AN: Obviously the title says it. There is a death in this chapter. However, there is little physical violence portrayed. Only like, one small part, and it’s really not that bad. However, if you are uncomfortable with anything like that, no matter how small, please be wary. I can put up a quick summary at the beginning of the next chapter to recap what happens in this one.

I see nothing in your eyes,

And the more I see the less I like

Is it over yet?

In my head?

We stepped into the room after Gavin. A young man with back hair stood behind the vampire, which had a bag over its head.

“This one isn’t the same as the one that attacked you Athena.” Gavin said, pulling out his wand as he walked towards the bound vampire. “This is the master of it. He surprised us last night and broke his creation out, then they took off towards your house. We caught them just outside and managed to capture this one. Sadly, his minion got away.” I nodded.

“Well, let’s get this started then.” I said, crossing my arms and turning to the vampire. Keighlyn stood beside me, wand at the ready. The black haired man pulled the bag off.

I gasped.

I know nothing of your kind,

And I won’t reveal your evil mind

Is it over yet?

I can’t win

“Hello, darling.” The vampire said with a smirk. No. There was no way. Before I could speak, Keighlyn stepped in front of me and pulled his wand up, a spell already on his lips.

“You must be Keighlyn.” The vampire said calmly, “Was she any good last night? It sure sounded like you two were enjoying yourselves.” He smirked at Keighlyn, looking him straight in the eyes. “She must have improved. She was never able to do good enough to get those sounds from me.”

“Don’t Keighlyn. Ignore him, lower your wand.” I said, placing my hand on his shoulder. Keighlyn slowly lowered his wand, but didn’t take his eyes off the vampire.

“Thena, who is this?” He asked, venom in his voice. I took a deep breath.

“Terrance Cerde. The one I went to France to get away from. The one that beat me.” I said.

So sacrifice yourself

And let me have what’s left

I know that I can find

A fire in your eyes

I’m going all the way

Get away, please

“How cute, Thena,” Terrance spat. Ice shot through my veins as he said my nickname Keighyn had given me. “It looks like you’ve got a pet.”

Keighlyn cursed and I tightened my grip on him. “Please, I need you to calm down.” I said. It was taking all I could to keep myself composed, and I knew I wouldn’t last long with Keighlyn losing it. “We can’t give him the satisfaction.” Terrance laughed.

“Please, the fear and anger on both of you are satisfaction enough.” He closed his eyes and breathed in. “Athena, your blood is exciting me just by the smell.” He licked his lips. “I wish I could drink it all.” Keighlyn tightened his grip on his wand but didn’t move. I kept my hand on him so we could both take strength from the other.

“I’m sure you do. However, you can’t, seeing as how there’s four of us and one of you.” I said calmly.

You take the breath right out of me

You left a hole where my heart should be

You’ve gotta fight just to make it through

Cause I will be the death of you

“Enough with the small talk.” Terrance said, his glowing eyes training on me.

“Fine. Why did you let yourself get captured?” I asked, staring right back at him.

“I missed you.” He smirked. “I missed the way you cried when I hit you. I was hoping to hear that again.” I clenched my jaw but didn’t fall for the bait. Keighlyn stood stock still beside me.

“You will never touch her again. You will die here tonight.”Keighlyn’s voice was hard, cold. I’d never heard it before and it scared me almost more than Terrance did.

“Please, Athena doesn’t have what it takes to take a life, and she won’t let you touch me.” He sneered. “She does, however, have what it takes to make a life.” His eyes slid to my stomach.

This will be all over soon,

(This will be all over soon),

Pour the salt into the open wound

Is it over yet?

Let me in

All eyes in the room fell to me.

“What?” I asked, my hands unconsciously falling to my stomach, his remark catching me off guard. His smirk told me that was exactly what he had planned.

“Last night, did you use anything?” He asked. I looked to Keighlyn and we both knew that answer. Terrance’s laugh made my blood boil. “I can hear your body already pumping more blood and getting ready. In a few weeks, you’ll start to show signs that you can notice.” I shook my head.

“Please,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Your lies aren’t going to get you anything.”

“It’s true, and in a couple weeks, you’ll know.” He sneered at me and Keighlyn. “However, I can’t say that your family will be a happy one. There are already events set into motion that won’t let that happen.”

So sacrifice yourself

And let me have what’s left

I know that I can find

A fire in your eyes

I’m going all the way

Get away, please

At that Keighlyn looked back at Terrance.

“No one will ever get close enough to touch her.” He promised. I tensed. Not only had Terrance hurt me in the past, but now he was threatening to hurt my family before it even began. I pulled my wand and marched up to Terrance, pointing it at him.

“Three years is a long time, Terrance. You’d be surprised at how much I’ve changed.” I hissed, looking into his eyes. “If what you say is true, then you should know better than to threaten a mother’s child.” His eyes lit on fire. Something in him snapped. Suddenly, he was no longer bound. His chains fell to the ground and I was across the room, pressed against the wall.

“You do not threaten me.” He hissed. “I control you; I have since before you ever met this witch. You cannot have a death on your perfect conscience. I however, have no qualms killing my ex-lover and her unborn child.” His free hand pushed into my stomach, his nails biting into the skin.

You take the breath right out of me

You left a hole where my heart should be

You’ve gotta fight just to make it through

Cause I will be the death of you

For a moment, for just a moment, I was back in that bathroom three years ago and he held my life in his cold hands. It was paralyzing. He had me again and I was helpless. But then, I heard Keighlyn yell, and his voice brought me back. Something hit Terrance and his grip loosened just a little. It was enough for me to rip my hand from his grasp and pull my wand to him.

“Feu.” I said calmly, letting fire erupt from the end of my wand. It hit right in his stomach. He screamed and backed up. I saw Keighlyn ready another spell but I jumped between him and Terrance.

“He’s mine.” I hissed, keeping my wand up. This man had manipulated me, controlled me, and beat me. He had threatened me, Keighlyn, and any family that we may have. Terrance and I circled, waiting for the other to make a move. Suddenly Terrance jumped and I let loose another stream of fire, pushing him back.

“Even if I die tonight, your family will still be ruined. Your children will have their blood drained. You will witness Keighlyn as he slowly dies, and then you will die painfully.” He hissed, waiting for my falter. He had underestimated me though. Those words didn’t break me; they just made me see red. I threw another fire stream at him, catching him by surprise. He fell back and I steadied my wand, beginning the words to a spell I had never attempted before, but I knew would end in his death.

“Kill me. Kill me, and let the change take over you.” He whispered, his eyes staring straight into mine.

I’m waiting

I’m praying

Realize

Start hating

I vaguely heard Keighlyn shout something. Suddenly he had knocked my wand to the floor and finished the spell himself, his body blocking me from Terrance’s last moments. Right after, he spun to me and pulled me into his arms, pulling my head to his shoulder and keeping me from watching anything.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered, “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t let you do that.” I screamed in frustration and beat my hands against him. He held me like that until my adrenaline faded and I slumped into his arms.

“Be angry at me all you want, but I could not let you kill him.” He murmured, running his hands through my hair.

You take the breath right out of me

You left a hole where my heart should be

“Why?” I asked softly, feeling the tears run down my cheeks. My hand went to my stomach. Had I just saved a child? Could I really be pregnant? My head swam with what-ifs and why-nots.

“It changes you, my Thena. You loved him once. I never want you to see the body or take the life of someone you love or once loved. If you are to fight in this war, then I get to protect you from that for as long as I can. That’s the deal.” He said quietly. I heard Gavin and the other man begin to move Terrance’s body, but Keighlyn still held my head down. I didn’t fight him anymore. After a few minutes he let me go and stepped away a little.

“Come, my Thena, let’s get away from this place and what happened.” He took my hand and gently pulled me out of the dark room. I nodded and followed him, watching the back of his head. Was Terrance right? Before this was all over, would I see Keighlyn dead?

You’ve gotta fight just to make it through

Cause I will be the death of you