Clarke and Lexa move towards Trikru, while the enemy finds information about the Queen's weakness...
Notes:
P.S, this chapter has some strong scenes of violence (since it's a vampire fic you can guess what it will be about...)
"I just finished talking with Octavia." Raven tells them the moment she enters the tent. "Apparently they suspect that Bellamy has some sources inside Arkadia that are feeding him info from Clarke's guards."
"How he's capable of making people join his cause is beyond me." Anya murmurs bitterly.
"He's always been like that. He has a way with words that fooled many around him. Myself included." the hacker admits softly. "But Octavia is planning on eliminating all of his people tonight."
"Tonight?!" Lincoln asks shocked.
"Yes, they leaked a fake rumor that Bellamy will be moved tonight to a safe location in case there are moles inside Arkadia. Miller will lead a group of vampires out and hopefully Bellamy's goons will bite."
"Even if no one does attack Miller, that still gives them time to prepare for Bellamy's travel in the morning. It's not a bad idea." Anya says carefully. "Octavia does have her moments."
"Indeed she does." Raven chuckles warmly. "What about things on your end? Your Primus didn't seem to be pleased with the news I had to give her."
"Of course she's not. Although she's pleased that Clarke is respecting our traditions and bringing the natrona to our land, she knows that it's dangerous because he's being used by Azgeda. Surely they will not let him go so easily." the Trikru vampire says bitterly.
"Besides, there's also the fact that we may be watched. If Azgeda already managed to harm us with only one attack, why didn't they continue until taking control of our land?" Lincoln asks worriedly. "They're waiting for something."
"Or someone to be more specific." Raven says while standing next to her mate. "It could be possible that Bellamy's mole inside Arkadia communicated with his contact from Azgeda and informed them of the current situation."
"That's quite a network." Anya says angrily. "And no one inside Arkadia managed to see it until now." she complains but immediately looks at Raven apologetically. "I'm sorry…"
"No, you're right." the Arkadia vampire says mournfully. "We were too naïve in believing that our enemies were outside our coven. And it's quite clear that Bellamy took advantage of that."
"Well, perhaps we could use this mistake to our advantage." Lincoln says calmly. "And we could eliminate Arkadia's moles and Bellamy in one strike."
"Let's hope so." Anya says firmly. "Because the last card I want to use is Lexa in all of this. As long as Azgeda's unaware of her existence then we have the advantage."
"Based on all you have told me, it is imperative that we keep Lexa as far away from all of this as we can." the Trikru hunter agrees.
"Trust me, the last thing we want at Arkadia is to involve Lexa. We have a plan, and a good one Anya. Clarke will be leading the extraction and you know how powerful she is. Besides, thanks to your help and talks with Indra, Trikru will also send some vampires and hunters to meet Arkadia's group halfway. So, we'll cover two sides at once in case of an attack."
"Good, because there's also the fact that during your talk with the Primus you forgot to mention Lexa's involvement in all of this." Lincoln scolds the Arkadia vampire and hears a low growl coming from Anya.
"That's for Lexa to tell. Besides, she never asked me a direct question about her so why even talk about her?" Raven asks wickedly and it makes Anya relax.
"Seriously Raven, you're so much trouble."
"But you like me like that, right?" the Arkadia vampire says softly while feeling strong hands caressing her back.
"I wouldn't like you any other way." Anya promises her and kisses her lightly.
"Wait, you two are together?!" Lincoln asks completely shocked.
"Couldn't you smell it?" Raven asks curiously but then chuckles softly. "Oh, so you're a hunter like your parents."
"Yes, the hunters and vampires from Trikru saved me just before I got bitten." Lincoln explains calmly. "Unfortunately, my biological parents weren't so lucky."
"I'm sorry Lincoln." she apologizes to the man softly.
"It was a long time ago and I got a family out of it. I was fortunate." he smiles sadly. "Most of the people inside Trikru have similar stories."
"But the number of people being attacked by vampires has decreased thanks to Clarke's policies." Anya says proudly. "In fact, our hunters joke sometimes that they're getting rusty."
"Well, if things continue like this then they'll definitely have to come out of retirement." Raven says somberly.
"Indeed."
CLCLCLCLCL
"So wait, Octavia found out that Bellamy may still have another mole inside?" Lexa asks from the bed.
"Indeed. Apparently Bellamy tried to manipulate Miller by using his bond with his mate." Clarke says bitterly while placing her phone on the table.
"So he threatened him." the mundane says tersely. "How?"
"Miller's mate is a mundane like you darling. But, after confirming that they're soulmates they both have agreed to give him the Gift."
"You mean that he'll become a vampire as well?" Lexa asks surprised because she remembers Clarke telling her that she had seen the ritual performed only once during her time as Primus of Arkadia.
"Indeed. He came to me a couple of weeks ago, way before all of this started, asking for my permission to perform it. Of course, we'll seen and talked with Miler's mate beforehand and he's loyal to his mate and coven. Based on all of that, I gave him permission."
"But if he asked permission so long ago, why is his mate still human?"
"He wanted to perform the ritual after the talks with Azgeda were finished. We vampires tend to be at our most vulnerable after performing and receiving the Gift. So, that meant that Miller wouldn't have been capable of protecting his mate in case something happened."
"I see." Lexa says softly because she can understand Miller's position. "I assume you already planned something based on this new intel?"
"It was actually Octavia." Clarke smiles softly. "We plan to capture Bellamy's moles by making them believe that we're taking Bellamy out of Arkadia tonight."
"Ok, that's a good plan. That way we'll be able to travel tomorrow without worrying about an attack coming from within our group."
"Indeed." the vampire agrees. "But to make it believable I'll have to lead the group tonight."
"I was already suspecting something like that." Lexa smiles sadly. "And I won't try to stop you from doing so."
"No, you'll do something else." the blonde smiles knowingly.
"You know me so well." the mundane says happily. "What you'll do Clarke is that you'll let me tag along."
"And you know what I'll say about that: It's dangerous."
"Not if you're by my side. Besides, I think it has become quite clear that there is something inside of me that awakens when you or I am in danger." Lexa says seriously and hugs Clarke from behind. "I know that it's better when we're together. Separating, allowing others to manipulate us, will not work because you and I are one."
Clarke closes her eyes and allows herself to let go, she feels her inner beast asking to take control. And, unlike other times when she prevented that from happening, she now trusted that side of herself from staying in control and doing what was best for their mate.
"So, based on all the purring I'm hearing, is it ok to assume that you're ok with all of this?" Lexa makes Clarke stare at her and sees that the beast is in control. "Or do you have something else in mind?"
"I have something in mind." beast Clarke whimpers. "But Anya will get very pissed at me with this plan."
"Well, lucky for us she's already in Ton Dc." Lexa smirks. "So go ahead and tell me your plan." she bites Clarke's neck playfully. "And after that we can go ahead and have some fun before tonight."
"You'll be the death of me." the vampire moans and lets herself go completely. "This is what we'll do…"
CLCLCLCL
"You know you're completely insane, right?" Octavia asks her from in front of the car. "I mean, not only did you go ahead and brought Lexa along, but you also changed my plan completely and brought him as well!" she pointed towards Bellamy who was gagged and chained in the third row of the car with heavily armed guards on each side.
"Well, taking him out tonight or tomorrow would have been the same. Besides, I'm confident in our capabilities." Clarke says calmly while grabbing Lexa's hand. "You know no one would have believed your information if I were absent from the operation."
"I know that." Octavia murmurs bitterly. "But you didn't have to make the fake operation become the REAL operation." she then stares at Lexa. "I bet this was all your doing because I don't see overprotective Clarke here orchestrating this plan."
"Well, it wasn't her specifically." Lexa murmurs while blushing profusely. "Let's just say that I appealed to her more understanding self."
"Ok, then I don't want to know anything more." the vampire guard says angrily while staring at her blushing friends. "I just hope that this gamble that you took works in our favor." again she turns to look at Clarke. "You prohibited me from contacting Raven and telling them of our change of plans anyway so we'll be alone."
"Knowing Anya she probably already sent her troops into the woods." Clarke says surely. "So they'll be there."
"I hope so." Octavia says mournfully. "Because the last thing I want is to let this bastard go free."
"That will not happen." the blonde vampire promises her friend. "I'll kill him if it comes to that."
Octavia sees the desperation with which Lexa grabs her friend's hand and relaxes herself.
"Let's not make any rash decisions, ok? I know you'll keep your word Clarke. I'm just nervous."
"Don't be. Trust your friend. Trust your Queen." Lexa tells her firmly.
"I will." Octavia promises them and takes her cellphone out when she feels it vibrating. "What is it?" she asks. "Ok, we'll be on alert." She hangs up and then looks at Clarke. "We're being followed."
"Arkadia?" she asks seriously.
"Not sure. Miller believes they're not sure of where Bellamy is so they're waiting for an open space to ambush us."
"We did mask his smell." Lexa murmurs worriedly. "And if I'm not mistaken we have 10 miles until we arrive to the highway."
"Once we're there they'll attack." Octavia says surely. "What do you want us to do?"
"We must force them to follow us." Clarke informs her friend. "I don't' care if they realize Bellamy's in this car, but we must lead them towards Trikru land. Once we're there the Trikru vampires and hunters can help us ambush them."
"Understood." Octavia says and picks her phone. "We'll be coming out of formation once we reach the highway. Cover us the best you can, once they pass you follow and prevent them from turning back." she tells Miller and hangs up.
"Now Lexa, remember what you promised us." Clarke starts to say and Lexa can see her eyes switching between red and blue. "You'll always stay next to us and you won't try to be a hero. Got it?"
"Got it." Lexa promises and kisses her mate soundly.
"We're almost there!" Octavia tells them and both women hold on tight when they feel the car entering the highway.
As soon as that happens, Octavia moves the car away from the caravan and accelerates, making their bodies move backwards because of it. Lexa can see immediately that they're being followed, three cars in total, that are trying their best to move around their former caravan. As instructed, their people are doing their best to prevent the rogue vampires from moving forward, but, at the end, they're incapable of stopping them.
"Why aren't they using guns?" Lexa asks her mate because it had just occurred to her that there were no shots fired or anything like that.
"Because remember our primary rule: Humans are forbidden from knowing of our existence. So, if we make a scandal then the police and media may start asking questions we don't want to answer." Clarke stares at Bellamy bitterly. "Even the vampires from Azgeda are reasonable enough to not involve the human world in this problem."
"So then what the fighting starts once we move into the woods?" the mundane asks while noticing Octavia getting closer.
"Indeed, so grab on tight because they're gonna hit us soon!" she says and as expected the moment they enter the woods they feel a car hitting them from behind.
"Ok now!" Clarke yells and all the doors of the car open and Lexa feels herself being held by strong arms in a protective cocoon. "Everyone, prepare for an attack!" she lets her mate down and stands in a protective stance.
"Everyone is in the clear." Clarke hears Octavia inform her while being surrounded by the rogue vampires. "Most of these vampires are not from Arkadia. The only people I see that have our brands are four."
"Positions?"
"Lower rank guards my Queen." Miller runs towards them while avoiding one of them from pushing him to the floor. "All of our forces are in place."
"Ok." the blonde vampire says firmly while staring at the traitors. "You realize that what you're doing is treason, correct?"
"You're the one that has betrayed our race by keeping us like dogs with leashes!" one of the vampires screams angrily. "We are the most powerful creatures in the world and yet we have to live hidden like rats! We should be ruling the world."
"We are not humans, we shouldn't even exist. Hence, our world must and cannot collide with the mundane one." Clarke replies calmly.
"That's not what Azgeda thinks! Roan will become the true king of the world! He has the power."
"Does he?" Clarke growls angrily and feels her beast taking control. "Does he have the brands that make him king?" she can smell the fear and need to obey her coming from the rogue vampires. "Does he have this power over you?" she continues tainting him.
"He will the moment I kill you!" the vampire screams and run straight towards her, making all the other vampires attack as well.
The moment that happens, Lexa can see Clarke extending her hand and stopping the male vampire from colliding with her. And, in a too quick movement, she can see the head of said vampire rolling away from his body and Clarke's hand squeezing his heart.
"Now!" Octavia screams and bullets start being fired from the woods with vampires following behind.
"It's Trikru!" one of the female rogue vampires screams and fails to notice Octavia behind her. "No!" she wails when she feels a hot hand pushing through her.
"This was a trap." another vampire cries out while trying to run away from it. "This man is not worth my life!" he continues running but is stopped by Miller who grabs him and throws him in the air, bullets immediately hitting him and making him explode from the inside out.
"That was gruesome." Lexa murmurs while watching from behind Clarke.
"Trikru hunters have bullets that carry a poison that solely reacts when in contact with vampire blood. If shot to a human it will hurt them but not kill them." the blonde explains to her mate. "I'm sorry you have to see all of this."
"Well, you're vampires and this is a part of your life as Queen." Lexa says sadly. "And besides, it's not like I didn't do something similar to Monroe." she reminds her mate who nods and starts taking them towards Octavia, who is fighting with a vampire from Azgeda.
"Octavia…" Clarke says and pushes the Azgeda vampire away and stretches her hand to pull her heart out. "How many are left?"
"Not many." Octavia tells her confidently. "There were Azgeda vampires in the cars, so they must have met with the ones from Arkadia and somehow infiltrated the camp before we left."
"We must make sure we let our guards in Arkadia know just in case…" Clarke tells her calmly. "But I'm confident that they'll try to flee once they learn of their group's failed attempt."
"I'll make sure I inform this to one of our messengers." the brunette vampire promises her.
"What about Bellamy?" Lexa asks her.
"Secure still inside one of the cars brought by Trikru. The moment we all jumped out of the car, the two guards escorting Bellamy quickly followed Miller to Trikru land and entered one of their anti-vampire cars. So there's no way he can get out of those."
"Good job Octavia." Clarke praises her.
"No, it was all you Clarke. You knew Anya would send her forces ahead and tricked Bellamy and his moles into believing that you were acting desperately." Octavia says immediately.
"Watch out! One of the vampires escaped our barrier!" Lexa hears one of the guards screaming and notices said vampire jumping straight towards Clarke.
Without thinking much about it, Lexa pushes Clarke out of the way and extends her hands to grab the jumping vampire mid-air. Once she feels his weight, she immediately turns around and throws him down, making sure his head is on the ground. Using her feet, she places one of them on top of his head and pulls up, not stopping until she feels the extremity separating and senses his legs stop moving.
Stepping away from the body, Lexa takes a look at herself and sees her whole body is covered with blood, along with the surprised faces of all the vampires and hunters staring at her.
Fear, she can see and smell the fear they have for her. And, although beforehand that reaction would have made her feel terrible, right now she knew that she needed the people around them to follow Clarke's leadership. So, if that meant that she needed to make herself become feared, then she was willing to do that in order to protect her mate.
"Lexa!" she hears Clarke scream her name and she's immediately hugged by her mate. "What did I tell you about trying to be a hero?!"
"He was coming straight at you and I was not going to just stand by and watch him attack you." Lexa complains and relaxes her stance. "Now I'm all covered in blood. Disgusting."
"Is that really all you will say?" Octavia asks the mundane completely shocked. "You just dismembered a grown-up male vampire without breaking a sweat and all you're worried about is your clothes?!"
"Why should I worry about the things I can't control?" Lexa says to her friend. "This condition, or power, or whatever I seem to have is helping me protect my mate. So, as long as it continues to do that I will continue to use it if the need arises."
"But the people are all staring at you…"
"Then let them." Lexa says surely. "Soon enough they will know my role in all of this. So, sooner or later I needed to get used to this kind of scrutiny."
This makes Octavia chuckle.
"Nothing riles up for mate Clarke." the brunette vampire continues laughing.
"She's strong like that." Clarke says proudly and then looks at the vampires who are still staring at them. "Thank you for your service and for remaining loyal to your Queen. I'm sure that you're surprised by what you just saw, but I ask you to keep it to yourselves until we reach Trikru. Once we're there, I promise you all that your questions will be answered."
"You heard our Queen." Miller speaks loudly and this makes the vampires react. "Let's burn the remains as usual and pick up whatever leads and clues we may find. After that, we continue our way towards Trikru." he orders them and all the vampires start to do as told.
"Are you sure you're ok?" Clarke asks her mate again after noticing her relax.
"I'm ok Clarke. As I told Octavia, I'm ready to face whatever may come at us as long as you're by my side."
"Forever." the blonde vampire promises the mundane and kisses her soundly on the lips.
"Clarke…" Lexa interrupts them when she senses someone looking at them. "Something's not right." she further separates from Clarke and stares at a distant point up in the trees.
"What do you mean?" her mate asks her immediately while placing herself in front of Lexa.
"Perhaps this is me acting all paranoid, but I just felt that someone was watching us." she whispers worriedly. "Up there in the trees."
"A scout!" Octavia seethes angrily. "She must have been placed there by Azgeda to inform them of the situation." she starts to run towards Miller who hears the commotion. "A scout just left the scene. Send a team to apprehend her."
"Will do!" he says immediately and runs away.
"How could you not sense her?" Lexa asks concerned. "And how do you even know that the vampire was a her?"
"Scouts are specifically trained to move in ways that vampires can't track them. Because of our acute sense of hearing, we learn to isolate certain noises that would become too bothersome for us to conduct normal conversations. So, she must have waited until we let our guards down to move." Octavia is the one that explains to her. "Also, since scouts must be silent, they must have specific body types that match more the physiology of women. Or even children in worst cases."
"But no one uses children because they're unreliable and if captured could reveal coven secrets." Clarke informs her mate. "So that's why Octavia assumed it was a woman."
"Then how could I sense her?" Lexa asks confused.
"I'm not sure." Clarke replies worriedly. "Maybe she did a noise that alerted your human senses like stepping on a root or something similar. We vampires isolate those noises because if we don't then we would hear things like that all the time."
"So what happens if she escapes?"
"She'll inform Azgeda that we moved earlier and that they failed to capture Bellamy." Clarke replies somberly.
"And she'll also tell them of your existence and relationship to Clarke." Octavia murmurs worriedly. "That scout could tell them of your powers."
CLCLCLCL
That mundane, or whatever she is, noticed me… She thinks while running as fan she can. Although she had expected the Arkadia Primus to leave at night, she had not expected her to be prepared with Trikru soldiers. Not only was that worrisome, but it meant that their people inside Trikru had either betrayed them or had failed to see the troops moving. Now it would be impossible for them to retrieve the traitor before he reached Ton Dc. And that meant that he would probably be killed by the hunters. But then again, he had made a deal with the Queen that could not be broken. That knowledge, which came from one of the soldiers inside Arkadia, confused her. Nothing in that woman's plan made sense. She was giving them a man that they couldn't kill to do what? Just hear him and let him go? No, there was something else going on that they were not seeing.
That girl, she's the Queen's mate.
She had seen the brand while she was attacking the other vampire. And after seeing it everything made sense. They had found a way to break Bellamy's oath. A way to kill him once he told them whatever he had of value. Because if there was one thing Echo was sure of, it was of how quick Bellamy was to betray the people who aided him. He had done that to her when she was his Sire and had left her to her death. Luckily, Roan and Ontari believed her to be of value and kept her as a special scout that led reconnaissance missions in other covens. But recently that had changed. She had been called to return to Azgeda after the creation of the Coalition. While at first she didn't see why this was asked of her, soon enough she realized that it was because of her former student (who had become close to the Queen). So, after every coven heard of Octavia kom Arkadia abandoning her people, Echo was told to approach Bellamy and offer him her help when needed. And not once, that was, until that mundane came along, did he ask for it.
So now, now she had to return empty handed and tell Roan and Ontari that the enemy had their witness. One that would betray them because he believed that he was immune. Or at least that was what she was thinking until she saw that human kill a vampire. Now she knew that she had something far better than Bellamy the traitor. She had a secret that could finally put Azgeda ahead and that could eliminate the Coalition once and for all.
She had the secret of the Queen's weakness and new weapon.