Chapter 3

• *Sigmison*
• Red Fang was hurrying around his room as he was gathering his gear. Davwan was standing at the doorway watching his friend.
• “What is the matter? I have never seen you this frazzled before.” Davwan leaned on the rock wall.
• “Ah …” Red Fang seized his face cover. “Balvalur is heading to the Dark Crystal Tower territory. My niece Alore informed me that he is after Finja!” His tone was shaky showing that his mind was not clear.
• Shoving off the wall, “Finja is one of our best fighters, I am sure she will be able to hold her own.” Davwan aimed his feet toward his friend.
• “Normally yes!” Red Fang was almost ready to leave. “But she has gotten herself pregnant and I don’t trust any of them to keep her safe.”
• Davwan grunted, “Black Widow is there … She is even better than Finja!” He pointed out.
• “This is Balvalur we are talking about. We all have learned how easy it is for him to get out of our grasp. Besides this is my baby … niece I am speaking about. Your queen if you have not forgotten!” Red Fang tried not to sound too harsh.
• Davwan placed his hands up in the air in defence, “I know she is family to you. You just don’t seem … all there in the mind! If I may be frank … you seem skittish!”
• Red Fang glared with rage at Davwan, “SHE’S …” Forcing himself to calm down, “She is my world! I will never forgive myself if anything should happen to Finja or any of her siblings.” Red Fang motioned his feet out of the room once he was fully clothed.
• Davwan was following close behind, “I need you to work with Kriqi!” Red Fang explained what was going on as they swiftly moved along the tunnels. Both of them knew that they were halfway finished with their first major project. Getting Sigmison connected with the main core would benefit the whole system.
• “Tell me you are at least taking a fleet or two of fighters with you? The Generals are advancing toward Dark Crystal and Dorasea each day that goes by.”
• Getting to the entrance that would take him up to the surface of Sigmison, “I am taking my elite assassins. This mission requires speed and less muscle.” Red Fang said as he unlocked the hatchet.
• Sighing, “I don’t like the danger you are placing yourself in!” Shaking his head back and forth. “Come back to us, my friend!” He shook Red Fang's hand as he waited for his friend to ascend the stairs.
• Red Fang paused as his foot rested on the first step, “Prepare a place for Finja! I don’t like her being up there without proper protection. I am bringing her home to her family!”
• A gust of wind blew Davwan's hair back as he watched a blur of his friend leaving the location.
• *Unknown*
• “Search the location!” General Viscarti ordered as they reached the outer border of the territory of Dark Crystal Tower.
• The location gave off a bad smell of the blood of his fallen kin. Along with them was the blood of the fledglings. Kneeling General Viscarti placed two fingers in a puddle of blood. Bringing his fingers to his nose, “Dark Brotherhood!” He snickered to himself, “It appears as if your magick did not save you!” He whispered harshly to himself.
• “Father?”
• “What did you find?” General Viscarti stood up.
• “There are too many footprints to tell what happened here.” He handed his undead father a ripped piece of black cloth.
• Taking the cloth General Viscarti brought it up to his nose. Smelling it, “fake blood!” His eyes glowed red with rage. “Clever!” General Viscarti dropped the cloth to the ground. Hissing, “what else did you find?” He did not look at his creation as he motioned to a different location.
• “Father …” He paused for a second, “I have a theory!”
• “You are capable of thinking, that would be a first!” General Viscarti stopped walking and turned to stare at his creation, “go on then!”
• “I believe the sorcerers created the synthetic blood. Confusion our fledglings. I believe in doing this … they attacked our kin!”
• “Well Claqaa … you are not as stupid as you appear. That is precisely what they did.” General Viscarti once again directed his feet out of the location. “Clever little witches!”
• As the general was about to leave the woods something had caught his attention. In the trees, General Viscarti spotted a little box with a blinking blue light. Strolling up to the device, he pulled it off the tree.
• Hissing, “Very clever!” General Viscarti showed his teeth with anger.
• “Father?”
• Holding the device in his hands, “What is this?” General Viscarti held out the object for his creation to study.
• “I believe it is a displacement sensor!” He responded.
• Glaring into the screen, “Finja Longarm!” Crushing the object in his hand, “I need to get reinforcement. This time there will be no fledgling for them to use against us.” General Viscarti ordered everyone to leave the location.
• *Dark Crystal Tower*
• Finja was staring at her processor as she watched the General crush the displacement sensor in his hands.
• “I think it is safe to say that the generals know that I am here!” Finja closed the processor once she realized that the general and his army were leaving the location.
• “I don’t like this Finja!” Ace was pacing the location. “I think you need to go underground!”
• “We have already spoken about this, I am not leaving your side.” Finja said stubbornly.
• Ace was trying hard not to lose his temper. The last thing he wanted was to have a heated argument with his mate. Up to this point he had not once objected to anything that Finja had said. Now his inner dire wolf wanted to protect his pups and mate. It was eating away at him that she was in immediate danger.
• Seeing his distress Finja stood up from her chair, wrapping her arms around the one she loved with all her being. “I can’t sleep without you!” She whispered.
• Wrapping his arms around Finja, kissing the top of her head, “nor can I but this is not about our confort. This is about the fact that you are caring for our pups and I am scared out of my mind that I will lose you just as fast as I found you. We are supposed to grow old together. Things are not going to end this way!”
• Finja motioned her head backwards while closing her eyes. Trying to find the middle ground.
• “Vampires have an incredible sense of smell. What if I go to the cellar? There is little air movement, so the chances of any of them picking up my scent will be hindered. And I will be close to you.” Finja opened her eyes to see the discussed expression on Ace’s Face.
• “I will not see my wife down in the cellar with the food supplies!”
• Snickering, “well you do have the tendency to want to eat me!”
• Ace covered his mouth with his hand, “that is not funny!” Coughing a few times to cover up the fact he was trying hard not to laugh.
• Smiling, “It wasn’t meant to be funny but a fact!” Finja inhaled deeply. “I have another option that would keep me out of the cellar.”
• Ace raised a brow, “I am listening! Just to let you know, I am a hair away from yelling for reinforcement to get you to the underground.”
• “Black Widow! She was and is one of the top five assassins. If there is anyone that can kill Balvalur fast … Black Widow is the one you want around me. Unless it is Red Fang! Black Widow will stay with me when you are working. When you come back she leaves and you take over!”
• “What about training?” Ace pointed out promptly.
• Holding onto Ace, “I will go! Not to train but so that I am close to you. This will put both of us at ease.” Finja began to giggle, “Let’s both face it, the thought of being apart would kill us. Even working apart for two hours is too much for the both of us.” She rubbed her growing belly.
• Ace made several noises that came from his throat, “I think I can live with you in the underground city a lot more than live a lifetime without you. I might be selfish but I want to be an old man with you still in my arms. The thought of losing you … I can’t bear it ... Finja ... I don’t like this!”
• Finja rested her forehead on Ace’s shoulder, “I know!” She sighed, “I know!” Finja raised her head to see the fear in Ace’s face. “I will carry a dagger with me at all times. When I no longer can keep up with the paperwork. I will call defeat and resign to the Underground City. Until then, let me have the next couple of weeks with you before we have to part.”
• Ace growled knowing he was about to lose his mind. “You are with me, Lord Ascelius or Black Widow. I swear if I need to call my cousins …”
• Finja kissed Ace’s lips passionately, “I am not one to go back on my word. If you need me to, I will give you the vampire oath!”
• Ace forced a smile, “I trust you! I don’t need an oath for me to know you will keep to this agreement.” Patting her arse, “bed!”
• *Phousa Sea*
• Asema and Yanthas glared at the night sky. The ship motioned softly as they recalled the terrifying event.
• “The ship could have capsized!” Yanthas whispered harshly.
• Snorting, “that is the least of our worries. The Mistress has left her kingdom.” Asmea breathed out a sigh. “You have no idea how powerful she is!”
• Sarcastically laughing, “no different than the rest of the magical community. Each of them has their weaknesses and can be killed like the rest of us.” Yanthas gazed ahead of him as he frowned. “The real question should be why has she left? I will not by the fact that there is an up rise in activity. Fighting and conflict have never ended. Even before our ancestors created clans and stability. So why did Mistress Hel leave?”
• Both of them did not say a word as they were stuck in their minds. The creeks of the boards and the waves crashing on the ship were the only sounds.
• Turning on her heels, “the population declined! This is not a small disagreement … This is an all out war that the Generals have wagered. Mistress Hel would leave for this reason.” Asema lowered her head as she strolled to her cabin.
• Placing both of his hands on the railing he breathed in and out harshly. “Seven more days and we are off this bloody ship!” He whispered to himself.
• *Underground Army*
• Hydrophiinae was hiding in the woods with the rest of his comrades. For days they had been waiting for the reinforcement that they were promised from Lord Zinpetor.
• ‘Master Hound has informed me that a fleet of battleships will be here any minute!’ Zane intruded into Hydrophiinae’s thoughts.
• ‘About bloody time!’ Hydrophiinae was vigilant as the enemy could be anywhere.
• Many of the Underground fighters believed that the unregistered vampires knew of their position. Some whispered that they should be attacking, not waiting at the mouth of the Rogue River.
• ‘There is movement!’ Everyone heard, as the sound of snapping twigs followed.
• ‘Friend or foe?’ Hydrophiinae responding to the fighter.
• ‘Not friendly Hydrophiinae …’ The young fighter replied. ‘Barnacles!’ The youth yelled in everyone's minds, ‘WE ARE BEING ATTACKED!’
• Sprinting out of his hiding spot, “MOVE!” Zane yelled.
• Aiming toward the yelling and hissing the Underground fighter battled the fledglings that were attacking.
• ***
• “Commander there is movement!”
• A middle-aged man handed his commander his binoculars and pointed in the direction of the horde of unregistered vampires that were heading into the trees.
• Focusing on the trees he studied the area seeing why there were vampires rushing into the bush. It did not take long for Commander Kleekkel to figure things out.
• “Ready the big boy!” Commander Kleekkel handed the fighter back his binoculars. “Aim the bomb for the horde of unregistered vampires that are going into the woods.”
• ***
• Ancillae fighters along with the Underground warriors battled the fledglings. The ground was littered with dead bodies. They gave no mercy as they continued to push forward. Many had stepped out of the tree line as a missile flew over their heads and landed. The shock wave sent them to the ground.
• Zane lifted his head to see another warhead going in the same direction as the first bomb.
• Covering their heads from the flying debris, as the second bomb landed closer to their location.
• “That was a little close don’t you think?” Hydrophiinae was half laughing as he stood up.
• Brushing off the dirt, “they are still coming! Ready yourselves!” Zane yelled.
• ***
• Commander Kleekkel looked over his shoulder, “attack!” He gave his command as he took off his cloak.
• Commander Kleekkel's fighters were the first to leave followed by the other ship warriors rushing across the water toward land. One fleet remained with the Underground fighters and Ancillae fighters. The rest of the fleets charged and killed the remaining unregistered vampires that had made their presence known.
• ***
• Stomping in the direction of fighters that were dressed all in black only allowing their eyes to be seen. “Who is in charge of this little group?” Commander Kleekkel bellowed.
• Turning his head, crouched to the ground Zane directed his attention to the male that was speaking. “That would be me!” Standing up to his full height, ”two bombs … why not three?”
• Commander Kleekkel chuckled, “Zane you crazy son of a harlot!” He extended his hand in greeting.
• Taking his hand, “daft you would be correct but watch what you say about the woman that birthed me … she was a married woman.” Zane laughed as they greeted each other.
• “Show your respects nomad!” A vampire rushed over to the group that was forming in size.
• “Yelpetor!” Commander Kleekkel uttered his name, “before you start flapping those lips in the wind … know of who you are speaking to. This wee babe here is kin!”
• Hydrophiinae began to laugh, “wee … ah dear commander you need to open your eyes. This beast here is twice your size.”
• Zane grabbed his male organs, “in every way!”
• “That is why the wee ones run screaming saying it will never fit!” Commander Kleekkel tilted his head backwards as he laughed with several other Underground warriors.
• “True that is why I go for the bludgeons!” Patting his cousin on the back. “Follow me, I will get you some food and those that need it, medical care. After that … I will bring you to speed on what has been going on here.”
• ***
• "Commander?" A runner rushed into the conference room. "I have a message from Big Daddy!"
• Holding out his hand to receive the message. His eyes skimmed over the slip of paper. "You may go Dalia!"
• "Commander Yaekkig, what does it say?"
• "Zane joined our forces at Rogue River as he said he would after dropping off the parcel to the Island citizens. It also says there is an army advancing from Bazzu Mountian and heading North." Commander Yaekkig crushed up the note in his hand. Turning his head, "Qahk, I want you to make sure that the refugees understand the importance of silence. Take the wee pups and their caregivers to the furthest depths possible. We can not afford for the Generals to find out our location."
• Qahk stood up, "assuming that there was no delay in this message ... that gives us seven days before the unregistered vampires reach this location."
• "There is always a delay in passing messages from one underground chamber to the next." Eyeing his coworker, "Make it five! Bazzu territory is a seven-day run from the Whispering Mountains." Commander Yaekkig said as he stood up. "I am going to ready our warriors. You deal with the refugees personally. You have a way with them that I do not!"
• Qahk motioned his feet to leave the location, "It is because I was once one of them. You aided in the creation of the Underground Society. We the people are merely here for the nightmare."