CHAPTER 67 The Raid

Stefan Acheron

Former Marquess

The New Duke of East Coven Stronghold

China

I was finally back home. The weather here was just splendid. No hot sun. No noise. Just dark clouds and snow.

After Katherine went missing, us vampires were again summoned by the Vampire King. I could not withstand the pain of rejecting the summons, so instead of looking for my daughter, I went to go see the King.

The Duke was waiting for me at the gates of the Makati mansion.

"Where is she?" I growled at him through clenched teeth, walking through a parted sea of vampires.

"I assumed she came back to you safely, Duke," he answered casually with a pronounced emphasis on 'duke'. My eyes widened at my new title. I was expecting him to grant the Baron his old title.

"She is missing. Did anyone see her board the truck to leave the estate?" I asked.

"No. When Isabella was found dead in her cell, everyone was in shock," he answered. "I must warn you. The Vampire King is furious. He received a call from the High Elder who informed him of Damon's demise through wolf hands," he explained before we entered the doors of the mansion and proceeded to the dining area.

"Duke Stefan Acheron, I have been waiting for you," the Vampire King smiled malevolently and pointed to a vacant chair at the long table. Not so long ago, I was a pariah in his eyes, but now I was back in his good graces and was promoted as well.

"Your Excellency, why was I summoned?"

"I need you to raid the territory of Alpha Drew Drago in China. We will leave for China now to gain an upper hand. As for the wolves, I have asked them to see me tomorrow, making them forego the urgency to leave this country. However, I assume they will warn the pack to prepare for an impending attack," he said.

I gave the new Eldest of the East Coven Stronghold a dirty look, not surprised they were making me do their dirty work.

"The Flaming Dragon Sword Pack is not just any wolf pack, Sire. They guard Beijing, the capital of China. Their warriors are well-trained. Their priestesses many. The boundaries of their territory are armed with protection charms as well as booby traps. With that being said, aside from their security around their perimeter, Alpha Drew Long-Drago's pack is one of the largest in the world. The pack of Alexander Ulrich of Washington State pales in comparison. This is why Alpha Drago is said to be the strongest Alpha among the wolves," I explained to the Vampire King. "I would need to sacrifice thousands of vampires before you, my King, can enter the territory unharmed."

"I will not be entering the territory. You are," the Vampire King said. "First, witches will weaken their protection charms. You may not know, but Strega was not the only witch under my care. Strega's apprentices will be waiting for us at East Coven Stronghold grounds. Secondly, you will use silver bullets to take out their guards and whomever else stands in your way. Third, you will abduct Alpha Drago's grandmother. Anyone else, you will kill. I hope you have enough ammunition and weapons in China."

"Sire, I would like to confirm. Do you want me to exterminate the pack? It will cause a war. If we were to have casualties, it will not be enough to kill all the wolves around the world if a war  begins," I explained and turned to the new Eldest Albert, hoping he could tell the Vampire King to reconsider his hasty decisions. "Eldest, you have always told us to be cautious. You do understand the consequences if I were to do what you ask?"

"Of course, Duke. The King would not command you to do something if he wasn't aware of the consequences," the Eldest replied coyly.

"But, what about the Enchantress and the Flaming Sword? The sword will be even more powerful at its birthplace-"

"How dare you undermine my authority!" The Vampire King hissed, showing me his long fangs. "THE WAR BEGAN WHEN THEY KILLED STREGA, MY SUPPPOSED FUTURE QUEEN AND THE ELDEST DAMON!"

The Vampire King threw his glass across the hall, staining the white wall with red.

"I will no longer sit down and do nothing. If needed, I will make an alliance with the lycan who calls himself the Rogue Lord. He also wants what I want... to see the wolves of this world burn!" He paused and poured himself another glass of blood. "I have summoned all the vampires from this country. We will fly together to China. There, I will summon all vampires in China and from nearby countries. You and the army I give you will do what I say, Duke Stefan Acheron, or I will rip your head from your throat."

"Our arsenal at the East Coven Stronghold has enough weapons and ammunition for a small army of three hundred. But if the protection charms are not taken down, the ammunition will run out before any harm can be truly done," I said, frustrated the Vampire King would let me lead an army to its doom. "An extermination is impossible, Sire. This is what I propose, I will abduct Grandmother Long and kill whoever gets in my way."

"Kill as many as you can, Duke Stefan Acheron. I want them to feel my rage."

When I arrived in China, I gathered intel on Alpha Drago's grandmother, hoping not much has changed over the years.

Now, here I was, standing on top of a hill overlooking the territory. Strega's apprentices were working to rid the protection charms along the granite walls surrounding the territory. I had snipers hidden in the snow, waiting for the battle to commence.

A piercing howl broke the quiet of the night. It was answered by another howl which seemed to sound closer to where I was standing.

"Witches, you need to work faster. I fear Alpha Drago and his team have arrived at The Wall," I said, frustrated.

"The protection charms are strong, Duke. We can not rush the process," one of the younger witches said.

"Rush the process? So you want us to stay out here forever?" I scoffed at the three witches. They were imbeciles. "Let's see what these protection charms can still do after waving your hands at it for hours," I said.

"Fledglings and neophytes, enter the territory."

The fledglings and the neophytes rushed through the boundaries of the territory. As they did, stakes flew in every direction, but it did not last. The last of the protection charms was now gone.

"Be on the look out for traps and prepare for battle. The wolves in the territory have already been warned," I instructed my fellow vampires.

I jumped over the granite wall and dashed through the brick pathways of the beautiful and sprawling territory towards the Long Mansion. I would take cover and hide from time to time to avoid the wolves who had shifted to defend their homes.

The well-lit territory looked mystical against the fog. The elongated curved roofs of the identical houses were covered with snow, there were small bridges over the frozen ponds, numerous gardens and various courtyards... all so elegant amidst the fog and the snow.

I sprayed a scent to mask my smell before I entered the vicinity of the mansion which was located at the center of the territory. All Flaming Dragon Sword pack members believed they were connected to the Alpha this way, making them strong.

I noticed a Chinese man quickly leave through the front doors of the mansion. Howls, whimpers and gunshots could be heard echoing in the icy night air. I rushed toward the double doors of the mansion, smashing the wooden doors into pieces. Then, I quickly dropped facedown to the floor.

As expected, stakes flew above my head from the kin of Long-Drago.

"Stop!" An elderly woman's voice said in English. "Stefan is here for me."

The Long kin moved to reveal an old Chinese woman seated in an antique dragon chair. Her silver hair was cut short, her mouth curved down in a frown, but her eyes...her almond eyes were smiling. She was wearing a light gray long sleeve turtle neck sweater, dark blue slacks and winter boots. She stared at me through her dark rimmed glasses as I stood up and fixed myself, brushing off the wood from my white ski suit.

"Ling, you received my message," I bowed, keeping an eye on the wolves surrounding her.

"Stop the attack or I will not go with you willingly," she said.

"I can only stop the attack once we exit the walls of your territory," I replied. "If not, your kin will turn me into dust. I know I've lived hundreds of years, but I still want to go on living. So, Ling what will it be? Will you come or not?" Her eyes narrowed icily.

"Do I have your word you will stop the attack?" She asked.

"You don't trust me?" I asked

"How can I trust a bloodsucker who has constantly lied to me about my daughter's death?" Ling threw back.

"Ling, I did not kill your daughter. That is the truth," I answered, sighing. She called me bloodsucker...that hurt. "Fine. You have my word, Ling."

She stood up and walked towards me. Before her family could stop her, I lifted her in my arms, dashed towards the wall, and jumped over it.

"Stop the attack," Ling said as I ran up the hill.

"I will. Just hold on." I placed her down, took a flare gun from my pocket and shot a red flare to stop the attack. Suddenly, the sound of numerous hissing vampires echoed in the air. "Look down, Ling."

Ling turned her head and looked down towards the wall. She smiled when the vampires began their retreat.

"Can you carry me all the way or do I have to walk?" Ling asked.

"I'll carry you," I answered, lifting her in my arms again.

"Good. I've aged since the last time we saw each other." I laughed at her joke.

I glanced one more time at the territory and noticed a bright blue light. Shit!

I quickly turned and dashed off.