Blood and Betrayal

Sawyl lunged forward like a bolt of lightning, his towering form a blur of muscle and rage. Joshua stood his ground, bracing for the impact, but the enemy's speed was too great. A monstrous right hook came crashing toward him, too fast to dodge.

CRACK!

Joshua's left arm exploded with pain as the bones shattered beneath Sawyl's fist. A scream tore from his throat, raw and agonizing. The force of the blow nearly sent him flying but Sawyl wasn't finished. With a vice grip, he seized Joshua's right arm mid-air.

"You're not getting away that easy," he sneered.

Then, like a raging beast, he hurled Joshua over his shoulder and slammed him into the earth. The ground shattered beneath the impact. Joshua coughed blood, his eyes flickering white as his mind drifted toward unconsciousness.

But Sawyl wasn't done.

Again and again, he lifted Joshua and smashed him into the ground, each blow cracking the earth like a drumbeat of destruction. Joshua's limbs went limp, his body broken but still, Sawyl kept going. Only when Joshua dangled like a rag doll did he stop.

He lifted the mangled werewolf high into the air, staring at him.

Joshua's body was bloodied and barely alive… but his eyes still glowed green. He glared at Sawyl with burning defiance.

Sawyl smiled.

With a final act of cruelty, he let go and before Joshua hit the ground, drove a devastating punch into his face. Blood sprayed from Joshua's mouth as he was launched into the air and slammed into the ground a distance away. Bones broke, his leg twisted at an unnatural angle, ribs cracked and pierced through skin.

"This is getting boring," Sawyl muttered, turning away. His blue glow faded as he began walking toward the carriage, brushing dust from his coat like it had all been a chore.

Joshua, broken and bleeding, stirred.

Slowly, impossibly, he rose. His leg was mangled, his jaw hung at an odd angle, and blood poured from open wounds across his body.

But his eyes still glowed.

"WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?!" he screamed, the words slurred and garbled through his shattered jaw.

Sawyl paused mid-step.

Then he turned.

A slow grin formed on his lips as he looked at Joshua.

"I like you, kiddo," he said, voice calm. "So I won't kill you today. But maybe next time."

Without another word, he climbed into the waiting carriage.

Inside, Axel stared out the window with haunted eyes, gazing at the broken, lifeless body of James beside him.

As the carriage rolled away, the green light in Joshua's eyes finally faded. He collapsed face-first into the dirt, unconscious.

"Joshua!!!" Jack screamed, crawling forward despite the agony in his shattered knee.

Just then, Zain, Justin, and Luke arrived at the battlefield. They froze at the sight of the devastation. Joshua lay motionless. Lancelot unconscious. James… dead.

A storm of grief and horror swelled in the air.

Zain stepped forward, his expression heavy with guilt. As he approached, Jack's eyes locked onto him. Rage burst forth like a flame.

"You bastard!!! You set us up!!!" Jack roared, his eyes glowing blood red as he leapt up on one leg and grabbed Zain by the collar.

"I didn't!" Zain gasped. "I swear! Someone leaked the information, we've got a mole. On your side."

"Don't fuck with me!" Jack snarled, his grip tightening. "You planned this! You...!"

"Jack," Zain said firmly, "why would I betray you now, after everything? I've had so many chances to do it before. Why now?"

Jack's eyes flickered. His hands trembled.

Then, slowly, he released Zain. The glow faded. Jack looked away, expression torn between confusion and fury.

"We can sort this out later. Right now, we need to get Joshua back to the noble house of Kaizer. He's dying."

Zain hesitated. "But if we take him there, we might be killed for bringing..."

"Then prove I can trust you," Jack growled. "Take us to Kaizer. You don't have to go in. Just get us there."

Zain nodded and carefully lifted Joshua onto his back, his breath catching at the sight of the man's brutalized body but relieved to feel a faint pulse.

Luke lifted Lancelot, and Justin supported Jack onto his back.

But Jack stopped them before they left.

"Justin," he said quietly, "bring James."

Justin nodded solemnly. He gathered James' severed head and gently placed it on the broken body. Then he picked him up, cradling him with reverence.

The group moved in silence, Jack leaning on Justin for support. Their shadows stretched long behind them as they limped back toward the noble house of Kaizer.

When they reached the towering front gates, they gently laid down their burdens, Joshua, Lancelot, James.

Jack dropped to the ground, unable to stand anymore.

Zain lowered his head. "I'm really sorry… If I had found out earlier, I could've warned you… or saved..."

"Enough!" Jack snapped, his voice sharp. "It's in the past. We can't change it now."

The others stared at Jack, sorrow etched into their faces. When he looked back up, Zain, Justin, and Luke were gone, disappeared into the night.

Jack turned toward the gate and summoned every ounce of strength left in his broken body.

"HELP!!! I NEED HELP! HELP!!!"

The gates swung open.

A squad of noble knights came rushing out. One of them took command with swift authority.

"Take these three to the healing barracks. And bring the dead to the royal morgue."

The knights obeyed without question, lifting the broken bodies gently.

As Jack was carried inside, he glanced one last time at James.

His lifeless body disappeared through a separate door, toward the morgue.

Tears welled in Jack's eyes but he said nothing.

Not a word.