The Silent Soldiers Read online

  Chapter 21

  “The boy has turned out to be stronger than we ever could have imagined. We have completely failed at every attempt we made at capturing him. He has the sword, he rescued the pathetic prophetess, and now he even has his mother back!” Nhados yelled from the dark cave. Adriana bowed to Nhados on her knees in front of him.

  Nhados and Adriana were no longer in the familiar dark cave. Their location was definitely unknown. It was safe to say they definitely were not in the Earth realm. The night sky above them had a dark violet tint to it. Two beautiful full moons hung low in the sky in the background. The two beings appeared to be standing on top of some type of castle.

  Adriana knew she had failed her master time after time. Her biggest mistake had been blowing her cover when she attacked Luke outside the mansion. She had been in the woods heading to a meeting with Nhados. He told her she should have abandoned the meeting to keep the shifters from finding out about her. She had definitely underestimated the intelligence and power the boy possessed.

  “Stand to your feet, child,” said Nhados with a growl. Adriana slowly stood to her feet and you could see tears running down her cheeks.

  “Please forgive me, Master,” she said as a sob escaped from her throat.

  “You have failed and disobeyed me time after time, Adriana,” Nhados hissed at her. His hands were behind his back as he spoke to her. A long silver dagger magically materialized in one of his claw like hands.

  “I know we can make this right if you can just give me another chance,” said Adriana. Nhados remained silent. His glowing red eyes flared bright as he stepped closer to her. She didn’t see the change in his eyes with her head bowed to him. She didn’t dare look at his face knowing he was infuriated.

  Nhados stepped close to her putting one arm around her shoulders as if to pull her into a hug. Adriana began to cry softly thinking Nhados had found favor with her. Her eyes grew wide as Nhados brought the dagger from behind his back and plunged it deep into her chest. A single gurgling moan escaped Adriana’s chest as Nhados shoved the blade all the way to the hilt. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as the last sparkle of life drained from her eyes.

  Nhados pulled the dagger from her chest as he allowed her dead body to slump to the ground. He had decided Adriana would fail him no more. Nhados turned around and walked away from Adriana’s body. Nhados now faced at least a dozen small figures all cloaked in dark colored hooded robes. They all stood at attention in front of their master.

  “Phase one will begin soon. I hope, for your sakes, that you do not fail me as this wretched shifter has. If you cannot succeed in eliminating the boy, you will pay with your lives,” Nhados roared at the cloaked figures.

  I leaped from the chair I was in when I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder. I wheeled around to find out it was Grandpa. I think I scared him as much or more than he scared me.

  “You stayed here all night didn’t you?” he asked with a warm understanding smile.

  “Yes, sir,” I replied a little embarrassed.

  “I figured you would,” he said still smiling.

  “I guess I should go up and get ready for school,” I said. I definitely didn’t want to go, but it’s kind of hard to cut class when you live with all your classmates and teachers.

  “I have excused you from your classes for the day,”

  “Really? That’s great!” I exclaimed. I looked down at Mom and was surprised that she was staring up at me with a smile on her face. I thought it must be some sort of miracle, but most of the bruises that covered her face and neck the night before were nearly gone.

  “How…” I started, but Grandpa cut off the rest of my sentence.

  “We heal rather quickly with a little rest,” he said with a giggle.

  “We?” I asked confused.

  “Shifters,” he replied, “We heal at a much faster rate than humans. Not nearly as fast as vampires, but much faster than humans,” Grandpa explained. I had witnessed first hand how fast Vampires heal after I carried the nearly dead Dakota back to the mansion after finding him in the woods.

  “How do you feel?” I asked Mom.

  “I’m still rather sore, but other than that I feel fine,” she said as she continued to smile up at me. I couldn’t believe how much better she looked.

  “I could definitely go for some breakfast right now,” she said.

  “I’ll go get you something,” I said as I started to turn for the door.

  “Why don’t we go together?” Mom asked stopping me dead in my tracks.

  “Are you well enough to get out of bed this soon?” I asked. I then noticed for the first time that the IV that was infusing the blood was no longer attached to her arm. I also realized that the lady who took care of her the night before was gone as well.

  “Of course, Luke,” she said, “I am fine.”

  “I brought you some clothes of your mother’s to put on for now, Sandra,” said Grandpa, “I will send someone into the city today to pick you up some new ones.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” she replied. Grandpa bent down and kissed mom on the forehead and said,

  “I am so very happy you are home.” Grandpa and I stepped out of the room so Mom could get dressed. I waited at the door, and Grandpa excused himself to other business. Mom looked absolutely beautiful as she gracefully passed out of the doorway of the hospital ward. She took my hand, and we headed for the dinning hall. We pretty much walked in silence all the way to the dinning hall. It was impossible to put into words the feeling I had walking hand in hand with my mother for the first time. I was so caught up with my feelings that I couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

  The dinning hall was empty by this time. Everyone was either in class or at work. We went straight to the kitchen to order food. We took a seat at one of the huge tables and waited for them to bring it out.

  “Luke, when you are ready I must tell you about your father,” said Mom. She insisted on bringing up the subject of my father. I knew I needed to listen to what she had to say, and get it over with.

  “He’s dead isn’t he?” I asked and waited for her to answer.

  “Luke, I want you to know that your father and I were trying so very hard to make it back here together. We couldn’t wait to see you, and be together again as a family. He died protecting me,” She said as tears began to stream down her face. I looked down at the table not wanting to see her tears. I was trying hard to fight back my own. I had the feeling he was dead, but I didn’t want to accept it.

  “I don’t know what to say. Tell me what happened.”

  “Your father and I had been hiding out in the mountains of Montana since we placed you in the care of your uncle. We staged the plane crash so everyone, including our families, would think we were dead. Somehow Nhados found us and sent his men to capture us. Vampires came at us from every direction, but your father wasn’t going down without a fight. He told me he would hold them off so I would have time to escape. We were to meet at the airport and catch a plane to Little Rock yesterday.

  I waited for him for several hours, but he never showed up. That’s when I got a flight to Little Rock and went to the Hotel where you found me. I must have been followed because not long after I checked in the vampires attacked me. You already know the rest of the story. You guys got there just in time. A few more seconds and I would have surely died.

  I sat there unable to speak. I had never met my father, and now I never would. No longer able to hold back the tears they began to flow silently down my face. Mom reached over and slowly rubbed the middle of my back trying to comfort me. Neither of us spoke for several minutes. I continued to cry, unable to hold back the tears any longer, and Mom continued to do her best in comforting me. She softly wiped the tears from my face as they continued to fall. I finally stopped crying before our breakfast arrived, but I no longer had an appetite. I remained deep in thought as my mother ate her food.

  “Oh no!” I e
xclaimed.

  “What’s wrong” Mom asked.

  “Grandma is still out looking for you,” I said as I dug my phone out of my pocket. I sent Grandma a quick text message letting her know mom was here at the mansion now, and that she could come home. I sent Jack the same message. I knew he received the text because a few seconds after I sent it he appeared in the room right next to us.

  Mom proceeded to tell him the same story she had just told me of her escape from their mountain hide away. I was relieved to have my mother alive and here with me, but I was very much saddened by the loss of my father. I sat there staring at my mother as she continued bringing Jack up to speed. I jumped to my feet as Grandma came into the dinning hall at that time.

  “How did you get here so fast?” I asked her as she practically ran to the table where we had been sitting. Mom stood up and Grandma nearly tackled her into a deep embrace. They hugged and cried together for what seemed like several minutes with neither of them saying a word. Finally they stopped long enough for Grandma to tell me that Grandpa already informed her first thing this morning about mom. She said they got here as quickly as they could.

  I wanted to spend time with mom, but I really wanted to be alone for a while to clear my head. I also knew that Mom and Grandma had a lot of catching up to do. I probably could have gotten away with being selfish and keeping her all to myself, but instead I excused myself and headed