Alone

Chapter 17

I had to do something. She can't survived a fight with all of them. I couldn't let  them hurt my sister. I'd rather die.

"STOP!" My command echoed through the chamber, "This girl is under my protection. Harm to her will be taken as an attack on me. Lay a hand on her, you will end up like your friend."

They backed down, obviously not wanting to agony of being burned alive, "Now, get out of my sight."

They scrambled away.

I heard a laugh behind me. I turned. "Ronan's chosen guards are scared of you. You must be something special, eh, sweetie?" I studied her face. She looked like our mother.

"Fear comes easily when I'm around." I extended my hand, "It's nice to meet you. I'm Alexia."

He eyes bulged, "You aren't what I expected." She shook my hand. 

"Excuse me?"

"Ronan was always fantasizing about someone named Alexia. You don't disappoint." Her expression turned fearful, "He's not here is he?"

"Ronan is dead."

Her eyes narrowed at me, "Then why are you here?"

I looked at Sebastian the back at her, "We wanted to meet our sister. Is that such a grave offense?"

"Sister?"

"We have a lot to catch up on. I don't want anyone to hear us, so we should probably talk privately."

I closed the door to Ronan's office. Well, I guess it's Sebastian's now.

"Edalyn leaned casually against the desk. "So, what you guys are saying is that I share a mom with you, " she pointed at me, "and a sperm donor with you." I saw the shadow of a smile on Sebastian's face at her comment.

"Doesn't that make you guys practically related?"

I shrugged, "I guess so."

"So why are you sleeping together?"

I froze at her question, and Sebastian looked uncomfortable, "Oh my Lord."  I drew in my breath, "Not that it's any of your business, but that only happened once."

"But it was recently, right? I mean, the s****l tension in this room, like, damn."

"So, back to the point. I need to kill my father. I could really use the help of another royal vamp."

I hadn't actually asked him, but I knew Sebastian wouldn't let me fight alone. It was unspoken between us.

I nodded, frowning, "What you're saying is, you wanted to find me so that I could be an accessory in the murder of one of the most powerful beings in the universe. The Devil."

I replied quickly, the words natural, "That's not the only reason. You're all that's left of my mother." I amended, "Sorry. Our mother. I'm not used to having to share. Ever."

"You want me to fight the Devil. The Devil." I nodded and she continued, "I'm just a vampire! My immortality won't outlast a god. Hell, it can't even outlast a well-placed sharp piece of wood!"

She wasn't wrong. "I get it and I'm sorry. I won't put you unwillingly in the line of fire. I don't want to put you in the line of fire anyway. But if you don't mind, I would be happy if you'd stay with Sebastian and me in my father's palace." I cringed and looked around, "At least it'd be better than staying in this god-awful place."

She snickered, knowing I was right. This place was a war zone. "Pass up a chance to stay in the Emperor of Hell's palace? That's funny." She smirked.

Yep, she definitely had more of our mother than Ronan... by far.

As we left the palace, Edalyn furrowed her brow in confusion at the lack of transport. "How exactly are we getting there?"

She looked ready to bolt. She thought we had lied about everything. "If you guys are f*****g with me..." Her voice trailed off, the veiled threat was evident.

I chuckled, "Don't worry, we'll be there before you know it."

I grabbed Sebastian's arm, then hers, hoping she wouldn't wrangle herself from my grasp before I was able to get us anywhere.

I thought of my father's palace and smiled a bit, hearing Sebastian's sharp intake of breath, and Edalyn's yelp at the foreign feeling of crossing space-time. We blinked back into existence outside of Damien's palace. 

"Holy f*****g sh-" Her voice was cut off by the sound of her puking. I cringed and looked away.

"Yeah," Sebastian's voice told me he didn't make the jump too well either. "I know how you feel. Don't worry though, the first time is always the worst."

"How comforting," I heard her mumble. But then louder, "I hope you realize you sound like my mom did when giving me the s*x talk." We then proceeded to laugh at his uncomfortable expression.

"Wait, she did that to you too?" Humor lined her features.

" Of course she did. She always believed I would make it out of Ronan's grasp and- How did she phrase it?- live life to the fullest."

"I miss her. And her ability to make me laugh."

"Me too." She sighed, "You know, one time, she just didn't show up. I never saw her again. Didn't get to say goodbye. But Ronan showed up, and I soon realized that he had probably killed her." She gave me a once over, "I guess you existing means she survived." She spoke with the pain I felt every day."

"I'd do anything to see her again. Just one more time." Edalyn looked confused.

I scoffed at my own insensitivity, "No, I wouldn't. Her entire life was just a stupid f*****g game of hot potato between two powerful supernaturals. She's at peace now."

"Was?" Edalyn asked, "Are you telling me she's dead?"

"I'm sorry. It was a long time ago."

She steeled herself for her next question, "How did she die?"

I was hit with the horrible memories leading up to her death.

"I was stupid. I renounced my father's throne. Humiliated him." The rare tear fell from my eye, "It wasn't what I wanted, The way I saw it, Luca could've ruled."

Sebastian elaborated for her, "That's her brother. Different mother." She nodded.

"He wouldn't let me be. He thought she was the reason. Her influence.  He killed her out of spite. Apparently, he thought I would take the throne then. How wrong he was."

By the time I finished, her face didn't show sadness, instead, nothing but blind rage. "So, when do we start?"

"Start what?"

"I'm in. We're gonna kill this bastard son of a bitch."