Seventy-Nine

When Vlad’s words resounded through the place, and my stupid sister put herself in front of Radu, my blood froze in my veins as doom was about to descend on us. I found myself exhausted with my head cushioned in Doctor Blake’s lap, and fatherly eyes looked down at me. Yes, he had redeemed himself; he was a good person after all, and as much as a victim like me or my obtuse sister. Warmth filled my heart for this man, but also guilt. It was as if, because of this new feeling, I betrayed Anton. He was my father in my heart, and my love for him was infinite. He picked up my mixed feelings, because the next second, he was there in my head.
*'No hard feelings, pumpkin, you have a good heart, and I’m proud of you.'*
“Alice, go to your father. I don’t need saving. I know how to deal with my big brother.”
“Please, can’t you two find a common ground? This won’t end well. I foresaw it, Radu. Believe me!”
“Don’t worry so much, Angel. Things won’t end well for him.” He pecked her on the lips and pushed her hard out of their way. Alice tumbled back, falling on her butt close to me and Doctor Blake.
Tears burned behind my eyes. My sister wasn’t a bad person after all, and she had a few gifts of her own as well. Just like me, she had to do whatever she could to survive in all this chaos. And if she fell in love with him, maybe he had something good in his soul. I turned my head to them, and they were circling each other like tigers ready to jump at their throats, red and gold in a deadly challenge. My stomach churned violently with the waves of pure hatred and resentment for one another, hitting me full force. Bile rose to my mouth, and I heaved, not able to hold it anymore. I disentangled myself from Doc, puking my soul out. Suddenly, the first blow of clashing blades.
I glanced at them; they were beautiful together, and they resembled so much, it was heart-wrenching they held a grudge against each other. They fought like they were waltzing around the room. Each time the blades crashed, sparks and static engulfed them. Their swords came together above their heads as they faced each other for a few seconds, and I could see their veins popping on their necks and temples.
One big push, and Radu’s foot collided with Vlad’s chest, descending his sword. My heart stuttered, and I held a strangled scream when the blade passed by his chest, slashing at his clothes and flesh. Grizzly stumbled back, regaining his balance, while an evil grin danced on those weasel’s lips.
*'Battle wound.'* His laughter made its way into my mind, and I rolled my eyes at him with a loud sigh.
*'Teaser!'* The world was coming down on us and he was teasing me! *'Pay attention, because if you get one more scratch, you’ll be the one wearing the shackles.'* And what I got was the most sinful smirk going to places I couldn’t think about now.
“Getting old, big brother?” He didn’t even finish his mockery, Vlad charged against him, elbow to the nose, as he flipped himself and connected his right foot on Radu’s jaw, sending him flying to the floor, his sword sliding on the tiles. But unfortunately, before we blinked, he was back on his feet, calling to his sword.
“Who’s old now, you pathetic excuse of a warrior!” Vlad snarled at him.
Tony’s voice got my attention, and he had Shane in his grasp by the throat and pasted to the wall. I got so depleted of energy and dizzy, my head spun like a wheel. I had to get up and help them somehow. My sixth sense blared in my brain like a firehouse siren. Something wasn’t right. Putting my hand on the wall for leverage, Doctor Blake steadied me, helping me up.
“How many times have I told you not to come closer to Alex? To leave her alone, she wasn’t for you, punk!” Dad was much stronger, and Shane in his failed attempt to blow my father, got thrown with all force close to where we were, Shane hit the other wall with a loud crack of his head and slid down. His eyes, bordering on insanity, as he glanced at me then settled on Alice, who until that moment seemed in her own world watching them fight, but turned to him with a creepy look.
“Go to hell, Tony, she is mine!” He yelled, defying my father, who marched through the room, grabbing him by the throat again, squeezing him hard, but not before fire erupted around them, Shane commanding the blazes.
“She’ll never be yours, punk!” Dad gritted out to him, putting off the fire.
Alice took advantage of their distraction and made a run against Tony, snatching his dagger from his scabbard and throwing herself against the brothers as I screamed at the top of my lungs. But it was late. She plunged the damn knife into Vlad’s chest. It was then the world stood still, and the air stalled to an unbreathable point, and I looked at him, my heart suffering a little death as tears were already flowing from my eyes. He was there, standing, looking at me with such peacefulness, as if he knew we would come to that.
My heart plummeted in my chest as I felt nothing but the icy claws of death reaching for us. The sound of a snapping neck came to my ears as I ran to him, but not before madness set into my mind, and a desire for a killing spree took over my brain.
“You bitch! You have no clue what you just did!” I screamed, grabbing my sister by her clothes and shook the shit out of her. My hand came into a fist, and I delivered a hard punch to her face, knocking her out cold to the floor.
Dad was already carrying Vlad and lying him down when I kneeled beside him and took the damp strands of hair from his face, caressing and kissing his lips. I pulled the dagger out and put pressure on top of the gash to stop the bleeding.
“Dad, why isn’t he healing?” I screamed as a heavy sob choked me. “He should heal, DAD!!!”
“She hit him with my dagger, pumpkin. It’s the only thing that can kill us, I’m sorry.”
“NO, NO!!! Do something!” God, I was there holding him tight to me, helpless, our agonizing pain melded us together, searing my veins to the point I saw them rising on my skin, he was having trouble pushing air to his lungs. “Dad! I know you can do something, please!” He was getting grey and cold by the second, those beautiful green eyes turning glassy, and blood coming out of his mouth. He was dying, and I was dying with him.
“I can’t, Alex. I can’t go against fate. The curse, the loop of your existence is broken, you’ll be able to rest now, both of you.” Anton cried with me, sorrow marring his face and tears streaming down his cheeks, losing themselves in his beard.
“I don’t care. Break all the heavenly rules, talk to your boss above, I don’t care!” I got hysterical, as I didn’t know what to think or do. Anton was there, looking at us, unsure. He could fix all this, but chose not to.
“Dragă…”
“Grizzly, please, don’t you dare die on me!” I screamed as his breathing came in short, ragged gasps. He looked at me with those forest greens full of wonder, staring at my eyes as he tried to bring his hand to my face. I grabbed it and brought it to me. My tears fell non-stop, like big, thick drops of rain on top of his chest, seeping into his wound.
“You enchanted me with those lavenders the minute you opened them to me on that horse in Târgovişte.” His voice was barely a whisper.
“Please, don’t.”
“Liz… Listen… Anton is right…” He trailed off, blinking several times, trying to focus. “You taught me how to love and you saved me in so many ways you are not even aware of. I loved you so much, Draga mea.”
“Stop talking like this, you’re going nowhere.” The light in his eyes was fading, and I was losing him. I was losing my heart and there was nothing I could do about it. “ANTON!”
My tears washed over him like angry rivers, mixing with his blood everywhere. It has to have a way. This is not the end! Then I heard the fall of a drop like when it reached the bottom of a deep well, and with each tear that seeped into the wound, the echo resounded and his chest glowed. A golden light bathed him from inside out as, by my side, the dagger hummed and symbols formed.
“Listen to me, Liz. You have to let me go. Maybe it’s my turn to die, and next time we won’t miss each other.” I stared at his eyes, and deep inside them, his little demon stared back at me. “Blood for blood, life for life,” he whispered. The dagger glowed, and it dawned on me. That was my chance, my cue to reverse that crap!
“No, you’re not gonna die today, Grizzly. Not on my watch.” I snatched the dagger.
“Alex! What are you doing?” My father yelled at me when he tried to get the blade back, but he didn’t expect I charged against him, shocking and sending him flying, which gave me the time to cut my wrist deep.
My blood poured out, warm, red and rich, as I didn’t waste time. I pressed my wrist into his wound, and I whispered to him, “Blood for blood. Tears to tears. I give my blood for yours, my tears for your soul to keep.” As I took his lips, I muffled his painful screams and savored my salty tears mixed with the coppery of his blood on his lips. “I love you, and I choose you above everything else.” He convulsed in my arms, but I held him tight to me as peace took our souls and a golden light enveloped us, hot and bright, burning and healing us.
Our lives from day one passed in front of us like a movie. All the bad and the wonderful moments shared until that moment, until his heart stuttered. One… two… Three beats, the light receded, the warmth cooled, and he was gone. Silence fell, just to be broken by my gruesome, mind shattering scream, as I hit him with all my force over and over, shaking him with all my strength and making him stand up, but nothing. I was a mess and possessed with a grief no one could put together.
“Wake up! Wake up! Don’t you dare! Wake up, GRIZZLY!”