Dear Journal,

I was nothing but the mud beneath their boots, the dust upon their shoulders, the scraps they fed to the hounds. But now, I am the very air they have to breath, the clothes upon their backs, the life they wish to live. I died a man and awoke as a god. I AM MORE and I'll make sure the entire world knows it.

                                                   - 𝓔𝓵𝓲𝓪𝓼 𝓢𝓽𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓮
(1605)

"What?" Elias asked, hoping that her words would change.

"Ready your sword."

"You cannot kill me, Genevieve." Elias told her.

"Do you think I don't know? About your enchanted ring that is? Magic has brought the sun out at the genesis of December. Nothing is impossible." She told him.

Elias's jaws clenched at the open threat, his hand seeming to grip the hilt of his sword tighter as he shifted his weight onto his left leg.

"You can't," Elias started, speeding to stand before her in less than a second, "kill me."

"We'll see about that." She threatened, withdrawing two large daggers from her bossom as she slashed at his face, an action he easily dodged.

Elias stepped back as he appraised the weapons, watching the silver metal glisten off of the marble floor.

"You really want to fight?" He asked, searching her face for hesitance.

When she didn't answer, he raised his sword to take his stance for a duel.

"I will fight, if that is what you want." He swiftly swung his weapon.

Had it been her past self; the old Genevieve who had a fear of butterflies and rabbits, she would have been dead. But the girl Elias had known and married was absent; replaced by someone with similar features and the ability to dodge the death blows of an incredibly fast vampire.

They circled each other, watching carefully to see if the other would strike. She attacked him first, showing no mercy as each jab was pointed to the head or heart. With every swing she made, Elias's heart broke even more, crushed that it had come to this.

His focus wavered for a moment and she successfully landed a hit, cutting him across the cheek to leave a gash in his face. He backed away from her as he touched the sizzling wound, staring at the blood that came off on his fingers.

It was not at all deep, so it should have been quick to heal but it didn't, making Elias squint at her in confusion.

She spun her daggers in her hand skillfully, pointing one at his face before smirking.

Elias swelled with anger as he began to attack her with aggression. He had to get serious as he soon realized that she indeed wanted to kill him. He swung his sword effortlessly as they danced around each other, parrying each others attacks and occasionally inflicting minor wounds that would have been fatal if not for their skill.

Elias pressed her hard, eventually backing her onto the wall as he knocked both daggers from her hands, dropping his sword to the ground as well as he held her arms above her, watching her chest rise and fall rapidly.

"Stop this." His voice was above a whisper as he rested his forehead against hers, both staring at her each others lips.

"I can't." She said, her voice cracking with sadness as she rested her hand on his chest, blasting him across the room with a ray of golden light.

Elias was sent hurtling across the marble floor, his chest steaming from the burning attack. He winced as he rose to his feet, bewildered by the violent nature of the strike.

Setting his gaze on Genevieve, he watched as she crumpled to the floor while clutching her head, groaning loudly from undeniable pain.

"Get out!" She shouted. It took a moment for Elias to realize that she was not referring to him.

"Are you alright, Gen?" He asked, wincing as he tried to approach her. The burn from his chest was still fresh as it also failed to heal.

"Stay back, Eli!" She ordered, sitting up straight as she groaned in agony.

"GET OUT!" She screamed again and at that moment, Elias realized who she was referring to.

He watched in horror as her face began to flicker, shifting between that of Odelina and herself as if it were an illusion.

Elias was left baffled at the sight before him, watching as Odelina's entire essence peeled itself away from Genevieve's body, separating the two women.

Once the detachment had completed, Odelina rose to her feet, her long black gown sweeping the floor as she walked away from the collapsed Genevieve.

"Genevieve!" Elias shouted, ignoring the witch as he made his way over to her feeble body.

Her cheeks had started to hollow, causing her to resemble a corpse while her beautiful blonde tresses turned into thin, silver wefts. Her skin had also began to wither, becoming gray and leathery as it returned to its decayed state.

"Eli.." she croaked, her voice seeming to leave along with her youth.

"Genevieve.." He caressed her boney cheek.

"I knew," she struggled to speak, "you were never unfaithful." She tried to smile but it came off as grimace on her thinning lips.

Suppressing his tears, Elias folded his lips before resting his forehead against hers once more.

"I love you," He told her, his voice cracking, "and I am so, so sorry."

"It's okay," She squeaked, "I love y..."

Elias's lips trembled as she failed to finish her sentence, the life leaving her body as it was replaced by an empty shell of brittle bones.

Allowing the tears to fall, Elias placed her delicately on to the floor before wiping his face and grabbing his sword as he rose.

"Sorry I couldn't turn her like you. She was not special so it was I who kept her going." Odelina said.

"It was you who killed her in the first place!" Elias raged.

"That is true as well, but her only crime was loving you." She said firmly.

"You're a bigger monster than I could ever be." Elias admonished.

Her eyebrows furrowed as her mouth turned into a frown, seeming to be hurt from his words. She turned to take her seat on the throne of bones, rubbing the femur filled arms of the chair as she closed her eyes.

"cincinno" she chanted, spelling the doors of the throne room shut.
(lock)

"Why have you done this? Why me?" Elias asked her, sick of the deafening quiet.

"I suppose I shall tell you, since this is the end." She said, opening her eyes to look at him.

"But first," she waved her index and middle finger towards the right side of room.

An unconscious Syrus appeared, suspended in the air. Though shocked by her action, Elias quickly sped over there to catch him before he could fall.

"Syrus," Elias called him, trying to shake him awake. "Syrus!"

His black, linen shirt had a hole towards his left breast, telling Elias that he had indeed been wounded. Syrus's golden eyes slowly opened to reveal his confusion, staring into the face of his maker.

"Eli.." Syrus whispered, whincing as he clutched his chest.

"I've got you, I've got you." Elias cooed, trying to sit him up slowly.

"Elijah was my lover." Odelina said, interrupting the vampire's reunion.

"I already know this bloody story." Elias spat at her.

"No," she tittered, "you do not."

Cocking her head to the side, she pursed her lips before speaking again. "You see, Elijah was the Vylisian's King."

"Wh- what?" Elias exclaimed.

"Thousands of years ago, Vylisians ruled the lands, long before the kingdoms were formed. They were the main predators of Europe because they had the power to conquer anywhere." She told them, tapping her fingers against the chair's arms.

"We fell inlove but ofcourse this was forbidden, so my coven, along with all the others decided to put an end to it. My name was Odelina the Gifted, I was next in line to become queen of the faes but my wretched mother who hated the Vylisians decided to punish me for what she described as treachery, so they killed him." She spat.

"It was a difficult task. He was a Vampire king after all but with ancient and forbidden magic, they achieved it, marrying me off to a disgusting human to suit their newly formed laws."

"Annora did not explain this much." Elias said, staring at her incredulously.

He did not think it was appropriate given the situation but Odelina laughed, rising from the throne as she made her way over to window that Genevieve previously stood.

"I bet." She shook her head.

Elias helped Syrus to stand as both vampires watched her gaze outside.

"You see Elias, the Vylisian king also had a queen. Her name was Celestria and she was destined to birth the next heir to the throne," Odelina turned to to them, "and she did."

It took a while for him realize what she was saying. It was her menacing eyes that drew him to the conclusion; she was referring to him.

"Me?" he frowned.

"Yes, you. Elias Steele, Vylisian Prince."

"B-but how?" He stammered.

"Well, the king and queen never loved each other. In order for the both of us to be together, I had to cast her out. I thought she had died but apparently she was saved by another fae, a fae who sealed away he and his son's powers with dreams of living a better life."

"My father?"

"You catch on quickly." She beamed at him.

It made sense to him now; the conversation his grandparents had that day. But were they even his grandparents? The story of his mother being a high born lady was not exactly a lie but his father being a foreigner was false. Everything he had known, everything he had been taught had been nothing but a ruse planted inside his head.

His father told him to be a man but he was everything but that. He only wanted Elias to live a normal life; a safer one. He wanted his son to survive. His heart stung as he thought of how his father's dreams had burned to ashes. This was far for normal or safe.

"But this happened a hundred years ago." Elias said.

"You've been alive for a very longtime yes. Your father's work ofcourse. He suppressed your memories well. It was only when he was dying that you actually began to mature. He would have you be a child forever if it was up to him."

"I still don't understand. What do you want? Why are you doing all of this?" He asked her.

"Because I've been wronged. Because my lover and child was murdered by own people. I want everything that the faes and humans have created to crumble." She said truthfully.

"But the faes have gone extinct according to Annora." Syrus finally chimed in.

"No, they haven't. I've put them all to sleep. When I had reanimated Elijah, I did something terribly wrong which is why it went sour. I needed sacrifices in order for him to rise and the Vylisians themselves who committed mass suicide were not enough. I had Zelda help in the fall of Selvalley. She was never a 100% loyal since she fell inlove with that half fae but her betrayal did not hinder the process. The covens will awaken upon my death and as fate would have it, the Vylisians will rise again just in time to destroy them." She said.

"What does this all have to do with me?" Elias asked.

"Your death is vital to my plan. It is only through your non-existence that Elijah will rise again." Odelina said.

"That was your plan all along? You never wanted me on your side, you wanted me dead? I've already died. Shouldn't your plan have worked?" Elias asked.

"You never died Elias, you were simply reborn. I just needed your father's spell to be broken and your heart had to be stopped for that. You would risen from the dirt yourself after a few hundred years but I needed you at that time. I incorporated the blood of the Lenoré coven to amplify your powers further so the sacrifice would have been sufficient. There can't be two kings Elias and now that I've seen you in your released state, I realize I can't take you in that form, you're too strong. The perfect blend of the fae and vampire." She said, descending small flight of stairs.

"But that is why I will give my life to bring you down. Once we fall, my followers will complete the rebirth of Elijah using our souls." She said, unbuttoning the front of her dress.

"Those rings my sister's and I have designed have a fatal flaw. They were not enchanted properly."

Elias used his body to shield Syrus's as he watched Odelina reveal a tattoo on her chest, the symbol resembling a sun.

"mortuum numquam moritura producere solem dabo sacrificio uri." She chanted, closing her eyes as her head raised to the ceiling.

(What is dead may never die, I give myself as sacrifice to bring forth the sun to burn.)

"No!" Elias shouted, recognizing the words of the spell.

Blinding yellow rays of light shot from Odelina's eyes and ears, destroying both the ceiling and the walls.

Elias could barely see as he noticed her body began to glow, swelling as the rays of light enveloped her.

He was sure that in that moment, he and Syrus were about to die and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

His mind strayed to all his woes, the people that had fought and died for him. It all been done in vain.

Grabbing Elias's hand, Syrus held it tightly as he appeared at his side while they gazed at each other.

"It's okay." Syrus said, freeing his mind so Elias could read it. "It was a pleasure being your junior."

Tears threatened to fall from both of their eyes as the rays that poured from Odelina's bursting pores shot at their skin, burning it.

Wincing, Elias turned to Syrus for a final word.

"Thank you." He mouthed, just before Odelina's body bursted into a ray of yellow light, igniting the entire room.

Elias closed his eyes as he welcomed the bright death with open arms, ready to spend all of entirety in the familiar dark abyss. No do overs, no rebirths, just stillness.

He was puzzled as to why he could still feel Syrus's pressured grip in his palm. Was the afterlife not something to be experienced individually?

"Open your eyes!" He heard a voice say but he was unsure if it was only his mind.

"Elias!"  The voice called, causing his eyes to shoot open to take in the pink barrier surrounding both him and Syrus.

As he looked to the sky he noticed the throne room had been destroyed, revealing the bright blue sky that accompanied the mysterious winter day time in Selvalley.

Turning infront of him, he and Syrus were in shock at the short silhouette of Emma who had her hands extended in the air as she tried not to break her focus.

It did not take them long to realize that she was the one that had created the barrier and her magic had saved them.

Odelina's rays thinned out to nothing shortly after, allowing Emma to drop the barrier.

"Emma.." Elias called at her, more grateful for the fact that she was here than the fact that she had rescued him.

Turning around, Elias was sure he would pass out as he appraised her body.

She wore a velvet red dress under a black cloak so it was not hard to see her largely protruding stomach.

Elias's eyes shifted between her and her swollen stomach, watching as she placed her hand on top os it, rubbing it lightly as smiled at his shocked expression.

"You're?" Elias tried to say.

Laughing, she nodded eagerly. His mouth stretched into a slight smile, his face lighting up with joy as they watched each other from a distance. Syrus was the first to rush to her, unbelieving as he placed a hand to her stomach.

"It's real, Eli!" He exclaimed joyfully. "Bloody hell!"

Emma's face fell to a frown as she looked pass Elias's face to something behind him.

"NOOOOO!" She shouted, but it was too late. Annora had ran Elias's sword through his heart, twisting it roughly.

"The sun is not the only way you can die." She said to him, pushing him forward as he spun around in a daze.

"Why?" Elias asked, frowning as blood threatened to choke him.

"Peace will reign through betrayal. I stand with my sister." Was all she said, just before Elias saw Syrus thrust an electrified hand into her chest, pulling out her heart.

Everything had happened so fast, yet Elias seemed to see it all in slow motion. His eyebrows knitted in confusion as pain rippled through his body, his vision blurring just before he felt himself collapse.

Syrus did well to catch him just in time as Emma rushed to his side.

The sword began to steam as the silver burned through Elias's heart, causing Syrus to wince as well.

Slowly, Syrus withdrew the weapon from Elias's chest, cradling him in his arms.

"This is all my fault! She attacked me and my company in the forest. I should have killed her then. This is all my fault." Syrus cried.

"No," Elias choked, coughing up blood. "It's not."

"I-I can help. I know a few healing spells. Don't worry!" Emma cried as she looked down at him. She began to chant immediately even though she knew there was nothing she could do.

Ever since their child had began growing, she could feel every emotion Elias was experiencing as they were some how connected through their baby but right now, as Elias's chest heaved dangerously, everything was fading.

"Sy-Syrus..." he struggled to say. "Take care, baby.."

"No! You're not dying on me. No!" Syrus cried.

"P-please." Elias begged.

Placing his head onto Elias's chest, Syrus silently winced as he felt Elias's heart giving out.

"Em-ma.." Elias said a little above a whisper.

She took his hand as tears flooded her face, placing it on her stomach. Immediately, Elias felt a small kick as he watched her face light up from the action.

"G-girl." He choked.

Emma's eyes widened with surprise at this revelation, wondering how Elias could tell.

"No, please." Syrus begged him. "You promised that you would come back to me, you promised!"

"I-I'm sorry." Elias said as Syrus and Emma grabbed his hand.

Elias could not help but find it ironic that his own sword in which he had picked specifically as a means to conquer his weakness that is silver had been used  to slay him.

He squeezed their hands forcefully before his grip loosened, his red eyes returning to their gold color before they gazed off at the emptiness of death.

"No, no, no, NO!" Syrus weeped.

What was incredible was that both he and Emma's auras, blue and pink respectively began to emanate grief from their bodies as they spread across the dying battlefield.

The few warriors that were left had ceased their fighting as they froze from the energy of despair that unfurled from the castle, lasting for about a minute before fading to allow everyone to move again.

Syrus had gone silent after a few minutes, resting Elias's body lightly on to the ground. His attention broke away from his maker's eyes when a single snowflake fell onto forehead, followed by another.

Looking to sky, he noticed the sun had gone home, replaced by a milk white atmosphere that shedded the snowfall of early winter. Odelina's spell had finally been broken as a result of her death, so the weather was returning to normal.

He turned his attention back to Elias, watching his lifeless gold eyes stare back at him while Emma whimpered lightly.

His heart was broken. He had never felt anything like this, not even in his death. He felt as if he too had departed and he was staring at his own corpse.

He had never been subjected to such despair, such agony, such crushing sadness in his entire life, not even when his father died.

Syrus stooped to the ground and picked up Elias's sword, positioning at his heart.

"No!" Emma shouted before chanting the word "bide" in latin.

Syrus's body froze, unable to move.

"Not you too." She lamented, more tears streaming down her face.

"What should I do then?" He asked lowly, "I can't be without him."

She was quiet for a moment, shifting her gaze between Elias and Syrus.

"Let's- Let's go home." She said lowly, closing Elias's eye lids.

"reditus" she chanted, their bodies disappearing into the ether.
(Return)

Well guys! That's it. The grand finale.

I know nothing turned out how you expected or wanted but that's what made it so great right?

Don't be sad, Rebirth will be back with another book and the title will be announced at the end of the epilogue next chapter!

Thank you all so much for willfully basking on this journey with me. I am so grateful and I hope you all truly enjoyed it.🥺❤️

Now it's time to edit for the Watty's! See you guys in book 2! ❤️