ZEUS

I walked through my old home. Everything was wrecked. The curtains were torn. Tables and windows broken. Beautiful paintings torn to shreds. Books burnt, chandelier shattered on the floor. It was all in ruins. As hard it was to see it, this only motivated me more to kill Nikolai.

I went out back where the garden was. He was waiting. He was standing in the snow, holding a white rose.

"Roses are so beautiful in the snow. Makes them look so lively." He said. Nikolai turns around and smiles, showing his sharp fangs, "Good to see you again, old friend."

I did not respond. I was in no mood for pre chit chats.

Nikolai chuckles and slowly took his cloak off, "Oh Zeus, you have truly not changed have you? You're still your brooding self," Nikolai snickers, "I admit I do miss you, I truly do. If we were under different circumstances...I would want you ruling by my side, you are or at least were my best friend. But seeing as you are to be my new source of power," He smiles widely, "Well I guess we can't now, can we?"

I walk to Nikolai, looking him straight in the eyes until I stood before him, "What're you doing, Nik? You haven't changed either. Always loved playing with your opponent, just like how you play with your food. If I recall correctly, you only ever do that to buy time because you were always afraid," Nikolai stood there with his jaw clenched. I lean in a little more and said in a lower tone, "When you die because you will, it is going to be by my hand. The last thing you will see is me grabbing your head and knowing that I am going to rip it off your pathetic, weak, form that wreaks of fear."

Nikolai's eyes were wide with rage, "I am not going to kill you, Zeus. I only want your blood. I will leave you, chained in the dungeon knowing..." He leans in, "...that I will be in bed with your mate."

My hand which was already in a fist raises up and I slam it down upon Nikolai's face. He goes flying in the air, but he lands on his feet, fangs exposed.

Nikolai roars as he jumped in the air and tries to take me to the ground. He fails in that attempt, but the impact of his push sends the both of us flying in the air and hitting the ground with a loud thud.

Nikolai picks me up and slams me against the stone wall, he extends his fangs to plunge into my blood vessel. I growl as I push against him, but he's strong, very strong.

"Just a little bit closer," Nikolai snarls as his eyes were blazing in desperation.

I look down at his knee. Then I look back up at him, "You're right...just a little bit closer." I said back through my teeth.

Nikolai pushes harder, making him step forward more. Bingo. I lift my foot and with all my might kick back his knee, causing it to make a loud snap, like a stick.

Nikolai collapses on the floor yelling in pain while hold his leg. I grab Nik by the neck and lift him, I could hear the clicking of his bones, his pulse beating hard against my hand.

"You played a game you thought you could win," I growled, "Be careful when you take a man's wife and a man's child and then ask him to play...because he will do anything to win."

Nik's eyes were red from the lack of oxygen. His face swelling up, veins prominent and body shaking. However I didn't notice him grab something from his pocket and and popping it in his mouth.

I frowned. What the hell did he just eat?

Suddenly Nikolai's eyes were black...pure charcoal, shining. He smiles down at me and grabs my hand. I force my hand to stay on his neck, but he he shakily takes it off, "What the fuck?" I snarled.

Nikolai drops to the ground. He swings his fist. I roll to the right and escaped a plunging blow to the head.

"What the fuck did you eat!" I shouted.

Nikolai chuckles, "Just gave myself a little bit of a boost, old friend." His smile drops. He breaks off a long branch as if it was nothing. He lunges forward, swinging his new found weapon.

I jump back, keeping my eye on his new toy.

He uses his whole body to swing toward me. I growled and grabbed the stick, stopping it from hitting me , but it causes me to stumble backward. I jump up and flip over Nikolai. I wrap my arms around his neck, tightening my hold.

Nikolai roars as he raises his elbow and gives a hard blow to my cheek. I stumble backwards, Nikolai uses my moment of weakness to give a lasting bash to the head with his branch.

I fall the ground. My head was slightly spinning. I blink away the daze and get back up.

Nikolai jumps forward and tried to jab me, but I catch his his fist. I yank him forward, making him stumble into the force of my own fist swinging forward.

Nikolai was dazed. His eyes looked glazed over for a moment. I grab him by the collar. Nikolai roars and yanks my hand away, pushing me off of him.

He jumps forward swinging his branch. I swing to the left and right, dodging every attack he had.

"Is that all you got, old friend?" I snarled sarcastically.

Nikolai was getting angry. He swung his branch again, but I moved quickly, making his branch smash against a steal gate and snapping.

Nikolai roars and tackles me to the ground. He wraps his left arm around my neck, I could easily get out of, however with his right hand, he grabbed the smashed stick. It had a sharp end. He moves to plunge it into me, but I tightly grab his hand and push against his force to not let it pierce me.

I growl as I push as hard as I could. Nikolai was stronger. Whatever the hell he ate...it made him more powerful. I growl and snarl as I keep the branch from plunging.

"You see this, Zeus," Nikolai said in my ear, "This is your death old friend. I didn't want to kill you...but now it's just too damn tempting."

My nose flared and my jaw was clenched. My blood was pumping, my muscles tensing as I tried as hard as I could to keep his wooden blade at bay.

Everything became quiet in my head. There was no panic or anger. Just her. I keep just her in my mind. I felt peace.

"I love you, Lily," I said through my teeth. Instead of fighting against Nikolai. I help him plunge it deep within me. I roar in pain as I felt the burning rip of my skin and flesh opening. But what Nikolai didn't know is that I made it stab right through him also.

I hear him roar in agony. I use what was left of my strength to pull it out. I yell and I felt myself shaking from the mental battle in my mind. My instinct told me stop for self-preservation, but the knowledge of doing what has to be done goes against that...a position where I was inflicting pain upon myself. I yank the damn thing out and roll off of Nikolai.

I take deep breathes. I looked at Nikolai. He laid there pale and shaking. I smirked through my pain and said in a grunt, "Wooden stakes are far...more...lethal f-for v-v-vampires than werewolves."

I crawl toward him and got up on my knees. I raise my fist and used all of my strength to pound down on him. All the while I was shouting in pleasure as I saw the pain I was causing him.

I grab unto his neck and dug my fingers into his skin. His eyes were wide as they looked upon me. I snarled, "Good bye, old friend."

I dug my claws into his neck and began to rip it slowly...bit by bit.

Out of no where, a flash of green light. I was thrown back by an unimaginable force.

"ENOUGH!" Someone exclaimed.

I landed on the snow which made me groan in pain. I use my elbows to prop myself up.

Demora stood there shaking her head, "Oh Zeus," She smiles through her red lips, "You've been a bad boy."

LILY

I ran as hard as I could the woods, but then I stopped, "Where are you even going Lily!" I shouted at myself.

I looked around and all I could see was trees and snow, "Okay wait...where would Zeus go? Where would Nikolai want to fight?"

I groaned and rubbed my forehead, "Nothing!" I continued to shout at myself like a maniac.

I turn to the right, but that didn't feel right so I turn to the left...that didn't feel right either. Ugh!

"What is wrong with you Lily!" I stood still and took a deep breath. Please something give me a sign of where to go.

Suddenly...the flower it was glowing brighter. I frowned and held it up. I turned to the left and to my surprise it glowed less. I turned to the right and the light grew brighter.

I looked up at the sky, "Thank you!" I used the flower as almost like a guide to go to whatever direction it grew brighter toward.

ZEUS

I stood up and held my wound, "Demora...what the hell are you doing here. You cannot interfere with business that concerns the curse."

She leans against the gate and smiles widely, "Oh my beautiful Zeus. You never did anything according to my plans," She kicks off of the gate and walks towards me, "But then again, that's what I always loved about you."

I frowned in disgust,"What are you doing here?" I asked firmly. Nikolai turns his head and looks at me and smiles.

She looks at her roses and stood there admiring them while saying, "I needed to quicken the process. Nikolai was just the kick off to get the ball rolling. I was getting tired of not having what I wanted, Zeus."

I clenched my jaw and snarled, "You started this? You're working with Nikolai?"

She laughs, "No my darling, I don't work with Nikolai...Nikolai works for me. He was my loyal servant."

"Why would you wage war against me? I did whatever the fuck you told me to do!" I scoffed, "All of this for one fucking flower? It was a FUCKING FLOWER! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU! AND You said you can't interfere with your curse because that's just how powerful it is!."

She shrugs nonchalantly, "I guess I kind of lied. The roses don't mean anything to me. They were just simple roses, but I had to make up some kind of story to keep you all around."

A deep rage was burning my veins, "Is there even a curse?" I said through my teeth, "You took my memories to keep me here, to keep me as your little puppet. I did unforgivable things in your name to repay you for picking a fucking rose that I can't even remember why I did it in the first place, but that isn't it, is it?" I took a step forward and yelled, "I suffered for nothing so WHAT DID I DO THAT WAS WORTH A PUNISHMENT SUCH AS THIS!"

Demora stood there with a deep scowl on her face, her eyes glowed in anger, "I should've killed her where she stood."

I growled through the pain as I kept bleeding, "How do I break this curse. You lied about the rose, you must have lied about how to break it too. There's a way you haven't even told me about, isn't there."

She looked like she was about snap until her face changes into one of serene, "No, you're right...I haven't told you, but I did tell her."

I frowned, "Who?"

Demora turns and waves her hand and Lily comes stumbling out of the forest.

My eyes widen as I took a step forward. Demora however pushes me back with the force of her magic. I snarled, "What the fuck are you playing at, Demora!"

She smiles, "You ask how to break the curse...so I'm going to tell you."

Lily stood there wide eyed as she took in the scene in front of her.

LILY

Demora stood there smiling, "Glad you could join the party. I was beginning to worry you weren't going to show up."

I had the flower in my bag.

Zeus looked at me, worry wrecked his eyes. I stepped towards him, "Zeus." But was slammed back by the force of Demora's magic.

Demora moved gracefully toward me. I stood still and watched her every move. She stops in front of me, observing my face. She raises her long nailed fingers and ran it softly across my cheek. A cold chill went up my spine.

"So beautiful," she said. She ran her long nails through my hair, "So fair. So pure and bright," She leans in to my ear, "Makes me feel ill, looking at you," She said in a low and menacing tone.

She brushes my hair away from my shoulders and held them in a tight grip, "Look at your beautiful Zeus, handsome isn't he? If only you knew him like I do."

"I know him better than you," I said certainly.

Zeus looked unsettled and unconvinced by Demora standing behind me.

"Possibly," Demora said with what I knew was a smile

Zeus steps forward and growls, "Enough Demora! Your business is with me, not her." Demora waves her finger, pushing Zeus back.

She sighs and rests her hand on my shoulder. I felt repulsed and squirmish with her so close to me. She sighs and says, "Don't you just love how he makes you feel? He makes you feel adored, How he looks at you, loves you, make you fee safe. I remember feeling like that. He is totally and utterly loyal to you. He would not love anybody else...or so he says."

Demora spins around, her red hair flowing flawlessly in the moonlight, "But what about you, Lily?"

I frowned, "Me?"

"How loyal are you to Zeus?"

She turns silently with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She walked towards Zeus. He looks at her with pure hatred. She cups his face.

Everything in me wants to rip her hand off. She runs her fingers up his arms and on his shoulders. She turns around and faces me, "Do you remember our conversation, Lily? We had discussed things regarding the curse."

I racked through my memories, and remembered the first time I met Demora. I was still blind at the time...but that conversation was burned in my memory, "A question to be answered."

She smiles, "Good job! I'm glad you remembered."

"A question?" Zeus said. He turns to Demora, "Give me the fucking question and I'll answer it."

She laughs and said, "Oh my love, you don't need to answer anything," She turns to me with a wickedness on her face, "This is a question only, Lily can answer, and Lily alone."

Zeus's jaw was clenching and unclenching as his eyes were reflecting with murder while looking at Demora.

The witch steps away and looks to me, "Do you love, Zeus, Lily?" Demora asks.

I take in deep breathes as my heart was pounding against my chest and the hold of the bag tightens, "Yes."

"Are you sure? He has done horrific things. His heart is stained in black ink."

I felt my own anger stir, "No it's not. I know his heart." I look at Zeus and say, "His heart is good. He is strong, strong enough to defeat his own demons." Zeus stares back at me with a softness in them.

Demora look aggravated by my answer. She walks toward me, step by step I got more nervous. She stops in front of me and grabs me chin roughly. She looks down upon me and said, "Lily...would you die for Zeus? Willingly?"

"No!" Zeus shouts in rage. He came running, but Demora waves her hand, pushing him back.

I looked at Zeus as he laid there holding his wound. He looks at me and shook his head. I knew what Demora was asking. For Zeus to be free...I needed to die. I always imagined what our life would have been like together. I would fantasised about doing wonderful things.

But what is love without sacrifice? Anything worth having or worth saving is never easy. I gave him a soft smile. I knew what I had to do.

Demora had been so concentrated on me that she did not know that Zeus came running. He grabs Demora and rips her away from me and threw her across the snow, she lands on the ground. But she gets pulled back up with an invisible force of her own doing, she turns around with a deep scowl, "Do you want to fight, Zeus? Then let us fight!"

She laughs as she raises her arms.

Zeus pushes me behind him, "Zeus what're you doing!" I yelled at him.

"I am not letting you die for me!" Zeus shouts. He stands in front of me preparing for whatever Demora has planned.

Demora's glowing power is raises in the air. Nikolai's body began to glow green and he stands up. No wound marking his body. His eyes glowing a bright green as he smiles at Zeus.

Demora waves her hand and Nikolai moves forward, charging at Zeus. My mate lunges forward as both of them collide into a fight.

"Zeus stop!" I scream. He's wounded. He can't win this on his own.

I growled as I looked at Demora. Her smile was wide as she inflicted pain.

I sprinted to her and tackled her to the ground. She leaves Nikolai to fight as she pushes me off.

She stand in front of me, her hair was messy and her eyes were crazy, "I should've killed you as soon as you stepped out of that damn sanctuary!" She raises her palms, glowing green light radiated from them.

"No! Lily run!" Zeus pushes Nikolai off wide eyed in fear when Nik came and tackled him to the ground.

I grabbed my bag and opened it. I brought the glass flower out, "Please work, Esme." I raised it up in the air.

Demora's eyes shined with fear as she saw what I had, "Where did you find that!"

The flower shined bright and brighter until I couldn't even see anymore. I closed my eyes and felt the flower break open. The light floated up and in a flash...it disappears. Nothing happened. I waited for a moment...and still nothing happened.

I frowned when I looked at Demora. She looks at me and began cackling, "Was that supposed to be your secret weapon?"

I looked down at the broken glass, "This doesn't make sense!" I shouted in anger. I looked at Demora hopeless as to how I was to defeat her. This was supposed to be my last chance. I had nothing else to fight with. Hope had abandoned me to my fate.

My eyes went to Zeus. I stepped forward in fear as he was on the ground, beaten and broken. But he still gets back up. Tears filled my eyes. I didn't know what to do.

The ground rumbles deeply as I saw dark figures coming out of the forest. I fell to my knees in defeat as I saw Nikolai's army. Ready to kill.

"It's okay, Lily," Demora chuckles, "Zeus had six chances to save you...but he couldn't...let him die. It is only fair."

"It was five chances," I said through my tears, "I came back five times."

Demora looks at me and raises her brow, "Are you sure?"

I frowned six? It wasn't six. It was five. Wasn't it?

...."Think, Lily," Lillian said, "You know everything already, but you need to connect the dots...

..."As the story goes, Kyro wanted to build a life with Esme, she had become his one and only love, and when he took her, she turned into a flower and her petals flowed away. But the question always was...did Esme really turn into a flower?"...

..."Someone put a spell on Esme."

My eyes widen and my mind was beyond shocked, "But who would do that?"

"Who would have a grudge against, Esme? Or even Kyro?"

Then it made sense, "His ex lover. The woman that fell in love with Kyro..."...

"Six lives...six chances...six petals."