If there was one thing Day couldn't deny about his friends, it was their incredible daring. He who had thought that things would be done discreetly, he was very wrong. How stupid it had been to think for a moment that they would do something like everyone else. This is how he got off Nyx's motorbike in front of the entrance to the very long driveway of the Monty manor.
"It just looks like a forest."
"Yes! I can hardly believe that we will find a house by following the path. Besides, how do we get back?"Foud asked when he got out of his car.
"We're going over the gate."
"Property breach by breaking... I like this idea more and more!"Dark Nyx smirked, forcing the portal."Hoho, but it's open! That makes it easier for us and makes it less fun… I'm a little disappointed."
"I find it strange that such an old and seemingly powerful family leaves their gate open."
"If you want my opinion, they leave it open so that the vampires that come out of this forest can come back quietly without having to go all the way around. They come out on one side and then come in on the other, so they are sure not to. not attract attention."
"People have seen them."
"Go out, not go in. These guys are smart, but they're going to face smarter than them!"
"Who?"
"Me, of course!"
"Obviously, why am I still asking the question? Is the ego okay right now?"
"Perfectly good! Ah, I can't wait to beat up two or three!"
"We came to save Minndt, not to start a war between seemingly rival families."
"They don't know we are… Wait."
"What, what did I say?"
"Nothing. Someone is here."
Day's senses went on alert, and he watched all around him as he stepped onto the private lot. Nothing around, not a movement, not a shadow. Nyx led the way with his brother, letting the two omegas watch their backs and make sure no one was following them or stepping out behind them. All bolted abruptly when Nyx and his brother changed their appearance to take on a new body.
"Stay behind me," Foud ordered, reaching his arm back to keep him from advancing.
"They have become wolves!"
"Hush, speak less loudly. They are there!"
"But what are they doing to take such a form?"
"They are searching. The smell of a wolf coupled with their overdeveloped sense of smell allows them to know exactly where the danger is. As long as they don't move, the danger is far away."
"I thought they were ready to do battle?"
"Not against pheromones. If several alphas release their pheromones in large quantities, they will get angry, it will not last long, and you will end up in a hell of a state! They protect us. Wait until they are sure of the drop danger."
"Why would they use their pheromones?"
"Because it's an easy and vulgar weapon, fucking your ass would be damn useful to them."
"I beg your pardon?"
"If one of them bites you, he can make you do what they want by keeping you under control with his pheromones. That's what you want, to end up like a puppet who will eventually give birth to one of their kid?"
"Shut up. It's disgusting!"
"That's the truth, Day. Let's wait patiently, and everything will be fine, don't worry."
The wind picked up gently between the tall trees as the wolves' growls grew more and more threatening. These began to move forward, and the two omegas followed after they had waved to them. The blond walked most carefully and dodged every little branch on the muddy ground that became covered with black gravel as they made their way through the forest. Their footsteps grew noisy in the wood where the hooting and wind became more and more oppressive. A crack of branches from behind made them stop. All turned to see eight vampires in front of them. Before Day had time to draw his sword, the two twins reverted to their ordinary appearance and stepped between the two omegas.
"Oh, who is coming. The gods are out of their hole," a vampire quipped as he loaded his rifle."It's time for the hunt."
"Run to the end. We are joining you!"Nyx shouted at the two omegas as he drew his long double-edged axe.
"But we are not going to leave you alone!" immediately protested Foud.
"Hey, is that a way of addressing someone? What did you take me for ?!"
"An omega? Come see the big bad wolf with your dear friend… No one is against a little bite."
"Damn but shut up dirty pig!"
"Oh damn, I'm going to turn this one into ashes. Foud, please, do what I tell you we'll take care of it, stick to the plan and what we came for!"
"Yes. Obey little omega before the big bad wolf comes and devours you all."
"You are dead, pervert. Foud, do what I tell you now. Day is with you. I'll call you back. Don't put him in danger."
Foud looked at his protégé and hesitated a few moments before grabbing his wrist and forcing him to run without ever stopping. The shootings behind them made flying birds in the area, but they do unhook their gaze from the horizon; they had to reach the end of the aisle at all costs. Only, the path to the house was much longer than they expected, but the two omegas persisted, kicking their feet a little harder in the gravel. When the manor's facade appeared in front of them, the two friends drew in their last strength to accelerate until Foud falls to his full height in a scream. The arrow stuck in his shoulder made Day tremble, looking up at the trees to see two red pupils disappear.
"Don't worry about it. Keep moving forward! Nyx will join you quickly!" Foud snapped, trying to withdraw the arrow.
"I'm not going to give up on you. These people can hurt you as you have said..."
"I'm older than you. I learned to put up with those bastards of alphas who abuse their pheromones. So you running and going to find Minndt, think of him he's probably here!"
"You have an arrow in your shoulder!"
"What about him? How is he? Think about him and find him so we can leave asap! It's not the first arrow I take, so you can leave me."
"No! I won't give up on you!"
" Okay, it's an order. I order you to abandon me and find Minndt!"
"I refuse to obey and leaving you at the mercy of the first comer!"
"Day, get out of where I'm sticking one for you. I swear I'll do it if you keep pushing. I'm fine so find him before those bastards get you too!"
The young man looked at him one last time before resuming his run and walking towards the manor with the black stone facade and large white columns. The equally white windows caught his attention: all had closed curtains. The blond took it for ebony and discreetly walked around the large mansion before forcing the lock on the empty's veranda. The many red footprints increased his anxiety, but he continued to move forward and entered the hallway in front of him. Not a sound of footsteps. He continued to tiptoe along the walls, looking around before the door under the marble staircase opened.
"I'm tired of having to go get this and get this..." the taller vampire complained as he removed his gloves.
"The doctor has a good guinea pig, and his curiosity knows no bounds," the second retorted immediately before looking up at him. "If the duke learns that..."
"He won't know anything if you don't say anything."
"He'll find out eventually."
"Not if you keep quiet unless you want me to report you to the doctor and replace that annoying uncooperative god?"
"I won't say anything, I promise!"
"I hope for you if the new leak you will be the first accused."
The second vampire lowered his head and followed his colleague upstairs, again leaving the field open to Day. Now that he knew where to look, he had to do was cross the hall and reach the door! Without thinking more, the blond came out of his hiding place and stealthily walked towards the door while looking around. If he did get caught, his life would be in great danger, but that didn't stop him, the adrenaline in his body increasing as his hand approached the handle. But hardly had the time to catch it when a false cough echoed behind him.
"Sorry to bother you, but I think you haven't nothing to do in my house," sternly said Orthon as he walked over to him. "Show me your face, thug!"
The blond turned to him and looked at him intently before unsheathing his sword and resting the tip of his blade on his chest. Day's hand shook, but he didn't lower his weapon. Especially when the vampire raised his hands in peace.
"I'm not going to hurt you in the slightest bit. I just have a dagger strapped to my thigh," he defended himself as he shaking his leg in question. "Why did you come home. Are you hungry by any chance?"
"What did you do to my friend, you dirty freak?!"
"I don't know about anything!"
"He's in your basement, don't make fun of me!"
"I don't know what they're doing there. I was called for kidnapping this god and letting a vampire who calls himself 'the doctor' take care of it!"
"So it was you who attacked him in that alley. Why?"
"I, um..."
"A sentence has clear words. Stop stammering."
"I'm sure he's okay, he must just be trying to make him give in, but he's a god, a god of spirit and feelings moreover! I'm sure he is… Mmh!"
Orthon's moans were muffled by Moain's hand, which tightened his arm around his neck. His large size made the vampire punier than he was in his attempts to break free. Nyx and his brother suddenly opened the front door, escorting a Foud, roughly groomed.
"Harmful?" Lou asked, putting his hand on Day's shoulder.
"He's the one who kidnapped Minndt."
"Good job, Day. You're fantastic. Where's our little god with the one white wick?"
"In the basement, we have to go rescue him!"
"No!" Orthon cried when Moain slightly released the pressure on his mouth.
Everyone looked at him, and the vampire suddenly felt insignificant. He didn't dare meet a single glance and stared at the door under the stairs before Moain forcing him to walk in its direction.
"Open it up."
"The door?"
"And your mouth. Day asked you why you kidnapped him, you answer."
"Day? The famous Day?"
"Why."
"I have… I have always been fascinated by this god. They said it would be easier if I loaded him up!"
"Who is this 'they' you're talking about?"
"The Order of the Vampires. They told me they needed him since the Lord's son was now untouchable since you're with him. I just had to send my men out into the field. I don't even know where you were!"
"How did you know he would be at the drugstore at this exact moment?"
"My men have told me that the Lord's son was in his heat, but as he has never had one since he was in Inverness, someone would have been forced at some point to go to the pharmacy to help him get better more faster."
"So it could have been any of us."
"If it had been one of you, the Order would have forced me to bring in the god they wanted using you as leverage."
Moain sighed through his nose and gave Lou a look before lowering his finely cut silver and onyx pickaxe. The kidnapper lost his composure as Nyx's brother walked over to him. His throat tightened with fear and leaving him unable to operate the handle.
"You are the owner, aren't you?" the god of deceit and mischief asked with a sneer.
"Duke Orthon Monty to serve you!" the noble vampire panicked, looking at the axe in his hand.
"You are going to serve, indeed. Duke, you are going to serve as a shield and go down first before you tell all your friends…"
"These are not my friends!"
"...To your colleagues in and out of Inverness County."
"I can't, the Order will see him, and I'll be in trouble!"
"It's not my problem. Our friend is being confined in your basement, so you will obey before your head ends up detached from your body!"
"I… I'm sorry!"
"I don't care. Move over and get off now!"
The noble, who was unable to think correctly, nodded briskly and opened the door before starting to descend the spiral staircase. Day was the first to follow him, pressing the point of his sword against his back, forcing him to go down faster. They all stopped when a shrill noise full of interference echoed throughout the house before stopping dead.
"What..." Orthon began, leaning against the wall.
"Come on!"
The vampire duke nodded again despite his severe headache and walked down the last steps of the spiral staircase. Day, Moain, and the vampire twins joined him in front of the large sliding door from which snatches of voices escaped. Minndt's scent was present. The twins could smell it. Even though his scent of beta pheromones was much weaker than that of omega or an alpha. The two of them walked over to the front door and slid it open sharply. The adrenaline that made them euphoric faded completely when their eyes fell on a Minndt strapped to a fallen chair. The blood under his body, victims of spasms restrained by the leather ties, was still liquid. The electrodes on his temples had burned his skin, and his eyes, usually so deep blue, were empty of the spark of life and red with tears.
The doctor and his acolytes, paralyzed by the shock of such an interruption, quickly regained energy and pointing their shotgun at them. The vampire named the medic grabbed Minndt's jaw and tilted his head back, letting his entire throat within reach of the blade he pressed against it.
"One step and I end his life!" he barked before resting his gaze on Orthon."You have nothing to do here, Duke Orthon!"
"You tortured a god under my roof! You just had to talk to him and be a little firm to make him give in, not that!"
"The naive little nobleman is cute when he understands… The Order was right. You have unprecedented credulity."
"The Order didn't…"
"The Order didn't tell me to do this? Yes, the Order told me."
"You're lying!"
"They also told me that I would not be in trouble, but I see that even the Order can not predict that you are such a pain in the ass."
"I don't understand anything anymore. You just had to..."
"But the fuck are you that stupid? I have a head just talking with those whose screams I have to put up with until they don't have more voices?"
"The Order told me you would take care of him!"
"That's what I did. I resisted the urge to slit this beautiful little throat so far. Talking…You are so pathetic. It is not by talking that I would have achieved one. such result, but you just ruin everything!"
"But what result ?! You tortured him!"
"His head felt like giving in completely. The message could have been transmitted over the air a few seconds before stopping! He's tenacious. He's a real pain in the ass! Look, he's smiling now!"
Day had glanced down from Minndt to follow the discussion between the two vampires. But now that he was looking at him, a faint smile was indeed present on his face. He was still conscious, he heard. The blond bared his face and took a step into the torture room before stopping when the guns loaded.
"But who did stop is it!" the doctor rushed forward, pressing the edge a little harder on Minndt's throat."The Lord's son himself, are we done ignoring the world?"
"I willfully ignore those who harassed and threatened me with death."
"What no!" protested Orthon in a crackle of voice.
"Yes, that's what your men did."
"They just had to try to convince you. I gave them carte blanche on the method."
"Now you know their method. Get away from Minndt, and they will leave you alive."
"Bold of you to think I'm afraid of them, kid. What are you, twenty?"
"I have twenty years ago, yes."
"So, little one, you will come and talk when you have a few more years."
"A problem with my age?"
"Kids should stay with their parents and not go on an adventure, especially when they're omega, don't you think?"
"I think you should turn around."
The vampire raised an eyebrow before noticing the disappearance of Nyx's brother and, in a burst of panic, turned around. The vampire god's fist slammed into his jaw before he even had time to understand what was happening to him. His disoriented body was dragged a good yard. That didn't stop Minndt from reacting violently and squirming in his chair, the smell of alphas growing closer and more threatening. The apotheosis of his terror came when Moain had the misfortune to reach out to release him from the straps. His silent crying made the god of earth and gravity take a few steps back, leaving Day to step forward and grab his head in both hands.
"It's me. It's Day," he said calmly, disconnecting the electrodes from his temples."We are coming home. There is no more to be afraid..."
The blond unbuckled the straps and pulled his friend to the side before embraced him. Immediately he noticed his weight loss and the shaking going through his damaged body. His head bobbed against his shoulder to position himself better and partially ease the pain in his tattered mind. Day's welcoming arms tightened around his hungry body and taken him away from the alphas around him, away from the menace until the other gods came down. Foud slid down to his protege and the god of spirit and feelings and parried the dagger strike of one of the alphas vampires.
"Advice Day, always watch what's behind you!" he exclaimed before pinning the assailant to the ground, pressing his knee against his back."A second, never be out of range of your weapon."
"I don't care! he's alive, isn't he Minndt…? Minndt?"
The lack of reaction halted all thought in the mind of the Lord's son, who pushed the god away slightly to observe him. Those eyes were nothing but an abysmal void from which torrents of tears escaped, streaming down upon his eyes cheeks gashed to mix with his blood. The eyes of the two omegas descended his neck, still covered by opened bites, drifting down his chest before arriving at his half-stitched abdomen. Neither one nor two. Day put his arm under Minndt's legs and lifted him off the ground,
"He needs urgent help. He's bleeding out!"He shouted into the high-resonating room, the echo of his voice catching all eyes.
"I can heal him!"Nyx replied immediately, letting go of the vampire he had been striving for.
He barely had time to appear in Minndt's field of vision. He stirred violently in Day's arms, failing to fall several times.
"Hey, Minndt, it's me. Calm down and take a deep breath," he asked needlessly, his words having no resonance in his mind.
"He did the same with Moain. Please do something before he dies. in my arms!"
"I can't approach Day."
"Do something!"
"Toxin, send the most powerful sedative you have on you!"
The god of toxicity unhooked a small vial from his full belt of vials and tossed it at Nyx. With one hand, he caught it and popped the stopper. His other hand gripped the beta god's jaw and forced him to swallow the bluish liquid half-poured through his lips. Nonetheless, the effect of the tranquillizer was almost instantaneous, and the god of mind and feeling became a mere rag doll, unconscious and calm as death surrounded him. Nyx's hand pressed on his abdomen and let his healing power escaped from his fingers.
"He will survive?"
"He will survive if we go home now. His blood quantity is dangerously low. Don't panic, Day."
"I'm not panicking!"
"Your heartbeat, they're betraying you. Minndt will be okay if he stays calm for the trip. How long will the effect of your sedative, Toxin?"
"Two hours maximum," the latter replied from his seat.
Moain took advantage of the lull to walk towards Day and Nyx, waving them down an octave.
"What are we doing for…" he asked in a low voice.
"Day is going to be outside waiting for us with Minndt, and we are going to take care of them."
"I'm not talking about them but him. The Duke. He'sinnocent of what happened to partlyMinndt.
"You are kidding me, I hope? He kidnapped him!"
"Yes, and there he is crying like a child left alone on the side of the road!" "Leaving him alive and alone would be leaving a bomb ready to explode. I tell you sincerely: I would rather than like the bomb explode for our benefit."
"You are not asking that we bring him to our house?"
"He has valuable information about the Order and contacts that should not be ignored. He can be a useful ally."
"Day, what do you think of that?"
The blonde looked at them in turn before sighing.
"Let's take him with us, he could talk to vampires, and we would be at a disadvantage."
"Are you sure about that?"
"I'm sure."
Moain turned to the vampire duke in question and took a few steps in his direction before slamming him against the metal table. Leit handed him some straps that had bathed in them. Minndt's blood and helped him tie his arms under the bewildered gaze of the doctor and his henchmen. The god of earth and gravity forced the duke out of the room, Day following shortly before going at the top of the spiral staircase. Screams escaped from the monstrous room, but Moain motioned for the blond to follow him out of the estate, pulling the duke by the neckband to make him walk faster. They had to get in. Quickly...