Chapter 12 ∣  To Save a Life

-Orion

Cristela was one of the first hunters to accept me...I'd grown very close to her, but it always seemed that everything kept getting in the way. I hadn't taken the time to slow down and spend more time with her, my recent plans steamrolling forward and leaving her behind in the dust. Taking the time, we had together for granted, figuring that once we had made amends with the vampires, we could live in peace and she would accept me as her mate.

Now, the future that I have planned for us is shattered.

How did she end up like this?

"Cris!" I cry out, the pain in my voice is evident as I pull her into my arms, her body collapsing. She continues to cough up blood, her lungs pooling with it.

She's going to die. The one person who I have come to love...her life is about to flicker out.

"Please...Cris..." her lips turn up in a soft smile, bringing her hand to the side of my face and touching me gently.

"I-I'm s-so-sorry...t-they for-forced us to at-t-ack the v-vampires..." her words are quiet, trying to explain her actions as though I'm upset with her. I can't bring myself to ever be angry with her, she believes in everything I stand for, it's Kadessa and Enock that sent my hunters into the field to murder the vampires.

Zak stands in front of Rae, keeping her away from our small group as he aims both guns at her. This new figure, Killian, he's come to save Locaine and Annika...he's loyal to them through and through. I only wish that more of the hunters who I protect are the same way. Some are forced into following Kadessa and Enock, while others willingly obey their orders to kill every vampire they came across.

I'm upset that Cris had been pulled into their evil plans as well.

Locaine releases Annika, walking around to stand in front of myself as Cris' life hangs in the balance between life and death. Her white irises are hazy, her eyelashes brushing her cheeks as her lids become heavy.

Locaine kneels in front of us, his chilling blue eyes locking with mine, running his hand through his winter white hair.

His words make my heart lurch almost out of my chest, "I can attempt to save her life."

If Evie's and I's theory is correct, a hunter won't die by the bite of a pureblood...it would turn them for sure. Am I willing to test this theory on Cris? I don't have much of a choice, she's slowly slipping away from me, her heartbeat slowing down.

"Please. Save her, she's done nothing wrong..." I look down at her fragile form held close to me.

Locaine nods, "I must caution you though," he pauses, my questioning eyes searching his face, "if she is compatible, you know the affliction of the transition..."

"I know," I reply, memories flooding back to me of the night I was left alone to die. The torment and agony my body went through was enough to push me over the edge and end my own life. But, my revenge was the only thing that spurred me to allow the transformation to complete itself.

Locaine continues, "Second, in order to properly transition, she'll need to drink the blood of her sire."

"What?!" I'm confused. I hadn't had to do that to transform into the monster I'd become.

"The way Enos made sure you were rejected by the rest of the vampire society...he never accepted you as his fledgling. Now, if you want her to be accepted, you'll allow her to feed off me," Locaine watches me carefully, letting every word sink in and understanding exactly what he's telling me.

Cris' heart is beating irregularly, "Please...just do it, save her."

"Orion, if you allow this," Locaine's eyes are hard, "she will become a part of my coven."

My heart stops in my chest. If I ever want to be with Cris...I will have to accept Locaine. Our agreement will go far beyond that of acknowledging one another. We really will immerse our two species together.

Cris spirals into a coughing fit, blood trickling from the corners of her mouth, her eyes fluttering shut and this time, not opening.

"Cris!" I cry out. She's the last thing I have left to live for...

My eyes lift back to Locaine, "Do it." I clench my teeth together, watching as Locaine instantly lifts Cris out of my arms and brings her closer to him. I can't imagine her life ceasing to exist...this must work.

Wrapping one of his arms around her back, he gently tilts her chin to the ceiling, arching her neck away to expose her delicate flesh to him.

It hurts...because I can turn her, but not under life and death circumstances. Only a pureblood has the ability to breathe immortality into a body that is close to death...if they are compatible.

Locaine's eyes shift, the once deep azure irises slowly disappear, until all that is left is a black rose abyssal pool of emptiness staring back at me. I breathe in sharply, recalling the same gaze that Enos had given me right before he bit me.

Cristela...please let me be right.

His fangs elongating, Locaine brushes the tips across her neck, searching for her strongest pulsating vein. It doesn't take him long, pressing his fangs against her skin, he pierces through it seamlessly. Cris breathes out softly, her body motionless.

Her heartbeat stops altogether. My own filling with hurt and pain. I've failed her, and I was wrong...

Before I can say a single word, Locaine bites down harder on Cris' neck, her heart accelerating. A wave of anxiety washes over me as it's replaced with relief. I can't believe what I'm witnessing...it's so different then when it had happened to myself. A steady rhythm finally is felt by Annika, Killian, Locaine, and me. Cris is going to be okay.

Locaine releases his fangs from her neck, the puncture marks slowly beginning to close on their own. His face lifts, staring into my eyes as he whispers, "You know something...don't you?"

I nod, either Cris is lucky, or my theory has been proven right. It will take more than just her turning to convince the rest of the hunters if they ever want to join the vampire species fully. Finally...it seems that everyone can be accepted.

Locaine places Cris safely into my arms. If it hadn't been for Enock and Kadessa...this wouldn't have happened to her.

"T-thank you..." my voice is lost in awe at how Locaine had been so willing to aid me. After everything I'd done, ordering his daughter's capture, luring them into this trap, prepared to end his life for something he didn't even actually do, his closest coven members executed...he still sees the good in my intentions.

I can never repay him for the life he has restored to Cris.

Now I know the truth.

Peace can only come about if Kadessa and Enock's lives are snuffed out.

"We need to get moving," Killian states, Locaine rising to his feet his eyes still are their black rose coloration.

"L-Locaine?" Annika asks shakily, watching him stalk toward Zak and Rae. Standing to my feet with Cris in my arms, I turn around and notice his advance on the one who had attempted to kill his beloved, his love, his queen.

Zak sidesteps out of Locaine's path of fury, lifting the guns off his target as a new threat is aimed toward the scared hunter. Her eyes are filled with terror as she presses against the stone wall, standing to her feet. Her heart is racing, looking away from Locaine and bolting toward the cell door, not that it will do her much good, as she'd locked herself in with us.

Rae screams, Locaine grabbing the back of her hair. Her good hand immediately flies up and over her head, trying to remove his powerful hold on her.

"You're not so brave, now are you?" Locaine hisses at her, slamming her body against the wall and jabbing his fist hard and quick into her stomach. The tears come to her eyes, sliding down her cheeks as the panic arises within her. Her hand leaves his hand that had locked onto her hair, attempting to punch him in the face.

He catches her fist in his free hand, squeezing it deathly slow as her scream escalates until the sound of her bones shattering is made audible to us.

"You could have been a part of the solution...too bad you have a bad judge of character. Trusting in Enock and Kadessa was your first and last mistake," Locaine snaps her head to the side, his fangs elongating once again as he plunges them ruthlessly into her neck. The blood runs down her neck, cascading down her clothes as he continues to puncture into her windpipe, her screams silence. He savagely withdraws his fangs from her neck, tearing the wound he'd created wider, allowing her to bleed out.

Blood gurgles from Rae's mouth as Locaine releases his grip on her hair, her body collapsing onto the floor. Her body convulses before stilling completely, her heartbeat comes to a sudden stop. He wipes the blood from his mouth, turning around to gaze at our small group as his eyes shift back to the two icy blue orbs.

"Now," Locaine nods toward Killian, "we can leave."

"We better get out fast...someone had to have heard that," Killian isn't surprised by Locaine's actions. Being the vampire king, he's jury, judge, and executioner. No one will question him and even I'm beginning to see this whole situation from his side.

I speak up, "No one can hear you scream down here...it's soundproof."

"Perfect," Killian smiles, turning toward the passageway as Zak quickly follows behind him, leading us from the hellish prison that I'd created.

I can see it pains Locaine greatly, leaving behind the bodies of his two coven members who'd been executed in front of him.

My blood begins to boil, knowing I'm responsible for all of this. The spark between my blood magic and I ignite. I pity the hunters that decide to turn against me...I will show them no mercy for what they have done. This wasn't supposed to happen...none of this was.

It doesn't take long, wrapping around to the trap entrance will be the last place the hunters will think we have gone.

Killian reaches for the door overhead, stepping up through the ladder and into the abandoned home. He takes hold of Zak's hand, pulling him up and out of the hole. Next, he helps Annika and then Locaine to the surface.

Looking down at me, Killian helps me take Cris out of the place I once called home...a sanctuary that has turned into my darkest nightmare. It's already begun, Cris thrashing in Killian's arms as he takes her out of the underground tunnel. I quickly follow him out, Zak kicking the trap door shut.

"Cris..." I can't express how much I want to take the pain away that is coursing through her veins. The burning agony of true hell is plaguing her body. She attempts to claw at her neck where Locaine had bitten her.

"Stop her!" Locaine growls, knowing she can very well kill herself without even realizing it or meaning to. Killian holds her tightly as I grasp her wrists, pulling them down and away from the closed puncture marks. Her breathing increasing, her heart accelerating as her eyes snap open and panic overtakes her.

The once beautifully white eyes that would stare back at me, are stained red with blood, darting from Killian to Zak. Confusion clear as she finally rests them on me.

"O-Orion?" Cris asks, trying desperately to break free from Killian. I don't think I could have let her go to Locaine if I'd been the one holding her at this point. "L-let me go!" She yells, slamming her fist into Killian's arm, but he doesn't budge.

Whimpering in pain as her fangs start to elongate on their own. Her eyes grow wide with fear, horror filling her as dread courses through every word she speaks, "I'm a vampire..."

"Yes," I reply, taking a step back, "you have to feed on Locaine... he is the first blood you must taste."

Cris is confused, "Why?! Why would I do that?! H-he's the vampire king..."

"He sired you. If you don't you won't be accepted...you'll start out your vampire existence as a rogue," I glance away from her.

"Bu-but that means...you?" Cris is wrapping her head around everything that is happening to her.

I nod and reply sadly, knowing at some point this would come up, "Technically, I am a rogue...but not by choice. I want something more for our species...I'm very different from any other that you would meet. I don't want the same fate for you."

"Orion..." Cris' words linger. Her eyes meet mine as she accepts everything I have told her.

Locaine comes to stand beside Killian, silently ordering him to release her. Cris' eyes meet Locaine's feeling his commanding presence around her. It hurts, watching her slowly being pulled by his blood, but this is all to save her life...I would repeat my choice if I had to to protect her.

Locaine lifts his chin and inclines his head to the side, allowing Cris access to his neck. She is hesitant at first, but that doubt quickly passes over her as he encourages her, placing one of his hands on the small of her back. She places one of her hands on the side of his neck, while the other rests on his shoulder. Her fangs press against his skin, the smell of his blood fills the abandoned house as she pierces through his flesh, tasting his blood. She drinks down his life force, feeling the power consuming her.

Cris gasps, pulling her fangs from his neck and taking a step backward, their eyes locking for a moment. I quickly look around, bewildered by Killian and Annika suddenly clutching at their chests, as though feeling Cris' presence within them.

Cris belongs to Locaine's coven now.

**

-Evicka

My father turned someone, their presence filling each one of us.

Why?

Who?

I don't understand why my father would do something like that considering they are prisoners to Enock and Kadessa. Orion is already a vampire now and I know he wants to kill my father. Is this an accident? Did he accidentally turn someone...?

What the hell is he thinking?

"Lucca!" My eyes widen, sensing both of my parents, Zak, Orion, Killian...and this new addition to the coven.

"Yeah, I know," Lucca nods toward me and then turns to Erebus, "Locaine has turned one of the hunters. The reasoning...is beyond me."

Erebus' eyebrows rise as he asks, "Why?"

"I don't know...but they are above the underground city," Lucca announces to the coven, "we are moving...now! They are going to need our help; those two rangers are a lot stronger than they look and deadlier too. I've never seen anything like them and if they draw strength from each other because they are direct siblings, it could get ugly...very quickly."

Before we can take a step in the direction of Pleasant Camp, B.C., several vampires begin to circle around us, coming from the thicket. They file through the trees, five purebloods leading the individual groups as they come close to us.

I'm confused. Why are covens coming forward?

Why now?

Do they sense Erebus?

"Lucca," Michael finally speaks as he draws our attention to him, "while we were on the run, we managed to get in contact with a few of the surrounding covens from the nearby states. They agreed to come to our aid...only if Erebus were truly still alive. They want to hear what he has to say. Locaine maybe our king, but Erebus is one of the very first purebloods...they will listen to him and only him regarding coming to terms with the hunters."

I knew it...no pressure, right?

Erebus watches the hesitant vampires, each holding an expression of awe, wonder, and apprehension. I can't blame them, after all, Erebus' name has truly been a myth...seeing the legend for themselves is fascinating.

"Everything Michael has said is true," one of the pureblood females gazes at us with questioning eyes, "Erebus...can we really accept the hunters?"

"Yes," Erebus responds, "I want to explain everything to both species at the same time...hopefully, we can stop killing each other."

"If we're going to do that," Lucca motions in the direction of my parents, "we need to get moving now. Locaine and Annika have been held prisoner by two of the rangers who have declared themselves the new leaders of the hunters. It appears for the moment, that they have escaped. They could easily have followed them and will need our help."

I feel a forceful blow ricocheting from the inside of my abdomen, the being inside me is trying to free itself. It won't be long now...I hadn't been afraid, not when I had almost been killed by multiple coven leaders, not when my father had almost executed me, not when Ronan threatened to rape me or force me into breaking my bond with Lucca...no...I hadn't been afraid. For the first time, the real fear is crawling under my skin.

Fuck!

Shit...I didn't mean to connect to him.

Lucca is in front of me in the next second, his eyes searching mine. He narrows them on me as I have one of my arms over the bump that has grown so quickly over the past months. I don't want him to keep himself and I behind as the others go to aid my family...I must go with them.

Evie?

I'm fine Lucca.

Really? Because any man will tell you that when a woman says she's 'fine', that means everything in the world is wrong. It is dangerous to believe a woman when she says she is 'fine'. Now tell me, what's going on?

I wince, feeling the punches and kicks growing stronger, threatening to break through my muscle wall and skin.

I-I don't know how much longer...it feels like it's going to happen soon. He's trying to break away from me and it's beginning to become more painful.

Lucca pulls me into his arms, resting his chin on my head as he holds me still. I know he wants this fighting to be over before this being comes into this world, but now I'm not so sure if that is possible.

"Lucca?" Erebus asks with concern. "Is she close?"

"Yes," Lucca pulls away for a moment before lifting me into his arms, his eyes are set on the horizon in the distance as he says, "we leave. Now."

**

-Annika

I'm relieved for two reasons. Locaine managed to save Cristela, the hunter that holds such admiration for Orion...their love is silent and secret, but still laid out for everyone to see. The second reason, I can finally feel my daughter's presence and that of the coven. We manage to get a good distance away from the abandoned town, but everything seems to change as we come into a clearing. There are no trees for miles, the grass is torn up from the Earth, the dust kicking up as the wind blows softly.

My eyes lift to the sky. The coloration is changing to a light purple hue, the sun will be rising within the next hour or two and we will need a place to stay.

Locaine, what is that?

I feel like Lucca and Evie are bring the coven with them, but I also sense other covens are with them. The sheer power radiating from the purebloods tells me that they are very near to us now.

That's not what I was talking about.

I know, the hunters are closing in as well.

We are sitting ducks in the open. It's nice to have the connection to my blood magic once again. I'd grown tired of it constantly being taken away from me...like it is a privilege. If anyone threatens my family again, I won't hesitate to kill them.

Orion and Cris halt next to Killian, glancing around as they feel the power of both groups coming closer. Maybe it's best if we did just wait...aren't we supposed to come to an agreement anyway? But with Enock and Kadessa presiding over the hunters, the ones that are not loyal any longer to