Chapter 196 Chapter 196

Chapter 196 Chapter 196

(Third person’s POV)

Principal Winston worried for her son. He was getting too attached to this girl. She still didn't know if she could trust the girl. She didn't know her intentions and she seemed like the type of person to make all the wrong decisions.

Like today, despite everyone's protests, she didn't listen… she chose to walk into the north border at midnight! Who went to the north border at daytime, let alone at night… and in the middle of an attack too. She knew the girl might not make out alive, but it wasn't her responsibility. The girl was warned but she didn’t listen.

Knox tossed on his sick bed, the same way he'd done since the girl left.

“At least eat something,” she spoke to him. “You're sick!”

Initially she was terrified that he would die but thankfully, the moon goddess heard her cries and gave her stupid son another chance. Yes, stupid! Who gave up their life because of a woman? 

Apparently her own son.

“I'm not hungry,” he mumbled. Then suddenly, he sat up in his bed, his eyes narrowed in thought. “Mom, what if I go searching for Fiona. She might be in danger, you know.”

It was official. Her son had gone insane. 

“What did you say?” 

Of course, she'd heard him clearly the first time.

“I don't feel good staying under safety while Fiona is lurking in those dangerous borders,” he said.

“She's fine,” Principal Winston forced herself to keep her voice leveled. “She's with Valkyr and the two security guards.”

Valkyr. Knox had always disliked the man. There was something sinister about him that only he seemed to sense. It made Knox wonder if he was the one crazy or every other person was oblivious. 

As they spoke, the two security personnel walked in through the tent door. Both mother and son stared at them, wondering where the others were.

Knox sat up, growing uneasy. “Where's Fiona?”

“And Valkyr.” Principal Winston added.

“She was captured at the lair of the Dullahan,” one of the security guards said.

Knox’s face grew pale. “By whom?”

“There was a large creature that looked like a shadow thrall but worse,” the other security passed. “We watched from a safe distance. There was nothing we could do.”

Knox grunted. “I knew it! I knew something like this would happen. Why was it Fiona that was captured, why not Valkyr?”

“What are you trying to insinuate,” Principal Winston said. “That Valkyr set her up.”

“Who knows?” Knox gestured furiously. “I mean… what's that noise?”

At first the others were not hearing anything, but as they listened closer they could hear piercing screams that echoed from the distance.

“That could be another creature,” Principal Winston said, hurriedly leaving the tent. Before she left, she threw an instruction at Knox. “Stay back.” 

But Knox limped out of the tent as curiosity took the better part of him.

The sight before him was nothing like he'd ever seen before. This time, there were creatures in their numbers, wrecking utter havoc through Wintercrest.

The students screamed in terror as the creatures attacked them.

“Where is Xander Theon Grayson?” a creature had asked a terrified student who shivered with fright. “I… I don't know who that is.”

A guttural scream pierced through the air as the creature ripped the girl into two equal halves, spluttering blood everywhere.

He turned to his next victim, a boy who had witnessed what happened to the girl. “Where is the Horn of Vielor,” he was about to ask, but the boy turned pale and right in front of him collapsed to the ground.

“How pathetic,” the creature dug his pointed fangs into the boy's neck, making sure he was really dead.

Meanwhile, Deathclaw hadn't seen the person he sought, so he went from tent to tent. “Where could she be?” he muttered impatiently to himself.

He needed to find the Horm of Vielor and retrieve it to his master. It wasn't even the gains he knew he would get, but was about the validation. For once, he would be in the shadow king's good books, however temporary it lasted.

“Ah. There she was.” Deathclaw glided toward her and pinned her by the throat to the wall of the tent, making his grip tight enough that she felt pain and somewhat loose to allow her to speak.

“Where's the boy?” Deathclaw hissed through his teeth.

“What boy?” she eyed him, her eyes defiant.

He loved difficult people. He enjoyed breaking them for a living.

“The boy you sent to Black Hollow to return the Horn of Vielor,” he boomed. “Did you think we wouldn't know… that we wouldn't find out?”

“I know nothing of what you speak,” Principal Winston said through her teeth. 

He tightened his grip on her neck, making sure she choked. She sputtered, and coughed, turning red instantly as she struggled against the tight grip on her neck.

But he didn't let go, he held her tighter and tighter until he could hear her wheeze and gasp for air.

Then he felt someone approaching. Sparing a glance to the side, he saw a blond injured boy with curse marks across his skin limp fast toward them.

“Wait!” he yelled as he approached. “Stop! Leave her alone. She doesn't know anything.”

Deathclaw reduced the intensity of his grip on her neck but still did not let her go. Turning to the blond boy, he said. “What makes you think I believe you?”

“Because I know where he is,” the boy said.

Deathclaw finally released the old woman, facing this young boy who seemed to know something.

“Oh really?” Deathclaw smirked.

“Knox! What are you doing?” Principal Winston screamed.

“I can show you where he is,” Knox continued, hoping this creature believed him. “If only you take me to your world to see your king.”

Nightclaw stared at the strange boy with the even stranger request. Why would he want to see the shadow king?

Taking a look at the havoc they'd created, Deathclaw realized that they really did not know anything about the Horn. If they did, they'd have broken since.

And besides, he couldn't risk going back to the shadow king with nothing. Who knew, maybe the boy would be what kept Deathclaw's head on his neck tonight.

“Very well, then,” Deathclaw gestured to the wraiths. “Tie him up. We head to the shadow kingdom.”

As the creature tied, gagged and blind folded Knox, his pulse throbbed in his ear as he wondered if he was doing the right thing, or putting his life in danger once more for her.