Chapter 21
We stood in front of the mansion in Arlon cit, which we once called home. It was unrecognisable, walls without a roof were all that was left of it. Charred pieces of stone and half-burned wood were scattered everywhere. It was all dirty and black indicating it was set on fire. Once a beautiful garden littered with flowers was now full of debris and dirt from the mansion.
Memories flooded my mind, my first time meeting Nicolas and everyone. Isobel and Celeste, our constant chats, Sasha helping me train with Sin. I couldn't help but wonder what would we be all doing if they weren't dead.
I glanced at Sin, he was standing a few feet away from me, just staring at the ruins. His face was hard to read but his body told me everything. His shoulders were slouched and he had his head bowed, his chest moved slightly with every breath he took. The pain he tried to hide away from me was unmistakable.
"He is going to pay for this" I looked up at his grieving face.
"You bet he is, I'll do it with a smile on my face," determination along with fury flashed in his onyx depths "If he as much as break hair on your head, I will rip his head off."
I looked into his eyes giving him reassuring smile "let's go, we have a place to be" I grabbed one of his hands and pulled him gently after I pulled away from his warm embrace.
Outside of the city in the nearby forest was Erik with his small group of warriors. He waited for us while we went to see the burnt down mansion. We overlooked the valley where we were supposed to meet Torben.
The rest of the clans were informed of our plan two days ago, that night after we contacted Torben. I was hoping they would be here on time. I kept watching the horizon, fidgeting with my necklace anxiously. There was no sign of any of them.
"Maybe we should have given them more time" I stated to no one in particular.
"They will come" Erik's voice resonated from my left.
I let out a deep breath feeling frustrated, so far it didn't look good for us.
It took about ten minutes for Torben to come to the valley. Ten agonising minutes of watching him getting closer and closer with each step he took. It felt like hours. At the end of the day, either me or him will stay alive. Today was either my last day on Earth or the first day of a new beginning.
"I know you're here, I can smell all of you!" His voice thundered all around us.
"There's no point hiding," Sin slid his hand into mine and at that moment I was glad for the small gesture. His warm touch somehow calmed my nerves slightly. I didn't feel like the weak slave I used to be.
"Let's go," Erik gestured his werewolves to move out of the forest towards the valley.
Coming closer to Torben he had a murderous aura around him. From afar I could read his facial expression. He had a vicious, devilish smile on his face and murder in his eyes.
Without any word, he lifted his sword and let out a loud animalistic scream, permitting his army to start fighting.
I got ready, bracing myself for the impact. As I watched the werewolves getting closer, all the shouts, the loud running footsteps and snarls vanished and all I could hear was my frantic heart beating in my chest.
I quickly got up holding my silver knife. Everyone in our army fought with someone from Torben's. More werewolves ran towards us.
We were fighting like this for about half an hour. Our numbers quickly decreased. Through all the screaming and chaos, all of a sudden I heard millions of footsteps quickly approaching us. Relief washed over me. The clans were here. We had a chance.
Now that they were here, I could concentrate on Torben. My head whipped in every direction, my eyes scanning my surroundings, but I couldn't see him. Not in his human or wolf form.
After killing quite a few beasts, suddenly a sharp burst of pain seared from my side and I went flying across the field. Landing on my back it took me a second to get on my feet. I frantically looked for Erik and there he was. Torben stood in front of Erik snarling at each other both of them ready to fight.
He soared towards me, throwing punches one after another, not giving me any chance to attack him back. I blocked or moved away from all his punches. He grew more agitated with every attempt to hurt me.
"I'm fine" he was panting heavily.
Before I could even say anything, two werewolves rushed towards us. I noticed another one running towards us from the opposite direction. I glanced at Sin and he gave me wicked smile. He seemed to read my mind and we waited until the right moment. When the time was right, we jumped high enough for the werewolves to crash into each other, all of them falling to the ground.
Glancing over to Sin he gave me a smirk.
We fought like this for hours both Torben's soldiers and vampires were decreasing in numbers.
Once we started winning and Torben's numbers were dangerously low, they ran away. Looking around there were dead bodies everywhere. The ground was covered in dead bodies or vampires and werewolves. The smell of blood that was seeping into the soil drowned my senses; death was everywhere.
"We did it!" One of the vampires said in disbelief.
Near the vampire stood Sin, his arm was now nearly healed. With a few large steps, he stood in front of me hugging me tightly. I melted into his embrace, not caring about the blood that covered his clothes.
"We did it" the breath that left Sin's lips as he spoke fanned the skin on my neck.
He put me back on the ground, the realisation hit me "have you seen Torben? Is he dead?" I quickly started glancing and walking around the dead bodies, not waiting for Sin's response. I tried to find him among the dead and walked towards the forest not realising I walked away from everyone.
"This was my only chance" I held my forehead. My body shook with the adrenaline running through my veins but panic and disappointment started seeping in.
As I glanced at Sin, the air left my lungs, panic filled my entire body. An arrow protruded from his abdomen blood leaking out of it. He fell to the ground and I rushed towards him. "Nooo!" I screamed. I kneeled next to him pulling out the arrow. Tears spilt from my eyes onto my cheeks.
All of sudden a sharp pain seared from the back of my head, my vision went black and I felt the ground colliding with my body.
***
The heat pulled me out of my unconscious state and I slowly opened my eyes, only to quickly closed them again. The sun shone directly into my face.
Once I finally sat up on the bed, I glanced around. I sat on a mattress, stone walls surrounded me with metal bars to my right. It was the only way in and out. The smell of mould and urine was slowly suffocating me. The only source of light was a small window with metal bars. That's where the sun shone through into my face.
After hours of sitting there not knowing where I was, I finally heard a voice coming from behind the metal bars. I had an idea who took me I just didn't want to believe it. But hearing the voice I knew all too well, only solidified my fear.
"You're finally awake," his calm voice caused a shiver to run through my body.
"I've been awake for hours" hatred seeped out of me. I glared at him with so much hate, I wished at that moment my glare would kill him. Everything would be a lot easier.
"Why am I here?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Isn't that obvious? " he raised his eyebrow.
I thought he would want me dead after taking Diana and his son. I stared at him dead in the eyes.
He took a step closer to the metal bars and clenched them tightly "you're mine...always will be"
"I'll kill you first before I let you touch me"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk" amusement flashed in his eyes, the corners of his lips raised until a chuckle left his lips. He let go of the bars and left, his laugh resonating through the dungeon.
I couldn't help the frustrated scream leaving my lips. I couldn't believe a was exactly where I started. Tears filled my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. My thought went to Sin.
Glancing outside my cell I noticed there were more cells across from me and next to me. "Hello," I called. But no response, not even movement. I was there all alone.
My throat began to feel parched, my fangs elongated and started to hurt. I was beginning to feel hunger. I must have been here more than a day to feel hunger like this.
Each minute the pain and discomfort increased. I paced around the room nervously, my mind began to numb and animal instincts were taking over. I violently kicked the bars, the stone around me, everything that was in my reach.
Once the blood hit my tongue, I felt relief washing over me and started taking big gulps. Finishing the blood, I let out a loud sign then threw it out of my cell.