Amy
Amy was standing on the VIP backstage of a big event, where she could hear a famous singer playing distantly, as well as the excited crowd, chanting her name. She smiled, being Kamilah Sayeed's wife had its perks after all.
That was Amy's favorite song. She closed her eyes, enjoying the moment. However, the music became distant as a whisper and all that noise became silence. All her ears could detected were all those heartbeats... thousands of them. The blood being pumped from their hearts and flowing inside their veins. Their lives... so weak and so fragile. And they all belonged to her.
"Don't fight it. Embrace the blood, Amy."
Amy felt a hand on her shoulder, turning around, she faced Rheya. She had the same familiar grin on her face.
"No!" Amy yelled. "I'm not like you. I won't..."
"Too bad, darling," Rheya shrugged. "I don't need you anyways."
In just one movement, she raised her arms, absorbing all those lives. Electric power irradiated through all her body turning her into something even more inhumane, even more deadly, as thousands of bodies fell lifeless on the ground.
"Goddess Phampira is reborn," she announced.
"Fuck!" Amy woke up, sweating and panting. That was the fourth nightmare in a week. Rheya would never leave her alone, even in her sleep. The dream though, was becoming more vivid and clear everyday. It always involved the death of thousands of people, what made clear her intentions were far from an era of vampires and humans living together, in peace.
They had been staying in one of Katherine's safe houses, properly secured by magic against unwanted visitors. She got up from the bed, where Kamilah slept peacefully by her side, and went to the kitchen for a glass of water and a snack. Inside the fridge, she spotted a pudding and smiled. Considering how many people had been visiting that place lately, finding it felt almost like a treasure.
"The label, read it," a female voice spoke behind her, "If it says Ryder or Lowell, you can eat the pudding. Otherwise..."
Amy let out a chuckle, before looking at Katherine.
"Apparently it's Lysimachus'."
"All in the family, so I guess you're allowed to eat anyways."
She sat down at a stool, next to the Nighthunter. They had became quite close in the last few days. While she was not an expert, Katherine helped her training her combat skills and psychic abilities.
"Amy," she spoke, "about yesterday, you're not telling anyone, right? Not even Kamilah."
"Of course not. Your secret is safe with me."
Until then, Amy had no idea how she could use her powers to stop or weaken Rheya. The process to fully develop and control them would possibly take years and they couldn't waste any more time.
During a sparring session with Katherine, Amy was having a hard time to disarm her, or breaking free from her complex moves. She needed more than combat stunts to win that fight. Or end Rheya's reign of terror. If she couldn't handle a highly-trained mortal, how could she have a chance against an Ancient Vampire?
"Use her own memories. Dive into depths of her soul. Into who she is... into what made her."
A male voice whispered directly inside her head.
"Huh?!"
Amy didn't recognize it or even knew where it came from, but the hint of familiarity was enough for her to know she could trust him. Taking his advice, she pulled Katherine into the void.
Suddenly they were both standing in the middle of a desert at night, where she could hear voices and giggles coming from a camping tent. Two girls, one of them being a younger version of Katherine. Her hair was still brown. There was no tattoo or leather clothes.
"W-What the hell are you doing?" The Nighthunter's eyes went wide in pure horror. "Stop! Get me out of here!"
Feeling her panic, Amy tried to comply with her command but it wouldn't work. Her powers couldn't bring them back to the real world. They tried to run, bumping into invisible walls that trapped them into that memory.
Katherine fell down on her knees, completely destroyed. Amy turned around, gathering courage to watch the scene happening in front of her. A monster emerged from behind a bush, chasing both of the girls. While Katherine made it safe back to her truck, the other girl fell behind. Succumbing to the creatures huge jaws.
"Kat-,"
"Ava?!" She called. "I... I'm coming... I..."
She started to unbuckle the seat belt to go back and help her friend but it was too late. The girl's screams were silenced and the creature's eyes were aiming to her next. Katherine stomped on the pedals and drove away as fast as she could, sobbing.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
Amy took a deep breath, getting emotionally involved to that horrible situation. Katherine was right, bringing her there was cruel. That was her worst memory. The one that shaped her into who she was now.
"Please," she sat by her side on the ground, touching her shoulder, "forgive me. I didn't intend to bring you here. God, this is horrible."
"It was my fault," Katherine continued to cry intensely, "I didn't help her. I ran away like a coward."
"It'd have killed you too."
"She was my everything... she was all I had..."
The voice who first guided Amy into that moment returned, she understood the reason behind all of that, besides training her own powers. It wasn't about her. Not anymore.
"Katherine, you were just a girl," she told. "There was nothing you could do."
"I...I wish it had been me!" She grabbed Amy by the collar, pointing to her friend's corpse on the ground. "Me! Ava was the sweetest person. She was special! She... had an unique heart."
The corpse in front of them vanished into ashes, shaping into another scene, one where Katherine herself was lying dead on the floor.
"W-What..." she approached. The void teleported them to another location, a mental institution.
"It was my fault..." Ava repeated, non-stop, while shaking her body back and forth on the bed. "I killed her... I killed her..."
The doctors, or even her own parents, would never believe a monster was responsible for Katherine's death. The stories spreading around ranged from a possible animal attack to rumors that the girls were under the effect of drugs, causing Ava to murder her best friend. Inside her cell, after weeks of loneliness and hallucinations about that night, Ava took her own life.
"Oh god," Katherine covered her mouth. "No! Ava... H-How could them?! You didn't..."
"You're here for a reason, for a purpose," Amy wrapped her arms around her. "You're not a coward, Katherine. You're a warrior. She wanted you to be here. And she forgives you. I can feel it."
After that, she could tell something started to change inside that woman. A burden she had been carrying was being taken from her shoulders, bringing some peace to her tormented soul. Amy's psychic powers didn't defeat her, but they cured her.
"Thank you for that," Katherine gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand. "I really needed it. To see what it had been like if..."
She stopped. Not comfortable to go further into that subject yet.
"Anytime. We all have our own demons to fight."
"Speaking of which, are you ready to fly back to New York tomorrow and face your... nana?"
Amy rolled her eyes, and sighed.
"No. Not even a bit."
Kamilah
The plan didn't feel too elaborated, or even secure, but it was the only choice they had.
The group should return to New York immediately. Kamilah woke up with her cell phone ringing. It was Adrian, with the latest news from Rheya. In the following night, she would be attending an auction at The Metropolitan, where only the most wealth and influential people in the city had been invited to. How she made her way to the guest list was a mystery, but considering Amy's visions, that sounded like a perfect opportunity to commit mass murder.
She called up a meeting with the rest of the group to come up with a plan. Katherine and Nik managed to get into the security team, using as excuse an artifact rumored to be cursed. Being in the guest list, Adrian would attend the event as planned. Kamilah was surprised to not find her own name in it.
Lily and Jax were also contacted and included as part of the mission. While Lily would stay in a safe location, monitoring the place through cameras and pointing directions, Jax would stay outside with some members of his clan, waiting for a false warning to evacuate the building. No mortals should stay at the museum.
The only threat to Rheya's life was the blood of her betrothed, Demetrius, so Ivy cautiously extracted some drops from Lysimachus' blade and added to the tips of taser-like device. Once the building was evacuated, Nik and Katherine would shoot Rheya, temporarily paralyzing her.
Then, would come the hardest part. Amy would emerge from her secret location, one where only she and the Nighthunters would know, and attack Rheya with the bloodied dagger.
"You will need efforts," Katherine told her. "Kamilah and Adrian should be enough to hold her steady and then... you stab her. Right in the heart, as we've been practicing"
"Wait," Lysimachus protested. Kamilah knew it was only a matter of time. "Aren't you missing anything? I'm stronger than Adrian. What's my role in this?"
Kamilah sighed deeply. Before the reunion, she met Katherine in private. Considering how her brother had a previous confrontation with Rheya and how he became her target, they both decided to leave him out of the mission.
"What?! Have you two been plotting against me, behind my back?" Her twin brother protested.
Kamilah was about to patiently list the reasons why he shouldn't be joining the plan, but Katherine anticipated it, rolling her eyes and sighing in annoyance.
"Genius, hear it. Awakening the devil's wrath, right into her nest, wasn't the smartest of your decisions. If she spots you waltzing around The Met, you'll doom us all."
"What she means," Kamilah tried to ease her words, "Rheya would suspect it, if she suddenly see you back to New York."
"Let me take Lily's place," Lysimachus begged. "I'll stay hidden somewhere, monitoring the location and giving instructions. I can emit the false warning. Please, don't leave me behind."
And she agreed, wondering if that was the right decision. Lysimachus could be impulsive when it came to protecting the ones he loved. And three people he cared deeply about would be inside the museum, face to face with the First Vampire. She called Katherine, requesting some last moment actions.
When Kamilah was alone in her bedroom again, she opened her laptop and some news popped-up on her screen, making her eyes go wide in shock.
"Ahmanet Financial presents new CEO: Rheya Apostolous," the headlines said. Apparently, somebody sabotaged her company, causing the actions to plummet in only a few days. Due to Kamilah's absence, a boarding meeting was called and somehow they elected Rheya as the new CEO. She was able to reverse the damage immediately, gaining the respect of all employees and clients.
Kamilah's image was now painted as irresponsible and unprofessional, who refused to answer calls or reply emails. Calls and emails that never happened. Nobody ever warned her about what was happening at Ahmanet Financial.
"That bitch will pay for this," she shouted, slamming the laptop shut.
Lysimachus
In a dangerous battle, where the lives of so many people Lysimachus cared about were at stake, he couldn't act like a simple beholder. He needed to think of a plan B, in case the main plan went wrong.
He lied to the others, saying he needed to pack his bags. Back to his apartment, he opened a hidden passage inside his closet, where he kept some of his most deadly weapons. His biggest surprise was to find it completely empty.
"What?!" Lysimachus punched the wall. The only person capable of opening his blood-secured devices was his twin sister. And Kamilah knew him enough to know he wouldn't stay put, when Rheya could kill everyone.
When he returned to the living room, Katherine was standing there with her arms crossed.
"You were taking too long," she said. "I came here to check if you need any help packing you bags."
"Katherine, where are my weapons?"
"Your sister gave me some of her blood to empty your closet. She imagined you could be planning something stupid inside this head of yours."
"Listen..." he ran his hand through his hair nervously, "I could do the security part too, under that outfit no one would recognize me."
"Right," Katherine smiled, sarcastically, "only Rheya. Who possesses power over your blood."
"I'm worried about you. I mean... all of you. She's extremely dangerous and manipulative."
"Facing her is the only choice we have to save the humankind. It's a risk we have to take."
"Not you, okay?! Then stay behind. Let us, vampires, handle it. We're her progeny. We brought her back. It's our problem!"
"I'm already involved."
There was an uncomfortable silence between them. Lysimachus wanted to find anything, any arguments that could convince Katherine to stay. There was a discourse prepared inside his mind, but somehow he couldn't say it. The words would lose themselves somewhere between his heart and his throat.
"So..." he broke the silence, changing the subject, "you went shopping with Amy this morning."
"What's the surprise?" Katherine shrugged. "Two women bonding over expensive shoes. Nothing weird about it."
"You don't do shopping. It's not you."
"I do, maybe not so often but... in case you never noticed, I need clothes too."
Another pause. Lysimachus finally noticed her hair. It was a couple of inches shorter, and the magenta color more intense than in the last few weeks.
"You also did..." he twirled a finger on her curls, about to comment it, but she interrupted him with a small velvet box.
"I got you something," they spoke at the same time.
Lysimachus took the box from her hands, opening it carefully. It was a necklace. The pendant was beautiful and quite unique. A blue light irradiated from a tiny vial inside it.
"But why?" He asked, furrowing his brows confused.
Katherine grabbed the necklace and standing in the tips of her toes, she wrapped it around his neck herself. She was so close to him in that moment that it felt extremely comfortable and scary at the same time. Lysimachus felt his heart thundering inside his chest.
"Only to..." she leaned back a little, facing him. Their lips were only a whisper away. "Make it easier."
She grabbed him by the new necklace, closing that distance. Her lips never felt so soft and warm before. Her tongue met his and he explored it as much as he could, knowing it could be the last time.
"I hope you know," he smirked when they parted, "I don't intend to take this off."
"You better not," she pulled him by the necklace again, pressing her lips once more.
"Does that mean..."
"We will be doing it more often? Yes."
- MxF Smut Alert -
In an impulse of joy and excitement, Lysimachus pinned her against the nearest wall, devouring her mouth all over again. Katherine responded by nibbling on his lower lip.
"We're gonna be late," she gripped tight on his hair. "We're supposed to be in the airport in ten minutes."
"Twenty?" Lysimachus brushed his lips on her neck, while his hands caressed her side, raising shivers.
"Fifteen."
They both nodded, removing each others' clothes in a frenzied mode. He lifted her up against the wall again and she wrapped her legs around his hips. Lysimachus could feel her warmness calling for him, inviting him... he decided to give her a little taste of what she wanted, teasing her and then pulling back.
"W-What..." she let out a muffled protest.
"Shhhh," Lysimachus silenced her, parting her lips with his tongue and kissing her fiercely.
He could sense how his slow and lazy movements were driving Katherine crazy. He grinned, thrusting a little bit harder. She responded by digging her nails on his shoulder blades, as pleasure started building inside her.
"What do you want?" Lysimachus stopped again, gazing into her brown eyes. "Say it. I want to hear you say it."
"You," Katherine whispered in his ear. Her legs tightened around his hips, attempting to bring him back to where she wanted him the most. "All of you."
As his mouth worked on her neck, scratching her sensitive skin with the tips of his fangs, he intensified his rhythm, thrusting faster and deeper. She arched her head back, moaning loudly. Feeling Katherine's climax, it didn't take long for Lysimachus to reach his own too.
Kamilah
"Is everything okay?" Amy asked, noticing Kamilah's tension at the airport.
They were the first to arrive. Nik was picking up some weapons and she didn't want to imagine why her brother and his possible girlfriend were taking so long to arrive. One thought wouldn't leave her mind. She wanted revenge. Rheya used her company to gain status among the New York's society.
"It will be," Kamilah clenched her fists, "when we kill that snake."
"I'm sorry for what she did. Once she's gone, I'm sure they'll be able to see this misunderstanding and you'll have your company back."
"I don't care much about the company, Amy. I'm more angry about how she fooled me, how she turned me against my own brother and especially, how she tried to take you from me. I feel so guilty for falling into her traps."
"We all did. God, I completely opened up to her. I told her everything about my life, about us and our plans. All the time she was collecting information to use in her favor."
Amy went behind her, applying some relaxing massage on her muscles.
"Are you ready for this?" Kamilah placed a hand over hers.
"I have to be," Amy showed her their hands together and pointed to their wedding bands. "We have a future to build together."
"We do."
Kamilah placed a rushed kiss on her lips, as she noticed the others coming in their direction. Lysimachus had fewer less bags then she assumed, considering how long he took to pack them.
"Oh my god," Amy seemed notice it too. "You guys were totally doing it!"
Katherine blushed and walked away discreetly, to help Nik to carry their stuff to the private jet. Her brother stayed, choking on his words while he tried to explain how come they got so late. He blamed the traffic. Amy teasing and joking about their relationship was a nice distraction for a few minutes, until the plane took flight and they remembered where they were headed too. After that, a deadly silence made everyone too frightened to even speak. They'd only exchange some glances once in a while.
Amy rested her head on Kamilah's shoulder. She imagined what was going on inside her wife's mind, knowing she was destined to kill Rheya, after finding out they were related by blood. That girl had more strength and energy than any other person Kamilah had met before. She knew was capable of that mission, being the only one who could resist the First Vampire's influence. But at what cost? How she have to succumb completely to those dark powers again?
"Kamilah..." Amy whispered close to her ear, placing a soft kiss on the crook of her neck, "what are you thinking about?"
"You," Kamilah answered, running her fingers through Amy's hair. She was her main and only concern at the moment.
- FxF Smut Alert -
"Good, me too. Can you meet me at the back of the plane in a couple of minutes?"
"For what purpose?"
She didn't answer, she only grinned and raised a suggestive eyebrow, walking through the corridor until the very end of the airship. Kamilah looked around, Nik had his eyes closed in some kind of meditation. Katherine had earphones on, listening to some music. Lysimachus was focused on his laptop. She left her seat too, moving cautious and silent.
"Amy! What are we..." Kamilah asked puzzled, when she met her wife by the toilet's door.
"Shhh..." Amy silenced her with a kiss. Not any kiss. A powerful kiss that sent electric impulses down to Kamilah's spine. The way she glided her tongue against hers, made her knees tremble. Her back hit the wall, causing some noise. Luckly, nobody seemed to be alarmed. She pulled Amy closer by the waist with one hand, while the other unlocked the toilet's door.
"I figured out we didn't have a moment alone before we left," inside the toilet, Amy continued to kiss her, desperately. "And I wanted to tell you and show you how much I love you... how much I need you..."
"You could've said it back at the safe house. We could've find time for..." Kamilah stopped, watching as the girl unzipped her dress, exposing a new lingerie. Her eyes couldn't leave the perfect curve of her breasts. "This."
"I know. I just... I was so focused on Rheya, on my role in this mission and I forgot the most important."
"It's not like we won't have another opportunity."
Kamilah wanted to be sure of that, but she wasn't. She didn't spoke it with the confidence she was trying to appear.
"Will we?" Amy gazed deeply into her eyes. She was scared and insecure too. She desired the same as Kamilah. That they had more time and moments of peace.
"You know what?" Kamilah pressed her wife against the sink, positioning herself between her legs. Her fingers trailing up her tights. "Screw Rheya. Just be quiet, don't make any noises or..."
"Or?" Amy bit her lower lip in a provoking manner.
"I'll stop. And trust me, you won't want me to stop."
As her fingers moved up slowly, starting to work on her wife's center. Kamilah could feel her mouth against her neck, fighting to muffle her moans. She smirked, pressing in harder. Amy's back arched against her grip and she let out a gasp.
"What was that?" Kamilah stopped for a moment. Teasing Amy by pinching her inner tight's soft skin. "Was that a... sound?"
The girl shook her head in denial.
"As I thought."
Kamilah proceeded, going deeper into her. She could hear Amy's fast heartbeats, as well as her ragged breaths. Her fingers dug hard on Kamilah's back, as she tried to control herself.
"Good girl," she fastened her movements and as Amy's body started to twitch in ecstasy, she escaped a moan. Kamilah quickly silenced her with a kiss.
Amy was panting hard when they finished, but she had a mischievous smirk on her lips.
"Well..." her eyes turned red as she pushed Kamilah hard against the door, making it rattle. "Time for round two."
She went directly to Kamilah's neck, biting and sucking, while her hands caressed between her legs, over the fabric of her underwear.
The older vampire was able to control herself just fine. She was long used to those games.
Amy's fingers slid into her lingerie, stroking harder and faster. Waves of pleasure started to run through all her body. Kamilah's nails gripped tight on the door, as she fought her own sounds.
"What is that, Kamilah? Struggling much?" As Amy sank her fangs into neck, drawing some blood and licking it seductively. Kamilah couldn't hold herself anymore. She collapsed in absolute pleasure, letting out some noise.
"I love you, Amy. I can't lose you..."
"You won't. I love you too."
They both tried to recompose themselves before walking back to their seats.
"Well, now we've got a reason to live," Kamilah squeezed her hand on the way. Amy looked at her confused. "Our game is tied. We'll need a round three later."
Amy
As the plane landed in New York, everything was set for the beginning of the mission. Kamilah and Amy were wearing their gala dresses, Jax and Lily were waiting to pick them up at the airport and drive to the museum.
Nik and Katherine were disguised as security team members. A van waited for them with high-technology equipment, where Lysimachus would stay, monitoring the place and giving directions. Everyone was wearing ear plugs, provided by Raines Corporation. Adrian was already in position. So far, Rheya hadn't arrived for the auction.
"Amy, do you have the blade with you?" Katherine asked through the ear plug. Amy confirmed, touching the plastic bag inside her purse. "We've arrived. Nik will be waiting for you in one of the side entrances. He'll conduct you to your hideaway."
"Okay," Amy felt her heart stopping for a moment as Jax parked the car. "I'll be meeting him in a few minutes."
"Right. And Amy... the most important, no one can know where you are. The only mind Rheya can't easily access is yours."
"Got it."
Amy said a brief goodbye to her friends. She considered embracing Kamilah and tell her how much she loved her again, but she didn't. Not only because she would start crying, but she feared it would jinx their mission.
Nik Ryder was waiting for her at the left side entrance of The Metropolitan. After conducting her to a closed session of the museum no one would have access to, he informed Katherine.
"What do I do now?" She asked the male Nighthunter.
"You wait," he told her. "Lysimachus will tell you when to enter. There's a passage that leads to the auction location right there on that wall. You put this password on the device and it shall open."
He didn't say anything else before vanishing, leaving her in the dark, completely alone. Her only comfort was to know Lysimachus was hearing and watching everything.
The Metropolitan had always been her favorite museum in New York. Her dad would always bring her to visit every Summer or Spring Break. Being a History teacher, he had his own manner of showing and explaining everything about the different sections, making the experience feel even more amazing. Now all that magic had faded away, it was simply... creepy. She looked around, feeling goosebumps all over her body. For some reason, she could feel Rheya had arrived. She felt her presence somewhere in the building.
"She's here," she spoke to Lysimachus on the ear plug. "I can feel it."
"Just a second," he answered. "Thanks, Amy. I spotted her. She's... uhh... being photographed."
Amy sighed and rolled her eyes in displeasure. Rheya had power not only over every living vampire, but over mortals too. It only took her days to become a requested presence in every VIP event. She also had her own Instagram account now, with thousands of followers.
"Listen, I need to keep focused her on her right now. I'll be calling you, at the right moment."
And she was alone again. She started walking around. The temperature seemed to have dropped, she suddenly started to wish she had brought a coat. The lack of news made her even more nervous. Was Kamilah okay? What about Jax and Lily? She was about to ask Lysimachus when she sensed a presence.
"Who's there?" She asked. There was no answer, but she could see a shape moving in the shadows. She went to combat mode, her eyes scanning all her surroundings. Her ears detected another heartbeat around. A vampire's heartbeat.
"Amy," a hand touched her shoulder from behind, making her jump, "ma cherie."
"Serafine," she pressed the button on her ear plug discreetly, forcing Lysimachus to hear the conversation, "what are you doing here?"
The female vampire's expression changed.
"I was searching for you. We must talk, urgently."
"What is going on?"
"Amy," she pressed her index finger on Amy's forehead, making her feel dizzy, "I saw as you left the car and met that hunter. If you're thinking about betraying Rheya, you'll commit the greatest mistake of your life."
"Serafine..." Amy squirmed in pain. Her psychic waves were causing a sharp pain in her skull. "She... She's the only traitor here. She's the... First Vampire."
"I know. This is why I've been helping her."
"What? How could you?!"
"Amy..." the psychic vampire forced her on her knees. "For centuries I lived in fear. Hiding in the shadows, running away to survive, changing my identity and habits. Now Rheya is back we will finally be able to live in peace. She'll grant us a new era and a safe world to live."
"She won't," Amy fought against her powers. She couldn't even hear what Lysimachus was saying through the plug. "She... she will exterminate the humankind for power. I can see it in my visions, can't you?"
She tried to show Serafine some of her visions. But it was useless, she refused to see what was right in front of her. Nothing seemed to change her opinion about Rheya.
"I'm sorry, Amy. I can't let you proceed with your plans."
"Well, then we'll fight."
Remembering all the lessons she had with Katherine, Amy focused on her emotions. Her anger, her pain, her fear... gathering strength from all of it. She could sense her powers emerging inside of her. As Serafine tried to get into her brain again, she entered hers instead. It was easy to control her. To put her on her knees, begging for mercy.
"R-Rheya, my goddess. I'm so sorry... I failed."
Amy approached. Touching and lifting up her chin. She could feel the French vampire's blood running in her veins. She could feel her heart beating inside her chest. And most of all... she seemed to have control over it. Not only she could make her suffer, but she could end her life at any moment.
"Ask your goddess to save you a place by her side... in hell."
She started sending a surge of electricity right inside Serafine's brain. She screamed in agony.
"Amy!" Lysimachus shouted on the ear plug, pulling her back to reality. "Are you alright? I couldn't hear you. There was only static coming from your plug."
"I had to deal with Serafine," she examined the vampire lying unconscious on the floor. "But I didn't kill her. She's only passed out."
"Leave her right there, we can solve this later. At this point, she must have told Rheya everything through their psychic link. We need to act right now."
"Okay."
Amy gripped tightly on the dagger, hidden inside her purse. She waited for a signal to type the code Nik previously gave her. Standing by the door, she feared what came next.
Lysimachus
"Oh fuck!" Lysimachus punched the keyboard. How did they forget about Serafine Dupont? It was obvious Rheya had a servant. Someone that had been helping her in all her actions, being at places she couldn't be. No one better than a psychic vampire to erase memories and manipulate minds. He called Katherine on his microphone. "We've got a big problem. Serafine Dupont has been working for Rheya and she discovered us. She's a psychic vampire too. At this point... Rheya knows."
"Release the warning. Order Lily and Jax to evacuate the building."
"Sure."
He did as told. The speakers on the museum announced there was a bomb that could be exploding at any moment, planted in one of the artifacts for auction. People started to panic, heading to the exit and he spotted Jax and Lily, guiding them outside. In the middle of all that crowd, all that mess, he lost her. Rheya wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"Damn it! Katherine, we should abort the mission. Everything went wrong. I lost her."
"I didn't," she replied. "I can see her from where I'm standing. It may be our only chance. We'll be shooting in 3... 2... 1..."
"No!" Lysimachus shouted, but it was too late. From the high-definition screens he watched as Rheya stopped the devices mid-air, preventing them from getting attached to her body.
She raised one hand, making Katherine and Nik fall on their knees in excruciating pain. Raising the other hand, all the other vampires joined her in the room. One by one, they all went down on their knees too. Including Priya and Lester.
"Tell Amy..." Katherine gasped for air, indicating she was struggling to breath, "to follow plan B. She's... the only one who knows."
"O-Okay. Katherine... I'm getting in there."
"You can't... I... locked the van's door... from outside."
Lysimachus passed Amy the last instructions, before uselessly trying to open the van, or break its bulletproof windows with his fists.
"Fuck!" While his broken and bleeding knuckles healed, he observed Amy had joined the others, pretending to be under Rheya's command too.
The First Vampire placed all of them in a circle, standing in the middle.
"I don't even know what the seven hells I'm doing here," Priya argued. "What bitchcraft is this?!'
"I'm scared," Lester added, "but kinda turned on too. Who's the lady?"
"She's the First Vampire," Jax told them with a scowl.
"And no one informed us about it?! Do you remember this is what this damn Council is for, Adrian?"
"Priya, I'm sorry," Adrian told. "But considering your history, I thought I could not be a good idea."
"Are you calling me a traitor?!"
"My children, silence," Rheya spoke softly and calm, with her usual devious grin, interrupting the argument. "Now we're all reunited, we can finally start our party."
"Rheya!" Kamilah angered. "Let us out! Now!"
"Why, darling? The fun is only beginning," the woman caressed his twin sister's cheek, before moving a empty champagne bottle directly to her hands. "Actually, I've learned from mortals a few games we could play tonight. This one is called Truth Or Dare, but... there are new rules. My rules. First, I'll place the bottle here in middle of the circle and... I'll spin it."
She demonstrated. The bottle stopped on Lily.
"Lily Spencer. You'll be telling us one truth, then you'll perform a dare. You cannot lie or refuse the dare. If you break the rules, you're out of the game."
Out of the game. Lysimachus could read in her face that was a death threat. The others could too, considering the glances they exchanged.
"O-Okay..." Lily forced a smile. "I'm good at this game."
"So tell us, Lily," Rheya placed her hand on Lily's head, as if she was extracting information and forcing her to speak. "Spill us some juicy secrets. Is it true you've got a secret crush on someone here in this room?"
Lily took a moment to answer, looking extremely scared and upset. She faced Amy with a mournful look.
"M-Me? I mean, it's a silly thing. No big deal"
"But who would be that person, darling? Your friends are curious to know."
Lily swallowed dry.
"Kamilah."
"Wow, kinky," Rheya let out a small laugh. "Now Lily, I dare you to show us your deepest thoughts about Kamilah. Unfortunately only vampires with psychic abilities will be able to see it, but I can describe for the others. Don't worry."
Being a psychic vampire and connected to the scene, Lysimachus was also pulled to Lily's memories and thoughts. He could see the night of Amy's debut party, when a drunk Lily accidentally hit on his sister. Or her many thoughts about how she wished to be in Amy's place. And also, her sexual fantasies.
When they got back, Lysimachus buried his face in his hands in desperation. Amy's expression changed. He could tell something had changed inside her. She was broken. Destroyed.
"I'm sorry," Lily muttered to her best friend.
Amy answered with a cold and hard gaze.
Rheya's intentions were clear, she was removing all barriers between the girl and her humanity. First, the Order attack, that unleashed the darkness within her temporarily. Now, by ruining her friendship with Lily.
"Good girl, Lily," Rheya returned to the center of the circle, after describing everything she saw, and spun the bottle again. "Let's see who's next."
"Oh my god," he feared what she was planning for his sister. The most significant person in Amy's life. She was the only one who could prevent her from succumbing to darkness completely.
The bottle stopped, pointing at Katherine. Rheya looked to one of the security cameras. At this point, she should already know Lysimachus was watching. She was provoking him.
"Katherine..." he tried to speak.
"I've got this," she assured him, speaking as low as possible.
"A mortal," Rheya crouched to be face to face with her. "Katherine, the Nighthunter. We finally meet."
She extended a hand. Katherine took it, confident and fearless. Unlike Lily, she didn't show any signs of distress. The only comfort Lysimachus had was to remember how she studied deeply every case she was hired for. She probably knew a lot about the woman in front of her.
"Rheya Apostolous. The legendary First Vampire."
"That's correct. What else do you know about me?"
"Goddess Phampira has granted you those powers when you were trapped in a cave, by an evil king," Katherine wasn't even a little bit intimidated. "You drank the blood from the Tree Of Eternal life and you were... reborn. After taking the king's place, you planned to create a kingdom where humans and vampires could coexist."
"Remarkable," Rheya smiled.
"I heard you have endless powers. The powers of a living goddess."
"Not yet, but I'm close."
Rheya stood up, walking around the circle pensive.
"Now, darling," she went back to Katherine, placing a hand on the top of her head, like she did to Lily. "Let's talk about you. I see... a potential inside you. You... you've been there too. Someone you loved was taken from you, correct?"
Katherine lowered her eyes, fighting off all the emotions Rheya brought back to the surface.
"She was my everything," she said. "And she was taken from me. I blame myself everyday, wondering how I could make things different."
"So this is why you hunt supernatural creatures. Tell me, would you do anything to bring her back?"
"I would."
Rheya seemed to be fascinated. Coming from her, Lysimachus couldn't tell if that was a good or a bad thing.
"Now it's time for your dare," the First Vampire announced. "I dare you to tell me... their plan," she pointed to the vampires on the circle.
"That's easy," Katherine smiled, keeping her posture. "They have a secret weapon against you."
"That's enough. It was a pleasure to meet you, my dear Katherine. You'll be rewarded by your honesty in the end of the game."
She looked at the camera again. Lysimachus felt consumed by rage. She was using Katherine to torture him. He knew it. He started banging at the van's windows again.
"Help!" He yelled. "Somebody help me!"
His attention went back to the screen. Rheya spun the bottle again, searching for her next target. It almost stopped, pointing at Kamilah. But a small force, a psychic force, moved it a little bit further, stopping at... Amy.
"Amy!" Rheya clapped her hands together. "My precious grandchild."
"Rheya," Amy tried to plead, "let them go. This... this is all my fault."
The First Vampire touched her head too. Her face only showed frustration, disappointment. She couldn't get into Amy's mind like she did with the others.
"Did you really want to kill me, darling?"
"I... I don't know. I like you, Rheya. I admire you. But you're scaring me with all these things you've been doing."
"Oh sweetheart," Rheya caressed her cheek, "I've told you I'd never do anything to hurt you. All I've done is for the best. To give you the world you deserve to live."
"Then let them go. I trust you and I'll help you in your goal. I promise!"
"If that's how you feel... I will grant your wish. But first, you must complete your dare."
"Of course."
"Where's the weapon, Amy? The one that is supposed to kill me. Show me."
Rheya made the motion of freeing Amy's hands, without knowing the girl was only pretending to be bounded. The girl opened her purse, revealing the bloodied dagger.
"Amy..." Lysimachus sighed. "What are you doing? That was certainly not the plan."
Rheya stared at the dagger in shock. Analyzing the black poisonous blood on its blade.
"Demetrius..." her faced turned from sadness and mourn to into a ugly snarl in a second. "How could you find him and try to use him against me?"
"I-I didn't," Amy tried to calm her down. "I didn't know about him or the blade until a few days ago, in New Orleans. But Rheya, he's forgiven you for all you've done. He said he loves you, and always will."
Lysimachus couldn't tell what the First Vampire's reaction was upon that revelation. Rheya's expression was unreadable as she kept looking at Demetrius' blood.
He heard police cars and sirens parking at the entrance of the museum. Somebody knocked at the door.
"Hey," he called. "Help me out. I'm trapped in here!"
"Sir, are you alright?" A police officer answered from the outside. "Be patient. We'll set you free in a minute."
They started working on opening the van's door, meanwhile Rheya continued her sick game with the group.
"Ungrateful whelp! You don't deserve living in peace. You deserve pain and misery, being hunted as the insects you are. I did not achieve perfection with my creation, I only faced betrayal!"
"Rheya, we're not going to hurt you," Amy insisted. "We were only scared. Let us go, please."
"Oh Amy..." she approached her granddaughter again. "Now I understand. This city is your kingdom, it was always meant to be yours."
"Rheya..."
"I'll let you rule. I should return to my kingdom in Europe, where I can try to make my creation perfect."
A loud bang from the outside made the van's door burst open. Before several cops entered, Lysimachus turned off the monitors and transferred the video to his phone. They checked on him and inspected the van, searching for evidence of the rumored bomb inside The Metropolitan.
Outside, he watched nervously the last events. Rheya continued her maniac speech with that lethal weapon in hands.
"You're so perfect, so pure. You could only descend from my Iola," she fondly stroked Amy's hair. "Everything I created was always so impure, so dirty... Gaius was nothing more than a brainless puppet and Xenocrates turned into a traitor. Like each one of them!"
"Then..." Amy swallowed dry, trying to get into her mind. "W-We can make them pure. In our New World."
Rheya let out a small laugh.
"Oh Amy, they can't be fixed. But I've always had this theory. I wondered what Demetrius and I could've created together after we were changed." Her eyes flashed red and she jerked her right hand. "And now I'm about to test it."
She pulled Katherine close to her body, holding her by the neck and forcing her to feed from her bleeding wrist. The Nighthunter thrashed and cried under her strong grip.
"No..." Lysimachus rushed straight to the museum's doors. They were sealed by Rheya's psychic powers. He closed his eyes, focusing on what he learned ages ago. That kind of protection was weak to other psychic vampires. Any of them could easily break it.
The doors opened, just in time for him to see Rheya about to stab Katherine with the poisonous blade. Like a blur, he moved across the room, landing on her and throwing her away from the group.
Katherine was free. But he rolled on the floor with Rheya, fighting for the possession of the dagger. Lysimachus held its hilt tightly, pointing it to her chest.
"You..." Rheya snarled. "I had a great purpose for you and you betrayed me."
"Go serve your purpose in hell, Rheya."
Lysimachus tried to move his hand for the final blow, but Rheya grabbed his wrist, crushing it into pieces.
"I gave you a gift... and now I'm taking it away!"
She turned the dagger in the opposite direction, burring it into his stomach. The effects of Demetrius blood instantly started to take effect. Lysimachus felt his entire body being consumed by darkness and pain.
As he felt on the floor, starting to convulse, the last thing he watched was Rheya vanishing across the sections of the museum. Into the darkness.
