Chapter 1.1
prelude
She stood upon the rocky terrain of a large hill, hidden within the dark forest, watching as the castle is overrun by the joint forces of the three remaining clans, Rozenmann and Ivanic and Li. She could hear the screaming and yelling of men fighting and dying defending their queen. The black of the night sky glowing angry with orange and yellow as fire swept, devouring everything it touches, growing larger. Three large wolves came running from the chaos, charging forward with all their strength. Their large paws hitting the ground, cracking the stones that lined the road leading to and from the castle, The same road that their enemies had used to attack. She heard each paw hitting the ground, each breath as it left their bodies, filling the air with a white mist then fading into the darkness. They stopped at her feet, looking up at her as her eyes glowed a crimson red. Sound of rushing wind filled the air as they changed. They were breathing heavy as the three stood before her, tall beautiful women with large wolves ears atop their heads, a large furry tails hung to the ground and fangs in their mouth.
"Gabriella, Emma, Eliana…" She spoke, still staring at the castle.
"Yes… Mistress…" Their voices filled the night air.
"Well…" She looked to Gabriella, with glowing red eyes her lips tight.
"She has said you must flee…" She took a deep breath, she glared at Gabriella. "I will not flee… I have 600 warriors… We have the element of surprise… We can attack…"
"No my lady…" Gabrielle bowed her head, closing her eyes. It showed on her face, she hated to disagree with her. She raised her head, looking at her with soft brown eyes.
"We cannot, our Queen has given us our orders…" She sighs, looking back at the castle. The stonewalls were crumbling as the fire continue to feed.
"And you are with child…"
"We must protect you…" Emma forced to smile, her blue eyes looking at the ground. Eliana looked at her mistress, then to the many, standing behind her.
"We must make preparations; we should head to the coastline…" She reached out, grasping her hand. "It will take three days to reach it, take the black ships to Oyashima.
"I will not run…" She narrowed her eyes, clenching her fist; she snatched her hand from Elaina's grasp. She nodded her head in response, looking at her mistress; her ears folded forward, she sighed, "My lady please…"
"Anastasia… Please…" They looked at Gabriella, surprised that she was being so informal with their mistress.
Gabriella is the oldest among the wolves in Anastasia's care. She was the first to swear loyalty, always by her side. It was said she was even closer to her that her own sister, Lucretia.
Anastasia glared at Gabriella, her eyes glowing bright red, she slowly opened her mouth exposing her fangs. Gabriella stood her ground, moving closer then embracing Anastasia.
"If you wish… You can take my life now…" She paused, holding her tight against her body. "It is yours to take it…" She moved her hand, to the back of Anastasia's head, pulling her gently to her own neck. Anastasia's warm breath flowing across it, releasing a small growl as her body trembled with anger.
"She is my sister…" She spoke through trembling lips , Gabriella felt her wet tears against her cheek. Anastasia wrapped her arms around Gabriella crying. "It is all right" she whispered.
"I will take care of everything…"
"Eliana…" She was still holding on to Anastasia. "Divide the packs." She motioned to each of them. Eliana, Emma, Amelia, Mila. "500 with Sylvania, Anastasia will be with you."
Anastasia pulled away, still in her embrace, she stared at Gabriella, "what do you mean… Are you not going to be by my side…?"
"I will stay behind to cover your escape…" She tilted her head, a small smile grew from her lips , "I will follow you in a few hours." She put her hand on Anastasia's cheek caressing it with her thumb.
"Why must…" Gabriella interrupted her mistress.
"I am the only one… The others are young… Even though they have seen battle… I should be the one…"
Anastasia stared at Gabriella. She and the others knew it would be a difficult battle. It even could lead to her death. It'd be100 against the joint forces of the three major vampire clans.
She slipped out of Gabriella's embrace, taking a deep breath; Gabriella could tell she was upset. She looked at the ground, and then a small mischievous smile grew on her face.
"Fine… If that is what you want…"
"Yes… It is how it has to be…" Gabrielle closed her eyes and bowed her head. Anastasia brought her hand to her mouth, sliding her fingernail across her lips, droplets of blood formed on her lips.
"Then you will kiss me," she smiled, gazing at Gabriella. "Each one of you…" She looked at her commanders, Chloe, Emma, Amelia, Eliana, Mila, and savanna.
Gabriella's mouth dropped her fangs glistening in the moon light. The rest of the commanders stared in disbelief. the kiss of the Rose.
"Anna… Please…" Gabriella stepped back startled by her comment and the offering. "It is our duty to protect and to die…" The others nodded their heads in agreement.
Anastasia smiled with blood red lips, her red eyes glowing, "I am sorry.. I do not recall asking you…"
She step towards Gabriella, reaching out to her pull her close, "you call me Anna… yet act so formal…" With that she reached out with her hands, cupping her face, she leaned forward pressing her warm soft red lips to Gabriella's. She felt her breath flowing across her cheeks, and then pulled away.
Gabriella stared; her cheeks were a gentle shade of pink.
"A loss for words…" Anastasia whispered as Gabriella reached up placing two fingers against her own lips.
"Come…" She turned to the others, holding her arm out, motion with her fingers to come here.
"I should have done this a long time ago but you seven will do first…" She paused looking at each of her commanders, "until we get to safety…"
As Anastasia embraced and kissed the others, Gabriella got ready. They had three carriages , they were enclosed cabin the color of black and heavy in design for long travel pulled by four horses. They family crest adorn the cabin doors. The crests were removed. Anastasia would be riding in one, the others were decoys. She rode in the second surrounded by the entire pack tonight. Then she switched to a different carriage in the next three days. These days were filled with difficulty and distress.
"Mistress…" Gabrielle yelled, standing next to the carriage.
"So formal now…" Anastasia smiled, holding her hand out, Gabriella reached out taking her hand helping her into the carriage.
"The sun will rise soon…" Gabriella was looking to the east at the tree-lined horizon. The sun was peeking just above it. Orange, pinks and reds giving birth to a blue sky. In the West, the flames had reached its peak devouring the castle; smoldering remains took its place. The house of Tepes at fallen.
"Goodbye… My sister…" She whispered as she closed the carriage door.
Chapter 1.2
The last two days brought good traveling weather and a temporary peaceful feeling among the pack. The road was bumpy and filled with holes, transportation did not offer the greatest comfort. the pace they kept was tedious. Anastasia jokingly complained to the others, that she was not blessed with a tail so that her bottom would be comfortable, while looking to the West for signs of Gabriella.
The sun had set and the moon took its place. The night sky is filled with the billions of stars shining bright. It is a cool and pleasant evening as they stopped to rest for a while.
"She will be fine…" Emma smiled; she stood next Anastasia as they rested for a while. Eliana walking up to them, spoke. "You will ride in the front tonight. When we enter the town.", She took a deep breath, relieved that nothing had happened so far. "Emma sent a few ahead to check on the town. The ships are ready, enough for all of us. Mila is making preparations just in case…"
Anastasia looked around at her commander and then to the troops behind them. She looked at the 500 female wolves standing, kneeling, and sitting on the ground, horses by their sides. She could see the wear on them; they just smiled, joking with their comrades, each one carried swords, lances, bows, and arrows. They can assemble in a heartbeat should the enemy come upon them. She worried some would not make it. She had been gathering female wolves for decades, training them. They had a special place in her heart, and they knew it. Males were the only ones trained to fight, females were for breeding. The males looked human when they were out of their form. Females retained their ears, fangs, and tails. Like the males, they were all attractive. Different color hair, eyes, difference in heights, figures. Anastasia would laugh with her sister and Gabriella that their attributes were there for help in communicating with the males. Their tails and ears display if they were angry, sad, happy, an array of emotions. Even then, well, they still didn't understand.
She heard their paws hitting the ground before they were in view. The pack stood as one as they moved, running at top speed towards Anastasia.
Emma, Amelia and savanna stood next to their queen. Watching as three wolves came running down the road. A single wolf changed, with the sound of the wind, the other two turned, still in wolf form, running back towards the West.
"Mia…" Emma spoke with a worried look on her face; she nodded then looked at Anastasia.
"Rozanman..." She tries to catch her breath, "elite troops are coming…"
"How many…" Savanna asked raising her hand pointing to the carriage. The troops were getting ready to leave.
"About 1000…"
"Dammit… We're almost there…" Amelia sighed, putting her hands on her waist.
"My lady…" She held her hand out to take her to the carriage.
"What about Gabriella…" Anastasia look to Mia. She smiled, taken a deep breath. "We will engage them soon…" She bowed turning to leave.
"Wait…" Anastasia spoke, her eyes filled with worry. "Are you not staying…?"
"No…" She shook her head, "my sisters have a head start…" She chuckled, "I will join them…"
Anastasia, looking and admiring the young girl smiled, speaking softly. "Please… Take a message to her for me…"
"Yes…" She continued with a smile.
"I order her not to die, no prisoner shall be kept or shall you become… Understand…"
Every female wolf understood that order. Many had suffered at the hands of other clans before being rescued by Anastasia. They were poorly fed and kept in dirty rat infested stalls in rotting barns. They were selected and tied to rape stands when it came time to breed. If they refused or tried to escape the punishment would be severe. Many had their tails cut off to prevent them from resisting mating. their ears were cut off if they were caught trying to escape. If they tried to escape a third time, they would be skinned alive in front of the pack.
She nodded turning to the West, she leapt into the air as she ran changed into her wolf form.
"We ride now…" Savanna yelled hopping onto the back of her horse. The leather struck the back to the horses pulling the carriage. It lurched forward, sending dirt into the air.
chapter 1.3
"What do I see here…?" She yelled across the open field surrounded by dense forest. She steadied her horse as it stamped his feet on the ground. "You come to battle without your dogs…"
Rozeman's commanders eyes stared out beneath his armored helmet. His hand grasped the handle of his broadsword. He chuckled and spoke. "We are the elite brigade 1000 strong, vampires only…" He sneered.
"What makes you think…?"
Gabriella laughed interrupting him. "With this wind I can smell them if they were here…"
Mia had caught up with her sisters; they arrived together as they ready for battle. They stayed in their wolf form, walking up next to Gabriella.
"The Queen has orders for you…" Mia spoke as she stared at the vampires across from them.
"Go on…"
"You are ordered not to die…" Gabriella smiled hearing this.
"Anything else…" She chuckled bringing her hand up to cover her mouth.
"No prisoners…" Mia repeated her Queens's orders.
"None shall be taken nor shall we be taken…" Gabrielle finishes the statement. She sighed, seeing the others nodding their heads in agreement.
"You should've brought more... Vampire…"
Gabriella knew the sun rose in a few hours. They needed to hold them for that long. She looked to her troops, swords lances, and archers behind them ready for battle. Each knew what needed to be done.
"If you need to…" She paused, her eyes glowing, "to change… Then change and devour them…"She looked at the faces of those behind her, with a mischievous look on her face, "if you wish…"
They nodded their heads, laughing aloud.
"Mia…"
"Yes…" She looked up at Gabriella, the wind flowing across her brown coat, her tail curled around her as she sat on the ground.
"Would you and your sisters do the honor…?"
Mia nodded her head, looking at her sisters, they laughed, and then taking a deep breath, they released a howl that could be heard by Anastasia and the others as they neared the town.
The sounds of horse's hooves thundering in the night, swords striking armor, slicing flesh, arrows filling the air, bodies falling burning to ash… Filled the night air.
chapter 1.4
Gabriella was standing naked, a leather strap around her waist. Her body tired breathing heavy, staring at the vampire commander. Her armor lay in pieces among the bodies of her troops, her family, they lay with the bodies of those who took wolf form during the battle, and Among the ashes of those that they had killed. Only they remained. Her body covered with blood of those she had killed and her own. Her face, covered dark red as she bled from a wound on her head, cuts on her arms, legs, and torso added to the pain. The vampire commander, stood across from her holding a sword in his right hand. His left arm was missing, gone from a wolves' bite. The familiar claw marks across his chest. He had thrown his armor away during battle. When he realized it was useless against the wolves claws and teeth. He had been bitten on the shoulder, when Mia took his arm. She lay naked and dying at his feet, breathing shallow. She changed back to her human form, when she fell to the ground, fatally wounded. He placed the swords point between her breasts, driving it through her to the ground. She grimaced in pain, refusing to scream. She turned, smiling at Gabriella, her sparkling green eyes faded, Gabrielle heard her last breath leave her body. He never looked at her, he stared at Gabriella. She opened her mouth, fangs stained with blood, she released a deep breath. She dropped her sword to the ground as she smiled, holding her arms out to her side as her claws extended from her fingertips.
"Come… Now… Vampire…" She lowered her head, narrowing her eyes; she mischievously smiled, exposing her fangs. She stood, her long dark hair blowing with the wind, caressing her face.
"Want to play…"
The vampire smiled, his fangs glistening, looking at her with cold dead eyes. A vampire has superhuman strength speed and agility. His wounds will heal as long as his injuries are not major. The vampire commander took a quick step towards her, then his attack quickened as he rushed, holding his sword low to the ground. She stood tired not moving as he came towards her, he smiled his eyes hollow and lifeless, as she waited for him. He could see the smile on her face when she met him halfway , she caught him by surprise with her speed and agility, ducking below his swinging sword. Her left hand grasping his throat, raising him high into the air, with her right, she had reached for the silver dagger strapped to her back, driving it deep into the left side of his chest.
"You've missed…" He laughed, as his sword hit the ground, falling from his grasp.
"My kill would be quicker…" She looked at him the night sky was turning, she smiled, "you will burn…"
The vampire commander had gambled and lost. The battle had taken too long. He had forgotten about the sun.
"You will join the other 1000…" She twisted the blade inside his chest. "Should've brought along your dogs…" She smiled thinking of Anastasia and hoping for safe voyage home. The sun peeked above the tree line horizon. His body smoked, then smoldered. He screamed as his body burst into flame, Gabriella still holding him high in the air.
"I am sorry…" Gabriella was looking up at him watching him burn, "Anna… But I will be disobeying your order…"
The wounds she received in battle were too great, the loss of blood had taken its toll. She grew tired then collapsed to the ground on her back, staring up into the night sky as it turned blue. She felt the sun's warmth, hear the bird song filling the sky, she closed her eyes fading into darkness.