The Immortal | Prequel Story |

Chapter 12 ~ Katlyn and Olivia

A small wind ruffled the grass, making it move back and forth. Iérti's wife, Katlyn Keresi, stood in the grass as she looked at the wall's entrance gate of the East fortress, wondering if she'd ever see her husband enter through it again. She hadn't seen him in five months and missed him terribly. Every day, their six year old daughter Olivia would ask if her father was coming home. There hadn't been any news of late, nor any messengers nor pigeons that returned.

Katlyn thought back to the day Iérti was elected to be the general of the East lands. He kissed her before he left, looking back at his wife and daughter as the gate closed in front of him, with soldiers accompanying him and danger ahead. Katlyn remembered how happy the three of them had been. She longed to be with her husband again.

Olivia picked flowers nearby as Katlyn continued looking at the gate. For some reason, she felt it would open any moment now. There was a strange feeling in the air marked with uncertainty, that uncertainty turning into fear and alarm when a lookout cried the chilling word, "Vampires!"

All activity immediately became urgent and rushed. As the lookout began yelling orders to take cover and hide, Katlyn grabbed Olivia's hand and said firmly, "Into the garlic dome."

The garlic dome was a huge building in the center of the fortress that was shaped like a garlic clove and was entirely made of garlic and silver. It was the place all civilians went to during times of vampire threats and attacks.

Soldiers stayed outside, guarding and protecting in case the vampires made it inside the fortress. The vampires had never gotten in, the fights often occurring outside the fortress, but they were prepared for any possible situation.

A loud blast forced everyone to cover their ears. Another loud blast hit the wall, turning it into a crumbling mess as the fortress began to fall. Flamethrowers were tossed inside to catch the garlic on fire. Tents and houses caught fire, making people shriek.

Katlyn held Olivia close and braced herself as vampires kept hurling cannons at the walls, breaking one entire side so that it jagged open, falling to ruin. Vampires didn't venture in just yet, the strong garlic scent forcing them to hold back. There was water cannons tossed over the wall; goatskins full of water that exploded on impact to drown out some of the garlic.

Seeing one entire side of the fortress was down, the army immediately rushed out to kill as many vampires as possible. People remained huddled together in the garlic dome, soldiers urging them to stay quiet. They heard shouting, screaming, yelling, cannon fire, and more booms as vampires continued knocking down the entire fortress, wall by wall.

"They're tearing down the fortress," a soldier near Katlyn murmured in a shocked tone. People started wailing, crying, screaming, or sobbing. Katlyn pressed Olivia to her chest, glad Olivia was wise to stay quiet, rather than the other children who were crying.

Garlic paste was passed around for everyone to smear on themselves. Katlyn rubbed it all over her daughter's neck and clothes before applying some to herself. Soldiers did the same, even dipping their arms and bodies in garlic oil. It wasn't uncommon for the army to take garlic baths, going to that extreme to prevent vampires from attacking.

But vampires chose to fight from a distance. Instead of getting close, they withdrew, hoping to draw the army out. About a third rushed out, eager to strike and kill at the danger before it could get near again. The majority of the army remained inside the fortress, their first and foremost duty to protect the people.

Mallen had the vampires break to make it look like they retreated. They left the fortress grounds, disappearing into the surrounding forests.

Despite the vampires' retreat, people remained in the garlic dome, afraid to leave, even though the army surrounded them. Soldiers brandished weapons, knowing there was no way vampires retreated so quickly unless they had a greater plan in mind, which they did.