Chapter 4

CYRENE LOPEZ

I smirked as I threw my phone to the ground and crushed it under my combat boots. It shattered into tiny pieces, and I couldn't wait to do the same to Cyrus.

He thought he was smart, but I knew what they were doing. They must have tracked me down with the help of Andy, that asshole. I stepped out of the building and got into my car.

"Where exactly are we going?" I turned to my side, and the witch looked at me smugly.

"Somewhere deep in the forest," I said simply. She shut up, quite satisfied with my answer.

I glanced at the rearview mirror and smirked as I saw Carmela still unconscious. She looked more decent now compared to earlier since we didn't want to attract attention, especially at road inspections and checkpoints. Of course, we could kill anyone, but we wouldn't do that.

This witch beside me was very useful indeed. Her spells worked wonders, and I had to keep her until I no longer needed her.

I started the engine and drove us to his cabin. Right. I was going to end all of this at his beloved safe haven, and the moment he got there would be the perfect time to execute my plan.

I looked up at the sky and smiled to myself. It was getting darker, and the moon was about to show itself soon.

"Why did you have to confuse them if you're going to meet him anyway?"

"Isn't it fun to make a fool out of them? Besides, I'm just buying us some time before everything ends." She sighed, and I could feel her eyes on me, but I didn't spare her a glance.

It took us an hour and a half to reach his cabin.

"Let's get her inside," I said. We dragged Carmela into the small house by breaking the doorknob. Obviously, I didn't have his house key.

I looked around his cabin and scoffed. He sure knew how to relax and live comfortably after what he did. He didn't even have a conscience.

I watched as the witch dragged Carmela by her feet and stopped in the middle of the room. She tapped Carmela's cheek a few times until she finally woke up.

Her eyes were swollen from crying, and when she saw me, her mouth fell open. I smirked as I saw the realization slowly hit her.

"Cyrene..."

"Carmela." I called out her name, and a tear escaped from her eyes. She tried to get up but fell back down.

"Cyrene, go. You have to run away." I raised an eyebrow and scoffed.

She was so naive. I laughed so hard that it made her stop. "You're very funny, Carmela," I said through my laughter.

"What..."

"Keep your friends close, your enemies closer." It was enough to make her understand exactly what was happening.

She gasped as she finally understood what I meant. She looked at me, her eyes asking me questions that she cannot verbally say. I sighed and walked back and forth.

"Why?" Was the first word that slipped off her tongue after staying mute for a few minutes.

I stopped on my tracks, turned around and smiled at her. "Why? Because you are his mate?" She shook her head.

"Mate? Right, I am his mate. I guess I know why you're doing this." She answered back.

I watched her carefully. She said the word "mate" like she knew what it means. This is getting interesting.

"You are doing this because you think he killed your mate."

"Bingo!" I exclaimed and laughed.

She was able to get up and stand in front of me. She looked at me as if she could not believe her eyes. "Cyrene, it was an accident."

"An accident? No, it wasn't. He did it on purpose. That's how he is. He enjoys killing. He is a beast." I whispered with disgust.

"He is your brother."

"But he killed my mate."

"Cyrene, please, talk to him."

I scoffed and pushed my face toward her. "And then, what? Listen to him and his lies? Give him the chance to come up with some lousy excuses? No way."

She grabbed me by my arm and I shoot her daggers. Her eyes are pleading, "please, talk this out with Cyrus. I'm sure there's some kind of a misunderstanding..." I wriggled out from her touch and she fell on her butt.

"Don't make me laugh, Carmela. You don't know what you are saying! You don't know my brother like I do."

"But this isn't right. Being vengeful will only destroy your relationship with your brother. You think this will solve your problem?"

"And you think just because he is my brother, he can escape that easily? Carmela, wake up! He is a murderer. He killed my mate and he never showed an ounce of guilt for what he did." I said as a drop of tear fell down my cheek.

"I tried to forget what he did but when I think about my mom's words, I knew we could have had a chance. Just like them. She was able to get what she wanted. She was able to marry her mate..."

"But he didn't love her."

"How dare you!"

"He didn't love her that's why you're mom is not happy. No matter how hard she tried to make this work, it didn't."

I launched towards her and let out a very hard slap in the face that shook her head. It stung like hell, that I am sure of. "How dare you talk about them like you know what my mother is going through. Just because I told you about their story, doesn't mean you get to criticize her for forcing herself into someone who didn't feel the same way for her."

She held her cheek and stared right into my eyes. "Did you really have to do this? You think by killing me, hurting him, your broken heart would be healed too? Are you sure that when you see him living like hell, it would be enough reason for you to live comfortably?"

My mouth opened, then closed. Her words made me think. Is this worth it?

"Don't let her words shake your mind. She almost got me earlier." I looked at Misty, the witch, and she just looked at me blankly.

This witch never told me her name. I just called her Misty because I thought she was trying to be mysterious. I remember the first time I saw her. It was that night, at Tristan's mansion. We just arrived and she was the first person that got my attention.

At first, I thought I was just overthinking but I noticed how her eyes followed Carmela's movements. She looked at her with pure hate. Her hands were always folded into fists as if she was trying to control herself from attacking her. That's when I knew she was up to something.

When Cyrus and Carmela disappeared, I went to look for them and saw them leaving the powder room and there she was, following them around.

"One more step and I'll kill you." That's what I told her and her eyes showed shock when she saw me.

Witches are scared of us, of vampires and other creatures but they are powerful due to the spells that they have learned growing up. Only that they were taught to hide and never show themselves if they wanted to live peacefully.

That's why when she saw who Carmela was with that night, she backed away and waited. It was worth it because we both found each other.

I told her who I was and she was doubtful. She thought I was just lying to her and that I would kill her for my brother. But later on, I persuaded her when I found out why she wanted to kill Carmela herself.

"She gets on my nerves. Ashton... I met him first. I loved him first but he wouldn't come to me because of her." That's what she said to me.

I used her weakness to strengthen my alas. I didn't have to do anything because she did all the work for me. She casted a spell upon Carmela and I was amazed when I found out what it did to her. She lost her memories with Cyrus and that definitely broke his heart. He was very worried that it made me happy. Seeing him live a miserable life is indeed what I need to call it quits.

I turned to look back at Carmela to find her looking at me with her eyes filled with pity. That angered me more. I am not a charity for her to feel that way.

I cupped her cheeks with my hand, my fingers digging into her sensitive skin and I inhaled the scent of blood that gushed out from her face. She whimpered in pain.

"Yes, scream, Carmela!" I exclaimed as I held onto her face tighter making her cry even more.

"Louder!" I screamed. She grabbed my arm and tried to shake it off but I raised my other arm and slapped her hard making her fall to the ground.

I never wanted to hurt her until Cyrus gets here but she is getting under my skin. She is acting like she knows everything and I hate it.

I moved and towered over her shaking form. "Don't hurt her so bad. I want to be the one to let her feel all sorts of pain." Misty informed and I rose an eyebrow at her.

"Just because I let you talk to me casually doesn't mean I would listen to you."

"Is that so?" She stood up from her seat and came up to me.

We're about the same height but I am stronger. She can't instruct me because I listen to no one but myself.

"Aren't you scared I would betray you?"

"And what can you possibly do besides casting spells on me? Huh?"

She laughed that only made me hate her guts. "You think we can only cast spells? Seriously? There's a lot more that we can do." She said and I watched as she pointed her forefinger at Carmela and she whimpered and curled up like a baby.

"No, stop it! Stop!" She cried while clutching her stomach. What the hell is happening?

"You see. That woman is pregnant."

My heart beat twice as fast. I looked back at Carmela and she is still crying in pain. She is pregnant? With Cyrus' baby?

That made me smile. This is great! So I will not only kill her but also her baby. Then he would feel the pain twice.

"Don't stop." I whispered. But she dropped her finger down and Carmela followed suit. Misty stared at me with her crooked eyes.

"Just because I let you talk to me casually doesn't mean I would listen to you." She said the exact same thing I said to her.

I pinned her against the wall and she just smirked. "Let me have her just like you promised, dog." My fingers scraped her face and she bled. She just laughed at me with her irritating voice.

She held my gaze and I gasped for air as I felt two strong hands wrapped around my neck, choking me like hell. I let go of her and before I know it, I am the one being pinned against the wall.

"I wonder why you hate being called "dogs" when you are a dog. Isn't it weird that we can't seem to accept the reality? Just like the truth where your mate no longer exists. He is already dead but you keep on going back in the past that you can't even live your life."

I grabbed my neck and tried to scratch whatever it is that is trying to suck the air out of me but I only felt my skin stinging in pain. Blood flowed down like a waterfall and no matter how hard I try to let my wounds heal, it isn't working.

"But I am glad to have met you just the way you are because I was able to come this far. When Carmela told me that I am just being used by you, I laughed so hard because the truth is, you are the stupid puppet, not me." Suddenly, I dropped to my knees when she was no longer looking at me.

I could no longer feel the hands on my neck. I reached for it and gasped for air as my own blood covered both of my hands.

"What do you want?" I asked.

She just threw a glance at Carmela and I did the same. She is not moving. I think she lost consciousness again and I don't know what to feel. If she really is pregnant with Cyrus' baby, is it dead already?

"Not yet. I didn't kill them yet. I think I now have the most perfect plan for those two." Misty answered the questions in my mind.

"I know you have Ashton. You took him without telling me. You will use him against me but I am not a fool. I already have him."

I looked at her with disbelief and she just clicked her tongue. How did she find out about this? This witch is wise. I should have known better.

"Like I have said, I want to be the one to kill Carmela, not you. That's it. I will still do the work. I will torture her in front of his mate and you..." she walked up to me and cupped my cheeks tightly.

"You will stop your brother at all cost." She said and as soon as she let go of my hand, the door bursts open and a loud and ferocious growl filled the air making me shake in fear.

But what I don't exactly know is why I felt scared.

Was it because of Cyrus or Misty?