Chapter 167 Ambushed
The haunted house was called that for a reason, throughout their time inside the house they could hear creaking sounds and coarse laughter ringing across the area. No one was sure what it was, and no one really wanted to go check it out.
Melissa stood in a corner while Eric gave Richard the briefings of their mission. At least what he could say now.
“We had to leave Jasper behind,” Melissa said. He was the one who got you the message,” Eric said.
Melissa still couldn't forget the contents of the letter and how sorrowful it had sounded for her. Richard had tried to convince her that it was normal for people to sacrifice themselves for her cause but Melissa was still skeptical about being the one who ended people's dreams for hers. She exhaled and shook her head then walked towards the witch who had been awfully quiet since their arrival.
“,You must be Clarissa,” Melissa greeted.
“And?” The girl replied coldly.
Eroca didn't really know what to say next, the girl wasn't friendly at all. She was about to just back up when she remembered she was the queen of an entire kingdom.
“And I was sent by your mother,” she replied.
Clarissa smiled and then chuckled. “And you know my mother how?”, She asked.
“Through my dreams, she was apprehensive that I saved your life,” she replied.
Clarissa paused and then scrutinized her from head to toe, she was about to speak when one of the Sentinels yelled. “We have company,” as he said this, Richard rushed to the window and so did Melissa, there were about seven cars that pulled up into the area.
“What is the chance they don't know where they are here?” Melissa asked and as if to answer her question, someone got out of the vehicle with a megaphone and announced.
“We know you are in there,” Melissa nodded.
“Richard, It is time to go,” she said, signifying it was time to walk the darkness once more.
“About that,” Richard said. “It isn't working,” he said.
Melissa looked at him. “What isn't working?” She asked with a bulged eyes, not ready to believe how toast they were.
“My abilities are not working,” he said.
Melissa was about to reply when the witch stepped in. “Of course it isn't working, they brought one of my dampening runes,” she said.
Melissa exhaled. “Great your rune,” she answered. “What are you going to do about it because it is currently in the way of our only ticket out,” she said.
Clarissa shook her head with a sense of urgency, “If I can get a chalk…'' She paused, then spoke again. “I can try to actually counteract the effects of the rune,” she said.
Melissa looked around and no one had a chalk. “ Wait, are you saying we are all going to die tonight because of a piece of chalk?” She asked.
She glanced around the room worriedly until her eyes fell on the spray can attached to the waist of one of the Sentinels. The Sentinel's standard equipment all contained spray paint. “How about a spray paint?” She asked.
“Yes,” she replied. “That would work.”
The Sentinek then handed over his spray paint immediately and then another announcement came from outside. The megaphone dude spoke again. “We are going to open fire if you do not step out of the house in fifteen seconds,” Melissa glanced back at them and now she could see a line of armed men aiming their guns at the house.
“We are toast,” she said to Richard and her mate smiled.
He looked at her and exhaled. “We stick to the plan,” he said and Melissa nodded.
“Let's step out boys,” Melissa said. “Clarissa is priority number one. Richard is number two,” she said. “The only way we are leaving is if both of them are safe.” She announced. “I am gonna go out now to reason with them if I can, let them realize this is treason against the crown and the kingdom. Whatever happens, my sentinels. Keep Richard and Clarissa safe.”
She then stepped out of the room, flanked with Jacob, Hashar, Eric and about half the Sentinels. The others stood behind to protect Richard and Clarissa. They trooped out of the haunted house, walking between a line of Deformed trees as they approached the armed people.
“Oh what a surprise,” the guy with the megaphone said. “My lady,” he bowed upon seeing Melissa. “I am genuinely at a loss for words, and I am in fact grateful for being in your presence,” he smiled.
Melissa knew she recognized the voice, but she couldn't really place a pin on it. Then the person stepped out of the car's headlights and she remembered him. During the meeting with the Regional heads he was one of the few who flared up. She didn't get his name then so she didn't really know what to call him.
“So you are an Oracle too?” She asked.
“A minor detail, don't you think?” he said. “We have fought a series of wars with each other in the shadows and we hate each other's guts more than anything,” he said.
Melissa looked at him weirdly. “I don't even know who you are,” she replied.
He stopped talking, made a series of awkward head gestures before he spoke. “Anyways, enough small talk, bring out the witch and we can let you guys go, or you can resist and we will drill so many holes into your body…” he was still speaking but Melissa wasn't interested in the whole morale dampening speeches. Over the past few days she had understood the power of words and symbols.
“No!” Melissa said. “You are in front of the Luna of Dunham and her Sentinels, surrender now and the punishment for your crime won't be a slow and agonizing death,” she said. Melissa couldn't feel emotions like she used to, her aura was thinner than ever but she could still feel her sentinels morale improve, this was exactly what she needed.
She looked at the man and flicked out her claws and fangs.