The Crucivire

Chapter Thirty Nine: Showdown

As Director Farrow led the retreat, the spear on his back kept glowing, though he barely noticed. What took up most of his attention was the red glow over the forest. It seemed to be fading, and looking up, Farrow saw that strange red cloud disappearing. For a moment, he stopped, frozen with astonishment, but soon a smile ran down his face. Alice and the others had successfully stopped the ritual.

Gunfire still sounded throughout the forest as darkness settled over them. Soon the only light came from the stars above and the flashlights on the hunter's guns. The only downside of the ritual being defeated was the new lack of visibility. Before Farrow could worry about that, however, he got a message from his communicator.

"This is captain Reinhardt."

"Go ahead," said Farrow.

"We've successfully freed the werewolves from the hex field. We're prepared to assault the vampires."

"Excellent," said Farrow. "I'll move our main forces east. You prepare to..."

"Director!" Captain Wagner suddenly interjected. "I have a better idea."

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm already in position," said Wagner. "I've been paying attention to where the trapdoors are, and I believe I've deduced where the tunnels go. Captain Reinhardt, prepare to move. You'll know what to do."

Further back into the forest, Captain Reinhardt raised an eyebrow. A moment later, however, she heard Captain Wagner's thunderous footsteps. The large man had shouldered his water cutter and carried Forseti's axe as he ran through the forest. Soon Wagner swung the axe at the ground and opened a fissure, exposing the stone tunnels beneath. Soon he swung again to reveal another tunnel, and by the third tunnel, Reinhardt grinned, getting the idea.

"Werewolf division!" shouted captain Reinhardt. "Attack pattern 5C. Go!"

Captain Reinhardt, Marcia Perez, and the other werewolf tamers came as close to the tunnels as they dared. The vampires within the tunnels had already raised spears and crossbows and ran to the fissures to prepare for an attack, but they were met with a hail of bullets. A handful of vampires managed to shoot crossbow bolts, striking a few hunters, but the sudden Night Hunter attacks ultimately sent their ranks into chaos.

A moment later, the hunters whistled, sending their werewolves down into the tunnels. Most of the vampires fled in terror, screeching as they were caught and ripped apart by werewolf teeth and claws. A few vampires tried to stand their ground, stabbing the werewolves with silver tipped spears, but even they were eventually put down, their limbs ripped apart and their blood staining the stone floor.

Marcia dropped down into the tunnel with the other hunters, and up ahead they could see the werewolves at work. It was an intimidating, savage display, but oddly enough, Marcia felt some comfort from it, grateful that the savagery was directed at the enemy and not them.

"This ought to turn things around," she said.

###

"Get up!" Alice told herself through the pain. "Get up!"

Everyone else was frozen in astonishment. Gordon, Jasmine, and Jaiden watched as the red smoke disappeared from above the seal platform, awe in their eyes. Lord Victor and Harold Stone stared at the dead witch in shock, their plans fading before their eyes. The vampire reinforcements near one of the bridge entrances still cradled their ears from the sound of the gunshot. All felt a wringing in their ears as drops of blood continued to fall from them. The only person moving was Alice, forcing herself to get up even as her ears throbbed with pain.