24 Hours

Fearless

Aria

Shadow and I had just reached the training field when a soldier came running up to us, “General Mercias Captain John requests your assistance at the northern border.”

“Do you know what he needs me for? I have recruits that have never seen a battle before, and I need to prep them,” I look impatiently at the soldier.

“Yes ma’am. There is a vampire that seems to have a barrier around him. Whoever tries to pass through the barrier burns to ashes. The vampire, it seems, is not able to move and fight when the barrier is up, thank goodness. Captain John Would like your assistance, so he knows how he is to proceed. He has already lost three men and would not like to lose anymore,” The soldier doesn’t take his eyes off of mine while he’s talking.

I raise an eyebrow at him, “I’ve seen a barrier like the one you’ve described. If it is the same barrier, then we are facing something stronger than a normal vampire. Lead me to the captain after I settle the recruits.” 

“Yes ma’am,” The soldier puts his fist over his heart and stands at attention as I pass by him. Our army doesn’t salute like the old world’s army; we are not weak like they were.

“Recruits listen up,” I bellowed, and immediately the field quieted down, “Today’s your lucky day. I was planning on having each one of you fight against me and get your asses beat, but there’s been a change of plans. I have been called to assist in a battle, so you wimps get to do a little self-training Today. When I get back, I will supervise, and if I find out any of you were slacking off while I was away you will regret it,” with that I jog back to the soldier and Shadow, who waited for me next to the soldier, and said, “Come Shadow, there’s a vampire who just signed his deathwish.”

*****

When we arrived at the northern border, I could see a group of ten soldiers wearily watching a vampire that was just kneeling on the floor. All the soldiers had their weapons drawn and were pointing them towards the vampire. 

“Where is Captain John?” I look at the soldier who was leading me.

“He was leading the soldiers in the front when he sent me to find you,” The soldier looked worried, “He was right in front, and you would’ve been able to see him by now.”

By this time, we had reached the group of soldiers, so I called out to them, “Listen up!” all the soldiers present turned towards me in surprise, “Where is Captain John?”

The soldiers lower their heads, “The vampire injured him pretty badly, so he was taken back to camp to get treatment from a healer.”

I was shaking in anger as I turned towards the vampire. 

“What are your orders, General Mercias?” a soldier came up and put a hand on my shoulder.

“Take you had off of me, or you lose the hand. Show respect for your leader.” I glare at him as he steps back in fright.

I walked away from the soldiers a little so that everyone could see me, “Fall back. We need to find out who his target is, only then will he lower his barrier and attack. The vampire may have a barrier through which we cannot get him, but he cannot move without lowering it. Fall back and keep watch from a distance. Long-range weapon holders keep your weapons out and at the ready.”

Just when I said that, I heard a swooping sound from being me. I turn around and see the vampire right behind me.

“You were right, little human,” the vampire smiled evilly, “Unfortunately you are my target.” The vampire swung his sword toward me, and I could tell that if I hadn’t moved, he would have cut my sword shoulder. As it is, he cut into my leg. I did not react even as the blood started pouring down my leg.

A scream could be heard from Shadow as she pounced on the vampire. She sank her claws into his neck and stomach, and he stumbled back in surprise. The vampire wasn’t able to react as I grabbed his sword from him and stabbed it in his stomach. I made sure not to hurt Shadow when I stabbed the vampire.

“Shadow back off,” I ordered her, and she listened after digging her claws in deeper into the vampire.

I drew my sword as Shadow jumped off the vampire, and he pulled the sword out of his stomach. With a screech of fury, he rushed at me. He was weak from our earlier attacks, but he still was alive enough to fight me. 

As I blocked a blow that would’ve landed on my neck, he smirked, “How strong will you be if you can’t walk?”

I glared at him but didn’t have time to dodge his kick to my cut. I didn’t fall to the ground, but that only caused his smirk to grow to a full-blown grin as he kicked me in the stomach, sending me flying twenty feet back. 

“General Mercia!” Several soldiers came running towards me to block any further blows while others went to attack the vampire.

“Remember my face in the afterlife, Aria,” The vampire sent all the soldiers flying away from me as he grabbed me by the neck and lifted me.

It was then my turn to smirk, “You’re overconfident.” 

The vampire laughed, “How am I overconfident when you’re the one about to die?”

“Like this,” With that, I grabbed at one of my daggers and slit his throat. Blood gushed out onto me as he dropped me.

“You won’t win against him,” The vampire spit this out before turning to ashes.

I lay there coughing, trying to regain my breath as soldiers came running up to me. Shadow was laying next to me already, trying to help me get up. 

“General!” A female soldier reached me first, “You injured. Let me help you back to the healers.”

“No, I’m fine,” I look at her in the eyes as I stand up, “It’s just a small cut, and this border needs everyone here to keep watch. What is your name, soldier?”

“Ishimura Yuriko ma’am,” She stood at attention as she said that.

“Ishimura… I’ve heard that last name before, but I was sure it was a male’s last name.”

“Yes ma’am. When my brother died, I took his place as leader of the Black Moon Company,” She looked sad for a moment.

“Ah yes, Shuji I always enjoyed talking to him. I am sad to hear he passed but such is the way of war,” I shake my head sadly, “You will lead the soldiers under Captain John’s leadership while he is healing.”  

“Yes ma’am. I won’t let you down, ma’am.”

“Shadow come!” I turn and start walking, well limping, away. My leg hurt to walk on, but the only person I trusted to tend to my wounds was back at the camp. I only trusted him to tend to my wounds because Shadow trusts him to tend to her injuries when she gets injured in battle. Before we met him, she would only let me tend to her wounds, and no one was allowed to tend to my wounds. I never knew why she trusted him so much.