4 Chapter 4:

〰 Proximo 〰

I watched as Hrudra went through a desk of papers, somehow reading each of them before tossing them away to see the next one. Her face was still visibly pale from whatever the witches gave her and the injuries she's sustained.

The coat was big on her but still showed the scars on her throat and on her neck from the vemon taking from her. I knew they would heal with time and that the scars would fade away, but the memory of the vemon killing her in front of me...

I would never forget or forgive myself for not saving her from that fate.

Denzyl, my demon, rose from within me and that killed every single vampire that had came at me and slaughtered the vemon with such a slowness that I knew that Hrudra would have wished for.

Her lifeless body... Horrifying and mindfucking eyes stared up at me with a deadly coldness that even hurt my soul. The feeling of her death through the mate bond was the worst thing I've ever felt in my entire life and I was grateful that she was immortal because if she truly died...

I would have never returned.

Thinking of her gone gave me much grief, thinking of our future, our life, our future children... Just imagining that never happening murdered me from within and I couldn't get the thought of us losing everything from doing a job that was supposed to be simple.

Had she... died before this?

Was she acquainted with dying?

The thought had me snarling from under my breath, Denzyl rising within me to take control before I felt the air tense around us.

"Motherfucker!" She shrieks all of sudden, throwing the stack of papers in her hands as lightning struck the sky above us. Her blazing silver eyes stared at the desk in anger while her fingers curled in a fist. "God damn it!" I quickly rushed to her as she started damaging the desk and walls behind her.

"Hey. Hey, it's alright." I snatched her fists before they could cause any more damage when she shook from fury and shock. "What is it? What happened?" I fired question, trying to solve the problems as she pulled from my grip and walked around me.

"I have to kill children now... The vemons had children and my mission from Freya and Odin were to kill the abominations and any spawn. I... I have to kill a child." She whispers with grief which quickly turned into fury. "Son of a bitch!" Another shriek bounced from the walls of the coven causing a flicker of lightning.

"We don't have to," I assure her, grasping her shoulders and turning her to me. "We can teach them the good in the world and ally ourselves with them-"

"You don't understand." She shook her head in a defeated tone. "Freya and Odin aren't the only ones who assigned me this mission..." Her words seemed to die out, thoughts and worries running through her head before she shook her head. "The council of the Lore. I need to talk to Loranie the queen of all." Hrudra sharply looks at me with hope. "I need you to convince your king to allow the existence of the two children." Her words were hopeful, yet even I knew I may not be able to.

My king had a run in with the vemon who tried harming his good friend, Alican the castaway fairy. He would never allow the man to live, but the look on Hrudra's face was something I couldn't let down.

Leaning forward and pressing my lips on her head, I sighed and nodded. "If I am to do this, you must repay me," I tell her, wanting to know something but without holding something over her. I knew I would never find out so this was the only way.

"You sneaking bastard." She hisses, shoving me away and glaring at me. Her coldness back instead of her unprotected emotions from before making me curse at myself. "I will not owe you anything. If I must, I will fight the whole damn Lore from killing innocent children."

〰 Hrudra 〰

"Has the coven be eradicated, Master Valkyrie?" A man asks me with respect while Lamia and other beings roamed around with interest. I stood in front of the others who were still extremely exhausted from the fight and the walk back. The demon stood tall beside me, growling at the men who were staring at me with wonder.

"Yes. The coven has been killed and will not bother you anymore. But I must ask you one question." I elbow the demon in the gut making him snap his attention to me with a dangerous look. We both knew he hated associating with the Lamia due to his fear, but he'd have to suck it up if he wanted to remain here with us.

"What." He grated out, his eyes flickering to the right when a woman came up to us. The same woman in charge of keeping him here, which she did a pleasant job but that made him hate her.

Sad, but it didn't matter.

"I need you to bring the Valkyrie to the guest rooms. They need to be treated and looked after as they sleep. Can I trust you with this?" I ask, using the mate bond against him while running my palm on his arm. He narrowed his eyes at me, knowing my tricks and that I was angry at him for using my need to protect against me.

We stared at one another for several long before he growled and looked away. I glanced at Valrun and nodded for her to leave with the others.

"I'll be back." He promises while they walked away with the woman in the lead. I turned back to the man and sighed deeply.

"What is your question?" He asks, pleased to finally be alone with me as I pushed my hands into the pockets of the coat.

"Is there a woman who goes by Millie-Mae? She's a siren with a golden tail, said to be alluring and a silent killer." I recount the information found on the woman who was with the vemon and created a child. By this time, the child should be maybe two or three though I was worried that other vampires would go to her and steal the child.

I needed to figure out my plans for this woman.

"Millie-Mae? I've never heard of this name before, but I have known a woman with a golden tail. There aren't many of those, but the one I recall was maybe six months pregnant when I came across her." He admits, thinking for a moment before looking at me. "Why are you seeking this woman?" The man questions me, his eyes narrowing.

"I am looking for this woman because of a list I found. The man in charge of the coven was very... dangerous when dealing with women as you know. The woman you speak of could be in danger since her name was on the list along with many other women." I lie, knowing if I told him the truth that they'd kill the child themselves.

I couldn't have this man killing an innocent young child.

The man's face brightened once again before speaking once again. "Oh! Well, why didn't you say so! I will find where the woman is later tonight but for now, let us have a celebration about the coven being struck down!" He clapped happily when barking orders at people all around him to get supplies and ready for the celebration.

"Could I have her address now? I'd really like to check up on her." I caught his attention, needing to find this woman to ensure her safety as well as her child's.

"I don't know the address on the top of my head, can't I-"

"I need to make sure she is alive. Her child as well." I cut off with a pleading look. "Please," I whisper as he sighed and nodded.

"Carolyn. Take care of the celebration for now. I will be back in a few." The man walks toward the main building, a sigh of relief leaving me.

The sooner I find this woman, the sooner I can ensure her safety.

〰〰〰

"I don't need a bodyguard." I snarled under my breath, knocking on the small cottage in the middle of the woods. The demon didn't say anything, merely just staring at the door in front of us when I glanced around and searched for any bad signs.

I wish I had my Valkyrie senses...

When will this poison leave me, damn it.

The door creaked open revealing a woman with kind and blue eyes, her curly brown hair trickling down her shoulders and on her light green dress. She glanced at both of us, growing slightly tense near the demon beside me though she hid it well.

"Hello. Are you both lost?" Her angelic voice had hinted at her past, the quiver in her lips revealing she knew what it was we were here for but was confused by me. Due to the poison, people assumed that I was human and nothing more than that making it somewhat easy to gain their trust.

"Are-"

"We aren't lost," I told her, shutting the demon up before giving her a gentle smile. "I am here to ask you some questions. My... friend will remain outside while we speak." I shove him down the steps earning a sharp look.

The woman looked at the demon then at me, still unsure she opened the door and allowed me to enter. With one last look at the demon, I entered the home and immediately notice toys all over the place.

Looks like this was the right place.

"Sorry. This place is kind of a mess. Rialta! Come and clean this mess. We have a guest." The woman shouts, nodding to the small table before going into the kitchen. I heard the child before I could see them, the loud thudding steps barreling down the hallway.

"I am playing with them, Mommy!" The little girl, who looked to be maybe four or five. The girl stopped midway, staring up at me as I saw the red in her eyes and the long brown locks of her hair. The young girl was definitely the hybrid I was looking for.

She was half vampire, demon, and siren...

This girl was going to be the next prodigy.

"Rialta. Could you pick your things up? It time to start getting ready for dinner." The woman said from the kitchen, getting my attention as she held a cup to me. I took it from her making it seem like I drank from it when I went to the table and sat down.

The woman helped her daughter pick up her things before telling her to go to her room so we could speak. I felt the demon hovering close to the cottage, watching over me and the other ladies.

For once, I was thankful that he was watching over us since I was still not intuned with my Valkyrie senses.

"What is it you need?" She asks, still, her tone is kind but wary. I set the cup down before shrugging off the coat and showing her the bite marks on my neck.

"My name is Hrudra. I have come because you were associated with the vemon, Rivo." I tell her, the woman choking on the drink she was sipping on before growing very tense.

"You are here for my child, aren't you?" She questions, her voice growing more deadly by the second when I shook my head and zipped the coat back up.

"I am here to bring you and your daughter to a sanctuary," I admit, making her eyes widen with shock. "I know what it feels to be trapped by that man, to know what it is to die and lose everything. I've already lost what I held dear to me before, I do not wish for this to happen to you either." I swallowed thickly, hating how I related to her on such a personal level.

She reached over, grasping my hand and giving me a soft squeeze. Her blue eyes showing me that she completely understood what I was feeling.

"I was assigned to kill all vemons on this world," I confess, looking at her with a dark look. "I will keep you and your daughter safe, but we must leave tonight if I intend to keep that promise. There's another like you and your daughter. She will help you and become apart of her society. I apologize for putting this on y-"

"Don't be sorry." The woman shook her head. "You've killed a vile man that has not only destroyed my dreams but has also given me new ones. You are here, ignoring your ordering, and protecting us. I thank you for everything you're doing." She smiled so beautifully that it was hard not to get swallowed up by my emotions.

"Then we must leave tonight." I nod to her as she sighed and nodded as well.

"I will be ready in an hour." She tells me, standing and holding her hand down to me. "I am Millie-Mae, but I assume you know this." I smiled, shaking her hand.

"Yes. Would you like any help?" I ask her while she glanced around and shook her head.

"No. It shouldn't take very long. You can let your demon in now." Millie-Mae says before disappearing down the hallway and getting her daughter. I could hear her explaining what was happening to her daughter when I walked over to the door and opened it for the demon.

"Come on. We're going to be here until they are finished with packing." I told him, letting him inside and closing the door behind him. He scanned the cottage, unsure of what to think as I went and sat down on the couch.

My body felt like lead, the nerves and muscles unraveling making me lean further into the couch. I closed my eyes while the feeling of headache coming forth.

"Get some rest, Hrudra. I'll watch over the cottage and you." He assures me, putting a blanket around my shoulders and sitting beside me. His hands directed me into his lap, his hands gently moving the hair out of my face as I fought to stay awake and move away.

It felt nice to lay here though...

Slowly drifting into sleep, I felt myself fading away and allowing sleep to take over my mind and body.