Snow White Queen [NaNoWriMo 2018]

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Loretta's screams filled the air as the rest of them scrambled into action. Lira pulled her sister out of the way while Neva, Amity, and Mallie fanned out and prepared to attack.

There were two hunters and three vampires. Clearly, they had the upper hand, right? They'd be fine, Neva tried to tell herself. They were going to be fine.

The hunters closed in on them. Mallie pulled out her hidden dagger, about to strike when a third hunter grabbed her from behind and pinned her to the ground.

Neva took another look around her. They were surrounded.

We are so screwed.

The three of them did their best to fight off the attackers, but they were severely outnumbered. It would only be a matter of time before they went down.

Neva took down one hunter and turned around to face two more. She took care of one and was about to take down the other when he crumpled, an arrow sticking out of his back.

Neva looked around. All around them, hunters were collapsing under the hail of arrows.

Within seconds, the vampires were the last ones left standing. They looked all around, searching for their mysterious saviors.

Two women stepped out of the shadows, one holding a crossbow, the other a longbow. The one with the crossbow pushed her hood off her head, revealing that she was human. "You're welcome."

Neva breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much. We owe you our lives."

"I'm assuming you mean that figuratively."

Neva started slightly. "How-"

"We've been hunting these guys for months. We know they only attack vampires. Besides, you learn to identify them when you're running with one of your own."

Neva looked to the second woman, who remained hooded.

"Let's get into the shade. I imagine you'd like to get out of the sun."

The three of them followed the two into the forest, helping Loretta and Lira.

"Who are you? If you don't mind me asking," Amity asked once they got into the forest.

The human woman smiled. "I'm Elise, this is Lia."

"Thank you so much, Elise and Lia. We would not have gotten out of there if it weren't for you."

Elise nodded her acknowledgement. "So, what brings a group of vampires into town?"

"We were looking for information."

"About what?"

"Current events. What's happening in the castle."

"Any particular reason?"

Neva debated revealing their plan, but decided to play it safe. "Just curiosity. It never hurts to stay up to date."

"That is true."

The group introduced themselves to Lia and Elise. As usual, Neva was asked to confirm whether or not she was the princess, and, as usual, she confirmed.

"We've been forming a sort of convent. It's a lot safer than wandering around alone in the woods," Amity explained.

"I assume you have a secure place to stay?"

"Yes, we do. We'd be happy to have you. We don't exactly have much fighting experience, so it'd be a great help to us to have people who can fight, and I imagine you'd like more people to watch your back."