Chapter 9

"Can the cursed love or be loved..?.

Every hope between us doomed to fail."

.

DAY 2[1 MORNING. 1 NIGHT.]:

The calm wind swept through the traveling townpeople of Evergreen as they navigated the treacherous Frozen Mountains. On their second day, after traversing the Frozen Plains, the group shared a hasty meal of dried meat, stew, and milk pudding. With nearly three hundred people to feed, urgency dictated their pace. Some children had been sneaking bites, despite the tight security surrounding the food, and no one wanted to be cheated out of food.

Headstone earlier urged them into fasting their pace. He did spend a lot of the early morning time, searching for another path to take. A shortcut which would lead them directly to Ashwood, but the path, they had to take, inhabited starvoks. And however, if they took the normal route, he was sure half of the people would die and with the promise he made.... He decided to make the decision.

As they trudged through knee-deep snow, hopes of reaching Ashwood within a day lifted their spirits. However, the harsh weather had already taken its toll: some livestock fell ill, and a few perished. Most of the chicks had succumbed to the unforgiving conditions during the Frozen Plains journey.

Ryker, the skilled vampire hunter, led the rear guard. His imposing figure stood out:

Tall and lean, with piercing blue eyes and jet-black hair, wore a black long-sleeved coat, reminiscent of his father's attire, paired with rugged boots. A dual pistol and sword hung at his sides, defined years to his expertise. In his late thirties, Ryker's weathered face spoke of countless battles against the darkness.

As he moved to the middle rear, Belladonna caught his eye, her gaze tinged with envy. "Think you're the only feather walker, huh?" she teased, pointing to her legs.

Ryker's eyes widened. "Oh, wow, the snow only reached your ankle!" He bragged, showcasing his own unblemished boots.

Belladonna's jaw dropped, and she shot him a tactical glare. Ryker chuckled, returning to his post.

"Bragger, right?" Belladonna whispered to Ferguson.

However, Ferguson's distracted expression worried her. His labored breathing and sweating in the cold sent alarm bells ringing.

"Ferguson!" she called out again.

"I'm fine, Bella," he replied.

"Are you okay? Should I call Mister Headstone—"

Suddenly, without answering, he excused himself, handing a small box to one of the hunters. "I'll be back."

Belladonna's concern deepened. She waited, then followed him.

"I'll be back, I'm coming," she told the young female hunter to whom he had handed the small box to.

The hunter's worried expression turned sly. "Be careful, and scream if you need help. Or perhaps you're seeking a kissing moment with the doctor?"

Belladonna's face flushed as she hastened after Ferguson. "Don't be ridiculous!."

****

Belladonna trailed Ferguson, her gaze fixed on his unsteady footsteps. She darted behind a tree, her eyes never leaving him. Ferguson stumbled, grasping another tree for support. He glanced around cautiously, then produced a syringe from his pocket.

Belladonna's curiosity turned to concern as she crept closer. Ferguson pushed up his sleeve, poised to inject himself. But before the needle touched his skin, he faced Belladonna's troubled expression.

"Bella!" Ferguson exclaimed, dropping the syringe.

Without saying another word, he bent to retrieve it, but Belladonna swiftly picked it up. "Ferguson, what's this?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

Ferguson's face darkened. "None of your business! Return it!"

Belladonna's anger flared. "Not my business? You're my friend, aren't you?"

Ferguson's outstretched hand trembled. "Hand it over, Belladonna."

"Why? Talk to me!" Belladonna demanded.

Ferguson's eyes flashed crimson, his voice menacing. "HAND IT OVER OR I'LL RIP YOU TO THREADS!"

Belladonna recoiled, shocked by the ferocity in his eyes and the fangs bared at her. Tears streamed down Ferguson's left eye, his breathing ragged.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, stepping closer.

But Belladonna stood firm, her sadness and anger palpable. Ferguson's eyes welled with tears again.

"Belladonna, I—"

Suddenly, his gaze shifted past her. His eyes widened in alarm.

"Behind you!" Ferguson warned, rushing toward her.

Belladonna spun around to face a starvok, its massive purple body coiled, ready to strike – the same creature that had attacked her Aunt Mae.

The starvok's massive, purple bulk writhed forward, its segmented body unfolding like a grotesque, living accordion. Each scaly, overlapping fold seemed to shift and writhe, revealing glimpses of raw, pink flesh beneath. The creature's mouth yawned wide, exposing tiers of serrated teeth, while its tail trembled with anticipation, the venomous stinger at its tip poised to strike with deadly precision.

Belladonna didn't know how, but luck was on her side. Her instinct told her to move towards the opposite direction and when she did, the creatures stinger suddenly struck the ground where she last stood.

Her heart suddenly palpitated, she gasped and saw the Snow's color purple, and it suddenly melted. Like as if acid had been poured on the spot.

She stared to look, frozen in fear, when Ferguson leaped towards her. In a bridal style, he carried her in his arms, and once again, she escaped death as the starvok stinger struck the place she last stood.

Ferguson slided beside the starvok and then, he leaped on the branches of the tree, the slow transformation had given him extraordinary speed.

He faced the starvok while doing this. Definitely, he didn't know how he did jump on braches with missing a step, especially when he didn't turn to see where the other branch would be.

Getting to a safe distance, he set her down, and turned towards the starvok which chased after them. Just as he was about facing the creature, Belladonna tapped him, and said, "I can fight it."

"You've got no weapon!."

She smirked, then reached down to her boots and brought out two daggers, leaving Ferguson shocked and bewildered.

"You had those all these while?" He asked as she slowly nodded, the starvok getting closer.

"When I was younger, my aunt trained me how to use swords and knives. I'm no damsel in distress." She told him with a serious look.

Ferguson's face brightened up, "Back me up!" He said.

Belladonna nodded, charging forward. She spun the blades with deadly elegance, striking true as she targeted the starvok's vulnerable sides. Ferguson fought alongside her, his half-transformed vampire physique granting him inhuman speed.

The trees couldn't hide the sunlight completely, and it began to take its toll on Ferguson. His skin smoked and blistered, his eyes burning with an inner fire. He gritted his teeth, struggling to maintain control as his vampire instincts raged against the torment.

However....

"Bella, get back!" Ferguson yelled, his voice strained.

But Belladonna stood firm, "Not without you!" she yelled at him.

***

Meanwhile, back where the town folks were. The starvoks attacked from different sides, surrounding the people.

The screams of the children filled the air and the commotion of people created an air of horror. The hunters sprang into action. Each, protecting the rears.

From each sides, arrows and bullets filled the air, each hitting the starvok which screeching sound blocked and worse, burst most of the hunters eardrops.

Ernest, held two crossbow as he defended his people.

Meanwhile, Headstone and Pepper were struggling with a single crossbow.

"I'm the one to use it!" Headstone yelled at the priest who yelled back,

"I condemn you!"

Headstone gasped, "I'll use the crossbow on you."

As they argued over who would get to use the crossbow, arrows rained upon the starvoks, just then, Ryker slided right underneath the raining arrows. He had just wanted to light a cigarette, when the starvoks attacked.

Dual pistols blazing as he climbed on the branches of the trees, narrowly escaping the fatal hit from the arrows, and flung himself into the air. Spinning mid-leap, he unleashed a hail of bullets upon the starvok, each shot finding its mark in the creature's undulating bulk. The pistols' reports echoed through the mountainside, but Ryker's ammunition soon ran dry.

With a fluid motion, he tossed the unloaded guns skyward, drawing his sword in the same instant. As the pistols reached their apex, Ryker sliced through the approaching starvok with deadly precision, dodging its snapping jaws by mere inches. Catching the guns with a flourish, he holstered them, then brought out another set of pistols.

Each pistol had a silver bullet and each arrow shot, had poison on it's tip. That's the only way to end the starvoks life from a far end.

When close, just as Belladonna actually is, she sliced through the overlapping scales, tearing the creature soft body.

Just again, as it's stinger was about stabbing her fatally, Ferguson held it as he stood on top of the worm. With his newly fond strength, he twisted the stinger off, leading to the starvok letting out a sharp screeching sound. Anyone who stood in front of the creature at this moment, would lose his hearing for life.

As Belladonna stabbed again on the creature's side, it moved with sonic speed, towards the cliff. Belladonna couldn't think much at this moment, her hands held on the dagger stabbed through the creature's side.

On top, Ferguson yelled out, "Have a taste of your medicine!." Then with this, he stabbed the creature with it's stinger.

The creature let out a last death screech, before sending them all down the cliff.

As they fell, Ferguson's eyes blazed crimson, his fangs bared in a snarl.

______

Meanwhile, back where the townfolks were, the hunters shot and fought the starvoks, but yet again, despite their efforts, the starvoks claimed the lives of many.

A child shivered in fear, as the starvok had scattered him from his parents. In a corner, he shook and cried out, as the starvok stinger stroked downwards.

The child closed his eyes, when he suddenly didn't feel the impact. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw a female hunter in front, she smiled at him. The barbed stinger through her chest.

She threw a small box at his direction, "Give it to Doctor Ferguson."

Tears gathered in the child's eyes, but soon, the starvok became threaded into tiny bits.

Ryker rushed towards the female hunter, pulled out the stinger from her chest, but, she had longed died.

Ryker's anger increased.

He took his sword.

And yelled out, his voice became louder than the war against the creatures.

His blue eyes turned red and the child looked in surprise as he brought out his sword. Before the child saw his hand clutch the sword's handle, Ryker had swiftly killed all the starvoks and within the blink of an eye and afterwards, he fell back on the snow, his breathing sharper than ever.

"I did it," He whispered to himself with the child coming closer, "After all these years, I've unlocked what I can use to kill the Vampire lords."

________

Belladonna wiped the snow from her gown, her hands steady as she extracted the twin daggers from the starvok's lifeless body. "Ferguson!" she called out, her voice, with concern.

When suddenly, a hand clamped onto her neck, sending her crashing onto the snow-covered ground. The same hands she feared might choke her to death, days ago.

Ferguson's face hovered above hers, his crimson eyes blazing.

Belladonna's heart raced as she reached for the syringe hidden in her boot's pouch (Just before the starvok attacked, she had slipped it there, for safe keeping). Her fingers closed around it, a desperate plan forming in her mind.

Ferguson's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes burning with an unnatural hunger. Belladonna's breath caught as his face descended, his lips inches from her neck.

With a swift motion, she jabbed the syringe into Ferguson's neck. The contents discharged with a soft hiss, and Ferguson's eyes widened in surprise.

His body sagged, weight pressing down on Belladonna as consciousness knocked in, trails of tears dropped on her face, as he apologized, "I'm sorry.... Belladonna."

His lips, still parted in a snarl, brushed against hers in a accidental, tender kiss.