One Bite ✔️ (#Wattys2017)

Chapter 24...

Blood was everywhere, staining the ground, staining her fingertips, staining the ends of her cloak and soaked her feet. Hermione's (Persephone) chest heaved as she cut through the last soldier's chest of the first legion to attack them. Blood sprinkled across her face. Her chocolate brown eyes widened and she gasped. She wasn't use to this much blood shed having been surrounded by her mother's wing. The first kill was the hardest for her.

    Hermione's love had vanished from her side when the first solider dared to attack the loyal guardian of the gates of hell. Hermione, unsure of what to do since this was her first war, stayed put where she was. Suddenly a howl of agony sounded out and watched as the large, three-headed dog came to its knees, its legs slashed and stabbed by soldiers from Harry's (Zeus) army. She ran toward the wounded creature, removing her bow from her back. Anger and lust for the blood of the soldiers who attacked Fluffy ran through her as she placed two arrows in their notch on her bow. Pulling the strings back, she aimed at one of the soldiers climbing up Fluffy's back. Suddenly, she released, the blood feathers flying through the air like the angel of death. The arrows struck perfectly, landing in the soldier's chest piercing each of his lungs. Her eyes widened as she realized what she had done, her heart clenching powerfully. The soldier looked up at her in horror and he began to choke, life leaving his eyes, drowning in his lungs as they filled up with his blood.

    Suddenly, Fluffy howled in pain again and all the horror of killing someone went out the window for Hermione. Her brown eyes hardened and she sprinted toward the tortured creature, clasping her bow to her back once again. Raising her hand, she began to speak, her power racing full throttle in her veins, "Άνοδος από αυτή τη μάχη εμποτισμένο έδαφος και να λάβει αυτούς τους ανθρώπους που τολμούν να βασανίζουν αυτό το πλάσμa (Rise from this battle soaked land and take these people who dare torture this creature)!"

    From the ground, a green vine grew, thorns and blood red roses bursting forth. The climbing roses rose above the dog and attacked the soldiers, snatching them from their perches on Fluffy. Then, suddenly, the vines collapsed in on themselves, pulling the soldiers to the ground, crushing their bodies and snapping their spines. Fluffy howled one more time before falling into unconsciousness. Hermione felt her power release its hold and she gasped, her eyes taking in the scene before her.

    "Blaise (Apollo)!" Hermione screeched for her friend as she came next to Fluffy, She placed her hand on one of the dogs heads, a light heartbeat thudding beneath her touch, "Blaise!" she called to him again, tears forming in her eyes.

    "Hermione," Blaise's calm voice came next to her with a comforting hand.

    Hermione looked up at him, "Can you heal him?"

    Blaise's bright outfit was covered in blood, his arrow sheath half empty, "I'll see what I can do," Blaise got down on his knees before the animal, "Go, Hermione! Defend your people!" Blaise glanced at Hermione, "It's your duty as their Queen, Hermione."

    "I know," Hermione nodded as she petted the creature Draco (Hades) so adored.

    "Go, Hermione," Blaise said again, "I can defend myself. Fluffy will be fine."

    "Okay," Hermione said and patted Fluffy one more time before she stood up, "Be careful, Blaise."

    Blaise looked up at Hermione and grinned, "Never."

    Hermione smirked, her heart filling with courage, and she sprinted off into battle, pulling a sword from the body of a fallen comrade.

    Each time she killed, it got easier. She still did not like the feeling of taking someone's life, but it was necessary. This civil war, this battle of love, was not over. The need, the passion for freedom was still an open wound and she would not loose.

    She looked out at the body filled landscape, the glistening of the army of the sky on the horizon before her. Mortals and immortals alike walked amongst the bodies coming toward her, returning to their armies camps. She smiled as she found all her friends, some battered and bruised, but still alive. Her eyes landed on her King as she watched his blonde hair bob across the landscape. Ginny (Hera) walked toward him, her face flooded with worry. They began to talk to each other, Draco's face siphoning Ginny's worry. He glanced up at her before looking back at Ginny. He nodded and made small hand gestures as Ginny informed him of something. The conversation ended with Draco placing a careful hand on Ginny's armored shoulder. He then began to walk toward her.

    Hermione, her emotions running high, ran towards him and crashed into his arms. Draco leaned down and kissed her lips, she responding so naturally to him now, "What's the matter, Draco? What did Ginny tell you?"

    "They're coming for you, tonight," Draco informed her, "They plan on attacking in the middle of the night."

    Hermione rose an eyebrow, "How does she know this?" she asked though she had no problem with Ginny's information, she was still curious.

    "There are some immortals beneath Harry and Hannah that are not loyal, but are too scared to run away," Draco responded and Hermione nodded.

    "Let them come," she suddenly said.

    "What?" Draco practically screeched, sounding a lot like Hecate, "Hermione! What are you saying?"

    "Let them come," she repeated, "This blood shed is not necessary. I was filled with blood-lust to prove to my mother love is worth it, but this is too much," tears formed in her eyes now.

    "Hermione," he shook her gently trying to knock some sense back into her, "This is more than just our love and proving your mother wrong. It's about everyone and how they are tired of Harry's monarchy. It's about truth and freedom. This isn't some game, Hermione. This is war. This is a revolution."