Alcingeria

Chapter Fifty Three: The Calm Before The Storm

Chapter Fifty Three The Calm Before The Storm:

Wednesday July 7th 1690

After the rally, Ignacio ordered everyone back to their cells. He said that everyone needed to be at their best for the attack.

Morning soon came. I was about to switch out our little watch duty for my turn resting while Don relieved me, but I began to hear guards moving around down the hall. They were all waking up. Great. Don shot me an apologetic look, and we tried to look busy as we mixed in with the crowd going to the prison area.

The passing of another day filled me with dread, for I knew what would soon follow; the death of another witch or warlock. We were ordered to escort the prisoners to the mess hall, which we did. When we were there, we all stood in line to get food, and then gathered near the tables and ate. I had some meat and vegetables, keeping an eye on our captive friends. I had to keep my strength up. I drank some of the water I had.

"There was a lot of talk among the guards last night," Robert said grimly. "Machine gun numbers are up, and they will only get higher. The attack is going to be soon, very soon."

"Unbelievable," Edward breathed, numb. "Was all of this for nothing? What are we going to do?"

"No," Gerald said firmly. "No. We have our orders, they have theirs."

He passed for a minute, growing somber and looking to each of us, as though contemplating something. A look of pride crossed his face, and hope mixed with fear shone in his eyes.

"Gentlemen, we may very well be the only thing standing between the vampires, and Vulrock's total annihilation."

The room fell quiet as Ignacio entered. We didn't notice him at first, captivated by Gerald's words. He took center stage and began speaking energetically, and with a sort of resigned pride that a father would have for a child. I couldn't tell if that was real, or just part of the authority he possessed.

"Everyone, I have very good news for you." He grinned. "We have a sufficient amount of machine guns manufactured, and we are going after the Queen tonight, after sundown!"

There was a shocked murmur of... Not necessarily disapproval. Most of it was disbelief, but there was not one single show of protest. It then hit me that they actually wanted this. The reality of the situation sank in and it dismayed me. I realized there was little we could do, and the completion of our mission was ever more important.

"What are we going to do?" Stella asked.

"We need to warn the Queen. We need to make sure she isn't killed." Edward said to us.

"They can't want this," I muttered. "They can't believe they'll be better off under the vampire, right?"

Gerald nodded in understanding.

"Yes, although she has done many evil things, if the mafia kills her they will take control of Valgate and soon; all of Vulrock. With all these machine guns, no one will be able to stand in their way."

"You're right, Gerald," Edward said with renewed courage. "We need to destroy this place before tomorrow."

"We need to get everyone out first," Robert cautioned.

"Everyone down here is either a witch, a warlock, a fairy or a mafia member," he scoffed. "The way I see it, as long as we get out, it's no skin off anyone's back."

Tabatha started to get angry. She clenched her fist on the table.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She demanded, standing up slowly.