Chapter 40: The Cost of Power
He didn't move forward, he seemed to be enjoying watching me watch his every move. I didn't want to make the first move, I knew I couldn't take him like that. I would lose every single time. "Come now, you don't want to kill me anymore? You have lost all your anger." I scoffed and took a step back as he took one forward. "I have nothing but rage and hope for your death, father." "Then let's do this." he urged, before disappearing and appearing inches from my face. "Aethna…" he said, before snatching my arm and I shoved him off, kicking at him with my leg.
He blocked it with ease and laughed as his claws sliced into my calf. I stumbled back and huffed out a breath in pain as he just grinned at me, his fangs sharp and ready to rip my throat out. "You aren't even going to make it a challenge are you?" he asked and yawned, looking away. I took the chance and used my speed to get behind him, grabbing a stake and shoving it into his thigh. He growled and cried out before back-handing me and sending me flying. I landed and groaned, I had been eating human food for so long, avoiding the blood to try to deny that I was a vampire.
Now I was so weak that I would be no match for him. I would die here tonight…I thought about Neville, I prayed that he would be spared, I could beg my father to leave the guests alone once he finished with me. I got to my feet and my father raced forward, grabbing my throat and lifting me off the ground. He put pressure on my neck as I gasped and began to choke. "Playing human has you weak, unable to fight me off. I will enjoy making you watch as I devour all the humans within this place. All the ones that tried to keep you from me, I will drain them dry."
"And as for your little boy, the one you love so much…I have plans for you and him. Would you like to know?" I tried to pry his fingers away from my throat, but his grip was strong. He came in close, meeting my eyes and smiling brightly. "I'm taking you both back with me. I'm going to keep you next to each other, but out of reach. I'm going to starve you and plump him up. Days and days go by, you will slowly change back into a feral animal again. And when you are finally ready, I'm going to unlock the doors and let you into his room. He'll be so happy that you are safe and unharmed…and then you will rip him apart to feast on his blood!"
He dropped me down, before stomping on my leg, snapping the bone with force. I screamed out in pain and grabbed my leg, letting the tears run down my face. "Now, that should keep you here for a while. I hear a party going on and I must not be rude. Time to join in the fun." I grabbed his leg with my free hand, digging my claws as deep as I could. "No! I won't let you hurt them!" I tried to keep my grip, but my eyes were blurring, my fingers weakening. He jerked his leg from my hand, not caring about the pain or blood I had caused.
He began to walk off slowly, glancing to me to make sure I was watching in horror as he got closer to everyone I cared about. I lifted my hand to my face, I couldn't let him get to Augusta, Harry, Ron, everyone. I couldn't let him get his claws on Neville. He was mine, now and forever. I saw my father's blood dripping from my fingers and sighed, I didn't want more of his blood in my veins, but I also couldn't allow him to go any further. I began to suck the blood from my hand, every drop I could. It was instant as I felt the pulsing begin in my head and move down my body.
I waited until my body was fully pulsing when I grabbed my leg and snapped it in place again. It was painful, but the blood was helping a lot, allowing me to climb to my feet. It was a different feeling, I felt his power inside me, more than ever before. I went to run forward and flew so fast that I almost lost my balance. I slammed into his back, forcing him into the ground, sending a crack into the tree we hit. His surprise was real as I forced my claws into his stomach, ripping at his insides.
This time he was screaming in pain as I sliced his belly open. He threw me off and I slid back, feeling stronger than ever. "You will die! No longer will I deal with you like a child. You want to be a grown up, then die like one." he held his gut as he hit me, his foot meeting my stomach, but I didn't feel the pain so much, it hurt, but it was bare-able. I smirked and grabbed it, flipping him over and into the dirt. My hand was covered in his blood again and I lapped that up as well. I could defeat him, I could keep everyone safe from him. I felt the pulsing again as I walked over, sending a powerful kick into his face.
When he stopped rolling, he groaned and got to his feet, moving his hand to show me his wound was already healing. "There we go, do it again. Feel the power." I knew he was baiting me, but it wasn't going to stop me from protecting my friends. "If I rip out your heart or tear your head off, there's no healing from that." I called out, making his smile disappear. I appeared in front of him, wrapping my fingers around his neck and lifting him off the ground with the strength I had gained. "I'm going to end you right now." I stated and dug my nails in, letting his blood seep out.
His eyes flashed with fear for the first time in my life, he was fearful that I was going to kill him this time. His blood ran down my arm and I licked it off, smiling at him with the blood on my lips. "How does it feel to be powerless now?" I asked, beginning to pull my fingers into a fist and slowly opening his neck. He chuckled and spit blood onto my face. "Yes, ugh.. Feel the power inside of you. My power. You are truly my daughter. End it." his eyes never left mine as I inched closer, knowing that I would end his life as he gave me mine.
My fangs slid out as I turned his head to the side and bit into his neck. I began to suck the life from him, feeling his power flow into my body. "That's right…take it all. Make sure I c-can't hurt an-anyone else…my daugh-daughter…" his voice was trailing off, I could feel his pulse changing, almost gone now. I continued draining him, I would protect them all. "That's…it…be-become…who y-you are…m-meant t-to…be…" his final words flowed into my ear as I finished taking his blood. "A-a…monster."
