Blood Ward

Chapter 3

Later that night, I was awoken bya muffled cry outside my door. I lay still, trying to listen forother noises. There was screaming outside and my door burst openviolently. "There you are you little bitch!" Compton stormed inangrily, crossing my room in three strides. I got up quickly, puttingthe bed between him and me. "You think you can insult me and getaway with it?"

My eyes flicked to my nightstandwhere I kept Stefan's dagger in the drawer. "You can't justcome here and think you can get away with it. My father won't standfor this!" I said.

"Your father is dead... and mymen are taking care of anyone else who tries to defend you," hesnarled.

My blood ran cold. Stefan... washe okay? I needed to get to him, to help him. I yanked open thedrawer, grabbed the dagger and sprang toward the door. Compton was astep ahead of me, grabbing me and yanking me back. "Let go!" Idemanded, swinging the dagger toward him.

"I'll not be taken bysurprise a second time!" he growled, grabbing my wrist and twistinguntil I dropped the dagger.

"You son of a bitch!" I spat,realizing I was outclassed and unprepared.

He flung me on the bed and Itried to scramble away but he caught my nightgown and pulled me back,ripping the flimsy fabric. Suddenly, I was exposed and I feltvulnerable. I twisted out of his grip and kicked a foot into hisstomach, missing his weak spot, but startling and winding him. I wentfor the dagger and was almost at him when he turned on me,backhanding me. I stumbled and he grabbed me again, wrenching thedagger from my hand and throwing it across the room. "I willhave you!" he said, his free hand squeezing my breast painfully.

"You wish!" I said angrilybringing my knee up and catching him in the thigh, but missing mytarget.

He laughed at my attempt andpressed his lips hard against mine, forcing his tongue into my mouth.Big mistake. I bit down, tasting blood before he pulled away with acry and backhanded me again. I spit his own blood back in his faceand the third hit spun me and knocked me face first onto the bed. Hewas on me instantly and in my position, I could no longer fight back."Stay down!" he demanded when I tried to push myself up. I couldhear the rustling of his pants as he struggled, one handed to getthem off.

Knowing I was out of options, Istarted to scream and thrash, trying to buck him off of me. The fistword out of my mouth was, "Stefan!"

As if calling out his name hadsummoned him, I saw a shadow spring lithely over the edge of mybalcony. "Ana!" he yelled when he saw me struggling with Comptonon top of me. He dove into the room and barreled into Compton,knocking him off of me. The hit threw Compton off balance and hetripped over the pants still down around his ankles. The fall senthim face first into the vanity and knocked him out cold. After makingsure Compton was down, Stefan rushed over to me. "Are you alright?Did he hurt you?" he took my chin and turned my face to look at mystinging cheek.

"I'll be fine," I assuredhim.

"You're bleeding," he saidtouching my lip and coming away with a crimson spot on his thumb.

"Just a loose tooth," I said."I promise, I'm fine. We need to get out of here."

"The entire castle is taken,"Stefan agreed. "Your father... I was there," he whispered sadly.

"It's not your fault, Stefan.We need to get out before they find us." I was already up andfishing my fighting clothes from the wardrobe. "Keep watch while Ichange."

He nodded, standing and going tothe doorway. I pulled off the ruined night gown and replaced it withblack leggings and a baggy shirt which I cinched around my waist withthe belt that held my scabbard. Finding my dagger, I secured it inplace and stepped over to Compton, picking up his sword. I fit it onmy opposite hip, testing the draw. Satisfied, I pulled on my ridingboots and cloak.

"I'm ready," I said, tyingmy hair up in a knot to keep it out of my face.

Stefan turned and caught aglimpse of me. "You..." he gasped. I'd had the outfit speciallymade and was going to unveil it to him next time we sparred, but Ifound it much easier to fight in the form fitting leggings and shirtthan his borrowed clothing, so now was best. "You look like awarrior princess," he said.

"This is what you trained mefor Stefan," I said unable to stop the smile that crossed my face.

We heard voices coming from thehallway and our senses kicked into high gear. "The balcony Ana,it's our way out."

He did not have to tell me twice.I sprinted outside and flipped over the rail to the trellis, grabbinghold. Climbing down, I thanked Stefan silently for training me. Inever could have climbed this if I were Valkyrie. Reaching the bottomthere was a six foot drop that I landed lightly, bending my knees asI hit and crouching in the shadows. Stefan followed silently behind."We should get to the stables." I whispered, wary of any movementin the dark.

Stefan agreed. "I've alreadytacked and prepared two horses for us. I was in the stables wheneverything started."

"My hero," I said flatly,still scanning the shadows. "Let's go," I said after confirmingto myself we were alone.

Stefan and I raced across thegrounds silently and speedily, until we ran into a stray group ofCompton's men. There were five total, and I hunkered down in theshadow of a nearby pile of hay bales. Stefan at my back whispered,"There's no way around."

"There's through," I saiddrawing both sword and dagger.

"Ana, it's not safe." Hetried to reason with me.

"It's either fight or becaptured," I insisted. "And I am notgoing back to Compton."

Finally, he agreed. "Fine, butI go in first."

He snuck around the hay and stoodup, making a spectacle of himself, allowing me to come from the otherside and flank the soldiers advancing on him. Swinging my sword anddagger with practiced skill, I took out two of them before they knewwhat happened. Meanwhile, Stefan drew his sword and joined the fray.I faced off with a third soldier while he fought the remaining two. Iwas a force to be reckoned with, turning the fight into a dance as myfeet moved lightly over the grass and my weapons arced through theair. Spinning and ducking, I finally found my opening and struck outwith the dagger. I buried the blade deep into his chest and with mysword, I swung hard and wrested his head from his body. Without evenstopping to think, I spun to help Stefan. He was down to one man, andI jumped up behind the unsuspecting soldier and cut him deep with thesword, startling him. When he fell, I pinned him to the groundthrough his heart.

Stefan gaped at me dumbfounded.Before he could speak, I wiped my weapons clean on the dead soldier'sclothes, and re-sheathed them. "Come on, we need to hurry."

I trotted off toward the stables,feeling very proud of myself. Stefan followed silently behind and Icould feel his eyes burning holes in my back. I ignored him, keepingmy focus on my surroundings. We ran into no one else and reached thestables quickly. Stefan had saddled War Chaser and Spitfire, andthrown together a couple of packs full of supplies. I jumped up onWar Chaser's back and Stefan took Spitfire.

I kicked War Chaser into motionand we set off to get as far away from my home as we could. I kept usat a quick and steady pace, wary not to wear out the horses. We rodeuntil just before sunrise, when we hit upon a village neighboring myfather's estate. Seeing this as a good resting point, I reined WarChaser toward the inn.

Keeping an eye for any sign ofCompton's men, I dismounted and took War Chaser by the reins,striding toward a very curious stable boy. "Can you see that ourmounts are quartered and well fed?" I asked smiling and handing hima silver.

"You've seen battle..." hesaid in awe, taking in our bloodied attire.

"It was just a spat along theroad," I said still smiling. "Now run along. We're weary fromour adventures."

 "Yes ma'am." He grinned andtook the reins from Stefan and I.