“Your mother told me that one day this information would be pertinent…and it was,” she replied.
Choking back tears, I asked, “So, I could go back?”
She nodded. “But, you have to want to do it.”
I fell silent. The wrath inside of me pulsed through my veins and I cringed at the guilt that had begun to filter in. Could I undo what had been done? Did I really want to?
I felt Bethani’s cool breath on the back of my ear. “The path of destruction is not the path you’re meant to follow, and you know it.”
I swung around and met Bethani’s wide eyes with my own. “How do you know?”
“Because I know you, and this isn’t who you are,” she replied quietly. The look in her eyes were begging the old me to return.
Out of nowhere, a sharp pain tore through my abdomen and I fell to my knees.
“Angelina!” Bethani cried out, falling to my side—her slender arms wrapping around me protectively.
Elias seemed to appear out of nowhere. “We can’t let her destroy the world, Bethani. Let her go.”
She pulled me closer to her warm body. “No.”
“Bethani, I’m warning you…”
“And just what are you going to do, old man?” Stephen snickered from behind him.
Elias responded, his red eyes darkening as he turned around to face Stephen. “I’m doing what must be done to preserve human and nonhuman existence.”
Stephen scoffed. “Do you really think that’s going to solve anything?” He looked up at the Crimson Moon. “I mean, look at this place.”
“If she dies, the world will return to how it once was,” he answered matter-of-factly.
Stephen’s vampire face twisted its grotesque form. “What about Tristan? Have their souls joined together?”
“No, the ritual wasn’t completed,” Ctephanyi said.
“So, if you do this, then you just killed not only your future daughter-in-law but your two grandchildren,” Stephen said. “Hell, you’re a sure win for the grandpa of the year award.”
A look of disgust fell over Elias’ face. “If you know what is good for you, then you’ll keep that ugly mouth of yours shut.”
Stephen cocked his head to the side and smiled. “Aw, did I hit a nerve?”
Elias frowned. “I despise your entire race.”
“Well, we were never too fond of your race either.” Stephen made a disgusted face. “I mean, look at those eyes.”
Elias’ blood-colored eyes darkened. “You’re such a waste, as is this conversation.” He turned back around to face Angelina. “I’m sorry I have to do this, my dear, but I must do what is right for all of us.”
A warm tear fell down my cheek and I closed my eyes. I was ready for death—I just hoped it was ready for me.
Chapter 41
Risen
Daniel tackled Elias to the ground. “Stop!” he yelled.
I looked around, pulled myself free from Bethani’s grasp, and jumped to my feet. I wasn’t going down like this. I had come too far to die by the hands of the red-eyed monster that had already tried to kill me once.
“Angelina, run!” Daniel urged as he struggled to keep Elias pinned down.
I looked at Bethani and she nodded. Nothing good was going to come out of me staying here. I glanced at Tristan who was still wearing a shit-eating grin on his face. I felt my own face twist into disgust. Raising my hand, a bright light emerged from my palm and hit him straight in the heart. A look of sheer surprise replaced the grin on his face as he hit the ground.
“That kind of hurt,” he sputtered, gripping his chest with one hand.
I reached down and snatched the pendant that dangled from his neck. “I believe I’ll take this with me.”
He smiled, a trail of blood erupting from the corner of his mouth. “Take it.”
I stared at him cautiously. “What?”
“The Crimson Moon has risen,” he coughed, and blood splattered across his face.
“Angelina, you need to go now!” Daniel cried out. “I can’t hold him for much longer.”
“Know this: I will find you,” Tristan said.
“I will be waiting,” I assured him, hatred in my eyes.
He smiled and closed his eyes. “Until next time.”
I scanned the destruction around me and looked at the dirty faces of my companions. They all looked worn and weary.
“You need to go,” Bethani whispered.
I looked down and nodded. Escaping out the door, I made my way through the dark cave. Once I reached the opening, I broke into a full sprint through the woods. I felt a twig slice the tender skin on my cheek and cringed. I knew it would heal quickly, but the sting of the cut still hurt.
I ran through the forest for what seemed like hours. My legs ached and I felt the slight twitch of my exhausted muscles begging me to stop. I slowed down and looked around for a safe place to hide for the night. A fallen tree that had created a sort of lean-to caught my eye. I walked over to it with caution. I picked up one of the fallen crimson-covered branches along the ground to cover the openings from any unwanted creatures.
Crawling inside, I leaned my back up against the soft mossy tree. I closed my eyes and breathed in the earthy aroma of the forest. A warm tear fell down my cheek and I sighed. I felt like I was relieving my past, only this time, Nicolai would not be there to save me.
My head rested in my dirty hands and I began to sob quietly. How had it gotten so bad? Was I really that hormonal or perhaps it was just my stubbornness that was preventing me from letting go of the grudge I had been holding against the one man that had been put on this Earth just for me.
I mean, what had he really done that was so wrong? His species surprised me by the love they could carry, and the jealousness they were able to feel. Were those things so bad?
No, they weren’t, and now I couldn’t take any of it back. I had lost him. Death had taken his soul away from me and I could never get it back—or could I? If I used the pendant and changed one thing, it could potentially alter the way the future was. Was that worth the risk? No, it wasn’t.
Suddenly, I knew how to make things right again. I sat straight up and used the back of my hand to wipe my tear-drenched face. I would go to the Underworld and persuade the keeper of souls to give me back my sweet Nicolai. There was only one problem standing in my way, and it was a big one. The keeper of souls just happened to be Tristan’s father and I wasn’t so sure he was going to be happy to see me.
I closed my eyes again and smiled. My plan unfolded in my head. I would wait for Tristan to find me and then we would go to his father together. I would then persuade Hades to give me back Nicolai’s soul in exchange for the pendant. It was a good plan and it had to work.
Chapter 42
Waiting
Tristan’s eyes flew open and he threw Daniel off him. His plan had worked perfectly. Angelina had the pendant and he would be able to track her easily. He jumped up and dusted himself off.
“You’re never going to win her heart,” Ctephanyi muttered from the rubble.
“Always such a pessimist, aren’t you?” he replied, a smirk gracing his bloody face.
“She’s right, you know,” Bethany chimed in. “Angelina’s heart belongs to Nicolai.”
He shot her a dirty look. “We shall see about that.”
“There will be no seeing about anything,” Daniel called out gruffly from the floor. “My sister is going to kill you.”
Tristan laughed. “Please humor me, Daniel. Why do you think your sister is going to kill me when I have the one thing she wants the most?”
Daniel looked at him in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Tristan bent down and pulled the gold dagger out of Nicolai’s chest. “You see this?” he asked. “This dagger is holding Nicolai’s soul.”
“It exists?” Elias breathed.
Tristan smiled. “Why yes, my dear Elias, it does.”
“What exists?” Daniel questioned, staring at the
gold dagger that shimmered underneath the crimson moonlight.
“This dagger here just happens to be enchanted with a very powerful spell that only a keeper of the Underworld can cast.”
“Your father,” Ctephanyi whispered.
Tristan smiled wickedly. “You bet! It was a gift for just in case things got…difficult.”
Daniel grinned. “Your father was right. Things are going to get very difficult for you.”
Tristan twirled the dagger around in his hand. “Is that so?”
“Angelina wasn’t meant for you,” Ctephanyi replied angrily. “She was meant for my son.”
He let out a snarky laugh. “Oh, you mean that pile of emptiness on the floor?”
Ctephanyi’s eyes grew bright white instantly and she stood up. “That pile of emptiness on the floor is my son.”
“Yeah, and he’s dead.”
The tension in the air was heavy. Tristan knew Ctephanyi wanted to rip him apart but wouldn’t dare do so because he held the one thing that could bring him back. He let out a loud roar of laughter. “What’s the matter, Ctephanyi? Why so speechless?”
She stared at him, pure hatred emanating from her icy white glare. “You will get yours.”
Bethani touched Ctephanyi’s arm tenderly. “Now is not the time.”
Ctephanyi’s gaze was unmoving. “When will it be time?”
She smiled sweetly. “Soon.”
Ctephanyi nodded. “Fine, but we shall see each other again soon.”
Smiling, he looked at her. “Promise?”
Returning his smile, she motioned for her companions to head toward the door. “You can bet your life on it.”
Daniel crossed his arms in defiance. “So, we’re leaving? Just like that?”
Ctephanyi nodded. “Yes, Daniel. Fear not, we shall see him again soon.”
“Well, why can’t we just finish it right now?”
“Yeah? Why can’t we finish it right now?” Jeremiah demanded.
Ctephanyi narrowed her eyes sternly. “Because now is not the time.”
The two men looked at each other in disappointment.
“Now go, both of you,” she demanded, pointing towards the door.
With one final huff, they trudged out the doorway, followed by Bethani and Elias. Ctephanyi turned her attention once more on Tristan. “The next time we meet, you will not be so lucky.”
Tristan’s green eyes twinkled. “Perhaps it is you who won’t be so lucky.”
Ctephanyi’s face twisted into a look of disgust. “We shall see.”
Tristan watched her walk out the door in silence. “Oh, yes, we sure will.”
Chapter 43
Emptiness
A pleasant voice whispered, “Angelina, it’s time to wake up.”
“Just a few more minutes,” I asked sleepily.
“Angelina, you need to open your eyes,” the voice whispered again.
“But, I’m so tired,” I begged.
In a much sterner tone the voice called out. “You need to wake up now.”
I wiped the sleep from my eyes. “Fine.”
The sound of rustling leaves nearby caught my attention and I was suddenly wide awake. My heart raced as I peeked out my makeshift door. Covering my mouth in horror, I choked down the bile that rose instantly. Mathias’ bloody head was propped outside, and in one colorless eye was the golden dagger that had killed my beloved Nicolai, along with a bloody letter. His other eye stared at me in desperation. A rogue tear escaped down my cheek as I tried to calm myself down. Taking a deep breath, I wiped away the tear and listened. The frail, weathered leaves rustled across the ground while the Cerulean Warbler sang its sweet tune nearby. I slowed my breathing and concentrated harder, listening for anything out of the ordinary. Just then, I heard it. The cracking of a tree branch under the weight of something heavy. My hand trembled slightly as I saw a humanoid creature fleeing from the forest.
“I’m coming for you,” I whispered with promise. Careful not to make any noise, I pulled myself free from my makeshift home. Scrambling to my feet, I reached over and snatched the letter off the golden dagger that twinkled under the midmorning sun. I unfolded it carefully and read:
My dearest Angelina,
The time for our union was ruined by your dear friends. However, it shall happen soon. There are still loose ends that need to be taken care of. What stopped our past from being together in the present will not follow us into the future. The dagger is yours. Consider it a wedding gift. My father will be waiting for you.
Tristan
Was this some sort of sick joke? Hatred and anger crept into my heart as I crumbled up the piece of paper and threw it into the woods. I would make him pay for all the pain and suffering he had caused to the people that meant the most to me.
This was what my life had become. Death and destruction. I was no longer the innocent girl full of wonder about the world; in fact, I was the complete opposite. I hated the world and everything it possessed. Everything I loved had been ripped away from me, taken by the world and the monsters that hid within it.
I yanked the dagger out of Mathias, wiping the bloody blade across my jeans. I secured it carefully at my side and looked back at my bloody friend. I stared into his colorless eye and wondered if he would become one of the many stars in the night sky to help watch over me. The idea of him being with my mother and father gave me some sort of quiet peace. “Don’t worry, my friend,” I whispered, “I will avenge your death.”
A whisper carried through the wind and kissed my ears. “A choice must be made.”
I closed my eyes and breathed in the sweet scent of the Earth. “I know,” I whispered back.
I knew it was time to make things right. Time healed all wounds, including those that were inflicted by those closest to you. The world would heal, and in the end, all would be right once again.
Smirking, I faced my path. “Ready or not, here I come,” I breathed into the wind. I knew it would find him and deliver its message. The Earth was dying and I was the only one that could save it.
Chapter 44
Death’s End
Daniel pushed past Jeremiah. “You know Angelina’s going to try and bring Nicolai’s soul back, and there’s only one way to do that.”
Ctephanyi nodded. “Yes, by going to speak with Hades.”
Jeremiah nodded as well. “We won’t be able to stop her.”
“Then we should help her,” Bethani chimed in sweetly.
“Where is she?” Jeremiah asked.
“In the Underworld,” Daniel replied.
“Can we even follow her into the Underworld?” Jeremiah questioned, looking back at Ctephanyi. “Isn’t that like…Hell?”
“There’s a way,” Daniel said. “Ctephanyi can get us there.”
“It’s too risky,” she replied quietly.
Jeremiah stopped, shock on his face. “Too risky? Are you kidding me? Everything we’ve done today is risky!” he pointed out.
“This is a”—Ctephanyi put a finger to her lips and was thoughtful—“different kind of risky.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Daniel asked gruffly.
She turned her attention to Daniel. “When you think of the term Underworld, what do you think of?”
“Hell, of course,” he replied.
“And by saying the word ‘Hell,’ you’re referring to a place full of demons and fires for an eternity?” she quizzed.
He shrugged. “Well, yeah.”
She laughed. “Well, ignore what you know and let me enlighten you.”
“Please do,” Daniel replied.
“You see, the Underworld was one of the first things created on Earth. The Gods knew that with good, evil always followed. However, some evil is born darker than others. After much deliberation, the Gods decided to create a place for only those that have committed the most unthinkable crimes against humanity.
Stephen looked amused. “So, no fire, no brimstone?”
“Only on t
he level above it,” she said.
“So, what’s so bad about this place then? You’re making ‘spending a life of eternity in torture and agony’ sound like a walk in the park. How could it possibly be worse than Hell?”
Ctephanyi had a distant look in her eyes. “Your soul is lost forever. You must spend an eternity battling yourself. Some say that’s the worst fate a person could receive.”
“Well, it doesn’t sound so bad to me,” Stephen said. “In fact, I’ve probably been to worse places.”
She laughed. “We shall see.”
“We’re all alive, right?” Jeremiah said. “So, how can it be a threat to us?”
“The Keepers of the Underworld are always looking for fresh souls. It’s quite possible to lose your soul in such a place, and once you lose it, you can never come back to the land of the living.”
“So, what you’re basically saying is that because we’re alive, we could potentially lose our souls and die?” Jeremiah asked.
“Because you are alive, you could indeed lose your soul, but you would not simply die.” Bethani’s sweet voice rose behind them. “You become your worst, most lonely self. Always searching for something you would never find.”
“Well that doesn’t sound so bad. Almost vacation-like for me,” Stephen said.
Bethani looked disgusted. Scowling, she pushed passed him. “You would say that.”
Confused, he replied. “Touchy subject, I see.”
Without another word, she walked ahead of them briskly.
“What’s her problem?” he asked turning, back towards Ctephanyi.
“You’re not used to seeing such negativity from her, are you?” Ctephanyi said.
Stephen tried to shrug off how Bethani’s sour reply had affected him. “I guess not.”
“When the time is right, she will tell you.”
“Tell me what?” he asked.
“How she lost her mother to the Underworld,” Ctephanyi answered, walking past him.
Stephen’s eyes lit up. “So, her mother’s soul…”
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