Chapter 57 The Ultimatum

We left the cafe. After Dad and I dropped everyone off, we put patrol on alert, activated the warriors and headed for the cells.

When we got there, we could hear fighting in the cells. Some of the guards were dead or unconscious. We rushed into the cells.

We heard someone say, “join me and live or refuse and die.” It must have been the Blood King. We ran down the hall to the cells. Guards lay lifeless on the floor. We got to the cells prepared to fight.

As we entered, the Blood King disappeared. His rogue wolves, still present, turned to face us. It was hard to fight in such close quarters with so many of us there, but we managed to put the rogues down and a few of the prisoners. We locked the remaining prisoners back up and headed back out.

We checked on our wounded and brought our dead back to the surface. Once we were out of the tunnels that led to the cells, we called for ambulances and support staff. We did our best to keep the wounded comfortable until help arrived.

When the doctors arrived, we went back into the tunnels to collect the dead rogues and prisoners. We brought them topside and burned their bodies. Then we took our dead and wounded home. Some of our warriors stayed behind to guard the remaining prisoners. We would need to send more guards once we got home.

I wasn’t sure how the Blood King disappeared, but the way he was talking to the prisoners, I knew he would be back. Especially now, since we killed all his rogues. He would need a new army.

We held funerals for our fallen warriors and guards that Saturday. It was a somber occasion and it reminded me of all those we lost when fighting Khenzu. But the Blood King wasn’t a god, he should be more easily stopped.

After the funerals, I went to our family’s library to do some research. I couldn’t stop thinking about how the Blood King just disappeared. I needed to know how. After several hours, I couldn’t find anything. I decided I would go to the spirit realm and get some help from the moon goddesses.

*****Scarlett’s perspective*****

I was scared. The Blood King was back. He was so close to finding me. But he disappeared again.

I tried not to worry or freak out. I didn’t want the added attention. I already had guards around me all the time. I didn’t want my family to worry any more than they already were.

I went about my day as usual. Kept mostly to myself. I hung out most of the time in the library. It rivaled my family’s own library back at the estate. I met with Nathan to talk about the situation and how it made me feel, but I didn’t tell the others the things I revealed to him. I had a secret I didn’t even tell Nathan about. I wasn’t sure it was something I should tell them. I had a bad feeling about it. I could just be over thinking it but I didn’t want to risk it. Not with everything going on.

I went to the cafe to see Strix. She was getting a smoothie. It was her favorite lunch.

“How are you doing?” She asked.

“I’m okay, mostly. I am more concerned about you guys,” I replied.

“We’ll be fine,” she said.

“Any plans for today or will you be holed up in the library again?”

“I thought I would hang out with you today. Do you have any plans?”

“Just training later. Would you like to go to the shops?”

“Sure. It would be a great distraction.”

She finished her smoothie and we headed to the pack house to get a car. The shops were on the other side of the territory.

Once in the car, we took the scenic route to the shops. I loved the beautiful scenery on the Hyacintho Lunar territory. The trees were amazing and they had a wide variety of colorful flowers. They even had an orchard that I hadn’t noticed before. Not that I ever just roamed the pack’s territory. When we got to the shops, the first one we went into was a little boutique that sold perfumes and lotions. They had a few other items but mostly perfumes and lotions. After Strix made her purchase, we put it in the car and went to the next store. It was a lingerie store. I wondered why she was buying lingerie with everything that was happening, but didn’t ask. Not my business. She tried on a few pieces and then found what she wanted. She paid for it and then we went back to the car for her to put it in the trunk. Next we went to a shoe store. She said the kids needed new shoes. She also got herself a new pair. I also found some that I liked and bought them. They were really cute boots, black with a zipper instead of laces. We spent a few more hours at the shops before heading back to the packhouse.

*****EJ’s perspective*****

I got back just as Mom was getting home. I learned from the moon goddesses that the Blood King has a very rare ability. He can teleport anywhere he has been previously. According to the goddesses, there are only three other vampires with this ability. They wouldn’t tell me who they were but they did tell me how to stop him from teleporting. It’s a spell that has to be performed by a witch; I would discuss it with Taylor later.

I helped Mom bring in her things and checked in with Scarlett. Afterwards, I helped the kitchen staff with dinner.

We ate dinner. Afterwards, we went to training. I took my group to the west training grounds as usual. We stretched while we waited for everyone to arrive. Then we began training. I wanted to teach them close combat skills in case they ever found themselves in tight quarters like we did at the cells. I asked Scarlett to be my partner on this. I had the group form two lines close to each other to form a hallway. Then Scarlett and I started our fight.

“Watch closely to how we move in the space. And watch how we attack each other.” I said as Scarlett threw a punch and I ducked. Scarlett moved forward, towards me. I stepped back and kicked at her lower left leg. She jumped and I missed. “Now we will do that again. Sometimes the ceiling will be high enough that you can jump, sometimes it won’t be.” Scarlett threw a punch and I ducked. She moved towards me and I stepped back. This time when I kicked at her lower left leg, she stepped to the side and threw a punch. I stumbled backward and almost fell over.

The warning alarms went off and we all headed toward the bunkers. The scouts and patrol only set those alarms off when we were under attack. Along the way, I helped a mother struggling with her two children. I scooped one up and told her to do the same. Then we ran toward the closest bunker. The first priority during an attack was to get the children and those who were vulnerable to the bunkers. Then everyone else would meet up with their section until we figured out where the attack was coming from.

With the children and vulnerable secured, I asked through the mindlink, “Anyone see where the enemy is?”

“The east side is clear.”

“The north side is clear.”

“The south side is clear.”

“The west side is clear as well,” I said. “Where is the attack?”

“The cells…” someone said weakly. “The cells are under attack again.”

I ordered the north and east sides to stay and protect the pack. Then I ordered the south group to join mine and we headed to the cells. By the time we arrived the fighting had ceased. The Blood King was still there. He had lined up our people and threatened to execute them if we came any closer. We stopped moving.

“What do you want, Blood King?” I demanded.

“I want Scarlett Bowden,” he replied.

“You can’t have her. And as your King, I demand you put a stop to all of this and return to your home. No one else needs to die.” I said. I was thinking of having the European council carry out his execution once he returned home.

“You are a child and not my king. The others may accept you but I do not. Now hand over Scarlett Bowden and I will leave you all alive, if you don’t I will kill all of you. You have one week to hand her over. I will not wait longer.” And with that he disappeared.