Chapter Twenty-Two: Romulus

The wolves have been forced back out of the perimeter. The tunnel systems are infested with vampires and an entire pack worth of good fighters. I am the soul reason this collapse has fallen on us. Forced back into the woods where we can only sit and twiddle our thumbs, hoping for the best. Staging an attack on the vampires right now would only lead to our own defeat. Those who came to my aid and died outside Torrine, those who got held up in the ambush, too.

We’ve lost too many. Now is not the time to strike with my wolves but rather, the witches. The young girl and her brother. They should have been a part of this war from much earlier, but there was no place for them. They are brash and carefree. At least, that’s how they appear on the outside. So, trying to use them to my advantage seemed foolish earlier on. Now?

Well, they have the ability to bring the walls of that last tunnel crumbling down. A few survivors from the tunnels gave full reports surrounding these tunnels. Not the exact location but close enough that an experienced witch would be able to pick up the energy of the vampires that still keep the remainder of my wolves trapped.

They will feel the weight of their decision – and a ton of concrete – pushing down on them until they face true death.

The witch, warlock, and a good division of their coven have come to my grounds to give us support, making things easier for me. I don’t have to go hunt them down. I’ve sent word for them to come to me. I am in my home. Since Aliana’s death, I changed it around. Creating one large war room. A picture of her and my daughter sit in every room, forever driving my rage and aiming my sword.

A doctor tends to my wounds. Though I mainly only faced a few scrapes and light cuts, a few strikes were deep and dangerous. He’s patching up the wounds. I lay on a stretcher, gritting my teeth as needles and syringes tear into my skin.

I hear the two enter from the front door, making their way through the entrance hall and into the lounge.

“You called... Oh jeez.” Verona couldn’t even finish her sentence, seeing how the doctor maneuvers the meat to reform.

“What happened?”

“If we don’t hit it soon, we’re going to lose Torrine. That’s what happened.” A few more stitches and the doctor is done with me. I sit up, instinctively a hand going over the open wound on my left midsection to guard it. Interesting reaction. I haven’t had a cut this deep in a very long time, so to have the same instincts as I had when I last did is interesting enough. Keeping the wound safe as I move.

“Now, one of the lucky ones to escape the battle beneath the surface was able to give me enough intel on where the tunnel we missed is.” I can see the look of confusion on the girl’s face. Atticus says nothing. He doesn’t want to be a part of any of this anyway, so it seems my focus remains on her and her alone.

“My wolves will keep the fight on until morning and maybe longer. We have time till then to prepare your attack. We can’t do it tonight, or you will be killed.” I don’t say this to scare them or worry them. It’s the truth. They don’t know their magic well enough to create a barrier around their home. I can’t believe they would have the ability to defend themselves against a horde of vampires that are hungry and out for blood. “So tomorrow morning, the second that the sun comes over the horizon, I want you out there next to that tunnel and setting up your spell to bring the collapse of the tunnel upon the vampires.”

“What about the wolves?” Verona asks.

“Their sacrifice is appreciated and will be greatly compensated. There is no way of contact. They know they’re going to die,” I admit, mournful.

“And what about us? We get stuck out there and left to the vampires, you’d do exactly the same thing,” Atticus chimes in. A look of pure anger and hatred flashes in his eyes.

“No. It’s different. My wolves signed up to fight and die for this war. You are an asset I would rather not lose.” I don’t know if that’s true, and I don’t think they can tell either. So, nodding in acceptance, Atticus falls silent again. Telling someone what they want to hear is easier than being honest, even when the room knows it may be false.

“Now go and rest. I am going to send you along with a few wolves as protection in case the White Elephants think that they can throw their hat into this one. I don’t think there should be an issue with them, though. Just push through and do what needs to be done, and you’ll be back here for lunch. With the tunnel gone, we have a chance to take Torrine. It may be a small chance, but if we can still secure a victory, even with a dramatic loss, we will show the vampires that there is nothing that can pull us down.”

Showing weakness in this time will just be foolish and dangerous. Daffyd believes he has the upper hand. He does.

But not for long. We will strike and tear them down from the outside in until we have him begging for mercy.