~Emily~



My heart was deeply troubled by the news Luther just passed on to us.


But after a short while discussing with Rowan for whatever reason, Luther left the grounds.



Finally, time to start off my training, now that Luther was gone I had Rowan all to myself.

He still looked pretty banged up from the brawl he had with Zayne, but his movements were as sharp as ever.



'Hey Emily, how are you?" A smile appeared on his face, as it is whenever he sees me. He's a very nice Lycan and I wish my sister could really see him in a new and different way.


'Not so good Rowan" How could I be? When there is a war lurking around the corner. Surely Zayne isn't expecting me to run out to the battlefield like the other warriors.


'Hey, don't worry about the war. We the warriors of the Lycan kingdom can handle it, OK?"

Rowan's words calm my heart a bit. His voice was very assuring.


'Thanks!

So what are we doing today?"

I asked curiously.


'Today you will be joining ten others, we will be doing something different"


'Different? Like what!" I couldn't help but be more curious.


We walked up to the other young Lycans, all of them seemed to be waiting for Rowan's instruction like myself.

'OK, aspiring warriors of this great kingdom!

Today we will be practising archery!"

A loud chattering erupted from the crowd, they all seemed dumbfounded by Rowan's challenge.

'You will be practising your aim, using this bow and arrow to hit the target"

He pointed to a cage filled with black crows.

So we will be shooting down birds. I felt a bit confident.

Back at Riverview, once a week Mum would normally take me and Steph to fields, to shoot down birds from the sky. We would do that almost all day whirling away the time.

Although Steph was better than me at that, I was able to gain valuable experience which could serve as an advantage for me.


I looked around at the other Lycans. Their faces were troubled, they seemed reluctant to perform the archery challenge.

Don't they know how to use a bow and arrow?

'OK, I will give an example"

Rowan picked up a bow and arrow, ordering a warrior to let out a crow from the cage.

'Observe!" he instructed, stepping back to demonstrate. With a steadying breath, he focused on the target. The Lycan warriors and myself included watched, our breath held.

Rowan gently placed his arrow between the bow, setting himself up for a shot.

He tightly closed one of his eyes, enabling him for a better aim.

And with a fluid release, the arrow sailed through the air and caught the wandering crow straight to its head.


Rowan turned back to us, a twinkle in his eye. 'Did you see that?" he asked, his voice laced with satisfaction.

'It is not merely the strength of your arms but the strength of your spirit that guides the arrow. To hit the target, you must first align your heart with your intention"

I was inspired by Rowan's brief speech, it was as if he was referring to me.


'So, who's next?" With the bow held up in his outstretched arm, he then encouraged a warrior to step forward and try to replicate his example.

A footstep escaped from the crowd, Phil!

The young Lycan whom I fought with on my first day.

He walked out with a certain elegance, confidence oozing with each step he took.

Rowan handed him the bow and an arrow. Releasing another crow from the cage, Phil let out an arrow to the air. It moved at a great speed heading straight for the crow.

Oh!!

The arrow slightly avoided the crow, as a huge gasp escaped from the crowd of lycan warriors gathered.


'Impressive, Phil. Better luck next time" Rowan placed his massive hands on Phil's shoulder.

Phil returned back, his head bowed, disheartened.

'Anyone else want to try?" Rowan asked again.

'Emily, come give it a try, huh?" Rowan turned in my direction.

'Me?"

There was no escaping this for me. All the eyes of the Lycans fixated on me.


I gradually walked up to Rowan, my steps very sluggish.

'You can do this, I know for sure" Rowan whispered to my ear.

He handed me the bow and an arrow, releasing a crow to wander in the sky.


I placed my hands firmly on the bow, my grip very tight.

I gently placed my arrow between the two parts of the bow.

With an eye tightly closed, I released the arrow to the sky. It glided with the wind, but its direction was still unwavering.

I looked on in anticipation as did everyone else.

The arrow travelled straight through the heart of the crow as it dropped dead on the floor.


'Yes!!"

A huge applause erupted from the crowd. The sight of this warms my heart. There's no better feeling for me than when I get appreciated for something I did right.


'Well done Emily! I knew you could do this" Rowan said, his voice very encouraging.


We practised at it for a while, there were some misses but mostly hits for me. I was crushing it against the Lycans.

Finally! Something I'm better than them at.


'Okay warriors, that would be enough for today!"

Rowan brought the training to a halt. The sun was beginning to set.

Today's training wasn't really excruciating as the combat training normally held, but my body was still drenched in sweat.

My breathing was heavy.

'So guys you will pick it up tomorrow, OK!"

The lycans gradually dispersed into their various places as I patiently waited for Rowan to walk me home as Zayne strictly instructed. I wondered why he was so extra in his protection for me, sometimes it feels nice to be valued but sometimes I wish he didn't overreact over me.

But I really didn't mind Rowan walking me home.

With him we get to catch up on the experience of today's training and other things happening in our life.

I take Rowan as my elder brother more than anything.

.

We walked to the castle, and to our surprise it was quite rowdy. Everybody was scrambling to their rooms.

'What's happening, Rowan?" I asked, my voice laced with worry. 'I don't know, follow me, I'll walk you to your room"

Rowan held my hand tightly, as he snuck our way round the crowd and went straight to the maid's quarter.

'Rowan!" a familiar voice reached our ears.

Zayne.

'OK, we have some worrying news," Zayne said, his face troubled, he then turned in my direction.

'Rowan take her to her room and shut the door"

Distress was evident in Zayne's voice.

Without a waste in motion, Rowan took me by my hand as we raced for my room.

I was still dumbfounded by everything that was happening.

'Rowan, please , what's happening!" I asked Rowan, I myself wasn't even sure he knew what was happening.

'I don't know Emily, but stay in your room no matter what"

Rowan said in urgency before slamming the door.

I locked up my room as Zayne instructed before laying down on my bed.

I crossed my arms behind my head as I looked up at the ceiling.

My mind was deeply troubled.

Has the war started? If it has what if any of those vicious vampires barges into my room? I know I'm training, but I'm far from ready to defend even myself or my sister or anyone else.


After a few troubling thoughts, I snapped myself out.

I was alert to the environment around me. Everywhere was dead silent. It was so quiet that one might even hear a pin drop.

As my heart slowly reprieved itself from all the chaos, I heard a distant female scream.

'Arggg!"

Who was that?

My heart rate instantly rose again. My eyes were wide open, my body restless.


THUM THUM


I heard very loud footsteps approaching my room.

I cuddled myself up in a corner of my room, as I waited for the worst. My heart was pounding, the corner of my eyes were heating up.


'Emily!" Zayne barged into my room, his face was very troubled.

I breathe a huge sigh of relief on seeing Zayne. But he didn't look satisfied at all, seeing me okay.

Is something else wrong? Is this about the scream of that girl?


'Steph"

Zayne mumbled under his breath before dashing out of my room, fortunate for me I was able to pick up what he said.


But what's wrong with Steph, wait was she the one screaming.

No!

'Zayne, wait!" I screamed at him but he carried on running towards the other section of the maids quarter.

My voice was very audible and I was sure he heard me, but he chose to ignore me.


I can't stay here, my sister might be in trouble. I rushed out of my room following Zayne from a fair distance as we headed to Steph's room.


Zayne reached the room before me, but shortly after I arrived.

My mind went blank as I arrived at her room, I stood at her door with my eyes wide open, my lips parted, a few tears escaped from my eyes as they rolled down my cheeks.

I stared at the broken window in her room, the shape of a vampire. But Steph was gone.


'NO! Zayne, where is she? Zayne! Where is she?!"

'They took Emily, the vampires took her".


'Let's go after them, now! They couldn't have gone far, Zayne, please. They'll kill her!" pleaded to Zayne. My voice was very tense.


'They could have gone anywhere by now, They can easily teleport to their kingdom.

Well go after her Emily, I promise but first we get some sleep"

Zayne drew me closer to his body as I continued to sob.

His warm presence seemed to have settled my tense heart just a little.

As we walked back to our rooms I could feel Steph slipping away from me, yet again.


What's the essence of my training, if there's no one to fight for?

I failed on my promise to mom, to protect Steph at all cost.


It was a very gruelling night for me. I couldn't even lay my head to rest. I could only watch from my window at the stars and moon until they gave way to the rising sun and soon it was morning.

My body was weak and my eyes heavy, as I was deprived of sleep.


I rushed to the kitchen and collected Zayne's tray and quickly brought it to his room.

He was up and doing, when I peeped through his slightly opened door.

He was engaged in some push up, his body was covered in sweat.

KNOCK

KNOCK


After a few minutes of Zayne's incredible physique I finally decided to knock.


'Come in Emily!" I walked inside his room, dropping his tray carefully on his stool.


'Zayne when are we going to the vampire kingdom"

I asked impatiently, for me every passing minute, the more I could feel her going into the darkness.

'We?

No Emily there's no we, I will be going tomorrow with my training…. '


'Tomorrow? No Zayne please you said we go today" I cut Zayne off the moment I heard him say tomorrow.

If we come tomorrow, Steph might already be dead.


'Don't worry Emily the vampires won't eat your sister, not now at least.

Human sacrifice usually takes two or three days.

Emily you look tired go to your room and get some rest"


'Zayne… - NOW! Emily!"


Zayne cut me off before I barely said a word, his voice was stern as he ordered me to my room.


I reluctantly headed back to my room, my heart saddened, I couldn't waste another minute.

'I have to go by myself.. I don't care I will go and find my sister"

I said my voice very confidently.

I look at a light bag, and in it a bottle of water. I had to sneak out of the castle, I can't afford Zayne or anybody to see me.


I gently walked down stairs, my steps very gentle and calm.

I walked in gaht fashion, till I was past Zayne's room.

My steps quickened as I made haste for the main entrance of the castle.


'Hey, where do you think you're going?" a voice called out from behind me.