+Hadrian.+

“Give me your arm.” Aracelia said to me and my eyebrows furrowed together.

“Huh?” I asked.

“Give me your arm!” she said more forcefully as she held her hand out. “He’s dying!”

“What would me arm do?” I asked. “What would be the point? He’s a Mortal, it won’t do anything.”

She grabbed the wooden pencil holder cup off the desk in the room and dumped the stuff out of it. She placed it on the table and cut her wrist, letting her bright red blood pour into the cup. She gave me a hard look as her hand extended out to me and I looked down at Dante who was passed out on the table.

I scoffed and held my arm out towards her, “Aracelia, you have too much hope.”

She pressed the tip of the dagger against my skin and pierced it, sliding it down my arm and black blood slid down my arm into the wooden cup, “He’s different, Hadrian. He’s a Vessel, there hasn’t to be something special about them. If a Demon is supposed to be in control of his body one day, they have to be different.”

I looked at the cup, at Dante, and back to her, “You think it’ll work on Nevaeh to?”

She stared down at the cup before looking up at me, “She can’t have it.”

I glared at her, “Why not? This way, I don’t ever have to worry about losing her—“

“Because you can’t have everything Hadrian!” she coldly said and I breathed heavily out my nose as we glared at her. Her hard look dropped and she looked like she was exhausted, like all her fighting was gone as she scoffed, “Hadrian, its Nevaeh decision. Everything I have tried to do to keep her away from you hasn’t work. I’ve come to learn to let her make her own decisions. Our blood only last ten years, she would have to keep taking it. It’s her life, she can decide. Don’t force it on her.”

“I love Nevaeh, Aracelia.” I told her. “I’m going to take care of her.”

She stared down at the cup for a moment and looked at me, “You better, because it seems like she doesn’t want anyone else but you. She is my child and if you make her happy—I’ll move aside what you are and accept you, Hadrian.” She then shrugged, “It’s why I saved you from getting your ass kicked by your sister.”

“Who is still out there?” Rien said. “I’ll worry about her spoiled princess ass later.”

Dante groaned on the table and his eyes opened. I whimpered as he looked beside me. I felt this presence next to me and my back stiffen, but as I looked in the corner of my eyes I didn’t see anything. I knew what it was though, I knew that feeling of a Demon being close and I could smell the sulfur of a Demon right next to me. I was once this Demon, ready and eager to possess my body.

Aracelia forced Dante to look at her and put her hand under his head to lift his head. She placed it against his pale mouth and tilt the cup, “He can’t have you. Not now—not ever.” she said.

Dante coughed and brought his hand up, trying to move the cup away. Aracelia forced it closer to him and his eyes widen before they rolled back a little and he started to have a dangerous seizure. Aracelia breathed roughly as her step the cup down and it slipped off the table. She pressed down on Dante chest, holding him down against the table. She grabbed his arms and placed them against his chest, holding his hands as if he was a child, “Shh, it’s okay Dante. I’m here.”

It went on for moments until he just stopped. His eyes rolled back and his whole body slumped down against the table. Silvia was running down his cheeks with blood along with it and he was sweating hard. The wound on his chest though was all healed.

I scoffed, “I can’t believe it. It actually worked.”

Aracelia pressed her ear against his chest, “It’s beating strongly.” She lifted her head up and grabbed the knife, piercing his skin and crimson blood came out. “It worked, I knew it.” She did something that surprised me—she actually drove the knife down in his chest again.

“Ah!” Dante cried out as he sat up and Aracelia jumped back. He breathed heavily as he looked down at the dagger, “What the Hell!?” he cried out as he reached up and took the dagger out quickly, throwing it aside. He gasped heavily as he watched the stab wound quickly heal up. He started panting, Wh—what happened to me?”

I nodded, “He’s fine.” I turned and walked over to Rien quickly, “Why are you helping, Rien?”

“Senka took something from me, I want it. I was supposed to become King, I plan to make sure that happens tonight.” he said. He looked around, “All of this was supposed to be mine, Hadrian.”

“We killed Senka and you can. Help me find him.” I said as I grabbed his arm. “Rien—if you become king, you have to make everyone leave me alone when it’s all over. For me, Nevaeh, and Azariah.”

“Why should I do that?” he asked.

“Because,” I said, pausing to think of something. “Because I’m your brother.”

+Nevaeh.+

I looked behind me as I climbed down the ladder and saw a room that looked just like the other villa rooms. I paused half way when I saw Senka back and he was hanging his head down, hands pressed against the wall. He was in front of mirror but I still couldn’t see his face. I continued my way down the ladder.

“It’s over, Senka.” I said. “You know the Angels will stop you.”

He chuckled, but it sounded forced, “I worked way too hard for it all to end like this, Nevaeh. A little Holy Water is not going to stop me.”

He lifted his head up and I jerked because his face looked a little deformed. It surprised me since Senka was a handsome man, but the Holy Water did something to his appearance that made his face look droopy and he had a few blisters around his eyes and mouth.

He chuckled, “It’s pretty much out of my body now, I just need to fix some things.”

I was confused as he reached his hand up to his face and he actually start ripping his skin off. Disgusted, I brought my hand up to my mouth and wanted to through up because he was actually ripping off his face. He was crying in pain, but that didn’t stop him.

But every part he ripped off, new skin would form and his face returned back to normal. He cracked his neck as he turned it to the right and he grinned at me threw the mirror before turning to face me. He reached his arm out and took the blade with a black wooden handle on it off the table before walking towards me.

I pressed my back against the wall and lifted my chin a little, “Wh-what are you doing?”

“That child is causing me too much trouble.” he coldly said, raising his arm and I jumped to the side before he could stab me.

“No, wait!” I yelled, stepping back further away. “Senka, please! He’s an innocent child.”

“He’s not worth what he is!” he coldly yelled and he reached his arm. Breathing roughly, I waited for something but nothing came. He cursed, “Fuck it.” In his quick speed, he disappeared and I felt someone behind me. I jumped and turned around, screaming and fell to the ground.

I used my hand to help me crawl away and I used my other hand to cover my stomach protectively, “Please, Senka, no! You need him, remember? Don’t hurt him.”

“I’ll just do it all myself.” he said, bending down towards me but I brought my foot up and quickly and roughly slammed my foot against his knee. Turning around quickly as he fell—apparently all of the Holy Water isn’t out of his body just yet—and lifted myself up, running towards the ladder. I quickly grabbed onto the bars and started to climb until he grabbed my hair and forcefully threw me off.

I landed on the ground roughly on my back and I groaned in pain, turning on my side. He reached down, grabbing my shirt, and lifted me up from the ground. I brought my foot up, kicking him in the leg, and brought my arm up over his right arm, bring him down onto the ground. I pressed my knee against his shoulder and reached for the blade but he smacked it out of my hand and turned, back handed me against the face.

My nose stung as I lifted myself up and he put his arm around me, putting me in a choke hold. I brought my chin down against his arm and my hands flew up to his arm. I stepped one foot out to the side and I threw my left arm down to his groin. His hold loosen as he cried in pain and I brought the same left arm up, slamming my elbow into his chin.

I broke myself free and I turned, bring my arm up across his throat and I brought my arm down so my arm was hooked around his throat and with the help of my leg, I knocked him down to the ground. He grabbed my ankle and lifted it up, making me fall. He crawled on top of me and I brought my arm, blocking his reach to grab my throat and I grabbed his hand. I quickly brought my knee up and pressed it against his stomach and pressing my other foot against his slid, I used both my legs to help slid me out from under him.

I quickly got up, but I wasn’t going towards the direction of the ladder. He grabbed me from behind in a bear hug and slammed me against the wall. I cried out in pain since my face slammed against the wall and I hit my stomach a little. I tried to stay calm but I was worried since I started to feel Azariah move around inside of me. I made myself focus and I dropped my weight before I slammed my foot against Senka foot. His hold loosened and I grabbed his arm, forcing us around and he slammed against the mirror.

I heard Senka growl in frustration and he grabbed hold of my hair, forcing me to turn around and he punched me across the face roughly. I fell to the ground and looked up at him, scared.

“You are really getting on my nerves now.” he said.

“Go to hell.” I yelled at him and he brought his foot up, kicking me in the face. Pain filled my face as I rolled to my side, whimpering in pain.

I heard a door burst open, “Nevaeh!”

“Rien?” Senka questioned. “You traitor!”

I felt someone touched my arm and I jerked, “Shh, it’s okay.” I heard Hadrian as he gently lifted me up.

I heard a grunt and my head whipped around quickly to see Aracelia and Senka fighting. I laid my back against Hadrian soaked shirt from the rain and stared at Senka. I grimaced a little and he suddenly stopped. He sucked in roughly as he fell to his knees, his back arching forward.

Mama…

I heard Azariah voice and my eyes watered up.

Is it alright if I do this?

“Yes.” I whispered.

Senka brought his hands up to his head and cried in pain. Aracelia was confused as she looked down at me and she turned her head to look at me. She lowered her gaze down towards my stomach and the confused look went away. She looked back at Senka with a hard look before reached down and grabbed him by his button shirt, holding him up, “Promise to keep the alliance?” she asked Rien.

“I’m not that to power hungry to go against Angels.” Rien said, wielding the sword around in his hand.

“Wait!” Senka yelled out.

“I’ll waited seven thousand years.” Rien coldly said before wielding the sword threw Senka chest and I jerked because with that—it was over.

+

I ran into the hospital room and saw Courtney sitting down next to the bed where Rafael was laying. She looked up and her eyes widen before she stood up and ran over towards me. We hugged each other tightly, “Thank God it’s over.” she said before we pulled away. She arched an eyebrow, “It is over, right?”

I nodded, “It is.”

“What happened?” Victurus asked as he walked into the room and quickly ran over to the bed. He sat down on the bed and took Rafael handed, “Rafael?”

“He’s passed out when they tried to give him a blood transfusion. They didn’t understand why any of the types weren’t working.” Courtney said as she walked over to the other said and looked so concern.

“Of course none of them work.” Victurus coldly said as he quickly rolled up his arm and stood up. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a pocket knife. He sliced his arm and pressed his wrist against Rafael mouth. After going through the whole healing process and woke up, Victurus sighed heavily and spoke to Rafael in Spanish.

Rafael ignored his father and turned to look at Courtney, “Senka is gone.”

Courtney smiled and took his hand, “Yes, he is. He won’t be bothering us anymore.”

“Now I am going to leave you.” he said and Courtney frowned.

I turned and walked out of the room. I went down the hallway, running my fingers threw my hair tiredly and exhausted. I saw Hadrian down the hallway waiting for me, back pressed against the wall. He held his arms out and I quickly pressed myself against him, taking comfort as his arms went around me. I pressed my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes, sighing heavily.

“Hadrian?”

“Hmm, Uccellina?” he asked and I smiled widely at the word uccellina.

“You haven’t called me that in forever.” I said. “I actually missed the days where all our problems use to be making sure no one knew about us.”

He chuckled and brought his hand up behind my head, petting my head, “It’s over now, Uccellina.” he said, kissing my forehead.

+Dante.+

I watched Hadrain lean down and kissed Nevaeh head, wrapping his arms closer around her and hid his face in the space between her shoulder and neck. I ran my hand threw my hair and sighed heavily. I thought about going over and making some sarcastic comment as I went passed, but I thought better.

I lifted myself up from the wall and turned down the opposite way of the hallway. I went down towards the lobby and when I got to the entrance, I saw Aracelia standing outside. It was still raining outside but she was safety covered from the rain. I walked out of the hospital and sat down next to her on the bench.

“How is everyone?”

She looked straight ahead, “No one died tonight.” she said, sounding pleased as she touched the fresh scar on her arm that she used to help the injured tonight. She turned to look at me, “How do you feel?”

“Like I was never close to dying tonight.” I said. “I guess this means I’m not human.”

“You’re special, Dante.” she said. “Now you don’t ever have to worry about dying.”

“Immortal is scarier than I thought it would be.” I admitted. “But it’s more comforting. Just take the juice again after ten years and I’m set for another ten years. I don’t really have anyone but my Uncle Miguel anyways.”

“You do have people now, Dante.” she said. “Carter, Nevaeh…me, we all care about you.”

“What did you mean when you could save Eric?” I asked and her eyebrow furrowed together.

“Like it sounds, I couldn’t save him when he was dying. I didn’t want you to die, I had to save you.” she said.

“But you didn’t have to.” I told her. “Why do you care so much?”

Her confused look went away and looked away, her dark hair flying in front of her face until she reached up and tucked her hair behind one of her ears, “It doesn’t matter. You’re alive, you don’t ever have to worry about him coming for you.”

“Eric was your first ever true love.” I said. “That proves you can actually love someone that way, Aracelia. You love me, don’t you?”

She didn’t answer me, she just stared down at the ground. It wasn’t an answer, she didn’t deny it and if that wasn’t true, she would have said that wasn’t true.

Do I love Aracelia?

I could probably sit here and deny that wasn’t possible. I thought I loved Nevaeh, she understood me but I guess that’s why I had thought I had loved her because for once someone actually understood me. Aracelia understood me to and I guess that’s why I was so confused between them. They said they were always different from each other, but I could see how similar they are in each other. Both caring, protective, beautiful women.

“You can get on my nerves just like he did, but that’s the only thing you have similar to Eric.” she said. “I thought before I was just trying to replace him by using you, but you are the opposite of Eric.” She looked up at me, “Sometimes loving a person means you have to let them go. I loved Nevaeh and I had to let her go there for a while. Are you still leaving?”

I stared at her for a moment before sighing heavily, “I need to get away from everything for a while.”

She nodded, “I understand.”

“I’ll won’t die now though if I get hurt.”

“You got to watch out for your heart thought, that’s the only thing that can get you killed.” she warned. “Anywhere else, you’ll be fine but if they get you in the heart you’re dead.”

I grinned, “Only you could kill it.”

Her cheeks blushed but she chuckled, “Don’t say things you don’t understand, Dante.”

I reached up and placed my hand behind her head, bring her towards me and I kissed her right on the mouth. Her hands came up behind my neck and pressed closer to me.