Atherian Tales: The Blood Slave

Chapter Twenty Four

"Elias!" Jerric yelled from behind me as I stared out the window searching for any hint of a golden aura. The pitch black night left the landscape of the garden covered in a sheet of black and making it difficult to spot anything.

"Elias, what are your orders?" Jerric was breathless as he sprinted towards me. His clothes were stained in crimson and his brow was lined with drops of sweat. His long white hair was disheveled as he reached me. He stopped in his tracks when I turned to meet his gaze and my own glowing red aura shown brightly on his skin and reflected in his eyes.

"What is...." His brows furrowed as he searched for a proper question. Truth is, I wouldn't know how to answer. The red flashing eyes and this aura only started when I found Amily. Especially when that waste of a vampire Delaney attacked her, it grew then but now, my rage fueled it making it almost blinding.

"The blood slaves, are they safe?" I barked, directing the conversation away from me.

"They are secured, but Amily is missing." His words sent knives through my stomach and left me gutted. The reality slowly sinking in that she was lost to me and I hadn't a clue if she'd return.......return to me.

"She's gone..." I admitted.

"What do you mean gone?"

Just then I heard my name. From the window a small frail voice shouted for me. It was pleading for me.

"What is it Elias?" Jerric asked as I frantically looked around, searching out the window again. His question made me realize he wasn't hearing the sad pleas like I was.

Elias....please....where am I? Who is this? Why did you let me go? It was Amily. Her faint voice a distant whisper through the bond.
I jumped onto the window sill ready to find my Amily.

"What are you doing Elias?! We need your orders!" Jerric rushed to the window, trying to keep me from my task. The only thing I needed to do was find her.

"You are in command now, they will follow you Jerric. They need a leader.....give them one." I spoke honestly and quickly, the castle needed to be taken back, but that wasn't my priority now.

"They will listen!" I said, then I jumped to the garden below me. The wind from my fall rushed over my body and sent a cool chill across my skin. My plummet came to a sudden halt when I crashed against the cold, dewy earth of the garden. My landing rocked the ground beneath me causing a small trimmer to ripple across it.

As I stood to my feet, I took in the full extension of the attack. They had infiltrated from the garden side. The labyrinth of roses had been flattened, leaving only broken limbs and scattered petals about. There were many of our enemies laying about but many fallen guardsmen matched their numbers.

I heard the battle raging on as they marched through the castle. The sound of blood spilling and war cries echoed through the stone palace as I stepped away, listening for her voice to guide me.

"Talk to me Amily..." I begged through a whisper as I sprinted across the battle grounds. Eventually I stepped into a deep forest. The dense foliage and trees blocking most of the moonlight and casting ominous shadows in every direction. I marched on, not breaking my path until I heard a terrifying scream. It was Amily!

I ran in the direction of her scream. My heart breaking as my chest finally echoed her heartbeat through it. It was spurratic, uneven, and accelerating with every passing second. I could feel the way her breathing increased, and her fear spike up.

"Help me! Elias!" She was crying for me, begging for me. She was confused and terrified. Her pleas made my feet carry me faster and my eyes search harder. I followed them until I was stopped dead in my tracks.