Page 68 of The Nephilim's Finesse

Thorne's movements were swift and ruthless, his centuries of experience making him a formidable adversary. I ducked under his outstretched arm by a hair's breadth, dodging a sharp blow to my head. My red curls whipped around my face as I spun on my heel, aiming for his exposed side. Thorne easily dodged my attack, the cruel glint in his eyes never leaving.

As our fight continued into the dark wooden hall, I could feel the cold, hard truth settling into my bones: if I wanted to stop Thorne's plans, I really would have to kill him. The knowledge weighed heavily on me, but I couldn't let it distract me from the task at hand.

"Enough!" Thorne roared, his voice reverberating throughout my house. "Is this what you want, Victorija?" Thorne snarled, landing a vicious punch that sent me flying through an ornate mirror, shattering it into a thousand pieces. Pain radiated through my body from the impact and countless cuts as I lay amidst the broken glass.

But there was no time for doubt. Thorne lunged at me again; his fangs bared as he went for my throat. With every ounce of strength I could muster, I rolled out of the way, feeling the wind from his attack rush past me. We continued our deadly dance, neither one of us willing to back down.

Thorne jumped, pinning me to the ground, his knee digging into my chest, his hand pinning my wrists down.

"You'll obey me!" Thorne fangs gleamed in the light as he hissed at me.

"I'll never obey a man ever again, especially not someone as delusional as you."

I myself was shocked to hear these words leaving my lips. But even more than myself, Thorne looked at me in utter disbelief.

"How dare you!"

For a moment, he must have seen in me again the little girl of centuries long ago, as he relieved his grip to give me a proper slap on the cheek for such utterances. Just as the sound of his hand on my face had reverberated through the halls, he realised his mistake, but it was too late. I caught his leg and yanked it, sending him sprawling onto his back. I was on top of him in a flash, one hand wrapped around his throat, the other poised to strike a killing blow. Thorne's eyes widened in surprise as I held a broken table leg, its end sharpened to a deadly point.

Thorne gazed up at me, a flicker of what might have been pride in his eyes. "You've...learned...well..." he rasped.

My hand trembled, hesitation warring with grim determination. He had given me eternity and taught me everything I knew. How could I destroy him? I steeled my nerves and looked into his eyes, seeing only the ruthless fanatic he had become.

"Goodbye, Thorne," I whispered.

With a swift, decisive motion, I drove the makeshift stake through Thorne's heart. An anguished cry tore from my throat, mourning the loss of my sire and my innocence in the same ragged breath. Tears welled in my eyes. Had I made the right decision to end him? Yes, for the greater good, I had. However, I wished that there could have been another way, one where we could have agreed for once and lived in harmony together and where I could seek his guidance. But I wouldn’t get it. As much as I hated him now, I had adored him once.

I leaned over him and looked him in the eyes. “I understand now. It took me four hundred years, but I understand now.”

Tears began to stream down my face as I spoke, my voice choked up with emotion. “Go home to your wife, be the thorn in her rose.”

“Finally.” He smiled weakly but sincerely, his eyes warm, satisfied that I had learned my lesson. Then Thorne, my sire, was no more. He’d been there for me as long as I could think. When I ended the miserable life of Goodwyn, I only felt relieved. Now, I felt miserable.

I knelt beside Thorne's lifeless body for a long moment, grief warring within me. At last, I leant down and sank my fangs into his neck, drinking deep of the blood that'd give me additional power from this mighty vampire. It was bitter and sweet, a final taste of the vampire who had made me and the end of an era. As his lifeblood seeped into my mouth, I felt a profound sense of loss mixed with grim satisfaction. Thorne, my sire, my mentor, was dead by my hand. But his death had been necessary to save countless innocent lives.

When I lifted my head, I turned to the assembled vampires, who had gathered to witness our battle, watching warily from the shadows. Around them lay the corpses of vampires who had fought to assist Thorne. They were the ones who had followed Thorne's crusade, killing indiscriminately in the name of his ruthless vision. But I had warned my allies of my attempt to claim my leadership back, and they slew the ones who stood fiercely at Thorne’s side without mercy. The smart ones had just waited to see how the battle would turn out. Now, their fate was in my hands. I saw Valentino peering from the shadows, shocked and in disbelief that his beloved Thorne was slain. Then he glanced up at me, gritted his teeth and bowed deeply. Just as I anticipated, he would always follow the stronger leader in the end.

I rose slowly to my feet, meeting each pair of eyes in turn. "The slaughter ends tonight," I said firmly. "Those of you who wish to continue Thorne's...mission...may challenge me now for leadership." My gaze hardened. "But know that I will not hesitate to destroy you."

Silence echoed throughout the hall, and one by one, they bowed their heads in deference and acceptance.

I stood amidst the wreckage of my once elegant Victorian entrance hall, its antique furnishings splintered and scattered across polished wooden floors. The air was thick with the coppery scent of blood and the acrid tang of shattered glass. My own breaths came in ragged gasps; I could feel the venom of a thousand years coursing through my veins through Thorne's blood, a potent reminder of the battle I had just survived.

I nodded, a surge of fierce pride and purpose filling me. The coven was mine again...and I'd lead them on a different path than Thorne. The magical communities would know peace at last, and we vampires would take our rightful place beside them rather than posing a threat.

"Very well," I murmured, my voice low but resonating throughout the room. "If no one opposes me, then hear this: I shall lead us into a new era. An era where we coexist with other magical species, not seek their destruction."

A mixture of shock and curiosity rippled through the assembled vampires. Some exchanged wary glances, while others stared at me in open disbelief, their eyes flickering between myself and Thorne's lifeless body.

"Victorija," Ginger ventured, her delicate features marred by the weariness etched into her pale face. "Do you truly believe we can change? That the witches and the others can change?"

"I do," I replied, locking onto her hesitant gaze. "It won't be easy, but I'm willing to try. Are you?"

"Change is necessary," Leonard chimed in, his fierce blue eyes flashing defiantly. "For too long, we have been pawns in a war we didn't choose. It's time we forged our own destiny."

"Indeed," I mused, my mind racing with possibilities and plans. "We must reach out to the witches, the fae, the Nephilim—those we once hunted and those who still hunt us."

A hush fell over the room as my words took root in their minds, upending centuries of hatred and mistrust. The weight of responsibility settled on my shoulders, heavy but not unbearable.

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