Diedrek

We have been walking for a few hours before the foul smell hits us. It's the smell neither of us have had in our world in many years. Not since, the three witch sisters had disposed of the black book. It's the only book, that a vampire who used to be a witch can use.

Something about them no longer having a soul, but if we can get that book away from Aurora, she will be limited on her strength and speed. No longer wielding powers that a mortal witch has. That's one of the first things we really need to do. Get the book out of her hands, and somehow get it to Constance.

"You two really think you can do this without a witches hand?" Think of the devil and she will appear. I smile to myself at the thought of my best friends older sister. Both our heads whip around to face her. I don't feel surprised at all that she is here, the look on Darius's face on the other hand tells a different story.

He is both shocked to see his older sister here, and from the look in his eyes he's not too happy about this new development. He turns his body completely to face her, his legs spread out, arms crossed over his chest, eyes squinted into slits. Instead of phasing her, she only laughs out loud at the look he's giving her.

With a shrug of her shoulders, and a spring in her step, she walks right up to join us further into the shadow of the trees. "Don't worry, you won't even know I'm here." She winks at her younger brother with a bright smile on her lips.

"You shouldn't be here in the first place." Darius grunts out.

She opens her mouth to say something, but another quieter voice beats her to it. "Well, you both shouldn't have left by yourselves." Out of the shadows of the night, walks my cousin Satine. Her shoulders slumped as she took in the look on my face. I cannot believe she is here.

My eyes turn to Constance, an accusatory look held deep within. Although, the last couple days I have been growing immensely more powerful, as I changed my mate to join me in the vampire life, she still looks unaffected.

"You may be all powerful, as you are half witch, but I know a lot more about the black book and dark magic than either of you ever will." Constance sticks out her hips, placing her hand there and raising her eyebrows.

If I didn't know her better, I would think the stance was almost adorable in a child like way, but since I know her all too well, I know she means business. No matter what Darius or I say right now, she will do as she wishes. Which is something she has always done.

"Satine," I face my cousin. Going for intimidation more than anything right now. It's the one thing I have on my side when it comes to her. I cannot have her going on this mission with us. Alaric and Rowland are too familiar with her terror, they crave that when it comes to her.

It's as though, the more fear that emanates from her body, the more sadistic they become. If something does go wrong, I can see those two gunning for her. They will take her away, and who knows what they will do to her to clench their thirst for blood.

She wraps her arms around her middle, her head down, as she scrunches her feet against the ground. "I know what you're thinking, but I need to be there when this goes down. I..." She sighs in frustration as she tries to work through her muddled thoughts. "There isn't a way I can explain it, so you understand." When she looks up, I see something I haven't seen looking back at me in years. Not since we were children. Determination!

"Even Constance tried to talk me out of this when I heard her get up from the blankets in the tent, we slept in. I followed her, as quietly as I could, but my vampire finesse was off, and I stepped on a stick. Perking her ears and giving me away." She bites her lip as she recalls the events of earlier tonight.

"She had been in front of me within seconds, her hands along my shoulders. Trying to shove me back, telling me with her eyes alone to go back to bed. That this is too dangerous for me to be following."

"She isn't wrong." I growl my voice low. I'm not pissed at her. I don't mean to sound disapproving and mean toward her. Judging by the flinch of her shoulders and the hesitant step back, that's exactly how my voice came out. I just cannot stand the thought of my brothers getting their hands on her, and me not being there to protect her.

My cousins eyes are begging me to understand. I look from her to Constance, then back once more. "What are you both feeling?" I need to know. Wanting to understand why these two feel the need to come with us on this dangerous journey.

"Hope." She whispers the one word so low, if I weren't a vampire there would have been no way I could have heard it.

"Both of us need to see them die. We need that hope that they can never live on and have a chance to hurt us again." Constance finishes the thought for her.

The conviction in their words has me staggering back. Looking from one to the other, I can't contemplate how afraid they have been all this time. Looking at Darius I see the same look of wonder held in his eyes. We suffered at the hands of our father's and my brothers as well, but nothing compared to the two strong women standing before us.

He nudges his chin in my direction. It's up to you, brother. You think the four of us can take them out? His words have me doubting this plan of mine. Turning away from them all, I walk to the nearest tree. Placing my hands along it, I rest my forehead, trying to catch my bearings. Honestly, I haven't a clue. I just know I cannot bare for Kyla to go into this battle.

Then allow the three of us to go into this battle with you. We together have a better chance at defeating the evils of this world than you do alone. The fact that Darius is all for this has me whirling around. Looking at the three vampires I have grown up with, the vampires I have watched endure some of the cruelest torture at the hands of the evil creatures I'm about to face.

Looking at each individual standing in front of me, I can see in their eyes how much they need this as much as I do. "Lets take them down once and for all." With a nod of each of their heads, we sniff out their scents. Knowing we are close by; we each head off on a run into the darkness of the night. The battle is soon approaching. Let us bring this war to an end before it truly begins.