Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 147: The first of Ostara

The first of Ostara was finally upon the world. A party of twenty-nine souls took to the night, through the tall trees at first and then out of the Eleazars’ property lines.

Silas rode next to Arabella who carried little Liriel and Floriel on her shoulders.

Right in front of them rode two young looking witches as a group of 10 handy human men surrounded them, ignited torches in hands.

The six Lords and Ladies that accompanied them along with their right-hand men or women trailed further behind.

"Which tunnel are we seeing first?" Liriel’s small, gentle voice mingled along the comfortable rhythm set by the almost synchronized cloppering of hooves.

"The nearest one to our property. Although I’ve seen it before it remains to be sealed," Silas never once glanced their way as he spoke.

"Hopefully it won’t be that complicated of a task," Floriel followed up, "Since witchcraft is involved, I expect things to be far from simple,"

From right ahead came a foreign, feminine voice, belonging to one of the witches, "Assuming the casters of those spells are long dead, then it won’t, indeed, be that simple, I am afraid,"

Ethendra and Calistro were not to be confused. However, from behind, the two of them seemed perfectly identical. Even the length of their frizzy hair was damn near equal. To their waists it descended, never shining under the big bright moon that guided their steps.

But that was no surprise to Arabella for the hair on a witch’s head was as dead as nails. Though much like a wolfman’s sparkling eyes under a full moon, learning that information from a book and witnessing it with her own eyes made all the difference.

"The spells can’t be annulled. We shall have to work around that," it was Silas that spoke again.

"And if all goes well, how many tunnels will we get to see tonight?" It was Lord Foy’s voice that had risen from the back.

"Considering the distance we’ll have to cut between each, three tunnels will be all for tonight. If all goes well, as you said,"

It sure was inconvenient for vampires to travel at such a slow pace when something needed to be done.

But much to their dismay, they were confined to those limits due to the presence of humans, fairies as well as witches, who traveled nowhere near as fast as a vampire’s ability allowed.

Arabella still lived under the impression that her body was completely exposed and that, despite wearing those pants and shirt for three days in a row.

While the fresh breeze did not gnaw at her skin thanks to the thick vest wrapping her, it was still odd that at such a fairly low temperature her core burned with a continuous fire instead of relentless shivering.

Then again, the drumming of her heart might have something to do with the more than potential pair of eyes that stared daggers into her back.

Indeed, ever since his arrival and their departure until that moment, Lord Dragomir’s gaze refused to let go of her figure.

What troubled her even more were Silas’ words on the matter. Something about him not being on his list.

Him being the very first to stand before her, look her dead in the eyes and defend her father did not help quell her worries.

The young woman’s hand almost never let go of her pendant the whole way.

"When is it we take a turn, Master?" the vampire guard at the very front of the line broke the muteness.

"Keep going until no path remains,"

Eventually, and finally, the streak of trees lining their path converged towards each other into a clump that wiped the carved path they’d followed up until then.

That was when the use for horses saw its end as Silas ordered the guard he’d brought along to keep an eye on the mounts for them.

Arabella took the arm that Silas had offered her, but thankfully, GlimmerGrob told no lies. The boots wrapping her feet held strong around the ankles, sparing her from a lot of the twisting and tumbling she usually suffered during her outings in the woods.

"There it is!" the young woman excitedly pointed at a perceivable rock by their feet that held a distinct marking, "We must follow the... Mark," her second statement came a lot more sheepish than the first, seeing the way everyone gawked at her. Some amused, and others seemingly perplexed.

When the group had reached the second marked stone, most of them had begun to adopt a strange air of... Uncertainty about them.

It was as if they were being dragged somewhere they weren’t interested enough in visiting.

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Lady Athanasia stood still for a moment, scrutinizing the bed of shrubs that riddled their path.

"Yes, I am... I feel strange all of the sudden," Floriel’s little frame quivered on Arabella’s shoulders, clutching at the black vest beneath her, "We shouldn’t even be here," she added.

"I assure you all, this is the right way. We’ve been here before," Arabella looked towards Silas for support.

Although his arm had stiffened, he did vouch for and confirm her words, "Worry not. This is merely the effect of the repelling spell that was cast around this area to protect the tunnel from night walkers,"

"True that," One of the witches, Calistro followed up with her own assessment, "I can definitely sense the magic imbuing the air,"

"And unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing we can do to make it easier," Ethendra seconded her sister.

Against their better judgement, they all followed in Arabella’s tracks. Most of them were stiff as boards, but others wore twisted expressions with it.

Braving through the walls of green, their cadence slowed further the nearer to the tunnel they moved.

Out of nowhere, Arabella halted all motion and turned around to address the non-humans, "Alright everyone. Please prepare yourselves for what’s to come. This part is going to be the worst yet,"