Apocalypse

Chapter Two ~ Home Sweet Home

Sorry guys, decided to change up some small things. So please read and try not to recall the last version.
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I pulled the hood of my black trench coat over my head before stepping out of the shadows of the wall. It was barely after dawn and the city was now starting to wake. My boots with buckles of silver, iron and wood hit the cobblestones soundlessly as we made our way to the looming castle at the center of the walled in refuge.

As citizens sleepily started their day, Wes and I were eager to finally finish ours. As we passed the early risers, they bowed their heads, muttering, "Morning Young Prince." and, "Mornin' Princeling." I inclined my head in their general direction, tired and worn out.

After dropping off some of the weapons at the castle armory, I retreated to the comfort of my room. I threw off my coat and flopped down on my queen sized bed. My long hair tumbled out of my hair tie and stuck to my sweaty neck. I groaned, slowly slipping out of consciousness when Wes landed on top of me.

"Arg! You moron! Get off me!" I squirmed under his weight but gave up quickly. "Why are you so weird!?" My voice barely came out, due to my lack of oxygen.

Unbeknownst to me, Wes grinned before saying gloriously, "It's a side effect of awesomeness." Then he rolled off, leaving me deflated and defeated on the bed. On shaky arms, I hauled myself up and tottered off the bed, and into the bathroom where I slammed the door.

Twenty minutes later, my hair dripping and my towel wrapped around my torso, I exited the bathroom to find my brother, Alexander, sprawled out on my bed.

Scowling at his prone figure, I grabbed my bedroom slipper and chucked it at him. My aim was true and it knocked him on his thick head. He rolled over to face me and grinned.

"Sister dear! I thought you died in there! I was about to come check on you."

"How thoughtful of you." I said, my voice sickly sweet. " Now get out."

"Aw, don't you miss your favourite sibling?" He pressed a hand to his heart and looked genuinely hurt at my remark.

"You're my only sibling." I growled, my voice low and dangerous. I refused to accept the children of my father's new wench- I mean wife. She was an irritating hog in my opinion, and her twin daughters were three times as bad. Their elder brother wasnt exactly social so I never talked to him, exept for the curt greetings at family dinners.

My brother threw up his hands in surrender and sauntered out of the door, shutting it quietly behind him. Sighing, I got dressed for the day.

I donned my usual black jeans and long sleeved t shirt. There weren't exactly fitted, so if I had to introduce myself as the 'young prince', all I had to do was pull up the hood of my sweater which I grabbed on the way out. I exited the room to find the twins hovering by my brother's door. I nearly gagged. They both found my brother quite handsome (I don't see it though) and they actually try to flirt with him! I have to keep down bile everytime I see their hideous faces, and honestly, he was their stepbrother! That's disgusting. I shuddered as I marched over to them and demanded what they were doing.

"Ugh. Go away. It's none of your business!" Britney scoffed snottily.

"Yeah." spat Tiffney.

Britney was the more... obnoxious one. Tiffney was just a second mouthpiece that agreed wih everything Britney said.

"Yeah well he's my brother you brain dead morons so go away or I will make you." I growled.

A flash of fear entered their eyes as tried to cover it up with a flippant remark, but it did not go unnoticed. "Jealous much?"

I cracked my knuckles casually and said lightly,  "I'm not jealous, my brother actually taught me quite a number of things I've been meaning to try. I don't remember you being there. So perhaps are you jealous?" Although my tone was light, my glare could have drilled holes through their nonexistent brains and they winced at the weight of my gaze.

They bent their heads and hurried off, whispering to each other and throwing glances back to me. I smiled at the thought of dismembering them briefly before knocking on my brother's door sharply four times and entering.

Alex knew that I needed no invitation and when I enter he better be presentable, because I'm walking in either way. He lazily glanced up at me from his worktable. He was polishing his weapons that he so proudly displayed. I, on the otherhand, had to keep mine hidden from view of anyone that entered. The king was not sexist, but he wanted to protect females after his wife was brutally murdered while on a rescue mission. Although he was faced with strong opposition at first, the people eventually warmed up to the idea in pity of the king's plight. Therefore, no women fought in the royal army, nor went hunting, but all those that were fourteen and above, be it male or female, were given training in fighting and self defense and even basic knowledge of weaponry and handling it. Although the fairer sex was not allowed to fight, they worked as anything they wanted, some even becoming blacksmiths and masons. Only if the fortress that became the kingdom after the Apocalypse was penetrated, then everyone would be fighting for their lives and it would be unfair if the females could not protect themselves.

"Listen, when Wes and I were returning from the safehouse something... odd happened."  I started, frowning.

Alex's eyebrow shot up. Sure, murdering vampires was an everyday occurence. So was killing zombies... again, but when something odd happened, it must truly be mind blowing because the world was already screwed nine ways from Sunday and everything was odd.

"The undead seemed to smell us as well as hear us now, and their movements are becoming more coordinated." I paused, frowning as I recalled our desperate pursuit through the night. "The vamps and weres are also, somehow impossibly... stronger and faster."

I closed my eyes and tried not to flashback to the previous few hours. The last time I was that terrified was when my mother had died. I told myself I would never feel so helpless again, but when the beasties (as I call them) upgrade themselves, I just can't help it.

I opened my eyes to find another pair of stormy silver ones peering into mine, concerned. I immediately unfurrowed my creased brows and smiled tightly. My brother always had a way of seeing right through me and I didn't know whether to love him or hate him for his ability to read me so easily. In the end I always blamed myself for being like an open book.

Clearing my throat, I tugged on my sweater and turned to the door, throwing him a shaky farewell over my shoulder. My breathing was shallow and I navigated the secret passageways around the castle to get to the great hall. My stomach was practically cursing me for starving it and I was ready to make peace with it. The hall was packed with people 24/7 as everyone who couldn't or didn't cook at their homes gathered at the castle for free meals that the king so graciously provided.

After scooping a healthy serving of pancakes, eggs, toast and bacon that threatened to topple over my plate, I retreated to a table closest to my secret passageway where Wes was already shoveling food down his oesophagus. I plopped down on the bench beside him and started attacking my food with gusto. Wes arched an amused eyebrow, but knew better than to say anything. The food disappeared in under five minutes and I stretched like a cat, yawning widely.

I wanted to sleep so badly, but I had to prepare myself for the imminent arrival of Queen Gryffin who, no doubt, had had a long and arduous journey.

Just as I was dropping my plate down a chute to the kitchens, the warning bell tolled, echoing throughout the castle. I froze, the plate fell from my hand, an inch from the chute. Before it even touched the ground, I was already sprinting towards the courtyard that led out to the main gate.