Chapter 12

A/N: I am very sorry about the delay. I had busy weeks with UIL and homework. Once again, I am very very very sorry and please forgive me.

Warren sneaked along the forest trying not to get caught. He saw some Flesher troops around and if he gets caught… he does not want to even think about it. He had to find a carpenter soon or the trip to Key Mountain would be even more delayed.

He crept along the river bank until he heard a noise. Before you could say 'gun', the man found a hiding spot behind an old oak tree covered with moss. The noise was two Flesher soldiers patrolling the area for people like him. When Warren saw what was with them, a wave of fear fell over him making him wish he was never given the assignment.

They were vampires; blood-sucking demons that could smell a person a mile away especially if they are cut. These vampires were men and had yellow eyes and fangs already dipped in blood. One was short and had hair like a raven feather. The other was tall and had hair like flames.

Warren knew they could smell his cut on his leg that was bleeding a little. He got it while going thru some thorn bushes, and he didn't bring any healing pebbles or potions. He slowly climbed up the oak so they might not pinpoint his location. He made it to the first large branch about six feet above the group and inched onto it.

Sadly, this did not work. The vampires still smelled him and the addition of his fear made it easier to target him. They told the soldiers and one of them pulled out a jagged dagger with a dragon shaped handle. The enemy soldier muttered something to the knife and made it glowed for a second. The black hair man then swung it, and the dagger cut straight thru the branch Warren was on and flew back to the man's hand like a boomerang. Warren fell down with the branch and the last thing in his head was I am dead.

Warren was surprised to see himself alive when he woke up but that surprised soon transformed into terror when he saw where he was. He was tied up to a pole in the middle of a Flesher camp site with all the occupants surrounding him including the king himself.

King Angelus was a tall man with hair as hard as a rock and as brown as mud. He was dressed in an orange tunic and black pants with a flowing black cape. He held a sword in his hand with their symbol, a skull, engraved onto the blade. His face was one of wicked content.

"Well boys, it looks like we got ourselves a Myth spy," the king called out walking over to the captive and laid his sword on Warren's neck. "You know what we do to spies." His sword crept closer to the man's neck where sweat fell down and made it seem like a waterfall was there.

"I'm not a spy! I am not a spy!" Warren yelled for his life. He did not care if that Key did not get to the mountain. He did not want to die.

"How do we know you are not a spy? You Mythians want us out so badly now you are a republic," Angelus drawled on bringing his sword even closer to Warren's neck. He was so close that he could cut a thread of the scout's hair.

What Angelus said was true. Myth used to be under Flesher rule until two decades ago when there was a revolution. This war is about Flesher trying to take over Myth again so its financial problems might be fixed. Myth holds a lot of natural resources that Flesher has lost over periods of time.

"I was trying to stay away from you guys. I'm just trying to find a carpenter to fix a wheel," he said trying to convince the king. He did not want that blade any closer.

"You are just a scout for whom and where is this wheel?" Angelus asked listening very closely. He did not expect to find this from this rat.

Warren gulped. Should he do this? Should he squeal for his own neck? He made up his mind in a heartbeat. That sword was good convincer.

"It was Sir Rupert who gave me the order, and he is at Magic Hill in the lower part of the Raychild Forest," the traitor said in one breath grateful when the skull engraved blade went away from his neck. It took a minute for Angelus to respond to this information.

"Boys, we are off to Magic Hill!" King Angelus cried, and all the soldiers joined in a battle cry. "Luke and Trick come over here," he ordered. Two vampires came forward. Their eyes glared at Warren with hunger in those yellow orbs. "I want you to take this helpful traitor to the feeding pen so you and your friends can have a snack," the king commanded to the vampires. They obeyed and dragged a screaming Warren to his doom. Angelus did not like traitors even if they helped him.

King Angelus chuckled and watched the crowd of men leave to pack. His family name will hold honor again after the loss of Myth two decades ago. He was going to bring Flesher out of its slump. Angelus soon departed to his own quarters to pack. He had a war to win.