Cursed Blood

After our little meeting, the ghost woman informed me that she'd be gone for a while before I could see her again. I didn't ask why -- I didn't want to know the burdens of being dead quite just yet. So, once my questions were answered, I jumped off the roof and slipped back into reality, prepared to march into the castle and cook up a peace treaty.

The plan was so simple.

With so much room for error.

Which is funny, because it wasn't even in motion when things started to go wrong.

It all started with a scream. Lightblood guards ordered people to get inside whatever building they could before they ran in the direction of the noise. I followed, the group of guards arriving at the fountain just before I did. It was the same one where I beat that one criminal boss, the water's familiar splashing a low background noise. Hovering above the water fountain were three Lightblood girls, all held up by their necks. Darkbloods were gathered around, maybe eight of them in total, three of them holding the girls up above the water. They were virtually unharmed while the Lightbloods were bleeding heavily, turning the fountain water red.

"Your kind does not belong here!" A guard shouted, brandishing a two handed sword. "Leave those girls alone!"

"Honey, all is fair in the time of war," the Darkblood mused. "You're about to get what's coming for you."

With that, the three Darkbloods clenched their hands. There was a sickening snap before the three bodies were dropped into the fountain, red water splashing the Darkbloods and the road. The guards charged, only to be blasted back by what seemed like a telekinetic ability. Then came a smoke bomb, and the Darkbloods were gone.

This is bad.

"Get those girls out," I shouted, ordering the guards. My wings were flared, my horns, tail and other physical traits already out. I was in full Darkblood form. "Then, get everyone to safety. Someone tell the Queen what happened!"

"Who are you to order us around?!"

I glared at the guard who tried to fight my orders.

"My name is Cloud. I am the Queen's personal warrior, and a hybird. You should know damn well that I hold the power here.

"Now get on it!"

They sprung into motion, and I jumped into the air. My wings propelled me forward, my mind focused on a sole thing. Rebecca's home camp -- they would've known about a planned attack, and if they did...

How come I wasn't warned?

However, I noticed right away that the guards, who were on foot, would make it to the castle in hours. I, on the other hand, could make it there in minutes.

Screw it, I sighed, shooting like an arrow toward the castle. My wings flapped with enough power to last the entire Valley, my body slicing through the air like it was nothing. My tail was coiled around my leg, the claws on my hands scraping against each other. Something was wrong, and I knew it. The Darkbloods were too cocky, too bold, for it to be a normal attack.

Did I run out of time?

Bursting through the doors to the castle, I found the Prince and his warriors in the foyer.

"Cloud? What's wrong?" Andrew inquired, seeing the frazzled look in my face.

"There might be a war brewing," I panted, "three Lightbloods were just killed. Someone needs to tell the Queen, I'm going to Rebecca's camp to find out what's happening."

"You shouldn't go," the Prince snapped, "it could be dangerous for you."

"They can barely give me a scratch," I countered. He scowled, pointing to the three soldiers around him.

"Take them with you."

"Fine. Go speak with your mother, and call Kyra."

We shared frustrated glares before the Prince turned away, his warriors looking slightly awkward. They followed me outside, Travis handing me a spare dagger he had with him. My wings twitched in anticipation as the dragon appeared in front of us, snorting sparks. The warriors got onto her back, settling in as she glared at me.

Freak.

Brat, I thought back. We had a decent relationship -- we didn't bother each other and helped each other when ordered to. This was one of those times when we had to help each other, and Kyra seemed pleasant enough.

The five of us leapt into the sky, my body shooting in front of Kyra. As a much smaller but equally strong creature, I was able to go much faster than the dragon. I gained ground, zipping into the trees. Instead of zigzagging back and forth for entertainment, I took the quickest route possible. The forest spat me out just in front of their camp, and my eyes widened.

Each child below the age of fifteen had been put into their homes for their safety, while everyone else except the elderly was suited for battle. I spotted Zen, the tattoo artist, with two clones beside him. He wore thick leather armor, his clones holding several weapons. Even Rebecca was amongst the gathered people, bathed in chainmail and holding daggers.

"What is going on here?!" I snarled, dropping down in the center of them. Sven, their leader, smiled at me.

"Good of you to join us, Cloud. You'll be just in the right place for us to make sure you don't get caught in the crossfire."

My tail flicked side to side, my shoulders shaking with fury. "What did you say?"

He opened his mouth to speak when there was a flapping of wings. Kyra, with the three unknowing warriors, had begun descending into the camp.

Stop! I telepathically shouted. Get them out of here.

"You brought us sacrifices? How sweet," Sven mused, motioning to a Darkblood with a bow in her hands. "Shoot them down."

I was blinded by rage at that point. It was obvious this camp was prepared for a fight, which meant the others I'd never visited were probably ready as well.

They didn't support me enough to let me know they were planning a war against the people I grew up with.

I saw red, lunging for the nearest archer. Before she could shoot Kyra, who was doing her best to turn and run, I knocked her to the ground, my claws digging into her shoulders. Someone grabbed me from behind, only to be batted away by my tail. Blood poured from the girl's dainty joints as I raked my iron-like claws down her front. She screamed, another Darkblood using their abilities to put an invisible wall between us.

I tried to break through it only to hear a thud.

Darkbloods all around me grinned. I shot up into the air, hovering. While I'd been blind with rage, other archers had gathered and had been shooting the dragon. Kyra lay on the ground, her eyes shut, her chest heaving as she whimpered in pain.

No, I thought, heading for her as a rope tied itself around my ankle. I slashed it away easily, but more took its place. They were slowly reeling me in, and I was unable to do anything but watch as the Prince's three favourite warriors stumbled to their feet. Mysterious, playful Shade. Smart, strong-willed Travis. Goofy Andrew. The three of them stood in a triangle, weapons drawn. They looked dirty but relatively fine, however they were greatly outnumbered.

"You knew this was going to happen, Cloud," Sven insisted. "That assassin told you that it was your job to let us fight it out. You should've gone on vacation, you know."

My blood boiled. So he sent the assassin? Or maybe he just heard about it.

"If you kill them," I growled, my fangs creating the hint of a lisp, "I will sever your head from your shoulders in an instant."

Sven looked back at me, his minions strolling casually toward the cornered Lightbloods. A lasso caught my wrist, pulling me closer to the ground. One wrapped around my neck, yanking me until my side rammed into the dirt.

The Darkblood camp leader sighed. "I don't think you could, Cloud. You're not thinking straight."

I glared at him.

I am stronger than everyone here. I have enough power to wipe them all out.

But, a seed of doubt whispered, what if your power backfires the way hers did?

I shook it off. Before the Darkbloods could get to me, I sliced through my ropes. Waves of them charged, each one too weak to really do anything. That wasn't the point of their attacks though. They were swarming me, preventing me from escaping or getting to my friends, but there was enough of them that I couldn't stop to kill each one -- meaning they just kept coming. I used every possible means of freeing myself; clawing people, biting them, hitting them with my tail, headbutting them, hell I even used my wings to smack a few.

But no matter what I did, Sven and two others were slowly getting closer to my friends.

"Sven!"

Everyone froze, seeing a golden haired werewolf in chainmail standing between the two groups. One was the Darkbloods surrounding me, while the other was them closing in on the three Lightbloods. Kyra, who was still alive, laid off to the side.

"Stop this! Cloud is our friend!"

My heart swelled with gratitude.

She's here to help me.

Sven strolled up to her, smiling.

"You're right. The Cursedblood is our friend, but..."

His smile fell.

"Those who oppose me are not."

I screamed for her to move when his hand lifted, blades taking the form of a clawed glove resting on his hand. She didn't flince as he swung the strange weapon down in a wide arc.

Effectively severing her head from her shoulders.