Chapter 67 - Surprised by Three Mates

April POV

“That’s so awesome!” Viktor clapped his hands together in amazement.

“Aren’t you afraid to turn one of your mates to ash?” Beckett’s asked. I shook my head and giggled.

“Not really.. no. I honestly never even gave it a thought that that would happen. Besides, it’s pretty easy to control.” I said.

“Can you summon a dagger for me?” Viktor asked. I looked at mom who shrugged her shoulders. I was 10 when I started training really. She wanted us to learn early on how to defend ourselves.. because she never knew how until she was brought here to be with dad.

Viktor started training at the same age. But weapons.. aren’t really his thing. Somehow, some way.. he always ends up hurting himself. We always called him Maladroit Vik. Because he’s so clumsy with his weapons.

I closed my eyes and summoned a dagger. When I opened my eyes I saw the dagger with a flame blade.

“Goddess that’s so cool. I wish I could do that.” Viktor said. I walked over to him and handed him the blade. Everyone took several steps away from him as he held the blade in his hands.

“Hey, I’m not that bad with weapons,” Viktor said.

“Mm, yes you are.” Harlan retorted. (Harlan is Lanie's son)

He studied it, turning it over, and even made the idiotic decision to hold his finger to it.

“Ah fuuu-“ he looked back at mom how held a sour scowl on her face.

“Watch it.” Mom said.

“Sorry,” Viktor said sheepishly. He placed his bleeding and burned finger in his mouth and when he pulled it out, it had almost completely healed.

“Can I keep it?” Viktor asked. I looked at mom once again who nodded her head.

“Yes, but since the flame burns constantly, I will need you to keep it in a spelled box when not used.” Mom said.

“Deal,” Viktor said. He waved the dagger around a few times and sure enough, he dropped it and it landed on his foot. He quickly pulled his foot up and shook it. Luckily the blade hadn’t made full contact with his shoe.. otherwise.. he might not have half of his foot.

“Oops.” He chuckled as he bent down to grab the dagger.

Mom giggled and shook her head.

“I’ve finished it! It took forever but I finally finished it.” Josephine ran out of the back door with Lanie hot on her heels. She had the “God killer” in her hand and a big smile on her face.

“You did? You’re sure?” Alastair asked. She glared at Alastair and nodded her head.

“I’m positive. I thought it would take longer, but I figured it out.” Josephine said. She handed me the dagger and I inspected it closely. There’s definitely something different about it.

“So what exactly will it do? You never did explain it to us.” Klaus said.

“You just need to get close enough to sink it into her heart. Because of the book she uses.. the dark magic keeps her alive and almost immortal. Almost. When you stab her in the heart, her soul will attach itself to the dagger. When you remove the dagger, it will pull her soul out.. killing her indefinitely.” Josephine said.

“Where will it go? Her soul?” Mom asked.

“That’s where your gifts come in, April. You’ll have to turn the dagger to ash. If you don’t.. someone can release her soul and it will all have been for nothing.” She said.

“Okay, that’s simple enough,” I said. She nodded her head.

“I will stay and help you guys fight. I know you didn’t ask for it, but I figured you guys would take all the help you could get. Plus, she has something of mine that I want back.” She said.

“What does she have?” Lanie finally spoke up.

“Mom’s.. amulet,” Josephine said.

“Wait, the red one? The one mom always wore?” Lanie asked. Josephine nodded her head, she had a solemn expression on her face.

“Why do you care about that? Our parents are the ones who traded us off.” Lanie made a low growling sound as she thought back to that time.

“They didn’t have a choice, Lanie. You were too young to understand. They made a deal with John and they couldn’t uphold it. They never realized we would be slaves. They believed we would be wed to the elder John and his brothers.” Josephine snapped.

“As if that’s any better! 15 years of hell for what? When Gregory told me they died.. all of my hope of them saving me vanished. And instead, it was replaced with hatred for what they did.”Lanie said. Her eyes were filled with tears and her pale face was no longer pale.. but instead beet red. Her voice was laced with her Lycans, she was close to shifting.

“Lanie.. I know. None of us had it easy. I know you don’t care for our parents. But I do. I haven’t forgiven them, but I still.. I just need that amulet back.” Josephine said.

“What’s so special about it? How did Catherine get her hands on it anyways? Mom never would’ve let her take it. They kept me in the dark about the coven. I didn’t even know I came from a line of witches! Mom loved that amulet.. she wore it constantly.” Lanie said.

“Catherine is the one who killed them. All for that damned amulet. I’ve watched her for years trying to find the right moment.. she wears it every single day. It’s not just a normal necklace, Lanie. It carries the souls of our entire coven. Our family. I know you didn’t know them.. but I did. The night our parents were murdered, was the night Catherine tried to take over the coven. The entire coven did a spell to put their souls into the amulet. I want it back so that they can be released. Lanie.. some of them were children.” Josephine said.

“I didn’t realize..” Lanie said.

“I know you hate our parents. But they gave their lives to save over 2 dozen people.” Josephine’s voice was soft and sad.

“I’ll help you get it,” I said. Josephine looked up at me in shock.

“If I have to get close enough to kill her, I will be close enough to get back the amulet,” I said.

“I would be in debt to you.” She said. I shook my head.

“I’m not asking for anything in return. As long as Catherine dies and her reign of terror ends.. I’ll be content.” I said.

“Okay, so stab the witch, take the amulet, disintegrate her. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.” Alexei said. His Russian accent made what he said absolutely hilarious. I choked out laughter as he looked at me questionably.

“What you made it sound funny,” I said after I caught my breath.

“Well. It’s not actually easy peasy. She has witches at her side, along with some wolves, Lycans, vampires, and even humans. All with the promise to bring back their loved ones.. they won’t make it easy to get to her.” Josephine said. I sighed loudly.

“We also have Lycans, witches, vampires, wolves, humans.. and to top that off, we have the forsaken, April, and Queen Genevieve,” Alastair said.

“You’re right about that. But these people are willing to die to give their loved ones second chances.. maybe we could bait her.” Mom said.

“With me,” I said. Mom shook her head.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” Mom said.

“She wants me. And the dagger. It’s perfect.” I said.

“She also wants me, April.” Mom said.

“You’re not thinking to be bait, are you?” I asked, wide-eyed.

“I’m the reason she’s doing any of this. I’m the one who took my grandfather's life.” She said.

“But he told you to! It’s not your fault that it had to be done.” I said.

“You’re right.. but it’s still me she’s after.” Mom said.

“I’m not letting you,” I said.

“I’m not giving you the choice, April. I can distract her long enough for you to get close.” She said.

“April, you’re pregnant. Your mom is stronger than anyone else in this world. Besides, Catherine can’t kill her without the dagger. Your mom can distract her, we can get you close enough to bury that dagger in her back. In her heart. Then it will be over.” Klaus said. I didn’t bother to respond as I tried to come up with other ideas. There’s no way they’d let me take moms place and be the bait.

“Josephine and I will come up with the perfect plan. We will fill you in when we figure it out.” Mom said Josephine nodded her head in approval.

“It will be okay, she won’t be able to hurt your mom as long as you have the dagger,” Josephine said. I sighed and rubbed my forehead.

“And if it fails?” I asked.

“We will figure it out. Just continue working on your powers, we have two weeks to figure out a plan a, and a plan b is plan a fails.” Josephine said.

“Fine,” I said. I grabbed my things off the ground and sighed.

“I have a headache. I’m going to go rest for a while.” I said.

“Okay..” mom said. She kissed my forehead and let me go.

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“I don’t know if I can let mom do it,” I said.

“April, she can’t be killed without the dagger,” Alastair said.

“But that doesn’t mean she can’t hurt her.. use her against me.. you don’t understand. Catherine is strong. Very strong and powerful. We don’t know exactly what she’s capable of. She could have a fallback plan too.” I said.

“I know you’re worried, love. It will be okay.” Alexei said. He pulled me closer to him and I laid my head on his chest.

“We will figure it out, okay? We have the upper hand here. We have the dagger and a massive army. We also have you. You will be the one to end this.” Klaus said. He rubbed my back and I yawned.

“I need to rest,” I said. I felt Alexei’s gift pour over me.. my brain was foggy and my eyelids were heavy.

“Just rest. We will work it out.. we have time.” Alexei whispered. He kissed my forehead and I disappeared into the darkness called sleep.

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