№45|I'm Not The Villain, I'm The Damn Hero
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Hex bursted through the doors of Emmanuel's base, frantically looking around for Cruella. "Marshmallow! Where are you?!"

He ran upstairs to see Marmalade, Cruella, and Emmanuel enjoying some lovely mexican food in the kitchen. "Is everything alright, Hex?" Cruella asked, getting up from her seat.

"Salis said...he..." Hex stammered.

"When will you learn not to trust Salis, babe?" Cruella chuckled, kissing his cheek.

"Good news, we found Milo." Hex smiled widely.

"I thought Ector killed him?" Cruella tilted her head.

"Apparently he didn't, Salis brought him back to use his blood to make the virus the wolves got." Hex explained, Cruella was honestly shocked.

"I'm sure Ector's happy." Cruella giggled, Hex nodded.

"He's been sobbing since we found him." Hex chuckled.

"Beside you finding Milo, I have good news!" Cruella's smile widened.

"What?"

"We know where Salis is." Cruella smirked, watching as Hex's eyes lit up.

"How?!"

"All those phone calls he's been sending you allowed us to track the IP address to find his base." She walked over to the map on the table, "8 Ball Fashion."

"How did we not see it?" Hex asked.

"It was under the building, we sent some fly cameras over there elier to see that in the basement, there's a trap door that leads to the base. Since everyone will be busy the day of the Fire Eclipse, that's when we'll strike."

"We'll?" Hex looked up at his girlfriend suspiciously.

"Yes we'll beat him." Cruella clarified.

"You're coming with?"

"Yes I'm coming with! Someone has to deal with Catania while you're dealing with Salis." Cruella shrugged.

"May I remind you that you're pregnant." Hex pinched the bridge of his nose.

"May I remind you that I can still fight," Cruella placed her hands on her hips, glaring at the gang leader.

"But-"

"Hex, I may be carrying a baby but that doesn't mean I can't fight." Cruella stated, pressing her lip together, "I'm going. End of discussion."

"I can't convince you to stay?" Hex sighed deeply.

"Nope." Cruella smiled widely.

"If it's any assurance, I can put a shield on Cruella's stomach." Diane offered, walking into the room.

Hex's nodded quickly, "yes please!"

Cruella rolled her eyes, "you're more worried about the baby than I am, Hex." she chuckled, stroking his cheek, "this baby is a product of you and me, I doubt a little flame will kill him."

"Yeah, I guess you're right -- wait him?!"

Cruella giggled, "I found out this morning, Diane used her magic to give me a mini ultascan-" Hex brought her in for a hug, "someone's happy."

"Oh my gods! We're having a boy! We can not name him Salis! I already thought of the perfect name!"

"What is it?" Emmanuel asked.

"You're gonna love it," he smirked at Emmanuel, "Carlos Emmanuel Monte DeVille."

"You're gonna name you kid after me?!" Emmanuel gasped, his eyes sparkling with wonder and happiness.

"Technically it's just the middle name-" she noticed Emmanuel ranting on what an honor it was, she sweatdropped, "yep...we named the kid after you."

"Carlos is my Grandfather's name." Hex informed her.

Cruella smiled, "I don't care what the kid is named, I know he'll be perfect."

°•. ✿ .•°

The day had finally come, the night of the Fire Eclipse.

Cruella's pink eyes illuminated the dark hallway that led down to the basement, "you didn't have to come with me." Hex whispered.

"I don't have to, I want to." Cruella smiled, "plus, we can't find Catania so I might as well help you take down your brother."

"Cruella, this is my fight, I don't want you to get hurt because of bad blood between me and him." Hex sighed, looking down in shame.

"Hey," Cruella felt around for his hand, eventually grabbing on to it, "your fighting are my fights. You're not alone anymore Hex," she placed his hand on her stomach, feeling the baby kick, "we'll never be alone anymore."

Hex smiled and kissed her lips, his hand on her cheek, "we'll beat him, I promise."

"I never had a doubt in my mind, Hex."

°•. ✿ .•°

Salis stood in front of the mirror in his office, grinning slyly, "alright, Hex, it's time to face your doom." his grin sood fades when he noticed his mother, Lilliana, appearing in the reflection, behind Salis.

"What a shame, you always loved your brother."

"What are you doing here?" Salis hissed.

"I wanted to talk you out of this." Lillian frowned, "I know deep down inside, you love Hex."

"Don't patronize me! I know what you think of me! You think I'm a monster!" Salis looked at Lilliana's reflection in the mirror, clearly angered.

"I think you're confused. All your life you used fear to control people, like your brother." Lilliana stated calmly, trying to get through to her oldest son.

Salis closed his eyes before turning around sharply to face his mother, "wheel what choice do I have?! Trust is for fools. Fear is the only reliable way. Even you, my own mother, fear me."

"No. I love you, Salis. I really do." Lilliana said sincerely.

Salis bent over slightly, tears in his eyes, and his hair hanging down in messy locks. His hand gripped the picture of his brother, mother, and father. The enraged older brother lets out a shout and hurls the picture at the mirror.

The impact shattered a large portion of the mirror, including where Lilliana's reflection was seen. Salis fell to his knees, clutching the sides of his head as he began to cry. The room is devoid of any other people, Lilliana's reflection was a mere hallucination.

°•. ✿ .•°

Hex opened the door to the base to see it was empty, "WHERE ARE YOU, YOU DAMN PRICK!" Hex roared, his voice echoing through the halls.

"Brother!" Salis crept from the shadows, Hex looked around, he couldn't see him, "I'm on the roof silly, you really didn't think I'd sit and wait for you in that stuffy base did you?"

Hex gabbed Cruella by the waist, fire appearing to light under his feet and rocketing them up to the rooftop. Landing in a swift motion, Hex declares, "you're not getting this fire out of me, Salis, not now, not ever."

Salis cackled, "you're hilarious."

Cruella stood beside Hex, "and you're going down."

"Let's settle this the old fashioned way. A duel to the death."

"You're on!" a fire lit inside the gang leader's eyes.

Salis's lips curled into a sly smile as he watched Cruella turn to face Hex, very surprised, "what are you doing? He's playing you. He knows he can't take both of us, so he's trying to seperate us."

"I know. But I can take him this time."

"But even you admitted to me that you would need help facing Salis." Cruella told him.

"There's something off about him, I can't explain it but he's slipping," Hex turned towards Salis, examining his facial expression, he could see the insanity boiling behind dhis big brother's eyes, "and this way, no one else had to get hurt."

Cruella nodded, "I'll go find Catania, I'll be back when it's done."

Before she could walk off, Hex grabbed her wrist and kissed her softly, "just in case I don't come back, run far away from here. I already explained the escape plan to the gang. The wolves will take you and the baby to a safe house in Staten Island, wait for me there for three days. If I'm not there then I'm-"

"Don't you dare say it, Hex." Cruella growled, "you're not dying, you're gonna come back to me...to us..." she kissed as though it be the last time she'd ever feel his lips on hers. With one last longing glance, she ran away in search of Catania.

"I'm sorry it had to end this way, brother." Salis had a slightly sarcastic tone.

"No you're not." Hex retorted, getting in his stance.

Salis smiled and assumed an awkward fighting stance. He spun around and sent a blast of blue fire towards Hex. Hex brung his hand up and jumped forward, bringing his arms down in front of him. He conjures a flame in each hand and they emerge, sending the fire towards Salis.

A wall of fire appeared, blue colliding with a fiery red. As the wall began to die, Salis leaped up on a jet of fire and kicked his legs forward, sending a wave of fire from his feet during each of his three spinning kicks.

"This ends here brother!"

°•. ✿ .•°

Cruella walked through New York, trying to pick up Catania's scent when her phone rang, she looked at the caller ID to see it was Mama. She quickly answered it, "hello?"

"Cruella where are you?!" Mama yelled into the phone.

"Trying to find Catania, where are you?"

"Never mind Catania! The wolves caught her trying to escape town! The problem is all the bases that got burnt before are sparking up again! The mark that was left was not only Salis' signature but a sigal! It's just like in the nightmare the wolves had!"

"Where are you?" Cruella asked, picking up the pace.

"I'm at the police station with Sergio, Ector, Saree, Milo, and Alonzo. Just hurry up and get here NOW!!!" Mama ordered before hanging up the phone.

Cruella morphed into her panther form, running towards the police station to it covered in flames. Cruella morphed out of her form, witnessing the scene.

"Where's Alonzo?" She questioned.

"He's inside, he's trying to find Clair." Mama informed her.

Cruella raced inside, trying to fight the flames as she heard screaming coming from the second floor.

"CLAIR!!!" Alonzo shouted, frantically looking for her apple cinnamon smell but it seemed to be coated through the flames.

"Alon...Alonzo..." Clair's voice rasped. Alonzo's ears perked up, running towards the center of the room to see Clair trapped under a desk.

It's just...just like before...

"Alonzo!" Clair's voice brought him back to reality. He rushed in and pushed the flaming desk off of her, Clair got in his back, her body welcoming his fluffy black fur, "you came for me...thanks..."

"Did you really think I'd leave you in a burning building?!" Alonzo communicates telepathically with his mate.

Clair smiled and hugged his fur, "let's get out of here..." Alonzo walked out of the building to see Cruella, Mama, Sergio, Ector, and Saree helping other people out as well.

"Is that all of them?" Cruella asked, helping the last of the civilians into an ambulance.

"I think so." Sergio nodded.

"Good," Cruella morphed back into her panther form, "go find anyone else with the fires and help out in any way possible. I have to find Hex and help him with his brother."

"Cruella wait!" Mama called out, the black panther looked back at Mama, "bring him home."

"I will!" Cruella nodded, running off into the distance.

°•. ✿ .•°

Blue and orange flames blasted towards each other in a blaze of furry. Hex punched a powerful blast of fire towards his brother. His stream of orange blends with a blast of blue fire.

Hex continues shooting fire while being pushed back by the blue flame colliding with his. Hex turned his foot around in order to steady himself, blasting a power fire stream from his first.

Suddenly, Hex and Salis stop their attacks. The scared and confused Salis turned to find that Hex's strong attacks had caused the building behind him to be smothered in flames. He leaped forwards with a blast of fire that he swings at Hex.

Just as he was about to be hit, Hex thrusts his palms outward to create a wall of fire that sliced the blue flame.

Salis crouched down on the ground as the flames slowly died down. He was heavily panting, gritting his teeth and narrowing his eyes in determination filled within his eyes.

Hex opened his left fist and with the other first punched two large fireballs towards Salis, and the fire emerged to create one massive blast.

Salis' fear-filled eyes, reflecting with orange from the oncoming attack, but he quickly dodged using a jet of blue fire. He flew forward into the air, using jets of fire from his feet and hands. He thrusted his fist forward creating two blue fire blasts.

Hex crouched with his arms outward, blue and orange flames swirling around him. Salis flew forward as he swerved to the right to dodge Hex's last blast. Overhead, Salis circled around Hex as he shot fire at Hex, a trail of blue flames coming from his feet.

Hex quickly defends himself by creating a shield of fire for protection. He tried to attack Salis, who is still circling around him, but he is too fast. He stopped firing at Salis, crouched, and began spinning and kicking immense and powerful flames from his feet.

Salis flew forward; when he saw the attack, he tried to stop, but it was too late. Salis fell and rolled forward onto the ground. In pain, he picks himself up. She hunched over, his hair is undone and extremely angry.

"What's wrong big brother? No Electric Flame today? I know you can use it so what's the matter?" he laughed angrily and somewhat mockingly, assuming his lightning redirection stance, "afraid I'll redirect it?"

"You wanna see lightning?! I'll show you Electric Flame!"

At that moment, Salis waves and moves his fingers in order to generate electricity, but his stance is irregular and off. Hex inhaled and exhaled deeply. He assumed his stanced and prepared to redirect whatever electricity may come his way.

As he was doing so, Cruella flew at top speed, scanning from above to find Hex and Salis. Suddenly, light began to flicker as Salis began chargin up his lightning attack. He finishes charging, and his eyes flicker towards the animalistic flying through the air.

Cruella lands next to Hex, "let's finish this."

"Oh, it's already done!" Salis, still in his stance and ready to strike; lightning at his fingertips. He smiles and extends his hands and shoots the blast directly towards Cruella.

Time began to move in slow motion as the lightning emermed from Salis' hands. Hex face turned pale as he ran, trying to get in between Cruella and the lightning. Cruella was dumbfounded, her eyes reflecting the impending lightning.

"NO!!!" He yelled, suddenly, Hex jumped up, in between Cruella and the lightning.

Hex tries to redirect the lightning but fails in doing so, therefore absorbing it. Light flashed and Hex was shot in mid-air. Cruella's had a horrid look on her face as the world returned to regular motion.

Hex hit the ground, the lightning leaving his body through his other arm. The redirected electricity blasted into the air, making a beacon of where the horrifying act took place.

Hex lied on the ground, twitching from the electricity seeping through his body. He rolled onto his back, groaning and holding his wounded chest. Cruella ran to his side, "Hex!" she yelled, fear laced in her voice.

Hex's shirt around his chest was burnt away, revealing a large scar. Cruella tried to run towards him, but was stopped in her tracks by a blast of electricity in between her and Hex.

Salis was hunched over, laughing maniacally and swaying side to side. Hex tries to get up, but he's too injured from the electricity strike and falls back down. Cruella rushed to try and help him, but Salis launched a fire blast in front of her before she could reach him.

He laughed maniacally and shot lightning which Cruella dodged. Hex attempts to get back up, but is too weak and can do nothing but watch as Salis shoots another lightning bolt at Cruella, which she dodges again.

Cruella turned to watch Salis land on a roof nearby as he began to charge up another lightning attack. Salis shoots lightning and fires at her from the roof of a building. Cruella managed to dodge them all and hid behind the rooftop generator.

He shoots at Cruella again, but she manages to dodge and moves behind another generator. Salis came from behind her on fire jets and Cruella was forced to flee. "Hawk Animalia!" wings sprouted from Cruella's back as she flew up to chase Salis but he ended up burning her wings with his fire.

Cruella falls to the ground, she feels around to feel detached cables from the generator scattered on the floor. She quickly grabbed them, clutching them in her hands. She stumbles to her feet, "you're starting to get on my nerves!" Cruella yelled.

"Well the feeling is mutual-" before Salis could finish his sentence, Cruella pounced on him, her eyes bright pink as she began her onslaught of clawing and scratching onto the eldest brother.

As Salis attempts to block Cruella's attacks, he fails to notice Cruella tying the wires around his wrist and around the roof railing.

"Not...so smart...are ya..." Cruella heaved, smirking as her eyes faded back to black. Salis tugged on the wires, but it was no use, Cruella tied them too tight and his fire was all out.

"Now..." Cruella stalked over to him, crouching down to his eye level, she gripped his jaw hard, pulling him closer, "I want you to think real hard on your last words, Salis."

"You're...just...a villain." Salis croaked out, Cruella chuckled cockingly.

"A villain?" a wicked smirk crept across her face, she shrugged, "maybe that's how they'll tell my story," her hand wrapped around his neck, her claws digging into his throat, "that I was just some villain who was obsessed with fur, an evil woman who was labeled the devil," she watched the light fade from his eyes, "but it doesn't matter, wanna know why?"

Salis couldn't respond, all that escaped his lips was blood and groans of pain.

"It doesn't matter but I know in my heart that I'm not the villain," she let go of his neck, standing above his dead body in victory, "I'm the damn hero!"

~A/N~

I'm sobbing. Literally sobbing as I write this. This book has been going on for what... A good couple of months? Maybe even more! And now, we finally reached the end of our story.

Where to begin...? Oh! I know! It's been a pleasure writing this story for you all, being able to go on this emotional rollercoaster ride with all of you has been the highlight of my year!

I honestly thought in the beginning that nobody would read this and was thinking about taking it down. But now that's not the case!! I don't even know why I even thought about taking it down!

Not only have I grown close to my beautiful readers. But the characters as well. Do you know why I choose Cruella? Huh?

Cause she's me. She's was misunderstood and labeled the villian without even getting her opinion on the story! I just couldn't let that happen... I couldn't let her story fade off into the dust as if she were Thanos snapped!

It's been a pleasure writing this series. Writing every single emotion that my characters have gone though. Writing every battle sequence. Writing ever love scene. It was all worth it and I wouldn't change it for the world!

None of this would be possible without you - my readers! You have this woman a chance to tell her story and I couldn't be happier!

Thank you everyone. And this was DeVil's In The Name. I hoped you enjoyed.

PS: Now that DeVil's In The Name is finished. You know what time it is... Wereology time!! The character/cast list will be posted later today in its own book.

PSS: there will be an acknowledgement page after this giving shout outs to special ppl!!!

Thank you everyone and stay tuned for Wereology!