Remember

Chapter 10

I dressed for the occasion, although I had to make sure I was still able to fight, if need be. I knew Savlian was attracted to me, so I decided to use that to my advantage. That and my abnormal circle of warriors, two of which I was in love with. My incredible and devoted tiger-wolf creature would always have my back, and the last member of my unit was basically like my younger brother. We were all surprisingly organized, thanks to Reese. When he wanted to be, he could be extremely strategic, but I guess he enjoyed being a doofus most of the time. I looked myself over in my mirror, adjusting my hair. My red and black plaid dress resembled a long shirt, only fitted and actually quite feminine. A large black belt accented my waist, and the dress came only a few inches below my rear. The dress buttoned down the front, and quite a few of them were deliberately and seductively undone to expose my cleavage. My thigh-high black leather high-heeled boots only added to my sex appeal, and I swiped some delicate rose-colored lip gloss over my lips. My eye liner, eye shadow and mascara were already finished, and I tossed my amulet in my palm for a minute before turning to Naios. He anxiously sat next to me, staring into my eyes with concern. You’ll bring me my weapons when you hear me tap my heel three times, okay? Naios nodded fervently. Of course, Princess. Naios will fight beside Jace happily. I smiled, crouching to rub behind his ears. I know you will, Osi. And I’ll be forever grateful. I pressed my head against his for a moment, embracing my loyal childhood friend tenderly. I quickly stood and left, heading to Savlian’s study. I already had dinner set at the large dining room table no one ever used, and I quickly put on my pretty smile and upbeat attitude. I rapped on the study door a few times, and it opened shortly afterward. “Jace! What a lovely surprise…” he started, his sharp teeth revealed through his large grin. “You look absolutely gorgeous. What’s the occasion?” He pressed, leaning in his doorway. “Actually, you!” I giggled, wondering where on Earth I had ever learned the sound. He smiled wider, looking intrigued. “I thought we could have a nice dinner and chat, you know? I honestly don’t know you that well, and I thought maybe you’d like to know how I solved your little…pest problem,” I murmured, pleased with my façade. “I would love nothing more, my sweet. Where shall we go?” “Oh, don’t be silly! I already have the table set,” I breathed, lightly placing my hand upon his bicep. The contact made me want to gag, but I quickly suppressed the sensation, flipping my straightened hair over my shoulder. “I even found some wine for us. Shall we?” I cooed, lacing my arm through his. He beamed, pressing himself close to me. “You are astounding, Jace. But I’m surprised one of your suitors isn’t enjoying your company instead.” We were slowly descending the staircase, and I swallowed the rising bile as I forced my next words out a charming smile. “Well, a girl has to keep her options open, right?” I teased, the two of us sharing a laugh, although I wanted nothing more than to slice his throat. Savlian clapped as we entered the perfectly set dining room, turning to me with admiration in his gaze. “This is excellent! Did you cook this yourself?” I shrugged and batted my eyes sheepishly, wondering how Dante wasn’t already bursting into the room. Savlian quickly helped me into my chair, and I curtsied before him, taking my seat gingerly. We sat rather close together, with him at the head of the table, and me two seats to his right. We began eating shortly afterward, Savlian praising my culinary skills. He took a few sips from his wine glass before finally mentioning the cemetery. “I never asked you about how things went the other night,” he started, and I waved my hand nonchalantly. “Everything is taken care of, although there were more than just ‘a few’. And…” I trailed off intentionally, setting down my silverware. “What is it, my dear?” He pressed gently, leaning toward me slightly. “Well, it’s just that…I ran into another swordsman. You didn’t happen to hire two demon hunters, did you? I’d be a little insulted.” I watched his expression carefully, seeing a spark of surprise flicker in his eyes. “Of course not, Jace! I know that you’re the best, and that’s why I hired you. Why would I require anyone else when I already have you?” I shrugged, faking an embarrassed smile. “I don’t know. It was silly of me to ask.” Savlian shook his head, swallowing the food in his mouth. “Nonsense, Darling. Did you, by any chance, speak with this mysterious individual?” “Briefly. He had a strange name…Kayler, or Kylix, or something…” “Kaylix…” Savlian muttered, and I smirked when he wasn’t looking. “That’s it! Kaylix. How did you know?” I prompted, pushing my breasts together discreetly. It took him a minute to answer, and my skin crawled from his lustful gaze. “Uh…I’ve just heard of him around town. He’s another hunter, but nowhere near as talented as you,” he bluffed, hastily composing himself. I smiled, though proceeded on. “We even fought for a few minutes. Apparently, he was hired for the same job. By someone named Abraham…” Savlian’s gaze was suddenly fierce. He knew that I was lying, and instantly his eyes changed to blood red. I immediately tapped my heel three times, but Savlian was already behind me, restraining me forcefully. Naios came bounding down the stairs, Dante, Dean and Reese surrounding Savlian momentarily from different entrances of the room. “I appreciate you ‘wining and dining’ me first, Jace. But really, do you honestly think you and you band of miscreants have any chance of defeating me?” He spat, exposing my neck. His face was dangerously close, and Dante’s eyes burned furiously. Dean engulfed his fists in flames, Reese aiming a pistol in Savlian’s direction. Dante whipped Rebellion from the sheath on his back, pointing it toward us. “Let her go, Asswipe. That’s not how you treat a lady,” he growled, teeth gritted in anger. Savlian laughed, and I struggled to break free. “Not so fast, Sweetheart. You’re my ticket to power…” “So ol’ Abe did offer you a spot on the council, huh? Well, I hate to break it to you, but he’s not great at keeping promises. He swore allegiance to my parents, and look how that turned out? He kidnapped their daughter, sent her to the human world, and plans on killing them. So just from that track record alone, I’d say you’re screwed. You really think he won’t kill you after you hand me over?” I questioned, Naios staring at me helplessly with my weapons clasped firmly in his strong jaws. If I only had my sword… I thought, fighting beneath Savlian’s grip. “As clever as you are, Jace, you’re not getting out of this alive.” “Like hell she isn’t!” Dante spat, inching closer. “Ah! I wouldn’t do that if I were you! Abraham wants her alive, but he said nothing about me have a drink from her luscious neck…” He warned, teeth grazing my flesh softly. I cringed, confused how none of us knew he was a vampire. “You’re…a vampire? How?!” Dean demanded, and Savlian laughed. “You all seem to be forgetting how someone can be more than one creature at once, which is ironic, since the two of you are multiple beings yourselves,” he murmured, flicking his gaze from Dante to Dean. “Then what are you?” Reese prompted, pistol still firmly raised. Savlian chuckled darkly, shoving me away. Dean caught me with an outstretched arm, and I turned back to Savlian angrily. “Hmmm, since Abraham isn’t in any hurry, I guess I’ll play along. But why explain when I can just show you?” He boomed, taking a few steps back. Before our eyes, he began to transform, clothes and skin tearing with ease, like paper. The sound alone was sickening, but soon, he was a massive, muscular, charcoal colored demon with enormous black bat-like wings protruding from his back. Two huge antlers the color of sour milk were bursting from his temples, and his teeth were the length and sharpness of fine daggers. “A vampire-demon hybrid?!” I shouted in disbelief, never hearing of or encountering anything of the sort. His laugh was cavernous and sinister, and I wondered how I could make a break toward Naios for my weapons. “Very good, Jace,” he murmured, turning his gaze to both brothers. “Impressive, I am not, boys? I’m more potent than the two of you combined!” “We’ll see about that,” Dean spat, already hurling huge fireballs at him. Savlian dodged them effortlessly, and Reese began shooting rapidly as I made my way over to Naios. “Thanks, pal. Now get the hell out of here while you can!” Naios grunted, and we ducked from an incoming burst of fire. Naios shall do no such thing! Naios stick by Jace forever; Naios fights beside Jace always, he declared, and seeing as how there was no persuading him otherwise, I urged him to keep an eye out for Abraham while we distracted Savlian. Naios hadn’t gone two feet before a blast of blue light shattered a window, and flung him across the living room. “NAIOS!!!” I shouted, watching as Abraham neatly somersaulted through the flying shards of glass. “Oh, I’m sorry, Princess, but honestly, your beast has become quite the nuisance,” he cooed, feigning sincerity. I gritted my teeth, Babylon in hand. Savlian had ceased his fighting with the others, rolling his demonic eyes at Abraham’s dramatic and rather late entrance. “It took you long enough,” he barked, wiping a line of blood from his face with one of his long, black claws. Abraham shrugged, turning his gaze back to me. “Sorry, I had a king and queen to restrain.” “If you hurt them-“ “-Relax, Jace,” he interrupted, way too calm at a time like this. It was really starting to piss me off. “I figured I’d reunite you three before I slaughtered you in front of the entire kingdom. I know, I know-I’m too kind,” he teased, platinum blonde shoulder-length hair swaying as he talked. His angular features and pointed nose all came reeling back to me, and I suddenly recalled the day he kidnapped me. What I remember most were Dante’s frantic screams, and I blinked back the tears in my eyes. I didn’t have time to reminisce- I had to kill these two dickheads and save my parents-my whole kingdom. Abraham wasn’t much taller than me now, even though he towered over me as a child. His deep green eyes reminded me of a garter snake, and I gripped Babylon tighter. “Enough of this bullshit. Let’s go,” I growled, charging toward him. He shot a painful, oddly solid cloud of smoke at me, which sent me crashing into the far wall. “JACE! Oh, you fucker! I’ve been waiting to do this for a long time,” Dante roared, flinging himself at Abraham. Reese and Dean didn’t seem to be making much progress with Savlian, and I couldn’t help but wonder if we were going to lose. I saw Naios drag himself to his paws, and was thankful to know he was still alive. I hopped to my feet, hurling magic toward Abraham. He stumbled back, giving Dante the advantage. “How-How do you even remember how to use your magic? Or me, or him?!” He shouted, looking at Dante wildly. I grinned, mustering a powerful orb of darkness within my palms. “I not entirely sure, but the one thing I do know is this: You don’t fuck with the Salems,” I muttered, hurling the sphere full force. It knocked him into the curio cabinet that was behind him, everything fragmenting and splintering upon impact. I forced myself to beat Dante over to him, incapable of letting him steal my revenge. “No, I want to be the one who kills him,” I growled darkly, outstretching my hand before Dante. He looked concerned by my tone for a moment, but he must have realized all that I’ve been through because of this excuse of a man. My life here on Earth had been pretty miserable- never knowing platonic love, and being forced to struggle for basic necessities was entirely his fault. He took me away from my home, my friends, my loving parents, and I wanted to cause him as much pain as he caused me. I strode over to him, kicking away the debris from around him. He coughed, looking up at me in fear and disbelief. “No…No, this can’t be happening! How can you defeat me?!” “Does it really matter? You’re finished, and now I’m giving you a one way ticket to hell.” I couldn’t help but to enjoy the terrified look in his eyes. Maybe I was reveling in it a little too much. PRINCESS, LOOK OUT! Naios shouted, barking frantically as he dashed toward me. I wasn’t sure how he gathered the strength, but he sprinted in my direction, full force. Just as I was ready to remove Abraham’s head, I looked up, seeing that he was telekinetically lifting his sword, which was tossed across the room when I had hit him with my magic. It was positioned perfectly toward my heart, and my stomach lurched when I realized this was my end. Abraham smiled, still too weakened to get up and fight me. But his mind was unaffected, and he was launching his unmanned sword at me with unearthly speed. To my surprise and complete horror, Naios leapt in front of me, Abraham’s sword piercing his side. A heart wrenching whine escaped him, but I couldn’t let Abraham get the better of me again. “Burn in hell, you son of a bitch!” I snarled, decapitating his head with one swift movement. I fell on my knees besides Naios, watching as Savlian threw Reese into the large cherry dining room table. It cracked under the force, but didn’t break. The large demon stopped at the death of his passage to authority, which gave Dean and Dante a chance to work together to remove his head. Reese gasped for breath, but other than having a few cuts and the wind knocked out of him, he was fine. Naios, on the other hand, laid very still before me, his breathing shallow, but visible. “Naios! Why-Why did you do that?! How could you…?!” I cried, unable to contain my tears. He whimpered quietly, the others coming over to us somberly. Dante knelt beside me, nodding to me before removing the sword. Naios yelped, and I fell on the floor next to him, hysterical. “Naios, you can’t die! I-I need you! We’ve been together since I was born! I need someone to bitch to about all of my useless problems, someone to always to take my side, someone to always love me even when I don’t deserve it. Please don’t go. We haven’t even gone back to The Realm yet! You’re going to be okay. We’ll go back to Winter Palace, free my parents, and everything will go back to normal. It…It has to. Naios…Osi…I don’t know what to do without you, now. Please…Please, just stay,” I pleaded, crumpling over his shoulder and wrapping my arms around his strong neck. Naios loves Jace… he rasped, causing me to cry more. “Don’t say that like it’s the last time!” I hissed, burying my face into his fur. Naios…will hold on for as long as possible. But…but Naios not sure how much time is left…”  I sniffed, wiping my chin of tears. “Just hold on, buddy. Please.” I looked up at Dean, unable to think of a world without my very best friend. “We need a portal- now. Where can you open one?” I demanded, getting to my feet. “The meadow where we went horseback riding,”  he answered matter-of-factly. I widened my eyes, surprise filling me. “How do you know for sure? How is that place ‘sacred’?” “My gut is telling me so. I didn’t realize it before, but seeing you and Naios…how much you love each other, it reminded me of that day. It may not be sacred by religion or sacrifice, but it’s sacred by love.” Dante’s hands balled into fists, but he said nothing. I stood, looking over my wounded companion. “Let’s go then. Reese, please, can you go and get my suitcase? I packed it earlier today. It’s in my room,” I instructed, and he nodded slowly. I bent over, attempting to pick up Naios, but Dante shook his head. “Sweetness, you can’t lift him. I’ll make sure he’s alright,” he assured, gently scooping my Loiza into his arms. I nodded, feeling quite numb. Unable to get to the meadow by car, we rushed there by foot. I murmured encouraging words to my furry warrior as Dean began opening a portal, which was an enormous radiating lavender and amethyst ball of energy. Reese met up with us just as Dean was finished, and I suddenly realized I would be leaving him behind. Dante watched as I stared at him, a million emotions flashing through his gaze. “You’re…coming, aren’t you?” He asked, stepping closer to me. “Yes,” I assured, looking him in the eyes. “And not just because of Naios and my parents,” I added, hoping he understood what that meant. Dean turned to look at me, and my eyes started watering again. “Give us a minute? I’ll..I’ll be as quick as I can,” I murmured, Dante reluctantly taking a few large steps across the meadow. I made my way over to Dean, taking in his features for possibly the last time. “You’re…You’re never coming back?” He asked, taking my hands in his. “I don’t think so. My place is in The Realm. I don’t belong here on Earth.” My heart began to splinter at my own words, and watching the pain fill his eyes almost made me moan in agony. “I’m…I’m so sorry, Dean. But this is who I am…who I’m supposed to be. I can’t just let that go.” “I understand. I just…” he trailed off, and I caressed his face tenderly. “I know,” I breathed, large sobs quaking through my body. He passionately embraced me, locking lips with mine vehemently. It was the greatest, most horrendous kiss I’ll ever know. I slowly pulled away from him, and Dante made his way over, Naios still wrapped in his arms. Reese gave me my suitcase, and I gave him a strong hug. “Thank you so much for helping, Reese. We never would have pulled this off without you.” “Don’t sweat it, Princess. Just invite me to your castle sometime,” he said with a friendly smile. I grinned weakly, nodding once. “Will do. Be careful out there. You gonna’ take up demon hunting?” I asked, curious despite everything else. “You bet! This world is seriously messed up, and could benefit from a hero like me.” I laughed at his heroic stance, punching his bicep roughly. “Go slay ‘em, tiger,” I encouraged, and he saluted me as I walked off. I linked arms with Dante, a bit hesitant to enter the portal. Did it hurt? Would I get sick? Would I spiral out of control if I wasn’t holding onto him? I held Dean’s hand for a moment before me and Dante stepped inside, and I took one last look into his marvelous cerulean eyes, a piece of me dying at parting from them. “Don’t deprive the world of that angelic voice, Dean. You made me a promise.” “And I’ll never break that promise,” he uttered, and I knew this had to be sickening for Dante to listen to, but I was so grateful that he was giving us this time to say goodbye. “I’ll listen to you from The Realm. And you can visit any time…” He nodded, tearing up as he brushed his jet black hair away from his eyes. Dante looked me over, expression asking me if I was ready. I nodded, letting go of one love while pressing myself closer to my other, truly bittersweet as I faded into the portal with Dante and Naios.

** A/N: THE LAST CHAPTER!!! O: I can't believe I actually FINISHED A STORY!!! XDDD *takes a bow at round of applause* Please don't hate me for the way I ended the chapter XDD There is an epilogue, I promise! :D I hope you enjoyed it, and thanks for reading! :3 <3

~Holly **