24 Hours

Her Stepmother

“Aria, you gotta be more careful. You’re lucky the wound isn’t to the bone. If it did hit the bone, then you could’ve lost your leg.” He looked at me sternly.

“Well, it was either my leg or my sword shoulder. The vampire moved too fast for me to draw my sword and block the blow. I barely moved out of the way for the shoulder blow as it is,” I looked down at him from where I sat above him.

“Why did you walk back by yourself then? You could’ve attracted more attention and gotten more injuries.”

“James the borders are secure. Who do you think would attack the general of our army? Even injured, I can take down anyone handedly. Besides, I wasn’t alone; Shadow was with me.”

James shook his head, “You know what I mean. Shadow won’t always be there with you to fight with you. What will you do when she can’t be there with you?”

I was angry now, “Are you instigating that I’m going to die? You know as well as I do that the animals don’t die until their humans die. Even if they are dealt with a fatal wound, they wouldn’t die. The animals follow their humans everywhere. She hasn’t left my side in twelve years.”

James raised his hands in surrender, “I wasn’t meaning that you would die. I just merely meant to say that you can’t be protected all the time.”

“James,” I gently touched his cheek, “If you’re scared of losing me, just say something. You know I hate fighting with you, and you also know how I get when someone talks about Shadow. Most people get their animals on their eighth birthday, and I didn’t get Shadow until six months after my birthday. I will not tolerate anyone saying she’s weak and she’s going to die.”

James stood up and cupped my face in his hands, “I’m sorry Aria, I didn’t mean to make you angry. I just never want to lose you. You’re very important to me.”

I take his hands off my face, “I know. Now shoo, I have recruits to go scare.”

He laughs and starts putting his medical stuff away, “I saw your mom’s replacement today.”

I froze, “Was she in the camp?”

“Yes. She was looking for you. I wouldn’t let her in your tent, which got her all pissed off.” James turned to see what my reaction would be.

“Shadow let’s go!” I started running towards my tent. I had to make sure everything in my tent was where it should be. I heard James yelling after me, but I ignored him. If she wanted in my tent, then there must be something she wanted. When I neared my tent, I saw someone standing outside it. Shadow started growling. 

“Aria!” She said in a sickeningly sweet voice, “Sweetheart I’ve been waiting for you!”

“What do you want, w***e?” I stood in front of her with my hand on my sword.

“You should call me mom, your father, and I’ve been married for seven years already. But if you don’t call me mom, then at least call me Andria.” she had the audacity to look hurt.

“You are no mother of mine, and I will call you what I want. Now I will ask one more time. What do you want?” Shadow growled and crouched down, about to pounce on her. I held my hand in front of her to stop the pounce from happening.

“I’ve come to ask you to give the title of general back to your father. He’s been upset lately because he was still able to work and wanted to be of more use to the army,” she started to tear up, “I know you don’t like me, but your father needs you.”

I bark out a laugh, “Your acting won’t work on me. My father wouldn’t get the title back even if I wanted him to have it back, which I don’t. It’s written in the law that once the title has been passed on, the only way to get it back is if I die. He knew that when he gave me the title on my eighteenth birthday. Even if, on the off chance this happens, I get captured by the vampire scum he won’t get it back because I won’t be dead, But that’s not why you want it. You want the title so that your bastard child can have the power I have. Now get out of this camp before I drag you by your fake blond hair out of camp. Also remember, when my father dies, you and your bastard children will be on the streets. The house is rightfully mine, and one day I will have it back. Now get out of my sight and don’t come back.”

  “Aria, how can you be so mean to the women who raised you for the past seven years?” More tears were flowing out of her eyes.

I walked up to her and grabbed her by the front of her shirt, pulling her closer to me, “So beating and verbally abusing me is raising someone? Two days after my mom died, you were moved into my house and sleeping in my mom’s bed. Three days after she died, you were throwing me into the wall and slapping my face while I didn’t do anything because my so-called father would take your side. I hate you, and I always will. You killed my mom just as much as my father did. Now get out of this camp. If anyone can see you within one mile of this camp again then they will have the right to shoot you down and kill you,” I throw her down to the ground, “And go ahead, tell my father, there’s nothing he can do about it now. He can’t order me or anyone else around, and he can’t get the title back to be able to order people around.”

By now, quite a crowd was forming. They were looking at me in shock because I’ve never treated anyone like this before. I had turned around to tell them to get back to their posts when I heard a yell from behind me. The b***h had gotten up and was running toward me with her arm c****d back to throw a punch at me.

I laughed at her and caught her hand in mine when she threw the punch. I twisted her arm behind her back, and while she screamed in pain and anger, I whispered in her ear, “Try that again and see what happens.” I push her back on the ground and start walking away. 

“That’s where you belong, by the way. You belong on your knees with your head down in submission. Tell my father that you only wish for him to use your body, and you won’t be doing his dirty work anymore.” I call over my shoulder to the b***h then turn towards the soldiers, “Spread the word around that this b***h is to be killed on sight if she is seen near the camp again. I want someone to drag her out now, no need to be gentle. She had her chance to leave. Now get back to your posts!” Everyone scrambled to get back to their posts as two men came up and grabbed the b***h by her arms and dragged her away, not even letting her stand up beforehand, which pleased me greatly.

“Aria are you alright?” James ran up to me in a panic

“Yes I’m fine,” I say curtly and rub Shadow behind her ears as she wound around my legs protectively.

 “All of the soldiers were surprised to see you acting like that. I would’ve been surprised as well if I didn’t know your feelings about that woman,” James laughed at that.

“I wasn’t lying to her. I will have her killed if she comes near the camp again. If my father knew she came, he would be livid with her. He never wanted her around camp when a battle was nearing,” I look at the way she went in disgust.

“So she won’t tell your father that she came today?” James was petting Shadow by now, and yes, that’s something no one else, besides me, was allowed to do.

“Probably not, but I want to get her in trouble,” I smirk and quickly go into my tent and write a note addressed to my father. It would be the first time since becoming general that I was sending him a message. He knew my feelings about him and the w***e, so he didn’t try to push me into talking with him. 

Walking out of my tent, I call two messengers over. One of them I sent over to the training fields and told him to release the recruits from their training. The other one I gave my written note and told him to go back to the city (it wasn’t that far, we could see it from camp) and give it to my father at the general’s house. I gave him specific instructions to give it only to the former general and not any women or children that may answer the door. I didn’t want the w***e to ruin my fun.

“What did the note say?” I jump when I hear James’ voice in my ear.

“I told him to chain his w***e unless he wanted the b***h to die. Not the nicest note, but considering I hate them, I don’t care,” I smiled smugly at the retreating back of the messenger.

“Did you have dinner?” 

“I haven’t eaten since this morning because the issue at the border took longer to get to then I thought it would’ve. Getting back took longer because of my leg.”

James shook his head at me and dragged me over to the cook’s tent. “Shadow is probably starving, and you know how she gets when she’s hungry. We don’t want to see Shadow angry now, do we?”

I laugh for the first time today and let James drag me away.

“Back again, General?” Laina greeted me as she was serving other soldiers. When they heard her call, they all stood at attention, which had me laughing.

“You may rest. Please, you don’t have to stand at attention every time you see me. Enjoy your dinner. You guys deserve to rest after training and protecting camp all day.” The soldiers relax and smile sheepishly at me. 

“Raina come out here and help serve the soldiers!” Laina called into the cook’s tent, and a woman that looked exactly like Laina came out.

“Ah, they’re twins, that explains the name similarity,” James mutters in my ear.

I laugh at him, “It’s no surprise you haven’t seen Raina before. She doesn’t like serving the soldiers and is only here to cook. It’s surprising that she came out without complaint.”

“Now General,” Laina walks up to us while dusting off her hands, “I have a plateful of meat that just has your name written all over it. Raina cooked it to perfection tonight.

Shadow growled and crouched down. There were many other bonding animals here, and she was hungry. She may be my bonding animal, and she may listen to what I tell her to do, but she is still a wild animal. That wild animal inside her will never go away, and she will never lose those urges.

I put my palm in front of her, stopping her attack before it happened and looked at Laina, “Where is Shadow’s food? If she doesn’t eat soon, then the rest of the people here will be sorry.”

Laina took one glance at Shadow and then hurried back to the cook’s tent. She emerged a few minutes later carrying a large platter of raw meat. She ambled toward us and dropped the tray in front of Shadow. Shadow imminently began devouring the food in front of her. 

“Did you run out of snacks for her, my lady?” Laina looked at me while taking a step away from Shadow.

I shrug, “I did, but she didn’t want any today as we were taking part in a battle today, and we just barely got back.”

Just then, I heard a growl from Shadow. I look at her in time to see her pounce on a large dog. The dog fought back and started clawing at Shadow. Shadow wasn’t fazed, however, and bit down hard on the dog’s shoulder. I quickly walk over and separate the two.

“Whose dog is this?” I bellow, and everyone stops eating. I hold the dog down, and it starts fighting against my hold. It clawed at me and bit me anywhere it could reach. It made me mad. “Whose bonding animal is this,” I yell this out louder, and you could hear the anger in my voice.

“Ma’am,” I snap my cold gaze to a woman walking towards me, “That would be my husband’s animal. He was injured today at the northern border, and he is still unconscious, so he isn’t here to keep his animal in check. I will take Drago away.”

I let the dog go in a huff, and it runs towards the woman to hide behind her. I was seething, “Don’t let it out of your sight next time.” I turn away and watch Shadow growl at the retreating backs of the woman and the dog.

“Here is your food, my lady,” Laina handed me my food and went back to serving the other soldiers.

“Are you ok, Aria?” James grabs my arms to inspect them.

“Stupid mutt. I don’t know why some people don’t train their animals. By the way, where’s Lumio?”

“She’s asleep back at my tent.”

I nod, and a couple of young recruits, a boy and a girl walk up to me.

“Yes what do you want?” I was still a little mad about the dog from before.

“Miss you look like a strong warrior-”    

I cut the girl off, “Get to the point. I don’t have time for idle chit chat.”

“Will you do a training session with us after dinner?” The girl had a pleading look in her eyes, and it was clear that they had no idea who they were talking to.

I smirk at them, “Are you sure you want to do a training session with me? Some would say that it is unwise of you to ask for my assistance.” They both frantically nod yes, “Fine meet me at the training grounds tomorrow morning. I will not do a training session after dinner. I have other things to do.”

The two young ones thank me profusely and run away in glee.

James burst out laughing so hard he fell to the ground, “They won’t be so happy in the morning when you start training them.”

I smile softly but don’t say anything as I finish my food.