The Vampire Twins' Breeder

The Heart That Cares

Chapter 19

The clicking sound and the smell of rotten flesh was getting closer when Hogan pushed me and Isadora back against the rough wall of the tunnel.

His breathing was heavy and sounded like he was drowning in his own blood. I could smell the rot on the Feral vampires before I could see them.

They didn’t smell like the other vampires I met, like Caelum or Draven. They smelled like a grave that had been dug up.

"They’re coming," Hogan whispered. He tried to lift his massive broadsword with his one good arm, but his muscles were shaking.

The heavy blade scraped against the floor, making a sharp noise that echoed.

"Shut up!" Isadora hissed, her face pale in the gloom. "You're going to bring them right to us!"

Suddenly, three figures lunged out of the shadows. They were wearing just rags that were soaked in filth.

Their skin was grey and pulled tight over their ribs, and their eyes were milky white.

They didn't look like people anymore but looked like starved dogs.

One of them flew at Hogan, its claws digging into his wounded shoulder.

Hogan let out a strangled cry and fell to his knees, his sword clattering to the ground.

Isadora didn't move to help him. She backed away, screaming.

"He’s finished," she said coldly and scrambled off. "He’s too slow. He’s just going to get us killed. Aurelia, leave him! We have to go now while they’re busy eating him!"

"No!" I shouted. I couldn't let him die. He had protected me. He had dragged us out of the burning tower when he could have just left us.

I looked around the dark floor and found a heavy piece of broken timber that had fallen from the ceiling.

I grabbed it with both hands and didn't stop to think about the fact that I was a weak human. I just saw Hogan’s blood spraying across the stone and I stepped forward and swung the wood with everything I had.

The heavy timber hit the Feral vampire right in the side of its head.

There was a loud crack, and the creature was knocked off Hogan’s back. It hit the wall and slumped down, hissing. The other two stopped and turned toward me, their white eyes narrowing.

"Aurelia, you fool!" Isadora screamed from the shadows. "Run!"

I didn't run. I stood over Hogan, holding the wood like a club. Hogan was gasping on the floor, his hand clutching his throat.

I reached down, grabbed the hilt of his massive sword, and tried to pull it toward him. It was incredibly heavy, but I managed to slide it close enough for his good hand to find it.

"Get up, Commander!" I yelled. "Get up!"

Hogan looked at me, his eyes clearing for a second.

He let out a roar of pure agony and effort, swinging the broadsword in a wide circle from the ground. The blade sliced through the legs of the two vampires coming for me.

They fell to the floor, screeching in a high-pitched sound that hurt my ears. Hogan pushed himself up, using the sword as a crutch.

"Go," he wheezed at me. "The safe room is behind the wine cellar. There is a lever behind the third barrel. Move!"

Isadora was already running down the tunnel, not looking back.

But I grabbed Hogan’s good arm and threw it over my shoulder.

He was heavy, so heavy I thought my spine would snap, but I didn't let go. We staggered down the dark passage, the sounds of the wounded Ferals following us.

"Why did you stay?" Hogan asked, his voice a bloody rasp.

"Because I don't want you to die," I said, groaning.

We reached the wine cellar and the room was huge and filled with the scent of fermented grapes and damp wood.

I found the third barrel and pulled the iron lever. A section of the wall swung open, revealing a small, hidden staircase.

I shoved Hogan inside and followed him, slamming the hidden door shut and locking the bolt.

We sat there in the dark for a minute, catching our breath. Isadora was standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at us with a look of pure disgust.

"You almost got me killed for a dying soldier," she said.

"He's the only reason you're alive," I snapped and turned back to Hogan.

He was slumped against the wall and I looked at his wounds.

They were deep, but he wasn't dead yet. I remembered the scout’s vial in my pocket. I wasn't going to use it on the Princes. Not anymore.

"Hogan, listen to me," I said. "I know how the wolves are attacking. I heard the scout talking when he captured me."

Hogan looked up, his eyes focusing. "What?"

"They aren't just hitting the gates," I said, the words coming out fast. "They have a tunnel. There is an old drainage pipe near the west wall that leads directly under the armory. They’re planning to blow the foundations and take the weapons. If they do that, the castle will fall from the inside. Draven is fighting at the front, but he doesn't know they're underneath him."

Hogan’s eyes went wide. "The west pipe. It’s been dry for years. We forgot about it."

"I have to get to Draven," I said. "He's the only one who can stop them if the gates are breached."

"You'll never make it," Isadora scoffed. "The courtyard is a slaughterhouse."

"I know the servant paths," I said, standing up. "I can get to the outer balcony. If I can get his attention, he can move the guard."

Hogan reached out and grabbed my hand. He pulled a small, silver whistle from his belt and pressed it into my palm.

"This is a royal signal. If you blow it, the Night Guard will look. It might give you five seconds before they kill you. Use it well, girl."

I didn't wait. I left them in the safe room and ran back out into the tunnels.

I knew these paths. I slipped through the narrow gaps and climbed the service ladders. I ignored the screams from above. I ignored the smell of fire.

I reached the outer balcony that overlooked the main courtyard. I pushed the small wooden door open and stepped out into the open arena.

The sky was black with smoke and below me, the scene was terrifying. Thousands of werewolves were clashing with the vampire guard.

In the center of it all was Draven.

But I saw what he couldn't see. Near the armory wall, the ground was beginning to crack. I saw the flash of torches coming from the drainage pipe. The wolves were almost through.

"Draven!" I screamed, but the sound was swallowed by the roar of the battle.

I remembered the whistle. I put it to my lips and blew as hard as I could.

The sound was high and piercing and Draven’s head snapped up.

He looked toward the balcony, his eyes finding me instantly. He looked shocked, then furious. He started to move toward me, but I pointed down at the armory.

"The pipe!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. "Under the armory! They’re underneath you!"

Draven looked at the wall. He saw the cracks and the smoke rising from the ground.

He didn't hesitate, he let out a roar that shook the balcony and signaled his elite guard. They turned away from the main gate and charged toward the armory.

Seconds later, the ground exploded. But because Draven was already there, the wolves coming out of the tunnel were met with a wall of vampire steel.

They were trapped in their own hole. The surprise attack was ruined. I watched as Draven jumped into the pit, fighting them before they could even stand up.

With the tunnel threat gone and the armory secure, the vampire guards pushed the wolves back toward the main gate.

The Silver Fang began to retreat.

I slumped against the stone railing, my legs finally giving out. My heart was racing so fast I thought I was going to faint.

I looked down at the courtyard. What was left of the castle was still standing.

I saw Draven climb out of the pit. He was covered in more blood than I had ever seen on a living creature.

He looked up at the balcony again and nodded. He knew I had saved them.

I leaned my head against the cold stone and closed my eyes.