Ch. 10

My knees had wanted to buckle but I refused to let them. Balthazar let go of my arms and I strode past Mrs. Bethany and Louise. My heart drummed faster and louder as I got closer to the centre of the clearing. My vision blurred with dizziness as I forced my eyes to scour the ground.

Almost every inch of it was covered with bones; skulls and all. My breathing stopped as I realized they were all human skeletons. Most looked to be decades and centuries old, while the rest were specked with black debris.

There were too much skeletons to count and so I turned back to the three. I slowly glared at Mrs. Bethany and secretly bit my lip, trying not to scream.

She looked at me with fake innocence and opened her mouth to say, "Those who escaped the fire at Evernight fled with me to the mansion. Several months passed and I found that only a poor number of them were still loyal to me. Way before I had Patrice and Balthazar kidnap Bianca, both the human and the vampire body at the mansion well- let's say lost my interest. They were weak, ignorant, pathetic excuses for them to be my students anyways.

"My simple solution: burn them. Adrian and Celia vowed to stay loyal once I promised them of Bianca's return. Balthazar well, he is a favourite of mine. And Patrice, for the time being that Bianca is living, I thought, I might as well give her a friend to spend her time with."

I stood there, unable to talk and stared at her with complete horror. Even if I didn't know most of the students at Evernight, it was murder.

Their families would never find their bodies at peace and that it was a sadistic vampire that had killed them.

I closed my eyes and thought to myself, who am I kidding? I am scared. For me. For Black Cross. For mom. I knew I was going to die this day. But I would not die with fear. I'd die with bravery and pride.

--------------------------------------------

Sickness took over me.

Vic, Ranulf- it could be their bones lying in the field. I put my hand over my mouth, bottling up the blood-curdling scream trying to escape me.

She's a murderer.

And for what reason? Because they were unloyal people who wanted to go down a different path?

Tears exploded from my eyes and I bit my lip, trying to hold my sobs in. My back hit the tree and I slid down, until I reached the floor. My head fell in my hands-how many times have I cried today?

But I wasn't going to get Lucas killed.

I wasn't going to let him be murdered.

I took some calming breaths and stood up slowly. My heart started to speed up again as I began to crawl my way closer.

-------------------------------------------

Mrs. Bethany placed a loose hair back behind her ear before giving me a devilish smile.

"And now that you know how things have gone around here, it gives me one more reason to kill you."

In an inhuman speed, Balthazar appeared in front of me and hastily whispered in my ear, "Play along."

He swung his right arm and put as much force as he could to my gut, before slowing down and looked close enough to it.

I knew I couldn't act so I might've looked like a complete idiot doing what I did.

I lunged back so far that I tripped over a rock and hit my side.

OW! Oh, that hurt. I stood up shakily and pretended to stumble twice before standing my ground.

He came at me again and again, doing the same routine and I in return probably doing a lousy job at trying to convince Mrs. Bethany.

Hah, I guess he really was trying not to kill me. For once.

I finally crashed to the ground and landed on my back. I bit my tongue as hard as I could and let the blood trickle down the side of my mouth. Special effects...yeah that also hurt.

Mrs. Bethany's face glowed as she approached me. She grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked so that her face was close to mine. I resisted the urge to punch her dentures (her being that old, she had to have some!) out.

I didn't meet her piercing gaze and she bent her head and whispered in my ear.

"Do you wish that Bianca were here to see you one last time?"

I stiffened and realized I hadn't thought of her since we got here. She was safe now. I made a promise to Louise and kept it. End of story. Nothing more, nothing less.

"It doesn't matter though Lucas, because when you die, I'm going after her. You didn't think I would know that you would tell her to run. Of course you would, because you love her. When I find her, I'll tell her how you pleaded for me not to kill her. It'll break her heart more, wouldn't you say?"

I started to shake with rage. And turned my own piercing gaze to battle hers. "Let's get this straight, I don't love Bianca anymore." I yanked my head back and she let go easily. Tears threatened to fall and I held them in place, wondering why I wanted to cry in the first place.

Mrs. Bethany sighed and looked at Louise. She called for her with a finger and Louise obeyed immediately, bringing the machete with her.

This was it.

I was going to die.

But I don't get it.

Why would Balthazar say 'play along' when- I looked over at him. His face was completely expressionless. What was going on?!

Two choices. I was going to live or I was going to die. I chose the latter and sighed.

My life was going to end. Louise would reach me with Mrs. Bethany at her side in ten steps.

I love you Mom.

Eight steps.

Okay fine, I love you too, Eduardo.

Six Steps.

Dana hope some lucky guy takes care of you. Hah, right. This girl can survive anything.

Four Steps.

Raquel...good luck with Black Cross?

Two Steps.

Goodbye...Bianca...

-Louise raised the machete over my neck and looked me in the eyes. She swung and I shut mine as tight as I could.-

...my love...