The Crowns of the Gods.

A soulmate's love

Darla and the girls took turns watching over Blair for three days. On the third day, Peri reappeared, having dealt with Hades, and now felt it safe to approach Blair. She unlocked the door and stepped into the room. Blair slowly turned from her corner, strands of fire still flickering through her hair, a testament to the pain she endured rather than any lingering anger. Blair understood all too well the challenges of transitioning into a vampire, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she mourned the life Darla should have had.

Peri approached Blair with gentle steps, her expression calm yet filled with maternal concern. Carefully, she wrapped her arms around her daughter, offering solace and a safe space to release her emotions. The other girls entered the room quietly, respecting Blair's momentary need to regain her composure.

After a while, Blair lifted her head, meeting the eyes of her sisters. She felt a mixture of shame for her earlier outburst and gratitude for their unwavering support. She sighed heavily, feeling the weight of her emotions, and they surrounded her, their arms encircling her in a gesture of solidarity and comfort as she gathered herself again.

As Blair stepped back, she refused to meet her sisters' eyes. They sensed her anger but struggled to comprehend the depths of her shame. Blair rarely lost control, but when she did, its intensity was overwhelming. Her sisters empathized with her anger, yet the profound power it wielded remained elusive to them.

Back in high school, Darla had been Blair's protector, saving her life in more ways than one. Blair had endured relentless bullying, a torment that her sisters, Jinx and Bayo, had never fully understood. Blair had once stood on the brink of ending her life to escape the relentless torment. In that darkness, Blair saw only two options: succumb to the pain or adopt the ways of her bullies. But becoming like them was never an option for Blair. Though tough, she always stood up for others, never imagining she might one day need protection herself. Yet fate, as always, had other plans.

Darla cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention. Her smile, warm and inviting, was fixed on Blair, patiently awaiting her response. The soft glow of the room's candles highlighted the flickering flames in Blair's hair, casting shifting shadows on the walls.

"Darla?" Blair choked out amidst sobs.

"Hey, baby," Darla replied softly, her voice gentle.

Blair's gaze fell on the fangs protruding from Darla's mouth, their sharp edges catching the candlelight. Anger surged within her once more, a torrent mixing with the pain and confusion she felt. Darla instinctively stepped back, wary of the fiery aura that surrounded Blair. Seeking solace, she moved behind Bayo, who stood calmly, a reassuring presence amidst the turmoil. Peri, ever the stabilizing force, swiftly stepped forward, positioning herself between Blair and Darla, her voice calm and reassuring.

"Easy, love. You don't want to hurt Darla. Hold back, let her explain," Peri advised Blair, her tone soothing yet firm.

"Who turned you?" Blair's voice was cold and hollow, her eyes locked on Darla's.

"Eric," Darla replied evenly, her expression a mix of resignation and defiance.

"I'm going to kill him," Blair declared fiercely, her fists clenched.

"Babe, chill out. I'm here, alive—well, sort of—and I'm okay. Relax," Darla said, attempting to inject a touch of levity into the tense moment, but her attempt at humor fell flat against the backdrop of palpable tension.

Blair smiled, a chilling expression that sent shivers down everyone's spine, even Darla's. Her eyes gleamed with an unsettling mix of determination and menace as she darted out the door, her movements swift and purposeful. The urgency in Jinx's voice snapped the group out of their shock.