Chapter 40
Vander rushed out from behind the tree17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHomvdmvXL4
and immediately rolled to the ground as two arrows embedded themselves in the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhAqBoEgWO
dirt right where he had been standing. Despite being assassins and spies, it17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFccbDyedZ
seemed as though the Green Serpents were crack shots with the bow, but he17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vcEW1fNWh
decided to see what would happen when they faced someone who was expecting17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9hmATbEMg
them. He scooped up a couple of rocks from off the ground and palmed them as he17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKejwvyoOB
charged his enemies.
More17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFILTBOeTr
arrows were thrown at him, but it seemed as though they were drawn quickly17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLjdRfAneY
without much aim. Some whizzed over his head while others got stuck in the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k491zAhob
ground a few feet in front of him. One came dangerously close to him, but he17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO6H8HT4YB
smacked it away with his sword. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted some17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpJ68HRTa3
movement. Taking quick aim, he threw a rock hitting a Serpent’s shooting hand.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNdVjXa4DK
With a cry of pain, he dropped the bow, but drew a knife instead.
“I’ll17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3XIYSYPoT
gut you.” He snarled and rushed him with the dagger poised low. Vander stepped17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPIDmHr3Z0
back as the dagger was thrusted forward. He grabbed the serpent’s arm and17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHcXuidVDs
yanked the poor man off his feet before slamming his palm into the guy’s nose.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHWiSAKZvi
Blood spurted as his nose broke and embedded itself into the brain, killing him17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡww20NBsgVi
instantly. He quickly lifted the body up as two arrows hit him in the back. He17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNDhM8gpRP
rushed forward using the freshly made corpse as protection until he could see17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctHPPvffd7
who he was looking for: three Serpents standing in front of him.
Unlike17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSyUlHhLeY
the one he had just killed, these three looked like veterans. They had deep17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJEqwyBCI9
green face paint and wore outfits that helped them blend into their17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRx1lATgqf
surroundings. There was a hardened look in their eyes as they stared at him.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdIBMVvX49
Knowing their bows would be useless if close combat, they lowered them to the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorLj7l9KjG
ground then removed their quivers. Each one removed a large knife from the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm78s5fw2X8
sheathe strapped to their backs.
“You17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZiAEYi9mB
might be a Blade, but you aren’t a match for all three of us.” One of them17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoj4mT1RqI
growled. As if practiced, they spread out keeping Vander between them. From17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWOvKIDo1q
here he could tell that the knives were poisoned, one wayward scratch would17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjsf94dvEB
send him to the afterlife, but he couldn’t stay here as he was. That was just17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFFjwVfanA
asking to be killed.
Vander17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQxz2WMgsD
threw the dead serpent at the one in front of him. As he fell scream in a17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAA0pi4vk8j
tangle of bodies, Vander went to the left to handle the one there. He slashed17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNAmkHBS9s
with his sword, but the serpent was nimble. He rolled over the sword strike,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rZzyG6JVl
landing on his feet. He stabbed with the daggers, but Vander grabbed the wrist,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv96LPLcGW
guiding it away from him. He kicked out the back of the leg sending the Serpent17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiTWlM6acj
to the ground. As he fell, he brought his boot up catching Vander in the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3fP0wZKoF
stomach and sending him flying onto his back. He rolled and brought his sword17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOU4RPbVyj
up in time to block the second serpent’s daggers. He pushed him stumbling17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wqMFS4z9i
sideways then scrambled to his feet. Before the serpent could adjust, Vander17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp21wnkNSKl
slashed his back open with his sword.
Blood17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9cw1aQ0KE
sprayed as the man stumbled and fell to the ground. There was no time to check17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdkAaJJPoZ
to make sure he was dead as another was on him. The man was a whirlwind with17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVIyjQqwN6
his daggers, spinning, slashing, and stabbing. The dagger cut his pants,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeyw3SHLPo
jacket, and shirt, but luckily it wasn’t deep enough to draw blood, but soon17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQMiDomitF
enough he could get past his guard. He wanted to keep one alive for17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUToId8jcOD
interrogation, but that didn’t seem like it would be likely. So, he waited for17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUOrdSPf90
a brief opening before cutting down with the sword. With a scream, one of the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfnW3PMJGg
serpents’ hands hit the ground in a bloody heap. Before he could scream more,17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHSp0jOoPJ
Vander cut his throat.
“Die!” The serpent who had been17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIrPbpyFVi
tangled up jumped from behind him. Panic raced in Vander’s chest. He had17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtGhQYU7JQ
forgotten about him and now it was too late for him to protect himself as the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRYw3VX2pA
daggers raced towards his throat. Acting on instinct, he lunged underneath the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegmLEHNbni
daggers grabbing the serpent around the waist bringing them both to the ground.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemj6nb3MMb
Vander’s fingers turned to claws as he tore out the man’s throat.
He could feel the demon clawing17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuxf2C5fdl
closer to the surface. It wanted out, a way to release its aggressions, but now17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryFdqidUn3
was not the time. Vander bit down on the impulse shoving the beast back into17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGdEFuFfGv
the recesses of his soul. Soon, but not now. He had to get Kiara and Eliza back17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Bb1SjLchG
first then all hell could break loose.
Vander spent some time going17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckgTsx56gm
through the pockets of the dead serpents to see if they had left behind any17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvkoty9oyx
tools for him to use. He found several poisoned knives and needles, but the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpagjvYraN
rest were weapons that would be too much for him to carry so he discarded them.
Before leaving17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHf4u2mUwG
the area, he dragged Briar and Forest’s bodies back towards the road. He never17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdUVExoeEx
should have brought them here. This was his penance and his alone. Now they17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QyqW7t1xM
were dead. He would have to carry that burden, but he swore he would make the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEDDiPaHb8
Serpents, and Eve, pay for what they had done.
He remembered the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAs9XpygXlt
village from his travels across the country. He knew that it would be heavily17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUsC4bcpJz
fortified, especially now that the challenge had been issues towards him to get17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU9c9lcCqh
the queen back. He would have to come prepared. So, he scooped up a bow along with17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbrUE9b3hf
a quiver of arrows. They would know he was there, but only after some of them17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT88A3781Z
had died.
The sun was17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS4NhPNLLO
beginning to rise when he spotted the walls through the forest. The village was17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvJmugdcMe
aptly named because it bordered the forest. This was a hunting village, taking17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPrS3Y2s8O
out small game and deer to feed everyone. He wasn’t quite sure when the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhV5oo4nza
Serpents moved in, but it must have been recently as they have had no reports17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7L3aH6G2N
of the village being under attack.
As he looked at17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwWa43XaSp
the front gate, he noticed several men wearing green cloaks and talking amongst17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYvaYSZpyH
themselves. Without caring about who they were, Vander notched an arrow to his17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJU0GgECc5
bow, took aim, then fired. The arrow took a guard in the throat and before the17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3YCbGdQs3
others could react, several more arrows flew into parts of their body. One took17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigeFOTMaDM
an arrow in the shoulder, while the third took one through the knee. Both went17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76mFfk8d2n
down screaming, but they weren’t killing shots. It was enough to bring more17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfL77xWPRy
Serpents out for him to kill.
They were pouring out of the village17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWK1RU2Y7k
now to get vengeance for their fallen comrades. He only had time to take down17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunF5gdqDiZ
two more before the rest were on him. He tossed aside the bow and quiver and17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyGXkPOGDx
drew his sword to strike against his attackers.
The first one went down with barely17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZL1VGUN1a
any effort. He sidestepped out of the way and ran him through. He blocked a17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgNKvNCkO0
strike from the next one then pushed him aside, but soon he was overpowered by17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOjFhCSWx0
the sheer volume of people. As he raised his sword, one kicked his wrist17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsKSWPmUch
sending it spiraling out of his hand. He was punched in the jaw and knocked to17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV6UccJl8Z
the ground. He tried to fight back, but several pinned his arms and pointed a17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSAE6m5a72
sword right at his neck.
“Stop!” Vander heard Eve shout. She17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzSM8wGKeE
pushed her way through the group and if he held out any hope that she hadn’t17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGpptRcmJ8
betrayed them the look in her eyes combined with what she was wearing sealed17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3ti0VHbqx
her betrayal in stone.
She wore a sleeveless green shirt17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzwcYdTzFi
showing off lean muscles and a massive snake tattoo going down her left arm.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqXbLflisJ
Her hair was pulled back but covered with a green hood. She wore two daggers on17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6WoajMsr2
her belt.
“So, you did betray us.” Vander spat.
“Betray you?” she laughed. “I was17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHACGBNtYgR
never apart of you.” Now that he got a good look at her, he realized that she17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgYpKKFNxE
had been messing with him from the beginning. She was broader than she looked17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6LHQICMwM
before, more heavily muscled. She wasn’t sixteen, she was likely someone older17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJacUH60P5
than he was. It also explained the gaps in the recruits’ skills. She had been17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lTjcc78w0
playing them for fools since the very beginning.
“They trusted you,” Vander struggled.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uJxkHuQxv
“I trusted you.”17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNPG5h2mXW
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“I’ll have to make a visit to17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4BJFGF33M
whoever your informant is.” She grinned. “He almost ruined everything, but17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rFlErTHnu
luckily you were so easy to fool. Get him up.” Vander was hauled to his feet by17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0MLBiVNkD
several strong hands. “We will take what we need from you then I will spend a17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45SEH4IOAV
lot more time cutting you to pieces. I’ve always wanted to hear you scream.”
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Maybe, just maybe, Peyton will come17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5vrzuACrh
here himself that way he could show everyone that he was innocent. He would17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVWaJTExrj
have to bide his time and wait, however. Hopefully his reinforcements would17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd6Ay1K2fe
arrive to save them, but he shouldn’t count on it. If Peyton knew they were17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP5Y7bxHpe
mobilizing the army he would make it quick. For now, he willed his body to17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACviVJPj0f
relax. However, he wasn’t going to let them get away with it. He and the demon17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3KDPKb1C6
were going to have a lot of fun before they were killed.
