Chapter 61: Finding a way

My breath hitched at the back of my throat, watching my grandfather being stabbed by a rogue vampire. I had already lost one too many people during that war, and I wasn't going to mourn for any more victims.

Most of the people injured or killed were either Keepers or werewolves. The witches had stayed back, performing their magic. However, now the fight had shifted closer to them, and they seem to be in a difficult position. We had managed to kill at least half of the rogue vampires, thanks to the lifesaving werewolves' arrival.

I cursed loudly and headed where my grandfather was standing, using my super speed. With a few methodical moves, I killed the vampires close to Papa and cast a quick healing spell on him. He looked tired and had a few other injuries on his body. Thankfully, my magic healed him completely.

"Mom, why don't you take Papa and head back towards the cars?" I proposed.

"We can't leave now, angel. You need our support to kill that monster…" my mom replied, shaking her head.

I sighed with her stubbornness. I couldn't relax when they were in constant danger. "The werewolves and the witches are handling the vampires, and the hybrid is almost dead," I reasoned with her.

"We're fine, Ophelia, go do and end this war," David urged me, giving me a small smile.

"Go, angel, I've dealt with worse than this," Papa Peter also agreed with the other two.

I looked at them with a frown, but I couldn't retort anything because Chris' yells interrupted us.

"Ophelia, they're trying to free him."

My eyes snapped back at the place I had left the Phoenix. A group of vampires was struggling to break the iron chains.

I cursed under my breath and turned to look at my mother, "Just don't get yourselves killed…"

"Don't worry about us," she yelled at me as I ran towards the hybrid.

A frown formed on my forehead when I noticed that the Phoenix had disappeared. I drew my swords and killed some of the vampires, trying to find out where the hybrid had gone. I didn't recognize his human form among the group of the bloodthirsty creatures.

Thus, I used a magic spell to locate him. Time slowed down, and I looked around me closely, trying to observe anything unusual.

Blood, dirt, ashes, except a small butterfly flying towards the arch.

I smiled and walked towards the black and white butterfly, trying to ignore all the bodies I saw on my way.

How different were all the animals and the mythical creatures Marcus could shift into!

Who would have believed that an enormous menacing dragon, a wild lion, a lithe anaconda, a mythical Phoenix, and a beautiful butterfly were this shifter's forms?

Despite the small and harmless creature in front of me, I had to remember it was Marcus. I trapped the butterfly inside a little bubble and created a circle of that purple fire around me. No one could pass by the fire, and I would stay there until I killed the hybrid.

Marcus couldn't take any other form as this was his fifth one. Neither was he able to shift into the other creatures until tomorrow.

I wanted to talk to his human self even if I had to force another shifting upon him…

"It's over, Marcus…" I said, observing the butterfly flying in that small bubble.

For a few minutes, nothing happened, and then the butterfly began to change. At last, the man I'd seen earlier stood naked a few feet away from me. His calculating black eyes examined me closely.

"They sent a woman to kill me! Have they lost their minds?" the man mocked me as a sly smile formed on his lips.

"When I'm done with you, you'd wish I was a man…" I hissed through gritted teeth.

Marcus snickered, amused; obviously, in his era, women weren't that daring. However, the laugh died in his throat when I broke his forearm with a click of my fingers.

I wasn't going to let him attack me again. I had the upper hand this time, and I wanted to kill him and end this madness once and for all.

"I do intend to break every single bone of your body. And worry less, no one would be able to help you," I informed the hybrid with a smirk.

Marcus tried to attack me, only to realize he couldn't move.

"Yeah, I quite enjoy this little spell…" I chuckled as I snapped his arm this time.

For each step I took closer to him, one bone of his body broke.

"You wanted eternity to enjoy your life, didn't you?" I mocked him, taking another step.

He just glared at me, not being able to talk.

"Oh, right, you wanted power and money, too…"

When I finally reached him, he was kneeled on the ground, gasping from all the pain I caused him. I didn't even feel sorry for him, and I just wanted to make him pay, even though his death wouldn't ease my pain.

"Have you ever loved someone?" I asked once again in a calm tone.

"Love is for the fools," he spat since I allowed him to talk.

"Of course, it is because you never loved anyone more than yourself…" I trailed off, shaking my head in disapproval.

"Love means pain…" he whispered, frowning.

A sad smile plastered on my lips. "There is nothing more beautiful and purer in this life than unconditional love. Even if it's painful, even if it's heartbreaking…"

I pulled the dagger out of my pocket once again and looked at its blood-covered blade.

"So many people dear to me were killed because of you…" I whispered, bringing the dagger close to his neck.

"You think it'd be that easy to kill me?" he mocked me, boring his black eyes into mine.

"It might not be, but I'll happily die trying…" I replied, slicing his throat without another thought.

Marcus fell on his back as blood oozed from the cut on his neck. Soon enough, he coughed, choking by his own blood.

"You can't bring them back…" he made fun of me once again.

I kneeled beside him, shrugging, "I know, but at least I will fulfill their last wish by killing you…"

As these words left my lips, I thrust my hand inside his chest. My fingers wrapped around his throbbing heart, and I felt his heartbeat accelerating. I couldn't help the cunning smile that formed on my lips.

"Don't tell me you're scared," I mocked him.

He coughed blood but nevertheless smirked. "You'll never forgive yourself…"

A few stray tears ran down my face as his words registered on my mind. "I might not, but at least I'd have killed you…"

Without another thought, I pulled his heart out and dropped it right next to me. I stood up and drew my sword, slicing his neck completely.

Sobs and desperate cries left my lips as I kneeled once again and stubbed the hybrid's heart with Lucas' dagger repeatedly. It was made of iron; thus, it overpowered the Phoenix's regenerating abilities.

A gasp escaped my lips when a pair of strong arms wrapped around my upper body, stopping my movements. I must have let the protecting circle of fire die down without even realizing it. Turning around, I saw Alexander hugging me tightly. He was also covered in blood, but the scratches he had were almost healed.

"Is he dead? Did I manage to kill him?" I yelled, tears and blood running down my face.

"He's dead, Ophelia. You did it, angel…" Alexander whispered soothingly.

"They're dead, Alex. I couldn't protect them…" I sobbed in his arms uncontrollably.

"It's not your fault, angel. As your father once said, sacrifices must be made…"

I shook my head and pulled back to look at him. "Where are the others? Are they okay?" I asked, trying to stand back up on my feet.

"They're okay; I killed Robert King. Alpha Blackwood and his wolves are taking care of the remaining vampires," Alexander informed me.

"Are you alright?" I asked, feeling his agitation.

"I am, now…"

I smiled at him weakly and turned around to burn Marcus' body, letting the dagger pinned at his heart. I didn't want anything to remain from that monster…

With a determined look, I pulled Alexander towards the ongoing battle. There weren't many vampires left, but it was my responsibility to kill them.

Alpha Blackwood was the first to approach us, "What happened?" he asked after he changed back into his human form.

"It's done; I killed him…" I replied, and I watched him sigh in relief.

"Thank you, Ophelia. Please, allow me to kill the rest of these bastards…" he offered, bowing slightly at me.

"No, I don't want anyone else to get injured. I shall end it now. Please, Alpha, go with Alexander and assist anyone who needs medical attention. Alexander can heal some of them," I ordered the two men.

I watched them nodding, and I fell on my knees, pressing my hands on the ground. A purple fire started from my fingers and formed small trails chasing every single vampire, and I burned all of them alive.

All our allies ceased whatever they were doing to watch the end of that epic war.

In a matter of a few minutes, all the rogue vampires were dead, without anyone else getting hurt.

My eyes snapped open to see my mother and grandfather standing in front of me. They had a proud smile on their lips, and I faintly could hear the loud claps and the cheers from our remaining allies.

The spell and all the previous fight had drenched all my powers. A sob escaped my lips when I tried to talk, and my mom hugged me tightly.

"You made them happy and proud, Ophelia. Please, don't blame yourself…" my mom tried to comfort me.

"Are you all okay?" I asked in between my cries.

"We're good, angel. We had a sip from Alexander's blood," she replied to me, and I knew she was scratching up her nose.

"How about Chris and David?" I asked and pulled back to look at her.

The tears couldn't stop running down my face, but I needed to know about the others.

"You can't get rid of us that easily," Chris joked, and I sighed in relief, seeing both of them looking okay.

"I need to see him…" I murmured as new tears welled up in my eyes.

Papa Peter exchanged a concerned look with my mother. They couldn't stop me. So, at last, they led me towards the place where they had left Ethan's body.

"Oh, Ethan…" I breathed out when my eyes fell on his pale face.

My legs couldn't keep my weight anymore, and I kneeled beside him, taking his cold hand in mine. He was covered in blood, cuts, and bruises were formed all over his handsome face. I ran my hand through his dirty blonde hair, staring at his closed eyes. These emerald green eyes I loved so much, and I was now forced not to gaze at them ever again…

"It shouldn't be you, my love…" I sobbed, leaning forward to peck his lips.

"I should have died in your place. It was my battle to give, Ethan…" I whispered, caressing his cheek.

If only Moon Goddess could now take me instead of him. I had fulfilled my destiny; I had killed Marcus. But Ethan hadn't! He had a whole life waiting for him; he couldn't just die in this battle. I couldn't let him die…

If only my tears and my pleas were enough to bring him back…

And then I remembered the Moon Goddess' tears, and my fingers moved automatically to my necklace. With trembling hands, I unclenched the pendant and looked at it carefully. Papa had said to me that I'd know the moment I must use it.

And at that moment, I couldn't think of a better solution...

"Ophelia, stop!" my mom yelled, taking me by surprise.

I turned to look at her, my vision blurry from all the tears and the tiredness.

"You can't do this. There is no way to bring him back…" she tried to reason with me.

"There is, mother, and you know it…" I replied, my voice steady and confident.

"Do you think he would want to live eternally without you, angel?" my mom asked me once again.

Her words took me by surprise…

All the memories I had with Ethan suddenly flooded my mind: our first encounter, our dates, the many nights we spent together, and the multiple pleasure he gave me. The way his emerald green eyes looked at me with so much love and affection would be carved in my heart and mind forever.

I knew how much he loved me, and he had to die for me to understand how much I loved him…

The question at hand popped in my mind once again. Could Ethan forgive me? Would he be able to live the rest of his life without me?

I was willing to try, I wanted to make this sacrifice, and I only hoped he could understand and forgive me…

My eyes met Alexander's grey ones. We could communicate all too well without words. He simply nodded, and I saw a small smile spreading on his lips. He wanted my happiness, and I could never be happy knowing that Ethan was dead…

"I need to try, mother. Please, forgive me…" I muttered and turned to look at her once again.

My mom was crying, and it was David that came to hug and comfort her.

I placed the necklace between my palm and Ethan's before I laced our fingers together. My eyes fell on every one of my loved ones, saying a silent goodbye to them.

My last words fell off my lips, and I smiled softly. "Just tell Ethan that I love him. I love you all so much, always remember that…"

And then I was consumed by the brightest silver light I'd ever seen…

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A.N. Thanks for reading! One more chapter and the epilogue left to be published. As always, please let me know your thoughts in the comments!