Zeph’s POV

Blood so much blood. Everywhere I looked it was either bodies or blood. I thrashed and killed whatever came into my periphery, the blade of my sword had turned sanguine as droplets of blood dripped from its edge.

I had just killed a vampire and straightening up I searched for my next target when my eyes fell on Arlo. Standing alone on the vast grounds that surrounded the castle of Queen Vilarja, he was clad in thin clothing. The weather was extreme and yet it didn’t seem to affect him as he watched me with dead eyes.

No doubt he was in a trance state. I carefully approached him and told him we were there to rescue him and others, but my words seemed to be falling on dead ears. Meliana was focused on controlling the creatures of the dark and other vampires, so I guessed she had either forgotten him or left him in a vegetative state.

Suddenly his hands moved and my surroundings began to turn dark. I took a step back but his darkness began to engulf me as he casually took a step toward me, his eyes fixated on me. A strong pair of hands yanked me back and his darkness was replaced by a bright light that spread all around us.

I turned my head to find Zilver and Ziva, Zilver had grabbed me and pulled me back while Ziva was using her hallucinations to brighten up the space all around so we won’t get caught in Arlo’s ultimate darkness.

"Zeph, move. Stay away from him," Zilver instructed me and we moved back.

Zilver had his sword out too as we battled our way through tons of monsters, it seemed like she had summoned the whole dark realm. It was still impossible to get to Meliana as she was surrounded by hundreds of vampires and creatures. The more we killed the more she summoned.

I heard screeches in the sky and before I could dodge a giant creature pierced my shoulders with its talons and flew in the air. A shriek left my lips as its talons dug deeply into my armour and I became airborne.

An arrow pierced the creature’s heart and I tilted my head to find Serene flying toward me with her bow ready to shoot another one. Her face contorted in worry as she watched the giant bird and me plummet to the ground.

"Zeph," she shouted and flew toward me at full speed. Just before we could hit the ground she grabbed me from its talons, my armour protected me from injuries and Serene saved me from falling to the ground.

"You alright?" She asked concerned, her eyes wide in shock at seeing me just about to fall to my death.

"I am, don’t worry," I assured her and she finally let go of my arm and waist.

"Serene," Kilamin shouted as he landed beside us. "Don’t go flying like that, I told you to keep a low profile, can’t you pay heed to my orders for once."

She whirled around to face her brother with an angry expression: "I am not going to let anyone die, don’t expect me to stand by and watch."

Long golden spikes emerged in thin air and surrounded Serene from all directions so no one could go in her proximity. This was her brother’s way of protecting her.

"Really?" She shook her head.

"Stay here," Kilamin instructed her sternly. "Zeph, keep an eye on her. We need her at full strength when we make a move on Meliana." Kilamin flew away leaving her amidst golden spikes, she frowned, not amused at her brother’s actions.

I stood near her and told her in a serious tone:

"Earlier I saw Arlo. He wasn’t himself, I tried to talk to him but he attacked so Zilver and Ziva helped me and he disappeared amidst the chaos."

Serene’s head whipped towards me, apprehensions were evident on her face as she muttered:

"At least he is alive, we will get him back."

"Yes, we will..." Zeph behind you she shouted and turned to find a horse-sized two-headed creature rampaging toward us. I slid down and using my sword cut its front legs and it stumbled and got impaled in the golden spikes surrounding Serene.

"Neat," she gave me a thumbs up and I staggered to my feet, dusting my clothes. There was another one and then another one. My sword kept thrashing until my whole face and the front of my arms were covered in blood.

The numerous bodies of the creatures we had killed heaped all around us. So much carnage, we had never seen so much death before. My arms felt laden with Cramum, for it was becoming arduous to move them.

The ground below us shook and a gigantic Warmingtin emerged with its mouth agape revealing its razor-sharp teeth, ready to tear us apart.

"Zeph, I will deal with him," Serene was ready with her bow.

"No, save your energy," I yelled and sprinted toward the emerging creatures. Taking out a sleeping potion I hurled it toward its open mouth and instantly jumped in the air to climb on its rough skin with my sword acting as a climbing axe.

The vial went straight inside while my sword pierced its rough patchy skin. It writhed and screeched in pain, its body twisting as I held onto my sword for support.

"Zeph," I heard Serene shout behind me I waited for the sleeping potion to take effect. The Warmingtin was much larger than the one we had captured a month and a half ago. Serene had brought along simple arrows too, she began hurling them at the Warmingtin but they couldn’t pierce its tough skin.

I pulled myself up with full force and was finally able to climb its head, removing my sword from where it jutted out, I steadied myself near its head.

Mariela Sensei’s words echoed in my head: "There are a bunch of nerve endings on its head, pierce that part and it will instantly die," she had shown us the spot with the one we had captured.

Lowering myself near the spot I plunged the sword deep into its head, the thrashing stopped and it fell limply to the ground with a thud.