Chapter 31: Fogs that Breathe Deaths (1)
Selene was but a talented knight in her eighteen, yet she has not seen a single battle unfolding before her eyes. She had read books, heard stories, and even trained hard, but the reality was something entirely different. Her heart hammered in her chest, as she took in the grisly scene before her. The townsfolk screamed and scattered, while the knights, once stoic, were now in a state of readiness even the midst of confusions.
The scarred man charged, along with his brethens that crowded outside from the entrance. Selene's mind was racing, her hand still sticky with Manasseh's blood, and she had no idea where this betrayal had come from. The vampire-turned-mercenaries were upon them, a whirlwind of teeth and claws that seemed unstoppable.
But she has to act, fast! Her mother's words of reprimands drummed in her mind, as she drew her sword. The silver blade, a gift from her mother, shimmered under the setting sun, a beacon of hope in the chaos, yet carries a light that was too blinding for the young Selene.
The scarred man's claw reached for Selene, his eyes alight with a bloodlust that seemed to have no end. With a roar of defiance, she swung her sword downwards, the silver blade glinting in the sun's final rays. The creature's arm fell to the ground. Yet with a grunt, his other arm immediately stabbed towards her heart. Selene stepped aside as she stumbled, her gasping breath mixing with the screams of the townsfolk.
The other knights encountered a battle of their own, as the vampire mercenaries had turned the peaceful square into a battleground. Selene's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of Adil, Adrei, or even Uncle Demond. Her heart raced with fear and anger as she realized this was no coincidence. Someone had orchestrated this, and she would not let them get away with it.
Yet that lingering question hammered down, as she witnessed the scarred man's bloodied arm had a...silk? A thread of silk sticking out from his torn flesh, the same kind that Manasseh's scarf was made of, as this thread casually strung his loose arm on the ground, before reattaching it back to his body.
"...it's Lady Manasseh's invention, isn't it?" Selene murmured to herself, her mind racing as she studied the silk thread that had reattached the scarred man's arm. It was the same material that made up the scarf Manasseh had been wearing. The revelation sent a shiver down her spine.
"Does that silk also protect you from Lady Adil's runes? Answer me!" Selene roared, her fear morphing into anger as she pointed her sword at the scarred man. The creature snarled in response, his eyes flickering with something akin to an utter calmness of hunter towards a prey.
"That woman has been...useful." The scarred man uttered, his throat hoarse, with his eyes never leaving Selene's. "But it seems her time has come to an end." His hand shot out again, this time aiming for Selene's throat.