20. CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY
U nder the indigo veil of pre-dawn, the forest hummed with activity. A symphony of nocturnal creatures played their final notes as the first tendrils of morning light pried open the night. Rowan’s heart pounded in harmony with the rhythm of nature, her breath weaving itself into the subtle rustle of leaves beneath her feet. Beside her, Casimir’s towering form was a silent sentinel, his presence both a comfort and a reminder of the tension between them.
Closing her eyes, Rowan connected her essence to Phoenix, who soared high above. “Find them.”
Phoenix’s screech echoed in her mind as he circled above the thick canopy. The cardinal’s sight fixed on the gaping entrance of a cave, nestled between the roots of a dense thicket of trees. Predatory figures moved in and out of its dark interior.
“Got you,” Rowan shouted triumphantly, snapping back into her own senses.
“Remember, we need one alive,” Casimir said, his tone deep and commanding. Capturing an enemy meant gaining valuable information, and information was power.
“ Alive is a relative term with vampires, isn’t it?” The corner of Rowan’s mouth twitched with amusement.
He gave her a sharp look. “You know what I mean.”
She laughed in response and gestured in the direction Phoenix was leading them. With Cora at their side, they cautiously approached the cave, every step calculated and noiseless .
The screams of a woman pierced the air. Rowan winced at the sound, her breathing speeding up. As they moved closer, they heard brutal snarls combined with pained cries and whimpers.
Creeping into the cave, they came upon several vampires pinning down a young woman, their pale, naked forms dancing around her like predators claiming their prize. Their monstrous snarls and twisted laughter echoed through the cave, drowning out the woman’s desperate pleas.
With his face set in a mask of cold fury, Casimir pounced, launching himself with supernatural speed toward the closest vampire. His movements were a blur, each strike a silent promise of retribution.
“Filthy daemons.” Cora’s upper lip curled in disgust, her hands already beginning to weave a powerful spell.
The sight of the young woman, bruised and broken, barely older than Rowan herself, ignited a fire within her that no fear could extinguish. They were monsters wearing the skins of men, devoid of humanity. Gripping her silver sword tightly, she leaped into battle, the blade glinting in the flickering light of the torches.
Amid the chaos, the woman’s brown eyes met Rowan’s, pleading for salvation, and in that instant, Rowan vowed to tear the world apart if it meant ending her suffering.
“You’ll pay for this,” Casimir growled, letting loose a menacing roar that cut through the noise. He moved with lethal grace, a predator among predators, his sole purpose to avenge and kill.
The trio fought in sync, their shared outrage fueling their assault. Casimir’s movements were calculated and fatal. The air crackled with the energy of his strike through a vampire’s chest, dust swirling around him like dark confetti. His eyes hardly ever left Rowan, making sure she was within his reach, within his guard.
“Behind you!” Cora’s voice cut through the din as she unleashed a blast of arcane energy, causing the vampire charging her to writhe on the ground in agony.
Rowan pivoted, her sword poised. She was relieved to find that Casimir had already immobilized the vampire, holding him firmly in place with his unbreakable grasp. With an almost serene focus, Rowan plunged her blade into the vampire’s heart, slicing through flesh and breaking through cartilage. The body convulsed once and turned to ash, leaving nothing but the sounds of the vampire’s final, horrified gasp .
“He deserved to suffer.” Fury was still searing through Rowan’s veins. She met Casimir’s gaze for a split second, seeing his shared anger as well as the fierce protectiveness that fueled his every move.
Just as they thought their fight was nearing its end, snarls and roars reverberated through the hollow confines of the cavern. At least a dozen more vampires spewed from the dark recesses of the cave, their eyes gleaming ominously in the dim light
Casimir quickly surveyed them and assumed a warrior stance, bracing for the inevitable onslaught. “I thought you saw only three?”
“I did,” Rowan said, her voice shaky. “I guess I wasn’t watching for long enough.” She squared her shoulders, tightening her grip on her sword.
“Stay close to me,” he commanded.
“Come on, you blood-sucking fiends!” Cora cursed at the vampires. “I’ve got plenty more where that came from.” Her hands danced through the air, sending pulses of energy that shocked one vampire after another.
The cave became a battleground marked by flashes of silver, the green glow of Cora’s magic, and the red haze of spilled blood. But their enemies kept pouring out from the depths of the cave, outnumbering and overpowering them as Casimir struggled to fend off their attacks.
Rowan’s heart hammered so hard in her chest that it felt like it was going to explode. Attempting to calm her breathing, she drew a deep breath in through her nose and let it out through her mouth. She envisioned pulling on a thread of cold blue energy that connected her to both the dead and the undead, relying on the same skill she had tirelessly practiced with Phoenix. But instead of flowing forward with obedience, her powers recoiled as if repelled by an unseen force.
“Bastards!” Rowan yelled at the vampires, her frustration boiling to the surface. She made another attempt to wield her magic, shaking with the strength she put into it. But it was like trying to catch mist; there was nothing for her necromancy to hold on to. Panic crept at the edges of her composure. “Blast it all to hell.”
Her mind raced to find any clue about what was blocking her power. Her muscles clenched and a cold sweat broke out on the back of her neck—not just from fear of the fight, but from the terror of being powerless.
“Rowan, duck!”
Casimir’s voice was sharp, and she dropped to the ground, feeling the whoosh of air as a vampire sailed over her. Casimir was already by her side, his sword a silver streak impaling the vampire through his back and out through his chest before he could attack again. The vampire gaped, his mouth wide open in shock, as the sword protruded from his chest. The creature let out a guttural yell as he disintegrated into ash.
“Thanks.” Rowan stood up from the chilly, damp cave floor. “I’m trying, but my magic’s not working.”
“Focus on what you can control.” Casimir’s gaze scanned the cave for the next threat.
“Got it.” She gripped her sword tighter. “Stabbing I can do.”
Cora, ever the master of multitasking, used her abilities to restrain several attacking vampires with vines while casting Rowan a concerned look. “We’ll figure it out, dear. For now, let’s just keep them off of us.”
Rowan didn’t have time to dwell on her uselessness. Another vampire took advantage of her momentary distraction, charging toward her with an unholy screech. She swiftly dodged and plunged her sword into his heart, a plume of dust marking the spot where he once stood.
“Keep doing that,” Cora encouraged from across the cave.
“Excellent plan.” Rowan took a defensive posture to prepare for another attack.
The vines Cora spelled snaked across the floor, wrapping around legs and dragging vampires down. She was like a giant spider, immobilizing vampires in her web. Those trapped in her snare hissed and spat, clawing at their bindings, but their efforts were fruitless.
“Show-off.” Casimir’s admiration of Cora’s skill was evident as he maneuvered between the ensnared vampires. Each strike of his silver sword was precise and final. The whispering hiss of disintegrating bodies filled the air as vampire after vampire fell to dust.
All heads turned at once as a deafening roar bellowed through the cavern. A colossal figure burst through the mass of undead creatures with such force that it sent several flying into the air.
The vampire running toward them was unlike any they had encountered before. He had unprecedented stature and strength. His muscles bulged and flexed under his skin as if he had spent his entire human life working in the labor mines. With a ferocious snarl, he locked his gaze on Rowan, charging toward her with inhuman speed.
Her limbs went numb as an overwhelming dread filled her veins with ice. The vampire’s powerful grip closed around her. He effortlessly knocked her sword to the ground, then hoisted her up and carried her away from Casimir’s protection. She punched and kicked against his hold, desperate to break free .
Casimir’s footsteps pounded in the distance as Rowan was carried off into the forest. The vampire laughed darkly, seemingly enjoying the chase.
“You’re mine now, little necromancer,” he hissed. “And the master eagerly awaits your arrival.”
He carried her like a sack of grain, carelessly flung over his shoulder. She had to fight off waves of nausea as her head hung upside down, bouncing with each stride. Her throat tightened in fear as he sprinted further and further away from her friends.
Refusing to give up, she clawed and punched at the muscular wall of his back. He squeezed her hip roughly as he picked up speed, and she bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out.
The slight change in his hold jostled her face closer to the back of his waistband. Her fingertips strained as she reached for the sheath at his side. After a few attempts, Rowan succeeded in pulling out his silver dagger.
Desperately, she plunged it deep into his back.
The vampire let out a howl before he staggered, and they both tumbled to the ground. Rowan’s head hit a rock with a loud thud. Pain exploded across the side of her skull. Blood dripped from her wound, mingling with the sweat and dirt that coated her skin. A metallic taste flooded her mouth, and she shook her head, trying to regain her senses.
The vampire pivoted toward Rowan. His eyes were filled with hunger, fixated on her like she was his next meal. His fangs elongated, as he zeroed in on her bleeding head. His nostrils flared and he inhaled deeply, savoring the scent.
The vampire ran toward her on all fours like a rabid beast. He pounced at the last minute, sending her crashing to the hard ground. She let out a pained hiss as he straddled her. Her vision blurred, and she fought to regain focus as the vampire hovered above her, his features twisted into a primal snarl.
“Mine.” His mouth gaped wide open, saliva dripping from his descending fangs.
Rowan shoved desperately against his massive chest, but his strength was overpowering. Even in her disoriented state, she knew she was only temporarily holding off the inevitable. Cold hands closed around her throat, fingers digging into her skin. The vampire’s canines inched closer and closer to her exposed neck, his lips parted in anticipation of tearing out her jugular—
“No!” Casimir’s roar sliced through the air as he caught up to them.
The vampire’s head swiveled. Glaring at the intrusion, he stumbled to his feet, raising his sword in defense as Casimir launched into an attack .
The battle was swift, brutal, and merciless as both vampires fought for dominance. Rowan could only watch in shock and horror at their superhuman strength and speed. She scrambled away, grabbing a large rock as a weapon while sucking in painful breaths through her compressed windpipe. The growls and snarls of the two predators locked in combat were deafening. Her stomach jumped into her throat, but she was more scared for Casimir than herself. He was a formidable warrior, but this vampire was almost the size of a bear and radiated power.
Every strike and slash left fresh wounds on Casimir’s once flawless skin, and his rapid healing couldn’t keep up with the damage. The vampire’s eyes were wild with frenzy as he hissed and slashed mercilessly.
He lunged at Casimir, roaring with unchecked rage and remorseless hunger. His sword swiped through the air where Casimir’s head would have been, but Casimir had already ducked beneath it. In one swift move, Casimir counterattacked with a vicious slash across his adversary’s ribcage.
The vampire screamed in pain and retaliated with a punishing punch that sent Casimir reeling back, blood spurting from his broken nose. He twisted and spun, narrowly avoiding another strike the vampire aimed at his heart.
Fear knotted Rowan’s insides as she watched him driven back toward a rocky outcropping. Exhausted and bleeding profusely from numerous gashes on his torso and arms, he seemed like he wouldn’t last much longer. Yet she could see the determination in his eyes. She knew he would fight to the death before submitting.
With a bloodcurdling roar, Casimir launched himself forward with unexpected ferocity, plunging his sword deep into the other vampire’s stomach. The creature gagged and collapsed to the ground, struggling to remove the silver blade. With a menacing roar, Casimir loomed over the wounded vampire. There was something both horrifying and enthralling about him at the same time.
Reacting with lightning-fast reflexes, the vampire lashed out with lethal claws. Casimir leaped out of harm’s way at the last moment, but the front of his tunic was shredded. Rowan couldn’t look away from him, his body drenched in blood and sweat, his hard muscles tensed and ready for battle.
With a swift and precise throw, Casimir’s dagger sailed through the air, finding its mark in the vampire’s left eye. The monster let out an anguished shriek, thrashing wildly as Casimir used the distraction to attack. With ruthless efficiency, he jerked his blade from the eye socket with a nauseating squelching noise .
Then, with a series of brutal sawing motions, he decapitated the vampire.
The sounds of flesh tearing and bones cracking filled the air. The creature’s head tumbled to the ground in a spray of blood, its one remaining eye wide in an expression of terror.
Rowan exhaled in relief as the vampire burst into ash, her entire body shaking with adrenaline. Casimir rushed to her side, wrapping his arms around her in an embrace so tight it threatened to crack her ribs.
“We’re safe now,” he reassured her.
Rowan clung to him, burying her face in his chest. Her breathing was shallow, her body chilled and trembling with shock.
“I promise you’re safe. I’ll always protect you.” He gently brushed a lock of hair from her face and traced his fingers down her cheek, then leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “It’s over now.”
Rowan took in several deep breaths, trying to calm herself as she pulled away from him. Her gaze met Casimir’s, revealing the gleam of his fangs and the hunger in his eyes.
She jerked back and wiped as much of her blood onto the grass as she could to lessen the predatory look on his face. She sucked in a sharp breath as she touched the wound on her temple, wincing from the pain.
“I’m all right,” she said. It was a lie, but she didn’t want him to worry. She tore a strip of fabric from her already damaged dress and wrapped it around her head, hoping it would stop the bleeding.
Casimir seemed transfixed by her every move, his eyes never leaving the blood on her scalp. “Take this.” He offered her his cloak. “It’ll warm you.” His voice came out rough, his jaw clenching with barely contained restraint as he wrapped the garment around her slender form.
A wave of apprehension washed over Rowan as they walked together back to the cave. As soon as Casimir’s gaze fell upon the remaining captive vampire, tightly restrained by Cora’s powerful vines, Rowan knew he would seek retribution for what had happened to her.
Casimir simmered, molten anger rolling off him. “You filth.” His eyes darkened with something akin to savagery. “You’ve no idea what you’ve stepped into.”
Cora shot Rowan a concerned look before she retreated to a corner of the cave, allowing Casimir to take center stage. The vampire stared at them, fear widening his eyes .
An eerie calm washed over Casimir as he approached the bound vampire. His voice was low and soft, laced with menace. “You should carefully consider the consequences of your loyalty to the Reaper.”
The prisoner sneered at them, but his bravado quickly evaporated when he saw the wickedly sharp silver blade in front of him. A cruel smile spread across Casimir’s lips as he examined the bloody dagger with cold calculation. With the languid movements of a panther, he circled the vampire, tracing the edge of his blade along his skin. The captive visibly flinched under his touch, and Casimir seized his jaw, forcing the prisoner to meet his gaze.
“If you lie to me, I won’t hesitate to tear out your fangs,” he warned in a deadly whisper. The vampire swallowed hard.
The interrogation turned gruesome as Casimir began his brutal work. But the prisoner refused to divulge any useful information. With every denial or half-truth, Casimir stabbed and cut, seeming to relish the vampire’s cries of agony as he slowly skinned the creature alive. The cave rang with screams and desperate pleas for mercy, each one ignored by Casimir, who remained unmoved, extracting every ounce of information possible through his grisly means.
Rowan watched from a distance, her stomach roiling as Casimir transformed into a bloodthirsty fiend, tearing away skin and exposing raw muscle beneath his unrelenting hand. She understood that they needed the information, but knowing was one thing; seeing was an entirely different matter. It was a brutal reminder of the predator that lurked beneath his exterior.
“Tell me,” Casimir hissed. “Either way, death is inevitable for you. But one path will cause you prolonged and excruciating pain, while the other will be swift and merciful. Vampire bodies are resilient. You could withstand days of torture before succumbing. I’m willing to bet two or three at least.”
He pressed the blade in deeper, sawing through flesh and sinew.
“If you tell me what you know, I’ll grant you a quick death. Not that you deserve it after what you’ve done.”
The vampire’s resolve finally crumbled under Casimir’s relentless interrogation, and he revealed that the Reaper had become even more ruthless since Rowan had fled from his grasp. He had dispatched teams of vampires to scour the countryside looking for her, leaving nothing but carnage and destruction in their wake .
Even the vampire seemed to find his master’s actions extreme as he told them the Reaper had recently turned the village of Ashbourne into vampires to add strength and numbers to his forces. Those he deemed unfit for battle, such as women, children, and the elderly, had been imprisoned like livestock for his army to feed on.
“We need to act quickly,” Rowan said, her voice shaking. “Before more innocent lives are ruined. We have a responsibility to save them.”
Casimir’s jaw tightened, a visible struggle playing out on his face. “We need to gather our own army first.” He raked a hand through his disheveled hair as if trying to calm himself. “We can’t take the Reaper on with only the three of us.”
She nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words, though she couldn’t shake her urge to charge into battle immediately. “We’ll need every vampire and magical ally we can gather. He won’t stop until we defeat him.”
“We’ll succeed.” Casimir moved closer to her. “And end this once and for all, no matter what it takes.”
He stilled, his head tilted to the side as if he were listening for something Rowan couldn’t hear. His head snapped in the direction of the vampire’s captive as she emerged from her hiding spot, stumbling along at a slow pace. The sight of the woman’s battered body, blood-smeared neck and thighs, and exposed skin made bile rise in Rowan’s throat at the thought of the unimaginable horrors she had endured.
“You saw what they did to me.” The woman pointed toward the vampire. “You saw firsthand the evil he’s capable of.” She spat on the ground at his feet, her eyes filled with loathing. As tears streamed down her dirt and blood-stained face, she hastily wiped them away. “I’ll make sure you never forget this.”
She grabbed Casimir’s sword from the sheath at his back. In a shaky motion, she swung the blade down onto the beast’s neck, severing his head from his body. The vampire’s head tumbled to the ground with a sickening thud, mouth open wide in a silent scream, before disintegrating to dust.
“May he suffer for eternity in hell for his actions,” Casimir said quietly.
Cora and Rowan approached the woman. “I’m deeply sorry for what you’ve experienced,” Rowan said, carefully covering the woman’s exposed body with Casimir’s cloak.
“We need to find a safe place for you,” Cora urged. “You’re injured.”
Nodding weakly, the woman let them guide her away from the grisly scene. Casimir trailed behind, keeping a watchful eye on Rowan as she gently tended to the injured woman. He helped to gather wood for a fire to boil water and to prepare herbs for Cora’s healing charms.
As Rowan finished dressing the woman’s wounds, he approached. “I can erase your memories of tonight,” he offered somberly. “Make everything they did to you seem like a bad dream. A nightmare that you never have to relive again.”
The woman gazed at him with wide eyes and a mix of hope and fear. “I can’t bear to live with the knowledge of what happened. If it weren’t for my children, I don’t know that I would have the will to go on.”
Casimir met her gaze earnestly. “You still have so much to offer this world. You deserve happiness.”
With a jerky nod, she agreed.
Casimir stepped closer to her and stared intently into her eyes. His hands grasped her temples, creating a physical connection between them as he shut his eyes and focused. A flicker of peace crossed the woman’s face as he worked, lines forming on his brow. After several minutes, his hands fell from her face and his body staggered slightly from the exertion.
“Rest now.” He caught the woman as she swayed and carefully lowered her to the ground. “She’ll be safe now,” he told Rowan. “She’ll sleep like the dead, and when she wakes, she won’t remember this terrible experience.” Casimir closed his eyes again for a moment, clearly exhausted.
“Thank you,” Rowan said warily. “I know how much that must have cost you.”
She was grateful for his compassionate treatment of the woman. Yet amid her gratitude was a chilling undercurrent of fear. The memory of Casimir interrogating that vampire made her shudder in revulsion. Beneath his handsome facade and seemingly noble actions, she questioned what kind of creature she was truly dealing with.
He glanced at her, his eyes flashing in the dim light. “It’s nothing compared to what she had to endure.”
“It’s time we discussed our next move,” Cora said. “We can’t linger here any longer.”
Casimir nodded, his voice rough with weariness as he replied, “We should retreat to your cottage and take some time to rest and strategize. As much as we want to rescue everyone, there’s nothing more we can do right now.”
His eyes met Rowan’s, a silent affirmation passing between them—an unspoken promise to keep pushing forward, despite the odds stacked against them.