Disclaimer: I do not own the Fable universe. Characters you do not recognize were created by me for the purposes of this story. Story contains scenes of a very mature nature, do not continue if anything of that nature could offend you (sex, violence, sub/dom, non-con). This story will be quite dark at times, you have been warned.
I do apologize for the delay in updating – life has been absolutely crazy lately! Your patience is greatly appreciated! - Fallon.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The water was cold, but it did little to slow him down. Though he was getting further away from Maya, he reassured himself that after the battle, they'd find a way to work it all out. It all seemed so impossible at the moment, but he refused to believe that the goodbye they had shared on the ship would be their last. With large strides, he cut through the water like a blade through flesh, finally reaching the shore.
Digging his fingers into the soft mud of the shore, Von heaved himself up and out. Beads of water fell from his nose and chin, smacking the mud below as he stood and adjusted himself.
"It is good to see you again, Von."
Von glanced up, then away, "Hello, brother."
Ezra stepped forward, the entire pack mimicking his movement and stepping out of the trees. He grinned, "Did you enjoy your holiday? I here Aurora is...lovely this time of year."
Frowning, Von shook the water off his coat, "One could say that..."
"Did the Princess find what she was looking for?" He asked, folding his hands behind his back as he stepped closer to Von, "Did she find allies?"
"The Aurorans have sent what they could spare," Von said coldly, "they have been devastated recently by a being called the Crawler."
Ezra nodded, though not truly caring about Aurora or their troubles. He leaned in to speak to Von in a low whisper, "Is the Princess in one piece?"
Von's heart ran still and his eyes opened wide. Memories of his brother's intent rushed back to him and he struggled to maintain his composure. Ezra lusted for Maya – how could he have forgotten? Everything that had developed between himself and Maya had clouded his mind, blinding him to the very serious risk his brother posed.
Fear and panic filled his heart – what was Ezra planning?
Ezra grinned, arching his eyebrow, "Well...is she?"
"Of course," he said quickly, "you said keep her alive and that was what I did. Since when have I failed you, brother?"
He laughed, though there was nothing light-hearted about it, "Not yet, dear brother. No, you have done exactly what I instructed you to do – and do not think I'll forget it. You'll be rewarded handsomely."
Von bowed, "Thank you, brother..."
He raised his hand to silence him, "There is no need. Good work gets rewarded," he turned, beckoning Malakai forward, "Von, allow me to introduce you to Malakai. He has just recently joined our Family, but as proved to be an excellent addition. He'll be leading the second half of men into the battle."
Malakai smiled, extending his hand to Von, "I've heard a lot about you, Von Kaiser."
Reluctantly, Von shook the man's hand. There was something...not quite right about him, and Von picked up on it right away. If he truly was a new addition – why was he being given so much responsibility? This battle was important, surely Ezra knew that! And he was more than capable of leading the entire group in on his own.
"I look forward to fighting by your side," Malakai continued, a faint hiss on his lips.
"And I you."
Ezra clasped his hands together and Malakai hurried off to his group. Von made note to keep his eye on the newest member of the Family.
Ezra touched Von's shoulder and led him to the group of Family members he'd be leading, "Malakai is a fine addition to the Family, Von."
Von eyed him curiously, wary of his intent, "I'd not question your judgement, brother."
Ezra rested his hand on the hilt of the blade tied to his hip, "Of course not, now, I'm sure you're excited for this to be done and over with, Von. You've acted as royal bodyguard for a long time..."
Von chose his words carefully, mindful to keep his feelings for Maya from his voice, "It was not the most pleasant of assignments."
Ezra chuckled, his lips curling up wickedly, "I can only imagine. Don't worry, soon you will be back in the Pines and the task of acting as her protector will be taken on by another."
He tensed – so Ezra still intended to pursue her? Von tried to tell himself it did not matter, that she'd never choose Ezra over him but the look on his brother's face unnerved him. While he trusted Maya, it was his brother's motives he questioned and he feared that when push came to shove Ezra was capable of nearly anything.
"Well," Ezra said as they neared the group, "good hunting brother, I look forward to hearing more about your time in Aurora once this...unpleasant business is taken care of."
Von watched him leave and wondered where he'd be during the fight. He sighed, watching from the sidelines no doubt.
He turned to the group of Family members he'd been given. At just over a dozen, it was a modest amount. He recognized one of the younger females, Scarlet, but did not see Loki or Vienna in either his group nor Malakai's.
He looked at Scarlet, hoping she'd give him some clue, but she just turned away. Von did catch a glimpse of shame in her eyes though, which only heightened his fears.
Searching for some sign or clue, Von turned to Ezra.
The Alpha had taken a seat on a large, gnarled tree root and was glaring at him with ice cold eyes.
Von's heart sunk into the pit of his stomach. At that moment he knew exactly what had happened to them, though he could only guess at the circumstances. Loki and Vienna were dead, there was no other option.
Shuddering, Von turned back to his group. He was surrounded, though he'd not have run if he had the chance – he had to stay for Maya. In their eyes, he saw his chances with Maya slipping away. There was a darkness like he'd never felt hanging around them.
Something awful had happened in his absence, and he could feel that it was not yet over.
One by one the balverines changed, taking upon their wolf-like form – the only weapon any of them needed.
Von clung to the memory of his night with Maya and allowed the animal inside of him to break through the surface.
Maya leapt from the ship, landing smoothly on the sandy shore. Ben and Walter soon joined her, both having drawn their weapons and readied themselves.
It was up to them to clear the middle path and the first obstacle they faced was a mortar at the top of the hill.
"Our men are getting annihilated out there!" Ben shouted gesturing to the numerous bodies that already lined the path.
Walter hurried forward and slashed at an elite guard, "Someone get to that mortar!"
Maya drew her sword and dashed forward, "It's mine!"
She leapt over the sandbags and drove her sword down into a man's chest. The sheer weight behind the thrust was enough to push it through his steel armour and into his flesh. Bones shattered, skin tore and blood oozed as she reefed it free.
He groaned, fell to the ground, and died soon after.
Two more elite guards stood to replace the one she had taken down, and she shot a ball of lightning forward before raising her blade to meet them. One man tumbled forward as the shock waves rippled over his body, and she was able to slash his neck open with an up-swing.
The other proved to be more difficult, blocking her swings no matter how hard she tried to break through. She grunted every time her blade met his, cursing him under her breath for being so stubborn.
A howl ripped through the region and Maya looked away long enough for the solider to kick her square in the stomach. She landed hard on her posterior and hurried to recover her fallen sword.
The soldier took a step forward, blade raised, but got no further.
Maya blinked in surprise as the man was slashed in two and blood splattered everywhere. His upper half hit the ground first, and Maya pulled back her feet just before it landed on her.
She looked back up, desperate to determine the source of the attack – and if she was it's next victim.
From the darkness behind the man stood a massive black balverine with bloodied claws. His fur looked thick and soft and she resisted the urge to reach out and pet him. His chest was muscular despite his transformation and more than a few scars were discernible. The fur atop his head was dishevelled and long strands of it seemed to touch his eyes.
His eyes...
"V-Von?"
He growled, nodding slowly.
She wished she had more time to take in the sight of him, but more soldiers were on their way down the hill. Maya stood, sword in hand, and smiled at him, "Thank you..."
Her words were soft, and Von wished he could snatch her and carry her away before it was too late. Enemies more dangerous than elite guards were only moments away...
More howls sounded and his group leapt from their hiding places and onto the backs of the guards further up the hill. The men screamed and tried to fight them off, but the balverines were prepared and halted all attempts.
Maya sprinted onward, smiling to herself as she heard Von following her.
Finally they reached the mortar.
Von jumped out from behind Maya and tackled the guard manning the weapon to the ground. He pinned his shoulders down and bit into his neck, ripping the flesh and veins out with a jerk of his head.
Maya tried to ignore the scene and remember that he was her Von and that he loved her, but it was still an unnerving display.
"Maya!"
She looked down the path and saw Walter and Ben had caught up.
"What took you so long?" She questioned smugly, her hand on her hip.
Walter snorted, "Not all of us have a hero's powers!"
"Or a balverine to guard us!" Ben added coldly, staring past Maya, "Von, I suppose?"
With blood dripping from his chin, Von glared at the Captain, hoping to get his point across without words.
Walter eyed the closed gate that barred their progress, "What do you suppose will get us past this?"
Von groaned and leapt up and over the gate. He removed the guards directly behind the gate, hacking their bodies to bits with his claws, and kicked open the gate.
Ben huffed, "Well...that's one way I guess."
The four of them engaged the guards while their allies flooded into the city. Balverines, members of the Albion army, dwellers, rebels...they all charged in and none of them held back.
To her left she saw a rebel go down wounded, and a Albion soldier rush to his side to strike down his opponent. She knew the likelihood of their partnerships continuing after the fight was slim, but it was good to see nonetheless.
For now at least, they all shared a common enemy.
Maya smiled as she cast a ball of fire and lightning ahead, striking the barrels of gunpowder and sending a group of elite guards soaring into the air.
Von sprinted forward with two of his kin. One, Scarlet, decapitated a guard with a single slash as Von scaled a building and took out some of the riflemen huddled within. The other balverine ran into tree, ripping it up from it's roots and sending it crashing down into a shelter of guards.
Maya came to a dead end. The building before her had begun to collapse and had closed off the road, leaving her without any clear options.
He ran up behind her and quickly wrapped his arm around her, hugging her to his furry chest. Maya gasped, then relaxed once she realized it was Von. He looked down at her, his white-blue eyes a shocking contrast against his black fur, and growled so low Maya swore it was a purr.
With a smooth, effortless motion, Von jumped straight up into the air and latched onto a low-hanging beam. In only a few blindingly fast movements, he had the both of them over the building.
Ever so carefully, he eased Maya back onto her feet and waited for her to make the next move. He wished that he could speak, but in his balverine form he could barely close his jaw let alone form a sentence.
Maya righted herself and approached the road Von had gotten them to.
None were on it, but she could hear commotion further down the slope and knew that wouldn't last for long.
Growls cut through the air and Von and Maya looked up. Half a dozen balverines stared down at them, all ready for the ambush they all knew was in the making.
"Get up there with them," Maya told Von, "they'll not get close enough if they see you before we want them to."
Knowing the wisdom in her words was sound, Von gazed into her eyes one last time before leaping up to join his Family.
Maya turned her gaze back to the path. The shadows of numerous guards hit the wall and she readied herself, raising her blade as they rounded the bend and saw her.
"The Princess!" One of the men shouted, pointing to her.
Another chimed in, "Get her, lads!"
They thought they had caught her off guard and alone...
They were sorely mistaken.
From his perch on the highest remaining building in the region, Malakai saw all.
The darkness was his cloak and the chaos his music. Yes - Malakai was in his element.
The sickly sweet glances the pair shot each other revolted him and he was more eager than ever to violently rip them apart. The anticipation of that agony was far better than any roll in the hay he'd ever experienced. It was like liquid pleasure rushing through his veins.
He craved release.
But Malakai was not an amateur, he knew he had to bide his time and wait for the perfect moment.
And like a hunter preparing for the perfect moment to let fly an arrow, he waited.