Daughter of the Earth- Stary Writing Academy III

Chapter 11: Dimitri's Execution

Serafina

I was sick and tired of this vamp’s ‘tude. I was going to have to teach him some manners real quick. But I wouldn’t kill him. At least, I wouldn’t start the fight with that intent. Now that Fina had given me some background into why these bloodsuckers attacked my family, I had a solid lead. And I could almost bet that this guy had some answers.

As far as vampires go, he is quite impressive.

I could hear the admiration in Fina’s voice as she assessed our visitor.

What do you mean?

I can tell that he is quite powerful. Looking through your memories, he is most definitely the strongest vampire you have ever encountered.

A low growl rumbled up from my chest as I glared.

Wonderful. I have a lot of pent-up anger towards vamps at the moment and since I can’t very well attack a part of myself, he will be a perfect substitute.

While I was lost in thought, I felt Castor’s hand on my shoulder. Turning to look at him I could see the concern on his face.

“Are you sure about this? I know that you’ve had a lot going on. Will you be able to do your best?”

I knew that he was avoiding explicitly mentioning me passing out, not wanting to give the vamp any leverage over the fight that was sure to come. I grabbed his hand and squeezed gently.

“Never better.”

“Aw. That’s cute. Now, you mentioned coming in and getting you? My pleasure. Your alpha just has to grant me permission.”

Looking at the guards he made kissing noises as if calling them.

“Little pups, little pups, let me in,” he called.

“Not by the dusty hair on your chinny chin chin you ashy corpse.”

Castor laughed at his guard’s boldness as I leaned over and whispered,

“I like that guy’s confidence.”

Immediately, his laugh turned into a small growl, and I punched Castor in the arm.

“Pipe down Enzo. You know we’re yours forevermore.”

I felt Castor wrap his arm around me and sniff my neck. Rolling my eyes I focused back in on the vamp. Fina said he was strong, and I could definitely see that he was a fighter. This was going to be a tough fight, but I was confident I could win.

Castor cleared his throat and addressed his guards in his Alpha voice.

“We will allow the vampire in because the Luna wants to teach him a lesson.”

The vamp arched a brow.

“First of all, my name is Dimitri. I would like to apologize beforehand. Your goddess was cruel enough to introduce you to your mate, only to have her taken from you. My condolences.”

Castor’s eyes flashed gold and the growl that ripped through his chest was so infused with power the guards dropped to their knees. Even Dimitri took a step back. I placed my hand on his shoulder this time, as Delfine pushed forth.

“Listen. Dimitri was it? Just save your apologies til after you get your ass handed to you.”

He laughed and threw up his hands in mock surrender.

“As you wish.”

I turned to Castor, who was still fighting with Enzo for control.

Let me go calm my wolf down, that stupid bloodsucker got under his fur.

I could tell that whatever Delfine was doing was working because Castor’s eyes stopped flashing, and he was able to take deep, slow breaths. I cupped his face in my cheeks and made him look at me and began to speak at a volume only he could hear.

“I need you to trust me. I have trained all my life to fight vamps. And, even though it was an accident, your blood has made me even stronger. I can, and will, do this.”

He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. Then he nodded.

“Sylvester, Matthew, go and get everything set up.”

They nodded and left immediately. Castor went and stood at the gate.

“On principle, I don’t trust vamps at keeping their word. Let this be known, Dimitri. If you try to deceive us or trick us in any way, you will never know peace. I will make sure that your very existence brings you pain. You will forever be looking over your shoulder. And when it finally comes time to ash you out for good? It will be me, driving the stake through your heart.”

He looked me in my eye and nodded.

“I don’t have much that I can lay claim to, just the nature of how my coven works. But I do have my honor. I do not believe in underhanded tactics. I am a vampire, not a coward.”

Castor stared at him for a minute before he opened the gate. Dimitri stepped through quietly and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Well, wolves, lead the way.”

***

Castor

Castor let me out. Let me kill this creature. He obviously has no interest in living if he dares disrespect my queen.

Enzo as much as I agree with you we promised to let Serafina handle it.

What if he hurts her? What if he wins?

I have already informed the warriors to be prepared for battle. We won’t let that bloodsucker leave with our Luna. Not after it took me so long to find her.

Enzo grumbled in the back of my mind, but he eased up. We had faith in Serafina but as Alpha, it is always my job to think of all contingency plans. By the time I had everything finalized, we had made it to the training grounds. All the warriors of the pack, except for Becks, Gabe, and the few I had entrusted with other orders, were standing around the main arena in silence. The warrior’s faces were expressionless, hands behind their backs. The only sign of life was when a few bared their teeth at the vampire entering their territory. My pack is normally not so hostile, but the recent vamp attacks, along with news that one was here to take away the one thing that could complete the pack brought out their antagonistic side.

Dimitri seemed not to notice and waltzed onto the mat as if he owned it. He removed his shirt and began to stretch. The stretches and warm-ups he did let me know that he was a fighter. This was going to be dangerous.

“Castor was it? It seems as if your new Luna is a bit more scared than she let on. She was right behind us, and now she’s gone. What was all that talk of honor?”

Before I could respond, one of my newer, more zealous warriors leaped into the ring.

“I won’t let you disrespect our Luna!”

He rushed the vamp and I saw Dimitri shift his stance to one that was intended to kill. Before he reached Dimitri, I had intercepted him, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him to the ground. As he landed he had the wind knocked from him.

“I appreciate your passion and care for your Luna, Elijah. But I am afraid he’s a little out of your league. Trust in your Luna. And if you can’t trust her, then trust in your Alpha.”

Once he indicated that he would back down, I let him loose. Helping him up and motioning him to retake his place, I heard the beautiful sound of my mate’s voice.

“I appreciate your concern for me, I really do. But one thing you will learn about your Luna; I ain’t no punk.”

I turned to see that she had changed from the sweats back into the clothes she had come to us in. Enzo grumbled as we gazed at our mate. The way she filled out her clothes made me send out a warning growl to all the male warriors that stared for too long. Hell, some of the female warriors too.

Dimitri stood unfazed, staring curiously at Serafina.

“You really did kill Keith huh?”

She chuckled.

“In less than 30 seconds.”

Enzo hummed his approval as whispering erupted around the arena. Dimitri cracked his knuckles and his neck.

“Wonderful. That means I won’t have to go easy on you then.”

Serafina mirrored his actions, as her eyes flashed between red and an eerie shade of black.

“Ditto.”

I stood between the two of them and looked them each in the eye.

“This fight will be determined by knockout or submission. No weapons, claws, or fangs included, are allowed. Do you both agree to this?”

When they both nodded I stepped back and took my place outside the ring. Immediately they assumed defensive positions and circled each other. Every so often, Serafina or Dimitri would feint in, testing the other’s defenses.

Dimitri made the first move, moving almost too fast for my eyes. He aimed a punch at Serafina’s stomach, which she blocked but still tossed her back a few feet. She straightened up and shook her hand.

“That one had a little heat to it. You’re trying to finish this quickly, huh? Let me help you.”

She advanced, her movements actually too fast for my eyes. She punched him in the stomach, getting a painful grunt for her efforts. They started an all-out brawl, kicks, and punches flying as they both switched seamlessly through different martial arts styles. He landed a punch on her cheek that made her spin. I growled deep in my chest but didn’t move. She looked at me and winked, wiping the blood that had dripped down her lip. I could feel the pack’s excitement rising as they saw their Luna not only competing but winning against Dimitri. She landed a heavy punch on Dimitri’s jaw that brought him to his knees.

Quick as lightning she was behind him and wrapped him in a sleeper hold with her legs securely around his waist.

“Yield,” she hissed, as she applied enough pressure to ensure Dimitri she could, and would, rip his head off. He hissed and reluctantly tapped her arm. She let him go and hopped away from him. Rubbing his neck he stood, chuckling.

“That’s the first time in a long time that I have had to yield to anyone. And it is most certainly the first time that person has been a woman.”

Serafina’s eyes turned black, and all of a sudden her aura became more... menacing. This wasn’t the Serafina I knew.

“What do you know of Castiel?”

Dimitri’s head snapped up, and he sneered at my mate.

“What do you know of that monster?”

“He is the reason I exist. And it is my mission to end his life.”

Dimitri put his hand over his chest in an obvious salute.

“Castiel is the leader of my coven. He is a monster, that values life as nothing more than tools to be used and eventually discarded. He is everything I hate, but because I owe him my life, I am indebted to him. But, I now owe you the same debt.”

This Serafina assessed him coolly. Her black eyes were off-putting, but when she turned to me they seemed softer, and as I watched, they went from black to red, and then finally that beautiful warm honey brown I was obsessed with.

“Castor, can we meet with him in private? I have some questions I would like to ask him.”

I nodded and stepped forward.

“Warriors. As you can see, your Luna is not to be trifled with. Since her opponent has yielded, we will accept him as a visitor and treat him as such,” I began, before turning to face Dimitri, “within reason, under the circumstances.”

***

Dimitri

I was floored. This was the first time in at least 8 years that I had been bested. And the ease with which she did it! It was infuriating. At first, I thought my restlessness was purely due to the ass whooping Serafina put on me. But as we got closer to Castor’s office, my senses were on high alert. My vampiric side was anxious and for some reason, there was nothing I could do to calm down. Serafina noticed my anxiety and looked at me strangely. I waved off her concern and focused on what would be to come.

By the time we made it to the office, I was ready to either kill something, drink something, or put something to sleep, if you know what I mean. There was this scent that reminded me of a milk chocolate Alenka, freshly unwrapped. I could almost taste it and it was driving me insane. I immediately sat down in one of the office chairs, bouncing my knee and trying to keep myself distracted.

“Dimitri, is everything alright? Do you ne--”

Before Castor could finish offering me something that definitely would not have helped me, the door to his office flew open.

“Castor! Where’s that damn bloodsucker?! I smell my mate and don’t want him being a midnight snack!”

The minute her eyes landed on me, they turned dark with lust and she launched herself at me. I grabbed her easily and began kissing the small of her neck and down to her collarbone greedily. The scent was even stronger here, but the mere thought of piercing her flesh filled me with immense sadness. I pulled back and looked her in the eyes, and I heard her whisper,

“Mate.”

I looked at her, confused.

“Mate?”

She nodded as she nuzzled against my neck, kissing and biting. Suddenly, Castor cleared his throat loudly, and my new love leapt from my lap and looked away ashamed.

“If you two are done fondling each other, we have some things to discuss.

***

Rebekah (Becks)



Oh my gosh. We found our mate, Trix! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh?! He’s a vampire Trix! I didn’t even know something like this was possible?!

I didn’t know it was possible either. That must mean that vamps, or at least our vamp, has enough of a soul that Selene saw fit to bless him.

Inwardly, I was practically glowing with pride that our mate was a rarity. I mean, looking at him, I could see that he was definitely one of a kind. His body looked like it was chiseled from stone, with beautiful brown skin and tattoos for days. His face was sharp as well, and his strong jaw was clenched in obvious concentration. Every so often, I would catch him glancing at me out of the corner of his eye before refocusing his attention on Castor. But it wasn’t long before his gaze would slide back over to me.

I smiled shyly and caught a glint of silver when he smirked back. Castor called my name and I turned startled, blushing deeply when I realized I had no idea what he was talking about.

“I’m sorry Alpha. I was excited about finding my mate. I am paying attention now.”

Serafina had stars in her eyes as she looked between us, and her joy was infectious.

“Becks, we were talking about the execution. Dimitri's execution.”