Few miles away from the royal castle, four black steed, rode at full speed on the narrow dusty road. Three of the riders were in guard uniforms, few steps away from the fourth. The fourth rider was none other than the Crown Prince Leonard. His midnight eyes was fixed on the road, with his grip on the reins of his horse tight.
After his brief conversation with the head of maids at the maze, he went back to the dungeon he was through out the previous night, to torture the market vendor. After no longer than a minute, he confessed everything he knew relating to the werewolf that bit the King. He gave them a lead on a particular witch, who specializes in performing sacrifices on and of werewolves.
A normal vampire would have just compelled the vendor right at the market, but the crown prince saw no fun in that. He would rather have them being torn away from wherever they were, setting examples for others not to cross him. The cries and pleadings he gets from his victims, are like music to his ears.
The market vendor didn't know where the witch stayed, but having dealt with witches for more than a handful of times, he had an idea on where she might be.
News are always quick to spread among people, and the capturing of the market vendor would have reached the ears of the witch. She would go to a place most vampires wouldn't dare go, because of rumours of it being a cursed place. Most people that entered, never came back. Humans, vampires, werewolves, and even witches themselves, don't step foot there, except when necessary. The place is a thick forest called Shrine.
With a sharp nudge, Leonard's horse took a sharp turn, with the others following suit. The forest soon came into view, and the horses slowed down. The gurads weren't terrified as this wasn't their first time doing things like this with the crown prince. The horses entered the forest, and they finally stopped. The riders dismounted, their boots coming into contact with the dampy earth.
The forest had a particular gloom. The air felt suffocating, with spider webs floating on it, along side a foul stench. That had the men's palms come over their mouths and noses.
The prince's eyes swept the tall oak trees, with his ears picking up sounds of hooting owls.
"Are we to slipt up, Your Highness?" One of the guard asked, with no trace of fear in his voice and eyes. They all turned their attention to the prince, waiting for an answer or an order.
"No, it's too dangerous," he said, as he felt they were being watch from every angle, "we form a circle. We need eyes everywhere. Be ready to mount your horses at my signal, and take out your swords."
Immediately he said that, the three men reached for their waist and pulled out their swords. The slash of metal piercing through the air. They seized the reins of their horses, and turned their backs to each other. They stepped back simultaneously, till they formed a circle.
Leonard also pulled out a weapon, but not his sword. He pulled out a small knife from his boots. His ears picked up movements from behind him. With a sharp turn, he threw the knife towards the direction of the sound. The knife landed on the bark of a tree.
Suddenly, a red liquid slowly poured out it, and the arms and legs of a person, that rhymed with the ashy colour of the tree bark, came to view. The knife fell, followed by the person it killed.
Leonard walked to it. Squatting down, he pulled his knife out of its chest. He grabbed a chunk of its hair, and tilted it's head to the back, showing a face, with multiple dry cracks. Its light green eyes stared wide open, with blood spilling from the corner.
"Marrrrrrrtha!!" A stretching voice from above suddenly wailed, catching the men's attention. They saw a figure from another tree jump down. The figure had similar features to the dead one. Its skin was ashy and cracked. Its eyes were light green, with it's hair dark and frizzy.
"You demon crreaturres," It hissed, "you killed my sisterrr. I shall have yourrr head! And eat yourr hearrrt!" Her eyes were fixed on Leonard, who now stood on his feet. His face showed no emotion, as he drew out his sword. He took a stance, and tilted his head. The corner of his lips pulled in a smirk, like a person who just received the gifts they've always wanted, and he said to the witch.
"Let's dance."
The witch hands turned to claws, and she flung it at it. Her wrists snapped and went straight to the crown prince. Before they could get to him, he swung his sword and sliced them in half.
The witch was quick to grow another, but this time she didn't lunch it at him. It went to the tree behind her, and pushed her palms into it. Tiny roots spown out of her palm, crawling on the tree. The earth from the tree began to crack, going towards Leonard. The muddy ground beneath his feet suddenly burst open, and green thick vines crawled out, ready to wrap themselves around his feet.
With a flip, he was able to avoid them, and as they shot up at him. He used his sword to slice through them. Just before the witch could react, he took out the knife he used on the previous witch, that was by his waist, and threw it at her. He landed on his feet, and at the same time, the knife came into contact with the witch's head, pining her against the tree.
Her kind of witches don't die from that, and Leonard and his men knew that. Knowing the prince was a bit away from her, one of the guards left the circle. He pulled a rope from his side and tied her around the tree tightly.
Through all of this, she tried to fight out, but it was if no use. Leonard started making his way towards her and she suddenly yelled on top of her lungs.
"AHHH!" Her scream was more like a wail, that had the men bring their palms to protect their ears.