The moon rose high above in the sky, beaming its light on Vampire city, illuminating the golden buildings and seeping through the dark alleys. The weather was far from calm and it warned of a forthcoming storm accompanied by the wrath of a desperate woman who aspired to by all means be the Queen. 

Everywhere was quiet, including the streets and the palace. The wind pushed the trees back and forth, almost pulling them from their roots and every soul seemed to be hidden in their homes, trying to stay warm and comfy. However, Luana stood on the top of the royal building overlooking Vampire city in her black coat, black hat, and boots. Her hair was shoved into the hat and her claws were out. Her brown eyes had turned black as she resolved to fish out the Werecats and kill them before Zeidan comes back. Only then will he see how useful she is to the city as the Queen. Her heart fluttered at the thought of being called out as Queen Luana. The thunder rumbled through the clouds and she closed her eyes, arms spread wide and she looked like she was getting her energy from the approaching storm.

"Here comes Queen Luana!" She yelled and the thunder roared again as if attesting to the announcement. 

Opening her eyes, she felt it right to see the army and plan things with immediate effect. The Werecats are around the city already, taking things slowly will only earn them their defeat. She stepped down from the building and made her way to the military field. Her heels clanked in the road and her head played girl on fire as she walked right to the field, fearlessly.

"Nah, I don't think Flora is so bad. I mean she is nice on the bed." The whole men laughed as they sat and laid around the fire outside their tent camps. Some were busy reading books, some drinking beer, and some chattering away just like this handsome bearded man who looked like in his late fifties but agile that just finished talking.

"You're right about that one, brother. I asked her to bring me coffee the other day and she ended up giving me something hotter than coffee." Another man who looked younger also replied and they all laughed.

"Well, she's hot. I give her that but you can tell who is also hot, can't you?" The older man asked again and their expressions became thoughtful wondering who he could be talking about.

"Amanda?" A man called from inside his tent.

"No?" He yelled back to him.

"Cassie?" A young lad asked.

"What? No!"

"Leslie?"

"Okay, enough."

"Luana?" One of the men who sat around the fire called and he slapped a palm across his face.

"No! Not that witch!" They all tapped him as he seemed to have mistaken their words. He looked behind him and he was shocked to see Luana standing there, her face looking all grim and tough as she walked closer to them.

"So, who is the witch?"

She asked but they all kept quiet.

"Nobody. That was a slip of tongue." He replied. She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes.

"You. What's your name?"

"My name is Hudson." The older man replied.

"Nice name. I see you all are enjoying your life. Probably your last days on the planet earth. So, I won't ruin your little party. Not if you refuse to do what I ask you."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Tenser than the weather allowed. She looked up at the lightning striking and still warning of a coming storm. She laughed sinisterly.

"You know setting up camps doesn't work with this weather. Also, I'm sure, you wouldn't want to get your furry ass wet so I have something juicy to propose to you." Luana twitched her lips and stared hard at Hudson.

"I understand you're the one in charge of this army."

"Yes, Ma'am..."

"Your Highness!" She cut in sharply.

"You're right. I'm in charge."

"That's very nice. So, you won't get wet from sleeping under this tent, I decided to give you something better. An offer for you to go and watch the city of Vampire by standing guard at the entrance of the gate and around the walls of the city."

"What? That's impossible"

"Oh, I forgot. It's an order, not an offer." She cut in again mockingly, a mischievous smile playing at the corner of her lips.

"The King hasn't ordered for us to go anywhere." Hudson snapped, his face determined and it angered Luana and she turned to him, her claws protruding and her eyes turning black. 

The rest of the men flinched but he didn't. Before he could move a finger, Luana dug her five long and sharp claws into the side of his neck, making sure it goes right in, and brought out all of the organs. Blood gushed out of his neck as he fell face flat to the floor. Luana licked his blood, her canine teeth visible to the others.

"Any. Other. Objection?" She picked the words cautiously and as if to warn the others to keep their objections to themselves. As she looked around, they all glanced away. "That's right. I'll take that as a no.

"So, I'll have some of you at the gate, some of you around the walls, and some of you must go from house to house, looking out for any sign of Werecats. We must catch them unaware and the best time is now. You all have been assigned to be the army for King Zeidan by your Alpha, King Styx. However, he is not around and he has placed me to represent him. Therefore, it will be nice if you all go do your job before I do it the hard way." She smiled knowingly at them and turned away.

"This isn't right." Dean, one of the men who had been reading spoke up. He wiped the sweat off his forehead. 

"I would have given anything to snap her head off!" Cooper, a young soldier snapped but Dean placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Vampires are different. Very powerful than we are as long as the Onyx is still with them."

"So, what are you saying?"

"I don't know but I'll do anything to take Luana down. Especially as she killed my brother. Rest in toil and sorrow, Hudson, because until I get justice for you, I won't relent."

The thunder rumbled and the sky gave way to its royal guest of liquid drops that fell to the ground. One drop, two drops, until it was enough to wash away Hudson's blood, and the men in their wet armor buried him within the camp, shifting and howling to respect the dead amongst them.

★★★★★★★★★★★★

"They say that there are two sets of people in life. The ones who get to have a choice and the ones who have no choice. And when I got the chance to choose, I chose to not have a choice. I watched myself wallow in self-hate every day as I remember the people I have lost in my journey of seeking justice for my sister. Kent, my husband, and other few people I wouldn't want to mention. But what's more important, is that I get to seek justice for her finally and she can get to rest in perfect peace." 

Chloe ran her hands over the rocky walls and the places that have been hit by long powerful swords. She sighed and faced the woman before her who was dressed in a long black cloak that covered her face, which left only her eyes revealed. She walked slowly towards her as the rain drizzled and her boots hit the floor with an intended sharpness. The ninja dug her sword into the ground and knelt on one knee, placing her elbow on it as if to pay homage to Chloe.

"Respeto a ti oh maestro, porque he esperado muchos días para revelarte el misterio de nuestro reino ... para conseguir el ónix, se deben hacer muchas cosas." She rattled off in Spanish about how she would like to reveal the mystery behind getting the Onyx. 

Chloe rolled her eyes as she walked to the altar where the picture of the man and the lamb stared back at her. She ran her hands over the picture and the red color smeared on it. 

"I don't need the fucking Onyx to get what I want. I just need to kill the King."

"But, master, killing the King is impossible unless you have the Onyx taken away from him. Another way is to let his wife be with him. I found out he is usually vulnerable around her."

"Lyne?" Chloe turned back to look at her.

"She used to be...she is the Queen of the Wolf Kingdom, am I right?" The ninja asked, her voice wavering.

"She is the Princess, not the Queen. Why do you ask?" There was silence between them and only the sound of the rain battering the roof was heard.

"Nothing. I am just wondering if Wolves are hard to kill too." 

It was as if her words had hidden meaning but what could she be saying? She was well aware of her plan to kill Styx and maybe that was what she meant by Wolves are hard to kill. 

"Wolves aren't hard to kill. I watched one bleed to death tonight. Styx can't be that hard."