A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 132: The Bargain

Gabriel stood over a pile of bodies, his sword dripping with fresh blood. His perfectly tied hair was now scattered across his face, his vision blurred by blood and sweat.

The sun shine on his face making the blood cling to him like a second skin. But these were not vampire bodies. No! They were human bodies.

He looked over his shoulder to see a human knight caught between a ring of four vampires. He was walking around in a state of frenzy. The vampires were giving him no room for escape.

Before he could even process what had happened, one of them leapt on him, bringing him down to the ground. The other three followed curtailing Gabriel from the view. Seconds later, he saw the Knight’s limbs lifted by the vampires, his body torn into shreds.

On his right, Elena was breathing heavily, her face barely recognizable. Blood was sprayed all over her silver armor. The only thing he could recognize of her were her blue eyes, sharp as razors. Her twin daggers were tightly clenched in her fists as she stood in a stance behind the human wall the remaining knights had formed.

"Fall back!" He heard one of the commanders order.

The knights started retreating uniformly while still protecting the queen. But the vampires were attacking relentlessly.

Few had already broken into the houses of those who resided near the gates and drained them.

From across the retreating formation, Gabriel saw Brandon march through the now fallen gates with a mysterious figure riding beside him. He could already imagine the smirk on his face.

But the thought of surrendering to him was not on his wishlist, not today. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Brandon held his hand in a halt gesture and the vampires stopped with the attack. His mount marched forward to halt in front of the retreating formation of the humans.

"Your people didn’t deserve to die like this," he started, his mount going back and forth as if to encourage him deliver a destiny-changing speech.

"All this slaughter, and for what? Why would you risk your lives to fight for one that is not your kind?" He asked.

He steadied the reins, bringing the horse to a halt. And looking at the knights, "Give me Gabriel Sinclair and there need not to be spilled anymore human blood. Refuse and I’ll make sure the human species cease to exist in this world or the next."

"You have until sundown," he announced before trotting out of the city. The vampires reluctantly retreated, but not without taking some humans captive.

From behind the ranks, Gabriel’s eyes met with Tieron’s. Wait. He knew this face! This was the banished prince of Eldoria, now serving the new king. What a sudden turn of events?

*****

"We don’t have any defenses! If the hoarde decides to attack again, we’re done for!"

"I say we give him up," a general suggested.

"Aye," they agreed in unison.

"You’re talking about my husband, Lord Constantine," Elena spoke to bring the discussion at a stop. "It is by my father’s grace and mine that you were appointed a general. You would do well to remember that next time you open your mouth."

The general lowered his head in embarrassment. "Forgive me, My Queen," he pleaded.

"I mean no disrespect My Lady," another of the generals stepped forward. He was young, probably in his mid thirties. The royal army’s badge was patched on his mother, still coated with blood.

"But I will not have my men fighting for a lost cause. I will not fight for..." He stared at Gabriel, hatred brimming his eyes, "him."

Elena’s eyes scurried the royal army’s commander from head to toe before settling on his face.

"Erik, right?" She asked. She crossed the remaining distance between them, placing her hands heavily on his shoulders.

"And what would you have me do, Erik? Give in to the demands of Brandon? He’ll probably kill every last of us in the end."

"We’ll have a chance..."

"Let me remind you if you have forgotten. You chose me as your ruler, all of you. Not because I wanted to. Hell, ruling Mysthaven was the last thing I wanted. You chose me because there was no one better."

"The royal army is obligated to protect the royal family when called upon, die protecting them if need be. Gabriel is my husband and a guest, therefore a member of the family. You’ll do well to remember that."

Her voice was low but she exuded an aura Gabriel had never seen before. She was calm yet she handled it better than anyone would. And to think she was protecting him despite everything he had done to make her hate him.

"The people are innocent. Let them leave the city by sea. That way, you’ll have saved them and they won’t live to hate you," Erik suggested.

"I agree," Gabriel spoke, catching everyone’s attention. "Let those who can’t fight, the old, women and children leave the city by sea."

"The vampires will attack if they suspect an evacuation," Elena thought.

"We’ll send a messenger with these terms....

*****

Back in Brandon’s camp, a messenger came on horseback, a white flag strapped on his mount. Some of the vampires rode out to meet him and escorted him to Brandon’s tent.

The human messenger shivered in fear at the sight that welcomed him. In one of the chambers in the tent, he saw someone squeezing the blood out of a severed human body and draining it to a cup.

Swallowing hard, the messenger walked ahead. Brandon was seated at the end of the tent with Tieron whispering something in his ears when the messenger walked in.

The vampire from earlier walked in holding a glass of blood and placed it in front of the vampire king. Brandon held the glass and took a sio, all the while, his gaze fixed at the messenger. He could smell the fear coursing through him.

Running his tongue over his fangs, Brandon set the glass on the table before asking, "So? What did your species decide?"

The messenger clutched the flag in his hands, dreading the words about to come out of his mouth.

"The queen will give you Gabriel Sinclair only if you allow her people safe passage to board the ships."

Brandon took the glass of blood and gave it a twirl before exchanging glances with Tieron.

"Tell your queen," he started, setting the glass on the table and standing. He walked towards the messenger and placed his hands on his shoulders. He could literally feel the man quiver.

Leaning forward, he let his fangs graze the messenger’s skin. If his heart was threatening to beat out of his chest before, now he was probably shitting himself!

"Tell your queen, if she wishes to see her people board the ships and have safe passage, she should turn herself in as a hostage. That way, we’ll be certain she’ll keep her end of the bargain."