ZEUS

I was running hard, but not without making sure Lily was right there with me. I always sensed her presence which assured me she was running just as hard, if not harder, than me.

I looked up at the forest. All we need to do is get through the forest where our army is. If we get through there without any problems...we may have a chance at this.

I heard a howling wince and then I felt Lily's presence distant. I instantly stop and turn around. I sprinted back to Lily without question. There was a Metallicum goblin on top of her. They were beastly things. I snarled and roared out before I opened my mouth and sunk my teeth into it's side. It roared in pain. I used my body weight to rip him off of Lily and threw him a long ways away.

I quickly checked if she was okay, which she was. I helped her and pushed her in front of me to sprint with the others. I look behind me and felt a feeling of dread as I saw Nikolai's army. That's a lot of allies. They looked like a giant wave of black covering the white snow. And it was coming right at us with the sole purpose to kill and destroy.

I sprinted up behind Lily and made sure she was where I could see her. We were getting closer and closer to the forest.

I mind linked Donny, I'm assigning Lily to you. You are to take care of her in my absence, am I clear?

As we were running, Donny side glanced me, I'll protect her with my life.

Knowing that all of them had her back made things easier for me. Now I could just focus on Nikolai and killing the son of a bitch. He's like a roach, he just won't stay dead.

Vampires are fierce creatures. We were natural enemies. But Nikolai was unique. He used to be a werewolf, but now turned Vampire. He was a man that fully understood how we worked. How we think.

***

"You have killed Nikolai once, you can do it again," Ozai said at the fire place.

I sighed, "It's different this time, Ozai. He's a vampire, a vampire with the mind of a werewolf. He's collected his own power over time. That's a dangerous mix."

"Yes. You are right. If you think about this logically, he does have an upper hand in that regard."

I swirl the golden drink around my glass, "I hope this battle ends well," I said.

Ozai sat down, "It will. You won't have to worry about this. We have planned this to the very last detail."

I stood up and walked to the fireplace, "And what if that's the problem. I don't think it's going to end how you predict it will, Ozai."

He frowns through his glasses, "I don't understand what you're saying, Zeus? You have lived through centuries. You have been in countless battles, we all have. We've been through hell and came back. You are one of the most ancient creatures of this world. This should be a piece of cake."

I look into the fire, the clogs in my brain twisting and turning, "Ancient...is belonging to a distant past...a distant memory that is now no longer in existence."

Ozai stands up abruptly and comes toward me in a very serious manner. He puts his hand on my shoulder and says, "Zeus...you will get through this."

I stare at him knowingly, "Let us prepare for any outcome to this battle, brother," I fully turn to him and put my hand on his shoulder, "Promise me something."

Ozai's brows were cemented together into a deep frown, "Anything."

I looked into his eyes and said, "Take care of my Lily."

***

The thoughts that were running through my mind during that conversation, the reality of what is to come...it was seared into my brain. If Lily comes out of this alive...that will be my victory.

LILY

The trees were swinging from side to side as more and more of those black creatures were climbing up and following us. My nerves were sky rocketing. One of them charged out at Eudora, she saw it coming. She hissed and snarled at the beast. It was first on top of her until she rolled around till she was the one on top. She bit into it's neck and ripped out it's throat. The scene of violence did not hinder me. It almost made me want to fight even more.

It motivated me to keep going and to live. I need to be strong for Zeus. I need to be his strength not a liability.

The black creatures began to get more confident and was charging forward from the trees. Jumping down, swinging out, all with the intentions of killing.

Stick close to me Lily! Zeus mind linked me. Donny appeared on the other side of me. He gave me a cheeky wolfish wink, that made me snicker.

One of the creatures jumped out of the tree and tackled Zeus to the ground, three of them charged at Donny and I from behind us, catching us off guard.

I was first knocked to the ground and at first I was scared, but my instinct kicked in. I'm not weak anymore. I released a deep growl and I opened my mouth wide. I extended my teeth and I sunk them deep into the flesh of the beast and ripped it off my back. I felt the blood drip into my mouth and yet I wasn't disgusted by it. It tasted good. It felt good. I liked the feeling of hurting it...and I wanted to do it again.

The beast got back up. and charged again with a roar, but that did not effect me. I charged forward also. It was very strong. It bit into my neck which caused me to howl pain. I swung my body to loosen it's grip. I wasn't here to play around. It landed on the ground and was about to get back up, I used the moment of vulnerability to strike. I sunk my teeth in it's skull and ripped off it's head. The satisfaction of killing felt like euphoria.

I saw Zeus from a bit away and I knew he saw what I did.

We need to keep going. He mind linked.

My eyes scanned the place and I saw all of them fighting. They were all fighting off the creatures.

Xander, Noah, Soul and I are going to fight them off, the rest of you go! My father mind linked everybody.

No Papa! I mind linked him, We need to stick together!

There's no time Lil! Now Go! My father mind linked me. I saw my father and uncles wolves fighting of the black metallic beasts.

Zeus appeared by my side and pushed me with his larger wolf toward the forest. I reluctantly leave my family behind.

I looked to my cousins wolves...I could tell they were putting a brave face on, but I could see the concern for the lives of their fathers' as well as my own.

I push the negative thoughts and feelings aside for the time being. I can't afford to think about that right now. We need to get to the trees.

We all sprinted hard and we finally ran past the tree line of the forest. I felt more hopefully with that finally out of the way. Now all I just have to do is not get blown up to pieces.

We all memorised the mapping of exactly where Dylan distributed all of his mines. One little mistake and I could get blown up. Zeus ran in front of me, we were around five minutes ahead of them. We got to the bush and shifted back into our human forms. Zeus pushes me gently into the bush to get changed with the clothes we placed here.

Zeus shifted and began to change also. Once everyone was changed into their human forms, everybody got into place. Dylan casually floated up into the trees where he had a plan of his own that would help everybody...apparently. He had called on his family and friends to come fight with us.

I looked over my shoulder up at the castle tower through the trees. My thoughts drifted to the flower. I need to get it.

The pounding feet of an army was getting more and more intense. The vibration travelled through my body and pierced my heart was anxiousness. It really had begun.

Zeus turned to me, "Stay with me, Lil. We stay together no matter what, yeah?"

I nodded my head, "I will."

He steps closer to me and grabs my hand tightly. I look at everyone, my family and my new family. They were all ready. And so was I.

All of us turned around and began running up the forest hills. We pushed ourselves to get to that specific point.

Zeus's grip on my hand never loosened. He was running by me, making sure I was okay. I looked over my shoulder and my eyes widened. They've caught up to us. I couldn't see Nikolai anywhere. Wouldn't he be at the front of his army? The rest of his soldiers were running. fast.

"Don't look, Lil," Zeus said, "Just keep going, until we get to the army."

I felt my heart pounding and my legs burning and my mind turning.

I prayed that my family were okay. Donny was on my other side, making sure I was okay too.

I stepped on a rock, but it wasn't stable, causing me to fall down, I wince, but get back up. However, something grabbed my foot.

I looked down to see a man with a crazy look in his eyes, vampire. He grabs my foot tight, almost crushing it in his hand.

I wince in pain and try to get his hand off. Zeus came also with a crazy look in his eyes, "Not today!" He yells as he grabs the vampire by it's neck and snaps it.

Zeus grabs me and lifts me up to my feet, "Let's go!"

I ran, but my ankle was hurting bad. I didn't want Zeus to know or else he could end up carrying me which would make us slower. I just had to ignore the pain.

The rest of our friends surrounded us and fought off anybody who jumped at us.

I stole a glance behind my shoulder and my breath hitched. They were gaining on us. All we need to do is get to where our army is...without dying. Easy. My eyes recognised the area. We were about to enter into the minefields.

"Lily, do you-" Zeus shouted, but I already knew what he was going to say.

"I remembered every step. Don't worry!" I shouted back.

Zeus reluctantly let go of my hand as we jumped from step to step through the minefield. Zeus gave me a look of worry as we separated.

We all had to go to our own routes that we planned out in our own heads.

"Don't blow up, don't blow up, don't blow up, don't blow up!" I was repeating as jumped from step to step.

A loud explosion went off. I stopped and looked behind and I couldn't help, but smile. It was working. We were leading them to the minefield. All of them are swarming in.

Another one went off.

"Lily!" Zeus shouted. He was ahead of me, "Move it!"

I jumped from step to step. I thought I was actually doing pretty good before I was pushed, I yelped in fright. I just made it to the next step. I spun around and my eyes widened.

"Travis?" I snarled.

He smiles with a wink, "Told you I wanted you tonight."

I growled deeply, "You blew up the bar?"

He snickers, "No. I was the one that had to keep you from leaving."

I stood there fuming, "Well you failed in killing me now It's my turn to kill you."

"Lily run!" Zeus shouted from the other end.

Travis smiles, "I'll give you a ten second head start."

I looked over my shoulder at Zeus. He stood there fuming. His eyes glowing green. I should do what he says. I turned back around and faced Travis. But first...I'm gonna kill this asshole.

I launched forward which I think caught him off guard. He didn't expect me to initiate a fight like that. I knew exactly where to step. But problem was Travis was watching too.

I pushed him over to catch him off balance. But he quickly recovered. I stepped forward, jumped up, spun around and kicked him right in the face, but before I could even put my leg down, grabs it pulling forward. I shout in fright as I was about to step on a mine.

Travis was laughing while still holding my leg tight, "You're cute."

I jumped up with the one leg I have, twisted my body and kicked him with it. He falls down, but he uses the force to do a back flip to land back on his feet.

I could hear footsteps running this way. Zeus was coming. His growl was echoing throughout the whole forest. Travis jumped forward as I did the same, except I jumped up wrapped my legs around his neck, forced my body backward and dropped him on his stomach, well what I thought was his stomach.

He was in a push up position, but with one hand, I could hear his straining rhythm of breathing. He looks up at me and I smile down at him, "You're cute." I kicked his arm down which caused him to land right on top of a mine.

Zeus grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me back, when we both witnessed Travis being blown to bits.

Zeus glares down at me and lifts me up and began running back, "Don't you ever do something like that again!" He snarls at me.

"He attacked me and I killed him!" I shouted back.

"You don't do it if it risks your life!" He shouts back as he jumps from step to step to the others.

"My life is already at risk by being involved in this damn battle!"

We finally got to the other side. The sound of explosions going off was like music to my ears.

He puts me down and grabs my shoulders tightly and shook me to emphasise his words, "You DO NOT risk your life unnecessarily! You were supposed to stay by my side!"

"I can fight!" I shout. He grabs my hand and we keep running while we still have time. A black beast pops out, but Zeus grabs his throat and rips it out, like it was nothing.

We continue to run, "I don't care if you can fight!" Zeus shouts, "I can't let you die again! I refuse to lose you again! So just stay with me and stay alive!"

"What're you mean again!?" I shouted over the explosions.

"Just stay with me and listen to me for once!" Zeus shouts.