Chapter Ten

ZARI

T he burning heat woke me up. The visions had tired me out, the senselessness of the killings making me unconscious. I screamed when I found myself surrounded with fire. It was everywhere, my nightmare come to life.

I looked around and saw that the Red Witch was gone, probably so she could watch LSL burn to the cinders. And while the school had all kinds of spells protecting it, I knew it might not be enough.

The Red Witch was strong, and she had unfinished business there. The one destined to kill her was studying in LSL and she wouldn’t stop until every student in the school died.

Knowing I had little time left, I turned towards the shadows, where I knew she lurked, watching silently as she always did.

“ Elsa .”

The ghost appeared before me, her disfigured face becoming more ghastly as she gave me an inquiring smile.

I forced myself up, which was doubly hard with my hands and feet bound. She watched me struggle, not offering to help. I wasn’t sure she even knew how to speak. None of the case studies ever recorded her speaking, but most of the studies reported that she did understand when people talked to her.

“ Elsa. ”

She looked at me again.

“I need you to come inside of me, like you did before, with the boy. You remember him? His name was Jeremy?”

The single eye she had lit up.

“Help me. Come inside of me.” With her inside of me, I would be free from the pain. It was the only way I’d have the courage to go through the fire and save myself.

I closed my eyes.

Something cold blew.

She was inside of me.

Elsa and I walked through the fire. She didn’t feel it because she was immune to pain, not because she was a ghost but years of parental abuse had made her so. My body was wracked with coughs as we finally made it to the stairs, only to find the door locked.

No!

Tears from smoke stung my eyes.

It couldn’t end like this.

With Elsa’s help, I slammed my shoulder into the door, again and again, hoping it would give way.

ALEXANDRU AND ZARI

Fire. It rose in the night, swaying and roaring like a hungry beast.

Alexandru broke into a run, using his speed as a vampire hunter, no longer caring if humans might see him. The others followed him, Katarina just behind him a few steps. They found the entire hospital in flames, and Alexandru realized that if this was happening then her other vision might happen, too.

Everyone, go inform the enforcers about what is happening. Accompany them back to the LSL and tell them to prepare for an attack. Someone will try to burn the school down.

His men bowed and disappeared into the night.

Katarina was aghast. “But Lady Zari...”

His jaw clenched. “She would want it this way, too, Katarina. Too many lives are at stake for me to be selfish.” His gaze went back to the hospital. This was no ordinary flame. This was Hellfire, something that could kill even immortals like him.

“Stay here,” he told Katarina.

“No. I’m going to help—-”

“She saw you die—-”

“And if it will happen, it will happen. I won’t just stand by if someone needs my help.” Katarina looked at the hospital. “Just like old times, right?”

“Just don’t die on me,” he said grimly.

“Same to you, hunter.”

They looked at each other.

On the count of three, Alexandru murmured.

Katarina nodded. Three.

They burst into the broken windows, both of them wincing as the fire licked their skin. Immediately, they heard the banging on the door.

“Zari!” Alexandru shouted.

“Alexandru!” A coughing reply.

Relief slammed into him. He sped towards the door, his only thought saving his pet. But the moment he touched the knob, the spell on it came to life, blowing him straight into the fire.

The door swung open, in time for Zari to see Alexandru’s back hitting the opposite wall and falling in the middle of a burning hallway.

“Alexandru!” she screamed.

She and Elsa ran towards him, and when she reached her Master, Katarina was there, too. Together, they helped Alexandru up, who was shaky on his feet, his back badly burned.

“Hellfire,” Katarina explained shortly. “It’s fatal to immortals.”

Carrying Alexandru slowed them down, and with each second that passed, fewer passageways were left for them to travel unscathed. The last one that Katarina and Alexandru had used was already completely gutted with fire.

“There!” Katarina pointed to a window to their left. It required them to balance on a plank of wood that had so far escaped the fire, but they both knew it wouldn’t last long.

“You go first,” Katarina instructed. “Crouch down and carry Alexandru like this.” It would mean Zari having to move backwards towards the window, but Zari knew it was the only way she could carry Alexandru on her own.

“Ready?” Katarina asked. “I’ll follow after you. It won’t hold all of our weight if we go together.”

Zari hesitated. “Lady Katarina—-”

The other woman shook her head. “Remember what I said, Lady Zari. If it will happen, it will.”

Zari started to move, slowly and carefully, not wanting to place too much weight on the plank. Alexandru was heavy but she gritted her teeth and pulled her with him. Only a few feet now, Master. I’ll save you this time. We’ll save you—-

And then she felt it—-

The plank creaking, giving out on their weight—-

She screamed as the plank split into two and they started to slip.

But Katarina had dove forward, managing to grab the edge of the plank and pulling it back up before Zari and Alexandru could fall into the basement, which was completely engulfed by fire.

Katarina’s face was red with exertion, and her entire body was shaking as she bit out, “Go now!”

Zari shook her head. “No!”

Because now, it was clear to her that this was what the visions were all about.

“If you don’t go now,” Katarina said hoarsely, “we’ll all die...even Alexandru. And I’ll kill you if you let that happen.”

Zari started to cry. “Lady Katarina, no.”

“Move,” Katarina screamed. “I can’t hold on much longer!”

“Lady Katarina, please, we’ll...”

“ Zari .”

It was the first time Katarina had called her by her first name like that, and it was the first time she saw the hunter’s face streaked with tears.

“Promise me you’ll love him the way I’ve never been able to?” Katarina whispered. “Promise me you’ll be the one protecting him? Promise me, Zari. It’s the only way I can go in peace.”

Zari whispered, “Yes.” She looked inside herself. Elsa. Go to her. Keep her from feeling pain.

And then she started to move, pulling Alexandru with her.

The moment she pulled Alexandru out through the window, the fire roared up as if it was unwilling to go without taking someone with it to Hell.

LA SCALA LEGATURIA was no more when Zari and Alexandru came back. It was completely burned to the ground, just like how it was in her visions. But no one had died, with everyone’s lives saved thanks to the early warning Alexandru had sent.

Or at least everyone had lived but Katarina.

Hunters all over the world came to pay their respects as Katarina’s body was taken back to Chalys and laid to rest.

When the rites were over and her casket sealed in the marbled tomb, Alexandru drew his pet to his side.

Rest in peace, Katarina.

Beside him, his pet squeezed his hand. You have very good taste in women.

The words almost made him smile. I’m sure she’ll be happy to know you think so.

They walked together in silence, and as they came further and further away from the others, it was only then he asked, What now, pet?

Zari took a long time to reply. I want to be strong, Master. Strong enough so that people like Katarina won’t have to die for me. Strong enough so I can protect you on my own.

It was his turn to be silent.

Master?

You understand that if you study in ANEX it will mean we will not be able to see each other for two years?

She wasn’t even surprised that he knew about it, even though she was sure the marquis had yet to speak to his younger brother about her intended transfer. Master, I’m yours for eternity. Two years won’t matter.

You speak as if you’re already immortal. His lips curved, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

The haunted look in his gaze made Zari ache. Master, if you don’t want me to go—-

I don’t. His voice was grim. Alexandru cupped her face and brought her mouth to his. She leaned into the kiss, loving the way it was hot, hard, and possessive.

Alexandru raised his head. I despise the thought of you not being by my side where I can always guard you...but I can’t – I won’t stand in the way of your destiny.

Tears stung her eyes as she felt her Master’s lips press to the top of her head. It was a long road ahead, but she knew she had made the right choice, knew she owed it to Katarina’s sacrifice to learn to be strong on her own.

She laid her head against his heart. Master, this isn’t goodbye. I’ll always be yours. Always.

The End