the chapters are slowly getting longer 😳 how do you feel, homies?

a couple of things for you guys today;

1. obviously this chapter :D again, things are slowly getting longer which is unintentional but whatever, right? I'm still keeping my pace

2. a quick thank you for 30k reads!!! we're steadily approaching that 50k mark now, which is my current goal or whatever. honestly any number above 0 is thrilling :') still, though; the reads, votes, comments big and small are amazing and I can't appreciate you enough for the support.

3. SURPRISE, SURPRISE, something happened.. 🙄 it's like I'm cursed or something. but basically I have an aunt who just died on Monday, and a great aunt that's in the hospital for a brain tumor, I think. we don't know the full story on how Aunt 1 died (probably heart failure), or why Aunt 2 is hospitalized, so that also has me sad and stressed and all that good stuff so... yeah.

my aunt's funeral is in two weeks. I don't know if I'll have much time for writing between the CNA thing, shopping for the funeral, going to the funeral, or worrying about my aunt in the hospital, but at the very least I still have a chapter to upload next week. after that? I don't know. let's all just count some blessings, yeah?

anywho~ enjoy!

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I stood atop the building across from the warehouse hideout of the vampires. The sun's high in the sky, to our advantage. A perfectly executed fireball spell to the wooden boards at the top, and the sunlight floods in, Octavia can bomb them all, and we can set this plan into motion.

Beau knelt beside me. I had them stay close to me at all times as I assumed responsibility for them and their actions. Although Beau was the one that relayed messages between us and our inside ally, Mark still didn't fully trust them. Not that I did either. I don't fully trust a lot of people, but somehow I doubt Beau would do anything to compromise Amir and Ivan's safety.

We watched from a distance as Octavia made the last climb to the warehouse's roof. All her sneaking around paid off as good practice with staying quiet, even though some parts of the roof was made from metal.

I looked down to a dark corner between the warehouse wall and a few old trucks. Mark was there, ear against the wall, trying to listen for any indication they know we're here.

I turned to Beau. "You got the salt?"

They reached over and grabbed the medium sized bag filled to the brim with black salt. Octavia created a near-foolproof barrier spell that used this kind of salt. It's meant to keep the undead from crossing. It did mean Beau was useless for a period of time in this plan; they wouldn't be able to keep any vampires from trying to harm Amir while we focused on uncovering as much sunlight as possible.

We still had Ivan on the inside, though. We could only hope he can block the witches' magic long enough.

I waited for both Mark and Octavia to look at us so I can give them confirmation we're ready to kickstart the plan. It has to be perfect.

One wrong move and Octavia can be captured and/or Amir could be killed as well as Ivan and Beau.

When Mark nodded at me, I nodded back, then looked across the way to Octavia and lifted my hand to the air. We're on.

Beau didn't need me to tell them to go forward with their side of things. They vaulted over the edge of the building with the black salt, landing on perfect on two feet and casually walking through the front entrance.

"Try to stay calm, Beau," I said, hoping they heard me. They looked back for a second. That was all the confirmation I needed.

"Okay, but they're not gonna just let me waltz up in there during the day, all casual n shit. Let alone lay down a line of black salt?"

Octavia shook her head, taking a handful of it in her hand. "Don't worry about laying it down yourself. Just go in and distract them while emptying the bag. The salt will do it's job itself."

"No offense, Miss, but you're not the one committing treason in a vampire's lair. This isn't as easy as you make it sound. Don't get me wrong, I'm willing to die for this rescue mission, but that doesn't mean I'm ready for the torture Zane will provide if we fuck up."

"We won't fuck up," I dismissed. "If something goes wrong, improvise. Do anything you can to subdue Zane and get Amir to Octavia."

"Zane won't go down easy, General."

"I'm counting on it."

"Hey guys! How we doing?" I heard Beau with my hearing. There were various 'what the hells' and 'fucks' and 'how is she out in the day?' There was some shuffling around as well. I know Beau can handle this, but it doesn't stop my heart from hammering in my chest.

"What is this?" Zane's voice sounded.

"Treachery, Z-boy," they chuckled.

"I told you that bitch was too untamed!"

"Kill her," Zane hissed.

I jumped down, knowing at this moment, the vampires were charging at Beau, and they had already laid out the black salt. The best part about it is that it doesn't just lay itself out in a straight line in front of you, it lays out in the area you imagine. I watched as grains of the black salt began to circle the parts of the building that the other vampires were in. I quickly ran inside, unknowing how it would affect a hybrid.

I found my brother and made eye contact with him. He nodded, forming a fireball in his hand and shooting it up in the air. That was the signal to Octavia, letting her know it's time to start burning shit down.

They both got to it. Every wooden board blocking the sunlight went up in flames too quick for anyone to react. The light poured in, and I could see every vampire besides Zane, I'm assuming, cowering in the shadows at the center and in the corners. I smiled to myself as Octavia burned the board on the roof, catching at least two vampires off guard and seriously burning them.

I peeked through one of the holes in the wall, looking for Amir. I saw two people in the far back; one black boy and a Vietnamese guy that couldn't be any older than 20. They were both covering their noses and mouths with their jackets. They knew the plan, so it meant they were Amir and Ivan. I covered my breathing holes, and so did Beau.

Then Octavia dropped two bombs.

She was smart enough to wait a little before dropping them so they'd go off immediately upon impact.

I assumed they were one of each— chloroform and vervain— because the vampires within the gas's radius began gasping for air and their skins started to sizzle and burn. The others— the witches— had gone unconscious, apart from three of them, Ivan not included, that covered their noses in time.

"It's an ambush!"

Damn right.

Zane tried to speed off and grab Beau, but the black salt barrier acted as a good wall for him to faceplant into. His back was turned to me, which meant this was my chance to grab him. Octavia and Ivan could focus on Amir. My brother and I have some personal business to attend to.

Mark and I both rushed in, ready to grab Zane from both sides. We hoped that Octavia's sense-blocking necklaces would help. And for a second they did. But some big-mouthed bitch alerted him of our presence.

He turned to Mark first, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him up. I could've gotten him while he was distracted, but my body froze in place, completely against my will, and I knew that one of the witches that didn't go unconscious earlier was the one that could control bodies.

Zane didn't spare me a glance as he just looked at my brother. "You're just a kid. Who turns a kid?"

"Who murders one?" Mark spat.

I growled uncontrollably at him. He's right there, damn it. I could've had him.

Somebody better get that witch.

Zane turned to me. His eyes went wide in shock, and in their reflection I could see my glowing eyes. Keep a level head, Mel.

I repeated that until my eyes had gone back to normal. My teeth were still extended because I fully intended to use them.

"You're that hybrid's kid," he gasped. His shocked expression molded into a sick, twisted smile. "You know, you have her eyes. And not just in color, either. Oh, no, you have that same look she had in her eyes right before I ripped her heart out."

I knew he was trying to get a reaction out of me, and for a second, he did. But I'll have time to get pissed off later. Right now, I just need to get control over my body again.

"What? Nothing to say?" Mark looked at me, silently telling me he couldn't hold out much longer. Regardless of being half vampire, being choked out still cuts off much-needed oxygen to the brain. I just need a little more time for Octavia to get here so we could help Ivan take out the remaining vampires and witches.

"Believe me, I have plenty to say." I took a second to listen out for Octavia. As if her timing couldn't be even more perfect, I heard running footsteps getting closer to the hole I entered through. I smiled at Zane. "Let's start with saying goodbye to your friends."

I was able to turn my head just enough to see Octavia running in with another two bombs in hand. Beau quickly found cover, and Mark and I braced ourselves for a nasty burn.

Zane released Mark and he dropped to the floor. As the bombs went off, there were multiple screams of agony.

I ignored the burning in my lungs and on my skin as I looked over to Ivan. His one hand was still holding his jacket to his face, but the other was raised up towards one of the witches. It happened to be the witch that controlled me, because at the same time my body was released, this guy's eyes and nose started to bleed.

But it wasn't just him; one by one, anyone within Ivan's who opposed us had been affected.

Zane saw him, and an angry scowl appeared on his face. Before he could make any moves, I took a leg and brought it up to his face with enough force to send him flying into the barrier. An added bonus to kicking his fucked up ass in the face, his head had turned far enough to "kill" him.

I looked at Beau. "Get him out of here. Do whatever it takes to make sure no one follows. Not even us."

Beau nodded, and quickly put on the ring Octavia gave them.

"Take this," Octavia said to Beau, handing them a simple, black ring.

"What's this for?"

"When you lay down the salt, a barrier will be put up. You won't be able to get in; they won't be able to get out. It affects the undead. You have to make sure you're outside of the desired area, otherwise you'll be trapped with the other vampires and they'll surely rip you apart."

"What about the witches?"

"If our timing's right, they'll be more focused on me, Octavia, and Mel," Mark answered. "That way Ivan can immobilize the witches. Hopefully some vampires too if he's powerful enough to hold them all."

"He will be," Beau assured. "But if he exerts too much energy at once, he won't be able to hold them all for long."

"We should be able to take out most their numbers before he caves," I told them. "If Ivan doesn't pan out, we still have Mark and Octavia."

"It'll be tough trying to handle my trinkets while dealing with them using magic, but if we can get Amir and Zane out of there quickly, we can just blow them to pieces. Don't doubt I have frag grenades," Octavia said with a smile.

I laughed, shaking my head. "Only an idiot would doubt that."

Beau examined the ring. "Why don't these two get one as well?"

"We'll be on the inside, ensuring our enemies are out of the equation, and Amir is safely removed." Mark said. "Zane... well, of course we don't care about safely extracting him. Cut his limbs off for all I care. Or his dick."

"How about all of those?" Beau smirked.

"That works too."

With the ring on, Beau was able to cross the barrier freely, and take Zane with them. They took a needle filled with vervain and stuck it in his neck as a precaution; even if he healed enough to wake up again, he'd be too weak to move because the vervain's still in his system. Beau then hauled him over their shoulder and bolted for the door. Where they went? Unknown to the rest of us. Another precaution.

I wasn't affected by the vervain as much, or maybe my better healing made it easier to get back into action. Either way, I was able to catch some vampires off guard, taking an extra wooden dagger Mark had and plunging it into their chests. Immediately upon doing so, their bodies began to dessicate.

This is better than what they deserved.

I fought to make a clear enough path for Mark to escort Amir to the front of the warehouse. Even with Ivan using his magic to keep some of these guys at bay, it was hard because most of them had managed to push through. I assumed Ivan was running low on energy. Looking at him confirmed it as he was bleeding from the nose.

"Let's go!" Mark shouted. I waited for Octavia to make it back to my brother and her son. I almost instinctively joined them, but we'd be leaving Ivan behind. "Okay, Octavia, on my signal, you open the barrier for Mark, and get out of here."

"And leave you?"

"I can't leave Ivan."

"But—"

"But nothing, look at him!" Just as I looked back, Ivan dropped to his knees. With the vampires resisting the hold he had on them, he released too much energy. And now, he's all burned out.

With the vampires either dead or indisposition, all that was left were the few witches smart enough to avoid the smoke bombs. They turned to Ivan, likely about to kill them.

I dashed over to them and managed to toss a two of them to the side, and the last one turned and gave me a clear shot at punching him in his face.

They were out of my way now, so I went to Ivan and put one arm around my neck while I supported him by holding his waist. Soon as we started moving, a witch sent a fireball spell our way, but Ivan countered it with one of his own. He then sent a faster one in return, connecting with it's target with ease.

I praised Ivan in spirit as he kept them all at bay while I focused my efforts on getting him to the others. We were at the home stretch when some surviving vampires blocked our path. Two of them, rumpled from combat. But in both their hands were wooden stakes of their own. While they wouldn't kill me, they'd slow me down. Dessicate me, even, long enough for me to be properly delt with.

The same went for my brother. I'd accept his help in taking care of these guys, but I need Ivan safe. Repaying his kindness is a must.

We were being surrounded by the remaining, uninjured people of this warehouse. Mark started to come to help, but Octavia grabbed him by the back of his collar and forced him across the line; she was the only one that could affect the barrier.

She knew what to do; she and I came to an understanding before coming here today.

My brother began protesting as he realized I was about to be left behind. At my signal, Octavia grabbed his head and turned forcefully. I'm sorry, Bailey.

"Mom, what are you doing?!"

"Get him and go, now!"

Amir didn't dare disobey his mother, and grabbed my brother's small body and hauled him over his shoulder. It's a good thing Beau helped Amir keep his strength, especially now that it's coming in clutch. Octavia left too, but I knew she was only going back to the vantage point, as planned. Beau should have gotten Zane to a secure location by now so that they could come back and guide Amir away from the premises.

"How tragic," one of them said behind me. "All this, only to be betrayed..."

"Me? Betrayed?"

"Come on, stupid bitch," another hissed. "They left you here. Here with the traitor. Now you both die."

"Do we?" I chuckled, "damn, that's real tuff. I haven't even reached the legal drinking age. Oh well... least I won't die a virgin."

I knew I was pissing them off. I needed that, I needed them to get closer. They need to be in the blast radius. They all needed to die here and now.

"How can you be so cocky when you're minutes away from death?" I watched as the two in front of me stepped forward. I turned my head slightly to see the other mimicking them. I looked at the vampire to my left.

"Someone smart would make my death happen in seconds," I smirked, even though part of me was scared out of my mind right now. I couldn't keep stalling much longer, and between holding these guys off and protecting Ivan, I don't think I can do it. "I guess you're not very smart, hm?"

Another few steps. But still not close enough.

"Makes sense. You all followed some mindless, power-hungry asshole, killed a bunch of innocent werewolves and now you have a big bounty on your heads. I wonder, how long would it have been for Marcel to come for you, if I didn't?"

"Bring me her fucking head," one of the witches behind me ordered.

I panicked and instinctively pulled Ivan closer to me. I thought this could be it, the end of 'lil ole me. It was only for a second, but it was a second too long.

I heard two clicks of some pins being pulled above me. I looked up at the hole in the roof just in time to see Octavia dropping bombs. Two, as per usual, but I knew these were different.

They dropped just in front of me, startling the others. There was a moment of collective realization between the vampires, witches, and Ivan. But before I could shoot him a quick glance—one that would tell him to trust me...

The grenades went off.