396- After the Slaughter
POV Seraphine Valerian:
"We're fine..." I assured him, even though I was shaking all over.
"Are you sure?" He looked from me to Daciana, who was hugging her son.
"I managed to fight too! And Seraphine shot them!"
"Get more weapons from my office and go up to one of the towers. Lock yourselves inside and stay there until we return." He squeezed me and then pulled away from me, careful with his claws, his golden eyes burning. "Go!"
We obeyed, knowing he would order the gate locked and place more guards there. They needed to stop others from arriving and spreading out.
We only stopped when we reached the top of the tower, each with a weapon in hand. We watched the battles from up there, peeking out.
I prayed that Viktor would win and kill as many as he could. And that we wouldn't have too many casualties.
Then a loud explosion sound came from afar, and my heart stopped. It would only start beating again when it was all over.
(...)
POV Viktor Averwyn:
We destroyed every single one that crossed our path.
My people were combative, courageous, and well-trained. Even women like the duchesses, Lana, Stoica, and Raluca, fought, hunting the invaders through the village and finishing them off.
After the explosive sealed the entrance in the forest, they were cornered like rats. They came out on our side, dying from multiple shots. When they realized what was happening, they retreated through the tunnel, and we went after them.
They fell with every bullet that hit or every head that was ripped off.
I became covered in blood, only stopping after leaving accumulated bodies and loose limbs behind me. And not a single one of them left breathing.
"It's over..." Cezar gasped, also bathed in blood. His wounds were closing.
It was a massacre. Hundreds fewer soldiers for the packs that Lucian had summoned. I trembled with rage imagining that Edric and Aldren might have supported that.
"What do we do now?" Lonut stopped beside me.
"Order the bodies to be thrown into the forest. Put them on carts and take them down the road. Lucian will see what happened to his wolves."
And so it was done.
I ran back to the castle. Relief engulfed me when I saw that Seraphine and Daciana were alright. My heart still missed a beat from all the fear I felt when I saw them among the dead, about to be attacked by the remaining two. I killed the others outside.
I gathered claws and fangs, pulling both of them to me. I would never forgive myself if something happened to them. And that's what would have happened if Seraphine hadn't insisted on learning to shoot and kept the gun with her.
"We're fine. My wound has already dried, and Seraphine wasn't hurt," Daciana assured me, going to get a strong shot of țuică for me.
I squeezed my woman in my arms, while she lifted her face, her green eyes searching for me.
"How did they manage to invade the village?"
"They killed Katarina. She was certainly forced to say where there was a passage."
"My God! And Adelina?" She grabbed the tatters of my shirt, soaked with the blood that covered me.
"I don't know."
Hatred throbbed, my mind searching for a quick solution.
And I knew what it was: to go down with my men and attack. All or nothing.
"My little girl..." Daciana handed me a glass of the strong liquor, devastated. "She is still alive, Viktor! I can feel it! He did this to deceive you, to make you think the worst! If she is the predestined one, he won't do anything to her!"
That did not calm me. I downed the țuică in one go and looked back at Seraphine, saying quietly:
"You were brave, but I want you to listen to me. If I have to leave, obey Florian. Go with him and the others to a secret passage, get out of here. Don't stay, don't try to fight."
"But..."
"Promise me. I can't concentrate on saving my daughter and killing that wretch if I'm worried about you. Do everything he says."
"I promise," she murmured. "If you promise to come back to me."
"I will be here with Adelina." I caressed her hair, not really believing that. The weight on my chest was crushing. "Stay alive, Seraphine."
"Alive and waiting for you." She hugged me tightly. Daciana came over as well.
I had to leave them, needing to make several decisions.
Guards entered to remove the bodies from there, and I went to confirm that all the invaders were dead. We searched everything.
We had three deaths and several wounded, who were being cared for.
Then, I went to the office to monitor the cameras and sensors, to make sure there were no more attacks happening nearby. When everything seemed quiet out there, I watched the bodies being thrown over the wall and through the gate, accumulating into limbs, ripped-off parts, and masses of blood. Soon everyone would know what happened.
I convened the council, so we could act at once. While they hadn't arrived yet, I left Emil in charge of the office and went out to confirm that the others were alright. Then I entered the women's cemetery, the only calm and empty place on that horrible afternoon.
I took out my phone to call Aldren when it started to ring, and I saw Emil's name. He shouted desperately:
"Come back here!"
My blood ran cold. I put the device back in my pocket and climbed the building's staircase almost as if I were flying.