In Your Dreams

Chapter 34

When Tristan fell back to the floor, Eretria tackled King Gabriel to the ground and threw him across the room, causing him to fly into the food table. Several vampires ran out of the way, not wanting to get in the middle of the bloody fight. He got his footing and grabbed one of the tables, throwing it at Eretria, but she was quick to dodge it. He continued to throw tables and chairs at her as she ran and jumped to the side. Julian took the opportunity while he was distracted to try to take him down, leaving me by myself.

Everything was happening so fast. The King was able to hit Eretria with one of the tables he threw right before Julian knocked him down. Eretria was thrown on impact and her head hit the hard, marble floor. Tristan was still trying to recover from hitting the wall, and Julian and King Gabriel were fighting each other as guests tried to get out of the way.

Eretria got herself up off the floor and ran over to Tristan. She helped him get up to his feet and wrapped her arms around him. Her bloodied, black hair veiled her face as she supported him as they walked over to the mother and his sister.

I looked back to Julian, who was now pinned. His hand was wrapped around the King Gabriel's throat, and the King was holding a stake above Julian's chest. Julian's other hand was pushing against the arm with the stake, but his strength was no match against the old vampire. He was gritting his teeth as it got closer to his heart. My heart sank—Julian was losing, and I couldn't let that happen.

I ran towards them. "Stop!" I screeched.

King Gabriel paused and our eyes locked.

"Leave him alone! That's enough!"

He grabbed Julian by his shirt with one hand and flung him across the room. My eyes widened as he began to walk towards me with the stake. My heart pounded in my chest and ears, and I was suddenly frozen.

"You're right, Claire. I've had enough. It's time I stopped messing around and just finish this," he declared, his face animalistic.

He then raised the stake and ran towards Eretria and Tristan. Time stood still as I held my breath and looked between the King and the people I've come to care about—people who have already experienced enough pain. I willed my legs to run as fast as they could towards them. As his arm swung down to stake Eretria, I jumped between, sealing my fate.

"No!" I heard Julian and Tristan yell.

My wide eyes met King Gabriel's before I looked down at the piece of wood piercing my flesh. As I looked back up, shock resonated on his face. His brows pinched together, and that's when I noticed blood spreading on his chest.  He looked down at the crimson liquid and grabbed at the wound before falling to his knees and onto the floor, revealing another stake in his back that punctured his heart. The Queen and Celine's screams echoed through the ballroom.

The Vampire King was dead.

Julian stood behind him, seething with rage. His black eyes met mine, and I fell back into Eretria's arms. Julian and Tristan were suddenly next to me. I gave them both a sad smile before coughing up blood. Julian gently moved some of my brown hair out of my face and behind my ear.

"We need to give her blood," I heard the Queen frantically say.

"It won't do anything, maman," I heard Celine solemnly reply. "The stake is in her heart. Our blood can't heal her now."

"Claire... You didn't have to do that for me," Eretria whispered softly as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Yes, I did." I put my hand on hers. "I couldn't just let you die.  You've gone through so much already."