because the castle was surrounded and I could see them climbing the gate.
It was like reliving the nightmare from my memories. The enemies descending into the valley without warning. My mother dead.
“Blow up the forest entrance to the secret passage we used to bring Katarina through! Or they’ll never stop coming! Now!” I shouted to Cezar, who was biting into a wolf’s jugular and making blood spray everywhere.
He jumped to his feet and grabbed the radio, barking orders while running after me with his brother.
From the corner of my eye I saw Emil and Florian taking several down with silver bullets while my wolves viciously tore apart the invaders.
Without stopping my run, I shouted to Lonut:
“I want armed guards ready at the entrance to the passage on this side. Shoot everyone who appears! Don’t let them come out and spread through the village!”
Cezar and I reached the castle, tearing through wolves as my heart nearly stopped when I noticed the gate standing half-open.
Several attacked me at once, just as they attacked my captain of the guard, while Lonut gunned down those coming from the mines.
Rage made me kill several simultaneously with claws and fangs, kicking others aside before tearing them apart. My attention remained fixed on the gate, clearing the invaders from my path without knowing how many had already gotten inside.
All I could think about was Daciana and Seraphine in there while I snarled and ran.
(...)
POV Seraphine Valerian:
I saw the attack through the window and, immediately, I ran to get the gun with silver ammunition that Florian had left with me.
I thought of Viktor, but I ran downstairs, knowing he must be desperate fighting. I needed to take care of the inside of the castle, with the certainty that he would do everything to be there.
The guard was arming himself in the watchtower above the front gate. He was the only one there, since the two from the tower spent their days protecting the walls and surroundings, only returning at night.
He was shooting, but there were too many of them, banging against the gate, violent snarls coming from outside.
"We are being attacked!" Daciana screamed, coming from the kitchen and ripping off her apron.
"I know! Let's go to the back, wait for them to come in. And fight. Viktor will be here soon!" I grabbed her arm and pulled her through the hallways, toward the kitchen at the end.
"Wretches! I'll kill every single one of them!" Furious, her eyes glowed brightly in a light brown shade, her fangs and claws coming out, while she growled. It was the first time I saw her like that, and I was startled.
Daciana prepared herself, in an attack stance. I went to the other side, aiming at the entrance. I had twenty bullets. I needed to remember everything Florian taught me and hit vital points, without wasting ammunition.
I felt my shoulder ache from the position, the bite mark burning even more. That whole side seemed different, more alive, a heat descending toward my chest.
I was afraid that would mess up my aim, but I concentrated, determined to fight to the end, with nothing to distract me.
"Go hide, Seraphine!" the she-wolf growled.
"No. We'll kill the enemies together!"
"Viktor will never forgive me if something happens to you!"
"Nothing will happen."
We exchanged a look of understanding when we heard a louder noise and footsteps running inside. They had entered.
My soul seemed to leave my body. I prepared for the worst. But determined to stay firm and do what was necessary, for both of us, for Viktor. I didn't tremble, despite the fear settling like an anvil in my stomach.
Two appeared, semi-transformed, like rabid beasts. I shot one in the forehead, the other in the chest. The first fell immediately, the second hit the ground convulsing. More came.
Daciana attacked one, both of them growling, claws everywhere. I feared for the lady and shot the wretch who had just wounded her arm. Two got too close to me, and I hit them. One in the shoulder, the other in the belly. They kept coming, and I had to spend more bullets on them, because they didn't die.
A vibrating hatred shook me, as if a new ferocity was coming from my chest, without any trace of fear.
Four more appeared. Head, head, head. Precise shots. The fourth jumped onto the table and fell on top of Daciana. She bit his jugular fiercely and ripped off a large chunk of flesh, spraying blood everywhere. She kicked him and stood up.
More came. I didn't leave my spot, aiming and shooting as soon as they appeared in the hallway. I realized I wouldn't have enough ammunition. I had only three left of the twenty in the cartridge.
Five entered the kitchen, and the lady prepared to defend me, but I stood beside her, hitting three. Chest, head, belly. Two jumped, and I knew she wouldn't be able to handle both. I threw the gun away and grabbed a heavy frying pan, furious, ready to die fighting.
Viktor entered transformed in that huge way, clothes torn, his growl echoing brutally off the walls. There was fur on his face, his claws sinking into the nape of the attackers.
Relief engulfed me, for he arrived when everything seemed lost. Daciana grabbed me, and we watched as he easily destroyed the two wolves, blood spraying onto the pots she always kept shining.
Cezar came behind him, terrified. He sighed with relief upon seeing his mother alive.
Viktor stepped over the bodies on the floor, one of them with silver in its chest, still alive. He crushed its trachea with a violent stomp, leaving it motionless. I ran into his arms, and he growled, nervous.