chapter 85

ARIELLA.

I was running as fast as I could because I couldn't let David and his butler get to the building where Blaire and the others were. I realized that their lives wouldn't only be the ones put in danger, but also mine. Once David and Viel get in there, I could no longer follow them there as that would potentially make me and my other self see each other. And I can't risk that. That's why I have to get to those two evil vampires first.

It was a good thing that Eli didn't notice that I was more than panicking. He just ran with me out of the forest. As luck would have it, we saw David and Viel walking like tourists in the direction of the abandoned building. I yelled at them to make them stop. "Hey, vampires! Where are you going?"

Eli was surprised at what I did because I admit it looked pretty stupid. We could have ambushed them from behind, but I was so scared that they would reach the building first so I did what I did. And of course, the two vampires heard me so we all stopped walking and running and faced each other. Eli and I were just a few steps away from them.

"Oh! If it's not Ariella and her mate! We didn't see you there!" said David who was very happy that he found us. "And where did you come from? Did you have a romantic walk in this cold, lonely place?"

"Shut up. We're not here to exchange banters with you. Listen up, Vampire King. I guess it's the perfect time to end this war between us for once and for all. Let's fight and see who'll win."

David and Viel looked at each other after hearing my speech. They both looked amused at what they heard from me. It might have pissed Eli because he followed me with his own shots. "Surely, by this time you have finally learned not to underestimate us, right?” he said to the vampires. “Especially Ariella. How many times has she already escaped from you?"

David's smile vanished. "She escaped from me because I had traitors in my camp and always had help from others..."

"No, David. She escaped from you because she's strong and you underestimated her. Talk about being the Vampire King who's supposed to be the strongest vampire on this continent. But you can't even kill me or Ariella. You're a lousy vampire whether you admit it or not."

"You dare?" said David whose stare was now murderous. He actually got pissed from Eli's taunting. "You dare talk to me like that, lowly werewolf? You, who can't even protect your mate?"

"Yeah, I have my downside too. But at least I managed to kill every vampire that I fought with, like your parents. And your brawny brother."

That was the last straw for David. He suddenly charged at us at full speed and it was my cue to run back to the forest. Eli followed my lead but he was confused that now we're going back inside the dark forest. I saw David pointing his hand at us as we ran, possibly trying to use his ability on us but we must've been too far away for his power to reach us. "Just run, Eli! Let's bring them farther away from the others!"

"Okay! Stay close to me!"

I nodded. I then heard David calling at us from behind. Viel was still with him and his hands had turned into those snakes. "This forest is a dead end! The lake is what lies on the other side! You have nowhere else to go!" he jeered. We were doomed if it was true, but there was no more going back from this. Because this is it--- the beginning of the end.

"Ariella, don't leave my side, I'm going to give them hell!" said Eli who took something out from his belt. I saw that it was that familiar flask where the potion that Emma had given him before.

"No! Eli, I don't think that your body could still endure the after-effects of that potion! You have already drunk so much of it!"

"I know, but our enemies are ridiculously strong. Without this, I'm dead meat."

"But, Eli—"

"Don't worry, Ariella. I'll be fine. Emma tweaked this potion to lessen the side effects."

"Really?"

"Yeah. So stay close to me. I want to protect you," he said as we dashed through the trees. We found a spot where we could stop and there, he drank the potion. I saw Eli transform into his wolf form in just a couple of seconds and the next thing I knew, he was guiding me into safety. It was also my turn to change the tides of the game. Right now, it looks like the vampires are about to corner us so I had to do something. I took out the two necklaces that now have become one from my pockets and talked to it as if it could hear me.

"Please give me the power to defeat these vampires," I whispered to it and then wore them around my neck. The heart-shaped pendant slightly bounced on top of my own heart. I suddenly felt some electric current flowing inside my body, but I could also swear that that was just my imagination.

"There you are!" said David, as he and Viel finally spotted us. Viel was wise to go around and attack us from behind, his snake hands biting Eli's left leg but to Eli that was just like an insect bite. David was about to charge at my mate again, but I blocked him using my body. He tried wounding us with his sharp fingernails that were as long as blades but for some reason he was pushed away by some force. Even Viel's attacks wouldn't go through Eli this time. "What is this? Some kind of force shield?"

I laughed inside because I knew what this was. The necklaces had protected Eli from them. Sensing that it was my chance to attack, I tried punching David. He was caught off guard because his attention was on Eli. But both of us didn't expect that my punch was so strong that he got blown away into the trees. There was a loud crash and a yelp of pain after it.

I realized that this was my time to push forward my attacks so I went after David. I saw him a few yards away from me. He hit a huge pine tree and was just starting to get up when I attacked him again. I didn't know how I did it but I was able to move like a gust of wind. I then hit David with a series of punches, kicks, and even slaps and I knew that all of them were at least a hundred times stronger than a regular punch or kick. Even my slap gave David trouble, knocking out some of his teeth.

He was so shocked by my sudden power spike, but he found a way to use his ability and lift me off my feet again. "You're done, Ariella! I didn't know where you got your strength, but it's over now! You'll choke to death if you don't beg me for mercy!"

He was laughing maniacally despite his bloodied face. I was indeed choking and was gasping for air. I saw him wave his hands again to send me crashing into one of the trees. I hit one tree, making me cough blood. But before I could even recover I was lifted back again, hovering in midair by my neck.

I then heard Eli growling, coming towards us. David's eyes bulged as Eli pounced on him in his wolf form. My mate came from above us and then landed on top of him. David fell to the ground and Eli bit off both his arms, disabling his ability!