Serene’s POV

We had gone through the plan a million times. The week of the attack was finally here and everything was right on track. Zeph and I were among the chosen few novices who would accompany the joint forces which comprised of Slayers, Fae, Werewolves, Witches, Warlocks, Hybrids and Folkels.

Rizar and Artins Sensei were heading the forces. Kilamin and Alpha Anmadius also joined us. Prince Zohun Li and my father stayed behind to guard the realms in case the enemy tried to counterattack or in case we failed to kill the enemy.

All realms had been placed on high alert and the remaining forces were guarding the borders and patrolling them. For me failure was not an option, today was the day we ended this evil once and for all.

We moved stealthily through the Dark Realm. Three units had been formed, there was a combined werewolf-fae unit (in this unit werewolves would attack from the front while fae will protect them with their magic from the air.) Alpha Anmodius was leading this unit and included Lavaria Sensei and Lancile as well.

The second was the witch/warlock-folkel unit. In which Folkels would be protected by the magic of witches/warlocks while fighting the enemy. Artins Sensei was the leader of this unit. Zeph was with them for he had his legendary sword and vanishing potion so Artins Sensei believed this would be critical in bringing the enemy down.

The third unit had a variety of everyone including me and we were being led by Kilamin. We were the rear unit and my job was to protect everyone with my shield once the other shield bearers from other units get depleted of their energies.

After traveling for two days and nights we were getting near the Wampir Realm. Shields were up all around us, protecting us from the creatures of the dark. I sat with Zeph while some of the witches handed over food to us.

"You alright?" Zeph asked with concern while I slowly nibbled at the bread they had given me.

"Yes," I replied slowly. My mind was in turmoil thinking of the condition of the people of the Wampir realm, especially our friends. Will they still be alive? And how many more of our comrades was I about to lose?

Glancing around I found Zilver and Ziva huddled together, a lot of our seniors were accompanying us. Everyone seemed tense, everyone was on the edge of losing their mind.

"Serene, remember to not overdo yourself," Zeph instructed me as he whetted his sword with a whetstone. The sword gleamed in the little light that filtered through the dense atmosphere of the dark realm.

"Zeph, I don’t want anyone else to die," I sighed deeply and placed my head on his shoulder.

"Let’s do our best and leave the rest to fate. We can’t control everything," he pressed his lips to my head and kissed me lightly.

"Let’s move everyone, head back to your assigned units. Remember the strategy and keep the formation," Artins Sensei announced and murmuring began as everyone took their positions.

I hugged Zeph before letting him go, my heart felt heavy, and my soul hurt but I had to be brave. I had decided to fight till my last breath and save my companions and also to set our friends free from her mind control.

We began to move again, and a lot of creatures just scurried away seeing us approach, a few would decide to attack but were always cut down by the front unit.

"Serene, stay close to me at all costs," Kilamin instructed as he walked side by side with me. I nodded.

We were near the Wampir realm’s border and soon the first unit crossed the threshold which divided both borders, followed by the second unit and blood-curdling screams and shouts filled the air as bodies of the creatures being slaughtered fell and filled the air with the pungent smell of their blood.

We stayed behind, for now, hidden until required. The werewolf unit had transformed into their werewolf forms and was clearing the path that lead to the castle, where our main target resided. Hundreds of Shubas made a perimeter to not allow any trespassers to enter the Wampir Realms. Famios and other shield bearers protected the attacking units as they fought and killed them. Healing Fae and witches healed and protected our units as they thrashed through the shrieking Shubas and paved the way forward for us.

I wanted to join in and was dejected to see my comrades fighting while I stood on the sidelines but Artins Sensei had told me to reserve all my energy for the time we would face Meliana. She was our main goal.

Kilamin, Rizar, and Artins Sensei had stretched the boundaries of my powers in the last month and my shield’s range had tremendously increased, it could stretch for miles now and last for hours even with continuous foreign attacks on it.

There were some new arrows in my arsenal too and they were deadly and fatal, some I had only thought of conjuring just for Meliana. Kilamin was still apprehensive of a few of my arrows and had instructed me not to use them but I knew if it came down to her and me in the end I would end her regardless of what would happen to me. As long as she was dead, never to wake again.

The bloody battle lasted for an hour, Shubas were hideous and dangerous creatures as they constantly changed their forms it was impossible to judge what their next move would be.

But we had practiced and were prepared for almost all known creatures of the dark realm and fought relentlessly. When finally last of the Shubas fell, most of our forces were unscathed thanks to healers and shield bearers.

But this had blown our cover and we could hear sirens in the distance, this meant she knew we were coming and a bloody battle was about to ensue. She would be prepared now but so were we, this was do or die now and we were ready to die.