Editor Note: The reads have been exponential! Thanks so much, Talon is astounded at how many people read it. Enjoy!
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I was frozen in a state of denial, guilt, and agony beyond anything I had ever felt in my entire life. I was used as a decoy by Magnus. This entire time he had been using me as bait. He obliterated all I ever cared to live for: Salem was now his. I slowly fell to my knees holding myself tight. I wanted to cry, but the tears just wouldn't come. I wanted to scream with all my sorrow, but my voice had been muted. All I could do was look in disbelief. I turned to where Orion laid a few yards ahead where he had converted back to his human state. His right side was bloody and bruised. Alibeth tended to his wounds as quickly as she could, chanting a spell to heal his wounds.
I was alone, undeniably dead inside. There was nothing I could have done to save Salem. I hated myself for my own frailty and limited strength. All I did was cause an opening for Magnus to make his move when I tried to satisfy Salem's thirst. In the end, I am truly Salem's murderer. His smile reminisced in my mind and formed a bitter sweet smile to occur on me. I wanted him back. I would have him back. I knew just the person to call upon. The plan went ahead faster than anticipated, before I could even signal my thought, Corvenus appeared before me followed by Trinity. Both of them lifting me from the ground and Trinity embraced me with all her heart as a mother would to her fallen child.
"Dear God, we're too late. I'm so relieved you are not hurt, my child." Trinity praised.
I wrapped my arms around her securely and the tears poured out relentlessly. Corvenus looked upon me with great dismay and heartache.
"I am so sorry, Victoria. You shouldn't have to go through this. I know this is a heavy loss. It is for all of us. Magnus has grown far more cunning from our last encounter. I assure you, I will not stop until my son returns safely in your arms. Magnus has created an inevitable war among the Valhahns. I will make his death legendary." Corvenus promised in a cold voice I had never heard until now, with murderous intent.
***
Corvenus then approached the young supernatural couple with sympathy at heart.
"You all have fought bravely. If it is worth anything, I am so terribly sorry you had to endure such a catastrophic battle." Corvenus honored them and gave a low bow.
"You're Salem's father aren't you? You have the same eyes." Alibeth asked soft spoken.
"I am. Corvenus Valhahn, head master of the Valhahn clan." He introduced raising himself to meet her gaze.
"I don't understand how Magnus wasn't affected by the barrier I created. It was supposed to eradicate any evil that was within its radius." She presumed with a disappointed expression.
"Unfortunately, spells of that level cannot harm Magnus. He is immune to magic unlike his lower class brethren. Magnus is different from any other demon you may have ever encountered. He's a Reaper Demon." Corvenus exposed.
Orion raised a little to be supported by Alibeth arm over shoulder.
"Exactly how is he different from the rest of the demons we've faced? The Alpha has never informed the pack of encountering a Reaper Demon in our history." Orion mentioned.
"That is because your Alpha wasn't born when Magnus revealed himself. He is the last of his bloodline. Reaper Demons were known as the gatekeepers of death. They could dwell within the realm of the dead and of the living world, feeding off of the souls who passed on. Reaper Demons were infamously powerful and truly devastating. Their powers were unimaginable. They literally have what you call 'The Touch of Death.'" Corvenus informed, placing a single finger upon Alibeth's forehead. "A single touch is all it would take for them to dispose of you. The only creatures immune their power were vampires. How could they kill what is already dead? For centuries I led my clan to war against those fiendish creatures. They were not only a threat to the human world I so loved, but the world of the supernatural as well. We hunted their kind relentlessly until there were but a few left. When we found their territory, the remaining Reapers were dead, all that remained was Magnus." Corvenus snarled lowly.
