Chapter 13 – The Ultimate Betrayal

This chapter is a little shorter than previous ones but i wanted to get the story to an exciting place that will hopefully make you want to know what happens next. Enjoy :)

We made it. Jake and I actually got out of the complex. We made it all the way to the electric fence. An electric fence is all that stood in our way until the dhampirs caught us. Despite my developing ability to see snippets of the future, I was unable to predict this. The last thing I remember was Jake being punched unconscious by a guard seconds before I was as well.

Now here I am. Sitting in a car two meters away from the perimeter of the Royal Court about to betray everyone I've ever known. I'm about to betray the people who raised me and the people who love me, all to save the boy I love.

Tasha tortured Jake while I was made to sit and watch. I watched as his skin was torn open and blood sprayed from various wounds. I watched as he was hit and kicked. Repeatedly beaten until I surrendered and agreed to carry out Tasha's plans. I watched until I was broken. The threads that remained of the person I was before I was kidnapped were left behind as I walked out of that room. All that is left is a hatred that I never thought I was capable of having, even towards and evil bitch like Natasha Ozera.

We receive the signal and the attack begins. The fighters kill the guardians on patrol and clear the way for the rest of us to enter court. Tasha somehow had the wards broken so that the strigoi could be used to kill off anyone who gets in our way. We drive straight to the palace. By now we expect that word of the invasion has reached the Queen. Tasha and I get out of the car and are led into the palace. Guardians lie lifeless on the marble floor and screams can be heard upstairs. I know exactly what is happening, I can read the minds of the people guarding the Queen, my parents. They have no idea who is behind the attack but to them knowing is the least of their worries. They are transporting Vasilissa to the safe room that's supposed to be bomb proof. Unfortunately for them, it's not magic proof.

We are led to the safe room door. My group, group 7, stand in front of the door and in less than one minute the door is destroyed. The combination of all the elements together including spirit can disintegrate pretty much anything, including a bomb proof door. We file in, blocking anyone from escaping, then there it is. The flash of confusion on their faces.

I never thought it was possible for Dimitri Belikov and Rose Hathaway to visibly shatter, but somehow, they did. Lissa and Christian look between Tasha and myself and both their hatred and disgust for Tasha grows. I stare my parents straight in the eyes as I speak.

"We have come for the crown. Natasha Ozera will be the new Queen, it's up to you whether you will surrender quietly or you die fighting. Just know that if you do chose to fight you will die. You have two minutes to make your decision."

I scan the thoughts of my family.

"How did they get in here?"- Christian

"That bitch will not have my throne!"- Lissa

"Nina, how could you?"- Dad

"What did she do to you?"- Mom

"Times up. What will it be Guardian Belikov?" I ask my father.

"Nina what are you doing? Please stop this!" Moms plea would have broken me if there was anything left to break.

"Nina we won't fight you." Dad declared. "But Tasha cannot take Lissa's crown." Tasha's triumphant smile fell and was replaced by anger.

"Dimka, you never were very smart. Do you think I'd really let you have a choice in whether or not I'd win today? I will win, your choice was simply in how you'd lose. But it would seem as though you haven't chosen so I'll choose for you. Noel, let them begin."

The other guardians in the room began to drop their weapons and walk forward. It's really working! Group 7 were actually controlling the guardians. My family looked around confused. All they could do is watch as their friends came to stand behind Tasha and then fall in unison to the ground.

"I bet you're wondering how that happened. Well you see compulsion is great when you want to control someone's mind but what I have trained my army to do is control a person's energy. When you learn to manipulate the pure energy of a person, you control not just their actions but their entire being. You can simply cease one's existence without lifting a finger. Isn't it wonderful?" Tasha's excitement stood alone. "Well, seeing as none of you will fight Nina and you now have no back up, I'll have my crown now."

"Over my dead body!" Christian growled and moved to stand protectively in front of Lissa.

"As you wish my nephew. Noel." Noel nodded to the army and they began using the elements to darken the room.

They made it so that Tasha and I were the only ones that could see, everyone else was in pitch black darkness. They also now controlled them to stand still and not react. I listened to Lissa's thoughts. She was confused and anxious but more prominently scared. I stepped forward and closed the distance between myself and my Aunt. I saw my mother's hand wrapped around Lissa's arm. I gently pulled Lissa's arm free of my Mother's grip and pulled her towards Tasha.

"I'm so sorry Aunty Liss." I whispered in Lissa's ear as I gave her to Tasha.

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