A vampire's Choice
Chapter 38

There were too many rooms connected to countless corridors. Some dead ends and others twisting and turning in circles. Their time is running short and being lost in these dark and claustrophobic tunnels was not helping. Lifting the torch in her hand higher, Vanessa looked to the left, and the right, both choices leading to God knows where.

"This is useless. Can't you just use your magic to locate them?" asked Mark behind Vanessa, his head turned towards Sarah.

They were all walking in line as some corridors were too narrow to walk side by side. Vanessa is in the front with Mark behind her. Next are Ruby and Roland, for he trusted his Beta to protect his mate and unborn pup from the front as he held her back. Finally, in the back is Sarah and Nix, the Goddess silent all the way.

Looking back to Nix for an answer, Sarah pondered the same question. Magic was used to locate them, so why can it not be used to find them in this maze?

Nix saw the frustration on Sarah and the others as it clung to the air, washing over her. They needed to be strong if they were to face Deimos but getting to them was draining the last hope they had. Moving her torch up and casting a brighter light on the group, they all turned to look at her. "I am sorry, but any use of magic will be amplified by the stones in the walls, floor, and ceiling. It would light up like a beacon, informing Deimos where exactly we are."

Roland spun around completely to look at the Goddess. "Wait, are you saying he knows we are here already?"

Nix nodded, unable to put to words her fear.

"Fuck." Mark dropped, turning to look at his mate. Their eyes clashed as a silent promised moved between them. Before they had entered the caves, Vanessa had pulled him to the side, grasping both his hands in hers. She had made him promise that whatever happens, he would make saving Roger and Lisa his number one priority. Vanessa owed Roger her life and saving his was hers. Mark did not understand their connection or the history they shared, but it must run deep for her to put his life before hers. Of course, he had objected to her request at first, but then the stupid mate bond forced him to agree, and here they were, trying to fulfill it.

"There goes the element of surprise," spoke Ruby as she covered her bump with both arms, fear for her unborn pup even greater.

"He is one of the strongest creatures know to man and supernatural," explained Nix. "Do you really think he doesn't know if someone enters his lair?"

"One could hope." Sarah pointed out.

"Hope is what we need now. So, let's keep on moving and pray that we aren't too late."

"Fine," muttered Vanessa, facing the impossible choice again. Both corridors on the left and right looked the same with equal distance in them. Vanessa felt the pressure, casting the light first to the left and then swinging it to the right. If she chose wrong, they could get even more lost and kiss their mission goodbye.

Please close your eyes, a voice spoke in her head. Where it came from was a mystery, for if it were Mark, she would have felt the tug of the mind link. But, it must be Nix, so if she asked you to do something, you do it. Taking a slow and deep breath, Vanessa followed the order, closing her eyes. The lack of one sense broadened the range of the others. The smell of dirt and minerals crept up her nose as the cold in this place pierced her skin. The group's heartbeats pumped in her ears, with some lined together and other beatings faster or slower. One especially caught her attention, for this one was barely beating, maybe once every minute.

Good, the voice spoke. Now focus on me. What do you hear?

Vanessa's suspicions were confirmed. It was Nix trying to help her, and she was grateful for it. But, your heart, it is beating so slowly. Why is that? Vanessa spoke back, hoping the Goddess heard her.

Since I am neither dead nor alive, my body's mechanics work differently from yours. But who else do we know is like me? Explained Nix.

Deimos, answered Vanessa, all while she kept her eyes closed, the light from the fire softly piercing her gaze through her eyelids.

Good. So, what you need to do is shut out everything and everyone, only focusing on his heartbeat. It will be the same as mine.

I will, but I am wondering. Why me? You suggested I take the lead when we have stronger wolves in the group? Wondered Vanessa. The question had been burning since Nix had made her lead the group into the cave.

Vanessa's mind remained silent for a few seconds before the answer finally came. You have been in contact the most with the darkness and the light. You were also two different species in your life, making you unique.

So has Mark?

True, but you also have a personal connection to Roger, making the need to find him stronger in you. Nix's words filled the gap but also helped nudge the hope they needed.

Returning to the mission, Vanessa forced her senses to shut down, pushing everything away. Then, as complete darkness swallowed her, Vanessa recalled the sound of Nix's heart, focusing on the pattern as she listened in both directions of the cave. They were both silent, and she suddenly feared they were too far from Roger and Lisa to find them. But then, the softest beat sounded from the right. Turning her head towards the direction, Vanessa pushed harder, opening more of her hearing, hoping it was the beat she was looking for and not just an animal scurrying over the cave floor. But a minute later, another pulsation hit her, louder this time as she put all her attention to the one side. Vanessa waited a couple more minutes just to be safe, and sure enough, four beats came from the right.

The fire burst into Vanessa's vision as her eyes shot open and her senses returned. Her heartbeat jumped frantically knowing that they might have located their friends. A gentle hand softly touched her shoulder, and she peeked over her shoulder towards a worried-looking Mark. "It is okay. I know where to go. Follow me."

Vanessa leads the way down the right corridor without missing a beat, the sound of the pulse still in her ears. It grew louder the closer they got as excitement slithered in the air around them. Hope was returning. Empty rooms flashed past them, some open with no doors and others closed. Finally, with no time to explore, the group followed Vanessa, but their path was blocked.

"Shit,” hissed Vanessa as they walked into a dead end. She had been so sure about the beat, heading headfirst into it, but she had been wrong. Slamming the wall with her fist, she let out the frustration.

"Calm down." Mark jumped in, grabbing her hand mid-air as she aimed for the stone wall again.

Turning around, tears sprung in her eyes, and Mark gathered her close for a hug. "I swear this was the way."

"It is." Nix walked between the bodies until she reached the front. Then, caressing Vanessa's head, she explained. "This is a hidden door, and I believe our targets are just behind it."

With wet eyes, Vanessa glanced up at the Goddess. Still in Mark's arms, she wiped the tears away before turning to examine the wall. Placing her palm on the rough stones, she dragged her hand everywhere. A Soft breeze brushed over her fingers as she reached the far left. Following the wind, Vanessa let it lead her, and she mapped out a door. Shocked, she stepped out of Mark's hold and back, observing the secret entrance with the others.

"Okay, so one part down," Ruby pointed out. "But now the question is how do we get in?"

Ruby's last words were smudged by a sudden high-pitched scream from the other side of the wall.

The marble's coldness stings Roger's back as he lays shirtless against the slab, chained down by his arms and legs. Resting his head on the hard surface, he ponders about the future and his lack of one. His death would lead to the end of the world as this act fulfills the prophecy, but all he could think about is Lisa and the life they would never have together. The pain he had felt years ago after killing Rebecca seems minuscule against the heartbreak that fills him now. The choice he is making will most likely lead to the death of millions of souls, human and supernatural, but he only wishes for Lisa to survive. If she is as strong as he hopes, Rebecca will not stand a chance as she expels her from her body, or so he hopes. For his death means she survives, and he would gladly die for her. Muscles screamed in his arms and legs from the tight bonds, stretching his limps out. Shuffling came from around the room, but he ignored it. Instead, he pictured Lisa in his arms, replaying their morning together before he had fucked it up. It is one of the many regrets crashing over him now, but how he treated her is his biggest regret. No other creature was given a second chance mate in all of history, and here he was, throwing it down the drain all in the name of love. Multi-colored eyes shining with life looked up at him and a faint smile brushing over her soft lips. The image clung to him as it filled him with love, pushing away the fear he felt over his death. It is all for her, Roger whispered over and over in his mind. All for her.

As the movement around the room got louder, Roger took a peek. He did not want to know what fate awaited him, but at least he could see Lisa one more time, even if it is Rebecca controlling her body. Cranking his neck forward, Roger opened his eyes, scanning the scene before him. Deimos' back was to him while his arms moved frantically next to him, his actions unseen. Next, he focused on Rebecca, who had returned to her same spot, eyes glued to the ground as emotions filtered in and out. Roger secretly prayed that Lisa is winning the battle for control. She had took control two times now; maybe the third time is the charm.

"Right," spoke Deimos, drawing Rebecca's focus as Roger followed her gaze. Deimos is facing him, the dagger in one hand with a scroll in the other. Moving closer to Roger, Deimos placed both items on the smaller slap next to his prison before turning towards Rebecca, pointing towards Roger. "If you please."

As Rebecca slowly stepped forward, Roger saw the blue flames coming and going, the fight for control ongoing, but as their eyes met while Rebecca came closer, Roger suddenly wished Lisa would not be in control now. The pain she would feel when forced to kill her mate might actually also kill her.

With a smile, Rebecca tried to hide her thoughts, using all her strength to fight Lisa. The pesky human is slamming against the mental walls she had built. So far, it is working, but bricks tumbled down as she broke the line with each passing second. Rebecca had only to kill the vampire, and Deimos would eradicate the pest inside her. He promised that.

Stopping next to the slap, Rebecca held out her hand, and Deimos handed her the dagger. Fisting the hilt, she slashed the air, familiarising herself with the weapon. Not only is Lisa fighting to stop Roger's death, but a part of her is also against it. Even after what he did, she loves the vampire, but his death was not what Deimos had promised. Sure, the promise of her own body is fantastic, but she had only pictured it with Roger as they lived happily ever after forever.

"It is simple." began Deimos as he watched Rebecca. "While I recite the spell, you will pierce his heart, and the blood will open the gates, after which I will absorb the power stolen from me so long ago."

"That is not what you explained would happen,” a voice other than Lisa's suddenly whispered to stop. That something was not right about this, but she shoved it aside. Denying Deimos's request is a suicide, and she would rather be on the side of the victor.

"I did, but it does not matter. It all leads to the same end." Picking up the scroll, Deimos gently unrolled the delicate parcel. Whispering a spell, the torches around the room tripled in flames, the room lighting up brighter. "Get into position."

With a final glance of regret, Rebecca focused on Roger as she climbed over him, straddling his waist. Then, dagger in hand, she placed the sharp tip against his chest, right above his heart, the slight pressure pricking his skin, sending a trail of blood down his stomach.

Roger begged with his eyes for Lisa to appear, but it is futile. The blue flames did not appear, only Rebecca's eyes glaring down at him. Deimos began to chant, but Roger ignored his words; instead, he relished in the feeling of his mate's soft skin rubbing over his, the love she had in her eyes when they had consummated their bond. "I love you," whispered Roger, knowing he has but mere seconds left.

The admission of love broke down the wall as Lisa burst forth, taking control of her own body. Power surged in her veins as blue flames ignited in her eyes. Roger's eyes grew big as he watched his mate return. The blade lifted from his chest as Lisa swung it out, pointing the tip at Deimos. Hope flared in Roger, but it was short-lived.

Staring down the blade, Deimos stopped his chanting, and with a smirk, he said. "Do you really think it would be that easy?" dropping the scroll, his free hands twisted in the air as the wind picked up. "None of you speak Latin, do you?” His hands moved faster, intensifying the wind. Instead of killing the flames, the wind picked them up. As flame swirled around them, Deimos fisted his hands, opening them up just as fast. Power shot from him, crashing into Lisa and Roger. With the heat around them, Roger had closed his eyes when the magic hit him. Suddenly, the air shifted around them as the cold stone disappeared beneath his back. Opening his eyes, Roger is shocked to see their positions had changed. Now he was the one on top of Lisa, her arms and legs chained down.

The fire tornado closed in on them, the heat it emitted making them sweat. "What are you doing? This was not what you promised," shouted Roger as he frantically tried to unlock Lisa's chains.

Deimos let out a bellowing laugh, soaking up the fear they spread. Creatures were truly naive, for, of course, he lied. Spreading his arms out, Deimos let the power build, getting ready to end his torment finally. "If you had listened to what I said about the prophecy and put the pieced together, you would have known the body of two's blood is the key, not yours."

Looking away for a second from a feared Lisa, Roger looked at the demon. An aura burst from his body at the display of power, the wall of fire keeping them imprisoned. Scanning the limited space, Roger spotted the silver dagger next to Lisa, and he grabbed it, pointing it towards Deimos. "Let us go, or I will kill you."

"You will be killing something, but not me." Then, aiming at Roger, Deimos whispered a spell, instantly taking effect.

Tightening the hold on the dagger, Roger watched as his hand lowered towards Lisa, his mind screaming at his limps to move. "For millennia, I have lived on this plane as a ghost. Slivering around as I manipulated easy souls. Darkness is easy to spread when minds are weak, all while biding my time. The time is now, and I will take back what was stolen from me."

"Please, don't,” Roger pleaded. The tip pushed against Lisa's chest as she cried. Her voice was gone as she tried to beg Roger to stop, but it was useless.

"I don't want to do this.” Tears burst from Roger as the blade pierced her soft flesh deeper, blood pooling at the wound.

Lisa frantically shook her head to show him she knows, for her voice refused to speak. Then, finally, pain penetrated her senses and her mouth opened in a silent scream.

"Now is my time to rule." Deimos proudly spoke as he clenched his fist.

Roger pushed down, feeling the blade enter her soft chest as blood spurted from the wound. Only the hilt poked out as the dagger stuck firmly in her heart. Looking away from the blow that is killing his mate, Roger watched as the blue flames vanished from her eyes, knowing she is dead.

"Nooooo," Lisa screamed loud as the knowledge of death became apparent. The pain from before intensified, paralyzing her body. Black spots swam in her vision as blood seeped from her body and onto the floor. Blinking madly to stay focused, she watched as Roger lost control. Tears streamed down his face as he fumbled with the chains, but it was useless.

"Roger," whispered Lisa, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

Her soft voice called the sane part in him as he froze, drooping down. Their noses brushed as Roger cradled her head, sobbing uncontrollably. "I am sorry. I am sorry. I love you,” he mumbles over and over.

Lisa's body jerked as the last of her blood blended below the slab. Then, with the last of her strength, she spoke. "Look at me." Roger listened, pulling away slightly until he saw her whole face. "I loved you since the day we met, and I am sorry for what I did. But know I forgive you for killing me two times."

Blond hair soaked in red hung over the side as her head dropped against the marble, eyes open, staring up lifeless.

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