2: The Betrayal

Lyra watched the two girls disappear into the darkness. She turned from the window to look at Antony. Her face was streaked with tears and her eyes were puffy. “ Antony will they be okay on their own? Does Cassia know the way?”

“I am positive Cassia is quite capable. We’ve taught her well.” He reassured Lyra with a compassionate tone. When Antony came into Lyra’s full view, she saw him strapping his sword to his waist. “ Antony where are you going?” Fear flooded Lyra’s voice and expression.

“Lyra my dear there is going to be a fight I need to protect you and the village. I have to ring the warning bell.” Antony spoke with certainty.

“I won’t let you do this alone!” Lyra grabbed a crossbow and a quiver of bolts and loaded it.

Antony smiled “Always the brave one. I see now where our daughter gets it from.” Antony walked over and took Lyra in his arms and kissed her deeply. Lyra felt the familiar tingling that only happened in Marcus’ embrace.

“ Marcus?” Lyra asked when she pulled away dumbfounded.

“Yes my dear.” He replied matter factly.

“Since when.?” She asked still shocked.”Why didn’t you tell me sooner? All this time the girls were calling you Da.” Regret flooded Lyra like a wave crashing into rocks. “They could have known you as their father.”

“It has been since the wedding. Antony took my place and had been ruling in my stead. He said I already had my mate and he would be dammed if any council has the authority to destroy what the Earth Mother has mated together.” He continued “ It pays to have an identical twin “ he smiled “ I have enjoyed this simple life with you and I will do what ever I can to make it last as long as I can. I love you so much Lyra. As for the girls it was better for them not to know. This way I know that my secret will be kept. I trust you can keep it quiet, but the girls could let it slip and put us all in danger. I can’t have that.”

Lyra kissed him deeply once more. They proceeded with their plan to warn the villagers of the coming danger. Lyra spun the shadow enchantment to conceal them in darkness, she knew that practicing magic was forbidden if a seer chose to take a mate and have children. But she never went through the binding ritual. If she ever got caught it would be her death. They proceeded to make their way to the bell tower. The way was still quiet and their path had been clear. The task seemed almost too easy. That illusion of ease was shattered when they finally reached the bell tower. A tall slim figure shrouded in shadows was waiting for them. “I can’t let you warn them Antony” the figure spoke in remorseful scratchy tone.

“Marius?” Marcus asked with confusion.

“ This is wrong. The whole thing is just wrong. this village, this kingdom it’s just all wrong. Vampires are supposed to be pure not half breeds. Vampires mixing with other species. What abominations are being created here.”

“Marius what are you talking about? This is neutral territory. The people that are here, came here to be free. Vampires have no right or say in who lives here. Plus it’s the will of the King that this village existed. To defy the King’s orders is to commit treason”

“I’m sorry old friend but this kingdom is corrupted it has to be purified. And it starts with this village.”

Marius threw a silver dagger at Marcus chest with deadly precision. A hollow thud was heard and Immediately a sharp pain was felt in Marcus’ chest as an enchanted silver dagger was imbedded into it. Marcus gasped for air as he felt the pain and poison moving through his veins at a rapid pace. He collapsed to his knees still gasping for air. Lyra screamed out as she released a bolt from the crossbow. It flew straight into Marius’ heart. The man dropped instantly. Lyra ran over to Marcus and cradled him in her arms. “ Ring the bell” Marcus croaked out. Lyra stood up and ran to the bell tower to pull the cord. When she reached out to pull the cord she felt a sharp burning sting in her neck. Marius with his last bit of life had taken out a dart gun and blew a poison dart at Lyra. “I’m sorry my lady.” Was the words uttered with his dieing breath. Instantly she felt her nervous system start to shut down. She wrapped the rope around her wrist and let her weight do the work. The bell began to ring but not in enough time before the first fire was set and the screams began. Lyra let go of the cord and used the last of her strength to crawl over to Marcus . She wrapped her arms around him and cradled him. She leaned over and kissed his cold lips. Her eyes grew heavy and closed she could feel her heart slowly stop beating. They died together on that very spot holding each other in their final embrace.

On a hill top high above the village the general and a small army watched as their troops ransacked and burned the houses and massacred the inhabitants. They heard a loud bell ring out.

“General are you sure that this village was harboring insurgents? It looked so peaceful.”

“Her majesty insisted that the intelligence that was collected by our spy was 100% accurate. And anyone who dared to question her orders was to be arrested for treason.”

Just at that moment the conversation was interrupted by loud roar. Soldiers started screaming. The general kicked his ruthlessly sharp spurs into his horse’s sides. The horse neighed in pain and lunged forward in a fierce run.

Thundering down the hill, the general could see a large bear ripping apart his soldiers. He heard someone screaming Were Bear. The enormous bear with a single swing of his arm took a man’s head clean off with his claws. The head went flying a good distance before it hit the ground bounced a couple of times, then rolled until it crashed into some baskets to stop. The beast then bit through another man’s arm and crunched it up like a dog eating a chicken bone. Blood sprayed everywhere. The man screamed in agony from shock and pain. It then launched another soldier into a tree, where there was a broken branch stub that impaled the soldier. He began to gurgle out blood from his mouth. The blood ran down his chin and ran down his body to create a sick maroon puddle below him.

The bear was swinging his large claws and nashing its teeth. Blood and bodies were being flung in all directions.

The general’s attention was so focused on the mayhem and carnage before him, that he did not see the hedge of brambles and vines. His horse tried to jump it but the hedge was too high, and the horse was too heavy that the poor animal was stopped in mid momentum. The animal came crashing down and throwing the general into a nearby tree. When general came to his senses he limped over to the struggling mount and spat at the animal. “Worthless beast”. He then kicked it in the stomach and grabbed his sword.

The general drew his sword from its scabbard and hobbled over to the fight with the werebear. The bear was so focused on the fight in front of him that he did not see the general sneaking up from behind. The general snuck up behind the beast and stabbed it in the back. The bear roared in pain and collapsed. “Fuckers can’t handle enchanted silver just like the wolves.” “ Leave it. It will be dead soon enough.”The general spat at the werebear with disgust. “What kind of people would ever find living and trading with these beasts ever acceptable .” General grabbed another soldier’s horse and commanded everyone to head out towards the castle.