Chapter 40
Vander rushed out from behind the tree16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluvCWzm9P9
and immediately rolled to the ground as two arrows embedded themselves in the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZxAByQkho
dirt right where he had been standing. Despite being assassins and spies, it16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcwrlYEgs4
seemed as though the Green Serpents were crack shots with the bow, but he16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi4YNHvHJA
decided to see what would happen when they faced someone who was expecting16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHsNPCNMjW
them. He scooped up a couple of rocks from off the ground and palmed them as he16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4iGP3fOHl
charged his enemies.
More16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7j8uALozK
arrows were thrown at him, but it seemed as though they were drawn quickly16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvMcvHU9dl
without much aim. Some whizzed over his head while others got stuck in the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa9FGsVgVj
ground a few feet in front of him. One came dangerously close to him, but he16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFRRb4chrV
smacked it away with his sword. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted some16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7tbRTIqwn
movement. Taking quick aim, he threw a rock hitting a Serpent’s shooting hand.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvIrYFL4RF
With a cry of pain, he dropped the bow, but drew a knife instead.
“I’ll16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYLgArZrak
gut you.” He snarled and rushed him with the dagger poised low. Vander stepped16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbA8FEy7Im
back as the dagger was thrusted forward. He grabbed the serpent’s arm and16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMQ6pWrj3z
yanked the poor man off his feet before slamming his palm into the guy’s nose.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ChXPs2K6Y
Blood spurted as his nose broke and embedded itself into the brain, killing him16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsmPXMMeue
instantly. He quickly lifted the body up as two arrows hit him in the back. He16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHjfOFVGWU
rushed forward using the freshly made corpse as protection until he could see16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4ypDITLFN
who he was looking for: three Serpents standing in front of him.
Unlike16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oOXvg2VeQ
the one he had just killed, these three looked like veterans. They had deep16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP83xdTVShp
green face paint and wore outfits that helped them blend into their16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BdAOumuxq
surroundings. There was a hardened look in their eyes as they stared at him.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcli4JuEIg
Knowing their bows would be useless if close combat, they lowered them to the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABmwPFBTID
ground then removed their quivers. Each one removed a large knife from the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAG9ZdziSb
sheathe strapped to their backs.
“You16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWw0RyCuWNR
might be a Blade, but you aren’t a match for all three of us.” One of them16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacnqEfJKf9
growled. As if practiced, they spread out keeping Vander between them. From16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mcaflfRYr
here he could tell that the knives were poisoned, one wayward scratch would16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpAIJ1IY8c
send him to the afterlife, but he couldn’t stay here as he was. That was just16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXNKoRZMEi
asking to be killed.
Vander16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiYuhzXoBD
threw the dead serpent at the one in front of him. As he fell scream in a16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGRGj4RbIG
tangle of bodies, Vander went to the left to handle the one there. He slashed16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ3ngXrWxa
with his sword, but the serpent was nimble. He rolled over the sword strike,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJdZWbyTB3
landing on his feet. He stabbed with the daggers, but Vander grabbed the wrist,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArlW7aEfBl
guiding it away from him. He kicked out the back of the leg sending the Serpent16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnIQ1BMmXY
to the ground. As he fell, he brought his boot up catching Vander in the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMko2AMnSIM
stomach and sending him flying onto his back. He rolled and brought his sword16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvVtNdD1Fy
up in time to block the second serpent’s daggers. He pushed him stumbling16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k26NUv6zg
sideways then scrambled to his feet. Before the serpent could adjust, Vander16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5y3czkN3I
slashed his back open with his sword.
Blood16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq3mV97gZg
sprayed as the man stumbled and fell to the ground. There was no time to check16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjKwiVJIDo
to make sure he was dead as another was on him. The man was a whirlwind with16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYmwSO4Lrx
his daggers, spinning, slashing, and stabbing. The dagger cut his pants,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAcz6GDVCG
jacket, and shirt, but luckily it wasn’t deep enough to draw blood, but soon16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50m0RnMFWJ
enough he could get past his guard. He wanted to keep one alive for16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWvaQ3KeOw
interrogation, but that didn’t seem like it would be likely. So, he waited for16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvVJWvbyo6
a brief opening before cutting down with the sword. With a scream, one of the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfOITcztAV
serpents’ hands hit the ground in a bloody heap. Before he could scream more,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHIMAD4YCc
Vander cut his throat.
“Die!” The serpent who had been16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE24WUebsqB
tangled up jumped from behind him. Panic raced in Vander’s chest. He had16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeokyyXm7p
forgotten about him and now it was too late for him to protect himself as the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Zyr7Ags3M
daggers raced towards his throat. Acting on instinct, he lunged underneath the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17mpQgIldp
daggers grabbing the serpent around the waist bringing them both to the ground.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFez4m2v4t7
Vander’s fingers turned to claws as he tore out the man’s throat.
He could feel the demon clawing16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuDsKTpnTa
closer to the surface. It wanted out, a way to release its aggressions, but now16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSij2bK9N60
was not the time. Vander bit down on the impulse shoving the beast back into16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjF0L4GSaSf
the recesses of his soul. Soon, but not now. He had to get Kiara and Eliza back16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEWLQaFPxJ
first then all hell could break loose.
Vander spent some time going16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4ftHsQJN9
through the pockets of the dead serpents to see if they had left behind any16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13iZzuhWKv
tools for him to use. He found several poisoned knives and needles, but the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZaV1akDkh
rest were weapons that would be too much for him to carry so he discarded them.
Before leaving16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCwx27OBed
the area, he dragged Briar and Forest’s bodies back towards the road. He never16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYUKEjMeXT
should have brought them here. This was his penance and his alone. Now they16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00n2098zoJ
were dead. He would have to carry that burden, but he swore he would make the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4Iked0da4
Serpents, and Eve, pay for what they had done.
He remembered the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiXS31ixDi
village from his travels across the country. He knew that it would be heavily16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNSjakXiPD
fortified, especially now that the challenge had been issues towards him to get16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9BdfaWri0
the queen back. He would have to come prepared. So, he scooped up a bow along with16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCj0ffZnHa
a quiver of arrows. They would know he was there, but only after some of them16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnwvcZQsba
had died.
The sun was16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx1DsmEsI8
beginning to rise when he spotted the walls through the forest. The village was16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6PFOp7scC
aptly named because it bordered the forest. This was a hunting village, taking16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0YA2fEQxb
out small game and deer to feed everyone. He wasn’t quite sure when the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UppeBfKZL
Serpents moved in, but it must have been recently as they have had no reports16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDbvpD1kZ6
of the village being under attack.
As he looked at16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIpLOCtQSv
the front gate, he noticed several men wearing green cloaks and talking amongst16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLhn6VarNA
themselves. Without caring about who they were, Vander notched an arrow to his16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IROFQGaij
bow, took aim, then fired. The arrow took a guard in the throat and before the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywq1ui4QiS
others could react, several more arrows flew into parts of their body. One took16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXX2Ut3yIq
an arrow in the shoulder, while the third took one through the knee. Both went16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXgOqedzR4
down screaming, but they weren’t killing shots. It was enough to bring more16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJQPDKr2XZ
Serpents out for him to kill.
They were pouring out of the village16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lpe4GjNSI
now to get vengeance for their fallen comrades. He only had time to take down16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQd4YXOrTl
two more before the rest were on him. He tossed aside the bow and quiver and16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU9uAKGUp1
drew his sword to strike against his attackers.
The first one went down with barely16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4svOWi8wM
any effort. He sidestepped out of the way and ran him through. He blocked a16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6c5P7ASOdx
strike from the next one then pushed him aside, but soon he was overpowered by16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6D4KbobgO
the sheer volume of people. As he raised his sword, one kicked his wrist16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwH8ACc5ynp
sending it spiraling out of his hand. He was punched in the jaw and knocked to16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zd3ahwboy
the ground. He tried to fight back, but several pinned his arms and pointed a16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyou3SphiLO
sword right at his neck.
“Stop!” Vander heard Eve shout. She16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhpHGuyjsw
pushed her way through the group and if he held out any hope that she hadn’t16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwUeNaeDE0
betrayed them the look in her eyes combined with what she was wearing sealed16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxpabg0zot
her betrayal in stone.
She wore a sleeveless green shirt16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrFS9LLqDE
showing off lean muscles and a massive snake tattoo going down her left arm.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyTkVkHJ83
Her hair was pulled back but covered with a green hood. She wore two daggers on16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7hhejyULT
her belt.
“So, you did betray us.” Vander spat.
“Betray you?” she laughed. “I was16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVxttmBgNk
never apart of you.” Now that he got a good look at her, he realized that she16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5dC5AeW2H
had been messing with him from the beginning. She was broader than she looked16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIbJ3kkmlB
before, more heavily muscled. She wasn’t sixteen, she was likely someone older16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFJpnMGiKB
than he was. It also explained the gaps in the recruits’ skills. She had been16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKU89itT42
playing them for fools since the very beginning.
“They trusted you,” Vander struggled.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2BgjMpZvw
“I trusted you.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D7QBYcEzx
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“I’ll have to make a visit to16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvQ6EHVH27
whoever your informant is.” She grinned. “He almost ruined everything, but16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQywBSNLipS
luckily you were so easy to fool. Get him up.” Vander was hauled to his feet by16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYYrpQk7RB
several strong hands. “We will take what we need from you then I will spend a16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEubub9L5UW
lot more time cutting you to pieces. I’ve always wanted to hear you scream.”
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Maybe, just maybe, Peyton will come16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp78OalNiha
here himself that way he could show everyone that he was innocent. He would16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEowL372wpF
have to bide his time and wait, however. Hopefully his reinforcements would16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHWUEBp342
arrive to save them, but he shouldn’t count on it. If Peyton knew they were16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCd7T9TGrf
mobilizing the army he would make it quick. For now, he willed his body to16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL2BYMhQNO
relax. However, he wasn’t going to let them get away with it. He and the demon16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9L4OEeejU
were going to have a lot of fun before they were killed.
