Chapter 136: Chapter 136

Her soulmate’s senses were focused on their surroundings, listening to the heaving breaths of the other vampires, the staccato of their heartbeats. The air smelled of smoke and fire. Wind continuously swept through the room, whirling up glass shards—Charles had figured out how to use them as a weapon.

“Does anyone need healing?” Elena asked fearfully and searched the room for her companions. Now that Jacob no longer posed a threat, and the room wasn’t controlled by chaos anymore, it was easier to oversee the situation. She looked for her friends, hoping they were safe.

“I think Alan did a good job with that. Everything’s under control,” Ryder answered and nodded in his direction. The wizard fought with Belle and Wendy, about to defeat another vampire. Elena searched the large dining room for each clan member and was relieved to see that they were alright. Helen was back on her feet as well, most likely thanks to Alan’s help. Most of Louis’s clan members had been defeated—countless dead vampires lay on the ground. The sight was disturbing and caused her to shiver.

“Louis is still alive,” she exclaimed and frowned at the vampire. Dorian, Edgar, Charles, and Chump had surrounded him and his soulmate, Angelina, in the middle of the room. They were heavily injured yet refused to give up.

“Not for long. He killed John, and he will pay for it,” Alex chimed in and grinned darkly as he passed Elena and Ryder. The fire wizard came to stand next to Charles, playing with a flame in his hand and scoffing at his nemesis. The couple followed him and joined the group surrounding the two last remaining members of Louis’s clan.

“Where is the scroll?” Elena asked and caught Louis’s frustrated red eyes.

“As if I would tell you,” he growled and took a threatening step toward her—a mistake. Fire shot up from the ground in front of him, searing his clothes and burning his skin. He cursed and retreated from the heat, glaring at Elena. “This is all your fault. You… someone like you shouldn’t even exist. A witch with a vampire for a soulmate… you’re a disgrace to all vampires.”

“Insult her again and you’re dead,” Ryder snarled, embracing his soulmate and angling his body so that he was shielding her from Louis. “You lost—it’s time to give up.”

“I’ll never give up, not to dirt like you.”

Edgar, just like all of them, was tired of Louis and Angelina, but his clan couldn’t kill them before they surrendered the scroll, which they certainly wouldn’t do. So Edgar decided to speed the process up and threw Chump and Dorian a pointed look, nodding his chin at Louis. The vampires understood and grabbed Louis’s arms, restraining him. Angelina hissed and attempted to help her soulmate, but she was held back by Avocado and Kelsey.

“The scroll has to be hidden in his jacket—I doubt he would leave it somewhere else,” Edgar said, prompting Louis to growl at him.

“Fuck you and your clan,” he spat and struggled desperately; however, injured as he was, he stood no chance against Dorian’s and Chump’s combined strength.

“How dare you destroy everything?” Angelina shrieked.

Alex and Charles ripped his jacket open, searching the pockets for the scroll while the vampire hissed and snapped at them, screaming curses. There was nothing he could do to prevent the inevitable—Alex found what he was looking for.

“I got it,” he smirked and held Louis’s gaze while the scroll in his hand burst into flames. The ancient parchment was reduced to ashes in mere seconds.

The last of Louis’s sanity disappeared as the plan he had carefully crafted for decades disintegrated before his very eyes. “No. No. What have you done?”

He shuddered, his eyes widening in sheer madness. His screams echoed through his mansion, attracting the attention of the remaining council members in the building. They found their way into the wrecked dining room, intending to witness Louis’s downfall.

Elena’s gaze was drawn to the doorway where a few familiar people had appeared. Declan was there, Harry, Colin, and many others she didn’t recognize. They were led by a female vampire, a beautiful woman with the grace of a butterfly; however, Elena wasn’t fooled by her gentle appearance. She was just as dangerous as her companions.

“That’s Violet, the leader of the council,” Ryder whispered when he noticed Elena’s confusion. His words prompted the witches and wizards to tense up.

Violet stepped over debris and glass without losing any of her natural elegance. A pleased yet sorrowful smile appeared on her lips when she took in the destruction around her and the many lives that had been lost. “Louis,” she said, the sound of her voice ending his screaming fit. He fell silent and stared at her as if she couldn’t possibly be real. “You should know why I’m here.”

A sarcastic and bitter laugh escaped him. “Of course I know. I’m flattered you showed up yourself. What an honor.”

“You gave me no choice after you caused so much trouble. I’m here to ensure your punishment will be carried out without fail. You and your soulmate will be executed for conspiring against the council, for murdering humans, and endangering the lives of innocent bystanders.”

With that, Louis’s and Angelina’s fates were sealed. They would not survive this encounter with the vampire council. As both were handed over to the council, Edgar’s clan retreated, intending to leave the rest to their allies. They exited the destroyed building and gathered in front of it, finally leaving the horrors of the past hours behind.

The vampires were tired from the confrontation and looked the worse for wear, but their injuries were already healing, and soon, there would be nothing left of them. The witches and wizards, who hadn't seen the sun in so long, basked in its rays and enjoyed breathing fresh air. The weather was beautiful today, allowing them to appreciate their freedom to the fullest.

Alan laughed excitedly, hugging Alex. “We made it. I can’t believe it. We’re still alive.”

“Belle, we’re finally free.” Wendy grinned, and her friend smiled, sharing her enthusiasm.

“What now? Where should we go from here?” Alex asked.