Chapter 14 The Only One
Everyone was on high alert. Everyone was armed and ready to kill.
Olivia’s presence had fired the coven up. The bait was too irresistible, and everyone knew it. The entire coven had watched and patrolled the forest for days.
It only took a week for Elias to notice Olivia’s disappearance. An hour after the sun set on the seventh day, he came.
Whistles echoed throughout the night, signaling Elias’s approach from the vampires who watched from the rooftop.
Gabriel and I left my room with Olivia’s hand in mine. We met Inola and Thomas in the hallway and headed to the foyer.
We went and stood in front of a window, shielding Olivia from sight as Elias emerged from the forest.
Relief filled me. Because of Elias’s appearance, I wouldn’t have to turn Olivia into a vampire. We had been drinking one another's blood from cups to prevent a blood connection from forming, and also because I'd wanted plenty of our blood to be in one another's systems just in case another member decided to ignore my claim.
Jasmina stood at the doorway, her body as still as stone. She had remained awake for this all week, and Gabriel had told me that this was the longest she had ever stayed awake since the death of Jaren.
Freesia glanced at her phone. “Those who patrol the forest see no signs of others. There is no ambush,” Freesia said.
“He is alone,” Jasmina said, surprise in her voice. One hand rested over her heart, and the other hand gripped a stake.
“This is a good thing,” I said. I had been afraid he would come with many others, placing all in danger.
“Gabriel and Kara, listen to me,” Jasmina said. “Go along with exactly everything I say and do.”
Gabriel’s confusion mingled with my own. “He is to die, My Lady, is he not?” Gabriel asked heatedly.
Jasmina’s violet gaze cut us before she walked outside.
Gabriel gritted his teeth, and I felt the sensation inside my own mouth. Olivia squeezed my hand tighter, completely unafraid due to my Control.
A dozen members of Violet Memory shadowed Jasmina as she neared Elias. Some flitted through the trees, and soon Elias was surrounded.
Elias seemed completely at ease. From where I stood, he didn’t even look like he was armed.
“Elias, I was beginning to think the girl meant nothing to you,” Jasmina said.
A spark of emotion entered Elias’s eyes, a look of desperation that mirrored how Gabriel had once looked.
Faint guilt wavered inside my belly, but it was quickly crushed by my anger. This was the monster who had blamed Gabriel for things beyond his control. This was the monster who had tortured me. This was the monster who had killed my dogs and who had caused the blood frenzy in Gabriel.
“I want no trouble,” Elias said. He unzipped his black jacket and spread his hands. “As you see, I came alone, and I am not armed. While I am trespassing and already deserve death by your laws, you know why I am here. Return Olivia to me, and you will never again see or hear from me. Kara and her loved ones will be safe, I promise.”
Gabriel made a move to step outside, but Inola spread her arm out in front of him. Thomas pulled at Gabriel’s sleeve, shaking his head.
Jasmina was quiet for a long time. “After everything you have done, you believe I should let you live?” she said. “Others will think I have gone too soft. You were the one who killed June.”
Elias said nothing.
Jasmina shook her head. “You killed one of our own. I cannot allow you to live. You know this.”
Immediately, Elias raised his arm, and the unmistakable glint of a stake gun shined in the moonlight. The dozen vampires closed in around Jasmina, their fangs bared.
I swallowed hard. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Why was Jasmina hesitating?
“Kara, bring Olivia outside,” Jasmina ordered quietly.
I felt Gabriel’s hand tighten on his stake. He moved toward the door, but Thomas held him back.
“Don’t,” Thomas whispered into his ear. His voice was extremely quiet; I could only hear because I was connected to Gabriel. “You can’t kill him anyway. Just watch.”
“He is not going to live after everything he’s done,” Gabriel hissed.
“Hush, Gabriel,” Inola scolded furiously.
I remembered the way Jasmina had looked at us before going outside. I was truly appalled; I couldn’t believe she valued her life so much more than the rest of us. It seemed completely against her character.
“As soon as I have an opening, I will stake him,” I said to Gabriel inside our minds.
I felt Gabriel’s body tense. He didn’t want me anywhere near Elias, but he also didn’t want Elias to escape.
“He won’t see it coming,” I assured him. “He’s too surrounded by enemies. He knows you would never let me do something this dangerous, so he won’t expect it when I do attack him.”
I walked to Gabriel and kissed his cheek before going outside with Olivia. Gabriel followed behind me, shrugging off Thomas’s hand.
The desperation in Elias’s eyes turned to pure agony as I approached with Olivia. We stopped behind the group of vampires, and Olivia smiled at him. I heard Elias’s breath hitch.
“Were you harmed?” Elias asked her.
Olivia shook her head. “Kara has been very kind to me . . . for a kidnapper.”
“I’m sorry. This was not supposed to happen,” Elias murmured, lowering the arm that had the stake gun strapped to it.
“That’s all right. I get to finally speak to you after all this time. . . . But Kara told me you’ll probably just Control my memories away anyway,” Olivia said sadly.
Elias seemed unsure, and he looked to Gabriel and me. “I just want a normal life for her. That’s it. I just want her to have a safe life.”
“That sounds familiar,” Gabriel said through clenched teeth.
Elias ignored him and looked at me. “We meet again, little hummingbird.”
I swallowed iced razors and made myself smile at him. “Actually, my heartbeat is very slow
