A/N: So here we are, the plot thickens, so to speak. This chapter and the next (which I'll post shortly) were originally the end of my story. But, this is nowhere near the end, there is more to come. There isn't a teaser at the end this time, only because the next chapter is pretty short. Anyway, hopefully you like it and please review. Thanks! :)
13. Meet Your Maker
"I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter" ~ Winston Churchill
I was dropped on to a cold, uneven stone floor. The sac that covered my head was heavy and it was hard to breathe underneath it. Cold hands gripped both of my arms, pulling me up to my feet. The heat underneath the sac got thicker and breathing was almost impossible. I began to breathe heavier as my heart pounded quicker. The sac lifted above my mouth and the tip of my nose, still covering my eyes and I gasped for air. I felt something spread across my eyes and tighten as it was tied to the back of my head.
"Bring her to me." A deep, raspy voice summoned. I was dragged forward, coming to an abrupt stop about fifteen paces later. It fell silent. The persistent silence was driving me crazy, making my fear escalate.
"Elina Johnson, Hybrid, Seer" Two familiar voices listed off my information. It was like some ad in the classifieds, quick and to the point. Stefan and Vladimir retained their grips on my upper arms.
"What is your name?" He asked, as if he didn't hear it.
My mouth felt glued shut. I didn't know whether I should reply or wait for the Romanians to do it for me. They shook me violently "Answer the question!" Vladimir demanded.
"Elina" I said quietly. It went silent again. Footsteps tapped the stone floor as they slowly drifted away from me, the sound echoing through the room. I was lifted, my feet dangling beneath me, and carried away. I was carried for a few minutes until I was gently placed on my feet.
I felt the fabric over my eyes loosen and the sac was lifted off of me. I closed my eyes, expecting to be blinded by light. Instead, my eyes adjusted quickly to the dimly lit room. There was an eerie feeling about the room. The walls and floor were a tan-coloured stone. It smelled like wet dirt. Lanterns were hung around the room, lighting it. There was a desk and chairs set up like an office. Stefan and Vladimir instructed me to sit and I complied. They both stood behind the desk and whispered to each other. I began feeling uneasy as their whispers continued, glances shot my way every so often.
The heavy, wooden door swung open, slamming against the stone wall. A slender, pale-skinned, brown haired young man stood in the doorway and nodded to Vladimir, who then nodded to Stefan.
"The master requests a favour of you before your official initiation." He announced.
"What kind of favour?" I asked hesitantly.
"Jeffrey Dobson has deceived us. Normally, Stefan and Vladimir would take care of such a deviance, but in this case the master requests that you take care of it. It will be a sign of your loyalty."
"You can't be serious." I shook my head. They had to know I would never do that.
"Ansel is not one for humour. What he speaks is the absolute truth." Vladimir said, glancing up at Ansel as he spoke.
"It's a simple request. You should gladly accept it and feed like a vampire should. That vegetarian nonsense is preposterous." Stefan chuckled with a wave of the hand.
"It will be done whether you accept or not. We prefer to play with our food." Vladimir snickered and looked at Stefan.
"You can't hurt him! I want to speak to this master of yours!" I yelled.
"Very well." Ansel said, gesturing towards the door. I stood from my seat and followed him.
We walked down a long, thin hallway. The lanterns were spread further apart and every so often would leave a patch of darkness. I felt like a prisoner on death row, taking her last steps. We turned a sharp corner that led into a shorter hallway that curved into a longer one. It was like a maze and we were the mice going after the cheese. We reached a large, ancient-looking, wooden door. Ansel opened it for me, but didn't enter. I turned to look back at him as I slowly stepped beyond the threshold.
This room was much like the others, with stone walls and floors and lanterns lighting it dimly. There was a square stone in the middle of the room, like a platform, and a chair placed in the middle. The back of it faced me. It was tall, with three points at the top. There were intricate carvings in the back and a scripture in a different language, assumedly Latin. I could see his pale white hand on of the armrests, his index and middle fingers tapping against the wood. A silver ring was on his index finger, the carvings in it matching those on the back of the chair.
"You wish to be a hunter, yet you refuse the simplest of requests." He stated, still strumming his fingers.
"I'm sorry, but I can't." I said, my voice trembling.
"Then your loyalty is not with us. Ansel will retrieve you and you will be free to go without recollection of this meeting." He said, waving his hand at me to leave.
"Wait! I'll do anything else. Please, just give me a chance." I pleaded. I had to get in, I couldn't let this slip up.
Alexandru gripped the arms of his chair, almost snapping them in two.
"I command you to leave." He said, snarling through his teeth.
"I can see the future for you, I can even read minds if you want. Please, give me any other request." I continued to beg.
"No!" He roared, standing from his chair. He turned his face slightly towards me, revealing his profile. The slight glimpse of his face was all I needed to know who he was.
"Oh my..." I whispered, covering my mouth with my hand. He turned his face away abruptly, realizing that I recognized him. "Don't turn away." I said, walking over to him. I had to see his face, to prove that this was real and that he was who I thought he was. He stepped off of the platform and ran away from me, hiding his face under his hand. I caught up to him, grabbed his cold wrist and pulled his hand away from his face. My touch angered him as he pulled away, letting out a growl from the base of his throat.
"It is you." I whispered. "Do you know who I am?" I asked.
"Yes, you are the nuisance I want to be rid of." He snarled, turning away.
"You do know." I mumbled. "Why won't you look at me?"
"I have waited decades for you." He said through his teeth. The tone of his voice was angry and sinister. "I did not believe it to be true at first. I never expected to see your face, not so soon." He said, turning in one swift motion. He stepped towards me slowly. I took a step back for every step he took forward until I reached the wall. "It's a pleasure, really, to meet the one responsible for the creation of the hunters." He said, turning his face away again as if it stung him to look at me.
"It's ironic, how much you look like her." He said, agony seeping through the tone in his voice. "Even your voice is the same." He inhaled deeply. "Shall I rip you apart like you did her?" He whispered to himself, as if to seriously ponder to idea.
"I don't understand." I said quietly. He turned his gaze to me slowly.
"Shall father tell daughter a bedtime story?" He asked, the question rhetorical. He turned away from me, and paced in front of me. "Elina was the love of my entire existence. My love for her goes beyond simple human emotion. I lived for her. She wanted to explore our love in the human way, not knowing it would result in the ominous spawn we ignorantly created. I stood by her as her bones broke, as she screamed in agony until her blood was spewed before me, revealing the monster responsible for the death of my one and only love. The blood was irresistible, but I could never bring myself to drink it, not her blood. I left to hunt, to gain strength, before returning to destroy the being that stole my reason for existing. When I returned there was nothing left but bloody sheets. I vowed to find you and to never let a vampire do to a human what I did to my Elina." He explained, anger and agony interchanging in his tone as he spoke. "Now you understand the hunters and why the breaths that escape you now will soon be your last." He said, turning to me as if he was a doctor, calmly explaining a surgical procedure to a nervous patient.
"I...I'm sorry." I whispered, my voice trembling.
"Words mean nothing." He said as he stared at me. He glided towards me until his face was inches from mine. He inhaled, taking in my scent.
"Even your blood..." He whispered. He ran his cold fingers down my cheek to my neck. I tensed.
"Please" I whimpered.
He stepped back, seemingly perplexed. He grunted and disappeared, leaving me alone in the room.
My legs gave out underneath me and I dropped to the floor. I stared at the curves in the stone floor as I tried to make sense of what just happened and to convince myself that this was all real. One thing I was sure of was that Alexandru is my father and he blames me for my mother's death. I began to sympathize with him. I took away his true love. I murdered her in the most horrific way. He should be angry. With that in mind, will I die tonight?
The door swung open and Ansel appeared in the doorway. He walked over to me and knelt down to my level. He lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet him. He studied my face for a moment as streams of clear liquid stained my cheeks. The corner of his lip lifted slightly, as if to smile, and then he stood up again, staring at me as we waited for me to get up.
"I have never seen Alexandru so unsure about something." Ansel revealed. "He is a very determined, always confident. It is strange to see him so distressed over a matter such as this."
We stood in silence for a few minutes, shivers trickling down my arms and giving me goose bumps, a result of the cold touch that clutched the circumference of my upper arm. A thin door creaked open and my entire body tensed.
"Do not fear your maker." He whispered. I looked up at him with confusion. How could he say that, so understatedly, when I had every reason to fear him?
"Follow me." He instructed.
I took a deep breath and followed Ansel into the room where Alexandru waited for me. I remembered what Ansel told me: don't be afraid of your maker. I put on a brave face and closed the thin door behind me. He didn't even flinch at the sound of the door when it closed. He turned his head slightly, then faced me. His lips parted and he stared at me with wide eyes. This was the first time I actually saw him, could study the features of his face. His face was smooth and pale, like porcelain, free of creases. The bone structure in his face was very angular and chiselled. His jaw line was very prominently squared off. His eyes were round in shape and framed with long lashes. His features were very obviously European. He looked young, no older than twenty-five, although I knew this vampire was centuries old.
His gaze on me felt uncomfortable. He walked towards me slowly, his head turning to the left, then rolling to the right. He placed his hands on either side of my face, staring into my eyes. My heart began to beat faster, pounding in my throat.
"Elina" He whispered, his eyebrows furrowed towards each other.
"Alexandru" I replied, my fear exposed in the shakiness of my voice. As his name escaped my lips, he bowed his head and curled his shoulders in, as if I had just stabbed him with a dagger. He broke away from me and returned to the other end of the room.
"I should do to you what you did to her." He said through his teeth. "You are her! Everything; your face, your hair, your eyes, your blood" he rambled, his voice getting angrier as he listed off similarities between my mother and I. He appeared in front of me within a millisecond, his hand clutched around my neck. I began to choke. He loosened his grip, allowing me to breath, yet still held on to me, his eyes moving routinely from my eyes to my neck to the ground. He licked my neck, as if to taunt me in some sick way.
It was at that moment, as I danced the fine line between life and death by that fatal flick of his tongue against my throat, that I realized I didn't fear death. In a way, I'm half dead already. If my father follows through with his threats he'll be giving me exactly what I want: to be whole. I won't be half human, half vampire. I'll be one soul, free to fly.
So, I won't spend my last moments in fear. I will spend them with the ones I love, for that is the one thing that makes me stronger. The images of those I love flashed before my eyes as I stared death in the face. Jacob's smile, so bright it could light up the sky. Jeff and his kind, compassionate manner. Edward and his other worldly charm and beauty. The Cullens and their kind-heartedness towards a complete stranger...
The memory of me will live on in those I've loved and those who loved me. Even if I die now, I will have lost nothing. My maker's threats meant nothing to me. A smile smeared across my face and I began to laugh.
My laughter caught Alexandru off guard and he stepped away from me with a puzzled expression on his face. I should be on my knees begging for my life, pleading for mercy. But, what's the point in that? He'd kill me anyways, he'd win. Might as well go out with my dignity intact. I gazed at him directly, radiating my inner strength and fearlessness.
"How dare you mock me!" He yelled as he took another step back.
"Do it." I beckoned him, tilting my head to the side and revealing my neck. "Right now. Get it over with."
"Why?" He asked angrily, catching on to my game. "You stupid girl. You don't think I will? I will damn you to a life so horrid, you'll be pleading for death." He snarled, stepping forward. I smiled as he clutched his hand on my neck. Again, I win. He'll make me a full vampire, no more human side and therefore whole, just as I've always wanted. I inhaled, bracing for the bite. I closed my eyes, waiting for his teeth to tear into my skin. Moments passed and he still hovered over my neck. I could feel the coolness of his breath on my neck; it gave me goose bumps. He began to pull away, throwing me against the wall in frustration. He began to scream and shout, pulling at his hair and crumbling bits of rock into dust in his palm.
"ANSEL!" He howled.
Ansel stumbled into the room and took my arm, pulling me out into the hallway. I followed him back to the office-like room I was in previously with the Romanians. The expression on Ansel's face was fearful and intimidated. I would never understand why he felt that way. Ansel was just as powerful as Alexandru, if not stronger.
"Why do you fear him?" I asked as he pulled me down another hallway.
"I don't. I respect him."
"You're scared. I can see it in your eyes."
"Alexandru is not one to fiddle with." He said, his pace quickening. "Do not taunt him. He will hurt you." Ansel said, stopping and pulling me to him. The intensity radiated from his eyes, increasing the importance of his words. It didn't faze me.
"I don't care. I'm not afraid of him." I snickered.
"You should be." He said, with the upmost sincerity. He continued walking and as he pulled me along, I pondered his words. What was is about Alexandru that had everyone shaking at their knees in fear of him? I could understand why humans would fear him, but not another vampire.
"What does he have over you?" I asked. Ansel sighed.
"Alexandru picks his followers based on precise criteria. He's full of threats and is devoted to the ones he makes. I fell in love with a human. I was about to feed off of her when she told me she knew I was more than just a vampire. She saw through me and was fascinated by me. I became very fond of her. Alexandru knows this and that is what keeps me here." He explained.
"Ansel, I'm so sorry." I said, placing my hand on his shoulder.
"It is not your place to apologize, you are not at fault. I was foolish to interact with a human."
"No, you weren't. Love has no boundaries." I smiled. We continued walking and finally reached the door to the office.
"You are truly remarkable." Ansel said. "I hope you live." He smiled as he turned and walked away. I stood there, dumbfounded at his choice of words. 'I hope you live'? What could I even say to that? Thank you? In a way, I hoped so too, I guess. It didn't matter to me either way, but I knew that before I did die that I had to end this whole hunters nonsense. I have to get rid of Alexandru and free Ansel and the others from this mess. In a way, it was my fault they were involved in the first place. I'm the reason the hunters exist. I had to make this right.
I opened the door and returned to the room with the Romanians, a plan brewing in my mind. Alexandru may instil fear in others individually, but as a group what can he really do to them? I smiled and plopped into a chair next to Stefan.
"Still breathing, I see." He said.
"Yep."
"This is taking longer than I thought." Vladimir said, annoyed.
"Maybe he's finally met his match. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, you know." I laughed.
"Were you taken to Varian? Your mind seems to be corrupted." Stefan said, looking at me strangely.
"No? Okay I'm just going to come out and say this: I am Alexandru's daughter." I said. Their jaws dropped.
"So the rumours are true! He did impregnate a human!" They both said, as if this was some huge scandal revealed on Perez Hilton and they were two teen girls squealing about it.
"What rumours?" I asked.
"Well, the story was that he created the hunters after his human lover was killed during the birth of their child." Stefan leaned over to whisper to me, as if it were prohibited to mention.
"You two know he's not after the Volturi then, right?" I said, as if they would have clued into this long before if they knew these rumours.
"That's ridiculous. He vowed to destroy the Volturi. Alexandru is very loyal to his word." Vladimir said with his hand over his silenced heart.
"You can't be serious. He has what he wants now, he has me. He won't go any further." I said, not exactly sure what Alexandru's plans were after me. But, convincing the Romanians that Alexandru was a liar was the only way to get them on my side.
"Nonsense." Vladimir said, shaking his head.
"He doesn't care about the Volturi, he even said so. He only said that to get you to join, just like he tells humans he hates his own kind. Don't you see he's using you?"
"Vladimir, the girl makes a valid point. We knew from the beginning that Alexandru's motives differed from our own. He has what he wants now." Stefan said, trying to reason with Vladimir who refused to accept that Alexandru was lying to them.
"He would not deceive us. Without him how will we overthrow the Volturi? We cannot do it on our own. I refuse to accept this." Vladimir said, pounding his fist against the desk; chips of wood and sawdust flew.
"Look, it's pretty clear that I'm dying tonight. All I'm saying is, don't let him get away with lying to you. It's not right. He rests this entire group on loyalty and honesty, yet he doesn't practice either." I said, stating my case like a lawyer in a court room. Vladimir stood behind the desk, his expression was pensive. His brows furrowed for a few minutes as he thought about what I said. He finally rose his head slowly.
"Very well. What would you suggest we do?" He asked. I was blown away. An old, wise vampire was asking an eighteen year old girl for advice? I sat there for a moment, trying to come up with some kind of plan that would make everyone happy. Ideally, I'd like to leave here with my life, but if my death would have to be the catalyst for whatever I come up with, well then that could work too.
"We can do this in a number of ways. One: I go in there, he kills me, you carry me out and then confront him as a group. Put on a united front and then rip him to shreds, burn him, whatever. Two: we wing it. When he calls for me again, you two come with me and pretend to, I don't know, guard him or something. Make him think you're on his side. Then just follow my lead and somehow we'll kill him."
"My assumptions of you being an intelligent human have dissipated. You call those plans?" Stefan side, shaking his head.
"Do you have a better idea?" I asked. Stefan rested his hand on his chin as he thought up a plan.
"What if you fainted, catching him by surprise. We can distract him, which would lead to us tearing him to pieces and then you throw the matches." Stefan said.
"Do you honestly think that will stop him from killing her?" Vladimir asked, looking at Stefan.
"Actually, that could work..." I said, thinking of my own little twist to the plan. "Just follow my lead, okay?"
"As you wish." They said in unison.
I smiled, picturing myself with one of those curly moustaches that I could wind my finger around.
I felt confident and strong. I was going to do this. I nodded my head and smiled to myself. And then my emotions kicked in.
Despite everything I knew about Alexandru and the horrible grudge he held out for me, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He was heartbroken. And even if that doesn't justify everything he's done, it doesn't change the fact that he's my father. Months ago, I would have given anything to meet my father. I have so many questions and I can't even ask him any of them.
I shook my head, reminding myself that I had to separate the fact that he was my father from the reason I was here: to obliterate the creator of the hunters and protect the ones I love.
Ansel returned to the room shortly after, declaring that Alexandru had requested my presence once again. This would be a piece of cake. I stood and nodded behind me to the Romanians. They both pulled Ansel aside and filled him in on what was going to happen. Ansel smiled from the corner of his mouth and glanced up at me. He knew this would mean his freedom and the return to his human love. It was an awesome feeling, knowing that I was the one who would free them from Alexandru's threats and ultimately save the entire vampire race.
I followed Ansel back down the winding hallways, the Romanians following a few paces behind us. Ansel opened the large, wooden door for me and motioned me to enter, winking at me as I walked in. This time, Ansel left the door wide open.
Alexandru was in his chair in the middle of the room again. He began to chuckle as the sound of my footsteps echoed against the stone floor and walls.
"I have pondered a great deal what I would do to you when I finally found you. Clearly, neither death nor immortality frighten you. But, the one thing all humans and vampires alike cannot tolerate is pain."Alexandru said, remaining seated. His hand gestured as he spoke, rubbing his fingers against his thumb and waving it around.
I gasped. Pain was something I hadn't considered. He was right, pain is something I can't bear. Pain is pain, no amount of strength can alleviate its effects. But, what would he do? My fear slowly began to creep back.
"You caused your mother a great deal of pain before her death and therefore, I have decided to show you the same courtesy you showed her. Of course, it's not something I can administer myself. I may be a vampire but I still have morals. Alastrann will be assisting me." He said, gesturing his hand towards the other door. A tall, pale, dark-haired man appeared, with eyes the color of deep crimson. His eyes flashed to me as he took slow steps in my direction. He was about a foot away from me when Alexandru stood up, tilting his head to the side.
"Enjoy your vampire pregnancy. I do look forward to the birth." He said as he disappeared the same way Alastrann entered, closing the thin door behind him.
My breathing quickened as my heart began to pound. I stepped back, crushing myself against the stone wall. I was trapped. I hadn't factored something like this into my plans. Where were the Romanians or Ansel? They had to help me, they wouldn't allow this to happen, would they? I whimpered, realizing there was no way out. I held my hands out in front of me, hoping he would stop. His cold fingers stretched around my wrists tightly, pinning them to the wall.
"Please" I whispered.
"Forgive me if I bite you, I haven't fed in a while." He said, his voice mixed with a growl. His nose swept across my neck as he inhaled deeply. He was smelling my blood. I began to panic. I had to try something, anything to get out of this or at least delay it.
"Do you like working for Alexandru?" My voice trembled.
"It has its advantages." He said, smiling and sniffing the other side of my neck.
"But wouldn't you rather be free?" I whispered.
"Of course, we all would." He wound his finger in my hair, brought it up to his nose and inhaled deeply.
"What if I could give you that freedom?" I asked, whimpering towards the end. He stopped.
"How?" He said, his disbelief clear in his voice.
"Just step back and hear me out for a minute."
He complied, letting go of my wrists. A purple ring began to form around them.
"I'm going to destroy him. I have a plan with some of the others, but if you go through with this, I won't be able to do it." I whispered to him.
"No. I will not rest my fate in the hands of a weak girl." He snarled.
Then it occurred to me how much he could help if he would just cooperate. Alastrann could be the missing piece of the puzzle, the one to set everything into place.
"Please give me a chance. This will work, I swear to you." I said, putting my arm to my mouth and biting into my own flesh. The blood began to seep through. I pulled Alastrann close, crushing my lips to his and smearing my blood onto his mouth. I then took my arm and let blood drip along his face and shirt. Alastrann struggled as my open wound and flowing blood surrounded him. He fought with himself, growling.
"Just follow me, it'll be okay." I whispered, before screaming in agony. I screamed 'no' and 'stop' for a few minutes, before letting my voice fade. I glanced to my blood as it dripped against the stone floor. Smears of red staining my clothes. Then, I fell to the ground. I closed my eyes and focused on placing myself somewhere other than in my own mind. My mind began to wander and images of my mother clouded my thoughts. I could feel myself disconnecting from my body.
I found myself standing before my lifeless body, staring down at it. It was an odd experience. I felt like I was looking into a mirror, except my reflection wasn't mimicking me.
Alexandru entered the room and confronted Alastrann.
"I'm sorry master, I could not withhold any longer." Alastrann said, closing his eyes in shame of what he did.
"This is not what I asked, Alastrann. I should burn you for this." Alexandru said angrily.
"I understand. I am truly sorry."
"Was she in pain?" He asked, curiously.
"Yes, Alexandru; tremendous pain."
"Hm...I suppose the purpose was fulfilled. You are excused this time, Alastrann, but cross me again and there will be consequences." Alexandru said. Alastrann fled the room swiftly. Alexandru stepped towards my body and nudged it with the toe of his shoe. He knelt down, dipping his index and middle finger into my blood, and placed them into his mouth. He licked his lips and closed his eyes. According to Edward, my blood tasted quite good. It sickened me to know that I was giving Alexandru any kind of pleasure or satisfaction.
Alexandru turned his head quickly to the direction of the open door. The Romanians appeared out of the darkness, with Ansel leading them.
"Shall we dispose of her, master?" Ansel asked. Alexandru stood up.
"I suppose. Do with her what you will, she is of no use to me now." Alexandru said, turning his back. Stefan and Vladimir smiled at each other, emerging from either side of Ansel. They walked towards my body, as if to lift it. I felt a warmness inside me, knowing what would happen next.
Stefan and Vladimir lunged at Alexandru's neck, snarling and growling, as they ripped chunks of flesh out of him. Ansel joined them as he sprang for Alexandru's leg. The site was horrific as they literally tore my father apart. I thought I'd feel content to watch Alexandru being torn apart, but it was too awful to witness any longer. I had to get back into my body to put the finishing touches on Alexandru's demise. I stood over myself and concentrated on my own mind. I opened my eyes the first time, only to find myself still standing over my body. I tried again, and still hadn't returned to my body. I began to worry after the third time trying to get back into my body, hoping that it wasn't too late. After the fourth time, I began to lose hope.
I noticed something bright in the corner of my eye and turned, thinking Ansel or either of the Romanians found the matches and were able to burn Alexandru without me. My jaw dropped.
"M –Mom?" I asked, in complete disbelief of the angel standing before me. She smiled.
"My beautiful girl." She said gleefully. Light radiated from her. Her long, brown hair was in ringlets and she wore an exquisite ivory gown. Her hair and dress fluttered, although there was no breeze.
"Mom" I smiled. "Am I...dead?" I asked, peering back at my lifeless corpse.
"No, sweetheart. You will get back, do not fret." She said, her voice sounding like a choir of angels singing in perfect harmony.
"I don't want to leave you." I confessed, wondering if it would be so awful to stay with my mother.
"You have a wonderful life to live, my dear. I will always be with you, all you have to do is think of me. I love you, Elina." She sang as the light faded around her before she disappeared completely.
"I love you, mom." I whispered, staring at the empty space she had just occupied.
The moans and screams from Alexandru returned to my ears like a bomb dropping; loud and unexpected. I turned to my body again, kneeling down to it. I felt my hand tingle and looked down to it. I had accidentally placed my hand into my body's hand, reviving it somehow. I stood and walked towards my feet, putting my back to my body and sitting down into my body. I laid back and braced for life. When I opened my eyes, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and the warmth of my breath as it escaped my mouth. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the matches. I rolled over on to my stomach as I picked up a match out of the small box and swiped it against the side to light it.
"Now!" Ansel yelled back to me. He and the Romanians stepped aside.
I threw the match and watched as it twisted and turned into the air, landing on the pile of Alexandru's torn flesh. The pieces erupted in flames. I pulled myself up, my eyes glued to the fire that grew before me. I could feel the sweat on my face as the heat from the fire filled the room. I was in amazement of the purple smoke and odour, so different from a regular flame. I felt a cold hand on my shoulder and turned to meet Ansel's smile. Vladimir and Stefan stood behind him and both nodded to me in unison. Even Alastrann returned to witness the burning of Alexandru and to express his gratitude.
It was done. It was really done.
I began to feel light headed and peered down to my arm, now drenched in thin streams of blood. The heat was making me feel worse, I had to get out of there. I needed some fresh air. I ran, unsure of where I was really going. I followed the twists and turns of the hallways and burrowed through doors. I flew through another wooden door which revealed stone steps. I could see the moonlight shine from the top of them. I didn't hesitate to climb up them and into the night.
I reached the top and fell to my knees, soaking in the crisp, night air. I looked around me and saw nothing but trees. I took comfort in them and smiled, my thoughts focused on what I had just accomplished. I mustered up every last bit of strength I had and stumbled back to my feet as I made my way to the Cullen's, whichever way that was. I just picked a spot in the trees and took a random direction. Maybe it was my intuition kicking in. Whatever it was, I think it worked.
"Elina!" His voice pierced my ears. I sighed as I stopped and waited for him to reach me.
"Edward" I whispered, smiling. My eye lids fluttered as I fought to keep them open. Edward's chilled hands gripped my waist and balanced me. The coolness woke me up, so to speak.
"I did it, Edward! I did it!" I said, sounding like a drunk as I weaved in and out of consciousness. My head tilted backwards and forwards as I struggled to keep it up. I felt my feet leave the ground and realized Edward was carrying me.
"Sh, let me get you home." He whispered before running me through the trees. I closed my eyes and smiled as the wind blew through my hair. It wasn't long before I felt the soft, plush mattress underneath me. My arm was extended out to the side as Carlisle cleaned the blood from where I had bitten my arm.
"There is no venom, she bit herself." I heard Edward say, a cold touch ran down the side of my face. I felt myself drift off into the coolness and eventually, I fell asleep.