Chapter 23

Back home Aiden began gathering the necessary items for the little expedition to save his daughter. He knew the task at hand was enormous and he also knew that it would be very tough to kill Blackclaw at first strike, but he was determined to do whatever was necessary to save his girl and Vanir’s daughters. Blackclaw had destroyed one family too many and messed with the wrong one. He would see to his end if it was the last thing he did.

“Got everything?’’ Amy said with anxiety.

“I think so I can’t think straight now,’’ he replied to her with a disturbed look. It was the most important battle he had ever gone into. If anything happened, he risked losing everything. Even his sanity. This time he had to think things through. Be smart. His baby girl’s life was at risk, and he had no room for errors.

Amy had seen Aiden in that situation before whenever he was about to embark extremely dangerous situations. He would always wear that disturbing look on his face. She knew she had to keep Aiden in one piece if she ever wanted to see her daughter again.

She moved closer to him and gave him a warm embrace whispering in his ears which prompted a smile from him.

“I have never doubted you and you know I love you,’’

“Exactly the motivation I needed,’’ as he held tightly to his ex-wife. He knew why he loved her, he always had. Even a divorce couldn’t change his love.

“Oops wolf bane-almost forgot that’’ he said scratching his head.

Amy shook her head and motioned to him to get the antidote.

“I am sure where going to get through this together,” she said smiling, relishing how an embrace and words got to him easily. She indeed meant what she said to Aiden. She loved him so much.

“Yeah, I got this,’’ Aiden said emerging from the kitchen. What a funny place to keep the things he wondered.

“Bring back our daughter,’’ Amy said kissing him on the cheeks.

With that Aiden exited the building and got into the car that had Vanir in the driver’s seat. He looked back one last time at Amy who looked lost and afraid. He wouldn’t fail her.

In no time they zoomed off heading for Blackclaw’s protective mansion. Both of them held a knot of fear and anxiety in the pit of their stomachs. They knew full well that not all of them would come out of the battle alive.

***



Aiden and Vanir arrived at Blackclaw’s compound around nine pm of the full moons. They stayed at a considerable distance in order to monitor the movements and devise a plan on how they would get into the building and save their daughters. Like any powerful man the place was surrounded with guards. However, it wasn’t the first time that Aiden had snuck into a heavy guard place.

‘’I see three guards manning the gate,’’ Vanir said using the telescope.

“It won’t be wise to go through the gate,’’ Aiden responded.

“Plus, there is six guards walking the perimeter and four in the watch towers,” he added.

“I agree,’’ Vanir said looking surprised at Aiden’s observation.

“What about the walls?’’ Aiden chipped in.

Turning the telescope towards the walls, he noticed a gap and he swiftly notified Aiden.

“We can use the walls Aiden,’’

Getting past the wall was no problem for Vanir. The problem was what lay inside the walls. He knew they would be jumping into a compound where they would be outnumbered and the thought of jumping into a trap baffled him.

“We will use the wolf bane to nullify them,’’ Aiden said as if he was guessing what was on Vanir’s mind.

“Are you sure it will work Aiden?’’

“I know how these things work trust me,’’

“Well, I have no option,’’ Vanir said quietly doubting their plan. Who else could he turn too?

They disembarked from the vehicle and moved towards the building.

Inside Blackclaw’s building, there was a celebration going on. Blackclaw was feeding happily on the people he instructed his followers to get from the prison. He was especially delighted that he was finally going to evade the prophecy by killing Divina and draining all her powers. He would be the king of all kings. Every supernatural being would kneel before him.

“Drink people and be merry,’’ he said sapping hungrily from his victim as his other followers joined in.

“Today, I make myself a god,’’ he said to the cheering crowd while he held a gleeful smile.

“We will kill the girl at midnight and evade such a stupid prophecy,’’

“Bring her out,’’ he instructed. Divina was dragged from her cell. Her sneakers scraped against the stone floor. She was tied to the pillar at the center of the courtyard with the moon overhead purring in.

“Please don’t do this,’’ Divina begged. At that moment she wished she had listened to her mother.

“Aunty, Darren please help me,’’ she continued as both turned deaf ears to her plea.

“No one can help you lil girl,’’ Blackclaw said happily.

Due to the amassed presence in the courtyard the prisons were left unguarded, and Vanir had no problem finding his girls. He moved swiftly in order not to notify the other guards and he was in no time in front of his daughter’s cell. He peered in and he was filled with shame. They had been mistreated because of his mistakes and they look like thin brooms. If his wife could see what have become of them, she would be turning in her grave tossing insults and every curse available to her. He had never felt so ashamed of himself in his life. What had he done?

“Bianca b, b,” he called out to the three girls the shame and pain he felt evident in his voice.

“Daddy?” the three girls chorused in words that were more like a whispered croak.

Hearing his girls weakened voice moved him to tears.

“A-m s- o-rry s-o sorry,” he stuttered as he broke the lock and entered the prison. He rushed towards his girls and embraced them. He squeezed them tightly to his chest. He had been afraid. Seeing them in the little flesh they had left moved him to tears of happiness and guilt. He became angrier with himself for allowing the horrors to happen to his girls. Yet he would make Blackclaw pay for the hand he had played.

“Am so sorry girls,’’ he said as he broke the chains used to tie them. They shattered easily with one yank at his supernatural strength.