My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 203: Return Of The Queen

The vampires standing on guard at the outpost felt a sudden chilling pressure aimed towards them. Thinking that the heroes had found their location, they prepared to sound the alarm. However, they could clearly see that there were only two people quickly approaching their location in the distance.

They looked at each other in confusion. Surely the heroes would not be dumb enough to launch an attack with only two of them? Right? However, the pressure being projected towards them increased in intensity, the closer that the pair came. 

"Isn't that the queen?" One of the guards stammered as he recognised her figure speeding towards them. "Oh shit! She looks pissed!" 

Needless to say, this guard was the first to drop to one knee and bow his head even though Sonja and Raven were still quite far off. The other three looked at him in confusion, taking a moment to digest his words. Then it dawned on them. If the queen was here, then the city had fallen. What was worse was that they had obeyed Marquis Perez's orders to abandon their defensive position. So technically speaking, in the eyes of Her Majesty, they were all deserters!

Their demeanour changed quickly as all colour fled from their faces. They quickly copied the first guard's actions, hoping to pacify the wrathful queen. The Marquis's men, you say? Never heard of him! This was what was running through their minds right now. If selling out their Lord would prevent their heads from flying then would certainly do so!

"It seems we have some smart ones!" Sonja declared icily to Raven racing by her side. Her expression was cold and steady. No traces of a smile could be seen. "At least they know better than to warn the Marquis of my arrival!"

Her eyes darted to the Marquis's flag hanging from the outpost. The moment she had seen signs of life from this outpost that should have empty, her thoughts had immediately turned to the deserters. She had many bones to pick with them, but she could not be picky right now. She needed the soldiers, and surely the civilians that had followed, that were taking refuge inside the outpost. 

Taking control of them would allow her to rebuild their society. On top of that, it would provide a much-needed sense of security during the trip between worlds to return to their original one. 'First, I'll deal with that fucking traitor! Then, a few executions should get the rest under control!' She thought as she considered how best to grind their will beneath her heels.

She withdrew her pressure before it reached too far beyond the walls of the outpost. She did not want to forewarn Marquis Perez of the danger he was about to face. It would be much simpler if she could take him by surprise and rip his head clean off his shoulders! 

"What did you expect?" Raven sneered, "He clearly saw it as a chance to take your position. If you fell during the battle, along with most of the other nobles, who would be left to stand in his way?"

Sonja nodded in agreement. It was exactly the same thing that she had surmised. She was pleasantly surprised to discover that they agreed on this. They began to slow down as they came within shouting distance of the guards. Nobody had noticed the peculiar position they had put themselves in since they were on the outside of the walls. 

This place had never been built to be used as a defensive structure. It mainly housed some supplies for troops to restock on long marches. Generally speaking, it was similar to a rest stop. A place that could provide minimal security for rest. However, right now, the insides of the walls were packed with tents. Smoke rose from several ongoing fires, along with the smell of cooking food.

Beyond its walls and out in the open, even more, tents were gathered at the far side of the outpost. Sonja presumed these belonged to the civilians that Perez had 'rescued' from the war. The other nobles and soldiers would all be inside the walls. This was done to set a clear boundary between their social ranks. Sonja knew exactly where she would find the Marquis due to this. He would have taken the outpost command building as his personal lodgings.

She marched straight past the kneeling guards, not one of them dared to raise their eyes for fear of drawing her attention. They could already guess what was about to transpire, and they wanted nothing to do with it! As the sounds of the two figures passing into the internal area of their camp faded, they gave each other a few nervous smiles. 'We still have our heads!' They all silently rejoiced.

Sonja did not stop in her imposing march. Raven was only a few steps behind her to her right side. He was clearly showing his deference to the authority of the queen for anyone watching them. He knew how important little things like this could be within their society. In fact, even if he had married her and become the King, he would still be expected to act this way. 

Although he would be considered one of their two rulers, the absolute authority would always rest on Sonja's shoulders since she held the spark that gave life to their species. It was something gifted to her by the goddess who turned her. Increasing her personal strength exponentially and marking her as their chosen ruler.

The common folk knew nothing of this, it was something known only to the noble houses. Each one had personally investigated to find out if there was a way to seize this power for themselves or something that would be lost with her death. In the end, they had all decided to settle for competing to become her King. Giving their house an edge over the others.

Sonja eyed the door that was the entrance to the largest of the five permanent buildings that occupied the outpost. By this point, many vampires had noticed her presence within the camp. A crowd had quickly gathered and silently followed her to here. Without a glance at the onlookers, she marched up to the door and lashed out with her fist. An explosive sound erupted as the heavy wooden door was blown off of its hinges.

The dust settled, and the vampires inside stared at the figure in the doorway with a mixture of shock and disbelief, opening and closing their mouths at the nightmare that had just stormed in. Sonja smiled coldly at the gathered nobles before her eyes froze on one person. She smiled as she opened her mouth.

"Guess who's back?"