Turned

Chapter Ninety Nine

We joined upstairs where I finally met up with Lena, Matt and Caleb, offering hugs to two out of three of them as we prepared to face the final battle, hoping it was going to be easy but after last time, I couldn't see it being an easy battle. We made our way towards her office, apparently Caleb was going to drag her out, throw her down into the main club, so she'd have no place to run. I wanted to kill her, but I promised, and I was going to keep it.

We were to capture her, to bring her to the council, to perhaps watch their wrath or hear their imprisonment. I didn't care, Leo was out of her reach, I killed him, he was at peace, no longer suffering her torment, something I'd always feel.

"Are you ready?" Caleb whispered as I fidgeted nervously.

"Leo's blood was on the floor..."

"Tell me you didn't" he begged.

"No, that's the problem" I admitted as I glanced around. "I don't know if I can do this, my head's not clear"

"What a time to do this" he muttered as he rolled up his sleeve.

"What are you doing?"

"I need my fighters to be strong, take a bite, hurry up and don't ever ask for another one" he snapped.

I bit but barely took anything. I needed enough to keep me going, not too much, thankfully. Afterwards, I'd go through the withdrawals afterwards, I'd get Nick to lock me up, keep me away from anyone I could hurt but I had to stop Sapphire first, I had to help Caleb trade her into the council for his freedom, in return, I'd be given my own, I hoped.

There was a brush of panic as I forced Lena to stay out. Nick kept her out as myself, Matt and Caleb stepped inside. If she triggered the lockdown, I'd risk losing my sister or my boyfriend, I'd risk losing those I love, because I let them in and let them choke to death.

"In there, it'll be uncomfortable, despite not breathing, a vampire's instinct is to breathe... when you find you can't, don't panic, you have to remember you don't need the air to breathe" Caleb reminded us as he stepped into her main hall. I half-expected her not to be in her office but Matt and I entered.

I hoped once we got there, she wouldn't trigger the alarm but knowing her, I guessed she would, she'd do anything to make us all suffer, painfully. I fought back my fears as I opened the door, gulping as I struggled to fight my basic instincts to run.

To my surprise, she was lounging about on her chair, swirling around on it as if she was having the time of her life.

She stopped, glancing at Matt. "Immortality suits you"

"Don't talk to him" Caleb snapped.

"Oh, Caleb, have you got yourself a new coven? How sweet. Did you promise him freedom?"

"I don't have to" Caleb snapped aggressively.

She turned her attentions to me, looking into my eyes. I stood my ground, internally crumbling into pieces like a cookie soaked in milk for too long. She just smirked at me as she put her feet up on her desk, leaning back, never blinking as her gaze fixed on me. I tried to get away, I tried to break the gaze, but I couldn't pull away. I blinked a couple of times, but it didn't do anything, absolutely nothing. I bit my lip until I drew blood, trying to get away, trying to break her gaze. Matt pulled my head away, turning my head away from her, to Lena and Nick.

"Don't look at her" Matt whispered.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what just happened" I admitted as I returned to my senses.

"It's because you know there's a connection there, you're meant to be by my side, I knew it the moment you came here, the moment you found me... I knew you felt our connection. I made you, you were lost but you came to me because you're meant to be my second in command, you even made your own army of friends... how many can say that?" she replied with a smile.

"Stop it" I ordered.

"Stop what? We're the same, you and I... we've had similar pasts, both rejected by those who claimed to love us... I know your pain and by me knowing your pain, you know mine... come, Jack, step away from them, come here, to me" she whispered.

"I... no!" I replied quickly. "You killed my parents!" I snapped.

"Leo did that, not me"

"Under your orders" I replied, snarling.

"Agreed, to free you from your chains. Don't you understand? Everything I've done, I've done to free you"

"Enough of this" Caleb snapped as he drew his blade. I watched as the writing on it glowed red, drawing his own blood to give it strength. "Draw your swords, Sapphire" he ordered.

"Are you going to kill me, Caleb? Are you? You can't, you'll never get your freedom"

I watched as Sapphire drew a very nice silver sword. She smiled sweetly, almost sickeningly as she pushed the desk, pinning Matt to the wall. I tried to pull it, but I wasn't strong enough, I had to stop her first.

I watched for the brief moments, my eyes flickering as their blades clashed rapidly. He was good, so fast, strong but she was just a little faster, making her level with his strength as she parried his blows quickly, dodging them rather than parrying them. She ducked as the blade threatened to cut off her head, saying nothing as it cut the tip of her nose. She laughed hysterically, stabbing Caleb in the stomach. He grunted as he fought with her, to stop it cutting up, into his heart.

It was down to me, my chance. I picked up the blade, grunting as it burnt my hand.

"Not... the heart" Caleb whispered, struggling, his hands clenched.

"You're going to die, Caleb, accept it" she replied.

I grunted and dropped the sword, the pain was unbearable. I had to do it, I had to beat her, I kept that in mind as I picked it back up, ramming it through her shoulder, forcing her to let go of her grip. Caleb replaced it with her own, pulling his out as she fell to the ground. I pulled the desk away from Matt, nodding as he grunted, healing quickly.

"Is it over?" he asked.

"Not yet" Caleb admitted.

"Where are you going now?" I asked.

"To the council, if you wish to be a member, you can come with me?" Caleb offered. He looked at me, following my gaze until he found himself looking at Nick. "I see... your mind is already made up. Good luck, I hope you have better success with love than I did"