Chapter 122: Chapter 122
“Louis and Jacob taunted me. They told me they would kill John if I didn’t show myself immediately. I freaked out… John looked so scared and… and I couldn’t do this to him, he was my best friend. That’s why I gave up and showed myself. The clan caught me, but… but Louis said my actions would have consequences so that none of us would ever try to escape again.” Alan took a deep breath, his shoulders heaving in agitation, “Louis ordered Jacob to kill John. He s-said… wind magic is easy to replace and then… Jacob murdered him right in front of my eyes. I will never forget.”
The pain shining in Alan’s gaze had no beginning and no end. It was limitless—he had opened Pandora’s box by recalling this traumatic event. On one hand, Elena was not surprised by Jacob’s cruelty after he had killed her parents without flinching, but on the other, she was shaken by what she had learned from Alan. They were at the clan’s mercy, having lost all control over their lives.
“I haven’t used my water magic ever since,” Alan whispered, voice thick with grief as he stared at his hands. “It’s no good.”
Her hands tightened into fists as a wave of anger rolled over her. Elena couldn’t imagine what it was like to abandon your own magic since it was an inherent part of them. He was only hurting himself by doing this, and when she glanced at Alex, she discovered that he shared her opinion. It was easy to read his thoughts just by seeing his upset expression.
The fire wizard crossed his arms and shook his head. “Your magic isn’t what killed John. His death isn’t your fault.” The sigh that followed was exhausted.
Elena frowned and hesitantly reached out her hand, taking Alan’s and gaining his attention. “You know, I’ve always wanted to meet a water mage. Our elements share a unique ability; they’re the only ones capable of healing. It would be a waste not to use your magic anymore. View it as a gift instead of resenting it. After all, it’s a part of you.”
She used her magic to conjure up a flower in his hand, gently closing his fingers around it. “Don’t give up yet. Magic can achieve wonders. If we work together, we might find a way out. I’m not planning on dying here.”
Alan glanced at the flower in his hand, and perhaps Elena was mistaken, but she swore she found a tiny glimmer of hope in his eyes.
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The underground prison was a somber place. There was no daylight, and the only fresh air they received originated from ducts in the ceiling. The walls weren’t plastered or painted, entirely bare and gray. This place brought back memories of her experiences in Aeri’s home, but this was even worse. At least in Aeri’s mansion, Elena’s room had a window—but now she was fully isolated from the outside world; she couldn’t even sense the peaceful presence of nature from behind the thick concrete walls.
At around eight in the morning, just after Elena had woken up and dressed herself in the spare clothes that had been provided, the door to their prison was unlocked. The witches and wizards were tense as they watched four vampires enter. Each of them brought a box with food and carelessly dropped it on the kitchen tiles. Elena was relieved that Jacob hadn’t accompanied them since she couldn’t stand being in his presence.
When the four vampires passed her on the way out, one of them stopped and snickered. “Do you like your new home, bitch? It’s the last thing you’ll ever see.”
The color drained out of her face, and she gnashed her teeth, holding back a snarky retort. The vampire scoffed when she didn’t receive the kind of reaction she had hoped for and followed her companions to the exit. The door shut with a bang, and the lock clicked. Then, their footsteps faded as they ascended the stairs.
“I hate them,” Alex scowled. Elena caught the flicker of a flame from the corner of her eyes, but when she looked at him, it was gone.
“What did they bring this time?” Wendy padded to the kitchen, Belle following her. Elena studied them, figuring that they were both barely adults and too young to be caught up in this mess. She, Alan, and Alex also entered the kitchen, where they inspected the supplies they had received. This would have to last for a whole week—it was very little. The vampires intended to keep them hungry and weak so that their magic remained weak as well.
Elena stared at the chipped paint of the kitchen table, unease taking hold of her. “We have to get out of here,” she stated, prompting the others to stare at her. “Someone has to help us; we can’t stay here.”
Their gazes conveyed what they thought of this, showing pity for her since she was unable to accept her predicament and continued to struggle. In their eyes, it was pointless—their lives were already forfeit.
“We don’t have anyone outside who’s able to save us,” Belle whispered. “None of us does. We’ve been kept in here for months, in some cases years, and nobody has ever come looking for us. Nobody dares to go up against a century-old vampire clan. We only have each other, that’s how it has been.”
“For years?” Elena repeated in horror. This kept getting worse; the more she learned about Louis’s schemes, the more she feared for her and Ryder’s future. If they didn’t reunite within a week, he would slowly starve. She doubted he could last any longer without her blood. The more she thought about it, the more restless she became. Without a doubt, Ryder was already searching for her. Her sudden disappearance hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“Listen, you might not know anyone who can help us, but I do. I belong to a vampire clan.”
Her revelation earned her open hostility from Belle and a scoff from Wendy. “You’re living with vampires?” Wendy hissed.
“I know it’s hard to fathom, but they’re kind to me. My soulmate is a vampire.”
“You have a soulmate, and he’s a bloodsucker, that’s fucking insane,” Alex said and laughed. It was a mirthless laugh, dripping with disbelief and bitterness.
“Ryder is a kind person, I promise. He’s been nothing but good to me,” she insisted, not wanting to hear anyone talking badly about him. “And I know he will do anything to find me. If he reaches this place, you will all be free.”