chapter 68

ARIELLA.

Eli and I were still holding hands when we reached the entrance to the town. David was there, looking at us with his sinister smile. We could also see his people behind him. There were about fifty of them, including his family members. Normally, the sight would have already frightened me. But not anymore. With my necklace with me and Eli beside me, I could feel that we were evenly matched.

I saw Julian and Blaire in their midst, but Blaire didn't look like she wanted to be there. David's parents were there too, and to me, they were the most dangerous other than David himself just because they were older and wiser. I knew that Lucas, David's father, could read minds so he might pick up on our game plan. David's mother, on the other hand, seemed to have an ability connected with flames since I saw her make fire orbs back when she welcomed me to their family. And Julian, I don't know what his ability is, but according to Blaire he was the third strongest vampire after David and Aurora so he was still a threat at least for the other werewolves.

The only missing family members there were the two young lads who I was glad weren't here. Even if those boys were both vampires too, they were still children and they didn't show me any kind of hostility when I met them back at the cavern. In fact, they were so innocent and kind that I felt bad that I hated them the first time I met them. Other than them, the rest were all lower-class vampires who lived here in New Forks.

"Here they go," Eli muttered. "Are you ready, Ariella? David will surely come for you as soon as possible so we have to stick to our plan."

I nodded and prepared myself too. I was aiming for David's head too so when some of our members howled loudly, it was the signal to advance. The vampires did the same after a count of three, with delight on David's face etched like he already claimed his victory. Julian went first but Alpha Ross stopped him midway. They clashed and Julian had the upper hand. But Father joined them and it became a two versus one battle.

I heard Julian cackle over that when I ran past him. "Look at this! The two alphas are fighting me. Should I be honored?"

"Shut up and fight!" Alpha Ross bellowed and the last thing I saw were the two of them exchanging blows. I ran to meet David who managed to attack some of our members with just the flick of his hand. I groaned as he did the thing we were so alarmed with. His ability was so troublesome.

Some vampires headed for me but they were either restrained by my necklace or Eli shot them with his new weapon--- a crossbow. He was still beside me and he aimed for anyone who dared to pounce on me. The arrows he used were laced with explosives that he personally crafted so every time he hit a target, they would explode. Everyone who saw Eli's first victim explode into tiny pieces was stunned by his weapon. Our side cheered at him while the vampires looked alarmed.

David saw Eli's potential so he quickly went for him. It was my cue to step forward and do my own thing. I blocked David from going after Eli, but David was physically stronger so he was able to push me aside. I was caught off guard by that because instead of attacking me while I was on the ground, he still went for Eli.

With one wave of his hand, Eli was frozen to the spot, unable to move any part of her body. "Eli! Go away!" I yelled but it was too late. David moved in a blur, and in the blink of an eye, he was already lifting Eli in the air with his ability. He was trying to choke him. "You are very resilient, werewolf. I have to give you that," I heard him say to Eli with a mad cackle. "Weren't you already dying when you got out of my cavern? How the hell are you still alive?"

Eli could not even struggle against David’s psychic powers. He was gasping for air but I was sure that he was having a hard time. "Y-You... underestimated... the power of our m-mating bond!"

"Of course. How did I forget about that? Mating bonds heal your body faster than normal. I agree. I underestimated you guys. I should have killed you that time so that you won't heal anymore. That way, Ariella and I will finally conceive a baby."

"You bastard---!"

I got up and went for them but someone else got there before me. A large wolf attacked David, causing him to drop Eli to the ground. The wolf bit David on his shoulder, but David countered it with a blow to the wolf's neck.

"Father!" Eli yelled in horror. So it was his father who saved him from David. The Vampire King seriously injured Eli's father, scaring both Eli and me. But there was an opening because of that, so I took the chance and pulled Eli out of the way, then told him to get away from here as far as possible.

"No, Ariella. I'm not going away. Not when David's after you."

"He will not kill me so you don't have to worry! But he will try to kill you! So you have to follow our plan!"

"But Ariella---"

"No more buts, Eli," I said and pushed him as far as possible with my powers. He slid away and got lost in the fog while I fought every vampire around me that tried to go after him. I was already terrified by the fact that David almost killed Eli. I wouldn't survive if Eli actually died here so I had to push him away just like what we had planned. Our plan was for him to stay on the sidelines, shooting the vampires as our sniper so I had to make sure that Eli followed the plan.

When I made sure that he was safe, I ran back to David and saw that he just gave Eli's father a finishing blow. The poor wolf fell to the ground with a broken neck and I screamed in horror. "No!"

I went for David but he saw me running to him. He was laughing like a maniac, and to my surprise ran away from me like a child. But I was already enraged even though I found his move suspicious. I went after him as he got inside the fog too. I couldn't see anything inside the thick fog. Eli told me that New Forks was known for its fog because it was close to the wildlife reserve, but this fog was so unnatural that I suspected it. One of the vampires must have the ability to make this fog and we had not paid attention to it because we thought that it was just normal.

I walked in the fog looking for David, but I still couldn't see anything. I could hear the noises of the battle behind me, but that was it. And then as I walked further into the fog, I saw a child on the ground. It was Lawrence, David's younger brother and he looked injured so I rushed towards the poor kid.

But that was my poor mistake because as soon as I touched him, I was sent flying to the sky, spinning like a frisbee. When I landed back on the ground, I noticed that I was in a different place already. "No..." I said, panicking because I just realized what happened. Lawrence could send people to a different place! That was how Eli managed to get inside David's cavern! And now David used his younger brother to lure me here!

I then jumped from fright when I felt a hand touch mine. It was David, and he was using his ability to restrain me. "Thank you for taking the bait, Ariella. Now it's only me and you here."