The Immortal | Prequel Story |

Chapter 11 ~ The Fortresses are Attacked

The rain continued long after nightfall. Mallen stayed to act as a personal guard to Iérti, not trusting other vampires to look after him. Mallen kept Iérti occupied, making him stay in the castle and play chess with him and things of that sort, while his vampire army prepared cannons and firepower.

By nightfall, the ground had turned into mud from the rain that fell. Horses struggled as they pulled heavy carts with cannons, cannons intended to knock down the North fortress.

The North fortress was where the four generals had gathered. It was a headquarters kind of fortress, the same one the former general of the North lands held command over. It was the most militaristic of all the fortresses. The East fortress was the most populous. The West fortress supplied most of the weaponry and food. The South fortress was the second most populous.

None of the fortresses had a general. And none of the people knew.

Staying clear of the East fortress where Iérti's family was, Mallen had his vampire army burn down the other fortresses, attacking them one by one. They waited until nightfall for the garlic scent to lose some of its potency due to the rain, then they began the attacks. They hurled cannons that broke down the mirrors and walls, forcing humans to live out in the open. The strong fortresses that protected humans from vampires for so long, now left them vulnerable.

Gashes of wall poured down with each exploding cannonball, falling to the ground as the fortresses were deemed no longer safe to inhabit. Aspen trees of the West fortress were burned; ash and aspen trees made for the most effective wooden stakes for killing vampires. Even the Southern fortress's linden trees fell, never to blossom again.

Blackthorn shrubs were hacked down by scythes and sickles, farming tools previously used for harvesting wheat. They were thrown from afar, their sharp edges effectively cutting down the blackthorn shrubs, flattening them within seconds. Vervain and lavender plants were burned to ashes, never to harm a vampire again. Flowers like roses and chamomile were left untouched since they posed no harm to vampires.

People ran, taking only necessities and leaving everything behind. They scattered through the forest, looking for places to hide. Some hid among the garlic fields. Others didn't get the chance to run, attacked and killed before they could reach any sort of shelter.

Every fortress met this fate, save for the East fortress where Iérti's family lived. Mallen decided to leave that particular fortress alone. "Three is enough. Leave the fourth one be."

Mallen glanced at , who was out of earshot, while he spoke with the troops that returned from their successful feat.

Iérti was completely unaware of what transpired, too focused on his own situation. He was laying on a divan, staring out at the closed window, as if wishing he would leap out of it.

Mallen sent the troops away to rest before coming over to Iérti. "I received news," Mallen announced, sitting beside him. "Three of the four fortresses are knocked down. People are scattered. They are no longer safe. It's free game for us, now."

Iérti's distant look turned into that of petrified shock. He started to rise, about to speak, but Mallen stilled him with a hand. "No fear, the East fortress hasn't been attacked. Your family is safe."

wasn't sure whether to believe him, but he calmed down and said slowly, "All have fallen save for my fortress?"

Mallen nodded. "Indeed. The vampires are thirsty and getting out of control. The fortresses were attacked one by one. By knocking down the fortresses, we removed the barrier that prevents us from getting to what we need." He didn't bother to mention what it was they needed, knowing Iérti knew exactly what he implied.