Chapter 39: Confrontations
I was almost there, I was nearly at the door when someone grabbed my hand and stopped me in my tracks. I whipped around, eyes flashing, teeth bared, and I let out a hiss. Nikolas let out a growl as his claws dug into my wrist. "Let me go!" I hissed at him, my eyes darting around the area for my father. "Why did you run? You looked so scared." I sighed and grabbed his hand with my free hand and flipped him over me, slamming him into the ground before running into the house and up to my room. I did a quick scan, looking for my box that held what I needed it in.
I pulled it out of the box and when I turned, I saw Nikolas was staring at me, rubbing his head, shock on his face. "What are you going to do with that?" "What I should've done years ago. I'm going to kill my father." I took a step toward him, pulling the quiver onto my shoulder and he flinched, stepping back also. "Don't worry, if you are not in league with my father and aren't here to help him…just stay out of the way and you'll be fine." I passed him in the doorway and he turned and stared at me as I descended the stairs. I followed my fear, my body was telling me which way to not go, so that was the way I went.
It led me to the far side of the estate, farthest away from the party and all the innocent people and Neville. I noticed that Nikolas was following me at a distance, but I wasn't concerning myself with that fool. I was ending this tonight, I would no longer live in fear. I was right at the end of the wards, still inside when I heard his voice. "Dear daughter….it's so lovely to see you shining with determination in those eyes." my body shivered against my will, I tried to steel myself to fight him. At least he couldn't get though the ward just yet.
"This ends tonight, father. One of us will be dead by daylight." I said in a low voice, unsure of who would actually be the victor. "Oh, is this a lover? Or just a follower?" his voice purred at me, his eyes staring at Nikolas. I glanced over and saw Nikolas froze in his spot, his eyes showing his fear at the sight of my father. "He is no one. Just a bystander…who needs to get the hell out of here." I called over my shoulder, giving him a chance to run. He shook himself and walked over to me, his eyes flashing red. "I know this man…." he breathed out and then my father began to laugh!
I turned back to the evil being in front of us and he pretended to wipe a tear away. "Ah, yes. I remember you young man. Your mother was one of the little tests wasn't she?" I blinked, my father had tried to have other kids with other humans? I turned and saw Nikolas's fist were shaking beside his side, his eyes burning with intensity that I recognized as pure hatred. "One of the last few I believe. Such a weak and pitiful human. Didn't last long after pushing you out." his words snapped something in Nikolas and I had to grab his arm and stop him from rushing out to attack my father.
"Wait! He can't get in, he's trying to get you out. Just calm down." I reasoned, making he look at me and I realized something. "So you are his father?" I asked my father, not bothering to look at him. "Of course, the others wanted nothing to do with the humans. I wanted to make us stronger. This lowly half-breed is my son…your little brother." Nikolas and I just stared for a moment, but I growled and pushed Nikolas behind me. I faced my father, loading an arrow into my crossbow. "If you kept on after my mother…with other humans….and one gave you a son….why the fuck did you still want me!?" I got louder with each word before shooting my arrow at him on the last one.
He dodged it, it nearly grazed him though and I quickly loaded one more. "Come now, you were the first! You're the strongest! The boy has barely any vampire powers, his bloodline is weak, he's almost completely human it seems. You, though, my wonderful heiress….you have so much of me in your veins, everything about you just shows me you are meant to take off and lead us into a greater…darker future." I shot another bolt, it missed by centimeters, causing my father to let out a growl at me. "But that defiance you have…I'm going to beat it out of you."
He rushed forward, slamming the barrier and dug his claws in. Nikolas came up to me, brushing my shoulder with his own. I watched my…well our father tried to force his way in. "Aethna…" he breathed and I turned to him to see he was welled up with tears. "Are we truly family? I never-" I held up my hand, cutting him off. "Now is not the right time so shut up and stay back. Don't let him trick you into coming out of the barrier, he'll kill you." he nodded and I waited…looking for the perfect spot. Father continued to dig his nails into the invisible force field.
One of them caught and he pressed hard enough to create a crack, his smile gleaming in the moonlight. "Ah, there we go." I watched in horror as he forced another claw into the crack, splitting it more. I took a chance and released the bolt, it was so fast as my father tried to avoid it, but his claws were still wedged in the crack. It buried itself into his ribs, he was able to move enough for it to avoid his heart. He let out a loud shout of pain and anger. "Insolent child! I'll end you both!" his third and fourth claw were in the growing crack as I reloaded, trying to get a better aim for his heart. Just one clear shot and it would be over.
I shot again, hitting his shoulder this time, he kept moving at the last second. I loaded another one and aimed again, waiting… his hand was completely through now, it's perfect. His forearm was coming though when I launched it at him, hitting him straight in the chest. His eyes went wide and his face went from triumph to shock. His arm was still in the crease now, although it didn't move forward anymore. I let a smile form on my face, there was no way that he would survive that. "Huh…Aethna…yo-you think it's o-over?" he gasped as he grabbed the bolt and wrenched it out.
"What?" Nikolas said, stepping forward before I grabbed him. "Get back." I quickly loaded my final bolt, realizing that I didn't bury it deep enough, it didn't reach the bastard's heart. "Just die!" I shouted, shooting at him again. This time he stepped up, slammed his shoulder into the barrier and I flew back at the force of it shattering. Nikolas caught me as we fell and I pushed myself up to see my father holding my last chance in his hand, having caught it in middle of the barrier falling away. "Nikolas…run." I breathed out, giving my brother a chance to escape. He shook his head, taking my hand. "Together, sister." he said and I sighed, he was sweet, innocent. He had no clue what my father was capable of.
We climbed up and I pulled my hand from his. "Forgive me for this." I grabbed him up and threw him as hard as I could, as far away as I could. He fell into the distance and I hoped he wouldn't come back. This wasn't his fight…it was between my father and myself. I turned and faced him, his smirk was so evil and like mine own. "Ready to finish this, dear daughter?" I let my fangs slide out and my claws burst from my fingernails. "It's long overdue. I fear you no more." I said, facing my father, and the nightmares I always had.