Children of Blood ✔️

Chapter Twenty Five

I stare at the ambers in the fire, my lips pressed to Roxy's journal. In the distance a bush rustles, causing me to stuff the journal back into the bag and grab my knife. I push to my feet and creep towards the bush, my mind and heart steady.

Branches push past to reveal Luke's drained face. Blood is spattered onto his cheeks like freckles and his sword still drips fresh crimson liquid. "Jean," he gasps.

My mouth slacks and I grab Roxy's bag, "I don't know what's wrong, but let's talk and run."

Luke presses a bow and quiver into my hands and shakes his head. "It's terrible Jean, they're slaughtering the innocent."

I push off to a run and pull Luke with me. "What?"

"The Fide Clan," Luke breathes heavily, "they're under attack."

"By who?" I push myself into a sprint, and he keeps up with me.

"The Bellator Clan, Lady just launched a war."

"What's her plan?" I ask.

"I don't know," Luke admits. "But whatever it is, she's putting a large dent into our only resource for battle. Maybe it's an intimidation tactic."

I clutch the bow.

Fight for Roxy and those who can't. Fight Jean. Fight.

We push past a final bush, and I reach for an arrow. Pull and shoot. I miss a few shots, but I hit more targets than I miss. It's a bloodbath. The Bellator Clan's numbers are dwindling fast before I realize something. Some of these people, they're malnourished and unkept. They're scared, no warrior shows their enemy their fear- unless they aren't warriors.

"Luke!" I call and stare with a limp bow. "They're the Immunis, aren't they?"

Luke stops and his mouth drops, "oh my god Jean."

I rush to a young boy's side. No armour or proper weapon. He holds a knife and shakes with fear.

"Wait!" I call to the warrior about to knock him unconscious. I turn to the boy and grab his hands, he's probably 13. "Are you a part of the Immunis?"

He cries and nods. His arms warping around me he collapses. "They threw us in here to die. I'd we stayed we'd be killed too."

I turn to Luke, who's jaw clenches. "Fide warriors!" He yells at the top of his lungs, "spread the word, any malnourished warrior with no armour or weapons is to be knocked unconscious!"

The word travels slowly and I push the boy to the edge of a building, "find somewhere safe to hide."

He nods and I run. Shooting every healthy warrior in sight. Lady has outdone herself this time, killing two birds with one stone. Throw the Immunis into a battle unprepared to die and also to weaken the forces of a strong neighbouring clan.

I work my way into the battle, covered in blood and soil. I defend the backs of vulnerable Fide soldiers, and Luke protects mine. We weave through the crowd as night falls. My aim scans the crowd, and I shoot a man down. Behind him stands a woman with six soldiers around her. Her pin straight black hair and ice eyes burn mine.