Chapter 39: The Rescue Plan (Part 3)
Devils of the Border
Volundr stood on the balcony of his private study, staring out at the looming peaks of the Tepes Mountain Range, where mist curled around jagged cliffs in the early morning light. The landscape was beautiful, serene even, yet all he could see was the looming shadow of his future plans. His fingers traced the edge of an intricately drawn map, the final points marked in red ink—Phase One: Disrupt the Wards. Phase Two: Extract the Boy. Phase Three: Evaporate.
The world had become a chessboard, but the pieces were devils and vampires, all with agendas of their own. The real challenge wasn't in the strategy—it was in maintaining the delicate balance between the various factions.
Any wrong move, and the entire operation could collapse. Gasper's delicate state made him vulnerable to even the smallest mistake.
"Master Volundr," came the soft voice of his trusted scout, Lilith, a long-serving Agares devil with a sharp intellect and a dark aura to match.
"All preparations are nearly complete."
Volundr turned to face her. His gaze flicked briefly to her golden eyes—sharp, calculating, loyal. "Is everything in order for the Tepes operation?"
Lilith nodded, her expression as calm as ever.
"The teleportation routes have been secured, and the cloak spells are primed. Our scouts are in position at the Tepes border, awaiting your signal. We've also arranged for a temporary extraction point near the Vampire's Old Keep, where we can rendezvous without interference."
Volundr's eyes narrowed. He didn't need to ask for details; Lilith had already taken care of the logistics down to the finest detail.
"Good. Anything unexpected?"
Lilith's lips quirked into a tight smile.
"A few minor complications. A Tepes patrol was spotted near one of our decoy positions, but our scouts managed to evade capture. However, the patrol's presence indicates the Tepes family is more alert than we anticipated. We'll have to move quickly."
Volundr's mind shifted, calculating the next steps. If the Tepes were on high alert, it meant their surveillance spells were stronger, their forces more ready to strike. It would be a race against time, but Volundr was certain that Gasper's deteriorating condition left him with no choice.
"Understood," Volundr said quietly. "We can't afford delays."
Later that day, Volundr stood in the dimly lit Agares War Room, his fingers gently tapping a map of the Tepes estate. His trusted allies—Lilith, Darius, a large, imposing Agares devil with an affinity for physical combat, and Seraphina, a quiet and highly intelligent strategist—were present. The atmosphere was charged, the weight of their mission pressing on everyone's shoulders.
"This is where we are," Volundr began, his voice steady.
"We'll split into two teams. The primary team, led by me, will be responsible for reaching Gasper Vladi. Our secondary team will secure the extraction point near the Vampire Keep. If we can create a distraction there, it will pull the Tepes patrols away from the primary path."
Lilith raised an eyebrow. "A distraction?"
"Yes," Volundr said with a smirk, tapping his fingers together. "We'll cause a magical anomaly—something that will look like a rogue magical artifact going haywire. The Tepes will have to investigate, diverting their attention."
Seraphina spoke up, her tone thoughtful.
"It's a risky move. The patrols won't be the only ones who investigate—if they have high-level devils stationed near the keep, our presence could alert higher-ups, potentially even Ajuka."
"True," Volundr replied, eyes flashing with quiet intensity.
"Which is why we'll do this with precision. We won't engage unless absolutely necessary. But we have to be ready for anything."
Darius folded his arms, towering over the map. "And what of the Vampire Underground contact you made? The one from earlier?"
Volundr's eyes sharpened.
"I've spoken to him. He'll help us, but at a price. We don't have the luxury of refusing aid right now. I've promised him a future favor. He'll have to settle for that."
Seraphina nodded.
"Understood. But what about Valerie Tepes? What if the rescue coincides with her location? Are we prepared to move her, too?"
Volundr froze, momentarily distracted by the thought. Valerie's name had been in his mind since the beginning of this plan, and the more he learned about her, the more complicated her potential rescue became.
"We'll have to wait," he finally said.
"For now, Gasper's condition is our priority. Valerie is too dangerous to move hastily. Besides, if she's too heavily guarded, we could jeopardize the entire mission if we act prematurely."
The group fell silent for a moment, each member understanding the weight of his words.
This mission wasn't just about saving lives—it was about maintaining a delicate balance between devils, vampires, and the dangers of meddling in forces beyond their control.
As dusk approached, Volundr found himself standing alone in the torch-lit chamber of the Agares estate.
The cold stone walls seemed to close in on him, their weight oppressive, but he embraced it. The pressure was familiar. It was the feeling of being on the edge of something massive—something that could change everything.
He unrolled a scroll, eyes scanning over the final plans, watching the ink shimmer as it solidified into an almost physical presence. With a decisive motion, he whispered to the chamber.
"Phase One: Disrupt the Wards. Phase Two: Extract the Boy. Phase Three: Evaporate."
The words lingered in the air, a promise, a challenge.
As he folded the scroll and tucked it away, his fingers brushed over the marking on his wrist—the ancient seal of the Agares family, a reminder of his bloodline's power. Soon, all the carefully laid plans would fall into motion.
But there was one thing he knew: even with all the strategy in the world, the most important factor would always be timing.