Erlking

Three

"My father! My father, and don't you see there. Erlkings daughters at the gloomy place?"

"My son, my son, I see it clearly; it seems to be the old grey Willows, "

(Erlking song, Franz Schubert, English translation)

We arrived at our destination—the back doors of the vehicle opening wide, to release us. I stepped down onto the muddied ground. I knew without looking I could smell it—a willow grove. Commander Live was wrong in his assessment of my character. I wasn't a cold-blooded monster because of my training. I was one because I wanted to be. Feeling the deaths of the children from my first Erlking hunt affected me more than I liked, two thousand years before. Something about this felt different; I thought studying our surroundings. 

"I don't get it, Swift. If she doesn't like kids, why is she even here?" 

"Vis, she never said she didn't like them! She said she doesn't like tracking them. How much do you know about the ancients?" Swift asked his tone more serious than she had ever heard before.

"Only the small amount they teach in school. The ancients are a matriarchal society. The king is a figurehead. I could never understand why,"

"They lead Queen to Queen because of their kings. The Queen is there for one reason and one reason only. To keep her king in line, our current Queen has lapsed in her duty to control her mate. I may not like tracking children. However, I am a gloom. My family has spent millions of years keeping the Kings in check. I killed the last one to go, rogue, and I will do the same for this one. Now, how about we concentrate on finding the male's current victim instead of questioning my motives and f*****g around, hmm?" I replied, strolling past the pair. Firebrand chuckled.

"I like that she is a people person, I don't understand what issues Live was talking about," he called over his shoulder. Stock grinned making his way towards the crime scene. I stopped at the tape holding up one hand I could hear a heartbeat! It was faint. I crossed the boundary and lay in the mud, pressing my ear to the ground. I felt my heart flutter slightly.

"Damnit, he took a female! Garu! Dig, make it quick, the kid is almost out of air." I called, jumping up and pointing to the spot. The huge Warewolf produced sharp claws and began a frantic dig, mud flying over his shoulders. 

"She's here!" Garu yelled, pulling a coughing, unconscious female vampire from the ground. I froze. Blinding fury rose within me. My eyes began to glow an eerie red. Everyone took several steps back from me. Reaching out, I grasped the dirty female, holding her to my chest. She opened her eyes slowly.

"He grabbed Nok, Aunty. The Erlking took my brother, and I wasn't strong enough." Erika Gloom cried, tucking her face into my shoulder. Reaching for my phone, I jerked my head at the waiting paramedics. 

"Gail, Erika is safe in my arms. I will find Nok; I have a window. I cannot promise I will find him alive." I murmured to my little sister. 

"I know. You kill him, Amity! Kill the son of a b***h for taking my babies!" Her sobbing voice broke into the silence of the forest. Handing my niece over to the medical team, I disconnected the call.

"I need blood, a volunteer. Anyone except the oracle." I called over my shoulder. Sharee Visor growled in the back of her throat.

"Excuse me! What is wrong with my blood? Oracles not good enough for elite vampires, now!" She snapped angrily. I met Firebrand's gaze with a sigh, and he nodded at me. I muttered a curse under my breath.

"Oracles make you fat," I stated with a grimace, knowing I was about to get shrieked at.

"You-,"

"It's the visions, they elevate your blood volume, and your body overcompensates, producing extra fat cells on your hemoglobins. So, in essence, your blood makes us fat. I eat an Oracle, and I am bloated for weeks." I explained to the stunned group standing in front of me.

"Seriously?" Visor asked, looking to the doctor treating my niece. The male Griffin nodded. She suddenly laughed.

"Well, um, alright. Count me out then." 

"You're too kind," I replied dryly. Firebrand crossed the space between us, opening his shirt. He offered his throat. I shook my head and grabbed his arm, sinking my razor-sharp incisors into the crook of his elbow. Jackson grunted in pain. I suddenly drew back with a hiss and breathed in through my nose. The world around me lit up with phosphorescent markings. I stepped up to Erika's grave and across the damp ground to an old gnarled willow. Punching my hand into the bark, I pulled a sprite kicking and screaming from inside. Wrenching it's head to one side, I plunged my fangs into the creature. Images flew through my head, like an old movie reel—Erika and Nok, fighting for his freedom. The scene changed, the daughters appeared and with them. The Queen!

"YES!" I snarled menacingly as I flung the evidence I needed into Firebrand's mind. The dragon's eyes glowed briefly. Stock took the sprite from me and threw it into a small cage; its blood was holding the valuable evidence. Drawing myself up to my full height, I strode to the ambulance, climbing in beside Erika. The doors shut us inside with a bang of finality.