Chapter 40
Vander rushed out from behind the tree97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbk2Bvzpjy4
and immediately rolled to the ground as two arrows embedded themselves in the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE25ic03on
dirt right where he had been standing. Despite being assassins and spies, it97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwDkXGN1ct
seemed as though the Green Serpents were crack shots with the bow, but he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxpEiATyWL
decided to see what would happen when they faced someone who was expecting97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcreOcqwhqX
them. He scooped up a couple of rocks from off the ground and palmed them as he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArR6aYRcXX
charged his enemies.
More97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f2Ci3aC7r
arrows were thrown at him, but it seemed as though they were drawn quickly97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrmvXFshRG
without much aim. Some whizzed over his head while others got stuck in the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbggSZPp6Ly
ground a few feet in front of him. One came dangerously close to him, but he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg1fni1Qln
smacked it away with his sword. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted some97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB2DMsWuip
movement. Taking quick aim, he threw a rock hitting a Serpent’s shooting hand.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lqSnFSIo1
With a cry of pain, he dropped the bow, but drew a knife instead.
“I’ll97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYJpsQynqx
gut you.” He snarled and rushed him with the dagger poised low. Vander stepped97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKlsaHjD5y
back as the dagger was thrusted forward. He grabbed the serpent’s arm and97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0bW4dXZ4d
yanked the poor man off his feet before slamming his palm into the guy’s nose.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TWbzs8JVY
Blood spurted as his nose broke and embedded itself into the brain, killing him97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEGqv2wQbO
instantly. He quickly lifted the body up as two arrows hit him in the back. He97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE88F52DQeY
rushed forward using the freshly made corpse as protection until he could see97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNawJUkFbg
who he was looking for: three Serpents standing in front of him.
Unlike97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyI9Vmqxmd
the one he had just killed, these three looked like veterans. They had deep97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w3lt6eIq9
green face paint and wore outfits that helped them blend into their97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37qLibqM69
surroundings. There was a hardened look in their eyes as they stared at him.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBtTKo0ASd
Knowing their bows would be useless if close combat, they lowered them to the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSX5N3DfkF
ground then removed their quivers. Each one removed a large knife from the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw7i5QHjTj
sheathe strapped to their backs.
“You97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFYw8jWZuf
might be a Blade, but you aren’t a match for all three of us.” One of them97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0gJYOMrMA
growled. As if practiced, they spread out keeping Vander between them. From97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeZ95f5DEy
here he could tell that the knives were poisoned, one wayward scratch would97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHeAgIly6M
send him to the afterlife, but he couldn’t stay here as he was. That was just97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj9xoBR1Cj
asking to be killed.
Vander97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXAPs2SdPd
threw the dead serpent at the one in front of him. As he fell scream in a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZ9ZROABsh
tangle of bodies, Vander went to the left to handle the one there. He slashed97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv9zLeR6ql
with his sword, but the serpent was nimble. He rolled over the sword strike,97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUgMGrrg6I
landing on his feet. He stabbed with the daggers, but Vander grabbed the wrist,97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOvoLzcPIF
guiding it away from him. He kicked out the back of the leg sending the Serpent97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv6T0faJGQ
to the ground. As he fell, he brought his boot up catching Vander in the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEwMoYH2Mk
stomach and sending him flying onto his back. He rolled and brought his sword97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6buTKVk8G
up in time to block the second serpent’s daggers. He pushed him stumbling97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dQzDsQ9Ad
sideways then scrambled to his feet. Before the serpent could adjust, Vander97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I31gyNk7w
slashed his back open with his sword.
Blood97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBknHCqujN
sprayed as the man stumbled and fell to the ground. There was no time to check97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy18hVRqXQU
to make sure he was dead as another was on him. The man was a whirlwind with97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQob27hGpi0
his daggers, spinning, slashing, and stabbing. The dagger cut his pants,97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmYPF8ofcg
jacket, and shirt, but luckily it wasn’t deep enough to draw blood, but soon97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcismYRfFs
enough he could get past his guard. He wanted to keep one alive for97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2M7SlKPFT
interrogation, but that didn’t seem like it would be likely. So, he waited for97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PLWHZsXUQ
a brief opening before cutting down with the sword. With a scream, one of the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGypBL9Ayi
serpents’ hands hit the ground in a bloody heap. Before he could scream more,97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaRlMTbJ0F
Vander cut his throat.
“Die!” The serpent who had been97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6b11Wdflcs
tangled up jumped from behind him. Panic raced in Vander’s chest. He had97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yMaKPDIFo
forgotten about him and now it was too late for him to protect himself as the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxORyuJbzaC
daggers raced towards his throat. Acting on instinct, he lunged underneath the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTXr6xMyk8
daggers grabbing the serpent around the waist bringing them both to the ground.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHV4YklvY0
Vander’s fingers turned to claws as he tore out the man’s throat.
He could feel the demon clawing97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELPSc2RI4l
closer to the surface. It wanted out, a way to release its aggressions, but now97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIgMOR0di4
was not the time. Vander bit down on the impulse shoving the beast back into97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBR7N4GRVC
the recesses of his soul. Soon, but not now. He had to get Kiara and Eliza back97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDbJ2dCQXE
first then all hell could break loose.
Vander spent some time going97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVQieCjcXc
through the pockets of the dead serpents to see if they had left behind any97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUs1uxNaam
tools for him to use. He found several poisoned knives and needles, but the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEvWFIanbU
rest were weapons that would be too much for him to carry so he discarded them.
Before leaving97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBmqeajPlH
the area, he dragged Briar and Forest’s bodies back towards the road. He never97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk62A0MkSTB
should have brought them here. This was his penance and his alone. Now they97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UkpA0HDLy
were dead. He would have to carry that burden, but he swore he would make the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHXAwgV4Dp
Serpents, and Eve, pay for what they had done.
He remembered the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw7SzKWwLk
village from his travels across the country. He knew that it would be heavily97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC19kquS8R
fortified, especially now that the challenge had been issues towards him to get97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLjsRZyxJU
the queen back. He would have to come prepared. So, he scooped up a bow along with97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrFYfs3Cll
a quiver of arrows. They would know he was there, but only after some of them97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6mBbpAq51
had died.
The sun was97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSjtsYjNpX
beginning to rise when he spotted the walls through the forest. The village was97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmD6dH6lvIT
aptly named because it bordered the forest. This was a hunting village, taking97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K3YrGx7z5
out small game and deer to feed everyone. He wasn’t quite sure when the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh2bZmc2OV
Serpents moved in, but it must have been recently as they have had no reports97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReAHZV9UCo
of the village being under attack.
As he looked at97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQnH5qcmiG
the front gate, he noticed several men wearing green cloaks and talking amongst97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtAT1oGVYk
themselves. Without caring about who they were, Vander notched an arrow to his97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFWjDVCzNi
bow, took aim, then fired. The arrow took a guard in the throat and before the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrHiTgsbtO
others could react, several more arrows flew into parts of their body. One took97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrrek76vrw
an arrow in the shoulder, while the third took one through the knee. Both went97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gXhUr6rla
down screaming, but they weren’t killing shots. It was enough to bring more97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaZUXZh4Sq
Serpents out for him to kill.
They were pouring out of the village97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFImvwsVURc
now to get vengeance for their fallen comrades. He only had time to take down97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaSKoPGgLA
two more before the rest were on him. He tossed aside the bow and quiver and97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRF6rTPVZ3
drew his sword to strike against his attackers.
The first one went down with barely97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyvIAKOHsa
any effort. He sidestepped out of the way and ran him through. He blocked a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIZbqA6d51
strike from the next one then pushed him aside, but soon he was overpowered by97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOVDMdPq1t
the sheer volume of people. As he raised his sword, one kicked his wrist97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfMSbgmzli
sending it spiraling out of his hand. He was punched in the jaw and knocked to97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyx5KvEnYg
the ground. He tried to fight back, but several pinned his arms and pointed a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWtf1ZdyE8
sword right at his neck.
“Stop!” Vander heard Eve shout. She97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5onHeTXJJ
pushed her way through the group and if he held out any hope that she hadn’t97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMryEBXZTp
betrayed them the look in her eyes combined with what she was wearing sealed97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2yr4mZ451
her betrayal in stone.
She wore a sleeveless green shirt97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt42h46qkDP
showing off lean muscles and a massive snake tattoo going down her left arm.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZx8HOWVbT
Her hair was pulled back but covered with a green hood. She wore two daggers on97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCc6dtRp23h
her belt.
“So, you did betray us.” Vander spat.
“Betray you?” she laughed. “I was97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEan3sQPC71
never apart of you.” Now that he got a good look at her, he realized that she97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mkTnnMfhQ
had been messing with him from the beginning. She was broader than she looked97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCmO3rQqdd
before, more heavily muscled. She wasn’t sixteen, she was likely someone older97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOezhXH6fg
than he was. It also explained the gaps in the recruits’ skills. She had been97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp7QQ3bO7I
playing them for fools since the very beginning.
“They trusted you,” Vander struggled.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUH1DP1zSa
“I trusted you.”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpImSarqZgi
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“I’ll have to make a visit to97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtndHZ7LZt0
whoever your informant is.” She grinned. “He almost ruined everything, but97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVzHAGWVmD
luckily you were so easy to fool. Get him up.” Vander was hauled to his feet by97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5Fiaoy9Hj
several strong hands. “We will take what we need from you then I will spend a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJOXQqTVmi
lot more time cutting you to pieces. I’ve always wanted to hear you scream.”
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Maybe, just maybe, Peyton will come97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGG9ARROnT
here himself that way he could show everyone that he was innocent. He would97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2nnM34uwO
have to bide his time and wait, however. Hopefully his reinforcements would97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfexhxJkMD3
arrive to save them, but he shouldn’t count on it. If Peyton knew they were97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Hk8zNHqS6
mobilizing the army he would make it quick. For now, he willed his body to97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UzvJrsuxL
relax. However, he wasn’t going to let them get away with it. He and the demon97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh70bBdwX4s
were going to have a lot of fun before they were killed.
