Smoke and Mirrors
Chapter Two: Fallen Kingdom

Sapphire Ragna Nightborne

I ran past the various battles that were taking place around me, watching as friend and foe fell one by one, their glassy eyes turned to the night sky. With each cut an opponent made, blood decorated any canvas that was available to it and hence, painted all of us. It dyed our clothes, matted our hair and painted our faces, covering us till the point we were unsure if the blood belonged to us or to another who was slain.

Many tried to attack me, they lashed out with their claws and knives, I could have avenged the fallen, but I could not afford to lose the time that it would take from me, as of now, time was of the essence. I needed to get to my nephew as soon as possible, no matter what. I dodged the many attacks directed at me with the agility that my other body offered, covering more ground quicker than a human ever could.

I mentally cursed as the metallic scent of blood burned the inside of my nostrils, with my senses heightened I could smell every drop of blood that was shed, I could hear every scream my comrades made. It took all my willpower not to run to them and save them, my heart broke each time their hearts stopped.

Family, that is what we are, we are connected as one and each time one member fell the howls of the rest broke through the night sky as they too felt the same pain I did, the feeling of your heart being ripped out. Many might have shunned me and hurt me in the past, but they did not deserve this.

A growl of acknowledgement passed through my black lips as two large wolves came running to flank my sides. We ran at full-speed till we came to the gates of our last barrier against the enemy. Three of us howled as one, a howl from the stronghold gave the signal for the large door to be opened and we raced inside.

Relief was what I felt when my eyes met the sweet blue ones that I loved. My nephew ran towards me and threw his tiny arms around my large head, burying his little head in the thick fur. I glanced around the room to meet the eyes of my generals, I bowed my head to convey my thanks for bringing my nephew to Blackwater Hall, our last stronghold.

I gently pushed my nephew aside to allow to switch back to my human body, my generals turned their eyes from my naked frame, but I did not blush or attempt to hide myself as I had become desensitized to being embarrassed when I shifted due to my training as Head Warrior and Commander as we were forced to shift multiple times during training and being embarrassed by one’s own body was just ridiculous. I thanked my generals as they handed me clothes and signalled them to return to the battle raging on at our doorstep, they each clasped my hand and brought their forehead to rest against mine. This was how my people said farewell to each other when they knew there was a high chance they would not come back...alive at least.

After they left my eyes found the body of my sister and thanked the Moon Goddess that they brought her here before her body had the chance to become mangled beyond recognition. I could not help but reach out to stroke her caramel hair smiling as the memories of our childhood where we often played and braided each other’s hair came flooding back.

Under normal circumstances she would have been given a grand burial where packs from all across the lands would be invited to honour her and it pained me to think that she would not be able to even receive a normal one. The least I could do now was to honour the promise that I made her.

“Sapphire, promise me that if anything were to happen to me or my husband, you will risk your life to ensure Antony’s safety.”

“Cordelia, we are at our strongest, who would dare challenge us.”

“I am serious Sapphire, promise me that you will take Antony and run to the human settlement behind the mountains to start a new life there.”

“Lia, I cannot see that happening, but I promise you that if anything were to happen to you I will ensure Antony’ safety even if I have to pay for it with my life.”

How ignorant I was to think that our so-called ‘might’ could protect us forever and that our peaceful lives would stay as they were for the rest of time.

I looked down at my sister’s still face, she looked as beautiful in death as she did when she lived. I will honour my promise to her, so her death would not be in vain, her son will live.

My thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang coming from the entrance of our stronghold. The metal hinges of the huge oak door groaned in protest as the impact pushed them to their limit. I knew the enemy was trying to force their way in and they most probably had the entire area surrounded which would allow them to break the last barrier we have against them in less than fifteen minutes, but unfortunately for them, no one knew the secret passages in and out of our borders like I did.

I gave one last sad smile to the guards who took their places in front our flimsy last barrier. They nodded in acknowledgement before gesturing at me to go.

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My nephew whined in protest as I unceremoniously dumped him onto his bed, I paid him no heed as I started to pack the essentials for the journey.

I did not bother with food as the forest surrounding our borders were teeming with various wildlife which I could easily hunt. I packed a few pieces of century-old jewellery that I knew would fetch a pretty penny at the human settlement. I was so focused on what I was doing that I did not hear my name being called and only broke out of my reverie when I felt a tug on my pant leg.

“Angel, auntie is busy now.”

“Where are we going?”

I could only stare at his baby blues so full of innocence, he did not deserve what happened, he did not deserve to have his family torn apart.

“We are going on a trip Angel.”

“Oh okay, Mummy and Daddy will join us later, right? Mummy is only resting because she got hurt but she will heal soon, I remembered what you told me, our kind heal fast so Mummy will be alright in no time.”

I looked at his eyes that were shining with hope and my heart broke at the hopeful smile that he paired with it, how could I tell him that not even our accelerated healing could restart a heart that stopped working. Tears welled but I could not them fall, I have to be strong for him.

“Of course, Angel.”

I ruffled his hair as I lied through my teeth.

“Okay then, I am going to bring my teddy along so that he can keep me safe from all the other bad guys out there.”

He gave me a toothy smile before running to get his bear, unaware that his life had just turned upside down.

I could barely hold my tears back as I resumed packing what we needed to start our new life in the human settlement. My hand ran across the fabric of Antony’s duvet and I smiled as I remembered how he was adamant to change it to gold because he thought it was pretty which caused Ryder to nearly faint in shock. My eyes turned to the wooden windchimes that hung from his window, I had made them for him the day he was brought home to us and had painstakingly carved symbols that meant protection and growth.

My musing was interrupted when a loud bang echoed through the house, the sound of people shouting followed and I quickly tied the bag close. Running to the large mahogany shelve that sat on the other side of Antony’s room, the wood started to splinter as I gripped it tight so as to give me enough leverage to cast it aside.

My hands roamed the cracks in the stone wall behind it, trying to feel the abnormality that would be a give away for the fake wall. Antony ran to my side when the sound of footsteps making their way up the staircase grew louder. My hand movements became more frantic before a small wave of air came through one of the larger cracks.

“Angel, please step back.”

I took a deep breath before punching against the spot with all my might. My knuckles screamed in pain as the grey stone became flecked with red, but I kept going till it gave way under the pressure. I pushed out enough rocks such that there was a small hole that was enough for me to go through, I hoisted Anthony inside before grabbing a couple of matchsticks that I took from his drawers.

I struck it against the stone wall before placing it against a tapestry that had hung next to the shelve, it caught fire and began to burn. I struck more against the wall before dropping them on Antony’s duvet. I quickly crawled into the hole in the wall before tuning to see the room that held so many memories for Antony and I go up in flames. I grabbed Antony’s hand and raced down the tunnel, to get us as far away from the smoke and fire as possible.

The passage we were now walking through was small, dark and smelly, the skittering of rats echoed down the hallway. Antony’s grip on my hand tightened with each noise that echoed in our ears, his other hand squeezing the life out of his bear.

This passage was built centuries ago by our ancestors when they needed a way for the children and women to escape when they were at war with Man, and as the years went by, the passage was soon forgotten until I dug up the old records in our library when I was hiding from our Elders. I traced the scratch marks that covered the walls of this passageway they were left by the people who ran from the chaos aboveground centuries ago, just like us now, however, unlike them, we were never coming back.