Valerian Empire

Chapter 117: Checkmate- Part 4

In the town of Mythweald, there was a huge uproar on the town side that faced the forest. Men pulled carts holding barrels of liquor, pouring the liquid into the heap of fire along with the accumulated garbage in their town.

“That’s right people, it’s time to clean your land!” Elliot said encouragingly to the townsfolk, “The cleaner the town, the healthier life you provide to your children.”

After acting as an architect and helping the townsfolk, Elliot had become a fond person to everyone. He had later gone on to pick a young boys illness as to why children often got sick, persuading them to clean their town before it was too late which was why they had a heap of garbage being burnt along with few expired liquor now which was actually fine to taste.

“Is this okay to be thrown?” A middle aged woman asked holding a sack of vegetable skin

“Of course! Throw it! Everyone in line, you will get your turn,” he said while sitting with a mug of wine in it, “Come on, show me your spirit!”

“Yeah! Yeah!” The townsfolk screamed in enthusiasm.

Taking a sip from the mug, he hummed in appreciation looking at it, “This is good stuff. I should have these packed too,” he murmured.

Back in the forest, Ester realized that they were deceived. Not waiting for the others she made a quick dash to the forest but Alexander was faster than her. The battle was resumed again, the witches getting overpowered by the vampires and humans as all of them were killed one by one without mercy.

Alexander pulled the trigger of the gun, hitting Ester’s leg with the bullet to injure her. When he went to stand in front of her, the witch tried getting away leading to another gun shot. She screamed in pain.

“If you already knew...you could have killed us earlier,” Ester said taking a deep breath.

“What can I say, I enjoy torturing my prey before going for the kill,” Alexander said looking at her.

“Not so soon,” she laughed before disappearing into thin air. Katie’s eyes widened seeing the witch disappear right in front of their eyes. It seemed like Alexander had caught sight of her and he trailed the woman in the opposite direction deep into the forest.

Even though Lord Alexander’s mother had passed her blood down to him he didn’t have the powers like a black witch. Using vampire instincts, he caught on to her and seeing her about to mount her broomstick, he pulled her down which resulted in her thrashing down on the ground.

He dodged her cursed spell when she threw it right at him, one curse following another. One of the curses hit him, sending him towards a rock, his head hitting right across the stone. Getting up he sped towards her with an inhuman speed, he ran the broken branch right across her chest but that didn’t kill her. She clutched her stomach while trying to move where her broomstick laid on the ground. The next second she blinked the broom wasn’t there but was in his hand.

“Well, look at that. Seems like this responds to anyone if he or she is a witch. What a traitor,” Alexander broke the broom into two halves and threw it to the ground.

“You are just like us! There is still time, join us!” She said standing up on her feet, with an undertone of desperation in it, “You will die just like your mother because you carry her blood. The humans aren’t forgiving.”

“I have learned that well but you’re forgetting something darling,” he chuckled, “You set my mother’s death. Do you really think people remember about it, something that took place many decades ago. Right now I am only a pure-blooded vampire, a lord and you a witch.”

“You cannot frame me. I am Ester Norman. Lord Norman’s wife,” she said dragging herself away from him, “By the time the council comes here, you will be the one in trouble for escaping our dungeons. What makes you think they are going to believe your words on I, Ester Norman, being a witch when I haven’t left any trace.”

“Hmm. Do you remember that when Malphus fled from Mythweald, he took something from you. A set of parchments that held some very very important names. Rings any bell?” he asked her, Ester frowned trying to remember and her face then struck into horror.

It was the parchment he had found the night he had first met Katie that contained all the witches names in the entire empire.

“No, it can’t be. It was lost that night!” she said seeing him walk towards her.

“Looks like the older player is out of pawns...and moves,” and he pulled the trigger this time right in front of her forehead, blowing her head into a mess on the ground.

The witches that stayed back were killed, burning them with fire while few of them were still being hunted. After finishing their work in the forest, everyone got back to the town. Alexander sat next to Katie, whose leg had been bandaged. Though Alexander had been stabbed, the wound had healed by itself in less than half an hour. Lord Nicholas looked unharmed while Sylvia and the others suffered few minor injuries.

Alexander and Katie hadn’t spoken a word, except for their hands linked together.

Katie saw Malphus tending his brothers wounds as Silas had lost too much of blood. By the time Malphus had reached the mansion, Silas was found sitting next to his father’s dead body, covered in his and his father’s blood. It was no doubt that Silas had killed him.

“What will happen to Mythweald?” She asked now that both the Lord and the Lady had been killed.

“One of them will be taking the title of Lordship,” he answered looking at the siblings.

“But the council?”

“It’s been arranged, my precious girl. The head council was involved in this one too. I am sure they’ll over look what happened today, taking only the good things into account.”

“Hmm...everything is finally over,” Katie spoke softly, her eyes tired.

“Indeed, it is. Are you sure you don’t want to sleep?” He asked concerned, “You look exhausted. A little sleep would do you good,” he ran his thumb over the back of her hand to see her nod her head.

“Alex,” she called out his name anxiously, “Can we go back home now?” And she saw him smile.

“Of course. Let’s take you back home.”