The Ninth: Sequel

Part 9. Dead end

After locking Dean in the trunk of the car and taking him with them, Nate and Dana hurried back to Endhill the next night. They drove in silence most of the way. The shocking news from Mary Louise didn't give rest for a minute.

They returned the car to its place in the courtyard, pulled Dean out and went up to her apartment. Nate threw Dean onto the couch. He immediately woke up.

"How did we get here..." he said in a barely audible voice.

"Dean?" Dana looked at him. Nate walked up and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Did you do something to me or what..." Dean propped himself up on an elbow. A stake fell out of the pocket of his hoodie. He twitched in fear.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me why do you have the stake with you," Nate hissed.

"I don't know... I don't remember anything," he replied.

"Looks like when I broke your neck, the compulsion went off. Do you remember where you were yesterday?"

"No... I don't remember anything at all for some reason."

"Okay, okay. What's the last thing you remember?"

"Ellie called me outside to have a chat. We drank champagne. That's it... I don't remember anything else."

Dana started crying at this point. Dean hugged her tightly.

"What is it? Why... why are you crying?"

"Dean. Both you and I are dying. I also drank the champagne that Ellie poured. Ellie got a job at Corona with a purpose. She's been compelled by Darla all the time. You don't remember anything because you were also compelled. Champagne... It was poisoned with white oak, extremely poisonous to us. It's... We have about a couple of days left. A couple of days together."

Nate couldn't look at it. It hurt him, realizing what would happen next, but the belief in a better outcome still kept existing inside him. He left the apartment, dialing Mrs. Cheryl's number along the way.

"Nate, you're calling so late. What's the matter? Did you get home?"

"Yes, Mrs. Cheryl, we're home. But your help is urgently needed. I don't know what to think anymore. You should know. Is there any antidote for white oak? It's very urgent, we don't have much time."

"Oh, Nathaniel. Time is really short. There is an antidote, but I have no idea how you can get it. The antidote is the heretic themselves. It's your sister, I understand. You need her blood. But how are you going to do it..."

"Okay, Mrs. Cheryl, thanks. I understand. We'll definitely look into it. I promise."

Hanging up, Nate found Mary Louise's number and called her.

"Hi, blondie. I promise not to kill you again if you agree to meet me in 15 minutes in the West-end park. Consider this an order."

"Nate? I... Yes. I'll be there soon. See you."

- - - - -

Dean and Dana sat quietly hugging each other on the couch.

"You know..." he spoke, "The only thing I'm somehow glad about is that I'm now spending these last moments with you. I really have no words. I would've never thought that there would be an end to this. That you and I, the immortals, have the end too. God, what a strange thing life is."

She was silent.

"But I still have a hunch that this isn't the end," Dean continued.

"Dean, we're dying. We're poisoned. This is probably the end. I really don't want to think about it. Life really is strange."

"If at this moment with my realistic life views and thinking about bad things, I say that this is not the end, then it seems to me that it will be so, Dana."

Both got silent again.

The sound of the door broke the silence as Nate and Mary Louise entered.

"Am I delirious or something? Mary Lou, is it you? How... the hell are you here? We buried you and forgot you ever existed!"

"Sweet to hear it, yeah... But I deserve it," Mary Louise lowered her head with guilt.

"Dean, calm down. She's here to help. Mary Louise broke free from Darla's compulsion. Darla actually found her and brought her back to life."

"I wonder how you're going to help us?"

"I've been collecting information since you've been on your way here. The dagger made of white oak is in Hal's possession for some reason. She probably entrusted it to him. He's completely become a puppet in her hands... When Darla found out that her plan went a bit awry again, she killed Ellie. Martha fled to god knows where. I didn't see Bella or Kevin, but I hope they managed to escape. Kayla got poisoned too. Just like both of you... And me. Two months ago Darla made me a heretic. But I know almost nothing about my magical part."

"This is just way too much. Where is my sister?" Nate asked angrily.

"They're at Corona. Apparently they're having their party there. Just like she wanted."

"You and I are going there. Today, we will put an end to this. All we have is today. Come on. Let's go."