MILDRID’S POV Beta Tim and I stood on the hilltop, awaiting the arrival of our soon-to-be zombies. Their greed is the approval I need to go ahead with my plan. They don’t know what is coming for them. They will be my immortal tools, and no one will be able to redeem them. I will feed them with blood, the blood of their countrymen and they will know no other meal. My zombies. That is what they will forever be. “Do you think they will come?” beta Tim asked. I laughed and grabbed his chin. “Oh ye man of no faith, of course, they will” I replied and let go of his chin. “Eh... umm...” he hesitated to speak. “What are your worries, Tim?” I asked. “It is just that they are taking too long. Maybe we should not have tried this in the first place. What if it is discovered that we still have enough food, what explanation would I give alpha Fred?” he asked. “Are you still afraid of alpha Fred?” I inquired. “Not in the least. I don’t give a dam about him. It is just that I am worried about getting the required zombies. If this is busted, then how do we go about getting our zombies?” he asked. Hearing him relay his worries, I chuckled. It is obvious that he still does not know me even up to this time. There is nothing impossible for me to do. Whatever I want I get and even if one door closes, I break through the window. I want zombies, and so I will have zombies. “Trust me, Tim,” I said. “I do have full trust in you, my lady, but we cannot stop the hand of time. We need to be prepared before the arrival of the queen” he said. “You saw for yourself how I was able to manipulate time in the battleground without much ado. Right now, I have even the queen of the Pixies under my control. She will not come unless when I want her to” I assured. With my explanation, he was relaxed and lets out loud sinister laughter. I was relieved to see that he believes in me once again. He is my tool now, and he must abide by his function. We continued to wait for the arrival of our prey. I don’t know how long that would take, but for their own good, I hope it does not take too long.It is almost evening and the ceremony must be done before the full moon tonight. The moon goddess comes out every full moon to watch over her subjects and so if I don’t do this ritual before the full moon, I might have to wait a few more weeks when the protection of the moon goddess must have faded in some of the werewolves. They will still have to fight among themselves before the ritual. I need dead and life zombies. And if everything is completed before midnight, nothing can stop me. I will have the three brother Packs under me. My spell will be over all of them. “This is going to be the best thing to ever happen to me, my lady. I love power, I love the realization that no one can ride on me. I want the world under my feet” he said. “And you will have all those and many more. You have done so much for people and they have paid you very little” I replied to boost his ego. He is an easy man to be manipulated and I have always used this to my advantage. “I will not have even a single grumbling if very little had been paid me for all my kindness, Mildrid. I have been paid nothing for all my years sacrificed to the three brother Packs. Death would have been my reward if not because of you, Mildrid. I will have been long dead” he said sorrowfully. “Not to worry, Tim, you have me now. I will make sure that no one can trample on you ever again. You have some powers now, and very soon, I will give you more” I assured. “You will...” he was astonished. “You are so kind, my lady. I have not even performed the sacrifice for the one you gave me and even now you want to give me more to protect myself. I swear to you that I will send my best hunters to go in search of my daughter. She must be brought and sacrificed to you very soon” he pledged. “There is no need for that, Tim. We already agreed that she will come here by herself. I will wait until that happens” I refuted. “No, my lady, let me do this one thing for you” he insisted. “You don’t need to do anything to prove yourself, beta Tim. I already see through you. Moreover, we have a task at hand, and our full concentration should be given to it” I replied with a smile. He kowtowed to me and said. “You are so kind, my lady. I this day pledge to be your loyal servant now and always” “For your rewards, I will let you have me in the open tonight, right under the full moon. You can ride me all night if your strength can carry you” I offered. He started to giggle. “You are so kind, my lady, do I even deserve that?” “Oh, you think it is too much of a reward? I can't take it back if you don’t want it, Tim” I said.“No, not at all, my fair lady. How can I say no to you? I already pledge to satisfy your every desire. After the ritual tonight, I will exhaust all in me to satisfy your innermost craving” he replied. “That is a better way to go, Tim,” I said. That is just what I want. I never get tired of having him fulfill all my lustful desires. I have succeeded at making him mine alone and now he’s got no use for Patricia. I am a jealous witch, and I don’t share anything I grab. “Should I go and drag them here right away, my lady?” he asked. I shook my head. “It has only been a few minutes. Give them little time, and they will stroll in by themselves” I refused to oblige him. “You are right, my lady, no one dares to refuse you” he replied. “There they are, Tim, you can see for yourself,” I said. He looked up and saw one of them coming towards us. “I know this one must surely come” he muttered. Yes, I know he will not want to go back. He would want to fight as he is the biggest among them. He is already sure that none would be able to defeat him. “Wait, more will soon follow behind. Men are insatiable and will struggle for anything, even a piece of bread” I said. The words were barely out of my mouth when the tallest lady among them strolled in and followed behind her was the short man with the pot belle dragging his short legs as he walks. “He came too?” beta Tim murmured referring to the short man. “He is a man with flesh and blood, you know” I replied. Seeing these three was all the signs that I need to know that more will come too. I need enough of them to show up, at least more than half as we would have to rely on their numbers to go on with the fight.