Chapter 40
Vander rushed out from behind the tree67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8wMLFCF4b
and immediately rolled to the ground as two arrows embedded themselves in the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4MyWIWIgY
dirt right where he had been standing. Despite being assassins and spies, it67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVqTfVxC2U
seemed as though the Green Serpents were crack shots with the bow, but he67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgFlWz2C5U
decided to see what would happen when they faced someone who was expecting67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzApARbUUO
them. He scooped up a couple of rocks from off the ground and palmed them as he67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaK1yM7JXV
charged his enemies.
More67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB89GP50Syj
arrows were thrown at him, but it seemed as though they were drawn quickly67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0ju3sZtOp
without much aim. Some whizzed over his head while others got stuck in the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9se8fosLY2
ground a few feet in front of him. One came dangerously close to him, but he67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7JTBeMbTT
smacked it away with his sword. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted some67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwu6NqFNRZ
movement. Taking quick aim, he threw a rock hitting a Serpent’s shooting hand.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEEKYHpVOO
With a cry of pain, he dropped the bow, but drew a knife instead.
“I’ll67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TUQRS8J7w
gut you.” He snarled and rushed him with the dagger poised low. Vander stepped67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOSg5tECjx
back as the dagger was thrusted forward. He grabbed the serpent’s arm and67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFjDw0htpL
yanked the poor man off his feet before slamming his palm into the guy’s nose.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5u2e85hOY3
Blood spurted as his nose broke and embedded itself into the brain, killing him67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fss8HSLfa
instantly. He quickly lifted the body up as two arrows hit him in the back. He67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonOW0HzIjO
rushed forward using the freshly made corpse as protection until he could see67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LsSTJEH1p
who he was looking for: three Serpents standing in front of him.
Unlike67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0aVO5v0sT
the one he had just killed, these three looked like veterans. They had deep67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHA7SQZq5Ni
green face paint and wore outfits that helped them blend into their67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9W7fLPRmZD
surroundings. There was a hardened look in their eyes as they stared at him.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZadbcKfkN2
Knowing their bows would be useless if close combat, they lowered them to the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfwmVQoExk
ground then removed their quivers. Each one removed a large knife from the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CF8cbGpS3
sheathe strapped to their backs.
“You67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3X4vAeJOt
might be a Blade, but you aren’t a match for all three of us.” One of them67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4BnN44XEE
growled. As if practiced, they spread out keeping Vander between them. From67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayRWfwoOnU
here he could tell that the knives were poisoned, one wayward scratch would67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1fK8UKGfI
send him to the afterlife, but he couldn’t stay here as he was. That was just67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T4nSzPolQ
asking to be killed.
Vander67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NDmsR0vSe
threw the dead serpent at the one in front of him. As he fell scream in a67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAm5OLNsZ6P
tangle of bodies, Vander went to the left to handle the one there. He slashed67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmek0h0JEq
with his sword, but the serpent was nimble. He rolled over the sword strike,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOHeep5vW2
landing on his feet. He stabbed with the daggers, but Vander grabbed the wrist,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLx60DY3Es
guiding it away from him. He kicked out the back of the leg sending the Serpent67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KdpQkFzM5
to the ground. As he fell, he brought his boot up catching Vander in the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltBx9sacgd
stomach and sending him flying onto his back. He rolled and brought his sword67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUOnGwwocF
up in time to block the second serpent’s daggers. He pushed him stumbling67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70LP4jnLMz
sideways then scrambled to his feet. Before the serpent could adjust, Vander67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fwehtSJYe
slashed his back open with his sword.
Blood67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjauH5vaAca
sprayed as the man stumbled and fell to the ground. There was no time to check67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMERD9NZGoz
to make sure he was dead as another was on him. The man was a whirlwind with67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVww0QRCdEG
his daggers, spinning, slashing, and stabbing. The dagger cut his pants,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3iYWfZLDq
jacket, and shirt, but luckily it wasn’t deep enough to draw blood, but soon67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9auimXe5xv
enough he could get past his guard. He wanted to keep one alive for67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwxVoFNmO9
interrogation, but that didn’t seem like it would be likely. So, he waited for67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLiUofg7uf
a brief opening before cutting down with the sword. With a scream, one of the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uESye6SC9
serpents’ hands hit the ground in a bloody heap. Before he could scream more,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24hn2fDCOh
Vander cut his throat.
“Die!” The serpent who had been67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NAILypPAE
tangled up jumped from behind him. Panic raced in Vander’s chest. He had67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoJXdLJABT
forgotten about him and now it was too late for him to protect himself as the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMAPztMIzG
daggers raced towards his throat. Acting on instinct, he lunged underneath the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhtDAXSAUQ
daggers grabbing the serpent around the waist bringing them both to the ground.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkGL03Bpj5
Vander’s fingers turned to claws as he tore out the man’s throat.
He could feel the demon clawing67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FASkwzgoV
closer to the surface. It wanted out, a way to release its aggressions, but now67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKeM2oVLBP
was not the time. Vander bit down on the impulse shoving the beast back into67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG33kcX769N
the recesses of his soul. Soon, but not now. He had to get Kiara and Eliza back67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigxwZxexIB
first then all hell could break loose.
Vander spent some time going67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlT9CYsy88
through the pockets of the dead serpents to see if they had left behind any67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzcitWHVCE
tools for him to use. He found several poisoned knives and needles, but the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZ6ZtUJ0Y5
rest were weapons that would be too much for him to carry so he discarded them.
Before leaving67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kIh23ep1N
the area, he dragged Briar and Forest’s bodies back towards the road. He never67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8zkZVAhx2
should have brought them here. This was his penance and his alone. Now they67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWhsdGIDCS
were dead. He would have to carry that burden, but he swore he would make the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvysXZYAo5E
Serpents, and Eve, pay for what they had done.
He remembered the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk9SrWbkS2
village from his travels across the country. He knew that it would be heavily67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fjVArYy8B
fortified, especially now that the challenge had been issues towards him to get67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDR4WWd3Zn
the queen back. He would have to come prepared. So, he scooped up a bow along with67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNU2mA88AY4
a quiver of arrows. They would know he was there, but only after some of them67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF5nbKUq7w
had died.
The sun was67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFJ1p6xWbh
beginning to rise when he spotted the walls through the forest. The village was67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKM3g1FuvS
aptly named because it bordered the forest. This was a hunting village, taking67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOhpJkM3U8
out small game and deer to feed everyone. He wasn’t quite sure when the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld87oJPQYN
Serpents moved in, but it must have been recently as they have had no reports67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxi8b8XY5P
of the village being under attack.
As he looked at67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhV8cFaTdT
the front gate, he noticed several men wearing green cloaks and talking amongst67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDuNoiZs8O
themselves. Without caring about who they were, Vander notched an arrow to his67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7tNcqhWUN
bow, took aim, then fired. The arrow took a guard in the throat and before the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W5xElYUei
others could react, several more arrows flew into parts of their body. One took67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaB00csbpn
an arrow in the shoulder, while the third took one through the knee. Both went67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5uTDIp7Q7
down screaming, but they weren’t killing shots. It was enough to bring more67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gDcT4z3nB
Serpents out for him to kill.
They were pouring out of the village67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFChmN19na
now to get vengeance for their fallen comrades. He only had time to take down67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW7SjFT2HD
two more before the rest were on him. He tossed aside the bow and quiver and67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyzmJmgd7H
drew his sword to strike against his attackers.
The first one went down with barely67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVj3ajAsPT
any effort. He sidestepped out of the way and ran him through. He blocked a67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZTZGFRf97
strike from the next one then pushed him aside, but soon he was overpowered by67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWqYrRAqjE
the sheer volume of people. As he raised his sword, one kicked his wrist67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqvDUEiLxB
sending it spiraling out of his hand. He was punched in the jaw and knocked to67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcklTT0VFxA
the ground. He tried to fight back, but several pinned his arms and pointed a67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pm8ACbpy0
sword right at his neck.
“Stop!” Vander heard Eve shout. She67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsmqvYatvW
pushed her way through the group and if he held out any hope that she hadn’t67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSvtBP86yM
betrayed them the look in her eyes combined with what she was wearing sealed67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNw1W5aInEn
her betrayal in stone.
She wore a sleeveless green shirt67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnk7I565G9
showing off lean muscles and a massive snake tattoo going down her left arm.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGp8Ntxfkkq
Her hair was pulled back but covered with a green hood. She wore two daggers on67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX14nBE9fw
her belt.
“So, you did betray us.” Vander spat.
“Betray you?” she laughed. “I was67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG3ipePx6G
never apart of you.” Now that he got a good look at her, he realized that she67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5W4jbJemQ
had been messing with him from the beginning. She was broader than she looked67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLTt7eF2VY
before, more heavily muscled. She wasn’t sixteen, she was likely someone older67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CrLNUAAEI
than he was. It also explained the gaps in the recruits’ skills. She had been67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWxnJwvbkE
playing them for fools since the very beginning.
“They trusted you,” Vander struggled.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbdYUAPSOq
“I trusted you.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyL4qnpzuE
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“I’ll have to make a visit to67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkZNgOUxiz
whoever your informant is.” She grinned. “He almost ruined everything, but67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2jWJ0abMQ
luckily you were so easy to fool. Get him up.” Vander was hauled to his feet by67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfUUbqpnpt
several strong hands. “We will take what we need from you then I will spend a67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2P4hLgN2sO
lot more time cutting you to pieces. I’ve always wanted to hear you scream.”
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Maybe, just maybe, Peyton will come67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUtIAY6tZd
here himself that way he could show everyone that he was innocent. He would67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DZVTOfbdD
have to bide his time and wait, however. Hopefully his reinforcements would67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFFZTtV9QS
arrive to save them, but he shouldn’t count on it. If Peyton knew they were67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByXJAcY0S7
mobilizing the army he would make it quick. For now, he willed his body to67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi08luJo6E0
relax. However, he wasn’t going to let them get away with it. He and the demon67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN0HXVgCGT
were going to have a lot of fun before they were killed.
