by Londyn Lenz
“Finally, you were making me think you didn’t want to join us.” On the third floor Gabe was standing in the middle of a table with black ashes on it. The other had Alicia or Willow laying on the other table.
But that wasn’t what did it for me, Andreas hands were tied above his head. His eyes were blood shot red and I felt like I was seeing things. My eyes got foggy for a second and I felt like I was about to faint seeing my love like that. Gabe had a black cube shaped box hangin directly in his face. How the fuck he got Andreas bound and chained up was beyond me. More importantly, what was in that box that hanged in his face.
“Ghost orchid, a vampire’s weakness. Rare, endangered and found only near swamps and where fungus lives. Not enough to kill you all but enough to slow you down and when given over and over.” He pointed to Andreas and laughed. “Well, you get the picture. I’ve studied your kind to the nail. Now, I take it because I didn’t kill that bitch Giselle so she told you all you need to know about who you are.” Andreas started to heal up and Gabe saw it to.
“Not to worry, it’ll take care of that.” Gabe smirked and pointed to the cube shaped box.
“Ahh!” A mist came out of it directly in Andreas eyes.
“Stop!!” I yelled with tears falling from my eyes.
“As you wish.” The spraying stopped and Andreas head dropped. I knew he wasn’t dead and he would heal but still. I can’t stand to see him in pain.
“You control everything that happens to that monster you love so dearly. All you have to do is lie in this woman’s place.” He pointed to Willow.
“Oh I’m sorry, let me explain. You see Alicia was the perfect vessel for Willow. I mean I could have done without it but a dear friend of mine needed a soul swapping spell done. I needed practicing so I figured why not. I believe you know her, Luna.” My eyes grew. “You should really start doing background checks on your employees Annabella. Luna is your best friend Faye’s bastard sister. Once Duke killed Faye’s parents all I had to do was seek her out and add flavor to her.”
“Where is Faye?”
“In good hands I assure you. But Duke, I highly doubt Luna will be as nice to him as I am to Andreas. But enough of them, do me and you have a deal?” He reached his hand out for me.
“B-B-Bella don’t.” Andreas voice squeezed out. Gabe raised his hand up and the mist sprayed out again into his eyes. I got so angry my fangs popped out and I transformed.
“Does she honestly think coming back as me will him love her?” I laughed though my fang filled mouth. “Your mother was an evil bitch and I celebrated when she died.” Gabe expression turned evil and his eyes rolled in the back of his head. Just as I heard Andreas yell out again in pain, my neck snapped knocking me out cold.
Annabella. Annabella.” I opened my eyes and I was in a dark brick room. Nothing around, just all brick and darkness. When my eyes landed on my mama I broke down and hugged her.
“I know my sweet girl, I know.”
“Why did you keep so much from me? Had you told me about all of this I could have been prepared. You made me think anything impossible stopped at our ability to see and talk to the dead.” I was pleaded to see her but angry at the same time because I felt like all my life I have been kept in the dark.
“I apologize Annabella but as you can see there is so much darkness within your roots. What life is that for a child to live. Knowing what awaited you, there was nothing I could do to keep you from it. Even when I thought your life with Faye and your business would distract you from it. Fate still stepped in and you met Andreas, I knew when you came home and told me about his darkness that I couldn’t keep you from him.” Her tears fell.
“You and your father were the only good light in my life. But, the both of you were never supposed to be rewarded to me. Your grandparents killed any hopes of me and my sisters living a normal life when they summoned the darkness.” I sat up and wiped my tears.
“Could you blame them, the same way you would do anything to protect me. They were doing the same for you and your sisters. I’ve been to your childhood home ma, I see how y’all lived.” Shaking her head she objected.
“That still does not give them the right to mess with an entity of such evil. Gabe has been inside your head since I killed Robin. The reason why your gift dims, why you think you feel something for him and when you went to Haiti. It was all Robin and him in your head. I was bound and restricted to warning you. With Gabe trying to bring Robin back to life she loosened her hold on me.
“I don’t get how she had a hold on you in the first place. You were at peace and Robin was in hell.”
“Gabe made a sacrifice, souls are always needed in hell my sweet girl. When I decided to come back, I became fair game to Robin she knew I was here to help you. Linda to.” My mouth dropped.
“I knew it, I kept seeing her but I didn’t want to tell Andreas because I knew he would panic. Is she ok?”
“Yes, she’s fine. Her purpose was for Duke.”
“Duke?” Oh my goodness, Faye. Gabe was right about Luna.
“All will be will Annabella I just need you to wake up and stop Gabe.” I was about to cry again.
“I can’t mama, I’m scared---”
That is your only weakness. Dig deep, you are a hybrid Annabella. Immortal and powerful, the good in both. Your kind heart and good nature makes you harness so much power. Yours is a gift unlike Robin and Gabe.” She grabbed my face in both her hands. “Repeat after me. Ascinda, Mulaf, Hinto, Ascinda.” I have never chanted those words before. I couldn’t even tell you the language but I closed my eyes and repeated it.
“Ascinda, Mulaf, Hinto, Ascinda. Ascinda, Mulaf, Hinto, Ascinda.” Over and over I repeated the words until my mother’s voice faded away. I felt a wave of energy all through my body. It felt like a bolt of electricity was set off. Fear, doubt, nerves, anything negative that I had inside of me melted away.
“ASCINDA, MULAF, HINTO, ASCINDA!!” I yelled the words out over and over, louder and louder. My chest rose up from the ground and I felt my eyes open but I knew they were rolled in the back of my head. “ASCINDA, MULAF, HINTO ASCINDA!!!” Yelling so loud that all the windows in the building shattered. I looked at Gabe and used my hand to slam him hard against the wall. Getting off the ground I used my vamp speed to get to Andreas. His eyes were as if someone had dipped them in red paint. It took one flick and his chains were broken. He fell in my lap.
“My love, baby here.” I bit into my wrist. “Drink.” Putting it in his mouth as soon as a drop of it touched him he began drinking. Suddenly, I was pushed so hard that I slid across the floor. Willow was coming towards me fast. Her foot kicked me in my ribs making me roll over. Once on my back she jumped on top of me and started choking me.
“Willow. Willow stop, you are under a spell.” I pushed my words out. Leaning forward to my ear she said.
“Willow is dead, it’s your favorite auntie.” Enlarging my eyes I looked in hers. My anger and hatred for this woman made them light up so bright that her gripped loosened. I didn’t know what I was doing but it was weakening her. Once she was off of me and grabbing her head I kicked her over hard.
“DON’T YOU TOUCH HER!!” Gabe was running towards me with a large knife that looked like something out of the movies. Charging with me as his target out of no where a large hand went through his chest. We were face to face and as the life left from his body, Andreas was holding his heart in his hands. He snatched his hand out his chest and Gabe body hit the floor.
“NOOO!!” I pushed Andreas out the way and rammed my hand through Robin’s chest. The heart was black but it was beating and visible in my hand. Even the blood was black and her eyes left mine and went to Andreas.
Even in death, I will always love you.” I turned my nose up.
“Go to hell bitch.” Squeezing her heart it splattered all in my hand, on my clothes and a little on my face. The body she was using dropped dead and it burned back to black ash, so did Gabe’s. I ran to Andreas and embraced him
so tight. Examining his face and eyes he was back to his normal, handsome self. We kissed deeply for a minute and I indulged in his lips. Forgetting that this was half the battle I pulled away.
“We have to get to Duke and Faye, they’re in trouble.” Turning into wolves we took off into the night to Luna’s place. I remember her telling me and Faye where she lived. When we got there her car was in the driveway and the lights were out except for the basement.
“We can’t go in, not without being invited.” Fuck. Andreas was right and there was no way she was going to.
“I’m a hybrid, I can go in.” Andreas looked at me like I was nuts.
“No fucking way, Bella she is a slayer---”
“And I’m a hybrid, I have no more fear in me. Duke and Faye need us.”
“We will find a way in, but we will do it together.” I touched the side of his face with my hand. It always calmed him and made him listen.
“You and I both know there is no other way. The owner must invite us in. I’ll be fine and you will stand guard. Luna maybe a slayer but she is still human. If she tries to fell, kill her.” His eyes burned in mine and we kissed one more time before I left him outside.
“Ahhhh!” As soon as I entered I was sprayed with that ghost orchid that Gabe used on Andreas.
“BELLA!!” I heard Andreas call my name as everything turned black.
Duke
I looked at Bella open her eyes and come to. Her eyes were red which I knew would heal but the pain still hurts. I left them so they could handle Gabe and I could retrieve Faye. I got a phone call from her and she told me she was at Luna house. As soon as I stepped on the steps Luna opened the door. Playing it off she told me Faye was in the bathroom and to come in. I did and just like Annabella, I was sprayed with a burning sensation in my eyes.
Once I woke up, I was a basement, chained up and the spray starring me in the face. Not knowing when the stinging liquid would go off I have been tortured every since. My daylight ring gone, and Faye chained up in front of me. The spray wasn’t in her face, but Luna removed her daylight ring as well. Seeing my woman chained up had me ready to pop. Being bound to the point that I was helpless made it even worse.
Luna hasn’t said two words to me, not even shown her face until she carried Bella’s body down here. Not seeing Andreas led me to believe he wasn’t invited inside. Plus I could hear him shouting her name. He was trying to get in because the house was shaking. But that’s one thing a vampire cannot break. If we are not invited inside a human home, we simply cannot enter.
“Where are we?” Bella asked me looking around and her eyes landed on Faye. I saw her eyes get watery even through the swelling and redness.
“She’s alive Bella, just weak and in need of blood she slips in and out of consciousness. I long to hear her voice but Luna is keeping her weak.” I felt my eyes change and I got so mad that I tugged hard on my chains. “I’m killin’ that fucking bitch with my bare hands.”
“Now what way is that to talk about your sister in-law?” Luna came downstairs with a cocky grin on her face. “Annabella would you please tell your husband that it’s no use. He’ll never get in.” Sitting down in the chair in front of us Faye started moving her head around as if she wanted to wake up.
“Help her, she’s weak.” I said and Luna turned around and looked at her.
“I’m doing all of this to help her. You blood needs to strip out of her and then Gabe can do the spell of making her mortal again.” Now I loved Faye when she was human and even if she was to be again. I would still love her, but I knew there was no way to reverse being a vampire. Once the soul is dead and leaves the body it can never return. We are all still alive but what makes us human is dead and there is no way of getting that back.
“But we will get to that after my story. Let me tell you both why you have to die. You see, I was born thinking I was odd, weird and a freak. My parents took me to counselors, my friends singled me out and I thought I was alone in the world. But turns out, not only was I adopted. I had siblings who were just like me. Having dreams of creatures with fangs, blood everywhere and chanting in weird languages. I was excited and looked forward to meeting them. Until I found out that those same creatures killed my brother and my parents!” Yelling she looked me in my eyes with evil in them.
“To make matters worse, he turned my sister into a creature.” Walking close to me she grabbed my jaws and snatched my face to hers. “You took everything for me, now I am going to turn my sister back and have her kill you.” Still holding my face she looked at Bella.
“You on the other hand are for Gabe. He’ll decide how to dispose of you and Andreas as soon as he gets here.”
“Your wasting your time, Gabe is waiting for me at the old Winchester apartment building.” Letting go of my face she walked over to Bella.
“Then why the fuck are you here?”
“Because I knew Faye was in trouble. We all originate from Andreas blood, we’re linked.” I knew Bella was lying about being linked but she must have had a plan so I didn’t intervene. Luna took her phone out and dialed him.
“I’ve called over and over, why won’t he answer?” Bella started laughing.
“Your so fucking stupid. You have never been important to Gabe. Just a tool he used for the soul swapping spell and with Duke and Faye out the way. It would make his task easier on me and Andreas. He’s not answering because he got what he wanted from you.” Luna looked pissed off. Picking up a big bucket she held it in her hand.
“I’m not stupid, I know Gabe was using me just like I’m using him. But now I have leverage over him. He will preform the spell on Faye, if he wants to know where you and Andreas are. But first, I need to by myself sometime.” After she said that Luna dumped the whole bucket of liquid ghost orchid on Bella.
Her screams made me close my eyes and then I heard what sound like she stabbed Bella with something. My eyes proved me right when I opened them. Bella had two sticks in her, one in the thigh and one in the stomach. Fuck. I knew what Luna was doing. Andreas loved me and Faye but Bella was his heart beat. He would tend to her first giving her time to move us. But how did she plan on---
SPLASH!! The sting hit hard, and I blacked out.
“Wake the fuck up!” The yelling and then I felt burning all over my body. The bright light was in my face. Sunlight this bitch had my daylight ring. I don’t know the pain vampires have when the sun, something so innocent, touches the skin. It hurts like hell. Luna slammed the door back and the dark felt like a dream.
“Look what your friends did!” Once my skin started healing I was able to see what she was talking about. Gabe was on the floor dead with a whole in his chest and so was Alicia. I looked around for Faye and she was fully transformed trying to get to Gabe lifeless body full of blood.
“Let her go so she can drink.” I said and Luna looked at Faye.
“Look at my sister, look what you did to her! He left his spell book here though, I’ll just have to do it myself. Don’t even think your friends are coming to help you.” She pulled two rings out her pocket. This hoe was smart.
“At least Annabella wasn’t lying about one thing. Clearly, Gabe had no plans on keeping his promise to me. Now I am forced to kill both of you and go through life alone.” Her eyes watered as if I was supposed to fill bad for her.
“You don’t have to Luna.” Faye voice spoke low and it was music to my ears. Us vampires can eat human food. But we need blood everyday just like mortals need water. Faye was weak and Luna could kill her without much fight. I needed to get the fuck out of these chains. “I hate being a vampire, I thought turning would make me connected to Duke more.” Faye started crying tears non-stop and I looked at her face. The hurt was real, I could feel it.
“To know the man you love, whose heart is yours has been lying to you.” Her pain was piercing through me.
“Faye, I didn’t cheat on you I swear. That woman was indeed Willow---”
“I know that Duke, Luna told me. I�
�m talking about my parents; how could you lie to me about how they died? About my brother, you swore to me you had nothing to do with his death.”
“What……I didn’t----”
“Liar! Luna showed me the truth. You admitted it to them and then silenced them forever.” I looked at Luna and I felt the beast come out of me. I pulled on my chains so hard the ceiling cracked a little.
“Oh you lying bitch, I swear I am going to kill you!! Those precious people you call mommy and daddy, consider them dead!!” Luna jumped so hard she almost fell backwards. I was enraged with anger.
“Ughh!! Fucking bitch!!” I yelled in pain as the light sizzled my skin. Luna closed the door and started laughing.
“You have no room to threaten me.” Taking a knife out she cut open my shirt down the middle. I looked Faye in her eyes and a tear fell from mine.
“I have never lied to you except about Willow. That was only because I wanted proof before I told you.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Faye said to me low and Luna smiled at me.
“I think she hates you.”
Faye
This bitch couldn’t be any more wrong. I would never in a million years hate Duke. I doubted him at first. Especially when she showed me that vision. It felt so real and my heart was cracking every second that I watched it. Our life began to feel like a lie. The secret with that mysterious woman then the vision. I thought the man I breathed for had deceived me. But when Luna sprayed that burning mist in my eyes. I knew she wasn’t who she said she was. Waking up from that pain was agonizing. I needed blood but she has basically been starving me.
Claiming that Duke’s blood needed to wear off me. It was then she told me her and Gabe plan. Who he really was and all he planned to do. It was killing me not to be able to let Bella, Andreas or Duke know how much danger we were all in. Luna really thought I would become human again and we would be slaying vampires together. No way was I doing that and no way do I consider her my family. Fuck blood, I had enough bad blood from family.