24 Hours

Fighting Begins

“General meet Aralyn,” Rebeka smiles down at her animal as it clings to her leg.

“She’s beautiful! May I?” I motion to pet her animal.

“You may. Aralyn play nice,” Rebeka gently pushes the pada towards me.

I smile and kneel, “Nice to meet you, Aralyn, I’m Aria.” Aralyn makes a noise in the back of her throat and pushes her head into my palm. I wasn’t expecting her to be so open with me. It was terrific that she trusted me then.

“She likes you general,” Rebeka was smiling at Aralyn and me.

 “She’s so gentle. I haven’t seen such a caring animal before. You are fortunate, Rebeka. Thank you for introducing me,” I stand up and brush my hand through Shadow’s fur because she was making noise at me trying to get me away from the panda. “I’ll take you to the person you’ll be training under from now on. Your brother will be your protector because he probably won’t leave you alone in this camp when the battle comes. Come, Shadow.”

As we were walking through the camp, people stopped and stared at Shadow and me. I held my head higher, and Shadow walked close by me in pride. It was like she was saying, “This is my human, and I’m proud of her.” Other people’s bonding animals shed away from Shadow in awe and fear. Shadow is the most majestic animal in camp, and she can easily kill any animal who angered her.

“Aria injured again?”

“James, how can I be injured when I’m stuck on the training fields?” I smile and punch him in the shoulder.

“Then, if you’re not injured, what are you doing back so early? You normally don’t get back until dinner time.”

“I have someone who is going to be training under you for a little while,” I pull Rebeka forward, “Meet Rebeka and Aralyn. Her brother will be sticking around and being her protector.”

James looks at the brother, “Well brother, I think you should introduce yourself because Aria doesn’t need to. What’s your name?”

“Owen sir,” Owen shook James’ hand.

“Well nice to meet you, Owen. A little bit of advice, Aria is harsh and mean because she cares, but if you get on her bad side, things could get ugly. Don’t get on her bad side,” James smiles at Owen then turns towards me, “Have you gotten a message back from your father yet?”

“No, but I’ll be interested to see how he responds,” I smile savagely, “I put her in her place the only way a general can.” I turn towards Owen, “Owen, where is your bonding animal?”

Owen looked down at the ground, “I was never bonded to one.”

I was about to respond when I was interrupted. 

“General Mercia!” a soldier came running up to me, “The vampires are approaching from the west!”

I turn to look at him, “Get the healers that are trained to go on the field there now. James, you prepare the camp healers. Shadow, we have a fight on our hands,” I kneel to look Shadow in her eyes, “I trust you with my life, and I trust only you to have my back in battle.” Shadow growled in agreement and pushed her head against mine. 

Without speaking anymore, I rushed out to the battle. My sword banged against my leg as I ran. I wasn’t bothered by it because my soldiers needed their fearless leader there to fight with them.

“What is the vampire’s position?” I pulled a soldier with me as I walked to the front lines. I need answers, and I needed to be in front to see what was happening. He protested, however, and tried to pull away from me, “You can go back to camp as soon as you answer my question. You’re not fit to be on the field if you are resisting an order from me.”

“The vampires are two miles away and covering the distance very quickly. They will reach us in approximately five minutes,” A female soldier that I didn’t ask answered, looking at the male soldier in my grasp in disgust. 

“Thank you. Go back to camp and protect the healers there,” I push the soldier away from me and call out to those who can hear me, “Ready your weapons! Fight for humanity’s sake! Let no vampire leave alive!” A war cry left the mouths of every soldier there as they rushed forward to meet the vampires in battle.

In no time at all, the two fighting forces collided. Better fighters replaced the first vampires that were reduced to ashes. The vampires seemed to have no end to them as the ground got covered in their ashes. 

“Stand your ground!” I call out, “These leaches don’t stand a chance against your fighting!”

A roar of agreement could be heard throughout the human army after I called that out.

I pull a soldier closer to me, “Go back and tell them to release the gas. If you get injured on your way, tell someone else to do it.” She nodded and hurried back in the direction of the camp.

Right after I sent her away, three vampires surrounded me. I smile grimly and crouch down into my stance. The first vampire rushed at me, wielding his blade. I dodge to the side, but he follows me. His sword immediately changed directions and came after me. I par the attack and start attacking the vampire myself. Right when I was going to kill the vampire, though, I sensed another attack coming from behind. I turned around and caught the blade on my sword and shoved the vampire away. I lunged after the vampire, but I heard the whistle of another blade swooping towards my neck, and I had to forget about the fallen vampire for a moment. But I didn’t turn in time. The blade cut my shoulder, making me grimace in pain. Luckily, though, it wasn’t my sword arm. I swung my arm down and killed the vampire.

Suddenly I felt something cold tap my shoulder. I knew it was a vampire, so I turned, and my sword collided with another sword.

The vampire laughed, “I’m not going to be an easy opponent Aria.”

When the vampire stopped laughing, he looked directly into my eyes. Returning his look with one of my own, I felt an icy electric current run through my veins. I was frozen in that spot for what felt like hours. I couldn’t move, and I couldn’t speak, I could only look in his eyes. When the icy current slowly left my body, I began shaking in anger. I could not believe it happened with a vampire. Being bonded to Shadow means she gives me a soulmate. My soulmate is someone who I spend the rest of my life with. My soulmate is a trait that Shadow passed on to me through our bond. I couldn’t believe it happened with a lecherous vampire! The vampire laughs again, and I jump back to stand beside Shadow.

“You won’t be running anymore, Aria. Let’s settle this once and for all,” The vampire’s voice was quite soothing. 

“This will be settled once I cut your head off, and the vampires are eradicated from this world.” With that, Shadow and I leaped as one at the vampire. He was so surprised that he didn’t have time to block my blow. I cut my sword across his chest. When I pulled my blade back, it was dripping in his blood. It was a grim sight, but I loved it. I went to strike him again, but this blow was blocked. The vampire blocked my sword inches away from his heart.

“You can’t kill a king that easily Aria,” Looking down at his chest; I saw his skin start stitching itself back together again. It was a disgusting sight. 

I jumped away from him again and held my sword up, ready for him to attack. If he was going to block my blows, then there was no point in me attacking and wasting my energy. The vampire rushed at me, his sword aimed at me. I blocked his blow, and we engaged in a deadly sword dance. When I wasn’t attacking, Shadow was scratching and biting where ever she could. At some point, both sides stopped to watch our fight. The human army retreated to stand behind me while the vampires retreated behind the King.

“You’re pathetically weak,” The King said that and then hit me with a blow that sent my sword flying out of my hands. I was startled, but I was still in control. I flip backward, and as I do, I pull both my daggers from my boots. When I landed, I still had a weapon to defend myself with. Shadow growled at the King and ran to my side and wove around me protectively.

The King smirks a little, “Why don’t you just give up and come with me. You might find yourself more comfortable if you come with me.”

I laugh at him, “And why would I want to go with you? Beasts like you need to be killed.” 

He grimaced and pointed his sword at me, “Then I shall have to take you rather forcefully.”

I suck in a breath and stand up in my ready stance, “Come on then.”

Just as he was about to rush at me again, the vampires on his side started turning to ashes. The ashes were different; however, they were blue instead of the typical grey. I smirk in triumph as I knew the poison had worked.

The King looked back in shock and then turned his seething eyes towards me, “What did you do?”

“I killed them obviously,” I laughed mockingly at him, “You better leave before you die as well.”

Suddenly he was in front of me and was lifting me off the ground by my neck, “You won’t be laughing so much if I killed Shadow, now would you?”

I spit in his face before I choke out, “Shadow won’t die unless I die.” With that, I swing my daggers at him, but he just vanishes into thin air. I fall heavily to the ground. What is it with vampires and choking me? I wonder to myself

I stand up as the soldiers surround me, waiting for their orders. They didn’t get to close, however, because Shadow wouldn’t let them.

“Split into your companies and search the area,” I begin telling them my orders, “I want any vampires found to be killed. The Black Moon company will take the lead in this while the Sun Leaf and Sun Flower companies will help the medical teams get all injured survivors back to camp to get treatment. The Dead Rose company will take care of all the fallen soldiers as normal. I want reports from every company by tomorrow morning.”

As the soldiers disburse to do as I told them, I limped back to camp with the help of Shadow.