Whisper Bloodrose

Chapter-15 Attack

Chapter-15

Attack

‘Even if we combine the soldiers that only guard the door, our army is not even merely half of Lucien's.’ Darlene explained. Her fingers glided over the map as she pointed at the palace of Seba. Darlene was the Army Keeper. Whisper had concluded that she was not only, intelligent but very skilled with a sword.

Whisper stared at the representation of the castle, her mind running a little slow. She was restless, just like she was on the day Rebel was arrested. Whisper tried to focus on the planning of the war, but her heart wouldn't agree with her.

‘Are we going to start a war that we are most likely to lose?’ Jedrek scoffed. His eyes scanned the group of five people that surrounded the table. He was not very eager for this war, especially when Lucien's strength was much more than theirs.

‘Numbers don't fight. Warriors do.’ Astera replied, her hands resting on the table top. Her mind ran through different places from where she could collect some help. Whisper chose to remain silent. She was still an outsider, so interrupting in the matter of Fragment was not appropriate.

‘I told you, this war in inevitable. We finish Lucien or he finishes us.’ Rebel declared, stopping the different opinions that rose among them. He looked at Whisper and was shocked, when saw her distracted. She kept staring at the table, paying very less attention. It worried Rebel, because he knew that Whisper was destroyed from the inside.

‘Whisper.’ He nudged her lightly, to draw her out of her trance without anybody else noticing. Whisper slightly flinched but nodded. Rebel knew to avoid sudden physical contacts with her.

‘I was thinking about some people who might help.’ Whisper lied and looked back at the map.

‘I know some people who can. The Nomads.’ Rebel declared. Astera nodded reluctantly and the other soldiers kept no opinion. Whisper had never heard of such a kind. She thought Rogues were the only Werewolves not included in Seba, but turned out, she was wrong. There were many things she didn't know about.

‘Who are the Nomads?’ Whisper asked with curiosity. Rebel opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a soldier abruptly opening the door. All the people looked up startled at the sudden presence who was huffing impatiently.

‘I was clear about no interruptions during this meeting.’ Rebel scolded the soldier, his voice firm and unwavering.

‘Lucien in coming towards us, he is close.’ He declared. The members in the room lost their interest in the planning. A panic aroused in them. Rebel feared that Lucien will cause the same destruction, he caused the last time he came. Lot of bloodshed occurred, and Rebel blamed himself. For every dying person Fragment was losing its hope of a better home.

Whisper's heart beat raced, she was scared. She was scared of Lucien. He had been her worst nightmare and she was not ready to face it again, not yet. She assumed that the reason her was not at peace for so long was Lucien's arrival. If only she knew that it was the news he was bringing.

‘Guard the borders, Jedrek take your troops into the village. Darlene you take the door….’ but before Rebel's orders could go any further, the soldier interrupted them.

‘He has only two soldiers with him.’ The guard interrupted. The room was hit by a sudden shock. Rebel squeezed his eyes in confusion. Astera raised her eyebrows with astonishment. But Whisper showed no sign, as if she was not surprised by Lucien strange arrival.

‘It sounds like him.’ She chuckled. Well aware of Lucien's tactics. He loved to play with his enemy before striking the larger blow. When he visited alone, they feared him all the more.

‘Bring him to the throne room. Whisper you don't leave my room.’ Rebel ordered his finger pointing at her. He took a step towards the door, but stopped even before he completely placed his foot on the floor.

‘I am coming with you.’ Whisper declared in voice equally authoritative. Everybody's eyes widened, even the Rogues had never voiced against the commands of their king. Rebel sighed; he wanted to laugh at his own thought, that Whisper would easily follow his orders. He turned around to face her.

‘Throne room, all of you.’ Rebel directed again. But from the astonishment all over the room, no movement was seen among his soldiers. ‘Now!’ He growled. Everybody left the room in a haste, except Astera and Whisper.

Astera gracefully took her steps towards the door, and placed a motherly hand on Rebel's shoulder before leaving. When the voice of a door closing echoed in the room, he spoke again.

‘Whisper, my orders have a value here. Don't reduce it.’ Rebel firmly spoke walking towards her. Whisper sighed as if she was tired of everybody acting the same way.

‘Now you are ordering me, the one thing I despise.’ Whisper replied in a soft voice. She was not willing to start a fight with a person, who had been at her side through everything, even when she was a danger to his kingdom.

‘You don't leave my room, final decision.’ Rebel declared. He didn't want Lucien to see her. He would start a blood bath in the throne room itself, besides Whisper would have not been able to face him, not just then.

‘If I wanted to accept decisions I would never come here.’ Whisper said, her voice rising slowly. She was one step away from yelling her heart out.

‘Why don't you understand? He will know you are here!’ He yelled in reply, running a hand through his hair. He couldn't tell why Whisper was showing the tenacity of a child.

‘He already knows I am here, and he is here to show that.’ Whisper answered. Being by Lucien's side as one of his most trusted troop leaders, had made Whisper aware of all his tricks and moves. It was the only benefit she had against him.

‘Then don't sanction his assumption!’ Rebel growled so loud, it almost made Whisper flinch. He had never seen him so angry. But at the end of the day, he was a Rogue, an angry wolf that got kicked out. Rebel had suppressed his inner Rogue just as much as Whisper had suppressed her Omega soul.

‘Whisper you can't face him, not just yet.’ His voice softened. He breathed in a sigh and closed his eyes; a calm silence replaced the blistering atmosphere.

‘How do you know?’ Whisper murmured.

‘Because I have repressed my soul, too.’ He retorted, he walked close to her. His eyes were starting to cloud with guilt, as he stood in front of her. ‘I know what control it takes.’ He whispered. His hand went up to caress the side of her face. Gentle fingers brushed against her skin, but her face didn't change. She only leaned into his touch involuntarily. ‘I just know you are too damaged to take over the inner Omega. It is stronger than you.’ He looked deep in her eyes. He could already tell that Whisper was still determined to not let go off her desire.

Her soul was too damaged to face Lucien at that moment. She had to be patient and wait, for her to heal again. Running away from his Alpha mate with the Omega is charge would not have been easy. It would have turned her own spirit into dust. Seeing Lucien again would have only destroyed her further. When she would have to resist herself from running back to his mate, it would kill her in ways she can't imagine.

‘I want to know why he is here?’ She nodded eagerly, as she slipped her hand into Rebel's unoccupied one. Her eyes requested more than her own voice.

‘Okay stay by the door, do not enter no matter what.’ Rebel warned and Whisper nodded ready to negotiate. ‘Start listening to me.’ He leaned his face and placed a soft kiss on her head. All the worries left them for a few seconds. The only time Whisper wasn't burning in revenge was when she was in Rebel's arms.

……………….

‘Rebel!’ Lucien smiled wide as he walked into the courtroom, accompanied by his two soldiers on both his sides. He was walking towards the other end of the wide room to reach the throne, in front of which stood the Rogue king, in all his glory.

Lucien looked him the eye, and Rebel didn't even blink, until Lucien smirked and did it first. Astera stood behind the throne, worried that Rebel will lose his temper and make the wrong move. Jedrek and Darlene had their hands wrapped around the hilt of their swords, ready to strike any moment.

Rebel was only worried about one thing, the door to his left. He would side glance at the door, behind which stood Whisper. As soon as her Omega recognized Lucien's presence, it twitched to bash through the doors. Even from a long distance, without any visual contact and a gigantic door as a barrier, Whisper's Omega appeared to brutally dominate her. She had to grip the dragon shaped door handle tight, to prevent a fall.

‘Lucien…..it is a strange surprise.’ Rebel addressed, when Lucien stopped a few inches away from him, his soldier freezing in their spot.

‘What can I say; I am fond of astonishing people.’ He c****d his eyebrows and gave a lopsided smile, with a deadly chuckle.

‘I am not expecting any bloodshed.’ Rebel declared his voice firm and loud enough to be heard outside the room.

‘I am not either. Honestly, I despise bloodshed. It leaves me exhausted.’ Lucien laughed. When that laugh fell on Whisper's ear, she shivered. She didn't even know how much she was scared of Lucien, until her heart jumped at the sinful sound.

‘What do you want?’ Rebel asked. He wanted Lucien to leave, the longer he stayed the higher were the chances of him seeing Whisper.

‘We don't beat around the bush, now do we?’ He laughed in reply. He stared deep into Rebel stagnant eyes, and identified the hidden fear. Lucien could tell that he was restless, even scared of the Alpha's motives. ‘Where is Whisper?’

At the mention of her name, Whisper's attention on the conversation increased. She knew that Lucien was more than sure of her whereabouts. Without even looking at Lucien she could tell that, he was confident that she is around.

‘Not here.’ He confidently answered, neck held high in a pride that was slowly disappearing.

‘Strange.’ Lucien chuckled looking around himself, then back at the Rogue. ‘A damsel in distress manages to mislead the monster in the mansion. Where do you think she will go?’

‘As I have mentioned before, not here.’ Rebel answered. He was eager to dismiss the Alpha king from his territory.

‘For your own sake, I do hope it is the truth. Otherwise, I will have to kill you. In ways even demons didn't know were possible; and as I have mentioned before I despise bloodshed.’ Lucien threatened. His smile disappeared and eyes darkened.

‘Surrounded by my soldiers, you are not in position to threaten me.’ He growled, his eyebrows twitching with rage.

‘Fear the man who threatens you when he is the man in danger.' Lucien raised his eyebrows with his lips set in straight line.

‘I think it is your time to leave.’ He retorted, not wanting to hang on that sentence for too long.

‘Sure, it was a pleasure meeting you, again.’ Lucien bowed teasingly with an arrogant smile on his lips. He turned around ready to leave, but turned around unexpectedly.

‘About Whisper,’ Lucien started again. Rebel listened closely. Whisper at the mention of her name, shivered. She had a bad feeling. Like the restlessness in her had never vanished, it was always there waiting to strike at the right moment. ‘If she comes tell her Saige Bloodrose will always be alive in our prayers.’

A sudden emptiness took over Whisper, like there was no soul inside her anymore. It was more than tormenting. The person, she had learned everything from. Her father was dead, and at hands of her biggest enemy. She felt weak, unable to save the people she loved.

Saige was gone, his father, his teacher was gone. The person that had held through the worst of her times and collected her pieces, was gone. She imagined what it would have been like. Did he die with pride, like he always hoped? Did he die with dreams of Edith in his eyes? Did he die with the thought of Whisper in his mind?

That was when she thought about it, he died because of her. She fell to her knees, eyes blank and wide but not wet. She gulped and closed her eyes. The grief and guilt was eating her up, and she was scared that when Rebel finally came in, there will be nothing left in the name of Whisper Bloodrose.

With Saige gone, her confidence in herself had disappeared. As if she finally wanted to listen to everybody. She wanted to believe that she was never strong, and never will be. She always will be like the others of her kind.

‘I wonder who did it.’ Lucien laughed and then turned around, his back now facing Rebel.

He watched as the Alpha king walked towards the door, with a royal poise. Rebel eagerly waited for him to leave. He was aware that Whisper had heard all of it. At that point Rebel was wondering how someone could go through all of that and not die. She had always astonished him. He could see his desire come true, when Lucien almost reached towards the door. But when he was only a few inches away from the door he stopped.

‘You have no idea what you have started Whisper.’ Lucien declared and then left. They thought a broken Whisper, and an astonished Rebel was all he left behind. But there was always more to Lucien.

…………………………….

Rebel made a run towards the door, when he was sure that Lucien was gone. The only thing he knew was, Whisper needed him. He was wrong, what Whisper needed was revenge, a revenge to satisfy all the bottled up tears. A revenge to destroy the man, who made her life a chaos. A chaos in which she was looking for patterns that don't even exist.

His heart broke further at the sight before him. She was on her knees, staring at the blank wall in front of her, not one tear escaping her eyes. Even when Rebel embraced her she didn't make a movement.

‘Cry it out. I am here.’ Rebel comforted her as she rested her chin on his shoulder; eyes blank and mind not functioning.

‘I can not cry.’ Whisper mumbled and Rebel kept rubbing her back comfortingly. He was worried that Whisper had bottled up so many tears, that if they were broken they could bring a flood. They were already stirring one in her heart.

‘Whisper it will be fine.’ He whispered softly into her ear kissing the side of her face, trying to break her dormancy. She had started shivering slightly, her skin crawling at a certain image, an image with Saige's pale and bleeding face.

‘We-we need to meet the nomads.’ She stammered. Rebel was surprised, at her toughness. He raised his eyebrows, his hand involuntarily rubbing her back.

‘Whisper, darling you are not in the state.’ Rebel shook his head, worried that one day Whisper was going to crush herself under the burdens of her poisoning revenge.

‘She is I know.’ Astera replied from behind the two, even before Whisper mustered up her answer.

………………………………

Whisper wouldn't listen, so Rebel had to. He had insisted that, Whisper was too damaged to fight a war, that soon. He was aware that she wouldn't give two thoughts to his suggestions or to anybody's for that matter.

Whisper wanted to keep going, she wanted nothing to stop her. Mourning, love or fear. She had pledged that the only tear she will shed will be on Lucien's wound. The tears of happiness of defeating the monster, she was afraid of for too long.

She was wondering why she had let Lucien come so far. Why didn't she start this fight when Lucien tried kissing her for the first time? She was at fault, just as much as Lucien was. She even started realizing, that she was at blame for everything that had gone wrong. Perhaps if she had died in that miscarriage, Saige would still be alive.

‘I didn't come here to see you sink in self-pity.’ Rebel declared looking outside the open door of the carriage. They were drifting farther and farther away from Fragment. There were trees she had never seen, places and river she had never heard of.

Rebel had been very annoyed when Whisper refused to listen to him, about anything. It felt like, it wasn't his war anymore. Honestly, it was not, it was only Whisper's war. She decided to not reply with an equally bitter comment, very much understanding his dissatisfaction.

‘I thought Fragment was the end of the forest.’ Whisper asked calmly. It was quite ironic with the eruptions of rage inside her.

‘It is called Forever Forest for a reason.’ Rebel answered. There was a certain admiration in his eyes as he stared at the passing landscapes. Whisper almost smiled. ‘These Nomads they know places, we have never even heard of.’ He added looking back at Whisper, but she was more concerned with the movement of his lips rather than the words that left them. ‘They were Rogues who left Fragment not wanting to deal with war. They trade things and…’

Rebel's explanation was interrupted, when Whisper rested her lips on his. He was surprised at the sudden change, his eyes widened when her lips moved against his. He soon caught up and kissed back, resting his on the nape of her neck with a gentleness oozing from his hands. The jagged path, kept disturbing the carriage and they were juddering from it, but that never appeared to stop them.

Whisper pulled away, their lips still only inches part, so all she had to do to kiss him again, was lean.

‘Thank you, for everything.’ Whisper murmured. Whisper was grateful, and she expressed it, because Rebel was supposed to know.

……………………….

Whisper didn't have a proper prospective for The Nomads, but what she found was the absolute opposite. In the middle of nowhere, conical tents were set up with burning fire outside each one of them. Whisper didn't count but there were at least 40 horses tied to trunks of different trees. Surprisingly there was no human figure in sight.

‘Don't worry, they will surprise us well.’ Rebel smiled. Whisper was only beginning to process his statement when, the rustling of leaves is heard from behind the two. Jedrek and Darlene quickly gather their bows and arrow, to the king when required.

As Rebel and Whisper turned around to check, where the sound came from, rustling of leaves was heard from their left. The four of them decided to guard each direction. That was when a Nomad rose from each direction, with arrows pointing at the intruders. Whisper almost smiled, they were skilled warriors, and they would have made good allies.

‘We are here to meet Vance and Ulferd.’ Rebel announced. They saw their bows go down, as if he had spoken magic words.

………………………..

Only Rebel and Whisper were allowed to meet Vance and Ulferd as Rebel had unexpectedly mentioned. She was curious on identity of the two, and on why their names were taken together instead of just one of them. They were being lead towards the only gray tent by a girl. She had long metallic blue hair, and she was wearing a short white tunic. Whisper wasn't too sure about her being a werewolf.

‘Vance and Ulferd?’ Whisper questioned looking at Rebel, her curiosity refusing to wait.

‘Only some people know the importance of the two names being taken together, the once who do are friends.’ He answered. Soon they were standing before the tent, patiently waiting an arrival. She led the two inside, and Whisper was met with two men sitting on the floor beside each other. They were werewolves, Whisper judged and seeing their built forms and tall bodies, she was assuming that they are Alpha or Beta.

One of them had short sand brown hair, with grey eyes. He was dressed minimally, with a creased tan shirt, brown knee length pant and boots. He smiled at Whisper welcomingly. They were Vance and Ulferd, she was assuming, not very sure about who was who.

The two stood up, and one of them walked towards Rebel. He had dark raven hair and stubble. He was wearing a white shirt paired with black pants and smiled a toothy grin at the sight of Rebel. He quickly embraced Rebel; Whisper was assured that the two are good friends.

‘I am Vance and you must be Whisper.’ The man who wasn't occupied in a friendly embrace introduced himself, and she looked at him, to acknowledge his presence.

‘I am. It is a pleasure meeting you.’ She answered extending her hand that Vance took delightfully and shook. Rebel and Ulferd pulled apart by now. Ulferd smiled at Whisper warmly.

‘Whisper, this is Ulferd the leader of The Nomads and that is Vance his mate.’ Rebel pointed at the man beside her. She couldn't help the widening of her eyes, at the statement and tried her best to not look too surprised.

‘Oh-Ah, It is a delight meeting you.’ She told Ulferd who smiled supportively, as if telling her that, he understood her newfound hesitation.

‘We are not the conventional couple.’ Ulferd chuckled. Whisper was quite impressed by the way; two of them were accepting their identity, while Whisper hadn't accepted hers yet.

‘Ulferd, I need help.’ Rebel finally said, making the Nomadic Leader look at his desperate eyes. He nodded and pointed towards the spot they were formerly sitting in, telling them to have a seat there.

………………

Rebel explained the entire story to Ulferd and Vance. Whisper was deriving that he indeed trusted the couple, if he was honestly narrating her story to them. At the end, a deep silence took over the atmosphere. Ulferd and Vance looked at each other, as if mentally calculating their decision.

Whisper nervously looked at them, desperately waiting for them to tell their decision. Rebel smiled warmly, at him, while gripping her palm gently.

‘I am astonished at your courage, Whisper. I honestly respect it.’ Vance smiled while nodding his head. She didn't reply to the compliment and waited for him to continue.

‘I agree, it is an honor to meet a warrior like you, but I am afraid we can't help you.’ Ulferd declared with true guilt in his eyes. Her lips formed a straight line at the answer and Rebel's smile faded.

‘Ulferd, you are my friend.’ Rebel insisted, while Whisper remained silent letting Rebel take the lead on that one. She still noticed how Vance was not satisfied with Ulferd's answer, he could be persuaded.

‘That is why I hope you understand.’ Ulferd answered with sadness in his eyes. He truly wanted to help, but was holding back for some reason.

‘These people they came with us to avoid war, we can not push them into one.’ Vance reasoned. Whisper thought it was only fair they said that, but she wanted to know. If they were intending to stay away from war, why were they skilled warriors?

‘If you were sure you would not get involved in a war, why are all these Nomads skilled warriors?’ Whisper questioned, as if to counter their statement.

‘It is defense.’ Ulferd replied calmly.

‘Whatever it is, but you can't avoid war and you know that.’ Whisper added to her debate. ‘If I lose this war Lucien will come for Rogues and then for you. What will you do then?’ After Whisper's question a deadly silence fell all over the atmosphere. She wasn't sure if, the couple was convinced or not, so she answered her question.

‘Ulferd, she is right. The result of this war might be dangerous for us. ’ Vance stated looking at Ulferd, with eyes of knowingness. Vance was sure, he needed to help Whisper and he appeared determined to pull help from his partner.

‘It is not a might anymore. We are at war.’ Rebel added making Ulferd nod. Another silence fell over the tent. He kept fighting an inner battle on what side to choose.

Whisper was desperate to get help, as much as she could. She needed to defeat Lucien that was the only thing that could bring her relief, at least the closest feeling to that. She might cry if she were to not find good allies; crying isn't something Whisper did too often.

‘I want to help you. Trust me I do, but there are people who trust me that I'd lead them away from war and not towards it.’ Ulferd answered.

‘Aren't war and peace connected?’ Whisper questioned again. She could start begging due to the desperation in her.

‘They are but I chose the side with peace.’ Ulferd replied with loss of confidence in his own words. Rebel remained silent letting Whisper take the charge of the argument. Vance chose not to speak in their discussions of war and peace.

‘Don't expect to get only the desired side. It is connected; they come at the cost of each other. You have to fight for peace.’ Whisper finally declared with too much buoyancy in her own words. She believed in the trueness of her words, Ulferd did too for that matter. The Nomads were not only running from their kind, but also from their truth.

‘I will help you.’ Ulferd declared. A smile spread across the faces of Vance and Rebel, while Whisper's remained unmoving, as if she knew that a con was coming. ‘But not until, you have one other ally.’ He mentioned.

‘Not eager to help, I see.’ Whisper raised her eyebrows, stunned at the Ulferd's determination. But her own was no less, the war was coming, with them or without them.