Chapter 27: Blood, Fire & Water

                                    

                                          


                          
I screamed as he let her lifeless body drop while he held her red, still beating-bloody heart in the palm of his hand, making sure I could see the gory sight. He threw the heart at Lucy who now lay on the ground, her purple hair stained in her blood, her brown eyes now unseeing.
                          
I cried, tears streaming down my face and screamed as I tried to push against Lance to get to Lucy.
                          
"Now that I have your full attention, who are you blood-bound to?" Lance growled, 
"I don't recognise the scent...Who are you blood-bound to?" he demanded again, shaking me violently. But I was inconsolable, speech wasn't possible. All the pain had been muted, all I could see was Lucy's lifeless body. A horrible pain squeezed my heart.
                          
"That would be me" I heard a voice answer out of my periphery but I couldn't break my gaze from Lucy. I faintly registered the tingling in my tattoo. 
                          
I was released from Lance's grip as someone grabbed him, pulling him away. I could hear shouting and hissing and crashes but all I could focus on was Lucy. I stumbled over to her and dropped to the ground. I brushed her purple hair out of her face.
                          
"I'm so sorry. This is all my fault." I choked out, sobbing. Goddess please forgive me. Please look after her and tell her I'm sorry. I reached out and held Lucy's hand in my own. I held onto her, not wanting to let her go. Tightness gripped my heart as tears continued to stream down my face, now silently. 
                          
At some point, I remembered Lance. He has to pay. 
                          
I let go of Lucy's hand and stood up slowly to face him. Talon and Alistair were here. Alistair was holding Lance by his arms from behind and Talon stood facing him, a sword in his hand. I barely noticed them, though Talon did stop to turn to face me. I couldn't face him. My eyes were locked on the monster. 
                          
Lance, despite his capture, grinned sadistically at me. I glared back at him and then invoked fire: 
                          
"FIRE, BURN!" I shouted. 
                          
Flames shot up and engulfed Lance. Alistair quickly released him and stepped back as Lance started to scream in pain. The flames covered his whole body, burning his flesh. I watched on, unable to look away. A sickening smell of burning flesh filled the air. 
                          
"Death is too good for you." I said, invoking the flames higher. The two vampires and witch watched while the feral vampire burned to death. 
                          
When his screams finally ceased, Talon stepped in and cut what was left of his head from his shoulders, for good measure I think. 
                          
It was over. But I felt no relief in my revenge. I released the element and immediately swayed, the invocation and my injuries finally taking their toll on me. 
                          
I felt myself fall and would have hit the floor had a pair of strong arms not caught me. My arms were numb, and the venom burned from the inside out. My vision blurred and black spots started to appear, threatening to take me under. I longed for it, if it meant this pain would stop. 
                          
I could make out Talon's face and his voice, trying to talk to me. I was leaned up against him and he looked down at me. 
                          
"Leina, can you hear me?" His voice was raspy.
                          
"She's lost too much blood," Another voice said. Alistair, my inner voice connected for me. 
                          
The black spots were starting to get bigger, but I could just make out Talon as he bit into his own wrist and put it against my mouth. I felt warm liquid against my lips and I tried to pull away. 
                          
"Leina, you need to drink. Trust me." Talon urged. I didn't have the strength to fight him anyway so I parted my lips and let the liquid dribble into my mouth.