1 Flee

A gorgeous white horse galloped carrying a hooded figure in a purple cloak on its back. The serenity of the lush green forest was filled with yells and shouts directed towards the hooded figure.

Astrea tightened her grip on the leather reins increasing the speed of her steed. She glanced at her waist where her sword was slinging because it was her only weapon to defend herself from a squad of soldiers ambushing after her.

Tears threatened to fall as she remembered her parent's demise in front of the citizens of the Nethilor empire. Her anger piqued up recalling the injustice her family went through because of the vampire king and queen.

House of Marquis Campbell, her family was one of the human families staying in the kingdom of vampires. The feud between humans and supernatural beings lasted for almost a Millenium, but it finally came to end in the reign of the late vampire emperor, Henrick Radcliffe. A mystic peace treaty was signed in between the humans and vampires allowing both of them to coexist.

Even after this treaty, many humans opted to shift into the empire of Findara ruled by humans. But some nobles remained back in Nethilor and house Campbell was one of them.

Astrea came out of her thoughts as an arrow passed on the side of her shoulders injuring her in the process, "Ah!" her grip on the reins weakened making her fall off from her steed. A piercing pain shot through her ankle making her wince, maybe she twisted her ankle. She frowned and got up from the ground not caring about her injury. Escaping was the only thing that mattered the most and she refused to admit downfall from those monsters who killed her parents. She would reach her brother, by crossing the border of Nethilor. He was carrying out some mission in Findara and was unaware of their parents' death so it was her only chance in survival for both of them before he returned to Nethilor.

She continued dragging herself in the forest with her injured ankle and reached a cliff. Her breathing came out labored as she unsheathed her sword and took a defensive stance against the oncoming horde of soldiers. It was an end for her because there was no way after the cliff and she didn't want to die without putting up a fight.

Commander Sebastian of Nethilor's empire unmounted his black steed and took his steps towards Astrea. He brushed his grey locks through his fingers in frustration seeing her battered shape and said, "Stop running Rea, come with me and I will make sure to keep you safe from the royal family"

Astrea removed her purple hood releasing her Silver locks and looked at him with her emerald green eyes, "Don't call me Rea with that filthy mouth of yours!" she snarled, "And you can keep me safe from them? Aren't you just a lapdog of your beloved sister, Empress Ravina?"

Sebastian remained calm amidst her words and replied, "I love you, Rea, trust me this once and come with me" he loved her too much that his heart ached by receiving her hatred. He didn't want this to happen, everything was perfectly planned out. She would be married to him now if everything turned out as his plan.

Astrea glared at him, "Love?" she questioned him and shook her head, "You would never hurt me like this by killing my parents if you truly loved me, Sebastian. You just want to own me as a possession and I would rather die than let you do that to me"

"Rea..." he closed his eyes calming his nerves, "Please...Please don't doubt my love towards you" It was more like a warning than a plea and Astrea knew that he was losing his composure.

Astrea smiled and continued instigating him with her words, "You will never have my heart, you scoundrel! My love only belongs to my Lorcan and no one else"

Sebastian snapped opened his eyes and glared at her, "You never learn do you?" he said as he removed his sword from its sheath and charged towards her.

She too clenched her sword and started blocking his heavy blows. Two of them moved in pace fighting each other.

Sebastian blocked her deadly slash and said, "Stop this Rea! I don't want to hurt you!"

Astrea ignored his words and continued to attack him with her sword. She knew that Sebastian was holding back because he didn't want to hurt her seriously, but it gave her the advantage to launch a heavy blow on him.

Sebastian winced when her sword slashed his shoulders, but he continued blocking her because he would never attack her. She was his flower, his only love. But the soldiers in the background had a different idea. One of them took a step and aimed a bow and arrow towards the fight scene. He narrowed his eyes at Astrea and released the arrow sending it through her shoulder.

Astrea halted her movements when a piercing pain shot through her left shoulder. Sebastian immediately resigned his sword and rushed towards her, "Rea!"

She looked up at him and moved towards the edge of the cliff and looked down at the river. Sebastian understood her motive and widened his eyes, "Re-rea, No! please don't"

Astrea glared at him and jumped off the cliff into the strong current.

"No!" Sebastian screamed on top of his lungs and rushed towards her but was unable to stop her from falling. He slumped on the ground as tears made their way into his eyes. He turned and glared at the soldier who released an arrow on her, "How dare you!? How dare you hurt her!?"

The soldier trembled in his place and replied meekly, "It was an order from her majesty, commander. She wanted Astrea Campbell dead"

Sebastian got up from the ground and dashed towards the soldier and held him by his neck, "Don't you dare lie to me! Ravina would never do that, she knew about my love towards Rea"

"It is the truth commander, her majesty wanted lady dead without your knowledge but at last, she didn't even care about that and ordered us to take her down by any means"

The other soldiers glanced at their commander and nodded their head in agreement, "It is true commander, her majesty took in all of our families as a hostage and threatened us to not inform you about this"

Sebastian released his hold on the soldier. The latter fell on the ground gasping for air but his relief disappeared as his commander pierced a sword through his heart, "You should have informed me this before you shot that arrow" he said as he removed his sword from the soldier's chest. An evil glint shone in his onyx eyes observing the blood on his sword, "Ravina my precious sister, You will pay for this"