Flowers Under the Moon

Flowers Under the Moon
Chapter 7: First Strike

“STEFANO!” Damascus yelled as Tristan brushed off the dust that had gathered on his body. His eyes began to sweep over the place, trying to find where the evil vampire was hiding.

“Damascus,” Tristan said softly as he kept his eyes upon everything that was there. “Up the staircase and to the left. Or…” He was about to say something else but then saw Morgana shift into the shadows.

“I see her,” he whispered back to Tristan as he pulled out his katars. “One more wall to go through before getting to Stefano.” Tri Tristan chuckles at Damascus’ words. “She is Morgana, the high sorceress of Lord Stefano. She knows how to work the different elements…” He would have said more but the fires of the lamps came on as the wind from outside came quicker. “And she’s starting now.”

“I think I can take her,” Damascus says with a scoff. “She is only a manipulator while I have something tangible.” He readied his swords, looking up at the woman that was coming slowly down the stairs. A chill went up his spine as he felt something crawl up his leg. A look down showed him that ice was curling around his legs, locking him in place. He struggled to move as Tristan got a look that something had happened. “You son of a bitch. You told me you would help me!”

Tristan didn’t even blink at Damascus’ outburst, his expression blank. Morgana walks straight up to Tristan and strokes his cheek, her lips kissing his lips softly. “Very good boy,” she purred as her eyes turned to Damascus. “He will do well when he has been turned. Too bad his mate is not as easy as he will be,” she mocked of Damascus.

Damascus strained against the ice that was holding him prisoner. It was crawling up his legs, almost at his torso. “You bitch. You hide behind your powers just as your master hides behind you!”

All he gets in response is a full slap with her nails, four deep cuts in his cheek with one in his nose. The ice reaches his waist and it stops as he struggles in his place. “What I do with my own powers is my business and not yours!” She snaps at him as the wounds heal. “If I cannot have your mate, I will have you. And no one will stop me from draining every last drop of your blood or from taking of your body anyway I like. Too bad the part I want is under ice,” she says as her fingers trace where his crotch is before he throws her body against the wall. She chuckles and gets up, dusting off dust that wasn’t really there as her eyes turned to daggers. “You will learn to regret that, Prince,” she said with the last word coated in venom.

“I will learn nothing,” he replied while he felt something run through his body. He was growing warm and the ice started to melt away from his body to the point where it was to a breaking point. He moved his legs and the ice broke. Amazed, he broke the ice and charged at her, his hand going around her throat. He banged her head against the wall and it dazed her as his grip tightened. “Now you will answer my questions,” he growled out at her while Tristan came out of the spell he was under. “Where is Rachel? The one that you called my mate.”

She just looked into his eyes and had a smirk on her face. “I do not know but I do believe that my lord is getting better acquainted with her,” she said the best she could with an evil glint in her eye. “You are lucky Prince as she is sweet in body and blood…” She would have gone on but he bashed her against the w blo blood starting to come from her mouth. He was also stronger now, in ways that he didn’t understand except for what his father said about the powers that he had received.

“I will not ask you again,” he said in an authoritative voice as his nails grew into claws. “Where is she?”

Morgana shivered as she felt the claws dig a bit into her skin. “Up the stairs and to the right. Follow the soft screams,” she finished and he let go of her. She fell down to the floor as he let go of her, going straight to the staircase, going up quickly to the first floor he came to. Tristan did not or could not follow, as Damascus did not look back to see. But as Damascus reached the top of the stairs, Tristan gave out a yell to the Prince. Damascus turned around and saw Morgana there but he couldn’t even draw his sword.

*~*~*~*

Rachel and Akastus feel the castle shake and then the loud boom that Damascus called out. “He’s here. I knew he would come,” she says as she leaps towards the door with her hands on the bow. She swiftly straps the quiver to her waist and grins aastuastus who is holding the door for her.

“Let’s go before he comes back,” Akastus says as Rachel nods. She took out an arrow, tensing the muscles in her arms to make a shot as she cocked it. She stepped out into the hall and looked to her right and left. It was clear and she nodded to Akastus as her muscles loosened to hold the bow down. He pointed for where she should go and they followed the directions, leading to the situation.

Damascus was about to dodack ack and bring his katar up Morgana’s middle, but Rachel tightens her arm and lets the arrow fly. It hits Morgana’s heart and she fell down the stairs. Her spell broke and Tristan was able to move again. Akastus’ looked away, some tears falling for his sister but not many. She might have been his sister, but she was turning towards what he didn’t like. Yet he was also able to smile as Rachel threw down her bow and rushed into Damascus’ arms. She held him very closely while tears streamed down her face. Carefully, he put an arm around her waist and with his other hand strokes her hair. “Shh,” he said comforting into her hair and kissing it as well. “I’m here now beloved, I’m here. And I’m taking you home so no more tears,” he said as he held back tears as well. Just thankful to hold her in his arms and know she was safe. He looked over to Tristan and Akastus, not trusting either. Yet, he had to in order to get out of this hellhole.

“My prince,” Akastus said to the Prince, “I am able to lead you out of this place if you will let me.” Damascus nodded and let go of the hug to signal Rachel to let go as well. Rachel did and looked up to him, her eyes shinning with love. Just wanting to kiss her but then he wouldn’t be able to stop until he had satisfied himself with her willing body as well. “This way,” Akastus said and picked up the bow that Rachel had dropped. “My lady, if you wish to get rid of the quiver, I would not mind taking it.” Rachel just nodded and gave the quiver to Akastus, not taking her eyes off of Damascus.

Damascus’ hand lightly touched Rachel’s cheek, his touch going into a caress as her eyes closed to his touch. His hand moves to take her and he nods to Akastus. “Let’s go,” he says to Akastus who nods and starts to lead the couple down the stairs. “I love you,” he whispered into Rachel’s ear as she squeezed his hand lovingly. They walked down the stairs and didn’t even notice that Tristan wasn’t there. They reached the doors and Akastus tried to open them finding them locked. He tried again and was thrown back, making the couple move back. Damascus pushed Rachel behind him as she let out a small whimper.

Stefano appeared before them, making Akastus’ eyes widen. Damascus had his katars at the ready and moved in, swiping at Stefano’s head. Yet his katars went right through what was an image of the man. Stefano started to chuckle at the Prince’s antics, his laughter chilling Rachel to the bone. “Impressive Prince as you can slice through air as well as filling it through your lungs.” Numbness started to drift through Rachel’s body as she looked down and could not see half of herself. “You will not pass with somng Ing I want,” he said with coldness in his voice as Rachel screamed softly, almost unhearable.

“Rachel!” Damascus bellowed as she was disappearing before his eyes. “No,” he said softly as all life started to drain out of him, collapsing to his knees. His hands dug deeply into his head as all he could hear was the evil chuckling of Stefano.