Not edited.

Lana's POV

  The darkness slowly gripped me.. It crawled through my veins and had my blood boiling with a pinch of dread. Yet it was anger that ruled my mind. Every single beat my heart performed was of rage, the crippling wish for revenge..

  With every closing of my eyes, I saw my father laying dead in that room, remembered how my brother had been carried in the house bloody and barely breathing that night.. And then the image of tears rolling down my mother's face flashed before me.. I opened my eyes again. It was my family they went after.. Christian they tried hurting.. Everyone I loved..

  And for what was it? For me? For the blood that flew through my veins? Adam needed me alive.. He needed my blood to break the curse that necklace held.. To free himself from Amelia's spell.. He teamed up with three psychotic witches that did his dirty work.. The ones that made illusions and dared dozens of my people to run like blind men in fire.

  My fists clenched.. Tremors down my body urges me to take another step, and another, until I continued walking without a single doubt, lead by fury.. By the wish of nothing else but to fulfill my duty.. My only wish. And revenge every soul they harmed.. Hell, I had to. There wasn't going to be another night I would sleep if I didn't end it.. No, tonight it ends, I repeated to myself. And continued walking towards the old house.

  I could feel it, this rage, it seemed to be burning hot underneath my skin.. Somewhere inside me, pushing me, urging me to walk straightly.. Without a doubt, without a drop of hesitation.

  Before me, there wasn't a single living soul.. Just the demolished old house, barely standing straight with the fallen tree that seemed to had pierced the roof during the storm, with all the overgrown grass around.. And gods knew what else was around it.. In it.

  While behind me.. Well, behind me there wasn't anyone either. I had followed the plan. I left the house, alone, with one last thing that Christian had said to me. Don't expect a goodbye for me, he had said. I'll be there before you even know it. Then he had kissed my hand, the side of my face, my lips.. So quickly before turning around.. And letting me leave.

  I was glad he did.. He kept himself together, his protective urges, and agreed on following the plan. He hadn't told me to be careful, or to watch my back.. No, he had faith in me. He let me be, knowing that it was what had to be done.. What I had to do in order for that nightmare to end. And he had no clue how much I loved him for it.. For trusting me and letting me.. For doing it all, for me, with me..

  So I had left the house alone; ran some of the way, walked the rest.. In my left book I had a knife.. In my right pocket I had a blinding potion that Calliope mixed for me.. If I broke the glass of the little bottle, the smoke that would come out would leave them blind for a few minutes.. Disoriented at least..

  But those weren't the weapons I needed. No, I needed myself, and myself only. And I trusted myself, most when I was lead by anger. I knew what I was capable of doing and there wasn't a single soul that could stop me when such determination ruled me. It didn't only have to be done, but in order my heart to find peace, I simply had to kill them.. No matter how absurd it might sound, they simply had to be dead.. Either them or us.

  And they couldn't doubt it.. We couldn't let them predict it. That was the reason why I left alone.. Because I followed that excuse of being hypnotized or whatever it was they did to me that one time.. Of simply being allured to the house. The rest would come after.. Ten minutes after.. That was why the plan had to go as predicted, without a single second being wasted..

  I stepped on the stairs of the porch.. The old wood cracked, almost crumbling at my feet.. I took another and another, until I walked over on the porch, avoiding the holes on the wooden ground, and stopping before the door. It was quiet.. It seemed like there wasn't a single breath from inside.. A single heartbeat. But then again, what could be expected from a vampire in a magic coma and revengeful witches that came back from the dead..

One wall was dark, burned.. It was only a matter of time when the house would crumble into ashes.. I could clearly remember the first time I saw the house.. That night of the family holiday.. The night met Christian. He was the one that stopped me from getting inside.. And I could still hear his voice.. His words.

  You should get away from here, he told me.. Yet it was no request, it was a simple command. Even before he knew my name he tried protecting me from the danger the simple existence of that house meant.. Those that were inside.. It was truly one creepy place, but I had given a vow, to myself and my father, to my whole family, that it was I that would put an end to it all. And it was all ending, that night.

  So I pushed the door.. It was slightly stuck, having me push harder until it cracked and with a slow screeching, rubbed against the wooden floors.. I managed to push it all the way, making somewhat spar to walk through. That sharp scent of old wood filled my nostrils.. Burned wood.. Blood and death, that was what it smelled like..

  The air was cold, noticeably colder than the night air outside.. And something about it was thick, sharp, it almost had me inhaling deeply for a better reach.. I felt shivers down my spine.. And no, it was not even a spark of fear that went through me, but it was simply the effect that place seemed to have..

  The room was large.. The floor of rich wood since they were still in one peace. There was even furniture, old and gray, the only light of the moonlight that peeked through the half crushed wall on the side illuminated the rotten armchairs, the empty fireplace.. A dining table that was crushed in the middle, like someone had been thrown over it..

  It simply screamed of battle, of someone's struggles.. To think that only two years ago, Christian and the rest were here, fighting Adam and trying to put him down.. Hell, it gave me tremors. It angered me even more.. It had me swear once more that I was going to end it that night.

  The old wallpapers on the walls that were a paled color of peach were stained with dark, with blood, some parts burned, while the old portraits that hung were scratched were barely staying straight.. Some fallen, some simply diagonally hanging there.. Such portraits with frames of gold.. They must had weighted a ton. How they stood up for so long, I had no clue..

  And the biggest one, taking half the wall across took my attention.. It was truly hard not to. As I took a few steps towards it, the broken pieces of glass underneath my boot cracked and crunched, the wooden floor barely holding my weight.. It wasn't possible that someone could live there. No there must had been a mistake..

  But wither way, I seemed very much focused on that portrait that hung across.. It was large and rich, even after so many years, the paint barely even painted.. A man was painted.. A familiar dark haired man, with eyes so blue, I almost felt like they were real.. Like they followed my steps and watched me approach..

  I stopped.. Stopped and stared. Adam. That had to be him. I had seen him in that nightmare.. He had been able to get in my head. He probably still was. And as I stood there, I feared that perhaps he had.. How would I know if he did? No, no, it's not possible. I could still feel the fury keeping my blood boiling hot. I was still myself.

  And I found myself running my fingers over the painting.. The glass that was probably over it was now nonexistent, so I felt the texture of that paint, the trails of the brush underneath my fingers.. The cold eyes of the handsome man were the brightest blue, almost crystally, and I wondered if they were in reality too.. Looks could had really tricked someone.. Adam was one handsome bastard. I wondered if time had changed him.

  "Lana," My name.. My name was said.. A familiar deep voice that I had only heard.. Oh hell no, it was not possible.

  I immediately turned around. Yes, it was him. Adam. That face I saw in that nightmare, that voice I heard.. Seemed like it was no nightmare after all. It was all a mind game.

  And now there he was, standing a few feet across from me.. Eyes of diamond blue, almost glowing against the moonlight that peeked, sharp lines of his high cheekbones and a strong jaw.. He was made for paintings. And only that.

  No matter his looks, his simple presence brought darkness.. It brought coldness and death. He was the one monster we had all tried running from, but would run our whole lives if we didn't put him down.. End him, once and for all.

  But I pushed that anger back because I couldn't have him recognize it.. Sense it. No, I had to make him believe I was frightened. So I took a small step back, then another, eyeing him.. He was dressed in a suit. A flawless dark blue suit, a well tied tie, as his dark hair too was perfectly groomed. Was he even real? Or was it just an illusion? There was no way he could look like that, being stuck in that house for two years..

  "You." I whispered, keeping a fake tremble of fear in my voice.. He had to believe it was fear I felt. It was the only way it would work..

  And the way his lips curled on one side showed his satisfaction of the dread he caused. What a monster he was.. He fed of the fear he caused.. Of the pain and the chaos. Death for him would be damn mercy.

  He took a step towards me with the one I took backwards.. "You finally made it pass the porch. I've waited a long time for this moment, Lana.. I truly didn't think killing your father would bring you to me."

  A lump in my throat formed.. I tried gulping it down, but there was no such effect. My father.. He dared mentioning my father.. His death. I clenched my teeth.. Looked down to hide the fury that seemed to once again built inside me.. And trying to push back the urge of running at him, tearing him limb from limb, I felt my mind losing focus on what to say.. How to distract him a bit longer, until the rest arrived..

"It was—" I cut myself off, with a sharp breath of some fake dread.. I kept my voice down and looked back at him. "How did I get here?" And I knew exactly how, but could I make him believe it was one of those mind games that brought me there?

"It must be our connection.. It's alluring you.." Another step closer to me.. One to witch I didn't flinch about.. For a second, I thought I would take a step closer, just so that I could get my hands on his neck and crack it. But I didn't. "A Morpher's blood is connected to something that belongs to me.." Yes, Amelia's blood. She was a Morpher, after all.

"The necklace." I tried keeping the frustration in my voice unrecognizable, but I still seemed to had spoken through my teeth. And he.. He either didn't notice or.. Or he simply chose to ignore the rather spark of annoyance I couldn't stop from slipping..

  So, he stopped before me.. Close until I could feel the coldness of his body near mine. It was that moment I knew he was real. Not an illusion. And his body.. It didn't radiate heat. No, he was— It was almost as if there wasn't a drop of blood flowing through his veins. Simple coldness of a dead man. The kind of darkness that not even a vampire held..

  He reached a hand towards me.. And I knew I could— I could take him. I could kill him. I could at least try. But that wasn't the plan. No, I promised Christian I would wait until he was there. He respected my decision to act as a bate.. I had to respect his request to not put myself at any danger or harm.. Not before he was there to control it.

So my eyes simply closed. "Yes, the necklace. Smart girl." He put a small strand of hair away from my face.. "Tell me, Lana, are you going to die in here tonight? Or obey me, help me, and live?" And then ran a cold finger down the side of my face.. I felt nauseous from despise. Hate. "Goodness, a Morpher's blood really is flowing through your veins, isn't it? A beauty like this cannot be mistaken."

  My fists clenched so tightly, my nails dug in my skin until blood came out.. I felt the cuts burning.. I released my hands a bit.. My own blood sticky on my palms. I had to kill him. Hell, I had to. And I was almost controlled by those urges.. Almost. But instead, I spoke..

"You shouldn't have killed my father, Adam.." The word that would've escaped me.. It would've been a clear threat. I knew it would. How I managed to stop there, I have no clue.

  But perhaps it was my tone that had him take a step back.. Or the look behind my eyes when our gazes met. Perhaps he even read my wishes.. My urges and sensed my fury.. He walked back and turned his back on me.. Walking towards the door.

"I had to get your attention." He simply said.

So I continued with my questions. "And your witches.." I looked around. "Where are they?"

"When they work on their magic, they leave.. It's not easy to come back from the dead."

"The doors are opened. Why don't you just leave?" And it was when I said that, that he stopped in front of the opened door. He had his hands classically folded behind his back..

"I can't." He rose one hand.. Reached towards the outside.. But as f there was a glass there, the magic stopped him. "That sister of yours.. Amelia.. She cast a spell on me.. On this house."

"She—" She went though enough torture because of you, I wished to say. That sister of mine that hates you from the depth of her soul.  Yet instead, "She told me about you, you know,"

"I wouldn't expect any less.." He put his hand back behind himself. "Even though she left me to rot in here, I knew I would always be with her. I marked her, you see,"

And something seemed to turn in my stomach. "How?" He turned to face me then.. Crystal blue eyes looked back at mine.. Almost as pale as the moonlight itself.

"I'll always be part of her memory. Even if she found a way to kill me." For me, for Christian, for family. I repeated to myself. I had to kill him for them. And I didn't even realize that my eyes had closed..

  I gained some control over myself. Looked at him again as I crossed my arms over my chest.. As innocently as I could. The only thing I could think of was, what would Amelia do.. What would she say if she was in my shoes? Her and I were very different. Two opposite when it came to temper and control. I had to make it seem she and I were more alike..

"How did you wake up?" My gulp was noticeable on purpose.. And it made him smile.. It made him start walking back towards me..

"I made friends.." I didn't move back this time. I allowed him to stop before me again.. "That hate the le Boursiers more than I do.." Perhaps it was too daring that I stared back into his eyes.. Thinking how much longer it would take to see them lifeless..

"Ah," I looked on the side, managing to somewhat nod my head slightly.. I kept my voice quiet. I kept myself still. In control. And looked at him again.. "And me? If they try to hurt me?" He frowned when he scanned me.. In ways that seemed like he was analyzing every feature of mine..

"No one will try to hurt you. You came here willingly, love," Then he leaned closer, and I failed to process his words because my focus was on all the ways he could've been tortured, if not killed. "Help me, and I'll keep you safe, for eternity," His breath was against my hair; his voice in my ear. His words.. I heard them. "Try running—" My chin was directed until my eyes locked with his again. "I'm afraid it won't end so well for you here.."

  I inhaled slowly, trying to gather my patience. "What do you want me to do?" How I had managed to mouth out those words, I have no clue.. But simply hearing myself say that, the weakness in my voice, fake or not, had my temper snap, just like that. And..

  I snatched away from him.. From his grip over my chin. If I didn't, I felt as if I would simply bite him, punch him, kick him.. Whatever it was that would push him away.. And I felt as if my control was slipping  from me.. It was— It was that breaking point of my patience..

  That moment of blur and sudden hit of confusion when I noticed him behind pulled from me.. Away from me.. A shadow was what I saw, and a grip over my arms was the only thing I felt at that point.. A tight grip that pulled me and pushed me until I felt something solid against my back..

  My eyes were closed from the sudden bump. All I could think of was that it simply wasn't possible. It was too early for Christian and the others to arrive. No, the plan was going to be ruined! Not even my pack had arrived. It was too early for anything other than Adam's distraction. That was the first step of our plan. Me being the bate..

  But as my eyes somewhat flattered opened, I saw a familiar face I once hoped I wouldn't ever have to see again. Wide whiskey brown eyes looked back at mine, shining from the moonlight that peeked from the broken wall Iw as leaned against. Alexander. Alexander Vesnetsov. The one I thought I'd never see again.. Or perhaps if I did, I would wish him dead.

  He had punched Adam, pushed him away or something.. Whatever it was that held him back for even a second.. We were in a different room and how he managed to put me away so quickly, I couldn't understand. But what I did know for sure was that he wasn't supposed to be there. No, that wasn't part of the plan! He was going to ruin everything! He was going to get himself killed, he—

"What the hell are you doing here?!" I saw black dots before me from how fast it all happened.. Hell, how— How was it even possible?! He had fled and left his pack.. To run from Adam. Not to him!

"I made a mistake, Lana," He spoke with panic and pulled on my arm.. And it was all clear to me.. He.. He had made the wrong choice. He was there because he had brought the necklace to Adam.. Goodness.. "But it's not too late for you." We were somewhat walking.. Somewhere.. It was dark, I couldn't quite see.. I couldn't process a thing— "Run!"

  I pulled my arm away from him, stopping, looking back at him.. And damn, if I knew that would be the last time I would look into those eyes, I would've— I would've said something.. I would've done something—

  "No, Alexander, you—" I was still focusing my eyes on him, still feeling his grip over my arm and trying to pull away from him when I heard a crack.. Of bones, of— My own yelp cut me off.. The kind that had me hold my breath, almost stopping my own heart from that sound that seemed to crawl throughout me and echo in my ears.. Because I knew what it meant.

  A dark red stain formed on the left side of his shirt.. His already dirty shirt, for God knows how long.. His face was already beaten, covered in somewhat healed cuts and even his lip was cracked too.. But it was that moment when those eyes of one stubborn man that held the color of warm ember turned cold.. Lifeless.. A fair skin going deadly pale.. And my lips parting for more air from the picture before me.

  "I'm sorry.." His lips barely moved.. I wasn't even breathing.. "I failed you." Another crack, and he fell to the ground.. In front of me appeared the very monster himself.. Holding Alexander's heart and staring back into my eyes with the kind of coldness that froze my bones.. He— he killed him. He—

  The picture was blurry.. My eyes.. They were burning.. Alexander was dead. And no matter how much I disliked him, no one.. No one deserved such a brutal death.. From the one that deserved it the most. Pressure rose to my head. I couldn't register the situation so quickly, yet a part of me somehow had.. I felt something warm down my cheeks.. I felt—

  I felt a rush of air through my lungs.. A rush of wind with a familiar sharp sound of the air cutting.. I was pushed again.. Rushed with the kind of speed again that I couldn't even find focus on my own thoughts.. I stumbled but my balance was held by the strong grip around my arms and waist.. My eyes somewhat opened.. I couldn't understand what was happening.. I couldn't understand how I was breathing still— How I was alive still— How in front of me, it was Christian that stood..

"Christian,"

  And his name tumbled out with both pain and relief. If he had only came a second earlier.. Maybe he would've been dead too.. Perhaps he had arrived right on time, but.. No, none of it was according to the plan! Alexander was dead.. I, I barely even knew my own damn name from how harshly that raw confusion gripped me.. The kind of senselessness that had me lost for a second..

And I feared I would witness yet another.. Another brutality such as the one I had only seconds ago.. This time, a death that I wouldn't be able to survive myself. I regretted ever involving him in this. I should've done something about it.. I shouldn't had told him about the plan. Just like I hadn't told my brothers. And I knew they were safe.. I knew that at least they were making it alive..

"Go," He said, pushing me towards the stiars.. He was going to let me finish what we started.. Kill the witches. Yes, that was the next move. I hadn't even heard him arrive, I hadn't heard anything because of the screeching, the buzzing in my ears from how harshly Alexander's death effected me. "I'll slow him down." I was left speechless for a second, but then found myself wrapping my hands over his arm, trying to stop him..

"No, he's— he's grown stronger," Was the only warning that came to my mind..

A part of me said, screw the plan. Because I simply felt like the most important thing to do at that point was to stop Christian from making some bizarre decision.. Something that included putting himself in danger and risking his life.. Which was basically what he was already doing at that point.. But either we were going to follow the plan all the way, or do it through our own ways, that would definitely promise more danger than team work..

"Now, Lana!" Those eyes of black pearls held some kind of promise, even though his voice was plain command.

And there was no time hesitation. For either of us.. I let go and ran up the stairs.. What else was there to be done? If I stayed downstairs with him, the witches could've hurt someone else.. Amelia and Calliope needed my help more than Christian did. With Adam being still somewhat weakened, I trusted that he could put him down. He had pure le Boursier blood flowing through his veins.. And the royals weren't legendary for nothing.

  So I left, up the stairs, hearing him rushing away as well.. My steps against the wooden stairs were heavy as I could barely feel my own legs from still the image of Alexander's death flashing before me.. No matter the odds, he deserved better than a ripped heart.

With somewhat managing the stairs, with the wood still cracking underneath my feet, I rushed somewhere, wherever it was I was going, trying to hear some voices, some signals.. I stopped, not even aware that I had.. Glancing out the window.. And having my heart stop for a second, dead in my chest..

It was dark but in that darkness stood women, hundreds of them, around the house.. One next to another.. Witches. The image was— Hell, it was the same as it was that night.. I almost gasped for air.. When my father lost his life trying to end them. And it's not real, I repeated to myself. Not then, not now. They were just an illusion.

But they were facing the same amount of men.. No, they were almost rounded with both the number of them. My people.. They came. They followed the plan and came. And the witches were an illusion, but their magic was real.. The only real witch I saw was Calliope. She was down there as well..

I knew.. They could put my people down within minutes if we didn't— The three witches. It was them we had to kill. Right in that moment. With that, every single illusion of a witch outside the house, ghost or whatever they fucking were.. They would simply vanish in thin air. Disappear.

It was that moment I realized I hadn't thought everything through because at that point, I didn't know where to even start looking for a damned witch.. And how would I know whether she was real or not? But once reaching the somewhat old study, I saw the familiar brown hair, wavy and long, as she stood in a position that I barely knew how to handle..

"Amelia," I gasped, watching how she looked back at me, still holding her arm reached out, towards the witch that also had her hand directed to Amelia, holding her side of the spell.. Amelia was a cliona, there must had been some benefit from it..

  Before I could really think it all out, I was reaching in my left pocket, taking out the tiny bottle that Calliope claimed would work.. The witch yelled out a spell in a language I didn't quite understand and I was knocked off my feet, falling back with force that had Amelia say something, shouted something too, threaten something perhaps.. I didn't quite hear..

"Lana, now!" It was when I heard that that I threw the little bottle towards he witch and covered my eyes.. The glass broke.. Thalia's growl of plain pain had me look back, just to see Amelia taking a few careful steps back..

  The simple thought of that witch being responsible for my father's death, had me snap back to reality so quickly, I lost balance the second I found my way back to my feet.. But there wasn't a force strong enough to stop me at that point. I rushed towards her, towards the witch that still held an arm over her eyes as the potion had harmed her sight, at least temporarily..

  Before I could register my own moves, I felt her bony shoulders under my hands as I pushed her back until she was yanked against the old wall behind her.. Fury ruled me, rage controlling every little move of mine to the point of me completely losing my senses..

  And with a simple reach in my boot, I had the knife in my hand.. It was almost as if there was someone else mastering my body while I looked from the side.. Observing myself how I brought the knife to her throat and ran the sharp edge until she fell dead on the floor.. One group of witches, down.

I did it.. I killed her so quickly that not even I was aware of it.. Hell, I was barely aware of the dark red covering my hands.. She was dead and I— I didn't even see the her face that well.. I didn't see the fear in her eyes when I put the knife at her throat from how quickly I had done it..

  I almost felt regret because I truly wished she saw who it was that ended her.. Which was bizarre and brutal and such desire for revenge.. It didn't make me any better than Adam. But it was my father they killed.. Him I was revenging. And damn me, but I hoped my face would be the last thing they all saw before I killed them.. And yet I did it before she could even put her arm away from her eyes..

   A shriek from behind me was heard and I couldn't even seem to focus on it for even a second.. Or my brain was simply not able to register everything so quickly.. I was— Hell, I was shocked from my own speed, from my own capabilities when anger dominated me the way it did at that point..

I turned around slowly, and stopped frozen on my spot when I saw the scene behind me. Camille, one of the witches.. She had Amelia. Arm around her neck from behind, holding her still after probably witnessing the death of her sister, Thalia. My heart skipped a shallow beat.. It seemed like every second of my life flashed before me..

"Sister for sister," Amelia wasn't even struggling, and when I wanted to rush over there and free her, the witch simply reached out her arm and mumbled words that were once again, not understandable for me..

The step I was about to take disappeared the second that sharp ache ran up, from my throat up to my head.. The kind of pressure that held this blinding pain, so strong, it seemed to had left me thoughtless.. Motionless.. With groans of pain, falling down on my knees, and holding my head that felt as if there were blades, millions of them— Hell, I couldn't even open my eyes..

All I knew was that it lasted a few seconds, enough to have me completely breathless, even wondering whether that was the way I would go.. Die.. From a psychotic witch with damn rage issues.

But just when I was about to push myself to stand up, the pain suddenly disappeared.. It was a crack I heard in fact, and damn me for ever hoping it was Christian that came upstairs.. Simply hoping he had put Adam down and came to help us out..

However, when I managed to open my eyes, it was his brother I saw, Dimitri, making sure Amelia was alright while the witch laid dead near them, almost headless from how harshly he had snapped her neck.. Which meant.. It meant another group of illusions of witches was down. My people were safe.. Somewhat safe.

My throat seemed dry.. I couldn't even find focus on my own vision.. It was my heart that thumped so loudly, my blood that rushed like a river through my ears; that almost had me wondering if I could hear anything else.. But I did.. I heard Amelia calling out my name and noticed her rushing towards me.

She was pulling my up by my arm and I managed to find my way back to my feet. Magic was definitely the worst fuckíng way to go. I had hoped that after killing at least one of them witches, my rage would dial down.. But it seemed to boil even harsher inside me. Oh hell, I wanted them all dead. Almost angry that it wasn't I that took that other witch's life, I realized that there was still another one left.

"Where's the third one?!" I found my voice, unable to focus my eyes on Amelia, or hear whatever she said to me.. Whatever ways she tried stopping me when I pushed pass her..

My mind seemed a mess from whatever pain spell that bitch used on me, but I was finding a way to concentrate on one thing.. Only one goal.. I was walking out of that old room and heading towards the stairs.. If the last witch wasn't upstairs then— Hell, she was helping Adam. And the only thing that rushed through my head was Christian.

Christian's POV

He had time.. Time enough to gain his strength. And it was truly hard for me to understand, how that damned bastard managed to hibernate and survive all those years, but there he was, fighting like not even a minute of his damned life was wasted.

It was different, this battle we were fighting.. This night.. Completely different from the one when we put the fool down two years ago. It was not one of taming a beast, it was a battle we fought to destroy one. Not one of power, but of vengeance that every single breathing soul in that house was seeking.. But we all had one thing in common. We wanted to see that bastard's doom.

Sharp it was, the stake he pushed through my stomach.. And damn, long enough to nearly pin me against that wall. But hell, I was too furious to even feel the pain that pulsed throughout me.. To even feel it throbbing through my stomach, burning harsh enough to—I was pulling it out, that damned stake..

I had put him down, I did.. But the bastard had found his way on his feet quicker than I could. And then I heard footsteps.. Light footsteps that definitely weren't his. My mind seemed to be pulsing almost as damn harshly as the stake I was pulling out of my flesh. Lana. Hell, she was—She was walking down the stairs..

Those curses that escaped my lips had nothing to do with the pain that burned harsher than a hot iron, and everything to do with the fact that I had lost the bastard from my sight, and was hearing a voice.. A voice that was the only thing that kept me going at that point.

I threw the bloody wood away from myself, hearing her scream.. "No," It was her voice I heard, her denies, and my mind rushed with all the possibilities of what it could be. The other room— I had to get to the other room. To my feet I somewhat stumbled up, but my speed seemed barely comparable to what it was before.. I had to heal quicker.

"Christian!" My name was one sharp screech that had me rushing out the room like never before.. Hell, I could not feel my own damn body at that point. Her voice was echoing in my head and my bones were frozen in horror.. The kind of fear that only the worry for her could cause..

It gripped me, moved me, faster than ever.. "Lana!" She was not listening.. And as I somewhat found my way to the hallway, to the main room, I saw her rushing in the room, falling on her knees, and that very moment, I managed to find my voice, "No, stop, it's a trap!" Fucking hell, it was too late.

She was— She was already pass the entrance, in the room.. Kneeling beside a body.. My body. Lifeless and dead. Anger pulsed throughout me with the realization that it was.. It was just a damn illusion, that's what it was.. Just another illusion that witch had created.. And there I was alive, behind Lana, yet she heard me too late to react. The illusion of my dead body disappeared, like a lost signal, the image fading, as well as her sobs..

I had rushed against the large entrance of the room, but stopped by an invisible wall the witch had put up, hitting against it with full weight.. Lana somewhat looked over her shoulder, just to see me, and in that moment, through those teary eyes, I saw what flashed behind those wide eyes.. I saw how she realized it had been a trap.. That room.. They allured her in there and she was now fuckíng trapped.

  She saw me, well and alive, unable to enter the room from the invisible wall, but she figured it out.. And at the same time, there was a spark of disappointment in her eyes.. She failed to realize it was a trap. And I failed her for not making it on time to stop her. It was too damn late now.. All my fuckíng fault, dammit!

I saw a shadow, heard the sharp rushing of the wind.. And Adam's dirty hands wrapped around her arms.. With full speed pulling her on her feet and causing the rush of rage throughout me that not once in my life had I felt before. Her yelp of shock went through me like a strike of lightning, and as he pulled her in front of him, with his damned arms around her, I was seeing black and red in my vision..

Like a damned madman I rushed against the invisible wall yet once more.. The rage inside me boiled hotter than a lava, and it was that moment I swore I would die if it meant breaking that invisible wall. It was as if a part of me was snatched away from me, and I was helpless when it came to saving her.. I was-- hell, I was too fucking late.. But not a single atom of my body seemed to be accepting that.

"Let her go!" To say that growls escaped me would be a lie, because hell, I was roaring at the bastard.. My hands, my fists were a bloody pulp from banging against that barrier, but hell, I didn't stop. "Dammit!"

***

  Oh wow, so it seems like the beginning of the end has started..

  What do y'all think, will we have a happy ending or rather a tragic one? Always wanted to find courage for a tragic ending but never really had the heart to do so.. Let's see if I do for this one..

  Still, I wanna know how you guys think this will go down.. Is there really a way to put Adam down or is this just the beginning of his reign? Perhaps if y'all want a third book, we're gonna need us a villain alive, huh.. Comment your thoughts on that too! Is a third books option?

Kisses, babes 😘