Chapter 137 — Amends
Going back to where we left Ester hanging...
Ester’s heartbeat pounded in her ears as Briana's grip slowly loosened around her wrist.
The witch's mad eyes sparkled in the infernal light of the bubbling molten rock. Ester felt the heat licking at her back, the ominous glow of the abyss growing closer as she slipped. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she fought it down, focusing on her rage.
Just then, a flash of silver sliced through the twilight. Briana's eyes widened in shock, and her grip loosened completely.
Ester was almost in the inferno when two hands grabbed her and pulled her up, effortlessly. She
twisted free, stumbling back.
For the split of a second, Ester's heart had hoped it was Sebastian but not. He probably still hadn't figured out where she was.
It was Elara. She had materialized beside her, “Back off, bitch!”
Ester had forgotten, she too was headed for the same destination.
Elara snarled, her blade gleaming as she slashed at Briana. The witch staggered, a cut blooming across her arm.
Briana laughed, though her voice was strained. “You think a mere knife can stop me? You’re both fools!”
Elara’s eyes were steely. “Try me!”
The girls exchanged nods.
With a swift, coordinated movement, Elara and Ester lunged at Briana. The witch retaliated with a burst of dark energy, but Elara's agility and Ester's brute strength were too much.
They overpowered Briana, shoving her towards the edge of the abyss. The witch snarled, her eyes blazing with dark energy. She thrust her hands forward, a crackling bolt of dark magic shooting towards them. Elara ducked low, her reflexes razor-sharp, while Ester barreled through the blast, the force of her rage fueling her strength.
Elara rolled to the side, springing to her feet with grace. Ester circled around, eyes locked on Briana. Briana twisted, trying to fend off both attackers at once. She sent another bolt of dark energy at Ester, but Ester was ready. She dodged to the side, the blast narrowly missing her and scorching the rocky ground.
“Go to hell,” Ester hissed, and with a final, mighty shove, she hurled Briana over the edge.
Briana screamed, her hands clawing at the air as she teetered on the edge. “You’ll regret this! Selene will rise, and you’ll all perish!” she spat, her voice echoing with unearthly power. Her scream echoed through the chasm as she plummeted into the churning molten rock below. For a moment, everything was silent except for the bubbling lava and the distant rumble of the volcano.
Ester bent over her knees, trying to catch her breath when suddenly the ground beneath them shook violently as the volcano began to erupt. Fire and ash spewed into the sky, and the heat increased rapidly.
Elara grabbed Ester’s arm. “We’ve got to move, now!”
“F*ck! This whole place is coming down!” Ester shouted over the roar.
Ester and Elara sprinted away from the inferno, dodging falling debris and navigating the treacherous terrain with desperate speed.
Elara glanced back, her face grim. “We need to find cover, fast!”
Their feet almost sunk as the ground melted, Ester morphed as she picked Elara up on her back, leaping with her lycan till they reached stable ground.
Both women fell on their feet and lay down on the cool ground, heaving.
But Brianna was gone. So was their lead. They had survived but they had failed.
“ Damn! ” Ester rolled on her back, beating her hand over the ground. “ Should have tortured that witch till she opened the doors of the netherworld for us! Damn! ”
“ She didn't have the power to do so, Ester. Don't beat yourself up. Only Selene is able to achieve that feat but if she did, it would be game over. She would immediately take over David's daughter… I mean your niece! ”
Ester turned the other way.
Just then, a shimmering form appeared out of the corner of Ester's vision.
The original lycan, her father’s lycan spirit, emerged from the shadows,the form she hadn't seen in ages, holding a small, wailing bundle. Ester’s baby niece was cradled in his arms, safe and sound.Ester and Elara gaped at him, disbelief etched across their faces.
Ragnar's eyes were soft as he approached.He was very unlike himself.He gently handed the baby to Ester, his movements careful and gentle. "Take her, Ester. She’s safe now.Get her back home.”
Ester’s hands trembled as she took the baby, cradling her close, instinctively checking her breathing out of mistrust even though she had just heard her crying. "Wh... what’s going on?”
Ragnar sighed, his gaze distant. "I needed to make peace with myself. Watching myself get twisted into a lowly bloodsucker, bending to the whims of the Darkness... it drove me crazy. You know very well how your old man hates being controlled. I had to do something about it. ”
Elara watched from the sidelines as Ester stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "So, what now? You’re just gonna leave? Where to? "
Ragnar nodded, a sad smile on his lips. "Your mother... She agreed to forgive me, to help me find peace. Maybe we will be kicking some ass in hell. Rule it. Let's see how it goes. I can always come back… you know, if it gets boring… ” Ester knew he was lying. He looked nervous, weak. He took a step forward and affectionately touched her cheeks.
“ Your mother gave me such beautiful children. All I gave her was pain. I’m sorry for everything, Ester. For Samuel, for what I did to you."
Ester’s eyes filled with tears.She understood he was bidding farewell, possibly the final one, “Father, I…”
Ragnar placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch was warm and comforting. "I love you, Ester. Be strong. Take care of her."
With that, he pressed a kiss to her forehead and began to fade, his form dissolving into the air.
Ester’s breath hitched as she watched him disappear. She broke down, her knees buckling as she clutched her niece tightly. "No... don’t go...we need to talk…about so much…father…"
Elara knelt beside her, placing a hand on her back. "Ester... he’s at peace now. We need to get back. This place is not safe for this little one. And it's just the two of us. We need to hurry.”
The baby started to cry, her tiny voice piercing the heavy silence. Ester wiped her tears and took a deep breath. "Yeah. Let’s get her home. We’re gonna get her home."
Elara grinned back. "Damn right we are. Let’s get moving, hero.”
***
As Ester and Elara walked away with the baby, their steps quickened.
They did not notice another tiny bundle lying not far from them. Hidden in the shadows, the baby’s whimpers echoed softly, barely audible over the dying roar of the volcano.
From the darkness emerged a hooded figure, its presence cloaked in an unnatural chill that seemed to swallow the heat of the molten rock. The figure’s hands blazed.
With a movement almost too swift to be seen, the figure swooped down, its blazing hands closing around the crying infant. The baby’s wails intensified, the sound mingling with the crackle of the spectral flames.The hooded figure turned, its eyes glowing a sinister red beneath the dark hood. Without a sound, it began to retreat into the shadows.The baby’s cries grew fainter as the figure disappeared into the inky blackness.
***
The Lycan Castle -
“No... it can't be," he whispered, his voice cracking.
David stood in the doorway, his eyes widening in shock as Ester walked in. For a moment, he was frozen, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Ester stepped forward, gently placing his daughter into his arms. The moment his hands touched her, David’s breath hitched, and he cradled the baby close, tears streaming down his face.
"My baby... my sweet baby girl," he murmured, his voice choking with emotion. He sniffed her as he held her close, his hand trembling,lips quivering with overwhelming joy. He held her tightly, his body shaking with sobs. "I thought I’d lost you forever.”
Without another word, he turned and sprinted down the hallway, his footsteps echoing through the castle as Ester and Elara followed, immediately sensing something wasn't right.
David burst into the room where Aria lay on life support, her pale face barely visible beneath the tangle of tubes and wires. He carefully placed their baby beside her, his hands still shaking. "Aria, please," he pleaded, his voice breaking. "Our baby is here. Please, wake up. She needs you.”
Ester stood in the doorway, stunned and silent as she took in the sight. She hadn't known Aria was unwell and suddenly seeing her like this was a shock.
David knelt beside the bed, tears streaming down his face as he continued to whisper to Aria, his words a heartfelt plea.
“ David, what happened? ”
Elara stepped in. She could sense the lingering residual energy in the castle.
It took David a great deal of effort to tell them everything that had happened.
Finally, Elara heaved a sigh.
“ She is doing a commendable job. It's a miracle she is still breathing. Selene had literally hatched her soul onto her. Aria ripped her own soul to save her daughter… ” After a pause, Elara added, “Guess that's how mothers are! ”
“ Does that mean… ” David was staring at Aria's chest, barely heaving with the help of the machines. His throat formed a big lump, almost impossible to swallow. He was about to choke on his own words when the Calico cat came at his feet and began purring, nudging him with her head.
“ It means nothing! Step aside, David! I can help! Where did you get this cat from? ”
Elara picked up the kitty in a matter-of-the-fact manner, “ This is Bastet! Girl, what are you doing here? ”