I threw my knife into the neck of the second vampyre before Astrid, and she swiftly decapitated him with a few ties of her invisible string. We both turned to see how the boys were faring. One vampyre was left, on his back and scampering backwards as Kieran and Benedict advanced. I dove down and retrieved my dagger from the dead vampyre, a moment before the body turned to ash.
“Interrogate him!” Astrid called out, and the remaining vampyre hissed in return, his eyes flaring in panic. Benedict smirked, and with barely any movement stabbed his sword through the creature’s shoulder, pinning him to the ground. The vampyre screamed.
“Don’t bother. He knows nothing.”
We all spun to face the newcomer, a young woman with the same blonde, dreadlocked hair as her sister, but interspersed with strands of black. Whereas Merrow’s eyes were blue like the calm sea, Meruse’s were dark like a raging tempest. Unlike Astrid and Merrow’s white linen shifts, Meruse was dressed like a warrior. Black leathers hugged a lanky, muscled frame from shoulders to ankles. A sword was strapped to her back, and daggers and throwing stars covered her arms and legs. She was a walking armory in addition to whatever magicks she could yield. Even covered with blood and dirt, she was someone I certainly didn’t want to cross.
“He is the last of a few packs I’ve been tracking. The vampyres are trying to flee the coasts. I ensure they don’t succeed.”
Astrid bowed, making a deliberate gesture with her arms. Meruse paused, then gave a slight bow in return.
“Well met, Meruse of the sea clan. We seek an audience to gain knowledge in these troubling times.”
Astrid’s voice was calm. Meruse snorted, and Benedict raised an eyebrow.
“Troubling times? With my witches disappearing left and right, the blood witches disappearing entirely, and you casually standing there with drakens? Holy fuck, is that a female draken?”
She took a few steps towards me, as if I could disappear at any moment. Kieran and Benedict closed ranks in front of me, fangs bared.
Astrid threw us back from each other with a blast of wind. I furiously wiped sand from my eyes.
“What do you mean, the blood witches have disappeared?” Astrid demanded.
Meruse’s head snapped up. “Come, we have much to discuss.”
Ten
Meruse led us to an abandoned shack, away from the beach and shielded from the mountains by large sand dunes.
“The hordes have taken to destroying the dunes; it is no longer safe to dwell there this far north. I will have Merrow move our people further south, or perhaps to the woods.”
Her eyes flicked to Astrid, who shook her head.
“The air coven has moved to Lyoness, with the earth soon to join us if necessary.” She ended the statement there, shooting a pointed look to Benedict. Meruse eyed all of us warily.
“The drakens have reclaimed the island? This is fortunate news.” Meruse paused and took a deep breath.
“Merrow probably told you our sea witches are disappearing. I left the dunes to find out why and where my witches have gone. I had hoped to speak with the blood witches, but their towns and villages are abandoned.”
Astrid blanched, her face paling.
“Abandoned?”
“The worst part is that the villages are not sacked, burned, or destroyed in any way. An attack would make sense, but essentials are gone, and their houses are bare. The blood witches went willingly, wherever they went. If we have not seen them along the coast, and the earth and air witches have not seen them in the forests, that leaves limited options.”
“The Overlord?” Benedict questioned, speaking directly to Meruse for the first time. She hesitated, then nodded quickly.
“I fear so.”
Astrid shook her head.
“No, that can’t be right. What would they want with the blood witches?”
“What wouldn’t they want?” Astrid pressed; her voice alarmed.
“Their knowledge of blood magicks, their power…”
Astrid stopped, breathing heavily.
“Those creatures who attacked Lyoness. We had never seen demons like them. What if, what if…”
She trailed off, unable to speak the sordid thoughts that raced through her brain. Meruse furrowed her brow.
“You think they may be building...weapons?”
“Of a sort,” Astrid replied, her eyes still distant. She shook her head. “What news of the fire witches?”
Meruse snorted.
“Attacked and scattered. The Overlord asked for...volunteers to come into the mountain. When none offered, he ransacked their villages. A few got away, a few were taken alive.”
“Volunteers for what?” I asked, even as Astrid’s face went solemn at the news. Meruse looked away, then up again.
“I don’t know, exactly.”
“You clearly have a guess.” Benedict had been studying the sea witch, taking in her muscled form and determined stance. A strange, angry feeling swirled in my stomach, and I pushed it away. Now was not the time for any ‘female dramatics’, as Benedict had so aptly named them.
Meruse hesitated, as if debating whether to share her thoughts.
“I believe they want witches as breeders.”
Kieran and Astrid gasped, while Benedict’s face clouded over. A seed of indignance welled within my chest at their distaste.
“Are you forgetting how I came to be in your mountain?” Kieran had the sense to look ashamed, but Benedict stayed as stoic as a statue. Meruse looked between Benedict and I, then cleared her throat.
“I mean, they are trying to create weapons. Creatures born of blood or fire witches who can wield demons magicks yet survive in our lands. The vampyres are deserting and dying out; the Overlord does not care for their well-being. The demons themselves cannot survive for long on our lands, and with their allies stretching thin it makes sense they would seek to create new ones.”
I turned to Kieran, confused.
“I didn’t realize demons couldn’t exist here long.” He looked back, just
