Page 73

The castle felt alive with violence, the very air vibrating with the promise of it.

The door slams open and two men Ivy recognized from the kitchen rushed in. Panting heavily, their eyes darted around the room before landing on her and Alice. "Please Miss Ivy," the taller one urged, "we must go now. Vice has instructed us to take you and Miss Alice to the safe house."

Ivy's heart leapt into her throat. "What's happening?" she demanded, her voice shaking. Alice clung to her, her eyes wide with terror.

The shorter of the two men spoke up, his voice urgent. "It's the rebellion, Miss Ivy They're attacking the castle." Ivy's heart skipped a beat.

The taller man, his face etched with urgency, nodded towards the bookshelf. "The secret passage, Miss Ivy, we need to go now."

Without wasting another second, Ivy grabbed Alice's hand, gently pushing her into the secret passage. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of Pomni. "Come on," she murmured to herself. "Where are you?"

`

Suddenly, a flash of movement caught her eye. The puppy had wriggled free from Alice's tight grip and was cowering in the corner. Alice ran past Ivy and scooped her up. “Come on Alice baby, we have to go.” Ivy said gesturing to the secret passage. Without a word Alice ran with Pomni tightly in her arms into the passage. They all make their way through coming out into the hallway with the suits of armor. The tall servant quickly looks to make sure it was safe then ushered them out. A sudden deafening boom that rattled the suits causing some of them to fall sounded. “Alice!” Ivy screamed as she snatched her back by the arm just in time as one of the axes came down right where she had been standing. Causing Alice to drop Pomni. The puppy landed with a small thud and took off running. "Pomni!" Alice cried out, breaking away from Ivy to run after Pomni.

"No," Ivy yelled running after Alice. She grabbed ahold of her. "I can't lose you. You go with them, I'll get Pomni and meet you."

Alice's eyes filled with tears, but she nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Be careful, Mommy," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Ivy bent down to kiss her forehead, her heart aching. "I will, baby. I promise." She gave her another quick kiss. “I love you; I’ll be right behind you. Ivy said firmly. She then turned to the men. “Keep her safe,” The men nod. “We will, Miss Ivy.” She leaned into the tall man whispering in his ear. “If I'm not there in five minutes after you get there, go without me.” She pulled back and looked at him. The man nodded then grabbed Alice by the hand gently guiding her down the corridor. She watched them disappear into the shadows, the sound of their retreating footsteps echoing in the emptiness.

Turning back, she ran down the corridor jumping over pieces of armor. She rounded the corner and saw Pomni darting away, her little paws slipping on the cold stone floor. "Pomni stop" Ivy called out, her voice echoing in the vast corridor. She didn’t stop. Ivy then whistled catching the puppy's attention. She skidded to a stop, looking back with wide, scared eyes. "Come here, baby," she coaxed, her voice soothing, as she patted her thighs.

The puppy took a tentative step forward, then another, until she was close enough for Ivy to scoop her up. Pomni's tiny heart raced, her little body trembling against Ivy's chest. The warmth and comfort of the puppy's soft fur brought a semblance of peace amidst the chaos.

Holding Pomni tightly, Ivy turned around and started back the way she came from, her eyes scanning for a secret passage she recalled from her earlier explorations and rushed to it, her booted feet thundering against the stone floor. Her hands trembled as she felt along the wall, searching for the mechanism that would release the hidden exit.

The booms grew closer, the walls trembling with the force of each impact. The air was thick with dust and the acrid scent of burning wood. "Come on!" she murmured to herself, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Her hand finally brushed against the hidden latch, and with a silent prayer, she pushed it open. The secret passage yawned before her, a narrow, dank corridor leading to freedom. But before she could take a step, strong hands grabbed her from behind. Ivy's eyes went wide with terror as she felt the cold steel of a knife press against her throat. "Not so fast, you're coming with us," one of the men snarled, his breath hot and sour in her ear.

"Get off me!" she screamed, her voice echoing down the corridor. The two men held her tightly dragging her back towards the main chamber. She fought with every ounce of strength she had, her nails clawing at their arms, her legs kicking wildly. But they were too strong. Pomni yipped and barked, one of the men kicked Pomni hard. Sending her flying into a wall. She remained motionless.

Panic surged through her, "Pomni no!" she yelled, desperation making her voice hoarse.

But the men were relentless, their grip tightening as they dragged her away from the puppy. Ivy's mind raced as she searched for a way out of this nightmare. Her eyes darted to the shadows, looking for any escape route.

As they approached the main chamber, the sound of fighting grew clearer. The sound of gun shots and the grunts of men filled the air. The light grew brighter, the flaming torches highlighting the chaos unfolding before her.

Ivy's heart dropped as she saw Vice, his eyes wild, surrounded by a group of rebel soldiers. His coat torn, and blood streaked his chest. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by a feral rage. He fought with a fury she had never seen before. He was death in motion.

A rebel lunged at him from the left—Vice turned, caught the man's wrist mid-air, and twisted until bone cracked loud enough to echo. The man screamed, but only for a second. Vice yanked him forward and drove his hand straight into the man's chest, pulling his heart from his body in a spray of blood.

Another rushed from behind—Vice spun around, and kicked him in the jaw so hard his neck snapped with a wet pop. Ivy stood frozen. Not out of fear. Out of awe.

He moved like a god of vengeance—rage made flesh. Every step was precise, brutal. A dance of carnage. Blood slicked the stone floor, pooled around his boots. He didn’t slip. He didn’t stumble. He thrived.

A rebel tried to grapple him—big, burly, full of desperate strength. Vice let him get close. For a heartbeat, it looked like the man had the upper hand. Then Vice drove his elbow into his throat until it collapsed. The rebel dropped, choking to death on his own crushed windpipe.

More came. Five. Six. Maybe more. Vice didn’t slow down. He grinned. And then—he roared.

It wasn’t human. It was the sound of something unhinged, unchained. A beast reveling in bloodlust. He charged, slammed a man into the wall so hard the stone cracked, then he dragged his knife across another’s abdomen—intestines spilling like ropes, steaming in the torchlight. One tried to run. Vice walked up and drove his boot down on the rebel’s head until it caved in.

The walls were painted with blood. The air reeked of iron and smoke. Ivy’s chest was tight. She should've been horrified. Instead, she couldn’t look away and God help her a little turned on. He was unstoppable. A monster. A war machine soaked in blood and righteous fury. And he was hers.

One rebel tried to crawl away, sobbing, dragging her body like a worm across the stone. Vice stalked up behind her,grabbed a torch from the wall—and drove it through the back of the woman’s skull.

Her body twitched. Then stilled, flames licking at the open wound, the smell of burning flesh thick in the air.