“No not finally, in-between all that I also convinced Mr Aleksandrov to take no action concerning the cabin attack by playing it down; increasing the school’s protection would foil my plan. Oh, and I killed Cloud,” He gloated.

“You killed Cloud?” I gasped, mostly because he said it so casually. “It was ruled an accident.”

“Well, if it looked like a murder, the school would be in a lock down for days. If I made it look like an accident, then once the investigation was over I could slip into your dorm as everyone was mourning the loss.”

I couldn't believe it. Since the beginning I was all a part of Tay's selfish plan to become immortal. I was upset I didn't pick up on it sooner. A shiver shook my spine as Hank strolled back into the room.

“Everyone else is meeting us at the dairy. We need to move her now; the angels will be here soon. They must have figured out where she is by now.”

I closed my eyes and thought of Eli. He was merely a picture in my head; there was no scent or emotions that usually came with our bond. Every second that passed was a second closer to my death.

Tay escorted me out the front door, my hands pinned behind my back. We piled into a black sedan. Hank drove and Tay sat in the back seat with me. I made note of every telegraph pole and house we passed. I hadn't lived here long, but in the short span of time I did, I walked these streets a lot. It didn't take long for me to realize we were indeed heading for the abandoned dairy farm. Aunt Jen's house was already on the outskirts of Bridgewater; any further and you hit farmland. The dairy farm was the only building nearby that was vacant. I didn't think Tay and Hank wanted to risk being out in the open.

We rolled to an abrupt stop and I was yanked out of the car. The energy that I had before my encounter with Darren was gone. I searched deep inside for a second wind, praying and hoping it was there.

At Death’s Door

Soon the dairy barn filled with vampires. I counted at least twelve. It was strange seeing vampires in such large groups. They were generally solo creatures; they lived alone, hunted alone and fought a lot when in groups of more than three. They all eyed me like I was a delicious meal. Each and every one of them stared at the cloth tied around my arm. A vampire can smell human blood through anything. Hank knew he had to get them outside in their positions before a fight broke out and I was treated like an apple pull apart.

“Positions. Now!” Hank growled.

Soon, I was alone in the dairy, and there were no sounds; not even the chirping of a cricket or the squeak of a mouse. Eli erupted into my mind; I could smell him and feel him as if he was next to me. My morale was boosted; Eli would destroy all of these vampires one by one. I didn't know exactly how far away he was, but he was definitely coming.

I waited in anticipation; if my hands were free I would have bitten my nails down to the skin. I had no way of telling him there were over a dozen vampires waiting for them. The silence that accompanied the next few minutes was agonizing, but nothing compared to the stress of hearing cars pull up. It was the guardian angels, Eli had brought back up. I strained my ears, listening for any movement, any sounds; I heard nothing. Minutes passed and still no noise. I was starting to think maybe I was alone at the old abandoned dairy farm until a loud shout echoed through the building. Soon all I could hear was fighting, the grunts and shouts surrounded me from all angles. My courage was faltering with every second I sat tied up, defenseless and pathetic. How cliché, although every good story needs a damsel in distress.

I pulled hard on the rope. It might be slightly rotted, but it was still strong. I nearly leapt out of my skin as someone was thrown against the tin wall. The entire building rattled and wavered, it was too old. I didn't know how much it could take before crumbling down on top of me. I pulled on the rope again, nothing. My chest grew tight and my breathing deepened, heat burning at my core. Oh great, this was not a good time to have a panic attack. Again, I tried to break free from the rope — nothing. My eyesight started narrowing. I felt like the walls were closing in around me. I needed to get outside. My movements became frantic as I wriggled and pulled and shook the rope. I managed to stretch and pull my hands free. I didn’t have time to nurse the rope burn; I just jumped to my feet and ran.

I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I needed to get outside. Almost immediately I found an exit. I wanted to run through it but I couldn't move my legs. Right in front of my eyes, guardian angels were fighting vampires. My vision started growing darker as I took in deep gulps of air in an attempt to shake the panic attack. I dove through the rusted doorway and dodged and weaved, trying to find Eli. Then, I found him. The world went slomo as he, ever so swiftly, staked a vampire taller than him. When I saw that Eli had come for me, my ribcage no longer squeezed my lungs. I could breathe better and think more clearly.

“Eli!” I screamed. His gaze shot over to me and we ran toward each other. He grabbed me by the shoulders.

“Ruby, Thank god! Are you okay?” he asked, searching my neck for vampire bites.

I couldn't bring myself to speak, I was too afraid. All I could do was nod.

“Get in the car and lock the doors.”

We knew it didn't matter; anyone can smash glass and a vampire is strong enough to rip the door off a SUV. Nonetheless, I ran to the closest car and climbed into the backseat. I locked the doors. As I hid down low, my heart hammered against my ribcage.

Despite my surroundings I felt safe; I knew Eli and the other guardians wouldn't let anything happen to me. Their whole existence was based around protecting our kind — gods and goddesses especially.

Smash!

Glass shattered across my face. I winced as a piece of glass sliced my forehead. A pair of hands reached into the car and grabbed me by the hair, pulling me out of the window. I screamed in pain as jagged teeth of glass still attached to the window dug into my thigh. As he pulled, the glass slid through my flesh. He threw me on the ground and leant close, the stench of his bloody breath blew icily on my face. If it wasn't for the searing pain in my leg or the burning fear in my stomach, I would have vomited.

It was one of Hank’s pals — Boothy, he was called when he was human, James Booth. Hank must have turned him soon after he got turned. Hank was cruel and selfish; Boothy had a beautiful wife and they had just had a baby together — Brea, if I recalled correctly. It was upsetting seeing his once friendly face be contorted by ugly veins and deathly pale skin.

“Not so fast—” He stopped and stared at my leg. “That smell… What are you?”

I felt the warmth of my blood pour out. He flicked his fangs out and turned to my lower body. He positioned one hand above my knee and one on my hip. I squeezed my eyes shut, preparing for the scalding fire that came with being bitten. I didn't try to fight him or run, I had given up. I didn't want to, every inch of my body told me to fight, but my brain didn't process the orders. My brain had accepted defeat. The bite never came. Before I was mauled to death, Hank kicked Boothy, sending him tumbling over me meters down the field. Like a cat, James found his footing and growled. Hank roared back at him, fangs bearing and venom spraying everywhere. Like the weaker lion usually does on the Discovery Channel, James Booth backed down.

“Go help the others!” Hank barked.

He grabbed my arm and stood me up. My thigh throbbed as the sticky blood ran down my calf and into my shoe. I winced and sobbed in pain.

“You ain't going anywhere.” New lines carved through his face as he fought the temptation of tasting my blood again.

“Let her go.” It was Eli.

A wry smile spread across Hank's face. “Mr De Luca.” Hank let me go and I dropped to the ground. Pulsating blackness filled my eyes and then my vision would come back momentarily before disappearing beneath the darkness.

My vision returned; Hank and Eli were locked in battle. I glanced around; vampire dust and angel bodies were strewn all over the ground. I assumed we were winning; it was no longer one on one. Three guardians stood off against one vampire, and others were two on one. I watched as two guardian angels tore the head off Boothy. Although he was a vampire and tried to eat me, I couldn't help but feel a little tender-hearted. He used to be a good hearted, honest man, and Hank destroyed that. Hank took him from his family so he could help grow his numbers in order to rule the vampire underworld.

Next to me laid a blood-stained stake. I grabbed it and struggled to my feet. I hobbled towards Eli and Hank. Eli spotted me and knew what I wanted to do. Hank, stupidly on his part, wasn't paying attention. He knew if he took his eye off Eli for a second, he was dead. Eli had no mercy for vampires and even less for Hank. I got within a meter of Hank and waited. Anger rose in my chest.

This is for my mother, me, James, and whoever else you have hurt. You will never hurt another living soul! I screamed in my head.

Eli grabbed Hank by the arm and spun him around to face me; Hank's expression was priceless as I lunged forward with the stake. Eli shoved him forward as I thrust the stake downward, it gave me extra power. The stake pierced his flesh and went straight into his heart. Within seconds he evaporated into dust. I fell to the ground and brought my knees to my chest and cried. The chapter of my life ruled by Hank ruled was finally over. Eli stood protectively over me.

“You did it Ruby. You did it,” he said.

I didn't respond. Death should not be celebrated, regardless of who or what has died. Hank was once a loving member of my family, someone who made my mum happy and had given us a better life. Although his soul was already dead, I killed his physical body and it still hurt me more than I thought it would.

It was over. The angels lit fires all around and burnt all the dead vampire bodies and heads. Hank was dead and the remaining vampires either fled or were burning in the flames.

“I need to rest,” I sobbed. He signalled for a female angel to help carry me back to the car. I leant heavily on her as she opened the back door.

“It’s not over yet,” yelled a voice.

Tay.

He grabbed me from the guardian and kicked her backwards.

“Tay?”

He spun me around so my back was pressed against his front. Then I felt a cold, hard metal press against my temple.

“Move and I’ll blow her brains out.”

I thought Tay was dead. I mean, I didn't see him get killed, but I assumed he would have at least tried to help Hank. After all, he was supposed to make him a vampire. I was weak, I could barely stand. I had lost too much blood tonight; I needed medical help as soon as possible.

I could see the guardians plotting in their heads. One wrong move and this whole rescue and the deaths of their fellow guardian angels would have been for nothing.

“Tay, what are you doing?” asked Eli, confused and resentful.

I could tell by his tone he was as shocked as I had been when I ran into Tay earlier.

“I’m going to be immortal, but I needed her to do it. I’m going to take her and get what I want from someone else.”

“She’s lost a lot of blood. No vampire is going to take her,” begged a female guardian angel.

“She’s still a goddess. She still has the magic.”

My legs were weak and my knees finally buckled under me. Tay was keeping me up with his arm.

“Stand up,” he snarled. I tried but I couldn't.

“She’s lost a lot of blood. She’ll die before you get to another vampire,” argued Eli. His face was filled with concern and frustration. Every second that ticked by meant I got more lethargic and closer to death. I was too weak to use my powers — not that I knew how to, anyway. Tay dropped me on the floor and pointed his gun at the angels.

“Then one of you is coming with me.”

“No, no, no, take me,” I whispered.

No one heard me. I tried to make my voice louder but I couldn't. My world grew darker as Sera — the female guardian angel I first saw in the auditorium during the Guardian exam, stepped forward.

“I'll go.” The rest of them protested.

“No. Let me,” Eli boomed.

“No, please.” I exhaled, my voice was faint. It blew away with the wind, no one could hear me.

“No, Eli. It will be a lot easier to contain Sera than you.”

Tay knew he was no match for Eli. Sera slowly walked over to Tay, sparing me a sympathy glance. Tay pressed the gun to Sera's head and walked her back to the car. Once they were both inside, the car started up. Tears poured from my eyes, I didn't mean for this to happen. Eli and several other guardian angels rushed to my side whilst others rushed to cars and plotted ways to get Sera back. Tay and Sera made their way back down the road. When it seemed like all hope was lost for Sera, Tay’s car screeched its brakes and the reverse lights appeared. It pulled up close to the angels. Tay exited from the vehicle with his arms above his head. Sera had disarmed him and turned the gun on him. A few guardians cheered, but it was short lived as Tay sprinted across the paddocks. Sera aimed her gun at him.

“Don't shoot. We’ll get him, stay with Ruby.” Eli and two guardian angels chased after Tay. As they caught up to him and squared off for a fight, I fell unconscious.

Bright Lights and Consequences

My mind focused in and out briefly. The lights were bright on my face, white lights… I was in a hospital. Faces peered over at me but I drifted back into unconsciousness. In my mind I was at peace. I felt no pain, no regret, and no sadness. I pictured my mother’s face, she was so beautiful. I grew excited at the thought of seeing her again but the excitement lessened when Eli's smile entered my mind; our kiss and the day at the waterfall. Was I dead? Is this my life flashing before my eyes? It couldn't be, I’ve only seen Eli. Eli, in my mind, stood tall and fierce with his arms crossed. He started floating into the distance and I reached out for him but I couldn't reach him. I tried to call his name but I had no voice. Slowly, he disappeared, the blackness had swallowed him.