Venusa stood up. Her lower belly was in pain but she had to be strong. Her people and family are in danger. She can’t just lie around. Even if her limbs are cut off, she must find a way to protect them.
Venusa faced Atlas. “Atlas. Can you fight them?” She asked him and he nodded. He’s done it before and he’ll do it again.
Venusa smiled and gave him and kiss on his lips. “Fight them, protect the pack.” She said with her eyes swelled with tears. “I gotta go.”
“My love…” Atlas couldn’t complete his statement. His tears were already falling. Venusa embraced him and wept on his shoulder.
“I’ll be fine. I promise.” Venusa said and Atlas nodded. With one final smile, Venusa turned around and disappeared. Atlas cleaned his tears and faced the approaching enemies. One turned and his eyes blazed with rage when he saw Atlas raging toward him. On getting to the wolf, Atlas grabbed him by his tail and swung him out of the way. Atlas recognized the wolf. He was Northwolf, the beta of Redmoon.
Northwolf collided with an oak tree and fell to the ground. Even with that impact, he stood back up. This surprised Atlas. How did he survive that?
“Hi, Atlas,” Northwolf said mockingly.
“What do you want?”
“What else? We destroyed all of Redblood Pack. We can’t let their alpha go scot-free, right?”
Atlas’s heart dropped. “You… what did you just say?”
Northwolf laughed jestingly. “Aww, see your face. Do you wanna cry? Those little tarts kept calling your name as their throats were ripped open. Atlas… Atlas….. At… lass.”
In rage and agony, Atlas rushed to Northwolf and got on top of them. North kept wiggling to get him off but Atlas’s grip was strong. In a swift, Atlas got a good grip and broke his neck. North fell down dead and Atlas got off him. There was something off about North’s blood. Atlas bent and touched it. It had a burning sensation. A normal wolf’s blood does not feel hot. What could this be?
Just then, he heard an explosion from afar and left North. There are other pending things to get to. Venusa on the other hand just reached her main residence. Everywhere was in commotion and flames. The warriors are doing their best to fight the invaders but Venusa could see they weren’t winning. It was easy for her to destroy whoever tried to block her path.
“Riaz!” Venusa yelled in tears. She needs to find her son.
“Mummy!” She heard Riaz’s little voice.
My son!
She looked around where she was and found him crutched down in fear by a little tree. A wolf was approaching him.
“No, you don’t!”
Venusa sent spears of thorns to the wolf and they pierced his body into pieces. Venusa rushed to her son and held him dearly.
“Mummy.” Riaz cried.
“It’s fine, my love. I’m here.”
“Mummy, I’m scared. What… what are these? Mummy, uncle Roma…”
Venusa looked sideways and saw Roma groaning in pain. He was covered in blood and heavily wounded. Venusa rushed to him and healed his wounds.
“Are you okay?” Venusa asked and Roma nodded.
“You should go. Take Riaz far away.” Roma said breathlessly. “He needs to be safe.” He added. Venusa nodded and picked Riaz up.
“I’ll clear your way,” Roma said as he stood up. He shifted into his wolf and Riaz stared at him in shock and fear.
“It’s fine,” Venusa assured. “He won’t hurt us.”
Roma led the way and fought off the wolves that tried to stop them. He cleared the way for them until they got to the entrance of the forest.
“Stay safe,” Roma said and Venusa nodded. She planted a kiss on his forehead and patted his head. “Thank you,” Venusa said and Roma howled. He turned and ran back to the clan. Venusa held Riaz tightly as they ventured into the forest.
“Mummy, where are we going? What of daddy? Are we going without daddy?” Venusa could not answer these questions. Her heart felt heavy. She tried so hard to hold her tears, she doesn’t want him to feel heartbroken.
They got to an oak tree and Venusa created a cocoon on the bark of the tree. She picked up Riaz and put him in it.
“Mum…” Riaz cried. Seeing her son’s teary eyes, Venusa finally burst into tears.
“My love,” Venusa sniffled. “I can’t go with you.”
“Mummy… I can’t stay alone. I’m… I’m scared.”
Venusa embraced Riaz tightly. Her body shook as she wept in agony. “You’ll be fine, Riaz. Mummy is going to go back and chase out those invaders. When mummy is done, I’ll come back and fetch you.”
Riaz shook his head. “No…” He held his mother’s hands with his little ones. “Don’t leave me, mum.”
“I have to protect you, my love.”
“No, no, mummy, come with me. I can’t go alone. Mummy!!”
Riaz kept crying desperately, wishing his mother would come with him. Venusa looked away from him as she closed the cocoon.
“Mum! Mummy! Please! My mummy!”
Riaz kept hitting the cocoon. Shaking violently inside, in hopes that it would just collapse. Venusa placed her hand on the cocoon and whispered,
“Take him somewhere safe. Do not let him out until you’re sure he’s safe.” Just as she said that the cocoon disappeared and left a trail of fireflies. Venusa stood up. She felt like a thousand pieces of thorns were plunged through her heart. She looked down at her belly and rubbed it. Her baby was still moving. She smiled out of tears and looked forward.
“I’m going to kill those bastards!” She yelled. She tore off the sleeves of her gown and made an enchanting nature cry. A loud roar echoed in the forest and Venusa yelled,
“Obey me!” She ordered and the lions, tigers, bears, and even creatures as little as an ant, obeyed the command of mother nature. She stood powerfully and they assembled behind her. She led them to the clan and ordered,
“Kill whoever lays hands on my people and family.” At her command, the creatures of the forest rushed toward the wolves. She looked around for Atlas. When she saw that he was in good shape as he fought, she felt assured. Her husband is okay.
A warrior rushed past her and she called out to him.
“Where are my parents?” She asked.
“Your highness, they are fine. They are fighting with the warriors.”
Everyone is okay. Just then, a loud bang landed on the ground. The impact sent people flying away, including Venusa. Thankfully, she was able to catch onto the horn of a reindeer. The dust in the wind cleared out and Venusa was able to see who or what caused the collision.
She got off the reindeer and smiled appreciatively at him. She looked around and saw that almost all of the animals were dead from the impact.
“Atlas!” The giant man called and Venusa turned to Atlas.
“Long time no see, am I right?” He said.
“Khan,” Atlas called.
“Ah, so you remember me?”
“What do you want?” Atlas asked as he approached Khan.
“Nothing more than your head.”
“You have some nerve coming here, Kahn. You failed once, what made you think you’d make it this time?”
“Remember what you told me, brother?” Venusa frowned. Brother? Are they related?
“Do not underestimate your enemy,” Khan said and Atlas tilted his head.
“Just go, Khan. There is no way you’re getting what you want.”
Khan smirked and glanced at Venusa.
“Don’t touch her,” Atlas warned and Khan chuckled.
“Ah… so you have something to protect now, huh? Do you know what that makes you?” Khan signaled to one of his minions, Tok. Tok understood his master and attacked Venusa.
“Venusa!” Atlas yelled.
“It makes you weak!” Khan punched Atlas in his abdomen and threw him afar.
“Just stay princess,” Tok said and Venusa glared at him. Just then, Venusa felt her lower belly hurt.
“No… don’t tell me…”
Yok saw this as an opportunity. With an evil glint in his eyes, he punched her on her belly. Venusa cried in pain and fell to her knees. Atlas could not pay attention in his fight. His eyes were on Venusa. This was what Khan wanted. He wanted him to feel weak so he would win. Venusa could not get on her feet. Yok kept hitting her on her stomach. Atlas could not bear it. He left Kahn and rushed to Yok. Just as Atlas was reaching Yok, a hand pierced through his heart and pulled out his heart. He fell beside Venusa with a hole in his heart.
“Atlas!” Venusa cried. Atlas gave her one last smile before he went cold. Venusa looked up at Khan, who has Atlas’s heart in his hand, smiling victoriously.
“Looks like you’re the only one left,” Khan said. Venusa looked around and he was right. Her people’s dead bodies littered the ground. No one remained standing. She lost her son. Her parents are dead. Her husband is also gone. And it’s all because of them.
Venusa’s eyes blazed with blue fire as she stood up.
“I’m going to kill you!!” She roared. Her voice sounded enchanting, like two people were talking through her. She grabbed Yok by the neck and he burned to ashes immediately. She turned to Khan.
“How do you want your death?”
“Calm down, Princess. Let’s come to an arrange…” He touched her arm. This made Venusa even angrier. Venusa raised her hand, ready to pull his head off his body when she felt her body weaken. Kahn grinned mischievously as he saw that his poison was working.
“What..”
Venusa fell to the ground beside her husband. Something burned through her veins. The pain she felt was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. She didn’t struggle. She lay beside her husband and held him to her heart.
“My love…” She choked on her tears. “I’m sorry.” She sniffled. “I couldn’t protect you.”
She coughed out blood and Khan laughed menacingly. Venusa looked at him, her tears were blood and she felt nothing for him but hatred. She looked away from him and faced her husband.
“I love you.” She said before kissing his lips. As life left her body, she made a promise.
No matter how many times she is reincarnated, she will make sure she kills Khan every single time.