Chapter 16 - Challenge
1115 Words
#musicvibe - Raid on the Castle - Score, Harry Gregson Williams.
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Alex POV
We were getting closer to the castle when a weird smell hit me.
Smoke.
I tensed, getting ready for anything. Maybe they were alerted of our presence and were preparing for an attack?
When we reached the outskirts of the village, I shifted back to human form and pressed my bracelet that Tyson got me. My clothes melted back onto my body and I waited for Evelyn and Violet to put theirs back on. I had brought a team with me, and they stayed alert while I scanned the area and frowned.
I couldn’t hear anything, and I didn’t smell anyone nearby.
The village seemed to be empty.
The hair in the back of my neck stood on end and I got an eerie feeling.
This was all too quiet.
“Where is everybody?” I whispered.
Violet looked worried.
“Something’s wrong.” She whispered back. “Let’s go.”
We snuck through the village, and I saw claws elongate from Violet’s hands. I could tell that she was ready for anything, and I took a moment to admire how strong and beautiful she was.
Evy followed us close behind, and she looked more and more worried.
“There’s nobody here.” She frowned.
“Do you still feel your connection with Garrett?” I asked.
Evy nodded.
“I can tell that he’s close.” She replied. “But I can’t even feel his emotions too closely without crying. It’s all just fear and horror and helplessness.”
“Over here!” Violet hissed.
She was standing in the square, where one of the roads led towards the castle. We walked closer and I saw the crowd standing around the front gates, watching a pile of smoke rise to the sky.
“What is going on?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” Violet replied. “I can’t see.”
Suddenly, a scream of agony rang in my ears. I looked at Violet and we started rushing towards the crowd as the screams grew louder.
When we got closer, the realization of what was happening hit me like a cold shower.
The fire came from a large pyre, and the screams we heard came from Valeria, who was surrounded by fire. The fire crawled along the wood underneath her, setting her dress on fire. Valeria violently thrashed against the chains holding her in place trying to get away from the fire, and I realized that we didn’t have long until she was going to be burned alive.
“Stop!” I bellowed.
I instantly turned my head towards Tyson, who was standing on the steps.
“Tyson Pierce!” I shouted. “I, Alexander Youngblood, king of the vampires, hereby challenge you for the Alpha title!”
As soon as I said the words, I pushed out my aura as hard as I could. The crowd gasped as the air vibrated, and Tyson looked surprised.
Without answering, he shifted into his black wolf, and I did the same.
I knew that this was stupid, there was no way for me to defeat him.
But I had to try.
Violet’s wolf came up on either side of me, eyeing the witch standing behind Tyson while Tyson growled at me.
The witch slid out two daggers from behind her back and Violet growled at her.
“Be careful.” I mindlinked her.
“You too.” She replied.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Evy freeing Garrett while Kayden shouted at the crowd to get water.
Everyone moved at once, Tyson and I circled each other while I tried to mindlink him.
“Tyson, stop this.” I said. “I know you’re still in there. Please, don’t let that witch win. You are stronger than her.”
Tyson pounced on me, the force almost knocking the wind out of me as we rolled around on a heap of claws and fur. I furiously swiped at everything I could reach, desperately trying not to end up with Tyson on top of me.
I could challenge Tyson in strength and size, but it didn’t take long for me to realize that he was a much more skilled fighter than me. He pinned me down and my hind legs tried to push him off, making him stumble. I immediately took the chance, got up as quickly as I could and rammed into his side, making us both tumble to the ground again.
I heard a female grunt next to me, and I saw Violet shifting back to human form, struggling with the witch over one of the daggers.
And it looked like she was winning.
“Come on, Violet.” I screamed over the mindlink. “I don’t think I can hold him much longer.”
Violet reached for the dagger while the witch crawled on top of Violet, reaching for her neck. Violet coughed while her fingers closed around the dagger. She reached back and elbowed the witch in her face, making her fall off. Still panting, Violet let out a scream and plunged the dagger into the witch’s chest. She lifted it and stabbed her again and again. Blood coated the ground around them while the witch stilled.
Suddenly, a white light exploded from her body, making everyone stagger backwards.
I noticed something that looked like black paint residue emanating from Tyson and he stopped struggling.
Carefully, I let go of him and saw the confusion in his eyes.
He was back.
I shifted back to human form and reached out my hand.
“It’s okay, Tyson.” I said softly. “It’s over.”
Tyson shifted back, his breath ragged and he bent over and threw up. I patted his back until he was finished and pressed his bracelet, and then mine. When Tyson looked up, I pulled him into a hug.
“I’ve got you.” I whispered.
Tyson clung to me like a life raft while I still tried to process what the hell just happened.
“We need a doctor!”
We both looked up when we heard Garrett’s panicked scream and I looked over to see the still smoking pyre. Valeria was lying next to it with Evy, Kayden and Garrett hunched over her.
Tyson tensed and he sprinted over to them. He lifted Valeria in his arms, checking for a pulse.
“She’s still alive.” He screamed. “Help!”
He rocked her back and forth, clutching her in his arms while tears streamed down his cheeks.
“What have I done?” He cried. “What have I done?”
- Writer
