Chapter 29 Nine years later... The scene unfolds like a luxurious red carpet event, with paparazzi flashing cameras as the Billionaire's daughter exits the limo, and a step-and-repeat backdrop emblazoned with "Bella's Sweet 16" flashing on the sign of the Cajun Super Domes entrance. The same group of people, now nine years older, are gathered including 'Karma', Bella's new best friend forever, and of course, Matt and all of the girls from the gymnastics team at school, surrounded by exquisite cuisine, and live music, performed by one of the top teen bands, it's a formal affair. Bella has grown into a stunning young woman with a radiant smile and is the epitome of elegance in a custom-designed, floor-length gown. Kie and I, beaming with pride, Matt escorts our daughter, looking effortlessly chic and sophisticated. As the grand doors swing open, Bella and Matt emerge, Bella is a vision of loveliness. The delicate fabric hugs her curves, showcasing her graceful figure, while her hair,
Chapter 30 The Real Matt Then, as suddenly as she appeared, the girl vanished into the crowd, leaving Bella feeling shaken and confused, the feeling of unease lingers, like a shadow in the corner of her mind, waiting to pounce. Bella knows she'll never be able to shake off the feeling of being watched or being hunted. Kie and I, standing across the room, we were immediately aware of Bella's distress through our mind link. We turn to each other, our eyes locked in a flash of understanding as we link minds with the others. Without a word, Kie moves with Vampire speed to Bella's side. Lyra and Sam join him. Niklaus was already there scanning the room for her, with Lucas and I, not far behind them, our movements were swift and urgent. As we reached her side, the girl had vanished into thin air, leaving everyone staring at the spot where she stood. The mind link between them crackles with tension, their thoughts racing with the implications of what just happened. "Bella, are you okay?"
Chapter 31 Prom nightMatt took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as he prepared for prom night. He adjusted his tie for what felt like the hundredth time, he called to his mom for help.Afterward, headed outside to call Kie. "Hey, Mr. Kie, it's Matt. Just wanted to thank you again for the limo tonight." Kie's warm voice came through the line, "No problem, Matt! You don't have to call me 'Mr.', just Kie is fine, Sam will be your driver, so you two will be safe and sound. No funny business, got it?" Matt chuckled and replied, "Got it, thanks again!" Hanging up, he crossed the street, corsage box in hand, and ran into Lucas and Brent heading for seafood take-out. "Hey, looking sharp, Matt!" Lucas said, giving him a high-five. "You two are going to crush it tonight!" Brent added, grinning. Matt smiles, feeling a sense of brotherhood with them. "Thanks, guys!""You two are going to crush it tonight!" Brent added, grinning. Matt smiled, feeling a bit more at ease, and c
Chapter32 First Kiss She speaks but his heart is beating so loud he can't concentrate. Then he finally comes to his senses. "Ah, No Ma'am! This is my limo, I'm here for Miss Bella Delacroix and her friends," Sam replies, trying to sound cool despite his sudden nervousness. The wind picks up with a cool breeze. as the woman steps in closer to introduce herself "Hi, I'm Sophia, I'm a teacher at this school." as they strike up a conversation, Sam finds himself drawn to her warmth, intelligence, and kindness. Before he knows it, they've been chatting for over an hour, lost in each other's eyes. As the conversation flows, Sam finds himself feeling a connection with Sophia that he can't ignore. She's not only beautiful but also intelligent, and kind, and has a quick wit about her, that keeps him on his toes. He's surprised by how much they have in common, from their love of literature to their passion for social justice. As the hour passes, Sam's engrossed in getting to know her, and she
Chapter 33 Sophia's Story My eyes narrow, my mind racing. "That man looked familiar... I've seen him before, but where?" Lucas nods in agreement. "I know what you mean, sis. I've seen him somewhere too. Let's get his picture from the security camera and do some digging." Sam's anxiety grows as they search the internet, finally finding a match. The stranger is revealed to be Sophia's brother, Alexander - a member of our own witches' coven. "Ah, no wonder he seemed so hostile," I say, as I become concerned. "Alexander has always been... intense. And he's not fond of vampires." he always seemed creepy to me. Lucas's eyes lock on Sam. "It seems Sophia's a witch, and her brother was helping her chaperone the prom. He saw you two exchange numbers..." Lucas shows him the surveillance video of him lurking in the shadows while Sam and Sophia were talking. Sam turns to me with great concern. "My mate is a witch, and her brother was determined to keep us apart. Please tell me she is not lik
Chapter 34 The Banishing As Matt revealed his visions, the tension in the room became perceivable. This man is under the influence of Shade, a powerful shadow demon, who is none other than Alexander, Sophia's brother. It was a chilling realization, that threatened to cast a dark shadow over their bond. As time passed, Alexander's behavior has become more and more erratic, and it was clear that Shade's malevolent influence was slowly taking over him. Matt knew that a final confrontation with Shade was unavoidable, and their destiny hung in the balance.I decided to convene a meeting of the Coven, as we all gathered in The Mystic Manor's meeting room. Sophia joined me in explaining what her brother had done and how he seemed to be possessed by a shadow demon named Shade, Lucas and I filled them in on our past encounters with Shade, so they fully understood what we were dealing with. During the meeting, we discussed their concerns about Alexander's condition and shared our ideas on ho
Chapter 35 Facing Foretold Death (***The ritual's success is met with a mix of emotions: relief, triumph, and a hint of unease. The group's combined efforts have saved Alexander from Shade's grasp, but the ease of the banishment raises suspicions. Bella's mother, a wise and experienced witch, senses that something is amiss.) As we stand in the eerie bayou, surrounded by the remnants of our powerful ritual, we can't shake off the feeling that we've only scratched the surface of a far more sinister plot. The goth girl from school, who had threatened Bella three years ago, lurks in the shadows, her presence a harbinger of the terror that's to come. Our victory is short-lived, as we soon realize that Shade has already found a new host. The demon's malevolent presence still lingers, waiting to strike when we least expect it. (The witches, vampires, and shamans must now confront the possibility that, as they stand there, bathed in the fading light of their ritual, they know that their jou
Chapter 36 Devastating News The next few months were quiet as we gathered intel on Shade. Sophia joins us for dinner. I had been dancing around my kitchen all day, listening to my playlist, while fixing my famous Shrimp Jambalaya and potato salad. and for dessert, a red velvet cake.As we sat at my table eating, I listened in with great interest to Sophia, a history teacher who loves learning about the supernatural realm, and she has intensive knowledge in this area. Her eyes light up as she listens to the conversation, her mind racing with ideas. "I think I can help you with that," she says, her voice filled with excitement. "As a history teacher, I've studied the supernatural realm extensively. I know of a few 'let's say otherworldly beings, who might be willing to help us take down Shade." Kie's eyes narrow, his expression skeptical. "Which species?" Sophia hesitates, collecting her thoughts before speaking. "Well, there's one in particular who might be willing to help us. His n