I CHALLENGE YOU

Damien’s POV

I couldn't sleep. I kept staring at the ceiling and turning on my bed. I tried to take away the thoughts of Freda out of my head but it wasn't working. If only there was a way I could check if she was fine. 

I stood up from the bed and drank the glass of blood on the table since I hadn't had any for the past nine hours.
I went down the stairs and walked outside lost in my thoughts and the next thing that brought me out of my thoughts was Freda's voice. Using my superspeed I ran to the gate where the sound came from 
When I arrived at the castle gates, my heart dropped at their unconscious state. Blood hung thick in the air as the guards lay unconscious on the ground with stakes in their hearts, I quickly removed the stakes and they should be awake in the next thirty minutes.  

My senses were enhanced by rage and terror guiding me. I followed the faint aroma of Freda's perfume mixed with the stench of Veresstina's scent. I dashed to the forest behind the castle and immediately I saw both of them at the front of an old uncompleted building. How did Freda get back here? She's meant to be out of the kingdom.

Freda stood surrounded by Veresstina and some other girls in a clearing slightly outside the forest line, in front of the uncompleted building. As Veresstina pushed Freda to the floor she held her cheeks, with Freda's hands on the floor shaking at her sides, Freda's face was pale and her eyes wide with terror she turned away the moonlight created a ghostly sheen over the scene which highlighted her frigid cruelty.
"Freda!" I yelled, my voice slicing across the evening like a razor.
Her head whirled around, relief flooding her face as she found me. Veresstina quickly removed her hand from Freda's cheeks. Veresstina turned to face me, a nasty smirk spreading over her face. I ran over to Freda's side and helped her stand from the floor.
"Damien," she said, her voice dripping with contempt. "How thoughtful you are to come see us. Just going to prove to Freda she’s not strong enough to lead beside you and she can never be like us.
My vision became red at the idea of Veresstina exploiting Freda as a tool for her twisted desires; rage bubbled inside me. "Let her go, Veresstina," I said, stepping forward with my fangs out. “You’re doing all this cause you want to be queen and let me tell you Freda is much more stronger and suitable to be my queen” 
Veresstina laughed, the sound empty and frigid. "Oh, but I am stronger than this human girl that has made you weak, Damien. I intend to lead with you and make the strongest vampire king ever, Freda and her human people and the stinky werewolves will first bow before us.
"I'm never going to bow to you." "My mate, my king, is Damien. You never will take that from me.

Though Freda left me and didn't want to be king, my heart warmed with pride at her words. Veresstina's friends drew in closer to Versstina, their eyes shining with violence. How did I end up having this girl on my bed, what did I even see in her?  I can't believe I once told her she would be my king but then she played my brother and I planning to be with anyone that becomes the king.

" Enough!," I yelled, my voice ringing through the woods. “Veresstina, I can easily pick you and your girls and throw you all in prison plus your families too but that will be a very simple punishment. How dare you all challenge your King?” 

“Oh, I intend to watch you do that. We’ve shared a lot, King Damien”, she growled. "But yes we challenge you, if you choose Freda you don’t fit to be our king."

Veresstina opened her mouth as her fangs came out. Her friends took the sign to be ready for war as their fangs bared and claws ready to split apart before I could respond. 
But before I could do anything Freda shocked me with her actions.  
Freda stabilized herself; she sidestepped the initial attempt quickly, her hand grasping for a nearby branch. She swung it with unexpected force, sending one of the vampires off-balance.


Still, Freda was human and there were far too many of them. One of Veresstina's friends managed to seize her from behind, her fangs millimeters from her neck, despite her best efforts. My blood ran cold at the sight, but before I could move Freda twisted in her hand and drove her elbow into his stomach with enough power to cause her to release her. She staggered back, and her breathing became rough, but she was still upright, she’ll surely recover quickly.

" Freda! " I yelled, my voice tinged with both respect and terror. "Hold on, I'm coming!"
My rage driving my every action, I surged towards Veresstina who came to block me from moving to Freda. Our fangs and claws tore through the air as we battled for dominance. Though Veresstina was strong, more than I had expected, I was stronger. I could not allow Veresstina to win.
As I fought Veresstina's friends came to attack also, they were plenty and could easily outnumber me but I’m their king stronger and powerful than them. Blood heavy in the air permeated the clearing as snarls and screams filled it. With everything I had, I battled; my attention was only on protecting Freda and the throne.
 
But Veresstina was persistent. She matched me blow for blow, her frigid wrath sending chills down my spine. With a low snarl in her voice, "You think you can save her, Damien?" She challenged me. Wasting your time on weak nonsense”
 
Her comments set off a wave of anxiety in me, but I pushed it aside, focussing my fear towards strength. I needed to defend Freda. I had to.
 
I glimpsed Freda out of the corner of my eye as Veresstina pounced at me with her claws extended. She was encircled but still battling, I could see she was getting tired and weak. Pride hurts as much as terror in my heart. I could not part from her. not right now. hardly ever.
 
I yelled, throwing Veresstina off balance and sending her slamming to the ground. I neglected to let her heal. I was on her right away, my teeth bare as I got ready to call this once and for good farewell.
 
But just as I was ready to strike, a scream shot through the air, and frost coursed through me.
 
It was Freda.
 
Whipped around, my heart stopped to see one of Veresstina's friends sinking her fangs into Freda’s shoulder. Her hands grabbed at the vampire's arms as she battled to free herself, her eyes wide with pain and fear.
 
" No!" I yelled, desperate with a raw voice.
 
I never considered it. I moved, sprinting across the battlefield at a pace I had never known I possessed. Just as the vampire turned back, I arrived at Freda with her blood streaming from his fangs. I grabbed her away from Freda and without thinking, my wrath blinded me as I split her apart.
 
Freda staggered to the ground, her eyes fluttered closed and her breathing shallow. My hands shaking, I dropped to her knees next-side and cradled her in my arms. "Stay with me, Freda," I said, my voice breaking. "Please stay with me."
 
Her eyelids fluttered open, her gaze unfocused as she raised her head towards me. She muttered, "Damien," her voice frail. "I apo .....I apologize.
 
As I hugged her close, tears distorted my vision and my heart broke at the sight of her so fragile, so wounded. I whispered, "Don't be sorry," and planted a kiss on her forehead. Just hang around with me, Freda. Please.
 
But a shadow crossed us before she could respond. My blood running cold, I looked up to see Veresstina above us, her eyes shining with victory.
 
"It's over, Damien," she snarled with a satisfied voice. "You have failed, don't say I didn't warn you."