CHAPTER 9

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

As the morning fog slowly drifted through the campsite, Kaba woke up, dressed only in his boxers, stepped outside for a few minutes and stretched. He took one glance around the campsite and noticed he was the only one awake. After a few minutes, he walked back into the section of the tent where the young girl was held. He pulled back the cloth covering the doorway and grinned as the girl slowly began to wake up. Kaba walked over and sat down as Lexi glared at him.

"Good morning my little slave." He cooed and stroked her face. "I hope your mother has decided to comply with our demands…." Kaba pulled out a knife and held it to her throat. "Because if not, it's going to get very messy…." He growled, pressing the weapon to the teen's throat. "And your sisters will not fair well either…."

Alexia awoke to find the fire she had built was out and she looked around groggily until her eyes focused and she noticed it was already morning. She stood up, grabbed her bow-and-arrows and continued on her journey to the castle.

It was midday by the time she reached her destination and she stood in awe of the sight before her. The castle was huge and was made out of large stone. Alexia stood for a minute and then shook her head, remembering what she was here for. "Alexia, you are not here for sight-seeing, you are here for something more….sinister." She whispered to herself, then took a deep breath, knowing what she was about to do.

She snuck onto the grounds and was able to make it to the garden unseen. She ducked behind bushes and large pots as guards and dogs walked past her, not even giving her a second glance. Alexia then snuck closer to the large building and could hear voices through an open window on the second floor. The woman crept closer and caught a glimpse of the occupants standing in the room.

Kenna and Michael were sitting down, talking to Rex. "Your highness, I think it would be very important to set up more security around the perimeter." The wolf stated and the king and queen looked at each other, then back at Rex.

"Why?" Kenna asked.

"Because the hunters have declared war on us, thanks to Michael killing their leader." The wolf stated, staring at the king who glared at him.

"That man threatened my family and needed to be taught a lesson." Michael stated and the wolf hung his head.

"I also think it would provide more protection for the princess." Rex continued and Kenna sighed.

"Rex, I understand that you are concerned about Amirra, but she has me, her father, and her uncles to protect her." She said and the wolf looked at her.

"Yes your highness, but what if something happens to you, Michael, and your brothers?" He asked and Kenna stared at him.

"Amirra will always have someone to defend her until she is able to protect herself." Michael stated. "Plus, with Kenna's new form, I don't think anyone will want to mess with her." He said and Kenna gave an embarrassed look. "Well, thank you Rex, but I think it's time for Kenna and I to leave. Amirra should be waking up soon and we don't want…."

He is cut off as an arrow shoots through the window and hits Kenna in the leg, causing her to stumble.

"Kenna!" Michael and Rex both shout. The queen grabs onto Michael as he helps her stand.

"What happened?!" Michael yelled as Rex examined her. He found the arrow and pulled it out.

"She was hit with this." Rex said, showing Michael the arrow.

"What is that on the tip?" Michael asked, with a growl in his voice.

"Um…..blood…." Rex said and Michael shook his head.

"No, there is something under the blood." He stated and looked down at Kenna's leg and when he saw what was around the wound, he grew furious. "She was hit with a poison arrow…." He growled, then ordered. "I WANT THE GROUNDS SEARCHED. LEAVE NOTHING UNCHECKED. FIND THE PERSON AND BRING THEM TO ME." He yelled and Rex nodded, running off to give the orders.

Outside the window, Alexia grew anxious. She ran as fast as she could to get away, knowing what would happen if she was found. In her panic, she didn't bother to hide herself as she did before, and was eventually seen by Kana.

"HEY. YOU, STOP." Kana yelled running after the woman. Alexia ran faster, but she was blocked by Kell.

"YOU HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO STOP." He yelled as the woman was forced to slow herself down. She stopped and Kana caught up to her, grabbing her arms and pulling them behind her back. "We must take her to the king." Kell said and the woman's eyes grew wide as she cried out.

"No!"

"You have committed a crime against our sister, the queen and must pay the penalty." Kana growled as he tied the woman's hands with a rope, turned around, pushing his captive toward the castle.

Michael and Rex laid Kenna down on the couch in the living room and Asuna came in with some cloths. She pressed one against the queens leg and she grunted in pain. "I know it hurts Kenna, but this will help to get the poison out." Asuna explained as Kenna took a few deep breaths. She and Michael looked at each other and a few minutes later, the door flew open and Kana emerged, pushing the woman in.

"Your majesty, I found the one responsible." He said, giving the woman another push, this time causing her to stumble and fall to her knees. Alexia shivered with fear as the king walked toward her, and she kept her head down, not daring to look at him.

Michael glared and grabbed the woman's hair, pulling her head up and backwards. "Who are you!?" He yelled with a growl to his voice. Alexia stayed silent and the grip on her hair tightened. "I ASKED YOU A QUESTION." Michael yelled, his voice growing louder and more threatening.

"My….name is….Alexia…." She whimpered and the tightness on her hair increased.

"You came here to kill my wife, and no doubt me and our child." He stated, asking with a growl "Why?"

Alexia replied with a shaky voice,"The hunters….threatened to kill….my daughters….if I didn't….."

"LIAR!" Michael yelled, throwing her to the floor. "Kana, give this woman her punishment…" He ordered and Kana nodded and stepped forward. Alexia closed her eyes as the man raised his sword above his head.

Kenna saw what her brother was about to do and as her eyes grew wide, she yelled, "KANA, DROP YOUR SWORD, NOW." Kana and Michael looked at her confused.

"Kenna, this filth just tried to murder you…surely she…." Michael was cut off by the queen's glare as she shook her head.

"Yes, I know what she tried to do, but that doesn't mean she's lying." Kenna said and the king looked at her puzzled.

"How do you know she's not lying?" He asked and Kenna smiled.

"Because being a mother means doing whatever it takes to ensure the safety of your child, plus, I was reading her mind and she is right." Kenna then looked at the woman. "Rise young woman." She commanded and the woman opened her eyes, stunned by the mercy that was just given to her, and obeyed. Kenna then looked at her brother. "Kana, release her." She ordered and her brother sighed and walked over to Alexia, untying the ropes that bound her hands. As soon as she was free, Alexia rushed over to Kenna and knelt next to her.

"Thank you your highness!" She said and Kenna nodded. The queen then looked up at her husband.

"Michael, we must help her." She stated and the woman looked up at her astounded, Michael gave an even more astonished look.

"Kenna, this woman is…." He was once again cut off by Kenna.

"I know Michael, but we can't fault her for it. The important thing right now is ensuring the safety of her children. When we took the throne, we promised to help those who are innocent, and to me, this woman and her children are innocent." She explained and Michael sighed, nodding.

"Alexia, do you know where your children are?" He asked and she shook her head no.

"All I know is that they are in the forest somewhere." She said and the two royals looked at each other and nodded.

Michael then stated, "Tomorrow we go to the forest and find the hunters and rescue your girls, then we will destroy the camp." Alexia's eyes filled with tears as she looked at the queen.

"Thank you…" she whispered and the queen nodded, whispering back, "You're welcome." As Alexia stood and walked out, she couldn't help but think about what was happening to her children.

Back at the hunter's camp, three men were smirking at the two girls who were tied together inside a tent. The younger one, Alexis, had been gagged with a white cloth because she was screaming the whole night. Her older sister, Jamie, looked around and noticed the three men walking up to them. She glared and yelled, "GO AWAY."

"Oh, trying to be a tough kid are you?" One of the men asked, kneeling down in front of the child as she continued to glare at him.

"Let's see how tough she is when Mommy decides to disobey us…." The second man said, crossing his arms, giving the two girls a wicked grin.

"MOM IS GOING TO GET US BACK. YOU'LL SEE." Jamie yelled and the third man bent down next to the first man.

"I wouldn't count on that kid." He said.

The second man escorted the first two out and walked up to Jamie. "Let's see how tough you really are…" He said with a wicked tone and grabbed Jamie's face, pressing his against it, forcing his tongue into her mouth. Jamie let out a muffled scream and tried to kick the man, but he grabbed her ankles with both hands. He moved his tongue inside her mouth while tying her ankles with a thick scratchy rope. He finally stopped and looked at the sweaty, shaking girl and noticed she was still glaring. "Hm, so you are as stubborn as I thought…well let's see if the little one is as stubborn as her sister. Jamie's eyes grew wide and she kicked forward, hitting the man in the crotch. He doubled over, yelling in pain.

"Don't touch my sister!" Jamie growled and her molester glared at her.

"You….little…..brat…." The man stuttered and the girl continued to stare angrily at him. He noticed out of the corner of eye that Ancal was walking up to them and gave a cruel smirk.

Jamie turned her head to see Ancal walk in and noticed the man kneeling on the floor. "What happened?!" He asked and the man pointed to Jamie. Ancal walked over and untied the girl, forcing her to her feet. "Let's go." He growled and forced her outside the tent. The man finally regained his strength and walked over to the little girl.

"Now that your sister isn't here to protect you…" He said in a sexual tone, he swooped the kicking, screaming child up onto his shoulder and carried her into the sleeping quarters of the tent. He plopped her onto the bed and gave her an evil smirk. Let's see how you like kisses….

Meanwhile, outside the tent, Ancal had Jamie tied to a tree. "Now let's see how you like getting kicked…." He growled and stood up. Jamie braced herself and tried to put off a brave face as the man kicked her in the crotch. She winced in pain, but refused to cry out.

Ancal smirked, remarking "Hm, you really are stronger than you look….to bad we have to kill you if Mommy doesn't succeed in killing the vampires." He said as he stood up and walked away, unaware that plans were already being made to rescue the three girls.

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CHAPTERS 10-12 WILL BE UPLOADED MARCH 31