Page 104 of Silent Oaths
“Youshould recognize these words,Mother,”Isay, stepping forward, eyes never leaving hers. “I’msure you’ve heard them many times.Buttonight, they’re finally meant for you.”
Ibegin chanting slowly, the ancientVanguardritual flowing effortlessly from my lips:
“Inumbra mortis, pro sanguine vitae.
Quodseminas, nunc metes.
Mortemtuam accipimus, ut potentia nostra floreat.”
Celestestruggles violently against her restraints, but it’s useless.Hermuffled cries are merely background noise to the words spilling from my mouth.
JulianandMaxwellwatch, their faces shadowed with grim satisfaction.Besideme,Verónicastands tall, eyes burning with long-overdue vengeance.
Ifinish the chant, my voice ringing with cold finality, and slowly press the knife toCeleste’sexposed neck.
Then,Idraw the blade swiftly across her throat.
AllIhear is the sound of her final breath, a wet gurgle that fades into silence.
Bloodspills in a warm rush, staining the floor asCeleste’sbody slumps forward, the life draining from her eyes.
It’sdone.
Istare down at her, feeling hollow, butI’malso relieved, as if something has been cut out of me too.
Maxwellreaches forward to reclaim his knife, casually wiping it clean with a cloth.Julianexhales slowly, andVerónicastands motionless, her expression satisfied.
Noone speaks.There’snothing left to say.
TheweightI’dbeen carrying finally lifts from my shoulders.Lionel’slegacy, the twistedVanguardrituals—it’s all over now.Justice, as dark and merciless as it needed to be, has been served.
KillingCelestedidn’t only bring peace, it brought clarity.
Now, we’re finally free to build something new from the ruins.
37
ISABEL
I’vespent the past hour catchingValeriaup on every painful detail, every strange revelation, every conflicted emotion.It’ssurreal, laying my heart bare like this, sharing truths that should be impossible to say aloud, but having her by my side makes it easier somehow.
Valeriasits quietly, absorbing each detail without judgment.Hereyes grow wider and wider asItalk about the brothers, the twisted legacy ofVanguard, the unexpected, complicated feelings that have grown within me.Shesqueezes my hand gently, giving me silent reassurance that whatever happens next, she won’t leave my side.
Thedoor creaks open suddenly, and both our heads snap up.Theodore,Maxwell,Julian, andVerónicastep into the room, their expressions solemn.Itdoesn’t take words to understand exactly what just happened.
It’sover.
Myeyes meetTheodore’sfirst, thenJulian’s, and finallyMaxwell’s.Eachgives me a subtle, reassuring nod, confirming everything without uttering a single word.
Ishould probably feel conflicted, knowing they’ve just taken a life, especially the life of the woman who raised them.ButknowingCeleste’smonstrous history, what she has done and allowed to be done, leaves no room for sympathy in my heart.Whateverhappened downstairs was justice.Maybenot the kind found in courtrooms, but justice, nonetheless.
Julianapproaches me, his eyes softening as he gently grips my shoulder. “Areyou okay, corazón?” he murmurs, voice soft and comforting.
Inod, breathing deeply as relief floods through me.Iwrap my arms around him, pulling him close.Fora moment,Juliantenses in surprise before slowly melting into my embrace, holding me tightly, protectively.
Whenwe pull apart,Iglance overJulian’sshoulder towardMaxwell, who’s watching us with a glint in his dark eyes.Hetosses me one of his playful winks, a smirk dancing across his lips.Ican’t help but smile back.Evenin this darkness,Maxwellhas a way of making me feel safe, wanted.
Theodore’scalm gaze is on me.Hiseyes soften slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting subtly in acknowledgment. “Let’sgo home,” he says.
