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“So even after he tried to kill his own baby, you still trust him?” I asked.
“Don’t you? Didn’t he show you how much he loves you?” Kira asked. “His actions spoke for themselves.”
“I don’t know whom to trust. I fear to trust my own eyes or ears.”
“Trust your intuition then.”
“My intuition says something’s not right, and it's somehow connected to Vedoma,” I said.
“The Empress?” Kira asked in disbelief.
“It’s a long story. For now, I think we should get going.”
“It's your call, Milady. I am not tired.”
“Thanks for making me feel so human. I cannot wait to become a vampire as well and invite you to a sparring duel.”
“It would be an honor, Milady,” Kira said, smiling.
We walked maybe ten feet from the stream when Athena woke up and began wailing. My breath froze. I couldn’t start feeding her here, but I also couldn’t risk walking further.
Kira returned and said, “Let me hypnotize her. It will not hurt the baby. She will simply think she’s full and hopefully will fall asleep again.”
Limited in choices, I handed Athena to Kira. She looked at my sweet baby, and in a matter of seconds, Athena began babbling happily as if nothing had happened. I let out a sigh of relief but couldn’t bask in the sweet smiles of my baby for long. We had to reach the main road. Kira helped me strap Athena to my back with a cardigan I had on. After several knots tightened with super vampire strength, we commenced our journey once again. Kira walked a bit further, and I couldn’t see her beyond the dark shadows. But right when we got close to the opening, we heard growls surrounding us. These ones didn’t sound like they came from an animal. A few more steps and behind the trees appeared my dear, old friends––strigoii. They looked just as horrifying as the first time I met them. Five hundred years didn’t improve their species. Kira was nowhere to be seen, so they aimed mainly at the human, aka me. What they didn’t know was this wasn’t my first rodeo. The firststrigoiapproaching me received a stab to the heart in a matter of seconds. One thing was to fight for me, and another was to fight for the sweet pea who chomped at my hair in the back. For the secondstrigoi,I only managed to produce a massive slash on its forearm which infuriated the beast, making him bellow. The loud sound became an invitation for other night creatures to make an appearance. Great. Just great. I fended off several more, but mystrigoi-extermination skills reached their limit. I had one choice, and that was to yell at the top of my lungs for help. In a matter of seconds, Kira stood beside me, growling back at them. The sight of another stronger vampire scared thestrigoi, but they still didn’t back down. They knew very well their strength lay in their numbers. This time, their aim turned toward Kira. Fourstrigoijumped on Kira at once. I stabbed one of them, who produced another screeching bellow.
“Run, Milady. Hide behind a tree. Fast,” she said.
“I’m not leaving you here to fend for yourself,” I said, and I continued stabbing the creatures on Kira’s back.
“I apologize, Milady, but it’s your presence that hinders me.” She said underneath a growing pile ofstrigoi.
“I could never forgive myself if I left you here alone,” I said.
“Very well.” Kira stood up, and all thestrigoiflew in different directions like fireworks. Fearing one might land on us, I sprinted backward and covered Athena’s head. After the dust settled, I searched for Kira, but I couldn’t see her anymore. She disappeared. Did she leave me alone? To fight a swarm of undead creatures? My trust levels had never known such lows.
Chapter 25
Most of thestrigoieither lay crushed under their fellow undead. It didn’t matter, though, because no matter how many times you thought you defeated them, there was always more to come. This time wasn’t any different. Soon after, another batch of freshly-angeredstrigoiappeared behind the trees and joined the first-comers. My only option was to run. They, like diligent parasites, followed me. I tried to search for my dagger, but I couldn’t find it anywhere.
“Hey, ugly bastards, you forgot about me.” Kira’s voice resounded from afar.
We turned to find Kira on a hill a hundred feet away, holding my dagger. What was her plan?Strigoiididn’t need a second invitation. They raced toward their new target while I took a breather to recover from the run. When I looked once more at the hill, I saw Kira spinning my dagger in one hand and hers in another with so much speed it looked like helicopter blades in motion. Everystrigoiwho dared get closer, she ripped to pieces. What in the undead meat shredder was this?
Though she kept moststrigoiat bay, several still sneaked through and jumped on her from behind. They left deep scratches, bites, and anything possible to stop the carnage of their brethren. In the end, they succeeded and dragged her by arms and legs into the woods. My breath stiffened in my lungs, waiting silently for what was about to happen. For a short moment, I believedstrigoiiprevailed, but after several shrieks of agony, I saw Kira emerge victorious from the brushwood. With super speed, she bolted toward me and said, “We must hurry. I defeated a few, but most are currently under an enchantment. It doesn’t work for long on undead beings. I wish I could lift you and sprint faster, but my powers are too weak now. We’ll have to make a run for it.”
Kira grabbed my hand and half-pulled, half-dragged me toward the other side. Paranoia had set so deep in my brain that I could hear growls everywhere. Adrenaline juiced up my heart. It beat like a drill hammer. My throat dried up, and I could feel my feet bleeding from all the scratches. Still, my only concern was Athena. I would never let a beast take her away from me, not even the one I loved.
I could see the streetlights so very close to us, but at the same time, so far. The growls intensified, and right when I thought we were safe, another group ofstrigoiaccosted us. Kira, the daredevil she was, decided not to stop. I flailed under her tightly-held fist, but still, her determination didn’t budge and went with brute force through the ferocious creatures. As we approached them, I closed my eyes and let Kira be my guide. The next time I opened them, bright fluorescent lights almost blinded me. We got out and surprisingly, unscathed. I turned toward the woods and saw red eyes blinking further away. “Why are they not following us?”
“Because we’re in The Ordinary Realm,” Kira said as she looked around for something.
“So they cannot cross between Realms?”
“His Majesty forbade it a long time ago. It’s not likestrigoiididn’t wish to explore the world. But His Majesty used a strong form of enchantment and made sure they stay in the woods at all times.”
“I see. That was a close one.” I breathed out a sigh.
“Not my first time fighting them. Though the added bonus of a human and baby did take it up a notch.”
