Changes

Chapter 37

Z's POV

We should have showed them what the key looked like a long time. I will be the first to admit it. Given their family history, it was possible they could have seen it at least once. Jaden had found out how the guy managed to make a replica. On Kelsi's Facebook page she had a picture of the kids by the fireplace with it on the mantel. Someone must have seen it, and known what it was and hired him to make it, to stall us. 

When we got back to the house, the other Founds were in an all out war with more of those damn humans who decided to eat the those things from their Tears. Alanna and I turned to Kelsi and Draco. They took Zephira and the Key and Draco took them somewhere safe. The rest of us dove into battle. Fire began to circle the house as the enemy tried to enter. I glanced at Violet and saw that she was fighting back to back with Silver, the two in sync. 

No matter how well we fought, we were vastly out numbered.  Vlad appeared behind me, blocking a blow from behind. "We have back up coming," Vlad told me as he sliced through another one. I only nodded, too busy trying to keep my focus on the fight. It was a fucking blood bath, but this time we were ready, easily dodging the spikes that would appear, fighting the physical attacks with ease, and blocking the psychic ones. Alanna fought beside her brothers, easily taking on the enemy. Looking at them, you wouldn't think they were so young. 

Suddenly vampires were there, assisting us. Many of the Founders were thrown off, not knowing Vlad's true identity. These were the Blood Crusaders. I had never seen them in combat before now. They've had millions of years worth of experience, and it shows. 

Once the enemy was taken care, a man with long braided white hair approached Vlad, "General Vladorian." "Hans," Vlad greeted before they grasped forearms. "Thank you for assisting." "You are our General, you command us," Hans told him. "So no need to thank us. We are just a little confused on what is going on." "A lot," Vlad said. "Too much to go over right now, but next gathering, we'll talk over some pints." Nia then stepped forward, and Vlad's arm snacked around her. Nia gave them a kind smile, but she looked exhausted. Hans gave her a bow of respect before looking back to Vlad once more. "Is it true though, are you really enslaved," Hans asked him. Vlad shook his head, "I gave my life to a cause. One that I will continue to over see." Hans nodded, and soon he and the other Blood Crusaders disappeared. 

"Let's do what we need too before more come," I ordered. We quickly set about preparing and Draco appeared with the key. Kelsi stayed in hiding with Zephira to ensure her safety. Once all of the circles were ready, we placed the key in the center. We stood around the outer most circle, and linked hands. I looked down at Alanna and she gave me a reassuring smile. I gave her a nod, before we all began to focus our power and energy into the circles. One by one, the circles began to glow. Once the center circle began to glow, the Key began to spin as if it were the needle of a compass. There was a shift in the energy of the air around us. 

The winds began to pick up, the Key lifting into the air as it continued to spin, it's rotation getting faster by the second till it was nothing but a blur. An image of the world appeared around the Key, there was red glowing marks about the world, indicating where the Tears were. It looked as if the world cloaked in red. Slowly, one by one, the Tears began to close. It was draining all of us, but we all held on, waiting for each and every Tear to disappear. When it began to get painful, I gritted my teeth, while Alanna's grip on my hand tightened. I noticed a few dropped to their knees, doing their best to not break the chain. My head began to throb, waves of pain going throughout my body. When the last Tear closed, the Key began to glow, blinding us all. It then made the sound of an explosion, a wave of power slamming into all of us, sending us flying backwards. 

I hit the ground with a groan. I looked at where we had all been standing, and saw the Key was once again gone. I tried to get up, but my body felt like lead. I was able to turn my head enough to see that Alanna had flown not too far from me, unconscious. Darkness began to creep in my vision, and I tried to fight against it, but it eventually won. 

Kelsi's POV

When I appeared with Zephira, I was greeted with Founders, Vlad, and Nia scattered about unconscious. I took Zephira inside the house to lay her down before I began to bring each of them in the house one by one. Afterwards, I began to clean from the massive fight they all had. The Tears were closed, but who knows how many of those things still lingered. We could also see another attack from those who had been eating them. I felt confident that the worst of it was over though. I sat at the kitchen island with a cup of tea in my hands. Zephira was laying in her basinet next to me. It was rather strange to hear the house so silent. Usually you could hear someone arguing, laughter, music of some kind, but there was none of that. I looked down at Zephira who was sleeping peacefully. 

I smiled softly at her then looked out the window. The grass was still coated in blood, and I had the dead bodies gathered in a pile of sorts. Since we were in Louisiana, I wasn't able to bury them, and I hoped the men woke up and had the energy to do something about them, before they began to stink up the area. I didn't have to worry about Alligators showing up because a couple of the Founders have aquatic forms, and their presence keeps the alligators and other predators away. 

Unfortunately, with all of the others being down for the count for the time being, it only left me to hold down the fort. I had no idea how long it was going to take for them to recover, but I prayed it would be soon.