Chapter 202

Almara’s Pov

The hospital is only two miles away from the main battlefield, but in Lily’s form, I cross the distance in five minutes. I entered the war zone and my sense heightened. I whip my head to my left and see a couple of wolves ducked behind a barricade of bulletproof bags.

I give them a slow nod and they return the gesture, but I can see the confusion in their eyes. I ignore it and take in my surroundings.

The land is seemingly vacant on the surface, but as the two wolves that I spotted just proved, that isn’t the case. More likely than not there are wolves and vampires littered about the land, just in hiding.

It's obvious the terrain used to have more grass but has since been blown off or wrestled from the ground. In its place are patches of dirt and dried blood. Scattered about the hilly terrain are makeshift huts, lifeless mangled bodies, and large dominating trees that bats are probably hiding in.

The day is bright and sunny, but even the glow of the sun isn’t enough to warm the deadly chill that lays heavily on this land. A bird squawks overhead falling on dead ears below.

I try to place this location based on the little information I know about the points of battle. I know that this is neither sides campground, nor is it the main war zone where trenches are dug into the ground and sturdier hideouts are built.

I believe where I’m standing is a minor battle spot along the way to the major war zone.

This is one of the warm-up spots as Arthur once called it. If an attack is made on either side campground the next destination is pockets of battle spots until the main war spot is reached and the full-blown war can take place until one side ceases.

I realize that I’m out in the open on the field, making myself an easy target but that thought doesn’t frighten me. Instead, I’m thriving on the dangerous possibility that an attack could happen any moment.

I want a vampire or familiar to come out of their pathetic hiding spot and take me on. I dare them. I throw my head back and howl, making it known I’m here to fight and I’m not going anywhere.

The corner of my eye catches a flash of movement and I leap into the air, narrowly missing the snapping jaws of what looks to be a python. The eyes are black and it hisses at me once it realizes I escaped its attempt to coil around me.

I bare my teeth and growl. The python slithers half of its body upward, coming to be as tall as I am when I’m on all fours. I don’t cower. I let out a series of growls and barks.

One of these detestable creatures is responsible for the possible death of my husband and they’re going to die. The python springs it body at me, coming at me like an arrow: straight and fast. I leap into the air and catch its body in my teeth.

Just then a sour liquid bursts from its body and I throw the python from my jaws and let the black tar seep from my mouth. I figure its poison and I spit on the ground, careful not to swallow any.

Knowing the python isn’t dead, I look for where it landed. I see it slithering across the grass, still at a remarkable speed despite the open hole in its side with the black tar coming out like a thick jelly congealing over the grass making a slick black trail behind it.

It's coming from a mile away, which means I threw it a good distance, enough that I can give one more good spit and prepare before it reaches me.

Just then a stinging sensation rips into the top of my shoulder and instead of grabbing the pain, I throw myself back on the ground slamming all my body weight and strength onto whatever or whoever lays on top of me. I hear a sickening crunch and know it’s now my own bones that shattered.

When I stand, I see the python in the air and I swing my arm to make contact with his thick muscular body and then bring my arm down to slam it to the ground. I lift my back paw and slam it down on its head.

Then I look back and see the squished body of a bat indented into the ground behind me.

“We know who you are,” A chilling voice says in a whisper. I spin around and see some beast with the face of a possessed pig on the body of a donkey looking at me. It laughs and my blood runs cold.

I stand my guard and become sensitive to every square inch around me. A few other wolves stand behind me. This pig is outnumbered, on the surface at least. There’s no way of knowing where others may be hiding.

I’ve heard familiars can materialize from thin air. They wait in the void of being and nothingness just waiting to be summoned and materialize. They don’t need barricades or any special training.

“You’re Almara Covington,” the pig snorts. “How’s your husband doing?”

Hearing this vermin mention Arthur makes me see red.

“Easy does it, pretty girl.” The pig says through a threatening glance. Only then do I realize we’ve switched sides. I think I leaped at it and the pig moved. I force myself to keep my focus. “You want to know why we’re here after all, don’t you?”

I don’t answer, I won’t give it the satisfaction of entertaining a conversation.

“Suit yourself,” The pig snorts and the feeling of the air changes. The wolves behind me spring into action. I dare move my eyes to see what’s going on, though I other familiars have materialized and are fighting the wolves, which I could’ve guessed, moving my eyes for even a split second was a big mistake.

Next thing I know I’m on the ground which the pig on top of me with a strength far greater than I would’ve guessed it had. I thrust my body up, at least I’m bigger than the pig. I manage to get on top and slap my paw down on its fat throat.

I wrap my claws around its neck and begin to squeeze. “We want your daughter,” the pig says barely choking. I squeeze tighter. “We’ll get her too,” the pig says this time with greater struggle and I delight in its suffering.

“It’s true.” I hear another voice say. As I break the pigs neck I turn my head over my shoulder and see another wolf standing behind me.

“What do you mean its true?” I ask, anger blurring my vision again. The wolf shakes his head.

“We just learned the vampires and familiars want your daughter because of how advanced she is. Somehow they learned this about her and know if the vampires got their fangs in her she would be their greatest asset.”

My ears burn at the words this wolf, who I think is just a gamma, is saying. Still, he tediously continues, “It’s why Arthur is in the hospital. He sacrificed himself as a deal so they wouldn’t go after his family.”

I want to think the wolf is lying, but he hangs his head in solemn respect. By the sound of it, the familiars have no intention of honoring this deal, which would mean Arthur sacrificed himself for nothing. I shake my head, he may not even be dead. I tell myself.

Without a word, I run off the field. I have to go to my daughter.