As soon as we slipped into the hall I heard a loud scream ring out in the air. It had begun.

    Beside me, the sibla man froze in terror at the sound. I almost felt pity for Kenrick. After all, he'd done nothing to deserve the punishment we devised for Dulane and his family. Then again, he was sibla himself. He'd come here to purchase my fellows for eventual slaughter. I could not simply overlook that truth. He could very well be just like all the rest at heart. For a moment I found my resolve to spare him wavering. I did not have to be the one to commit the deed. If I abandoned him now, the end would come quickly...

     But as I looked in his eyes I saw so much vulnerability. His expression was one of fear, but his gaze focused on me with trust just beneath. He'd chosen to put his life in my hands. I couldn't betray him so callously.

    I considered the layout of the estate carefully in my mind, mapping the whole of the house I knew so well, visualizing the possible routes we might take to avoid the others. Could I simply leave without goodbyes? It seemed wrong to do so. I had been their leader and the one who had enticed all to danger. We had already succeeded beyond my wildest hopes, how could I abandon the celebration and the danger that would follow? And yet the sibla man beside me needed my aide too. He was all alone, helpless without me.

    "This way," I whispered as another scream pierced my ears, high pitched and desperate. The others must have reached the Dulane children. Avaline's face flashed in my mind's eye. An image of her playing with my own child. Then a realization of how quickly she'd gone on to forget Mary so quickly, begging for a new pet as if my daughter was just a used up toy. Still, she and her younger brother hadn't deserved death for her father's sins. No more than Mary had deserved to pay for my indiscretions. I was glad the cries stopped almost immediately. With any luck, the children's deaths had been swift.

    Using the back staircase I managed to lead Magnus to a side door near the foyer. By now the sounds of shouting and gunshots were overwhelming. I smelled smoke leaking through the windows and filling the air with a crispness that reminded me of warm fires in winter but was all too obviously out of place given the season. I knew things would only be worse when we emerged outside.

    "Stay close to me and do exactly as I say," I commanded. The sibla man nodded. So nieve. I wondered what it was like to be that trusting and almost would have envied his innocence were he not in such dire straights.

    The smell of burning was overwhelming the moment I cracked open the door to the outside world. I could see the orange-red glow in the distance. I imagined the nursery was already up in flames given the direction of the thick grey smog filling the air. Dreda had been successful as well.

    "The coast is clear," I whispered to my sibla fugitive as soon as I'd surveyed our surroundings and found no sign of humans within our immediate vicinity. But no sooner had Magnus slipped through the door than I heard the crack of broken twigs underfoot, just to my right. I quickly reached up to put a hand on Magnu's chest, pushing him against the wall of the house and into the shadows.

    "Alice."

    I recognized Gregory's voice immediately as the dark figure coming towards me became more clear.

    "Is it done?" he asked.

    I nodded solemnly. "I stabbed him through the heart," I answered. "I watched him breathe his last breath and his body grow cold."

    I felt a mix of pride and disgust at the memory. I'd wanted Dulane dead. I was not sorry I had taken his life, but at the same time, I did not like the idea of reveling in blood. Cedrick had made a killer of me and I realized this was one more thing I would forever resent among his long list of offenses against myself and my family. It only furthered my commitment to saving the sibla man hidden in the shadows. I'd always known this rebellion would bring me almost certain death, but I would not have my last act on earth be that of murder.

    "I was successful as well," Gregory said, catching no hint of mixed emotion in my words. "Everett never saw it coming. We attacked without mercy. Every one of the filth that made my friends suffer has suffered the knife themselves."
   
I saw the smile on Gregory's face and shivered in spite of myself. I had no sorrow for the men felled by those they'd oppressed so long, but I did not doubt that they had faced as much pain and horror as Gregory and the other human males could devise.

    "Come, Alice," he urged. Now that you are free, Rebecca will burn this whole building to the ground. We were only awaiting word that you were safe. The wife and children are already slain as are any of the domestic staff. It's nearly over. We just need to escape before the authorities can arrive."

    And here was the part of our scheme that had never been truly planned. Could not be planned. We had no way of knowing how much time there was before more sibla came to quash our efforts.

    It was too late for Dulane and his immediate family but no doubt at least one employee had escaped. In fact, Rebecca had expressed her hope that many more would come for her to add to her tally of bodies before the scythe-wielding angle of death could claim her himself.

    But even for those humans who did run, try to escape to freedom and a true life beyond the Dulane estate, the chances of success were slim. It was far more probable all would be ended the moment the authorities went looking. Worse still, they might be captured and forced to answer for their crimes.

    "We will make this work, Alice,' Gregory said, grabbing my arms in his hands and forcing my gaze, no doubt guessing at the concerns running through my mind. "Rebecca has told us of forests and fields she passed when she ran. We know what route is safe. We will slip into the wilderness. Make a new life for ourselves."

    It was only in that moment that I truly understood Gregory's intent. He thought that we might build a family, escape together and start afresh. I'd selfishly let him believe in this fantasy, avoiding true discussion of his actions in the breeding shed, simply skirting the conversation and the discomfort I'd felt in his attempts at physical intimacy. I did not harbor the same feelings for my former mate as he clearly did for me.

    I forgave Gregory, yes. I'd done so long ago. He'd had little choice in his part as my abuser. But I could never find love for him. In his face, I could still see Mary. In his hands, I could still feel the firsts that rained down on my skin when I was not quick enough in removing my clothes. I could feel him forcing himself inside of me against my will. There was no future for us as a true pair and never would be.

    "There is somthing I must do first," I said. "Do not let me hold you up. All those who wish to attempt at freedom must do so soon." Even in the dark, I could see the confusion in his expression as he frowned.

    "But we were meant to escape together," he said. "If we are separated there is no way of knowing if you might find us again."

    The mix of disappointment and concern in his tone tugged at my guilt all the more, but I knew I was making the only choice I could. I would not abandon Kendrick. I would not attempt freedom.

    "I know," I answered Gregory resolutely. "But I can not leave this world without first making peace with my final actions. I can't explain now. Know that I will find you if I can."

    I paused, not wishing my final words to him to be a lie.

    "In this life... or the next," I finished. A promise I could resolve to keep.

    He stared at me for a moment and I felt nothing but sympathy. I'd lead him to rebellion and he was committed to the acts we had managed to accomplish, but he'd expected I would continue with them. That he would claim my affections as reward for his aide.  Still, he did not protest.

    "In this life or the next," he repeated, laying a hand on my shoulder in solidarity. I place my own on top of it and gave it a gentle squeeze before removing it from my body.

    "You can lead them, Gregory," I said. "I have faith."

    He nodded determinedly. "I will do so until you come back to us," he answered. "But truly, if you have any business here you must complete it quickly. No telling how much time we have. And clear the building. There is enough dynamite here to choke a horse. We found it in the shed after the overseers fell and we took their keys. There will be nothing left of the Dulane estate when we are through.

    I smiled along with him in spite of myself. Dulane erased. Every one of his ill-gotten gains destroyed. Surely the ghosts of so many tortured humans would rest well tonight with the knowledge their oppressors had finally been felled.

    But as Gregory turned to leave I felt my heart pounding unsteadily in my chest, He suddenly looked in my direction again, just over my shoulder, his eyes attempting to penetrate the darkness. I remembered the sibla man hiding in the shadows and felt a cold chill overtake me.

    Had Gregory seen him? I couldn't take any chances. My former mate would not hesitate to kill Magnus the moment he saw grey skin.  Before the man could peer any into the shadows any further, I grabbed Gregory's arms, forcing his gaze.

    "Please tell Dreda I am sorry that I could not come with you," I said with an urgency I hoped might be enough to distract him. "And please forgive me for leaving you." I reached up and kissed his lips.

    Immediately I felt the tension in his body release. I did not resist as his tongue parted my lips and he drank in my essence. I felt no emotion or connection to him in the display of lust but I could tell he was oblivious. Deceptive on my part, yes, but this was all I would ever be able to offer him. One final uncorroborated moment of passion. If I could give him that and save Magnus in the process I would have no regrets.
   
Gregory pulled me closer, hands exploring my body and I allowed the uncomfortable embrace for a moment longer before gently pushing him away.

    "Go now before its too late," I said. With a wistful glance, he nodded and disappeared into the shadows. I waited until I was certain he was gone before I crept back to the spot where I'd left my hidden refugee.

    "He's gone," I said softly, amused when the sibla man nearly jumped from his skin in surprise at my presence. "I'm certain you heard my friend. We must leave. It won't be long before this house and every other structure is raised to the ground and after that, there will be nowhere left to hide.

    "But how can we avoid the other humans?" Magnus's voice had an edge of panic now. "If they see us together they will destroy us both."

    "Likely so," I replied. "We'd best not be seen."

    The horror in his expression intensified but I only chuckled. There was something intoxicating about having a sibla man listening to my every command, relying on me for survival.

    "I know how the other's plan to escape," I assured him. "I helped designed the route myself. Though some will stay to fight any sibla who come to control the fire, we can avoid them easily enough."

    "Fight?" he asked, clearly confused. " They will die if they attempt to overtake the reinforcements that arrive."

    "And likely take many more of your kind down with them," I said, nodding in agreement. "They are angry, Magnus. All are fully willing to perish for this cause."

    I watched as he tried to process this information. No doubt it was disturbing to imagine that so many wished him dead for no crime other than being born of his species. Of course, that was how humans lived every day of their lives in the sibla world. I could not quite manage sympathy for his revelation.

    "Come," I said, grabbing his arm. "We have no time for this." Still I felt him resist.

    "Why should you help me at all?" he asked. It was all I could do not to roll my eyes in annoyance.

    "Do you wish to die, Magnus Kendrick?"

    "Of course not!" he said, aghast.

    "Than why should it matter?"

    He opened his mouth as if to answer and then closed it again.

    "I have already spilled blood this evening," I said in explanation. "I have helped others spill even more. But I do not wish for my last act on earth to be one of murder. It is your good fortune to be the one sibla life I am choosing to spare. Is that answer sufficient?"

    A loud bang in the distance accented my query. We were out of time.

    "I am leaving now," I said, "If you wish to survive, I suggest to follow me and stay close."

    I was relieved to see my words seemed to have finally brought him to his senses. As another explosion rang through the air, the ground shook beneath us. I turned in the opposite direction and headed towards the nursery. It had been one of the first places attacked and would likely be empty by now. Magnus followed just behind.

    Maneuvering through the charred remains of the estate that had been my home for nearly thirty years was surreal. The screams and gunfire became as white noise as we slipped through the night, stepping over the corpses of fallen sibla and human alike. I tried not to imagine the burnt bodies of the infants lying beneath the rubble of the nursery. I could only hope that the poison I'd given Dreda had been successful and each little life had been extinguished painlessly long before the blaze reduced them to ash.

    When I looked back to ensure my fugitive still followed, I could see the horror in the eyes of the sibla man. More than once I had to take his hand to lead him on when he stopped, seemingly frozen in shock. Yet remarkably, we made it to the woods on the east side of the estate without notice.

    Before we escaped into the cover of trees I turned to take in one last look at Dulane's estate. In its place, I saw nothing but bright orange-yellow flame, the plumes of red grey smoke adorning the sky all around offering an eerie glow of victory.  Staring at the destruction I had wrought I felt nothing but relief as a smile came to my lips. We had won our freedom from Dulane and no other would suffer by his hand again.

——

And there it is. Dulane's estate reduced to ash. Magnus & Alice free of the rebellion. Thanks to @riderbooks for the beautiful fan art! This wattpader seems to have left the site but gifted me the work years ago when I was first posting VoH & I had to add it to the chapter again. Alice leading Magnus past the flames, the ghost of her child with her. I love it!!! ❤️ Of course we know Alice & Magnus's story didn't end here... next chapter will be up wed!