Chapter 40
Vander rushed out from behind the tree81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRLtw9MzZ8
and immediately rolled to the ground as two arrows embedded themselves in the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue4Iw5pXdf
dirt right where he had been standing. Despite being assassins and spies, it81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr1jKUQUoO
seemed as though the Green Serpents were crack shots with the bow, but he81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUma6H8plcm
decided to see what would happen when they faced someone who was expecting81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1I8Ely4Nj
them. He scooped up a couple of rocks from off the ground and palmed them as he81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk76Kt4yVw6
charged his enemies.
More81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ629E96wD5d
arrows were thrown at him, but it seemed as though they were drawn quickly81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFm9NPMIpN
without much aim. Some whizzed over his head while others got stuck in the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjW3OH5csg
ground a few feet in front of him. One came dangerously close to him, but he81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDexSUGi9K6
smacked it away with his sword. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted some81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMtOR08v9F
movement. Taking quick aim, he threw a rock hitting a Serpent’s shooting hand.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR1RsVdKUw
With a cry of pain, he dropped the bow, but drew a knife instead.
“I’ll81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NL5zlP7fB
gut you.” He snarled and rushed him with the dagger poised low. Vander stepped81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpIwUQOIyH
back as the dagger was thrusted forward. He grabbed the serpent’s arm and81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNBKc7zmoQ
yanked the poor man off his feet before slamming his palm into the guy’s nose.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl2PgYxUKm
Blood spurted as his nose broke and embedded itself into the brain, killing him81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlfpxyOA2q
instantly. He quickly lifted the body up as two arrows hit him in the back. He81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo0ypJPOZa
rushed forward using the freshly made corpse as protection until he could see81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1DXWQ1pgO
who he was looking for: three Serpents standing in front of him.
Unlike81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW66Hs5P6da
the one he had just killed, these three looked like veterans. They had deep81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO6oAaVeV0
green face paint and wore outfits that helped them blend into their81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVU1zOjts7
surroundings. There was a hardened look in their eyes as they stared at him.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AJQfeUESa
Knowing their bows would be useless if close combat, they lowered them to the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9G9gl5JAU
ground then removed their quivers. Each one removed a large knife from the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcyuEEbBeb
sheathe strapped to their backs.
“You81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6Rcz9QxLL
might be a Blade, but you aren’t a match for all three of us.” One of them81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBO1PPdUp9o
growled. As if practiced, they spread out keeping Vander between them. From81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCZZ5hvZzb
here he could tell that the knives were poisoned, one wayward scratch would81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8CwahhtLK
send him to the afterlife, but he couldn’t stay here as he was. That was just81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aK0kQnPJT
asking to be killed.
Vander81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTiNVARi2M
threw the dead serpent at the one in front of him. As he fell scream in a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAXum6fYHD
tangle of bodies, Vander went to the left to handle the one there. He slashed81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rDg3MFlSk
with his sword, but the serpent was nimble. He rolled over the sword strike,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Yj3cqUe5X
landing on his feet. He stabbed with the daggers, but Vander grabbed the wrist,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9JXOfD1TQ
guiding it away from him. He kicked out the back of the leg sending the Serpent81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPgtrrYEd8
to the ground. As he fell, he brought his boot up catching Vander in the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFAgohWmRx
stomach and sending him flying onto his back. He rolled and brought his sword81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4SALxU47R
up in time to block the second serpent’s daggers. He pushed him stumbling81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmVHEDEbN3
sideways then scrambled to his feet. Before the serpent could adjust, Vander81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjY9Gf7MrU
slashed his back open with his sword.
Blood81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxy23QCEQ3
sprayed as the man stumbled and fell to the ground. There was no time to check81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz58KoD7dL
to make sure he was dead as another was on him. The man was a whirlwind with81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuASnsD1fRd
his daggers, spinning, slashing, and stabbing. The dagger cut his pants,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgzZL0Qenu
jacket, and shirt, but luckily it wasn’t deep enough to draw blood, but soon81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NTskSppnY
enough he could get past his guard. He wanted to keep one alive for81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlDy8fpzcb
interrogation, but that didn’t seem like it would be likely. So, he waited for81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbYDqWuvVN
a brief opening before cutting down with the sword. With a scream, one of the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ou9lxgX7X
serpents’ hands hit the ground in a bloody heap. Before he could scream more,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RmeaKnYQg
Vander cut his throat.
“Die!” The serpent who had been81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcRbtPehUf
tangled up jumped from behind him. Panic raced in Vander’s chest. He had81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYPxWUZ843
forgotten about him and now it was too late for him to protect himself as the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTaCzjNQFP
daggers raced towards his throat. Acting on instinct, he lunged underneath the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYirbBtaPI
daggers grabbing the serpent around the waist bringing them both to the ground.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSu1T5Y1Sq
Vander’s fingers turned to claws as he tore out the man’s throat.
He could feel the demon clawing81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8yikvC5Td
closer to the surface. It wanted out, a way to release its aggressions, but now81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9LQPiBBQT
was not the time. Vander bit down on the impulse shoving the beast back into81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5928oY8Mo
the recesses of his soul. Soon, but not now. He had to get Kiara and Eliza back81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknKkHxORNG
first then all hell could break loose.
Vander spent some time going81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NhezH8Aba
through the pockets of the dead serpents to see if they had left behind any81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex8TMBh7fA
tools for him to use. He found several poisoned knives and needles, but the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kycyMN6n1
rest were weapons that would be too much for him to carry so he discarded them.
Before leaving81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFV1yiz4it
the area, he dragged Briar and Forest’s bodies back towards the road. He never81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqAdX1UWEZ
should have brought them here. This was his penance and his alone. Now they81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WJIWWazSe
were dead. He would have to carry that burden, but he swore he would make the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGKvcCNZKF
Serpents, and Eve, pay for what they had done.
He remembered the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3Y4fkqknP
village from his travels across the country. He knew that it would be heavily81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLFzipg8mY
fortified, especially now that the challenge had been issues towards him to get81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWxwkcJVX7
the queen back. He would have to come prepared. So, he scooped up a bow along with81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvF35KHR6V
a quiver of arrows. They would know he was there, but only after some of them81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIJw668lDY
had died.
The sun was81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aFOPtbyRe
beginning to rise when he spotted the walls through the forest. The village was81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe2359GsPS
aptly named because it bordered the forest. This was a hunting village, taking81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nTSvUu7c7
out small game and deer to feed everyone. He wasn’t quite sure when the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq3VHXDC0y
Serpents moved in, but it must have been recently as they have had no reports81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVmeik8laA
of the village being under attack.
As he looked at81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAUZLcmDad
the front gate, he noticed several men wearing green cloaks and talking amongst81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0Otp33Q68
themselves. Without caring about who they were, Vander notched an arrow to his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANRclAmiLU
bow, took aim, then fired. The arrow took a guard in the throat and before the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLsKNUFY2r
others could react, several more arrows flew into parts of their body. One took81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jErIXxBVL
an arrow in the shoulder, while the third took one through the knee. Both went81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS8ntn7UfB
down screaming, but they weren’t killing shots. It was enough to bring more81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhMWK9ZPWD
Serpents out for him to kill.
They were pouring out of the village81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs50sFIBYm
now to get vengeance for their fallen comrades. He only had time to take down81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwKumohZHn
two more before the rest were on him. He tossed aside the bow and quiver and81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9foXJzc9Pn
drew his sword to strike against his attackers.
The first one went down with barely81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3n1tbus1TJ
any effort. He sidestepped out of the way and ran him through. He blocked a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2aFLsNO6s
strike from the next one then pushed him aside, but soon he was overpowered by81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxL9uWiwZQ
the sheer volume of people. As he raised his sword, one kicked his wrist81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCJINM8fvv
sending it spiraling out of his hand. He was punched in the jaw and knocked to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKeov4p1DE
the ground. He tried to fight back, but several pinned his arms and pointed a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsnaQMuRQp
sword right at his neck.
“Stop!” Vander heard Eve shout. She81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeHPTAmuHp
pushed her way through the group and if he held out any hope that she hadn’t81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MYHkaylCk
betrayed them the look in her eyes combined with what she was wearing sealed81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgw81y5U0r
her betrayal in stone.
She wore a sleeveless green shirt81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rMHy11j6V
showing off lean muscles and a massive snake tattoo going down her left arm.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99qc3n3CHz
Her hair was pulled back but covered with a green hood. She wore two daggers on81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbOnMzMsjt
her belt.
“So, you did betray us.” Vander spat.
“Betray you?” she laughed. “I was81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiQ9ThpYRi
never apart of you.” Now that he got a good look at her, he realized that she81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELw8lTgh5t
had been messing with him from the beginning. She was broader than she looked81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoJMLkt5yH
before, more heavily muscled. She wasn’t sixteen, she was likely someone older81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaIwDVqGGx
than he was. It also explained the gaps in the recruits’ skills. She had been81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm2L9h3ryW
playing them for fools since the very beginning.
“They trusted you,” Vander struggled.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoobAUnaoQ
“I trusted you.”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewNhHb4i8S
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“I’ll have to make a visit to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypsqJXSHJI
whoever your informant is.” She grinned. “He almost ruined everything, but81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRi98sEb33
luckily you were so easy to fool. Get him up.” Vander was hauled to his feet by81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTy9I8Y9ah
several strong hands. “We will take what we need from you then I will spend a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqrGhGRJcr
lot more time cutting you to pieces. I’ve always wanted to hear you scream.”
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Maybe, just maybe, Peyton will come81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrTm9NaKn1
here himself that way he could show everyone that he was innocent. He would81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zhphTw4zU
have to bide his time and wait, however. Hopefully his reinforcements would81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfanseh8gGI
arrive to save them, but he shouldn’t count on it. If Peyton knew they were81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9rybZtBOp
mobilizing the army he would make it quick. For now, he willed his body to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugZNl7F4eP
relax. However, he wasn’t going to let them get away with it. He and the demon81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yHH6vCFl1
were going to have a lot of fun before they were killed.
