by M. K. ROZE
he vanished in a cloud of smoke.
“Bain! Bain!” I kissed him all over his face and stopped
abruptly. “Was that Satan?”
He stood up and cracked his neck. “No, love, that was
Hades. They are two different entities.” Bain looked at the
blue electricity crackling over his arm.
“What is that?”
“I could be wrong, but I believe that was Zeus who
struck me with his lightning bolt.”
“Oh, my God. When you were struck, the lightning
formed into a hand. I bet it was Zeus. And something pushed
me above the water. Was that Poseidon?”
“I don’t doubt it, especially after Hades declared war.”
I still couldn’t believe the Greek gods were real. “Why
would they get involved with what’s going on?”
“I’m sure Latore had something to do with it.”
“Son!” Sorin shouted.
Bain turned to Latore standing on the beach, holding
Sorin by his neck. “Latore, you’re mine!” As he charged
through the water, his wings tore out of his back. He shot up
into the air, grabbed Latore by his head, and freed Sorin.
“You won’t win,” Latore said.
Bain locked his arms around his neck. Savina hissed and
flew toward Bain at high speed, but Dragos and Sorin
grabbed her, holding her in place. Savina broke from their
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grip, flew up higher, and stared my way. Dragos and Sorin
came to my side.
“Stop and give us what we want!” Latore shouted.
Bain turned Latore around, facing him, and snarled. “I
will not stop until you’re all destroyed!” Bain bared his teeth
and bit off a chunk of Latore’s face—his face healed
instantly.
Latore grabbed Bain’s throat. “You’re still weaker than
I.” Latore slammed Bain straight into the sand, both
vanishing. Seconds later, they shot back up like a volcano
and landed in front of each other.
“You want more?” Bain bellowed and flew at Latore,
flying him backward.
“Latore, that’s enough!” Savina yelled. “Bain can’t die
until we get the Sicuro back. We came here to kill Viata,
remember?”
“Bain, let’s go,” I cried.
Bain pulled Latore in and spit in his face. “It’s time to
die.”
Latore chuckled. “Is … that … so?”
Bain roared as he punched his fist right through Latore’s
chest.
I gagged, never having seen anything like that.
“Rip his heart out,” Sorin ordered.
Latore grabbed Bain’s arm, trying to prevent him from
yanking his heart out. His fear-filled eyes met mine. “It
wasn’t supposed to be like this.” He closed his eyes, ready
for his immortality to end.
I lowered my head, wondering what he meant by that,
and a funny sensation rushed through my head.
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“I can’t!” Bain tried desperately to pull it out. “Go get
the Sicuro, now!”
Latore’s eyes snapped open, confused, and he tried to
free himself from Bain’s grip.
Sorin flew into the woods, returned with the Sicuro, and
tossed it to Bain. Savina grabbed the Sicuro, then Sorin flew
at her, took it back, and tossed it to Bain. Bain tried to impale
Latore’s heart with the Sicuro, but it wouldn’t penetrate. It
was as if there was a shield around him.
Latore looked down at me. “You remember, don’t
you?”
I glanced at Bain’s confused look and back at Latore.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ll see.” Latore got out of Bain’s grip and flew
backward.
I panted out of control, and a bright light came from my
eyes.
“How is that possible?” Latore yelled.
“I told you she had that ability,” Savina said.
I narrowed my eyes on Savina and Latore glaring at each
other. They shielded their faces and moved out of the way.
Savina flew toward me.
“Savina, no!” Latore shouted as he flew after her,
grabbing her before she got to me. Latore grinned at me and
shot up into the clouds, holding Savina.
My eyes set the trees on fire in the distance, then
someone grabbed me from behind.
“Bain, don’t touch her,” Sorin said.
“I trust her. Viata, calm your breathing and turn your
anger off,” Bain pleaded in a calm voice.
“I can’t! I can’t! Help me!”
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Bain squeezed my shoulders. “Yes, you can. Focus on
good memories, and it will stop.”
Flashes of Kaylee, Liam, and me having the paint fight
took over my mind, followed by our childhood memories.
As my breathing became calmer, tears flooded down my face
like a raging river. When the light was gone, my knees
buckled beneath me, and Bain caught me as I fell.
“You’re okay now.” Bain cupped my face and kissed my
forehead. “I knew you had it in you.”
“How ... how did I just do that?”
“As I said earlier, you’re a goddess with multiple powers
you’re not aware of.”
“Why would the sun in my eyes scare Latore and
Savina?”
“Because it’s more powerful than the sun. It can kill any
of us.”
I stood there for a minute in silence. “Why did Latore
ask me if I remembered?”
Bain looked at Dracul and back at me. “I’m not sure.”
“How come you couldn’t impale Latore with the
Sicuro?”
“Because there was an unseen force around him,
preventing me from doing so.”
“Who would do that?”
Bain gave me a blank stare like he didn’t trust me.
“Do you think I protected him?”
“I didn’t say that, did I?”
“No, but your worried look tells me you believe I did.”
Bain sighed. “I do think it’s odd Latore stopped Savina
from killing you.”
“Well, I’m sure he had his reasons. He’s twisted.”
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“That, he is,” Bain agreed.
I looked at Dragos and Sorin’s worried eyes. “I’m not
going to hurt you.”
They nodded and turned away.
At that moment, I felt like they didn’t trust me. “I don’t
want this. I could’ve killed you guys.”
Bain cradled me. “It will take time, but you need to learn
to control your powers.”
I calmed my breathing. “Why didn’t you tell me about
our children?”
“It wasn’t the right time.”
I backed away. “I’m confused. I thought vampires
couldn’t reproduce.”
“We can’t. You saved them from Muma many years ago
when they were very young. We took them in, and when they
got older, they decided to become one of us. This is the
reason why Muma has such hate for you.”
“But—”
“We’ll discuss this another time, love.” He tilted my
head back and sucked the mânca dust out of my
lungs.
We took turns coughing it up.
“Are you ready?” Bain asked.
I nodded in shock.
Malakor came back out of the woods, limping.
“He’s hurt. Help him,” I said.
“He heels fast.” Bain patted Malakor’s head. “Go rest. I
will need you soon.”
Malakor nodded and took off running down the beach.
His red and black wings tore out from the top of his back,
and he flew high up in the sky.
My mouth fell open. “Malakor can fly?”
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Bain winked. “Hold on tight.” He held me and shot up
into the air.
We flew over the ocean with Sorin and Dragos on the
side of us.
“We won’t make it!” Dragos shouted.
“Don’t worry about me. Take the Sicuro and go,” Bain
ordered.
Sorin took the dagger, and they picked up speed, flying
ahead of us.
As the sun started to rise behind us, Bain shouted from
the pain.
I touched his face with tears in my eyes. “I love you,
Bain.”
When his eyes met mine, I could see the agony on his
face. “We’re not far from the beach. Drop me into the ocean
so you get better speed.”
“No, I can make it.”
“Bain, I can smell your flesh burning. You will die, and
I won’t. Now drop me, or I will never forgive you.”
He slowed down and lowered me to the surface. “If I
don’t make it, go to my father and remember I will always
love you.”
“Don’t say that.”
“I’m sorry, love.” He kissed me on my lips like it was
our last time.
I looked down at the choppy waves, then back at him.
“Drop me, drop me now!” I cried.
He kissed me. “I’m so sorry, love.” He dropped me into
the deep sea.
I swam up to the surface, and I trod the water, crying
for him as I watched as the sun rise.
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My body was weak from being thrown around. I
couldn’t hold myself above the water, sometimes going
under. A huge fin circled me.
“Oh, my God. Not a shark.”
A dolphin swam up to me. I grabbed its fin and it swam
me close to shore.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” the dolphin spoke in a deep male
voice and swam away.
I smiled in disbelief, and I was certain it had to be
Poseidon controlling it.
On the beach, I lay face down, breathing slowly. Tears
filled my eyes as I dug my fingers into the sand, wondering
if Bain was alive.
A few minutes later, an older man came up to me.
“Ma’am, are you okay?”
I nodded.
He ran off. I assumed to get help.
I got up and staggered off toward the main road with
water running down my legs. I ran my fingers through my
sandy, wet hair. Drivers were looking at me. Some were
beeping, but I didn’t care. The only thing on my mind was
how I was going to get to Bain’s place.
An older woman pulled over and rolled her window
down. “Do you need a ride?” she asked me softly.
Usually, I wouldn’t dare get into a car with a stranger,
but from what I had witnessed, I thought, what could she
possibly do to me?
“Yes, please,” I said and got into her old car.
I covered my nose from all the old fast-food bags that
covered the floor.
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“Where would you like to go?” she asked. “And why are
you all wet?”
I wanted her to take me to Bain’s, but he lived too far.
Plus, I didn’t want her to know where I was going.
“I passed out on the beach,” I said. “The waves of the
incoming tide woke me up.”
“I see,” she replied, but she didn’t seem convinced. “I’m
Doris, and you are?”
“Viata.”
“I’ve never heard such a beautiful name before.”
“Thank you.”
“Where would you like me to take you?” she asked
again.
“Augustine High is fine.”
I didn’t think she believed me, and I didn’t care. I just
wanted to get home so that I could get to Bain’s. When she
dropped me off, I jumped out without saying a word and ran
down the street until I reached my place. With very little
energy, I continued to the back of the house and took the
key from the lockbox. The key wouldn’t go in the hole
because my hand was shaking, so I gave up and kicked it in
until it opened.
I ran over to the sink and drank from the faucet. Sand
fell in my eyes, so I stuck my head underneath, rinsing my
hair and face off as quickly as I could. Dripping water all over
me and the floor, I raced to my room, changed into dry
clothes, and grabbed my keys off the dresser. Outside, I
jumped in my car and took off down the road. I ran most of
the red lights because I was too busy wondering if Bain was
still alive.
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When I arrived at the cabin, I parked, jumped out, and
ran up the steps to the door. “Bain!” I shouted as I pounded
on the door. I turned the handle, but it was locked.
“Dammit!”
I ran back down the steps, grabbed a rock, and threw it
at the window, shattering the glass. I kicked the glass away,
climbed in, and ran upstairs. “Bain! Sorin! Dragos! Where are
you?”
With no answer, I raced back down and opened Sorin’s
door. As soon as I entered, a cold draft went through me. I
ran over to the closet and opened it up. There was nothing
there but rows of shoes and racks of clothes. I called out to
them again, but still nothing. I plunged to my knees and
thought that maybe they flew somewhere else, but I didn’t
know. I punched the door. The intense pain caused me to
groan. I was lost and didn’t know what to do.
A thump came from within the walls. I jumped up and
slid the clothes frantically to the other side of the rack. A
secret door hid behind the black suits, so I shoved them out
of my way and slid the door open. It was freezing and pitch-
black. I rushed back out and found a candle in the living
room next to a lighter. I took them both, raced back to the
hidden room, and continued down the long hallway with a
red carpet that led to three more doors.
I opened the first door and gasped. Sorin laid on a bed
with his arms folded across his chest. He looked like he was
dead.
“Sorin,” I called out as I walked over to him.
He didn’t answer. I shook him, but he didn’t budge. It
was like he was in a trance.
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The wick started to go out, so I shielded the flame with
my other hand and continued to the next room. As I stepped
in, Dragos was also in a bed in a trance. I nudged him, but
like Sorin, he didn’t budge. I stepped out and shut the door.
My he
art raced as I grabbed the last door’s handle. I
wasn’t even sure if it was Bain’s room or not, so I closed my
eyes. “Bain, please be in here,” I said in a whisper.
I opened it slowly, stepped inside, and gulped when he
wasn’t in there. I continued over to the end table and picked
up a picture of me at Kaylee’s aunt’s wedding. It was the
photo Kaylee had taken of me before we went inside. I sat
on the queen-size bed and grabbed a shirt off the floor in
front of me. I smelled his familiar scent on it and knew it was
Bain’s room.
“Bain, where are you?” I threw myself face down on his
bed, crying and shaking uncontrollably.
Seconds later, fingernails ran down my back.
I quickly flipped over. “Bain,” I screeched.
He grinned and sat next to me.
I jumped on him and straddled him. “Were you here the
entire time?”
He nodded with a smug look.
“Where?”
“Around,” he replied smoothly.
I smacked his face, kissed him, and stopped abruptly. “I
thought you were dead.”
“I am dead.”
“Thanks for the reminder. Are Savina and Latore still
alive?”
“Yes. They will keep coming until they get the Sicuro
and you’re dead.”
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“What about Malign and Hades?”
“Now that Malign knows that you still have powers, he
will send many more Annialmorts and Cravers to kill us. As
for Hades, I’m not sure what he’s up to, but I know his
intentions are not good. We need to prepare ourselves for
what’s to come.”
“What about Zeus and Poseidon? Why would they help
us like they did?”
“I can’t answer that.”
“How do we contact them to ask them?”
“When that time comes, I’m sure you will know.”
“What about Liam?”
“I’m sorry, Viata. It’s too late. Liam has already
transitioned. Savina compelled him to kill you.”
I grabbed my stomach and sobbed so hard I almost
puked. Bain flipped me over onto my back. With his body
on top of mine, he began kissing me, then abruptly stopped
to examine my eyes. “I wish this could last forever.”
I buried my face in his neck. “I don’t want to forget you,
Bain. I love you so much.”