Chapter 109: Good Bye…

***Albert***.

I see Selene and another girl, who I presume is the oracle’s granddaughter. Both strapped to a table. Runes on the table glow brightly, and the open sky above is swirling with glowing mist of red and blue. 

I ignore everything, my eyes catching Alia in the back ground. She sees me and hides. 

“Welcome, Alpha Vampire! We’ve been waiting for…”

“Cut the bullshit and give me my wife this instant. It’s me you want. Let her go!” I bark.

Fuming. Strapping Selene like a lamb to a slaughter. She lays there, limp. She doesn’t even see me. I fear the worst as I march briskly to her. I pull my gun and shoot the chains. They fall with a loud clank. 

“You cannot do this to people! Having them strapped like animals. I walk to the other woman and shoot her chains. She’s equally limp.

“You’re interrupting their sacrifice, Albert! Don’t!” I hear Alia.

“Shut up, Alia! Don’t even speak!” 

“Enough of all these!” I hear behind me.

I turn and see the man, who had been standing between the women. He lifts his hands up and begins chanting. The other cloaked people in the room chant as well.

All of a sudden. The mist grows thicker and the entire hall grows hot. I grow warm, taking off my coat and gloves. My all black garb, suddenly feels too hot.

“Why…is it…It’s hot.” I mutter, breathlessly.

“It’s the power of Lava. The goddess has given us power to weaken you.” The man darkly reveals. 

My body breaks out into sweats. My strength draining from me, as I struggle to breathe. The air suddenly feels suffocating as I pant. My breath is ragged. 

*Water…I need water…* 

I mutter to myself as my knees buckle beneath me. Too weak to hold my weight. I double, clutching myself, as I slowly fall to the ground. 

Selene…Isabel.

I don’t hear anything. Even my shadows have all abandoned me. Only the echoes from the man’s evil cackle, fills my mind. Breaking into my thoughts. My eyes take in the sight of molten magma surrounding us. The heat erupting from the flames, scorching, as I slowly slip into the darkness that beckons.

*Selene. Am sorry I couldn’t save you. Am sorry I couldn’t love you enough…*

*** 

“Albert…” I mutter repeatedly, turning my head.

I heard his voice just now. He’s here. I need to see him. I force my eyes open, squinting to see amidst the fumes and smoke that surrounds us. 

Smoke.

I cringe inwardly, from the heat of molten that surrounds us. I see Albert lying on the floor. His body perspiring. I struggle to a sitting position and see my arms and feet are free.

I climb down the stone slab, the dank smell on it, making me nauseous. I stagger to Albert, kneeling beside him. 

“Albert…Albert…Wake up.” I shake him.

He doesn’t even flinch. His body is burning up. The entire air hot and stifling. I cough from the heat. My body clammy with sweat. I push my lungs for some air and try to hold my breath, as I wake him again. 

“Albert. Albert, please wake up. You can’t leave us here. You can’t let us die here. Please. Please wake up. You have to wake up.” I cry, coughing. 

I hear someone laugh behind me. Alia. I refuse to even acknowledge her presence as she draws close. 

“Oh…Too bad the flames have weakened him. A vampire’s worst nightmare. They are unable to break free from the hold of the flames…”

“But they said they need him to unlock their world domination plan.” I cough again.

My breath wheezing as those twelve words take the breath out of me.

“Oh they do, Selene. Don’t waste your breath. This is only to torture him. Make him surrender.” Alia sneers. 

I fume. The sound of her voice infuriating me. I’ve had enough of her annoying evil jeers. I’ve had enough of her presence. I dart my eyes about and see the others are lost in a trance; completely oblivious of what’s happening. My body slowly weakens as the air in my lungs reach its limit. My body shudders at the exertion I’ve put in to breathe.

“Albert…Please, wake up…I’m not strong enough. Isabel needs you. I need you.” I cry, weakly.

I feel my pulse rate dropping, rapidly.

“He can’t hear you, doll. It’s too late. Am sorry you can’t reach his heart this time.” Alia sneers. 

I lay beside Albert, devastated. Am staring up at the open sky, with those swirls of blue and red still up in the sky. Despair takes over my entire body, tears falling from my eyes as I see Isabel and the hurt she would feel, knowing her parents died like this.

I know she would be hurt. I know she would never forgive me for never staying with her. 

I recall our fun moments together. The day I gave birth to her. How I first carried her in my arms. The first time she cried and how I felt. How my heart swelled with an unfathomable fount of joy.

I recall the first time Albert and I made love. The way he touched me. The kisses he gave me. I recall how I fell for him. The adoration I saw in his eyes; these last few days we’ve been together. I see his love.

“Oh Albert.” I breathe, content swirling inside me. Tears falling down my eyes. 

“I am so happy that I loved you. I’m happy that I found the true love Aaron spoke to me about. Am happy that you were able to surrender your heart to me. I’m happy you let me share this life with you. I’m so sorry that I didn’t understand you then. Perhaps I should have given you more time, so I could understand you. I’m sorry we won’t love each other anymore.” I sniff.

My eyes slowly closing.

“I love you, Albert. Good bye…”