24 Chapter 24:

"I didn't know you were planning to come," I comment as Arley walked beside me. His orange hair had shined in the sun with every movement he made before he peered over at me and shrugged his bag further up his arm.

"Everyone is leaving for war and I am third in command of Proximo's army. We aren't doing much other than city patrols so I requested to leave with you all." Arley shrugs with a small smile on his lips.

"Makes sense. I need more people to come since we are entering in a war with the rogue vampires. They're a bit crazy and it's not great to be bitten. So you can help make sure that doesn't happen to any of us." I nod, watching Proximo speak with Pairs, the Princess who was persistent on coming with us.

"Are you saying that out of experience or people telling you about the vampire's bite?" Arley questions when I tensed up slightly.

"I-"

"Hey. I need to speak with Hrudra." Proximo was on my side in an instant, grasping my hand as Arley nodded and walked away to speak with the twins. "Are you alright? I felt you-"

"I'm okay. I was just reminded of what happened with the vemon long ago." I assure him, suppressing the flashbacks. He sighed, grasping my hand and staying by my side.

"Do I need to kick his ass?" Proximo asks when nodding to Arley who was joking with the twins making me chuckle and shake my head.

"He doesn't know any better. I wouldn't hold it against the kid." I patted his chest with my other hand and soaked up the warm rays of the sun. "What do you think we should expect at the war?" I ask him, curious to see what his thoughts are on the war.

He thought for a moment before looking up at me with a conflicted look. "I honestly feel like something bad will happen. It's a feeling I have had for a while but I am unsure about whether it will happen during the battle or if it will happen later in life. Something will happen and I can't stop whatever it is." He admits when I nodded and thought back to my similar feeling back at our home.

"I felt the same thing after Fiero gave us that basket of things. But for years... I've felt like wars will either my downfall or what makes me who I am. I've only realized this when I got the job from a local Lykae Alpha. I'm not sure whether it's going to be because of Freya, Odin, or even Hades my enemy. Whoever it is, they are seeking to inflict pain and I've subconsciously known it for years." I confess and glanced up to see him deep in thought making me smile awkwardly. "Or maybe it's me being paranoid. I'm not too sure." I joked.

"No. I feel it too..." He rubbed his jaw before looking down at me with a strained smile. "We've just gotta stay together while we're at the war. Then nothing should happen." He says in a hopeful tone as I smile and nodded.

"Of course. We'll be together no matter what." I sigh, leaning on his arm and continuing to walk.

We remained quiet, listening to the chattering of our allies as I silently thanked my Valkyries for following me despite the time I've left them for. I know that my Kho will have much to do back at the demon world, but she has offered to make her demon to trace to us if we need her protection.

Though I told Dylan not to because she has a family and can not risk herself so eagerly now. I ordered him to do whatever he needed to in order to keep her in the kingdom. With a pissed off Mira, she was no doubt going to seek revenge and now with her exceptional powers, Mira had no chance going against both the demon king and queen.

Though it was pleasing to watch Mira be thrown off the cliff, I knew that she was done playing with us.

And my gut feeling was telling me that Mira was going to awaken and gather the rogue vampires to fight against us.

Agalana looked back at me along with the other Valkyries. All of us have a silent understanding that she would be there and a possibility other people we wish to not see making me sigh.

I nodded, knowing the sacrifices that I may need to make as each of them gave a small nod in acknowledgment and turned back to what they were talking about. It was my job to make sure each and every one of us got back in one piece, even if I was the one taken by the gods themselves.

〰〰〰

"Wait here. I'm going to check it out." I ordered them as my Valkyries dropped their things. The others stared at me in confusion when I smiled and slipped my bag off. "My client. They requested me to come alone since I am Hrudra the cold beast. I must go to show my alliance." I explain to them.

"You're Hrudra the cold beast!" Arley yelped, making everyone glare at him.

"I don't want you going alone," Proximo says, ignoring his friend and grasping my hand once again.

"I'll be in plain sight. Remember, we're together no matter what. If you feel the need to, contact me through our bond. Okay?" I leaned his pressing a small kiss on his cheek before handing him my bag.

"Fine." He grumbles as I patted his hand and let go. I turned away from them before walking out to the field with lots of carnage around.

Bodies and blood were soaked into the ground, the horror and evil looks in the vampires and wolves faces had hurt me. Though I couldn't say this was the worst war I'd ever seen. I've seen over dozens of wars take place right in front of me and it never gets easier for me.

However, this war was one I've been looking forward to since the council couldn't punish me for killing and destroying this place with a good reason. Rogue vampires are the expectation since Freya had been attacked by a pack long ago when she was a young child. They all despise vampires but are lenient on vampires who have proven themselves.

It's one of the reasons why I was sent after the vemons... and their children.

I shook the thought away from my head before glancing away from the bodies and scanning the area for someone but not seeing anyone alive. Even though it's been a little while since I shifted, I could feel myself rise to the challenge that proved around me.

Not yet.

Wait to shift until tonight.

I glanced around, expecting someone by now but not hearing or sensing anything. The sun was midway in the sky so we still had time if we needed to wait, but something felt strange.

'Could you call Rogan and ask him where they are? I want to make sure they're okay.' I ask Proximo through mindlink, kneeling down and lifting one of the dead vampire's arm.

'Sure, mate. Are you going to investigate around?' He questions when I felt the stiffness in the bodies arm.

'Yeah. These bodies have been dead for maybe six or seven hours. There's also a foul stench in the air so I'm going to search these decaying homes.' I told him, shrugging my trick bag up my shoulder and standing up.

'I'll be your eyes out here. Be careful.' He growls making me smile and start walking towards the decaying homes that still stood proudly even with the destruction and carnage around. Feeling the weight of my bag, I walked cautiously up to the home and listened for anything but didn't hear a thing.

Curious, I pushed the slightly ajar door open and saw blood staining the ground making me peer around for the dead bodies. Though strangely enough, I didn't see any on the ground floor, however, I spied an arm dangling from the second floor.

Blood still dripped from the lifeless fingertips and I heard a fan moving around in the room beside me. I should check the downstairs before heading upstairs though I had a feeling if there was anything to be found, it would be upstairs.

I took silent steps, unsure if there was anyone in the home while I unsheathed my blade and moved through the rooms with careful steps. Even though there was a lot of blood and body parts littered on the ground, I found no bodies other than the one from the stairs.

Had someone moved the bodies?

I shook my head, knowing I would have heard something if someone was here. It must have been someone here earlier or else I was losing my mind about the bodies being moved around.

Shaking my head, I glanced out the window and saw the group looking at me with expected looks making me nod. I'm here to find information and the longer I am here, the longer I waste time, the faster vampires come from the darkness.

After searching the ground floor for a few more minutes, I shook my head in irritation and started up the stairs. The stairs creaked with every step I made, knowing if anyone was here that they'd hear me now. Though the thought of someone sneaking up on me caused me to lifted my blade and ready myself for a fight.

The dead body I saw before dangled halfway off the railing, the mop of black hair covering their face but it was apparent that this was a woman wolf shifter due to the long black nails. She wasn't the only body up here, more and more bodies littered the ground as the ground I walked on was caked with their blood.

Streaks coming from all directions only proving that someone had moved the bodies up here. I stared in confusion, the pile containing both wolf shifters and rogue vampires confusing the hell out of me.

What in God's world had don-

Then I heard it.

A heartbeat.

I snapped my gaze to the room with the door closed before I stalked over to it silently and pressed my ear to it. The heartbeat increased, no doubt seeing my shadow underneath the door when I slowly opened the door.

Bringing my sword up, I charged into the room with a sudden speed that caused a gasp to sound. I caught sight of a red-eyed fiend before I was knocked across the room with a powerful sweep.

My back slammed against the railing of the stairs as I tumbled down the stairs and hit my head against the ground with a hard crack. I felt my head throb in misery, hearing thudding rushing down after me when I jumped up and was knocked across the room again.

"Mother fucker! I'm getting really fuck-"

I stopped talking, seeing a frightened young girl standing there with her hands outstretched in front of her. Her wide red eyes stared at me in anger and horror, not backing down to my relentless attitude.

"Hrudra!" Proximo bounded through the door when I held a hand out to him and stood up.

"I'm fine. I've found something though." I nod to the young girl as she stared at us with a look like she was ready to fight us. A grin rose on my face when I reached into my trick bag and felt the familiar softness of the stuffed animal that Ferio gave us.

Kneeling down in front of her, I held out the little pink hippo with a kind smile. She rose her hands as if I was aiming to harm her though I kept a smile on my face which confused her.

"Here, dear. We are not here to harm you in any way. We're here to help." I assure her, holding the animal further out as she stared at the toy with almost what looked like longing. "It's okay. You can trust me. No one will harm you." I promise.

"Hru-"

"Out, Proximo. The girl is clearly scared of us and standing there all hot and scary isn't helping." I turned to look at him, winking at him. "Go. I'll handle this here." He grumbled something under his breath before left us and closed the door quietly.

"You aren't a vampire or a wolf." The girl says confidently making me turn back to her with my eyebrow quirked at her. She gave me a hard stare before narrowing those red orbs. "What is it you are here for?" She questions, the authority laced in her voice making me slowly grin.

"Never expected this," I mumble, standing up and extending my hand to her instead of the stuffed animal. "I am Hrudra the cold beast. A Valkyrie leader and goddess." I introduce, the girl looking at me in interest. "Lovely to meet you, young one."