by E. M. Moore
Isabelle walked up to him and grabbed his hand. Lex and T.J. left the room and the princes surrounded their father. The knowledge was already written all over their faces. This was how it would end, with us, our backs against the walls, allowing Dumont to demand the way in which this fight would be won. At least this way we had a chance. One against one instead of several against one. It didn’t matter how good you were, a fight against one opponent was better odds than a fight against many.
Hope surged inside me again. Christian caught my eye, his thin lips turning down at the sides. He turned to his father. “Who will we send to fight, Father?”
Gregor’s shoulders deflated even more. “Let us see if Dumont will accept the terms first. Then arrangements will have to be made.”
The four princes all peeked back at me. Isabelle, eyes sad, did too. I took a deep breath and held it in my chest. So, I was on their radar then. I’d never been one to boast about my abilities. They were so new and hard fought, but if they gave me this opportunity, I would do the best I could. I wasn’t familiar with the other guards though. Maybe I was low on the list of possibles. My hands clenched at the thought, and determination pricked my skin.
No, if a fight was what they wanted, it was a fight I wanted to give. I had a lot to lose, so why shouldn’t the burden be on my shoulders?
Footsteps sounded in the hallway and within a few moments, Dumont was brought in front of Gregor. They stared one another down, their gazes cold, calculating. At last, Gregor motioned toward the ancient book on the steel table. “Do you recognize this?”
Dumont looked down at the text, his lips tipping up. “Ah, yes. Back when life was more for the civilized vampires and not for the traitorous.”
The veins in Gregor’s neck protruded. “You are familiar then with the law you wrote so many years ago regarding attempts to overthrow the ruling family?”
“Of course.”
“Why have you not followed these rules?”
Dumont barked out a laugh. “Because it has been many years since I came to grips with the conniving traits of the Ravana Clan. You are just like your father. Stubborn, egotistical… I will treat you as yours did to me. To be overthrown and cast away like some sort of slave!” Dumont’s face reddened and his face shook with the ferocity of his tongue. “You deserve nothing more than that. I hear my clan outside. I hear them at your doors. They’re knocking, Gregor, which is still better than what yours did to me. I was betrayed, usurped by those I thought were on my side. There is no greater sin.”
“You and I have a different definition of the word sin.” Gregor’s nostrils flared, but he checked his anger, once again returning to the decision at hand. “But I will allow you a second chance, a second chance to act with honor. I propose we end this once and for all in the way you imagined all those years ago.”
“Four warriors?”
“Four warriors.”
Dumont’s lips curled up into an evil smile. “I wonder if it shall come down to us, Gregor. I would’ve liked to run your father through, but I suppose you can atone for his sins.”
Nicolai stepped forward, his fists clenched at his sides, but Christian held him back. Gregor gave his son a warning glare, then returned his attention back to Dumont. “Only time will tell.”
Dumont looked at the scene with nothing but humor in his dark eyes. It was as if he orchestrated this from the beginning, but he wasn’t counting on our winning. “I hope you have trusted warriors, Gregor. I admit I may have more than a few to choose from. Vicious ones who’ve been training all their lives...”
Gregor shrugged off his comment. “You agree to tell your people to stop, and we will abide by this ancient law of yours. If you win, I will step down. No harm will come to those who supported me. My family shall not be held responsible in any way and will be left alone to live their lives. If I should die, I would like an honorable burial. The same commitments will also be made to you.” Gregor made a writing motion in the air. Stephan stepped back and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen from a nearby table. “Do you agree with those terms?”
“Add in that the other clan’s subjects will not interfere with the new ruler. Punishable by death. I cannot abide by anyone who will not give in to a fight justly fought. You will have my word that my people will not attempt any more action against you so long as you win fairly, or unless another challenge is made.”
Gregor looked quickly around the room, catching each of his family member’s gazes as he went. “Agreed,” he said finally. He set pen to paper and began to write out the terms of the fight.
Lex and T.J. still held Dumont, but when the time came for him to sign next to Gregor, he pulled his hands from him with an air of superiority. After signing, he held his hand out to Gregor. “May the best, most powerful, clan win.”
Though Gregor took his hand in return, he did not return his sentiment. I didn’t wonder why. This wasn’t about the best clan winning or even the most powerful. This was a means to an end, a way to save lives that were in immediate danger. If Gregor wasn’t able to get Dumont to agree to this, we all would’ve been punished. Sometimes the best way out of situations wasn’t what you thought. It wasn’t the most obvious, or the easiest. Often times, you had to work for things you shouldn’t have to. Good, your own happiness, your own safety were things you’d think were a given, but at any moment, there were people like Dumont out there to take these things away. Sometimes, the things you fought the hardest for were worth the most, even though they were the simplest.
Love.
My throat burned as I stared at my princes. So much to lose, but so much to gain as well. There was no tuning back now.
“If you will, I would like to address my people now.” Dumont shrugged his shoulders out of the reaching hands of Lex and T.J. and pulled his suit collar up. Gregor made a motion for those around him to back down. We had his word now. And I supposed that was one thing we could be sure of. Even though it went against everything in me to trust the bad guy, it seemed his word, his honor, was the one thing we could trust.
We had Dumont. Finally. But in order to win the bigger picture, we had to give him up and prove ourselves the old-fashioned way.
Four fights—five—if we were unlucky. Four matches to determine the fate of an entire world, an entire group of people who came together to live harmoniously. They weren’t perfect. No one was, really. But at least they strived to be. At least they made better decisions each and every day to become a better version of themselves. This was the side I was on. This was the side I would fight for if called upon. This was the side that would give me everything I never knew I wanted in my life.
I wasn’t about to give it up now.
Surrounded by my princes, I watched from the window as Dumont walked ceremoniously to the front gates at the front of the estate. He held his arms out wide, a grin on his face that would stay with me forever. His people clapped, and applauded. His people, who could’ve been clones of those who retreated back inside the estate to be with the Ravanas, were ecstatic for their victory.
“What have I done?” Gregor asked.
“What you must,” Isabelle’s said softly.
We made a deal with the devil that day in the hopes we would come out on top when all was said and done. At least we knew the timeline for the beginning—or the end—of our future now. Soon. Decisions had been made, and now, time was the only tell.
The End
This is the end of Falling For Darkness. Ariana and her princes’ story will continue in Surrender To Darkness.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Thank you so much for continuing to read Ariana’s story! I can’t believe all the messages and comments I’ve received on Facebook regarding this story. Thank you all so much for loving them as much as I do!! If you don’t want to miss the first serial in Surrender To Darkness, “Follow” my author page on Amazon and you will be notified of all my new releases.
Books by E. M. Moore
Chronicles of Cas Ser
ies
Reawakened
Hidden
Power
Severed
The Adams’ Witch
Bound In Blood
Cursed In Love
Adams’ Witch Spinoff Series, Order of the Akasha
Novella Starter — Stripped
Phoenix Series
Flight of the Phoenix available in the CREATURES box set!
Witchy Librarian Cozy Mystery Series
Wicked Witchcraft
One Wicked Sister
Wicked Cool