"Whoever unlinks them would have to sacrifice her life, that's the consequences"

Lia pinched her thigh, she must have heard wrong," What? How's that possible" she was in shock.

"Some spell might come as easy pie but some comes with consequences to be effective,"

"Guys, I'm losing her" Dan panicked, "Sabrina, don't do this to me, please" he began to compress her chest.

Due to the stress and distraction, the forcefield Lia had on dissipated at once.

She threads her hand through her hair, what had she done? Yes, she disliked Sabrina ever since she betrayed them but she had never wished the witch would die this way.

"Quite a beautiful scene, isn't it?" Raphael taunted.

Lia had thought she had been the one deceiving him but all this time, Raphael was the one playing them. He had known Sabrina was around the corner and pretended to have been scared so she could unlink them.

"Stay with me, Sabrina" Dan tapped her cheeks to keep her awake, "Whatever you're doing, hurry up. I'm losing her pulse," Dan yelled, worried lines drawn all over his face.

"There has to be a way, " Lia faced the witch Nadia, " I need to save her,"

"You're a vampire, Lia, weakness is for humans. Why are you so damn concerned over her? Sabrina betrayed you, she should be dead, remember?" Raphael chimed in.

Lia growled a warning to him, refocusing her attention on Nadia, the witch, "Tell me if there's a way to save her," she inquired.

"This is going to be interesting," Raphael leaned against a tree captivated by what's going on. He already knew how everything would turn out, he should give them a little time to grieve the loss of a long friend - and lover to Dan.

"Unless you're a witch, you can take on her burden," Nadia disclosed.

"But I'm not a witch," Lia felt all hope was lost. She was helpless to save Sabrina this time.

"Then, you should just say goodbye to your friend," Nadia dismissed.

"But I am," Someone said from behind and everyone's attention turned to the figure who came into the clearing.

"Devon!" Nadia's eyes grew wide, her daughter was here?

Raphael's face distorted, he never thought of this bug and he hated changes like this. A slight glitch like this could ruin his great plan.

He just took a step forward when Lia contained him again in her forcefield.

"Let me out of here," he growled at her, banging his hand hard against the shield.

"Let's see who gets played this time," Lia gloated.

"I love you mom," Devon said to Nadia before her eyes narrowed with firm determination.

"Ego Devoniae inrita cuiquam facta fuisset factum est solvere corrigiam quo ligatum est, vita vitae reditus esset in viam,"

For a while nothing happened until Sabrina sat up with a revived gasp accompanied by the eerily wind blowing around while Devon collapsed to the ground having taken Sabrina's place; she offered to be the sacrifice.

"Devon!" Nadia screamed, running over to her daughter and caught her on time with her magic before she hit the ground.

"My God, Devon, why didn't you tell me you escaped ?" Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I wanted ...to...s-surprise ..you," Devon had a hard time speaking, her breath was being sucked.

"Oh my dear," her mom cried harder.

"I-I sor..ry ….mom and..lo..love.. you," was Devon's confession, hot tears slipping from the corner of her eyes.

"No, I'm the one who's sorry," Nadia shook her head, then grabbed her hand which was getting cold by each passing minute.

Nadia rubbed it against her cheeks as if trying to keep it warm, then kissed it, "You've lived such a hard life all because of me. If I hadn't lived such careless life, I wouldn't have put you in this dilemma you're in today and I'm going to correct that,"

Though life was slowly slipping away from her, Devon understood what her mother was about to do. Her hand tightened around hers, trying to tell her not to proceed with her suicidal plan.

"I have done a lot of bad things, Devon," she tightened her grip around her daughter's fist," which is why I have to do because I love you," she kissed Devon on the top of her head.

"Nadia inrita cuiquam facta fuisset factum est solvere corrigiam quo ligatum est, vita vitae reditus esset in viam,"

"Mom!" Devon breathed back to life, hugging and cutting the fall of her mother who had chosen to take her place.

"Devon," the woman's breath was faint, all colors slipping from her face, "Live well, don't avenge me,"

"No mom, please don't leave me," cried Devon while trying a healing spell all to no avail.

"I love you," was the woman's last words, her hand clasping Devon's face slipped to the ground.

"No!!!"

"That betrayer!" Raphael's eyes flashed with fury, forming his hands into fists, and then summoned a fire which began to drain the barrier.

"Did the spell work cause I don't know how long I can hold him" groaned Lia, her clothes soaked with sweat as a result of the firestorm Raphael was conjuring in there.

"It's supposed to but we need to inflict pain on him to find out," Sabrina said.

But Raphael increased the heat, burning away the force field before she could bring it down.

"R-Raphael?" Lia gulped, standing face to face with him. His darkened gaze was so intimidating and frightening that she unconsciously took a step back.

"Lia!" Asher attempted to rescue her but with a wave of his hand, Raphael sent a blaze of fire his way.

"Asher, no!" Lia watched with horror as his body caught on fire and her mate ran without direction, trying to put out the engulfing flames.

Dan left the recovering Sabrina and stepped forward to attack Raphael but he was picked like he weighed nothing and hurled into the woods.

To her surprise, Ben stood bravely and whacked Raphael on the face.

"That one is for playing with my feelings," he said and tried to hit him a second time but the vampire simply caught his fist, then gave Ben a blow that rendered him unconscious.

Lia slapped Raphael on the face, breaking his concentration "Put it out, you sick bastard!" She pushed him furiously on the chest.

"I wish I knew how but even if I do, I would never save him," Raphael spat.

"Prohibere!" Sabrina gathered enough strength to extinguish the fire before her magic was exhausted; she had reached her limit today.

The flames were finally put out and Asher collapsed. Lia didn't know whether he was dead or alive when she went to him.

"Hey, wake up," she pushed him but her mate didn't stir.

Asher's eyes were closed and his entire skin was scalded with several burn marks, not to talk of his burnt hair that was nauseating her with its sulfurous odor. Some areas of his clothes even burnt into his skin.

"Listen to me asshole, I won't let you die on me!" Lia slapped him.

But when no response came, she increased the momentum and interval between each slap, gushing her anger and hopelessness on him.

"I'm not going to give up on you!" Fresh tears welled her eyes," You promised not to leave me, you said you were going to protect me forever. So wake the hell up now, Asher! "

"You shouldn't waste your energy, he's gone," said Raphael standing behind her with a self accomplished smile.

She glared at Raphael hoping he would shut the hell up but unfortunately, things didn't go her way since he continued.

"He doesn't deserve your tears, Lia. Just come with me, I'll treat you better than he has ever spoiled you," Raphael stretched his hand for her to take.

Lia glanced at him and then at Asher contemplatively.

"You're a monster, Raphael," her words dribbled with hatred, "You led your own father to his death and killed your brother. I'll rather take my own life than take your hand,"

Raphael chuckled," My father wouldn't have let you live as far as you're Asher's mate hence why I never informed him you're a hybrid to give you a fighting chance when the time reaches. All that mattered to him was his own revenge and I didn't need such drawback,"

He squatted down beside her, wiping away the tears that slipped down her beautiful face," I had to get rid of him that way because you're too precious to be expendable. And don't you get it, I'm the only one you have left. This is all over. "

"No, is not" Devon declared openly.

Raphael stood up with murderous intent, he was going to end this little witch once and for all.

"Fatis swititched sit switched spiritu, anima fit posterius priori switched" chanted Devon vehemently.

"No!" Raphael roared, having realized what she had done. He tried to vamp speed over to her but it was too late; he slumped to the ground.

Did she ...oh my God.

Hope rose in Lia's heart when she saw lights leave Asher's and Raphael's bodies, switching into both bodies respectively.

Lia waited and waited but nothing happened for five minutes and when she thought of giving up...

Asher coughed, "This doesn't look like heaven,"