CHAPTER 33: Dark

**ALICIA**

“What is happening? Let me go! Where are you bringing me?”

I shouted, struggling to remove the tie in my hand. I kicked in my feet yet there was no progress. I am already sweating and in pain as they put me inside the car. I could only see the darkness and smell blood.

“Don’t fight us, you will get tired.” Hades replied. “Just stay still…and if you keep on shouting, I might want to kill you.”

“Did Akihiro know about this?” I hissed. “I doubt it because he will not let you hurt me!” I yelled again. I could feel that I am already losing my voice. “At least, tell me where we are going! Where is Akihiro?”

“We are going to save Akihiro.” Leah replied. “Between you and him, he is more important so please shut up.”

“Save Akihiro, from whom?” I asked, confused. “I don’t think Akihiro will be in danger when he is a pureblood. Who is more powerful than him?”

“Will you please shut up?” Leah raised her voice, aiming the gun on my head.

I smirked. I may not see her but I can sense her hesitation and I am pretty sure that they cannot kill me.

“Go on, kill me.” I responded to her, perhaps picking a fight because she’s getting on my nerves each day. “I doubt that because what will Akihiro say or do if you will kill me? Surely, he will kill you too.”

I smiled a bit, remembering Akihiro’s face. Now, it’s making me sad. I could feel his love for me. I may not believe in him, but he might be telling the truth. Nevertheless, it’s not time for time. It’s time to save him.

“If you want to use me to save Akihiro, you can use me.” I firmly said. “I will agree…so can you please untie me? I am not going to run because it will not do me good knowing you are all vampires? Are you that afraid I can outrun you?” I scoffed.

“I am reminding you to shut up or I will cut your tongue!” Leah warned as she untied my hands and feet. I was about to remove my blindfold when Hades stopped me.

“What?”

“You wouldn’t want to see what’s outside, Alicia. It might make you scream. And, we don’t need your voice right now as we are entering the tunnel now.” Hades held my shoulder. “Do not say a word unless we are the first one who asks you…or we will all die.”

“I don’t think pureblood vampires—” Hades covered my mouth. I was about to fight when I felt the darkness. It’s already dark with my blindfold yet it became darker.

My bones started to shake as we passed by a tunnel. It’s quiet. I couldn’t hear a thing at first until slowly…I could hear whispers. Hades is still covering my mouth while trying to hold me. I am not sure where we are…but I decided to close my eyes because I might kill all of us if I do not follow them.

They seem to be afraid, too. I counted sheep to calm myself. But, it wasn’t helping. Thinking of Akihiro isn’t helping at all. It’s been minutes since we entered the tunnel…and another minute passed when Hades relaxed, finally letting me go.

“What was that?” I asked, catching my breath.

“It’s the tunnel of illusion, Alicia.” Niko replied. “You wouldn’t want to know so we suggest you shut up.”

I rolled my eyes and looked outside. We are on a road filled with tall trees. It’s dark outside and there is no single light. It creeps me out, what more if I see what is inside the tunnel?

“What is happening? Are you going to kill me? You should have at least told me so I can be ready for what's going to happen to me.”

“We are not going to kill you, but they might.” Hades replied to me until the car stopped. It makes me wonder why we use cars when they are vampires. What are we after now?

“Akihiro is missing.” Leah said, “Or we can say he’s been kidnapped by this clan.”

“Akihiro, a pureblood vampire, being kidnapped by whom?” I scoffed. “Woah, sorry, but he is a pureblood vampire, thus who is more powerful than him? Of course, his father—”

“Are you always this talkative?” Niko was already pissed as he held my hand. “We are not here to play, Alicia. We are sure Akihiro will hurt us or might even kill us after knowing this, but he is the next pureblood vampire king. Far more important than your life, so we are here to exchange you for him.”

“Wait?” I blinked. “You said, I am not a vampire yet why are you choosing me? I am nothing. I am human!”

“Indeed. And, they need humans, specifically with rare blood like you.”
I blinked. “You mean, you are going to make me a sacrifice?”

It started to give me chills. I am not ready for this. And, if Akihiro has been kidnapped by them, then it would mean they are more powerful than Akihiro. He cannot save me. No one can save me which means this will be my ending!

“Finally, it made you speechless.” Leah smirked. “Now, let’s get this done.”

Leah walked in front of us. It’s an open field. I couldn’t see clearly because of the dark, however, their eyes glowed in the dark.

“Where are we? Who are we after?” I whispered.

The trees were swaying but there was no sound. Even the crickets are hiding…and the clouds cannot be seen. My hands were shaking.

Alicia, you need to be ready! You cannot be weak right now!

“We are here now.” Leah raised her voice. “We demand your presence.”

I counted one…two…three…there was nothing.

“We are not here to fight! We brought you a presence you will surely love in exchange for Akihiro. Now, how about we end this? We don’t want bloodshed.” Hades called out to them. “Surely, you don’t want the current pureblood vampire to come here and end your bloodline.”

“Oh, Hades.” Someone spoke. It was a baritone voice. “You are belittling us. If the current pureblood vampire wants to kill us, he would have done it a long time ago.”

I looked around. Where is he? There is no one around us. I sense the vampires became alert listening to nature. Just then, someone fired an arrow and it went on Niko’s leg, making him bend his knees.

“Fuck! We said we are not going to fight!” Hades claimed. “We are to talk peacefully. Please, don’t make us fight you.” Hades begged me…and that is when I knew that this clan isn’t something I should belittle because even the strongest of the pureblood is in their hands now.

“You are here to talk peacefully, but we aren't, pureblood vampires. You harm our men first, we are returning the favor now.” The man spoke again and a dagger flowed towards Hades in which he caught in his hand.

I blinked when I saw the symbol on the end of the dagger. Tulip…and wings…what the hell?