Alison’s POV
The heavy silence in the air felt like a harbinger of chaos as I paced the length of my room, my mind spiraling through the tangled mess of alliances, betrayals, and mounting tensions. The weight of it all was unbearable. Every decision I made seemed to tighten the noose around my throat, and now, more than ever, I felt like I was running out of time.
A sharp knock on my door startled me out of my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, my voice steadier than I felt.
Simone stepped inside, her cane tapping lightly against the stone floor, followed by two of my guards. Her expression, serene yet commanding, belied the storm brewing in her mind. “The guards will assist me on my task,” she said simply, her blind gaze fixed somewhere near my shoulder.
“Thank you for agreeing to this,” I said, my voice low.
“You gave me no choice, We are more like sisters now,” Simone replied, a trace of humor in her tone. “I’d go any length for you. Are you ready?”
Ready? No. But this wasn’t about me anymore. It hadn’t been for a long time. “I am,” I lied , my jaw tightening. “The sooner we find these items, the better.”
Simone nodded, her fingers brushing the edge of her staff. “Then let’s not waste time. You have your task, and I have mine. We’ll meet back at the castle when it’s done.”
I watched her leave, the guards trailing after her like silent shadows. As the door shut behind her, I felt a pang of anxiety twist in my chest. Splitting up felt reckless, dangerous even, but we had no other option.
Before I could dwell on it, my phone buzzed sharply on the table, the name Felix flashing across the screen.
Here we go.
I picked up, bracing myself for the onslaught. “Felix, what do you want?” I greeted, my tone clipped.
“Have you completely lost your mind?” he snapped, skipping the pleasantries.
“What now?” I asked, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“I just got off the phone with your so called prince charming Xander,” Felix growled. “You’ve told him about the war threat and he’s threatening wage another war on us, if we don’t back down from the threat, but he doesn’t shake me even a bit!”
My stomach churned. Xander. Of course, he couldn’t keep his anger out of this. “why didn’t you just tell him that yourself?” I shot back. “or you are scared of him?”
“You think It’s funny right? Let’s see who is left laughing by the time we are done with you” Felix yelled, anger evident in his tone “Let him know he’s sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong and when it starts to burn he wouldn’t be exempted. And let me be very clear, Alison. If Xander interferes, I won’t hesitate to wage war against Nightfang, too.”
“You will…. ”
The line went dead before I could finish. I stared at the phone in disbelief, anger bubbling under my skin.
I didn’t have time for any of this right now.
Before I could overthink it, I scrolled to Xander’s number and hit call.
“Hey Alison,” he answered, his voice smooth but tinged with tension.
“What the hell have you done Xander? You called Felix? Why? What do you stand to achieve?” I demanded, pacing again.
“I needed to protect you,” Xander replied calmly. “Felix is just a scared cat, he came running to scare you just with a little threat, shows you how much an influence I hold, and I couldn’t seat on the sides and just watch.”
“Can you even hear yourself?” I snapped. “You’ve done nothing but make things worse! Do you even realize what you’ve started? Felix is ready to declare war on you now, too. You’re pushing us closer to disaster!”
His silence on the other end was infuriating.
“Do you have any idea what this means for me?” I continued, my voice shaking. “I trusted you, Xander. I let you in, and now… I regret it. I regret not shutting you out when I had the chance.”
“That’s not fair,” he said quietly. “I didn’t do this to hurt you. I’m trying to help.”
“Help?” I let out a bitter laugh. “If this is your version of help, I don’t need it. I need you to back off. I have three days… three days to figure this out before everything falls apart. Give me the benefit of the doubt and at least let me handle this on my terms.”
There was a long pause before he spoke again. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice softer now. “I didn’t mean to overstep. I’ll back off… for now. But you know I’ll always be here if you need me.”
I swallowed hard, torn between frustration and a faint, lingering warmth. “Just… don’t do anything else. Please.”
“Fine,” he said. “I’ll wait.”
The call ended, leaving me feeling drained and raw.
The trek to my destination was uneventful, yet every step felt heavier than the last. My guards flanked me in silence, their presence a constant reminder of the responsibility I bore.
When I finally returned to the castle, the weight of the collected items in my hands felt both triumphant and foreboding. The guards ushered me into my father’s office, where Simone was already waiting, her staff resting against the arm of her chair.
“You’re back,” she said, her lips curving into a small smile. “And alive. That’s always a good sign.”
“Barely,” I muttered, setting the items on the desk.
My father’s gaze flicked between us, his expression guarded. “You have everything?”
“We do,” I confirmed.
Simone stood, her movements graceful despite the blindness that should have hindered her. “Then let’s not waste time,” she said. “The barrier won’t break itself.”
My father hesitated, his gaze narrowing. “You’re sure about this? Once we do this, there’s no going back, do you even know if this has any side effects or consequences.”
“Father quit asking questions, it’s all fine,” I said firmly.
Simone extended her hand toward him, her voice calm but commanding. “Your blood, Alpha Gaius. It’s the final key.”
He glanced at me, his expression unreadable, before stepping forward. “This better be worth it,” he muttered, rolling up his sleeve.
Simone took the ceremonial blade from the desk, her fingers brushing over its surface as if she could see it. With precise movements, she pricked his palm, letting a few drops of blood fall onto the items. The air in the room seemed to shift, growing heavy with an almost tangible energy.
She began chanting, her voice low and melodic, weaving ancient words that sent shivers down my spine. The items glowed faintly, their light growing brighter with each passing moment.
The room trembled as the energy reached its peak, a blinding flash of light forcing me to shield my eyes.
When the light faded, the vault stood before us, its door now open.
Inside lay treasures beyond imagination.. An ancient scroll, shimmering artifacts, and, at the center, a weapon unlike any I had ever seen.
“The Crimson Dagger,” My father whispered, his voice filled with awe. “I have only heard about this dagger but never have I seen it in my entire life”
I stepped closer, the dagger’s ruby-encrusted hilt catching the light. As I reached out to take it, a strange sense of calm washed over me, as if this moment had been destined all along.
“This,” Simone said softly, “is the key to everything.”
The weight of her words settled over me like a storm cloud. The vault was open, but the real battle was just beginning.