"Did all the vampires in this kingdom go to the same school?" Willow drawled, hiding the rising panic inside her behind sarcasm.
"What did you say, bitch?" The vampire advanced, trying to corner her with each step.
Willow checked the warehouse behind the vampire as if his presence doesn't concern her. Only one. Good.
She can use her power but overuse may leave her defenseless later when she may need it more. She doesn't know who else found out about her. Even now, someone could be approaching the warehouse or already heard this vampire and might be waiting for her if this vampire fails.
She couldn't risk it. Decision made, Willow completely dropped to the floor and swiped her right leg tackling the vampire to the ground before he could bat an eyelash.
But the vampire is fast. He swiftly stood up and grinned, licking his fangs.
"You want to play, doll? Let's play," the vampire made a rude gesture clutching his crotch.
Willow wrinkled her nose and instead of replying, she took the weapon from her back as she whirled and jabbed the vampire's stomach with her elbow. Before the vampire could feast upon her vulnerable neck, she twirled and sliced at his shoulder.
The vampire hissed looking at the blood seeping out of his arm. All the playfulness gone, the vampire lunged at Willow.
Willow noted the weak spot of the vampire, ducked from the vampire's outstretched hand, and stabbed at his thigh.
The vampire howled in pain. "Bitch, I'm going to savor you before I give a slow death to you."
The vampire took a step back, now on guard. He didn't try to come close to Willow. Instead, he tried to spot her weak angle. They both danced around each other for a few seconds.
Sensing the urgency of the situation, Willow gave up the defense position and with surprising and unexpected speed, lunged at the vampire, nearly slicing the dagger through his neck.
His neck toppled and fell down while the body still stood, waiting for the command from the brain.
His expression is one of open-mouthed shock. Willow quickly wiped the blood on the dagger on the vampire's shirt and looked at the dead body.
"Fuck!" She swore as she had to use her power no matter what to cover the evidence.
She dragged the body with a vine just like the werewolf, another vine carrying the head, and soon made the ground swallow the body.
That's too much power usage in a day. Willow once again checked the premises and with light steps, melted in the shadows.
Just like last time, she used the vine to crawl on the branch of the tree. Within seconds, the group returned muttering about trees.
Thankfully, from what she could gather, no one questioned the trap. They seem to believe the werewolf just wanted to grab some attention. Of course, the enmity between these two Supernaturals helped her case.
All the same, Willow waited for a good long time until all the commotion died down. After what seemed like forever, Willow dropped to the ground and stealthily walked to the car she had "borrowed".
Once she reached her temporary oasis, Willow took a shower and laid naked on the bed, closing her eyes and going to sleep within seconds.
She woke up groggily to the darkening sky. Dusk has just set in, with the sky changing into a spectrum of orange before settling to a dark shade.
Willow took care of business or her "morning routine". With a toast and a soda can before her, she started writing on her journal with her right hand as she munched on her toast.
Goal- to find out the mystery circling around the vampire kingdom.
Facts- vampires and werewolves are kidnapping other Supernaturals.
Motive-
Willow paused in her writing as she pictured the hospital room in the warehouse.
Motive- for their blood? But why? Why would they need it? Unless there is a mage who is ordering them to do it.
1. How does a mage tally in this situation?
2. Mages don't do anything unless it benefits them. What does the mage ask in return for his/her services? (Blood??)
3. If so, what services she rendered and to whom? Who is the one with power here?
4. Where does the rogue situation that guild head fit in this? Or is it separate?
5. Why is no one taking action about missing Supernaturals?
6. Who is handling the missing files?
7. Why does no one know about this? Even a guild. How did it slip Guild's eye? Or did it slip? Is this the reason the Guild's head pushed me in this direction?
She slammed the journal hard, not getting anything except more questions and headaches. Thinking it would be better if she did something about it, Willow packed her bag, this time with her gear, and went to the warehouse location.
For three days, Willow watched the warehouse, perched on her branch- taking note of the routine of the guards, their positions, their break times... everything.
She didn't miss the fact that no one was concerned about their missing vampire teammate. In fact, they neglected it as if swatting a bee. Is that a trap or are they really unconcerned?
The only diversion in this routine is- once they took out the vampire who looked almost starved to the bone in their car; bound and blindfolded.
Willow tried to follow at a safe distance but she soon lost sight of the car in the busy city streets. With each passing day, her frustration mounted. A day wasted means one more day without food for those captives.
She can't let those captives in those cages much longer. They are already starving and are looking like they are at death's door. If she delayed any further, those children...
However, what happens if she rescues them? They will get recaptured again. If not them, then some other group. There will always be some people she has to save. And one day, she might get caught rescuing them.
No. There must be another way. It's no use killing those vampires and werewolves. From what she learned; they have the look of mercenaries. Whoever is hiring them, will hire some more. They are like the heads of a hydra.
She needs to stomp this snake before it can slither into other kingdoms and make them slaves.
But how? Where should she start?
On the fourth day, she saw a different group of baddies, guarding the warehouse. She quickly counted the numbers. The number is the same but the group is different.
It means, the previous group is assigned somewhere else. But where?
Her answer came when she followed the group on the seventh day. She has to forgo her sleep. But it was worth it.
She presumed the group would disperse and go to their respective hide-outs. But no, the group stopped at the building which looked more or less like the previous warehouse.
Upon inspection which she did with the help of her gift, she discerned this is another cage house. Willow sucked her breath as the meaning dawned on her.
There is more than one. Of course, why would a rat stash its supply in one corner? This is an organization. A well-oiled organization that is smuggling Supernaturals and harvesting them.
From the three different groups of mercenaries, she deduced there must be at least three warehouses. Oh god! This is bigger. Much bigger than she thought. If what she guessed is right, then there might be at least a thousand Supernaturals captured and held hostage in these warehouses right in the middle of the city where the king lives.
There is so much wrong with this picture.
Willow haphazardly scribbled in her journal with each passing day, her questions mounting.
She dropped her pen on the desk and looked at her weapons. Some daggers, a handful of arrows, a small sword, two different bows- one smaller in size and great for speed, some guns, and bullets.
That's it. She didn't pack much as she assumed the border patrol might suspect something. Her mistake. Now, she might have to face an organization with this handful of weapons.
Even if she faced and defeated them, how will she rescue those Supernaturals? The cages seemed to be made of different metals- allergic to respective kinds. Iron and silver. If that is not enough, she noticed the runes that are binding the captives to the cages.
How will she face an army of mercenaries with her limited supplies and no magic baubles?
First and foremost, she needs to find the king and find out the reason behind his lack of interference. By ignoring this, the king is blatantly trying to start a war with the remaining Supernaturals. Or did he want the war?
"Where the fuck are you?" Willow swore loudly to no one. Her mission is to spy on the king and here she is thinking of a rescue mission. But then, she always bends the rules to her purpose.
Anger will solve nothing. Rubbing her forehead to diffuse the upcoming headache, Willow closed her eyes.
She ran the past days slowly through her mind, looking for any missed clues in her mind's eye.
She felt guilty because though she tried to help those captives, she couldn't do a thing to the vampires staying in those cages. She can't pass the blood without triggering the alarm on the runes. The only thing she was able to do was to grow those edible fruits for other Supernaturals.
Those sorrowful eyes of the vampires haunt her. Some even looked at her accusingly as if she willingly differentiated between them. But that's not the case. She is helpless.
She also knows that she is playing with fire by entering those warehouses and supplying food. If not now, soon she will get caught. And then what?
Willow banged her hand hard on the table before her. With a deep breath, she shoved her thoughts to the side and concentrated on the warehouses.
Slowly, picture by picture she evaluated each scene until she finally looked at the thing, she was missing all along.
"How could I be so stupid!" Willow slapped her forehead with her palm.