Chapter 9

• *Sigmison*
• The miners were working in the tunnels. Three distinct taps hit the rock. “Tommyknocker!” One of the men yelled as they all dropped their tools and ran out of the tunnel.
• The land began to shake violently. Loss pebbles and chunks of rock fell from the ceiling and the walls. Using the wall as leverage, the men moved as quickly as possible. Those that had fallen were aided by those who were behind them.
• ***
• Davwan ducked under his desk as chunks of rock fell from the roof. Shelves toppled over as the land continued to shift and shake.
• The moment everything was over, Davwan crawled out of his hiding place and ran to where the women and children had been staying.
• "Is everyone alright?" Davwan ran into one of the many chambers.
• Children were clinging onto their caregivers as everyone slowly came out from their hiding places. Observing the chambers one at a time, Davwan was surprised at how little damage occurred to their dug-out caverns.
• ***
• Miners had their hands over their hearts as they rapidly were breathing in and out.
• “IS EVERYONE A COUNTED FOR?” Yanokas yelled as he was rushing toward the workers.
• Close behind Davwan was prepared to dig out the men.
• “Boss!” The foreman stepped away from the wall, “I think we all defecated our draws!”
• One of the workers raised his hand, “I saw my life flash before my eyes.”
• “Boss!” One of the workers yelled from the back of the group, “I think you are going to want to see this!”
• ***
• At the end of the tunnel, a new chamber was before them. The only thing in their way was an eight-foot gap between one side and the other. With an underground river rapidly flowing three feet below them.
• “Gentlemen! Let's call it a day!” Davwan said as he glared at his second in command, “Yanokas what do you say?”
• “I don’t know about anyone else but I need a strong spirit and my wife!” Yanokas said as he headed back in the direction they had came from.
• “I second that one!” The foreman said with the miners agreeing as well.
• *Island*
• Lord Lewis tried to use the two-way communicator to get a hold of Emperor Baldwin. Still bitter over the treatment that he had received from Lord Kherr. Though even he had to agree things went from Chaotic to balance once the warrior shifters had left the island Lord Kherr had left only enough fighters to defend the land. Believing the major kingdoms would be the unregistered vampire's target and not an island with a handful of shifters and humans.
• “Barnacles!” Lord Lewis slammed the receiver down.
• With no reply, Lord Lewis changed his direction to his office. In the span of one day, the weather had gotten colder. A blizzard had hit them, something that the Whispering Port citizens had never seen but was familiar to the vampires.
• Many of the residents did not have proper winter clothing. Even with the people wearing layers, many had fallen ill or gotten frostbite on their toes and hands.
• From his experience, it took no time for humans to fall ill when they were not taken care of properly. They were more vulnerable to illnesses. That did not mean that shifters could not get sick, they could but it took longer for the cold to affect them.
• Though the buildings were built to code. The island was designed for summer use and not the winter season. These structures were drafty and did not supply the necessary heat. Before the end of the winter, the people will freeze to death before the food supplies run out.
• Getting to his office, he looked over the inventory that the two captains had concluded. He might have loathed them, but their professionalism was impressive. There wasn’t one thing they did not document. Gathering the information, he rushed to the structures the residents were staying at.
• Studying the structures Lord Lewis had to come up with a plan and he had to move quickly before the people froze.
• “Commander!”
• Lord Lewis turned to see a kitchen maid trying to get his attention. “Yes!” He gave her a pleasant smile.
• “We have gathered all the supplies you asked for and have begun working on creating burners.” The female informed him.
• “Excellent! Those that are not working on finishing the burners are expected to take beding to the cellars.” Lord Lewis did not explain his reasons to the female.
• Without questioning, "y.es sir!" Turning around she was speed walking out of the area.
• Lord Lewis understood one thing better than the shifters and humans. The winters in the South are bitter cold. To keep the humans from dying, they place them underground. Away from the chill and wind, providing heat to keep them warm.
• The structures where the people resided, did not have cellars that went underground as far as those where he was from. But it was deep enough into the ground that he believed the humans would not die.
• Placing many bodies in one location would create heat. Add in the burners and it should be enough to keep their blood flowing.
• *Unknown*
• General Viscarti glanced at the remaining unregistered vampires that managed to get out of the slaughter.
• In the protection of a cave, the unregistered vampires made sure that their footprints would not bring the emperor their way.
• “Father!”
• Spinning around to see one of his creations, “WHAT?” General Viscarti bellowed as he turned around.
• “Um … ah ... Balvalur is here!”
• General Viscarti glanced to his left and right to see his council. Each of them had their eyes locked on the general. Each of them was equally irate at what had happened.
• Clicking his tongue, “Well, show him in!” The general ordered.
• “I am going …”
• The general raised his hands to silence Noryeras, “did you see what I saw?”
• Making a discussed noise, “The fact that the woman was with child … vampire … or was it the fact her eyes were gold like Emperor Baldwin!” Xyrenyphe spat out.
• Again General Viscarti placed his hand up in the air. "We were winning! Baktard had every warrior under his SPELL!" He was breathing in and out as if he were ready to combust and explode. "Taking Dark Crystal Tower was never going to be an easy achievement BUT THAT MORON ..."
• Speaking out of turn, "Balvalur needs to answer for this and also the crime of placing a unborn child ..." Xyrenyphe had glowing red eyes.
• "Oh, he will pay with his head!" General Viscarti snarled at his council. "We could have won and had the offspring of Baldwin!" Each word was laced with venom. "I will have to inform General Zincan Ulla of Balvalur's failure."
• General Viscarti and the council were whispering about their next move when they heard two sets of shuffling footsteps heading in their direction.
• “Father!” The female bowed, stepping to the side, “Balvalur is here!” Her eyes were glowing red as she turned her head toward the vampire who had caused them to lose the battle.
• Everyone watched as Balvalur strolled past the general's creation as if nothing was wrong. Grinning at the group believing that he was among his peers.
• “Carbel … make sure no one comes in or ... out!” General Viscarti directed his order at his undead daughter.
• Bowing, “Yes sir!” Carbel understood the assignment that she was given.
• “Viscarti!” Balvalur said with a smile on his face.
• “General … Viscarti!” Xyrenyphe was quick to correct Balvalur.
• “Y.ee.sss!” Balvalur said slowly.
• General Viscarti narrowed his sights on Xyrenyphe and Noryeras, sending them a silent message. Bringing his attention back to Balvalur, “did you know?”
• Balvalur snorted, not understanding the hostility from his comrades.
• “DID YOU KNOW?” General Viscarti repeated himself.
• Slowly Xyrenyphe and Noryeras moved to stand beside Balvalur, “the general asked a question inbred.”
• Balvalur looked to his left then the right, bringing his attention back to the general, “I do not know what you are speaking about!”
• “The woman was with child! And yet you decided to throw her over the edge of the tower.” Each word was heated like lava. General Viscarti hissed as his temper built.
• Balvalur started to chuckle, "You are the only one that holds onto the code of war! General Zincan Ulla would not care!" Balvalur spoke as if he had done nothing wrong.
• "General Zincan Ulla may have his ways but even he understands the value of keeping our population up and not with our heads rolling on the ground!" General Viscarti growled and hissed each word. “But that was not the part that was shocking …” He took one step forward, “It was the fact ... she was and is a VAMPIRE!” Backhanding Balvalur so hard that he fell to the ground on his hands and knees. “But not just any vampire, no no no! She is blood … kin to the emperor!” He was heaving, "In your grasp, you had Baldwin's DAUGHTER!"
• "That is impossible! I have been following her for years!" Stuttering, “I did not know!” Balvalur tried to stand up when Noryeras pushed him back down. “You have to believe me … if I had known … I … I would have brought the scarlet to you! I swear!”
• The general cracked his knuckles, “I don’t believe you.” His eyes locked on the blabbering weakling. “You cost me many fighters!” General Viscarti kicked Balvalur's rib cage. "You cost me a VICTORY!"
• “The war is not over!” Balvalur was quick to say.
• With one nod Noryeras and Xyrenyphe grasped a hold of Balvalur’s arms.
• “Your usefulness has run dry ... Balvalur.” General Viscarti took another step closer as Balvalur began to shout how he was the only one who knew the secrets of the Gods. “You are right about one thing … the war is not over, but for you it is!” He would not listen to another word.
• Placing both of his hands on the side of Balvalur’s head he twisted his head around as Balvalur screamed and tried to break free of who held him down. Ripping upwards everyone in the area laughed as the general held Balvalur’s severed head up in the air.
• Dropping the head to the floor, “clean up this mess! I need to get a hold of General Zincan Ulla!” General Viscarti said as he motioned his feet out of the chamber.
• “Father, do you want me to go back to Whitecrown Mountain and gather up our fighters?” Carbel asked as she quickly followed her undead father. "At last count, we still have three more Dark Brotherhood members located at the towers. With new reinforcement we can still take over the territory!"
• “Make it quick! I want all of our fighters at the Lich Prince ruins in four weeks.” General Viscarti paused and turned his head to look at his undead daughter. “Once I finish here I will be leaving. You will meet up with Xyrenyphe for your next order.” He began strolling again, “and Carbel … don’t be a disappointment like your other siblings!”
• Forcing a smile on her face, “Yes … sir!” She bowed before she left the cave to get to her target.
• ***
• Carbel looked out of the cave before she dashed towards the Masi swamps. Making sure that no one was following her she rushed toward Sigmison territory. Though she knew she was not the fastest, she could get to Sigmison in under four days and still get to Whitecrown Mountains in time to inform the others of what was going on.
• Carbel maliciously smiled to herself. “Your time is coming close to an end and I plan on being there to see you fall.” She pushed her legs to go as fast as she had ever ran.
• *Dark Crystal Tower*
• Finja was sleeping as the doulas cleaned up the location.
• “It is a miracle that she is still expecting!” Briyana placed a bloody cloth in the hamper.
• “I have so many questions?” Mediel glanced over at the female that slept.
• Snorting, “she is a vampire!” Eillenae said with bitterness. “How can she be our queen if she is a vampire?”
• Gruneth cleared her throat causing the women to pause in their tracks. “It does not matter. None of it does! She is part vampire … with child … and our queen. We do not question the fates or the Gods. We are expected to complete tasks as they come with a smile on our face.”
• “Yes! But she is a vampire!” Eillenae repeated herself.
• Everyone had been rationalizing everything that they had learned in the span of a few hours. “That she is! Alpha Queen Finja has also taught our warriors to do a half shift. Gave knowledge of the Gods to our high ranking Sorcerers and Sorceress.” Gruneth spoke her thoughts.
• The three doula’s glanced at one another briefly bobbing their heads up and down. Knowing what Gruneth had mentioned was true. The shock of what they have learned turns into understanding.
• Briyana locked her eyes on Finja, “it is a lot to take in!”
• "Until we are told otherwise, we will shut our mouths and keep this to ourselves." Gruneth made this an order. "I will speak with Alpha Faetha and Klalxes, Belynor and Sarkoris. If I hear one rumour about what happened in here, I will punish all three of you."
• ***
• Red Fang and his assassins chased down the remainder of the unregistered vampires into the woods. It had been their way not to let one of their enemies live to tell a tale of the event, all must die.
• Splitting up in smaller groups the assassins hunted for their enemies. Once they got to Masi Swamp, they stopped. Not seeing or smelling the generals and the rest of those who got away.
• With no footprints to follow the group turned around to see if they had overlooked any unregistered vampires.
• ***
• Ace was directing the workers to clean up the feral vampire bodies from the battlefield. Once the cleaners had gotten the body to the fire pit, it would be tossed on top of the other corpses. If the flames had gone out. Ace would restart the blaze again. Only to repeat the task.
• In the back of his mind, Finja occupied his thoughts.
• Women from the underground city had been asked to aid in the cleanup of the fallen warriors. To prepare the bodies for a proper burial right.
• Stepping up to the request from their alpha's, wives prayed that their mate was not taken. Mothers begging that they would not find their son or daughter.
• Brodey aided in getting the wounded to the clinic to receive medical care. When the clinic was filled and could not take any more patients, they used the grand hall as a place to take the wounded. When that was full, they started placing the warriors in the hallway.
• ***
• Black Widow limped around the East side of the territory. The injured had been taken. The last body of the unregistered vampire had been taken to the pit. While the woman and children identified the fallen warriors.
• Several times Black Widow has strolled past a female who was wailing over the dead body of a warrior who had not made it. Flashes of the century-long war entered her mind. It was many eons ago. An event that she was able to push to the back of her mind. Only times like this could she vividly remember the pain and suffering war had brought on innocent people.
• Black Widow could not focus on the past, she had to make sure there were no more lingering unregistered vampires. Ordering the workers to clean up the dead bodies if the females were not strong enough to do so. The hardest part was writing down the damage to generational homes and buildings. The unregistered vampires did not waste time in setting fires to structures that held emotional value to the people.
• If the fires did not bring the building down to ashes, the land shaking did as much damage as the unregistered vampire's.
• ***
• The sun was positioned at its highest peak. Black Widow headed to the only tower that had not been damaged by fire or the land shaking.
• “What do you have to report?” Lord Ascelius asked as he neared Black Widow.
• Bringing her notes to her chest, “Not good! The wall is damaged in several locations. Repairs will be slow and the snow storm is not going to help.” Strolling toward the door. “Alpha Faetha should be finished with the underground city soon, she wanted to evaluate any possible damage. I would have to say that one-fourth of Dark Crystal Tower territory has been destroyed. And things are only going to get worse before they get any better.” Sighing, "you know just as well as I do ... the generals and their army will be coming back! Add in the land ..."
• Snorting, “Let’s just say it out loud … Mistress Hel or Master Hound was the cause of the land shake. You and I know ... They would not have harmed the people in the underground city.” Lord Ascelius was walking beside Black Widow.
• Snickering darkly, “Alpha Faetha doesn’t know that! Nor do the others.” Black Widow stopped walking.
• “Are you going to see Finja?” Lord Ascelius nodded his head at the building.
• “Finja was bleeding badly!” Black Widow stopped walking, “I am preparing myself to find out she lost the babies!” Her voice crackled, “I’m …”
• “Go! I will deal with Emperor Baldwin!” Sighing, "you are right ... the generals are going to attack again. It is time we prepare for the worse senario. Black Widow ... I should not have to tell you what happens when their is an all out war!"
• "I have not lost my mind! I try to forget, but I am well aware. I will tell Ace that he needs to get Finja out of her at once. If he will not ..."
• Lord Ascelius raised a brow, "you know just as well as I do ... why Emperor Baldwin is here."
• Slowly chuckling, "Finja's father is here, Emperor Baldwin will not be taking Finja. Not as long as his head remains on his shoulders." Black Widow turned in the direction she knew Finja would be. Leaving the lord vampire to his tasks and thoughts.
• ***
• Emperor Baldwin stood on the roof of the tower. Glancing down at the dead body, he studied the scene where Finja had been only a few hours ago. Knowing Balvalur would not leave anything behind, he descended the flight of stairs.
• Getting to the bottom, “we found him!” Balthazar informed his father. “Take the kid to the clinic.”
• Emperor Baldwin spotted one of his fighters carrying a boy that he could tell was in the beginning stages of the change though still had his heart.
• “Kin?”
• “I am going to assume this is the boy Lord Ascelius was speaking of, Yardal!” Balthazar watched as the youth was being carried away. Smiling, "I believe Lord Ascelius has grown fond of the boy and may ask to be his undeadfather."
• With no one around, Balthazar began to inform his father how the youth had found Balvalur and was fighting him before he escaped into the water. Balthazar had witnessed the last blow that sent the child to the ground. Though he and his men were able to get to the scene with speed. Again they lost Balvalur. Believing it was important to get Yardal medical care before his heart stopped. Balthazar explained that he and Marco brought the youth back to the tower while Corril, Ulfinas, Oriword, Leoreak and Aroros continued to go after the criminal.
• Placing a hand on his shoulder he smiled, “Let’s find your son. He will not leave without seeing Finja!”