Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

Alexandru

I stand firm, the weight of impending battle pressing down on me like a physical force. The ruined castle's courtyard teems with activity. With Dante's help and influence, he has brought forth recruits from across the realms not seen since the ancient days. Vampires from every realm gather under my command, their diverse visages silhouetted against the reluctant light of predawn. They're a mosaic of might and dread.

Ivan stands to my right, his face a mask of stoic resolve, while Nicolai and Marianne inspect the troops, their expressions betraying a blend of valor and trepidation.

"General Amanar," Marianne says, drawing my attention for a moment. "The men are ready." Her eyes search mine for assurance, finding it in the unwavering confidence I wear as armor.

"Good." I nod at her efforts.

I survey the amassed forces, each warrior a strength to our cause—the raid on Catarina's army. This is the moment that will define us all.

Eleanna, resplendent and formidable, steps beside me, her presence amplifying the gravity of this hour.

"Warriors!" My voice rolls over the gathering, commanding silence. "This night, we fight not just for victory but for our future! We face an enemy who thrives on fear and devastation. But we are the conquerors that will uproot all subjugation!"

A surge of murmurs ripples through the crowd. Their energy is palpable. My heart beats with the pulse of an alpha predator—stoic, implacable. I'm the general they look to, the leader who will guide them through the tempest.

"Let your blades thirst for justice, let your hearts beat with the courage of our forebears. We are united, not by blood alone, but by the very soul of our kind! Tonight, we reclaim what is ours, and may the annals of history remember the valor you display!"

Beside me, Eleanna's gaze sweeps across the sea of faces. "This battle," she says, "is the dawn of a new era. Stand with us, and rise as the architects of peace and order!"

Their cheers fill the air, a chorus of conviction. We go to the stables and mount our horses, then lead them out and into the courtyard. The vampires assembled nod, bow, or wave at us as we pass by toward the gates.

The first light of dawn barely touches the horizon, and the amassed vampire legion stirs with a restless energy. I tighten my grip on the reins, the leather creaking under the pressure of anticipation. Ivan, resolute as ever, nods at me from his steed, acknowledging he'll see this through to the end. Beside him, Eleanna sits astride her horse, a beauty of power and grace, her eyes reflecting the burgeoning light.

I glance back. Behind us, Nicolai and Marianne, followed by Dante, move through the ranks with practiced ease, their faces set in grim resolve. The growing clamor of armor and weapons clinks like a sinister melody heralding the march of violence.

Overhead, Moros, Erebos, and Nyx cut through the sky, their black wings gliding on the winter winds. The ravens are like a harbinger of what is to come as more of their kind join them, called forth by Eleanna's will—their numbers swelling until the firmament darkens with a feathery eclipse.

"Have you summoned more raven legions?" I ask Eleanna, glancing upward at the swirling mass.

Her smile is a flash of rare magnificence despite the encroaching shadow of wings. "The more the merrier in this fight. They will be trusted allies and protectors over your army, General." Her voice carries the melody of war—a symphony I'm all too familiar with.

I nod, recognizing the strategic advantage her feathered hosts will provide. Inside, I feel the steady burn of my nature, the alpha male within, fueled by the call to protect, to conquer. My instincts are honed and ready; every muscle coiled for the imminent clash.

Once the landscape shifts beneath the thunderous cadence of our advance, Eleanna's former castle looms into view—a daunting silhouette against the awakening skyline. I rein in my horse, surveying the battlements, each stone resembling a betrayal we've come to rectify.

Eleanna raises her arm, her voice piercing the tense silence. "Catarina, I spared you once to do the right thing. You have not. This is your last warning. I shall spare your life and the lives of your troops if you surrender and bow on the knee before me. Proclaim me your rightful queen, and I will grant you mercy."

From atop the castle wall, Catarina appears, her presence a stain upon the stone. "Never! You vampire whore. I shall never bend the knee to you or anyone!" Her words are spoken with harshness, dripping with disdain.

A low growl rumbles in my chest, my fangs grazing my lips. This insolence only stimulates the fire within, stoking the inferno of rage and resolve. Beside me, Eleanna remains poised, her expression intrepid in the face of Catarina's defiance.

"Then you have chosen your fate," Eleanna pronounces with regal finality.

I look out over our forces, the weight of responsibility resting heavily on my shoulders. Yet, it's a burden I bear willingly because, in this moment, I'm not merely Alexandru Amanar, vampire general—I am the harbinger of a new order.

"Ready yourselves!" My command echoes across the battlefield, igniting the spark that will soon blaze into an inferno of liberation.

I draw my sword, the blade glinting as I raise it high. Around me, the echoes of swords being unsheathed and arrows being notched to bowstrings fill the air—the sounds of war.

"Charge!"

The order leaves my lips like the crack of a whip, spurring our forces into action as they surge toward the castle gates. Beside me, Eleanna kicks her mare into a gallop, her ravens swooping down around us, their cries a dark omen of what is to come.

Catarina's archers let loose a volley of arrows, the sky filled with their swift descent. I deflect and dodge each projectile with practiced ease, my focus unwavering. The cries of those less fortunate echo across the field, their lives cut short before the true battle has even begun.

At last, we crash against their defenses, swords clashing in a violent cadence. I parry a blow from one of Catarina's captains, pivoting to slice open his chest and abdomen in a single, fluid motion. His entrails spill onto the ground as he collapses.

All around me, my forces are battling their way into the castle. The metallic scent of blood infuses the air, cerise liquid staining stone and soil alike. Bodies litter the ground, both enemy and ally, as we push forward to our goal.

I cut down another vampire, his head rolling to the side as his body falls to the ground. A spray of blood splatters across my face and armor, but I pay it no mind as I fight on.

A vampire soldier lunges at me from behind, but I spin around just in time to parry his strike. With a snarl, I sink my fangs into his neck, draining him of his life force before tossing his lifeless body aside.

The battle rages on in a gruesome choreography of viciousness and destruction. Eleanna's ravens dive down upon Catarina's troops, pecking and clawing at their eyes and faces. The vampires scream in agony as they try to fend off the relentless birds.

I catch sight of Eleanna across the battlefield, her fiery red hair whipping around her face as she dispatches her foes with practiced ease. Our eyes meet for a brief moment before we turn back to our respective battles.

A scream cuts through the din of battle, drawing my attention. I turn to see Nicolai struggling against two opponents, his back against the wall. Without hesitation, I throw a dagger, piercing one of his attackers' throats. With a swift rush, I confront the remaining enemy.

"You chose the wrong side," I growl, my voice low and full of menace.

With a surge of strength, I ram my sword through his chest, silencing him forever. Once his lifeless body crumples to the ground, I clasp Nicolai's shoulder.

"Nadia will see to your injury," I assure him. "Carry on the fight!"

He nods before turning to rejoin the fray. I move with preternatural speed; there shall be no mercy. Not until Catarina's reign of terror is brought to an end.

In the middle of the devastation and carnage, Catarina herself emerges from the heart of the battlefield. Her long hair flows behind her like a dark banner as she wields her double-bladed sword. She fights with a ferocity that matches my own, an opponent worthy of my skill.

A vampire lunges at me with desperate savagery. Our swords clash in a flurry of strikes and parries. But I'm not so easily defeated. With a swift kick to his stomach, I knock him off balance before plunging my sword deep into his chest, blood coating the blade.

"Alexandru, look!" Ivan's voice cuts through the uproar of battle, and my gaze follows his outstretched arm to where Eleanna confronts Catarina.

A knot forms in my chest as they circle each other, vicious vampires seeking dominance, fierce determination blazing in their eyes.

"Stay focused on our enemies, Ivan," I command, tearing my own attention back to the battle surrounding us.

But my concern for Eleanna lingers, mingling with my faith in her strength and skill. My queen is a force to be reckoned with, her vampiric power and combat training evident in every movement.

Ravens descend from above, diving and attacking Catarina's forces. Moros, Erebos, and Nyx lead the charge, their loyalty to Eleanna a great help in this battle. The mass of ravens swarms like a dark cloud, tearing into flesh and pecking out eyes, blinding our foes.

Entrails spill onto the frozen ground as my opponent collapses, defeated. The bitter chill of winter bites at my exposed skin, but I pay it no mind as I survey the battlefield. All around me, my forces are locked in fierce combat, fighting to breach the castle walls.

With a swift slash of my sword, I cleave through another foe, his head rolling to the side as his lifeless body crumples. The spray of blood only galvanizes my determination as I continue to cut down anyone in my path.

A vampire soldier lunges at me from behind, his fangs bared with hunger. Swiftly, I spin around just in time to parry his strike, our swords clashing in an explosion of steel. With a snarl, I sink my fangs into his neck, draining him before tossing his lifeless body aside.

More ravens dive down on Catarina's troops, their beaks tearing into flesh and their claws digging into eyes and faces. The enemy screams in agony as they try to fend off the relentless onslaught from above.

In the center of the fray and bloodshed, I catch a glimpse of Eleanna, her hair whipping around her face like a shimmering halo as she pitilessly dispatches her foes. Our eyes meet for a fleeting moment before Catarina reappears. Her dark hair matted and bloody, her looks no match to Eleanna's ethereal beauty.

With a fierce determination, Eleanna whirls with her sword raised, facing off against her opponent.

Each strike and parry adds to the incessant ring of blades, a melody of survival and defeat through the field as Eleanna expertly maneuvers around Catarina's attacks. With each precise strike of her sword, she inches closer to victory. Sensing an opportune moment, Moros, Erebos, and Nyx swoop in, their sharp talons and beaks tearing at Catarina's exposed flesh. But somehow, she wards them off and comes at Eleanna, who's back is at a wall.

Yet just when it seems like Catarina may gain the upper hand, Eleanna raises her arms and seems to draw upon her deep reserves of power. The ravens above turn as one and swoop Catarina. In a display of unparalleled vampiric power and heartless precision, she outmaneuvers Catarina once again, this time the bitch is the one against the wall and Eleanna with the upper hand, leaving me awestruck at my queen's skill.

From a distance, I observe the battle with my heart pounding in my chest. This is Eleanna's fight to win on her own terms, but I remain vigilant and ready to protect her if necessary. As their intense duel goes on, neither gives an inch.

I stand shoulder to shoulder with Dante, Ivan, and Nicolai, our swords drawn as we carve a path through Catarina's evil forces. The sounds of battle are deafening—the clash of metal, the hiss of vampiric fury, and the guttural cries of the dying. The stench of blood permeates the air, a visceral reminder of the violence intensifying before us.

I parry a blow that would have taken off Ivan's head. "Keep your guard up!" I shout.

"Never seen them so desperate," Ivan grunts back, dispatching another enemy with a swift thrust of his sword.

Dante moves like a shadow beside me, his blade a blur of motion as he cuts down those who dare to defy us. "Catarina's soldiers falter," he calls out, a fierce gleam in his brown eyes. "Her power wanes!"

But amid the frenzy, a heart-wrenching scream pierces the din. Marianne falls, a cruel blade impaling her chest. Time slows as she crumples to the ground, her once vibrant eyes dimming.

"No!" Nicolai's roar is primal, a sound of pure anguish.

I feel the loss like a physical blow, but there is no time for grief—only vengeance.

Nicolai becomes a monster of rage, his sword a harbinger of vehemence as he cleaves through the enemy ranks. Each swing is a tribute—a decree to avenge our fallen comrade.

"Fight on!" My voice is a command, ringing clear above the chaos. "For Marianne!"

With everything I have, I fight not just for survival but for justice and the future Eleanna and I dream of—a world free from Catarina's tyranny.

Blood canvasses the snow in macabre shades of vermilion.

With a swift motion, Eleanna swings her sword, its metallic ring singing through the air like a melody to my ears. Catarina mirrors her movements, swinging her own weapon with inhuman speed. Their eyes lock, filled with determination, hatred, and centuries of pent-up animosity.

With my inhuman hearing, I hear Catarina hiss, "So, now you wish you had killed me when you had the chance."

"No, I showed mercy becoming of a future queen, unlike you, Catarina," Eleanna says.

The two vampires charge at each other, swords clashing in a vortex of otherworldly rapidity. Sparks fly as their blades collide, grinding against each other, and then slide apart. Catarina's lip curls into a malicious smile as she feints left and then spins low, aiming for Eleanna's legs. Eleanna leaps nimbly over the strike, landing behind her rival with uncanny agility. She brings her sword down toward Catarina's unprotected back, but the vampiress is too quick, sensing the strike and rolling out of harm's way.

"Is that all you got?" Catarina cackles, lunging forward with a flurry of powerful strokes and feints that force Eleanna back several steps.

Eleanna grits her teeth, her ravens circling, at the ready, and rebuffs each blow with practiced ease, waiting for an opening to present itself. Then Eleanna pivots and overtakes Catarina with a swift, precise movement that's almost too quick to follow. Eleanna uses her superior agility to sidestep a vicious strike from Catarina, creating just the space she needs. In that sliver of time, as Catarina drops her guard, Eleanna counterattacks with a ferocity that mirrors the wild, untamed essence of her spirit.

The struggle of their power reverberates through the air while the fierce battle of wills unfurls. Eleanna, with the support of her ravens circling overhead, channels her resolve.

Moros, Erebos, and Nyx swoop down, their red eyes gleaming, distracting Catarina for the crucial moment Eleanna needs. It's not just a physical battle but a war of endurance, wit, and heart.

The moment Eleanna gains the upper hand, she locks eyes with Catarina, her gaze as sharp as the blade she wields. There's a moment, brief and buzzing with unspoken truths, where the weight of their shared history, of the bloodshed and loss, hangs between them. Then, with a decisive motion, Eleanna disarms Catarina. The sound of the weapon clattering to the ground echoes like the final note of a somber melody.

Catarina, now defenseless, staggers back, her expression one of disbelief and dawning fear.

Eleanna advances, not with triumph, but a solemn acknowledgment of what this victory costs. "How the mighty have fallen, Catarina," she declares, her voice steady.

The surrounding battle halts as all eyes turn to them, witnessing the final act of a long-fought war. With Catarina's defeat, Eleanna doesn't just win a battle; she wins the future, one where her rule is secured, not by the might of her powers alone but by the strength of her character and the unyielding support of those who stand with her, including me, watching from afar, my heart swelling with pride and love for the vampire queen who has claimed victory today.

Eleanna stands triumphant, her opponent kneeling defeated before her.

"Catarina, surrender now, and your life will be spared," Eleanna declares, the strength in her voice belying the exertion of battle.

Catarina narrows her eyes, a venomous smile playing at the corners of her mouth despite her precarious position. "Spare me? How magnanimous of you, Eleanna." She spits out the name like a curse. "But we both know this isn't about mercy. It's about power."

I step forward, instinctively reaching for my sword, ready to defend my queen at a moment's notice. Eleanna's gaze flickers to me briefly, a silent command to hold my position.

She turns back to Catarina, her voice low and dangerous. "Power? No, Catarina. This is about justice. For all the lives you've taken, for all the suffering you've caused."

Catarina laughs, a harsh, grating sound that sends a chill down my spine. "Justice? Don't delude yourself, little Queen. We're vampires. We take what we want, and the strong rule over the weak. That's the only law that matters."

Eleanna's jaw feathers as she clenches it, her grip tightening on her sword. "You're wrong. Strength isn't just about brute force or cruelty. It's about the courage to do what's right, to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

Catarina sneers, her fangs glinting in the fading light. "Pretty words, Eleanna. But they won't save you when I tear out your throat."

In a blur of motion, Catarina lunges, a hidden dagger in her hand. But Eleanna is faster, sidestepping the attack.

The dagger clatters to the ground as Eleanna twists Catarina's arm behind her back.

Catarina hisses in pain, her eyes burning with hatred. "You think you've won, don't you? That your little display of mercy will somehow make you a better ruler?"

Eleanna tightens her grip, her voice a menacing whisper. "I am a better ruler, Catarina. Not because of mercy but because I understand the true meaning of strength. Something you never will."

Catarina struggles against Eleanna's hold, her words dripping with venom. "Strength? You're nothing but a weak, pathetic girl playing at being queen. When I break free, I'll show you what real strength looks like as I rip your heart from your chest."

Eleanna's eyes flash dangerously, a hint of her growing power swirling within their depths. "You'll never get the chance."

With a swift motion, Eleanna plunges her sword through Catarina's back, the blade erupting from her chest in a spray of crimson. Catarina's eyes widen in shock, a gurgling sound escaping her lips as she slumps forward, her lifeblood pooling on the ground.

Eleanna stands over Catarina's body, her face a mask of grim determination. She turns to me, her voice steady despite the weight of her actions. "It's done, Alexandru. The threat to our realms is no more."

I nod, my heart swelling with pride and relief. "You did what needed to be done, my Queen. Your strength and courage have saved us all."

Eleanna's gaze softens for a moment, a flicker of vulnerability passing over her features. "Not all. And at what cost? I never wanted it to come to this."

I step closer and gently cup her cheek. "You bore the burden that no one else could, Eleanna. That is the mark of a true leader. And I will stand by your side, always."

With Catarina's death, the effect is immediate; Catarina's army begins to disperse, some fleeing, others throwing down their weapons in surrender. It's a collapse not just of a ruler but of an era marked by fear and cruelty.

"Cease the battle! Take prisoners, show them the mercy they were denied under Catarina's rule," I command, my voice carrying across the battlefield.

With her death, Catarina's downfall is complete, and with it, a new dawn approaches—one filled with hope and the promise of peace.

"General Amanar, what are your orders?" Ivan asks, his sword dripping with the blood of our enemies.

"Secure the castle, tend to the wounded, and honor the fallen," I reply, my heart heavy with the weight of leadership and the lives lost.

The scent of blood and iron still lingers in the air as I stand before the remnants of our forces. Eleanna is beside me, and our soldiers gather around us, their faces etched with fatigue and relief.

"Today," I say, my voice echoing through the courtyard, "we have endured a crucible that has forged us anew. We mourn those who have fallen, honoring their sacrifices with the lives we continue to lead…" I pause, allowing the silence to settle over us like a shroud, ensuring each word carves itself into their memories. "Eleanna stood against tyranny, against an enemy who sought to divide and conquer us. She has proven herself not just as your next queen but as the embodiment of our new beginning."

Moros, Erebos, and Nyx circle above, their dark wings cutting through the sky.

"Under her reign, we shall know peace. We shall rebuild what was broken and cultivate prosperity from the ashes of war. Now we will step into an era where all are free to thrive."

The crowd's cheers grow into applause, their hands raised high, saluting their future queen, their hope rekindled.

Once night falls, Eleanna and I retreat to the solitude of her reclaimed castle. The heavy doors close behind us, muffling the sounds of celebration. We stand alone in the grandeur of the throne room, the history of her lineage etched into the stone walls.

"Alexandru," she whispers, her voice a soft caress against the hush of dusk.

"Eleanna, my beloved." My heart swells with every syllable of her name.

Our eyes lock, and the world beyond this moment fades away. We step toward one another, and as our lips meet, there's a profound sentimentality of connection—a sealing of our personal vows. Her kiss is a mix of passion and tenderness, igniting a fire within me that only she can stoke. The taste of her is intoxicating, a melding of power and gentleness that embodies the woman I love.

Outside, the stars begin their nightly vigil, casting their ethereal light upon us. And in this quietude, amid the aftermath of battle, it's not the general or the queen who stands here—it's simply Alexandru and Eleanna, two hearts entwined, strengthened by the trials we've overcome and the triumphs we've achieved together.

THE END