Of Blood And Snow - Paranormal Romance Serial Ebook

Chapter 28

The sound of a horn blaring startled Scarlet and most of the assembly room. Her gaze shot to Aradne, sitting opposite her. Aradne’s mug of blood was shaking, trembling in her hands. Scarlet shook too.

She dropped her mug, grabbed Aradne’s hand, and ran out of the assembly room with the others. The courtyard was pandemonium. She kept a tight hold on Aradne’s hand, not wanting to lose her.

“Where’s Milton,” Aradne shouted, fear in her voice.

Scarlet scanned the crowd. They were moving too fast. She couldn’t make out anything.

The horn sounded again.

“Where’s Milton, Scarlet!”

Aradne tugged on her hand. Scarlet looked at her, unsure what to say, her mind filled with her own panicked thoughts of finding Corazon and Troy. She looked over Aradne’s shoulder and spotted Milton mounting the steps to the wall.

“There!” she shouted over the noise of a thousand boots trampling the stone floor of the garrison and pointed towards him.

She dragged Aradne with her after Milton, suppressing her own desire to find those she was worried about. She needed to see Corazon. Only he could settle the clashing feelings inside of her, the panic and fear.

They wove through the crowd, both growling each time someone knocked them back or shoved them out of the way. She wished she was wearing her insignia now. The soldiers wouldn’t be shoving her if they knew she was a corporal.

General Constantine strode past her, calm in the face of the storm, power radiating off him so strongly she could feel it in the pit of her stomach. She stopped dead to let him past. He didn’t look at her. His eyes were fixed forwards, towards the wall she had been on last night with Troy and Corazon. She looked there and saw the gathered crowd that lined the top. Her heart said that they would find Corazon and Troy there.

She squeezed Aradne’s hand and they ran up the steps, following Milton onto the wall. They found him near the top. Aradne dashed into his arms and Scarlet longed for Corazon as she watched Milton hold her, whispering soothing words. He pressed a kiss to Aradne’s forehead and then looked at her.

“I couldn’t find you,” Aradne said, tears trembling in her eyes.

Milton smiled and dashed them away. “You found me now. There’s nothing to be frightened of.”

Aradne’s look didn’t change. Scarlet knew why. There was everything to fear now. War was coming. Soon their men would go into battle and there was a chance they would never see them again.

Panic consumed her.

“What’s happening,” Scarlet said.

Milton shook his head. “I don’t know. I was in our quarters when the alarm sounded.”

She looked across at the next section of wall where everyone was gathered.

She ran, as hard and fast as she could, desperate to find Corazon and find out what was happening. Milton and Aradne followed her. She was forced to slow when they reached the edge of the crowd. It was hard to push her way through, but she had to find Corazon. Her senses reached out. He was nearby. Troy was with him. Judging by the immense power she could sense so was General Constantine and General Violet.

The vampires growled at her as she pushed through, determined to get to Corazon. She wouldn’t feel safe until she did.

She found him with the generals, just as she had sensed. They were all staring out into the darkness towards the plain. She pushed past the last of the vampires and came out beside Troy. He looked down at her and stepped back to open a space between himself and Corazon, forcing the entire crowd behind him to move. She thanked him with a smile and stepped forward into the gap. It was a squeeze, but she didn’t mind. She felt safest when Corazon and Troy were close to her.

“What is it?” she said, looking up at Corazon.

Someone’s hand grabbed hers from behind.

She looked over her shoulder at Aradne and saw she was staring into the distance too, her eyes wide with fear and face pale.

Scarlet looked there.

Her blood turned to ice.

Hundreds of tiny yellow dots filled the distant darkness.

A cold shiver crept through her.

The vampires were here.

“Prepare yourself!” General Constantine shouted, startling her. He turned to the garrison. “Follow your captain’s orders and prepare yourself!”

Scarlet’s eyes shot to Corazon. She couldn’t stop shaking. Fear pounded down on her, immobilising her. Corazon turned to face her, his hand cupping her cheek in a tender comforting caress.

“Do not fear, Scarlet,” he whispered and moved closer to her.

Aradne’s hand left hers. Corazon’s replaced it. He held it tight, reassuringly tight.

“There is still time to prepare. The vampires will not make it to the garrison tonight. We have a day before the battle will begin,” he said.

Those words were no comfort to her. They did nothing to soothe her fears or chase them away. Only a day.

Everyone began to leave, filtering away until only her, Corazon and Troy remained on the wall. No, not just them. In the distance past Corazon she could see General Constantine. He was watching them, the same look of disgust on his face that he had worn when he had first met her.

“I need you to be strong, Scarlet,” Corazon whispered. Her attention was back with him, her eyes locking with his and drinking all the love and belief in them. “The company needs you, understand?”

She shook her head. Troy moved around from behind her and blocked her view of General Constantine, as though he had sensed it was upsetting her. She didn’t know why General Constantine didn’t approve of her. Did he think she was weak? Wasn’t she strong enough in his eyes for Corazon? Did he hate her because he knew she was the reason that Corazon had turned down the position of general? She swallowed, wishing she could get control of her fears and be strong as Corazon asked her to.

“You are a good soldier,” Troy said, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. He squeezed it gently. “You are strong and a survivor. Do not listen to the fear your heart whispers, but feel the strength it holds.”

She smiled at Troy. She had never imagined that he would tell her that she was a good soldier, not like that anyway. It made her feel a flicker of the strength he spoke of.

“We shall all make it through this, Scarlet,” Corazon whispered and she looked at him again. “The company needs you to be strong. I need you to be strong.”

She nodded, her fear falling away as courage rose inside her. For Corazon, she could be strong. She had to be strong so she could protect him, protect them both, and so they would all make it through this just as Corazon had said.

“You must lead the archers,” he said and she frowned. Lead the archers. It was so much responsibility, but if Corazon believed she could do it, then she would do it. She was the best archer in seventh company, but she knew that wasn’t the only reason he was assigning her this role. He wanted her away from the thick of battle where she would be safer. “Twenty-five men will be yours to command. Choose them wisely.”

He glanced down into the courtyard. She looked there and saw Aradne talking to Milton. Aradne look petrified. She knew what Corazon was saying. He wanted her to choose Aradne as one of her twenty-five to keep her away from battle too. Aradne was a competent archer but not a strong fighter. If she went onto the battlefield, she was likely to be killed.

“I will choose them wisely.” Scarlet straightened and raised her chin. She could do this. She could lead the archers in this battle. She saluted Corazon. “Thank you, Captain, for choosing me for this role. I shall not fail you.”

Her hand shook against her head and she gave Corazon a little smile when he wrapped his hand around her wrist, steadying it.

“I am sure you will not fail me, Corporal.” He traced his hand along her arm and captured her cheek with his hand. The corners of his mouth lifted into a tender smile. “Scarlet.”

Troy cleared his throat.

Corazon’s hand fell away and he frowned at Troy.

Troy looked over his shoulder.

Corazon frowned. “I care not what he thinks.”

Scarlet realised they were talking about General Constantine. She was surprised to see that he had moved forwards and was easily within earshot now, even with all the noise from below. He would have heard Corazon. A glance at Corazon revealed that he had known how close General Constantine was. He had said it on purpose.

“It is time we attended to orders,” Corazon said and moved past her. Troy followed him.

Scarlet remained rooted to the spot and stared at General Constantine. There was so much she wanted to say to him, about Corazon but mostly about her. The general was misjudging her. She would show him how strong she was, not because it would impress him or make him like her, but because she wanted to prove him wrong. She held his dark gaze a moment longer, letting him see that he didn’t scare her, and then turned away and followed Corazon and Troy.

She would lead the archers. She would be strong. They would win this war. They would survive.

The entirety of seventh company awaited them in the courtyard. Scarlet remained standing next to Troy. With no second lieutenant, it was her place to bridge the gap between the officers and the soldiers.

“We will gather tomorrow at dusk to issue orders. Enjoy yourselves tonight and make sure you get good rest.” Corazon saluted the company.

There was a murmur among them and then they broke apart, all going their different ways. Scarlet watched Milton and Aradne walking off together, their hands firmly locked together. She looked down at Corazon’s hand. She longed to hold it, to feel it in hers, reassuring her.

“We must discuss the orders,” Corazon said to Troy.

Scarlet went to leave, sure they would want to be alone. Corazon’s hand caught her arm.

“Where are you going?” he said in a low voice full of concern.

“To my quarters... I thought perhaps...”

“I said we must discuss the orders. That includes you, Scarlet. I will not let you out of my sight tonight, not when we are on the eve of battle... and not when the humans are so uneasy.”

Her gaze strayed to follow his when he looked across the small courtyard towards the tents and buildings that separated this area from the main courtyard. The humans were gathered there in tight groups, talking. A few of them looked over in their direction, frowning at her. She moved closer to Corazon, until she was between him and Troy again. She didn’t trust the humans.

Corazon placed his hand against her back and began walking. She remained close to him, to them, sandwiched between them and safe. She looked up at Troy and then up at Corazon. There was determination on both of their faces. Their left hands both rested on their swords. Corazon’s right hand took hold of hers, his fingers interlacing with her own. He held it tight. The marks on his right arm showed past the end of his white shirtsleeve and black jacket.

There was another reason he had assigned her to lead the archery squad. If she were down in the midst of the battle, there was a chance she would be hurt. If that happened, he would lose control again. There was no telling what he would do if he lost control when surrounded by so many vampires, half of which would be his own side. Would he distinguish between them and the enemy? Would he see them all as a threat? He would kill the humans for sure, and possibly the werewolves too.

She looked at Troy, knowing that Troy would remain close to him during the battle.

What if she was hurt and Corazon lost control and killed Troy? He would never be able to forgive himself.

He was right. It was better she led the archers and remained distant from the danger of hand to hand combat. It was better for everyone.

She followed them into Corazon’s makeshift quarters and took a seat opposite the desk. Troy sat in the seat beside her. Corazon sat opposite.

“I will not lie to either of you,” Corazon said and leaned back, a weary look entering his eyes. She knew he hadn’t been sleeping well recently, not since the humans had captured her. He looked so fatigued and worn. She could sympathise. They all needed a break from war, some time to recuperate. “This is not going to be easy. Many will be lost. The fight will be hard... but it is one we must make. We must protect the territory and drive the vampires away... for the survival of all species that call it home.”

She leaned forwards, wanting to comfort him when he looked so anxious.

“Seventh company can only spare twenty-five archers for you, Scarlet, including yourself. I wish I could give you more, but the rest are needed on the battlefield if we are to win this.” He looked at her, dark eyes holding a trace of fear that made dread refill her heart. To see him so serious and worried was making her own fear return. It whispered dark words in her ear, words of losing him and her friends, of losing her own life. “The archers must work in unison, across the companies. You must pick off however many enemies you can in order to ensure as many of our side as possible survive this fight. It will not be easy. The darkness will be against you. You must focus and use all your faculties. You must see those in danger and protect them. Your primary focus is to protect the swordsmen. Understood?”

She nodded, her stomach full of lead. She had never fought in such a way before. She had never had to lead archers or be careful to avoid hurting her own. It was more responsibility than she had imagined. It weighed heavy on her heart, dragging her down. She fought the fear inside her and told herself that she could do this. She was a strong soldier now, and capable. She would prove to everyone that she was worthy of Corazon’s belief in her and it wasn’t founded on his love.

She didn’t listen as he instructed Troy. She watched them both, the way they smiled and laughed about this as though it was nothing but a game while their eyes showed their true feelings. They could pretend all they wanted, hide behind a mask of masculinity, but she knew that both of their hearts held fear. She feared too. She feared so much. She feared the battle would be lost, her friends would be killed, and Corazon would be truly dead this time.

She feared being left alone in this world.

Troy stood and she looked at him, a little dazed from her thoughts and wondering what time it was. They couldn’t have been speaking long. He smiled at her, placed his hand on his shoulder, and then left. She stood and walked to the door, watching him cross the section of courtyard to his quarters.

“You are worried,” Corazon said close behind her.

His hands came to rest on her shoulders. Scarlet closed her eyes and absorbed his touch, memorising it. He slid his hands downwards, until his arms were wrapped around her and his body was pressed against her back.

“You are trembling,” he whispered in her ear.

She nodded.

He held her a little tighter.

“Scarlet.” His breath tickled her ear, his voice a bare whisper full of so much emotion that she instinctively leaned backwards into his embrace. “Take care of yourself... protect yourself first and foremost... and beware their archers.”

She nodded again and turned in his arms, burying her face against his chest. He held her tight and close, and she felt his fear of losing her. Her own grip on him was sure and unrelenting. She didn’t want to let him go. She wanted to hold him forever and keep him here with her. Tears stung her eyes.

War was what he was made for though.

She couldn’t deny that, or the fact that he had lived for battles and glory once.

She couldn’t stop him from going to war tomorrow.

It was in his blood.

All she could do was try to protect him.

No, not try.

She would protect him.