Purest

10. Disheartened

Dahlia

Dusk had settled on the horizon. With it, danger. She hoped their visitor had the strength to fight the blood-sucking creatures coming their way.

Her turbulent blues rose to the darkened sky, observing. Black magic was brewing in the forest. She frowned, marring her serene features.

Chanting, she blew at the winds. Her life essence, pure and sacred mingled in the dense air. That should protect their visitor until her entourage reached safer grounds. She hoped she was not too late.

"Do you think we made a mistake by coming here?" Annika, her sister asked.

"No. It's our duty." Dahlia, the eldest, answered. "We have to stop her." For decades, they traveled from place to place, seeking, and hunting. Eluded by a common enemy.

"What about the lady earlier?" Agnes worried her lips. They had a hunch about who she was.

"We are here to protect her. But for the time being, we stay put. We can't let them know of our coven. Especially, the ruling vampires." Night has fallen. They have to get inside where their charms can protect them from the night creatures. "Quickly! Secure our doors and windows." Moving in synchrony, strengthening their protection spell, they chanted a familiar rhyme.

Rogue demons and predators will burn to a crisp if they would try to cross the barrier without permission. No one had survived since the first day they moved closer to the Lycan Kingdom.

Some nightwalkers had tried and got a taste of the sisters' magic. Since then, they had watched from afar. Waiting for the right time to pounce.

Her elders had foretold the necessity of the three of them being here. To bring balance. To bring back peace.

Most importantly, to aid Constantine Demonicus. No kingdom should be on the brink of extinction because of greed.

A lot of work has to be done. It starts tonight.

__________

Constantine

On his hind legs, his snout on the moon, he howled, mournful and long.

They had tracked and killed the band of ancient vampires that had attacked his Queen's cortege.

Watching them burn gave him satisfaction. But his heart was heavy. Losing his people was akin to ripping a part of his soul.

"They are becoming bolder. Attacking us at the edge of the kingdom." Octavius murmured. At the castle grounds once more, they held a conference, occupying the great hall.

Alpha East was silent, staring into space. Affected by the death of his pack members. But they knew he was planning a battle strategy.

"Orion must have known you were back. And the reason for it." West pointed out. He sipped his tumbler filled with bourbon.

The Lycan King grunted, his blazing reds trained on the grand staircase, to the path leading to the darkened royal wing.

'Has my Queen been tended to?' His beast had been harsh to her earlier but the thought of Mia being kidnapped or worst, by those fucking leeches severed any control he has.

He had smelled her fear, twisting his gut. Grappling on his sanity to refrain from forcefully marking her in his lycan form, he was battling with himself from going to her.

Knowing he could not console her, in this form, filled him with rage.

"Yes, min konge, her mother is with her right now." Octavius, his faithful friend assured him.