Slade Donovan POV
The search for Xavier and Zepeda had begun even before Gabriella woke up and shifted into a werewolf. My uncle and I had stormed the place but found no one in the secret hideouts. While my uncle and his human army went after those two, I stayed behind and watched over Gabriella who was still finding it hard to adapt to her new body. “Like a werewolf, you need to learn some basics. ” I explained to her as we made our way into the royal infirmary where Anabella and her daughter were admitted.
After she woke up, I gave her the good news. Gabriella couldn’t wait as she wanted to meet with her sister as quickly as possible. It took a great explanation and objection to convince Gabriella to rest before seeing her sister which she refused and on that evening after she woke up, we visited the Royal infirmary.
“Anabella,” Gabriella announced her presence as she walked into the ward.
“Gabriella,” Anabella’s voice sounded weak and I knew it was because of her newborn. “Oh my Gabriella,” Anabella rose from the bed and Gabriella rushed into her sister’s arm and embraced her. “It’s you.” Anabella chuckled and held her sister’s real tight in her hand afraid that she might disappear right in front of her. “Gabriella, I am so sorry for everything that I have done to you. I apologize for letting you suffer all because of me,” Anabella wept when she remembered the problems Gabriella went through in the hands of Luciana and the rest.
“I know Anabella. I love you and I’ll choose you as my sister if I have to In my next life.” Gabriella said to her.
Gabriella looked around obviously searching for the baby but when she didn’t see the baby anywhere, she questioned her sister about the baby. “Anabella, where is your…..” Gabriella didn’t get to finish her sentence as a vampire walked into the ward with Anabella’s baby in her hand. The baby was wrapped in pink clothes looking small and causing me to picture when Gabriella would have our children.
“May I hold her,” Gabriella requested from the vampire lady.
“Of course,” the Vampire handed over the baby to Gabriella who stared at the child with pride and love. “She is so cute,” Gabriella exclaimed.
I couldn’t look at the baby in the eyes because, in my entire life, I had never seen a newborn but as time went by, I couldn’t resist the cooing of the baby. I turned towards the baby and gazed at her. The baby had her eyes closed and every second, she smiled.
Was that how babies were? I questioned no one in particular.
“What’s her name?” Gabriella asked.
“Katherine,” Anabella announced and smiled with joy.
“What a beautiful name. She looks a lot like you,” Gabriella commented and turned to look at me. When our eyes met, he beckoned for me to carry the baby.
I cleared my throat and shook my head in response. “If we are going to have kids, you will carry them all day,” Gabriella said through gritted teeth and made an eye signal for me to carry the child.
Why doesn’t Gabriella see that I was scared to carry the child because I felt that I might crush her? The baby was too tiny and if I held her with my strong arms, I might hurt her. Or so I thought? “If you don’t carry this child, I swear I won’t let you near me for a week,” she threatened.
“A week?” I couldn’t believe my ears. How could she threaten me with that? I visibly gulped and moved closer to her but my hand shook terribly and I stretched forth my hand to carry the baby.
“She is a baby Slade. She is not a monster.” Gabriella commented as she handed over the baby to me.
The baby cooed in my arms looking peaceful with no problems. If only everyone could be babies in the world. “See, she didn’t bite,” Gabriella teased.
I chuckled but didn’t respond as I continue staring at the baby. I couldn’t wait to hold my children in my arms. Gabriella and Anabella talked more about their experience as vampires slaves and were grateful that it was all going to end before the next generation. While listening to their conversation, I had my eyes fixed on Katherine. Although she was Xavier’s blood, everyone deserves a chance, and this baby in my hand deserved more.
I was still bonding with the baby when a human and vampire walked into the royal infirmary. It’s was beautiful to watch as vampires and humans grew closer without having to kill one another.
“Your highness,” the vampire bowed his head. “Zepeda had been caught but Xavier escaped with an arrow struck on his heart.” The vampire announced.
“What?” I stood up and in haste, I handed the baby over to Gabriella. “Lead the way,” I ordered the vampire. “I’ll be back.” I kissed Gabriella’s forehead and walked out of the royal infirmary with the vampire and human.
“Be safe!” Gabriella shouted after me and I replied with a nod before walking out of the ward.
I was led out of the castle into the forest by the vampire and the human. There were a few vampires and a few humans in the forest when I arrived. “Tell me the situation, ” I requested from my queen. “How did you find him?” I asked.
“We followed the Path Anabella gave and found them about to escape. Zepeda got caught but Xavier managed to escape but I bet he won’t last because he was shot down with an arrow laced with vervain.” My uncle explained. “There he is,” Uncle Martin pointed towards Zepeda who was tied to a tree.
I walked towards him and shook my head in pity. “So the mighty could fall,” I chuckled and grabbed his chin. “You made humans suffer like animals and you killed my father!”
Zepeda laughed and clicked his tongue. “Shouldn’t be grateful that I didn’t kill you,” he scoffed. “Your father was a terrible man and he was much worse than I am.” Zepeda burst into another fit of laughter.
I landed a punch on his face and another. “Yes, pour your anger on me but you know the truth prince. Your father could have ended the rule when lord raylle died but he refused. Don’t call me names when your father was a hypocrite.” Zepeda.
He was right about my father. He was a bad king who only cared about himself and my mother. “My mother was innocent. Why did you have to kill her?”
“People die when the right time comes. Why are you even surprised?” He giggled. “Although your mother was innocent, she was still your father’s wife, ” Zepeda snorted.
“You crazy bastard!” Kyle came from nowhere and kicked him in the face. He grabbed the collar of his shirt and landed a punch on his face until he was pulled by uncle Martin. “Let’s me go! I need to kill this imbecile for what he had done!”
“It’s not going to change anything son. Zepeda is a vile man who deserved death and nothing more.” My uncle said.
“Yes, I deserved death, and please don’t wait too long and kill me please,” Zepeda laughed.
An easy death was too good for Zepeda, he needed to feel pain like his daughter did before he died and that was what I planned on doing to him. I grabbed him by the throat and grinned. “You probably think I’ll give you an easy death. Well, I’m not going to do that. Your daughter Luciana is dead. And suffered before she died.”
At the mention of Luciana, Zepeda struggled against the chain trying to break his hand free. “What did you do to my daughter!” He demanded.
“I killed her,” I smile and bent down to whisper into his ear. “I killed her in the most gruesome manner!” I laughed.
“You monster!” He shouted. Did he just call me a monster? “How I’m I a monster?” I shouted at him. “Your daughter almost killed my beloved and a whole lot of people. You think she deserves a great death,” I scoffed and grabbed the collar of his shirt. “Stop acting like a saint!”
“You are a monster!” There he goes again calling me a traitor. “All my daughter did was love you. How could you do that to her!”
“It’s was an obsession. Luciana never loved me! She hurt others in the process because she thought she loved me. Just Like your daughter died in a gruesome manner. You are going to suffer before you die!” I said to him and stood up from beside him.
“What should we do about him?” My uncle asked.
“For all, he had done, he deserved to die, “I answered back. “Let the humans do justice to him.” I declared. “What about Xavier?” I questioned.
“My men had gone after him. He should be found soon.” My uncle replied.
“Good. Once Xavier is captured, I’ll announce the new law to the world after a week.”
My uncle patted my shoulder and rubbed it gently. “You did well son. I’m sure your father would have been proud of you.”
I laughed at the thought of my father. If he were to be alive, he’ll probably laugh his ass out at my foolishness. My father wouldn’t have wanted peace because he didn’t believe in that world.
~~~
Gabriella Monet POV
It’s been two days since I woke up from my almost death. For those two days, Slade had been on my side probably afraid that I might disappear which is not going to happen anyway. Anabella and her daughter were discharged from the royal infirmary and my mother played the over-protective Grandmother.
“That’s not how you handle a baby!” My mother had shouted at Anabella the last time I visited them. For no reason, I was drawn to Katherine and I couldn’t wait for my children. When I announced to my mother and Anabella that I was pregnant, they teased me at first calling me a child who they never expected would grow up but then My mother cried and embraced me in her arm. “I am grateful that you both didn’t die and found things you love doing. My babies are all grown up!” She cried.
“I am grateful that I found you all again and we are reunited as a family,” Anabella confessed.
“Same here Mother. I’m grateful that I am here with you all again,” I sniffled and we all did a group hug until Katherine broke us apart. She probably felt left out of the group hug.
That happened yesterday. Ever since Slade and his uncle had taken over the castle, the humans and vampires had learned to live like one. I hadn’t even realized that Luciana was dead until Slade told me on the evening of the day that I woke up. Although I didn’t want her to die, she deserved everything for all she had done. Luciana thought she was going to live forever not knowing that fate had a lot in plans for her. Candice, Gerald, and her accomplice were all sentenced to death for committing a crime that was forbidden.
Daphne and Elegance, my friends whom I had thought I lost visited me a day after I woke up teasing like a little child. “It’s so good to see you all glowing again,” Elegance had said.
“I can’t believe my friend got whipped by a vampire she hated so much,” Daphne teased. “Some love stories start from the hating process. ”
“That only happens in the movies. Love…..” I placed my hand on my lips and heaved a deep sigh. “It happens when you least expected.”
Elegance and Daphne burst into laughter. “Is it funny?” I asked them.
“It’s funny Gabriella. A year ago, you hated how the world was and wanted to change everything.” Daphe reminded me.
How time flies…
Yes, Time flies. Everything happens in a flash. That evening when Slade returned from his search for Xavier. He laughed and told me it’s was all over. “We found Xavier’s body in the forest. He is dead.” Slade announced.
“Really?” I exclaimed. “Does that mean it’s over?” I asked him and he nodded in response.
It’s was truly over. The war between the vampire and humans had come to an end. How I wish my father could be alive and witnessed how the world was going to change. The vampire rule had finally come to an end.