Survive

Second Chapter

Damiana's POV

16th century

After grooming ourselves, we headed to the main tent where there was a big dining table.

"This dress is very damn uncomfortable" I muttered under my breath, but of course my dearest sister heard my blubbering.

"Enough! You look like a true daughter of the general" We locked our elbows together and I was damn nervous.

To be honest, in every beautiful, feminine dress I feel nervous and...unconfident. In particular, Magdalena's choice is too feminine for my liking. Red, chiffon dress with long sleeves and hell revealing chest. She also gave me a chain tiara that was once our mother's.

"You are his daughter tonight and I am a Commander," I stated with raised eyebrows.

Magdalena huffed, "Yeah, sure." she sounded sarcastic and I knew that she liked the way I looked but... that's the problem. Everyone liked it except for me.

"Commander...Miss Crosse," greeted us and bowed his head to one of the guards that stood outside my father's tent.

"Good evening, Roberto," I nodded at him.

"I don't understand why you call every guard by that name. Is it even important to memorize their names?" commented Magdalena, turning on her annoying self.

Perhaps Magdalena was like our father, arrogant, serious and cold-headed. Unlike me, I am more like our mother. Sympathetic to everyone. But I don't think that it's a problem. Every guard respects me and appreciates my sincere care.

"Don't start. I answered this question before, sister." the only thing I said, before our father stood up with two gentlemen and came to us.

"Ladies!" exclaimed my father with widened arms.

Magdalena and I sat in gracious knixens.

"Good evening, father." muttered Magdalena with her low and high impression tone.

"Damiana...How was your hunt these days? I heard from the guard that you killed two vampires?" his eyes were cold as ice and he didn't talk to his daughter. He was talking with a commander.

I got used to this.

My eyes relaxed instantly and I changed my expression to numb. "It went great and yes, two vampires, even though they were children, barely fifteen years old," I didn't want to show emotions in front of my father, but I couldn't think about these little kids.

I know that I should not feel sympathy towards evilness...but...they were children.

"Ah-ha...also, the guard told me that you lost the truck of an adult vampire. Care tell me why my Commander let that killer run away?" his tone was stern and I hated it...hated it from a young age. Those empty eyes and stiff jawlines.

"I told John to track him down," I replied, clenching my jaws till hearing screeching.

My father furrowed his grey eyebrows and asked, "To where?"

I saw a slight fear in his eyes and replied a second after, "To the Western Camp. They should already be there."

Father looked... terrified. It was one of the single moments I so his emotions. Something is not alright.

"What? Tell me!" I barely yelled, catching King's Henry and Prince Eduard's attention.

"Goddammit, Damiana! What were you thinking of?!" yelled my father at me...no...my general.

I looked into my father's eyes, not blinking, in search of an answer.

"There was an attack...not far from General Casmund's Camp. We don't know who was there but...Casmund sent me the telegram, Damiana." he was frustrated and angry...at me.

"No..." I whispered, not leaving my eyes on the general.

"Sister, come on, sit down." Magdalena came to my side before I could collapse on the floor. "Do you want some water?" she asked in a carrying voice, but I didn't care...all I could think of was John with two brave hunters. I know their families myself...how will I tell them? How will I?

"Dami...talk to me," murmured Mag to me, and that's when I answered with a shaky voice.

"I need a strong drink."

Prince Eduard came near us while the King and General talked.

"Ladies, will you mind if I join you?" his sweet voice was disgustingly sweet and painful.

"No, not at all, Your Highness." replied my sister, who was checking out the blonde Prince shamelessly.

"I thank you." he sat near my sister... obviously.

"I should compliment you, Miss Crosse, you look astonishing tonight." he commented, putting his palm on his chest and bowing his head slightly.

My sister blushed like a tomato and I could see how her chest was rising up and down while gazing at Prince Charming.

God, I am weeping over my soldiers and they just casually discussing their arrogant selves.

I rolled my eyes and went outside after excusing myself in front of the King and father.

I stomped on the mud, not caring if it would ruin my dress. Anyways, I hate it.

Five stages through which I go when I lose one of my loyal people. Confusion, brokenness, sadness, anger and murder.

Right now, I am in the fourth stage.

My mind was full of questions. Did John disobey my order? Did he risk it all and face consequences?....or maybe it wasn't them, maybe they were just people who wandered and were killed by werewolves?

I wanted to believe that...I was hoping. Even though I knew how hope could morally shatter you. The more you hope... the more pain you will feel afterwards.

I stopped in front of the oak tree and began punching the stem with bare knuckles. It wasn't the first time I had done such a thing. Actually, father was the first person who showed me. When I turned fourteen, he decided to make me stronger and...tougher than any other regular hunter.

He told me to beat the stem five times daily and when I did not feel the pain anymore, add five punches more. The words he used to tell me, "You can punch harder, Damiana, I want to see the core of that damn oak."

Every f**king day...I heard him saying this. I punched this barely alive till my knuckles were bleeding and all I could think of was, I can beat harder...I can please him. I can be better.

And I was better.

After two years, my knuckles became numb. The skin is ugly and all in white scars but they stopped bleeding when I beat anything. I guess my hands turned into the oak itself. The strangest thing is that...I was proud of myself. I thanked my father and I would act as if I had achieved something great but... Everyone showed pity towards me.

"I hate! Hate! Hate! Hate!" I let out my anger on the tree, feeling a lot better...and I ripped the dress. Magdalena will chastise me worse than our dad.

I huffed and felt annoyed by my own hair that kept falling into my mouth and eyes. I searched for a long twig so that I could make my hair up.

After doing my hair, I wanted to go back to the tent but I heard the bell...we never use the bell if it's not urgent.

I widened my eyes and didn't leave a second before running towards the gates. I raised my dress to my stomach and I didn't care if my legs in the small skirt were seen. It was urgent and I am a Commander.

When I came near the gates, I found the King and my father near the horse and

"John..." I uttered, receiving attention from every standing man.

My father was very unhappy at his appearance and the king was angry. John himself looked scared and tired. He was all in mud but I don't know if he has any wounds.

"You are fooling us, hunter!" yelled His Majesty at my father's friend. The only friend.

"No, Your Majesty... It's the truth." I heard him reply.

"John, if it is true...we will start a war." said my father in full seriousness.

My eyes were jumping from one man to another, "Tell me what's the problem, here! And where are Willow and Ernst?" I asked, stepping closer to John.

Something was wrong with him. His eyes were scared and paranoid. Everybody was tense and... this John, he can't be scared...

"They are dead. They left me alive just to give you the message." he murmured with, a low voice.

"Who 'they'?" I questioned, furrowing my eyebrows. His expression...made as fear of that person who did this to him and Willow and Ernst. So the attack was on them...

"Vampires. They...They made a trap. We were tracking one vampire but instead there were six of them. I tried to fight...we tried...They killed them, Damiana...killed them in front of me." his eyes were sore from the tears and bloody red.

I faced my father and received a nod, "Alright, I need you to be focused right now. What message? From who?" I asked, carefully but sternly.

John lifted his gaze and whispered, "You killed the sons of Knyaz Ivan. He wants a murderer of his heirs." I couldn't hide my horror, "Knyaz wants you, Damiana."

Hey! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Stay tuned and, of course, comment on your thoughts, xo.

Knyaz - prince of the Russian race.