"I know what you want to say, and no, I have no idea," Freya whispered. There was enough worry for both of us in her voice, so I turned back toward the town.
"Do you feel anyone? Or anything? Survivors?"
"There are two-- Humans in the throne room, though they're wounded. I think it's a trap of some kind."
I growled low and hurled myself from the overlook and flew straight towards the keep, landing on the square. Freya landed a second after I did and followed me into the grand hall. The door was barred for some reason and wouldn't open.
"Can you get through the holes? My own mist doesn't let me do that. I'd just go against the wood," I asked. She nodded and stepped right into the door, disappearing into the insides. It took her a good five seconds to return. And when she did, Freya shook her head slightly.
"You shouldn't go in there. It will only do you bad," she whispered, putting her right hand on my chest. I looked at her strangely, as if I had no idea what she was talking about. They were alive, or at least that's what she said earlier, so what did it matter?
I pushed past her forcing the double doors to break inwardly. The faint scent of iron hung in the air, along with burnt flesh. For a moment, I couldn't see from all the fog that lingered, but then my eyes adjusted as I let out a silent scream. Two disfigured corpses were put on display on my throne, cut up and barely alive. The body parts were arranged similarly to what I did to Cardinal Cosimo. Vera, my beautiful Vera, and innocent Andrej. I knelt beside them, cradling what was left.
Freya threw her arms around me and pressed her face against my neck as I looked down into Vera's hazy eyes. Just what had this monster done for her to stay alive in this condition? But then I noticed them, hundreds of small crystals, both white and black were attached to what remained of her body and head. I knew it was him, that bastard Captain. No one else could have gotten past the defenses, bar an army of Clerics.
"Was it worth it?" I whispered. "Was it worth it, you idiot!" I screamed. Something died in me, I knew it. I would never be the same after today, and that bastard was to blame. Yes, I had done the right thing and kept Dracul inside along with Bethrezen. They would be the tools that let me take my revenge, and once I had, I'd burn down the world. I've had enough of people messing with my life.
I pressed my lips against her forehead and held them there for a long time. Her dark eyes twitched one last time before they went dull.
"Shadows, eat them," I whispered, "So that they can remain with me forever and always."
An oval shape rose from the ground and gently picked Vera up, devouring her piece by piece, after which it was Andrej's turn. The little boy I'd sworn to protect. He was so full of life and-- A sense of urgency clawed at me as I thought about Katya and Hana. What about the ordinary folk that just served on the farms, the other Supernaturals, and Boris?
"I'm going to finish this, my goddess. Tonight. If you want to come with me, you're free to do so, if you want to stay behind, you can do so as well. I need to save Katya!"
"No! It's almost dawn. The fact that you're invulnerable against the light doesn't mean it's a good idea to fight him! Wait until it's dark again, then you can go do whatever you want, and I'll even support you."
"Does it matter? I'm much stronger now! I'll kill them all in one fell swoop!"
"No! He'll be there! I'm sure of it!" she snapped. "Do you think a stage three can stand up to a thousand-year-old Nosferatu? Don't make me laugh!"
I growled angrily, standing there amidst what had turned into a scene of death and destruction. I could see it through the shadows. Hundreds of corpses strewn around the town, dead or dying.
"What is this?" I asked. "What the hell are you showing me?"
But the shadows remained silent. It wasn't like they could talk.
"I don't know, Ivan, but this is far worse than I might have imagined. We have no idea what we're up against, and they'll feel our arrival far before we even get there. With that bloodlust and rage that you're radiating, you might as well sound a horn!"
I turned away from her to face the square. More shadows lingered strewn all over, depicting what had happened. But how had the battle taken place when there wasn't a single drop of blood on the ground, no damaged buildings, front gate, and walls?
"What do you propose?" I asked still clenching my fists like a madman. It was obvious what I wanted to do to the enemy, but if she, a goddess told me to wait, I'd at least hear her out.
"I need to do some preparations. You stay put and go into meditation. I need you at your strongest. But don't fool around with either of them!"
"Why? They're just souls!"
"More like Liches! They feed on your power once they get the chance!"
I sighed, annoyed by her blabbering. I would much rather raise hell and go at them right away, but a strange power unlike anything I'd ever felt was holding me down. I looked up at Freya, but she didn't acknowledge me. It was as if she'd gone into a different world, just like I did during my meditation.
Feelings welled up inside, feelings I thought I'd lost a long time ago. Vera, my sweet little girl, and Andrej. The three of us had gone through so much shit that it was unfair how everything ended up for her. I couldn't bring myself to cry, I was too far gone for that, but I could swear death and destruction upon the Vatacan. One day, I would be floating above their capital city, watching it burn. One day.
Lost in thoughts and in gathering strength, I forgot what time it was. Once done, I looked up at Freya. The pitch black in her eyes was gone, and she was back to her usual self.
"I've reached out to the night and the darkness," she started. "It responded favorably. Tonight, is the night we should fight them, but beware, Ivan. You're not almighty. Many Supernaturals and entities beyond your wildest dreams roam this world, and they far exceed you in every way possible, so keep that in mind."
I couldn't help it but sigh and lay down on my back.
"Easy for you to say," I murmured.
"Really? How many people do you think I've put to eternal rest? People I cared deeply for, just like with you? Don't do anything foolish. I plan to end it all here, with you. I'm tired, Ivan. I'm tired of the role I've been given."
I remained silent, brooding over Vera's death and my stupid power trip. I should have known he'd be there, no doubt about it. And I still left them behind. But there it was, a faint feeling that kept nagging at me. I told them to run, hadn't I? Maybe they were still alive? My heart skipped a beat at the mere thought.
I closed my eyes and planted both palms against the ground, calling on every shadow available to me. Thousands of tendrils shot out in all directions, feeling for anything moving and breathing. Every second turned into a minute. The further the tentacles reached, the slower they were and the weaker the signal. Soon, only a couple of hundred remained after merging with others as they sped through the forest North and East, the barren land South, and the green fields of grass to the West.
"Use my power," she whispered, planting her lips on mine as she knelt inches from me. Envigored, I closed my eyes and kept absorbing anything along the way, spreading new feelers and tendrils in all directions. And there it was, disturbed leaves and branches to the east.
I let go of all three main arteries and focused on the single one, desperately searching for more signs. The thick tendril turned into a hundred, racing in all directions. There it was, a dimly lit cavern. A faint light came from the inside, it was barely visible. The tendril shot out even faster, trying to enter the cavern, but then it stopped after striking a ward.
A multitude of voices sprang to life as they laid eyes on the feeler, on my dark limb. Katya's face was the first that appeared as she approached the edge of the cave and put her arms around the darkness, embracing it as if it was me.
"Ivan, you're back!" she mouthed. More familiar faces came up from behind, including Hana, Boris, and Selene. I peered inside, but only saw a couple of dozen Supernaturals, and a score of civilians either sitting or standing. I let go
of the limb opening my eyes. Freya stared back at me, full of life and hope.
"Lead the way," she said. I didn't need to be told twice, so I did the only rational thing. I got up and flew in the direction of the cave. Once I arrived, the group was standing outside with Katya at their head. Hana stood behind her, severely wounded and mangled, while Boris was in as excellent a condition as ever, along with Selene.
"Did you drain the blood?" I asked, staring at the lich. She nodded slightly.
"I didn't want to let it go to waste, no matter how bad it felt," she replied. I nodded and put my hand on her shoulder.
"You did well. Especially considering what we're facing."
"I'm sorry," Boris said interrupting. "He got his hands on Vera and Andrej. It must have been that Captain guy. He kept gloating how it was him who did you in and made you run for your life."
I couldn't help myself to put up a grin, as there was nothing to grin about.
"They're dead. He did the same thing to them like I did to Cosimo," I said meeting Katya's eyes. She gasped and buried her face in my chest. "But don't worry, this ends tonight. Vatacan will burn, even if it's the last thing I do."
"Hell yeah!" Boris howled. "I can feel my blood boiling, Lord Ivan. Speaking of which, do you think you stand a chance this time around? I sure as hell can feel the difference in power."
I held my hand out and summoned the spear.
"Trust me, I do. I'm nowhere near who I was a couple of days ago."
"Oh, so that explains the sinister and ominous feeling surrounding you," he said. I nodded. "Freya and I will take care of him, you and Selene take care of the fodder. Katya, you take Hana and the survivors East to Rasnov. Tierney's waiting there."
"But I want to fight!" Katya cried. "I want to get even with him!"
"You've done enough, Katya. Let me take care of my part as you have yours. We'll meet at Rasnov as soon as we're done."
She looked up at me with haunted eyes before turning to Hana. I nodded for her to join us. She did so almost unwillingly, stepping slowly toward me.
"Ivan," she whispered. I put my free arm around her and pressed Hana against my body. I could feel her pain more than anyone's present. She blamed herself for this, and saying it wasn't her fault wouldn't change that.
"Hana," I whispered back and kissed her. "You did a good job, but it's time for you to rest now. Go back to Zharevo and load whatever valuables there are. Then make way to Rasnov."
"Is that an order?" she asked weakly.
"No, it's not," I replied, still holding her tightly. "But that's what I'd like you to do for me."
She buried her face in my chest and stayed like that for a while. I could feel her chest heaving, and her heart rate quickening. She would get as much time as needed.
Boris and Selene turned around and entered the cavern. I could hear them shout orders before his pack started howling at the order of them staying behind. I couldn't blame him, as I'd yet have to mourn for Vera and Andrej, but everything in its own time.
"I'm fine," Hana said after a minute passed. "Come, sister. We need to bury our dead."
Chapter Twenty-Four
In the end, I found it quite disheartening to leave them behind again, but there was nothing I could do. That bastard needed to be taken care off before I could go search for my son or do anything else. If he found Zharevo in a day, then he could find Rasnov as well and be there in two or three days for that matter.
Selene's horse, a pale mare with black spots had been spared, as most animals had luckily. The grain stores were partially plundered, but there was enough at Rasnov, so it didn't matter that much. Most of the carts had been spared as well, just like the tools and the smithy. For some reason, the Captain hadn't targeted our livelihood, except butchering the folk. He wanted to set a statement and set one he did.
After a thorough check of our stock, the four of us made way toward the keep. Boris ran while transformed in his usual self, while Selene rode her horse. Freya and I flew ahead of them, scouting for any danger.
From the story they told us before we left, it was a simple, yet brutal raid. Thousands of soldiers and a score of high-ranking clergies had shown up with the Captain at their head. They had stood outside in formation and waited until dawn to attack. The strange thing was that they hadn't targeted the soldiers' lives, no, they maimed and knocked them unconscious, then captured them. It could only mean they needed more fodder for their duplicating process.
Once the battle had become too one-sided, Boris had rushed the Captain, not knowing who he was and fought him before he got his ass handed to him. Hana joined him along with Selene, but they were beaten in mere seconds. Katya had used the time to evacuate what people she could and escape east. She followed my order to the letter, saving herself and what people she could. It's always possible to retake a town or castle, but not to bring back the dead.
Finally, they had taken whoever they could before cleaning the place and transporting the prisoners and bodies. It irked me to no end as to why they might have done it, but I guessed that we would find out soon enough.
Considering the force he'd used, it was a wonder that anyone survived at all. It was more of a taunt I reckoned, a small payback for the shame I brought down on him in his own keep. It had worked, that much I could say. It really had worked…
We made good time, but I got annoyed by the time dawn approached. We were barely half-way there because of Selene's love for her horse. However, she needed it to stay on the high-ground against anyone who would attack her from close up. In the end, I opted to engulf them all in shadow and to bring us all in closer to the village we stayed last time. To my surprise, I found it barren and deserted.
"It wasn't like this the last time," I said eyeing the small village.
"I don't smell anyone," Boris said sniffing at the air. "There's no one around for a couple of miles."
"Whatever the reason, they're cleaning up. Stay here and rest up, I'm scouting ahead," I said and motioned to the tavern. "And stay low. If someone arrives or appears from nowhere, don't approach them. All of this stink too badly."
"Sure. I'll keep Selene safe," Boris snorted helping her get off the frightened horse.
"Or maybe it's the other way around?" she giggled. I shook my head and turned to Freya.
"I'm taking the right half from the village," I said and motioned toward the cleric keep, "And you take the left one. We meet back in half an hour. I want to see if any other villages have been emptied out before we attack them."
She nodded once and turned to fog, lifting into the air and disappearing into nothingness. I rose and flew off toward the woods, skimming the treeline for anything living. Soon I came across another village, even smaller than the one we stopped at earlier. It was as desolate as can be. Closing my eyes, I sent out thin tendrils of darkness even further out.
"Three minutes south. If that one's empty as well, I got my answer," I whispered. And surely, the third village was as empty as the first two. I couldn't help but feel as if we were being set up. Just how did they create those duplicates from random men and women? Even children. It didn't make any sense.
"Dracul?" I asked. "Do you feel him anywhere close?"
"No. If he were, you'd feel it too. Once you've felt him once, you'll feel him every time."
"Good to know," I murmured. As if it would help me anything if Nosferatu found me right here and now.
"Though I do feel a rather large number of strong individuals at the keep. And three coming in from the south. They're heading right for Boris and Selene."
I cursed and flew off into the direction I'd come from.
"What are they? Any idea?"
"Supernaturals. I have no idea about their powers."
I cursed and sped up as fast as I could. Maybe Freya had caught wind of them and was on her way back? Besides, why was I worried about them? They could hold their own against anything short of the Captain.
Dracul's conscious faded into the back of my m
ind. I tried to awaken him, but he wouldn't respond. Annoyed, I cursed inwardly. You need him once, he delivers you the bad news and then disappears.
A deafening howl cut the air. It came from the direction of the first village. From what I remembered it was the howl Boris used as a battle cry of sorts. Good, that meant they had just started. Moving along, a sense of dread crept up ever more over my body. I didn't want to lose any other friends or allies, and what was worse, I had no idea who it was that attacked them.
I could finally see the village after three minutes of flight. Gritting my teeth, I landed at the village square to a sound of battle. Selene was at the outskirts fighting one assailant, while Boris was inside the inn fighting two. The ruckus was enough to give him away, even without me feeling him. I decided to go with the Werewolf, not knowing if he could hold his own against two opponents.
Just as I turned to face the inn, Boris' came flying straight through the wall and entered another building across the street, leaving a gaping hole in the process. Two figures stepped through the hole, looking all smug and confident. Their large heads were bald and covered with crusts. Heavy furred capes were draped around their shoulders, one white and the other yellow. The resemblance was uncanny, almost to the point I thought they were brothers, but no, the white caped was slightly taller and broader than the yellow one.
"Oh look, we have ourselves another victim, cousin!" the taller of the two said. "Mind if I play with him?"
"Suit yourself. Don't go and kill him too quickly, right?" the smaller man replied.
"What the hell are you? You two look too much alike not to be of the same father."
"Hah! My name is Maxim. I'm a Dvoranoy," the taller one said as he approached. "That over there is my cousin Mihal, a Domovoy. We're gods, so to say. And who might you be, thin fellow?"
Lord of Shadows book 2: Bloodlines Page 18
