Chapter 65 - The Plan Unveiled

It wasn't the first time I had seen Damon shift, but it was still breathtaking. I couldn’t imagine ever getting used to it. We were racing through the dark woods of Somber Forest now, and I leaned forward on his back, gripping the fur around his neck as if it were my lifeline—which, in a way, it was. We sped away with incredible swiftness, the cold air biting harder at such a fast pace. Despite everything, the world somehow seemed more beautiful.

We arrived at the house a while later, where the council had already gathered outside. Damon shifted back into his human form, and Maria was there, ready with clothes for him. I was glad to see her, but the dread of sharing what I had recently witnessed weighed on me like a haunting dream. I wanted to tell her that I forgave her for Evan, but I wasn’t sure I truly did. Even as I looked into her children’s eyes, I still regretted that Evan was no longer with us.

"They’re all in the meeting room," Maria told Damon, "They’ve been looking for you for hours."

I saw my father rushing toward me to welcome me back, along with Maria’s other kids. I hugged my father as Damon disappeared into the meeting room.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" He asked, tracing the contours of my face.

"I’m fine—"

"They said you were kidnapped by vampires—"

"Yes, it's true, but it's alright, I'm okay-"

"Did you see Tessa? They took her too," Maria's desperate eyes landed on mines. I examined the look on her kids' faces. They looked much younger than I had imagined or perhaps it was fear that made you look more vulnerable.

"Ava," a voice so commanding it immediately demanded all of our attention. Damon had poked his head out from the meeting room," can you come inside please."
I spared a last glance at my father and the others.

"I'll talk to you soon," I reassured. I hurried to where Damon was waiting for me.

"I need you to demonstrate, your power-"

"What power?" I hissed.

"I heard what the vampire said back there in the cave. A human with werewolf blood, you went behind my back, didn't you? You took werewolf blood and that is how you survived the Emantors."
I stared at him with knowing eyes. He had me all figured out.

"That's how the others survived, right? You must have given it to all of them."

I sighed, "So, what now? Are you going to throw me back in the cell or just kill us all?"

"No, quite the opposite. I want to convince the council to support your plan—to give werewolf blood to all humans, making them useless to the vampires. It’s the only way to truly eliminate them."

"Are you serious about this?"

This was it. What we’d been striving for all along, and it had nearly cost us everything.

"After what I witnessed today, I realized I should have trusted you from the start."

"H-how do you want me to demonstrate?" I murmured.

I should have been relieved, but all I could think was, why didn’t you listen to me earlier? Why did it have to come to this?

"That’s the hard part. They’ll want to see a vampire try to feed on you."

I glanced back at the others. They couldn’t hear our conversation, but their sorrowful eyes were full of desperation.

I nodded, turning back to Damon. "If this works, do you think they’ll agree?"

"I’ve already convinced them; they just want proof. One of Luke’s men is bringing a vampire prisoner."

It seemed I had no other choice. Less than an hour later, we were all gathered inside. The vampire knelt at Luke’s feet, bound in chains made of wood, covered in more wounds than I could count. His face was obscured by what looked like a metal mask. I wondered why—what had they done to him?

"He's desperate to feed," Luke struggled with the chains as the boy hissed and jerked," as soon as I take off the mask, he will want to bite."
I stared into Damon's eyes that seemed more uneasy than mine. He was hesitant, he seemed to be thinking twice.

"I'll be okay," I whispered low enough for just us to hear.

"I'll bring one of Maria's kids instead, we'll start with them-"

"No!" I grabbed his arm and brought him back," this was my idea, I should be the one to do this."
Still, he seemed uncertain.

"I promise, I'll be okay. You've seen it already, it will work."
Luke released the cage to reveal the evil eyes of the starving vampire. His fangs had extended into his own chin, his skin had gone pale enough to reveal charcoal veins that looked like branches beneath his skin. I must admit that I too was scared.

"Get closer," Luke urged, "I can't let him go any further. I need you near so I can pull him back if he goes too far—"

"Alright," I exhaled, avoiding both Damon’s gaze and the countless eyes of the council. I had to remind myself; it’s terrifying at first, but after a while, it almost feels good.

Nothing could have made the moment any less chaotic. I couldn’t tell if the sensation was purely physical—a whirlwind of destruction—or if it was mental as well. The vampire attached to my neck with the speed of a magnet, and I cried out as his fangs pierced my skin, sending a burning shock through me. I saw Damon move to stop it, but the others held him back. My vision blurred, and my eyes rolled back. Just like the last time, my body went limp, and my will faded. Silence overtook me, and all I could feel was the draining sensation, like someone had pierced me with a straw and began to drink. My sense of time became distorted; I couldn’t tell if it was taking too long or happening too quickly. I could hear anxious murmurs in the background.

"Pull him back, that’s enough—" Damon barked.

"Alpha, this was your idea."

"I said pull him back, now."