Before last chapter, guys! I can't believe it's almost over... Let me know what you think of this chapter or the fic in general, either here or on my Tumblr (azoric)!


1999 [part 2]

Too late. Simon had waited too long. Now all his planning, his actions had been too late to stop anything – they had captured Thea, and now him as well. There would be nothing in Mikael's way; once he and Thea were dead, he would be able to rightfully become King de Vampyr. Simon stumbled as Kaspar turned a corner, dragging by the arm, fingers painfully digging into his flesh. This day was a series of bad surprises and Simon was slightly stunned – more than likely in denial about his upcoming, inescapable death. He had cut himself off from everyone, stupidly thinking he could protect them that way – and once Mikael was King, there would be no one to protect them. Not to mention the timeline was about to be altered in a major way, since he'd heard nothing about the de Vampyr family in his own time.

Through the terrified daze that clouded his mind, he caught sight of the light reflecting off the ring on his free hand. A faint glimmer of hope surged in his chest. He twisted the ring inward and gripped it tightly, so hard it would leave an impress on his palm, hoping like hell Magnus would feel something the way Simon had when the warlock had been in trouble before.

He found himself dragged into a room that was somehow both elaborate and sparse. It was a huge, echoing room that was almost completely void of furniture. There was only a crackling marble fireplace and a plush red armchair, in which Mikael was seated. Simon could just about make out his profile from where he stood. The walls were lined with his indoctrinated soldiers, the windows covered. The room couldn't have been more cliché in its reflection of the man's character and the situation at hand.

"Ah, Kaspar," he spoke in a low voice that was heard perfectly in the death-like silence of the room. Whatever he was about to say after his pause for dramatic effect withered on its way to his lips as he turned and caught sight of Simon. His eyebrows raised and he looked as surprised as Simon had ever seen him. "Well," he uttered after a long moment's silence, slowly getting to his feet and making his way over to Kaspar, who held Simon so firmly in place that he couldn't have moved a fraction.

"Isn't this a pleasant surprise," Mikael purposefully examined Simon from all angles, slowly making his way around the pair with deliberate, heavy steps. "How nice of you to attend this little family reunion, all the way from beyond the grave." Simon sneered at him in response, baring his fangs in a clear act of hostility that didn't go unnoticed by the guards, who all turned to him, prepared to strike at a single indication from their master. Mikael broke into a grin at the sight.

"Kill him," he ordered, "And make sure he really dies this time." The soldiers stood to attention and Kaspar nodded firmly beside him. Simon bit his lips as nerves tangled in his chest, preparing himself for what was about to come. Still, he wouldn't go down without a fight. Twisting himself behind Kaspar, he turned his arm with such force that the crack resonated throughout the hollow room. The pain of his now-broken arm allowed a split-second distraction in which Simon made a run for it, back down the corridor he had come from, in the direction of the cells.

"Stop him!" he heard Mikael roar behind him. He was quite certain he had never run as fast in his entire existence and was eternally grateful for the unnatural speed that came with being a vampire. Speeding down hallways, turning corners while bumping into the walls, he came across another soldier on guard duty. As soon as they saw him approaching, they took a combative stance, but Simon was too quick for them. He slammed them back to the wall, concussing them as their head smacked against the concrete wall, grabbed the silver tipped stake attached to their hip and slamming it into their chest, pulling it back out violently, already running before they hit the ground, dead.

He leapt down a flight of stairs, losing his balance momentarily before getting back on his feet. He could hear Mikael and his men not far behind him – one mistake, one thing to slow him down and he would be caught. He kept running until he found himself in the prison, slowing ever-so-slightly.

"Thea!" he bellowed. "THEA!"

"Simon? Simon!" her voice responded, allowing him to pinpoint which cell she was locked in. He scrambled to the door.

"Thea!" he shouted, fingers scrabbling with the deadbolt on the outside of the door, managing to unlock it before he realised there was another lock – one that required a key. He faltered, a black hole forming in his stomach, sinking any hope that had remained. Something hard and metallic came crashing down on the back of his skull, sending him face-first into the hard iron door. He felt his left fang crack, chip in two and coughed blood on to the damp floor. By the time he forced himself upright and on his feet, he was surrounded, no way out. He was screwed. He was stuck and about to die alongside his mentor, Mikael was going to win and take the powers of the de Vampyr royalty and his finger was burning. Practically blistering. Through the haze of his mind, he looked down at his hand, confused until he saw the ring. Magnus.

"Well, I can't fault you for trying," Mikael's voice echoed down the stairs, just before he appeared. Simon felt blood dribble down his chin. "But your time is up, I'm afraid. In fact, since we're down here I might as well kill two birds with one stone. Although I was hoping to have something more like a proper ceremony, but... Oh well. You," he said, gesturing to two soldiers, "hold him. You, unlock the door." He tossed the key through the air. The soldier twisted it in the lock and entered the cell, returning with Thea in her grasp, being led calmly. The look in her eyes, however, was pure fury.

"Our maker would be ashamed to see what you have become, Mikael," she spoke, disgusted. For a second, Simon could have sworn he saw a shadow of remorse pass over Mikael's face, but it was gone before any of his men could register it.

"Well, luckily for me, I don't care what he would think, quite frankly," he answered, his clenched jaw betraying his feigned coldness as he descended the steps. He held his hand out for a stake and one of his soldiers hurried to comply, handing him one from their belt.

"You loved him," Thea said, "I know you did."

Anger flashed in Mikael's eyes. "You know, I think I'll kill you first," he turned on Thea, twirling the stake in his fingers.

A sudden whoosh of flames caused him to snap his attention to the door, just in time to see the majority of his present vampiric and subjugate army disintegrated to ash as the flames latched themselves onto their dead flesh.

"What the – " Mikael snarled. Magnus crossed the threshold, followed by Ixia and Taith, dramatic as ever, fire burning in his eyes. Simon had never been more thankful to see him.

"I would back away from the Queen and the nerd, if I were you," he menaced, voice as cold and hard as marble. Just as he was distracted, Simon felt Thea snatch the stake from his limp fingers, disposing of their two captors in the blink of an eye before jamming it through Mikael's back, just where his heart would be.

Mikael groaned, turning on his sister. He spluttered, "You know we're more powerful than other vampires. Did you really think that would suffice?" He reached back and drew the stake out.

She looked at him with tears shimmering in her eyes. "I knew it wouldn't. I'm sorry, Mikael. I loved you, a lifetime ago," she murmured, before drawing a ligature of silvery wire out of her pocket and drawing it around his throat at incredible speed. Her eyes were clenched shut as she pulled, tightening it around his neck, drawing blood. Simon watched the scene frozen in shock, bewilderment, unable to react or fully process what was happening in front of him.

Gasping for breath, Mikael just managed to utter, "I'm sorry," through the blood that bubbled in his mouth, as Thea tugged, ripping through the flesh entirely, severing head from body. The two separate body parts fell heavily to the floor, staining it with the crimson red blood of vampires. Shaking, her hands covered in blood, Thea looked up at Simon with tears running down her face, stepping forward and falling into his arms. He held her against him, resting his chin on her head, gripping her as tightly as he could. It was over. He couldn't believe it.

"Simon," Thea croaked in his ear, her voice hoarse, "The de Vampyr name, it ends with us. If neither of us turn humans, it will die with us. Promise me."

"I promise," he replied, voice shaky.

Hesitantly, the trio of warlocks approached the pair. "Simon," prompted Magnus gently, "Was that it? Is it over?"

Simon locked eyes with the warlock and shot him a watery smile of genuine relief. "Yeah, Magnus, I think it's finally over."