372: Indispensable confrontations (part 2)

Indispensable confrontations (part 2)

Before anyone could comprehend what had happened, one of the possessed animals which had remained concealed from sight since the previous hunt fell from the sky and landed right in front of Larissa. A grotesque and terrifying spectacle, its unnatural features induced nausea in those who beheld it.1

But the creature had already met its end before landing, becoming a victim of a perfectly timed double strike.

Egon von Conradie had loosed an arrow that pierced the mutant hyena's skull at the precise moment when Claude de Lanark flung his sword at the falling monstrosity. The combined assault was lethal, ending the threat that had targeted Larissa before it could escalate any further.

"Stay prepared for the other two!" Adela's voice resonated throughout the arena, knowing from past experiences that these attacks frequently came in threes. Her healing veil already extended to cover Larissa, making her glow with light in the arms of her betrothed.

Amidst the surrounding chaos, Adela's attention honed in on Noctavian, standing between Arkin and Egon von Conradie who had joined his son in the arena, the Crown Prince's steady gaze was fixed on the western line of pine trees, and Adela followed suit, trusting the heightened senses of her son.

Knights and guards stood in formation, their swords unsheathed and ready. The King's men in golden armor created a protective barrier in front of the King and Queen. Simultaneously, Mathew and his grey-armored knights positioned themselves around the Archduchess, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of impending danger.

The atmosphere was tense, and everyone remained on edge, anticipating the possible arrival of the other two possessed monsters from various directions.

"Stay vigilant, men!" Gustav commanded, positioned to guide both, the King's guards and the Archduchess's knights from the center of the open space.

"Dela," Claude urgently called, capturing Adela's attention as he held Larissa protectively.

"T-The other two were slain already... o-over there." Larissa finally managed to speak, pointing a trembling finger towards the shadows along the western tree line where she sensed Andreas's eyes watching her.

The Archduchess's seven-year-old patience with Andreas had finally worn thin.

"Nobody follows me!" She wobbled on her feet for a moment before half-heartedly pulling her shield away from her sister. She wished she possessed the strength of her son, enough to keep Larissa safe while distancing herself from her. But such a wish remained unattainable.

Enraged beyond measure, she refused to lock eyes with anyone around her, determined to leave without hearing or seeing anything that might dissuade her. With confident strides, she stormed towards the shadows where Andreas lurked, intending to give the vampire a long-overdue piece of her mind.

As she walked past the western line of pine trees, far from prying eyes, a sense of dread crept over her. She questioned her behavior and wondered how she would manage to locate the ancient one on her own. But then, a distinct, unpleasant stench reached her nostrils—the unmistakable scent of blood.

He can't be too far. Surely, he is keeping an eye on Larissa.

Guided by the lingering scent of blood in the air, Adela chose a trail and began to follow it. She could feel eyes on her back, and though annoyed that her words had not been heeded as an edict, she was fairly certain it was either her son or her father trailing behind her. The lightness of the footsteps a few moments later told her it was Noctavian.

It didn't take her long to spot Andreas from a distance. Upon seeing him just standing in place nonchalantly, a fresh surge of hot, raw anger erupted within her. Her heart pounded furiously, and she had to bite her tongue to prevent herself from shouting at him to leave her Archduchy at once.

Tattered clothes drenched in blood, hair matted with twigs and pine leaves. His eyes, a devilish ruby red held a look of pure terror within them. As she approached the vampire, her instincts screamed at her to turn and run away. 

"I was unable to stop the third one," Andreas uttered, his words were so out of place and time, delivered in a tone that was eerie in its softness.

It seemed as though the vampire was feigning innocence, or worse, as if he were a mere puppet with someone else pulling the strings from behind. But that was only on the surface; Adela knew all too well that Andreas was the puppet master himself.

"Larissa is safe," she informed Andreas with a voice that trembled with restrained fury, aware of what he could see from where he stood, "for now..." She added darkly.

Andreas responded with an appreciative voice, "I owe it to Egon, he kept Larissa safe when I couldn't."

Adela felt another wave of anger wash over her, but this time, it was a cold, calculated fury, intensifying her desire to hurt the one who had been tormenting her sister for so long.

While Larissa may have blamed the Oracle, Adela and Noctavian had always held Andreas responsible.

"You owe it to her betrothed," she corrected him with a quivering voice, "The man who stands by my sister's side, the one protecting her. Claude de Lanark, the next Emperor of Kolhis."

Andreas froze for a moment, his face as empty as if the words she had said were spoken in a foreign language.

"Someone will bring you the other two animals so you can burn them along with the third one," he nodded to himself. "You can say that they were caught in the von Conradie estate, just like seven years ago." He added with distant eyes, his gaze undoubtedly fixed on Larissa.

Adela couldn't comprehend how the ancient vampire still believed he had any right to offer advice when he himself needed it most. Having decided not to leave without saying what had been on her mind for years, she raised her head.

"Enough of this disrespect."

Her ice-cold tone commanded Andreas's attention, and he turned his devilish eyes toward her.

"You will look at the rightful owner of these lands when she is talking to you, Alkadim."

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