Snow White Queen [NaNoWriMo 2018]

Chapter Thirty

Irena Malveaux ran through the bushes, barely feeling the branches scratch at her as she pushed through them as she navigated by moonlight.

She stopped for a moment to listen for her pursuers. She heard bodies carelessly moving through the vegetation. Not daring to look back, she estimated that they were about thirty feet behind her, which gave her a little bit of time to find somewhere to hide.

There was a bush large enough to hide a person a few yards ahead. She sprinted for it and dove into the branches, praying that her hunters were far enough away that they didn't see where she had gone.

Irena held very still, hoping to blend in with the bush, and waited for the hunters to pass her.

She heard her pursuers grow closer, then all movement stopped completely. Irena stayed frozen, not knowing whether or not they were still there.

Something moved in the bush behind her. She stayed still a moment longer, thinking it was just a breeze until a hand touched her shoulder.

Irena jumped out of the bush and looked back to see what - or who - it might have been.

A woman stepped out of the bush, holding her hands up in surrender. "You're okay. I'm a friend."

Irena looked closer at the woman - a vampire, just like she was.

Irena turned to look behind her. Her hunters were bound and held by two other women, also vampires. She looked back at the woman who had been in the bush.

"Why-"

"We look after our own kind." The woman held out her hand in greeting. "I'm Neva."

Irena cautiously shook her hand. "Irena."

Neva gestured at the hunters. "You get the final say: do we let them go, or do they die here and now?"

Irena turned and regarded the hunters. These were people she'd known her whole life. People she'd known as children. People she'd trusted.

These were people who had turned on her as soon as she'd been turned. People who'd hunted her down in her own home. People who'd made it clear that she'd never be welcome anywhere she went.

Irena looked each of them in the eyes. "Kill them," she said. She turned around as the two vampires tore into them. She could give the order, but she couldn't watch.

Neva touched her shoulder gently, a gesture of kindness and support. "We've been finding vampires that have been cast aside and forced to fend for themselves and taking them in. I'd like to invite you to join us. Assuming you have nowhere else to go."

Irena considered the request. It was tempting to have a community to stay with, but... "Why do you want me?"

Neva smiled. "Because no one deserves to wander around alone and in fear with no one to go to."

Irena searched her face for any sign of deception. She seemed genuine, like she really wanted to help her and people like her - vampires cast out by society with nowhere to run and no one who would help them.

Irena nodded. "I'd be glad to join."

~~~

The setting sun cast long shadows over the ground as the group prepared to go out. Each had their own strength, and thus was assigned their own task. The plan was for everyone to go their own way and complete their self-assigned task and be back by daybreak. The humans would stay out slightly longer and do things that could only be done in daylight.

Neva made her way towards the nearby town. She settled into the outskirts and watched as the residents of the town finished their business and returned to their homes.

The grasses rustled as a person walked up and sat down next to Neva. "Lovely evening, isn't it?"

"Yes, but I prefer the rain." Neva turned to look at the person. She vaguely recognized the face, but the coded back-and-forth confirmed that this was indeed the person she'd recruited as a spy in the castle. "What's the news?"

"Lilia is out of the castle."

This took Neva by surprise. "What?"

"I don't know why, or for what, or for how long. All I know is that she left in the middle of the night and is trying to keep it hidden."

Neva nodded, processing the information. "Thank you. I'll adjust my plans accordingly."

The spy stood up and bowed. "Long live the queen."

~~~

The group had reassembled back in the cave. Neva tossed a stone between her hands as she considered her next words.

"We need to move closer to the castle."

All the movement in the cave stilled. "Wha- Why?"

"Lilia's gone. She's trying to keep it secret, but there's a leak in the castle. I don't know how long she'll be gone, so we need to act quickly. If we're going to get into the castle, now is the time."

Everyone was silent for a time, clearly thinking things through.

"Unless anyone has objections, I say we leave tomorrow."

More silence, then Amity spoke up. "I don't see why not."

I'm on Thanksgiving break right now. I'm going to be really busy, but hopefully  I'll be able to write more than I have been. I also have a few chapters that haven't been published yet so I'm doing that right now.
Thanks for reading. I'll see you next time,
~Patchesmimi