Chapter 11- Life Thread

The monsters are usually the people you least expect.

*******

(STELLA'S POV)

FOUR HOURS EARLIER...

I stare down at the belt with the weapons on it, frowning.

I have to kill someone.

"Stella, Stella, Stella..."

I turn my head around, seeing no one.

"Huh? Where are you?! Who are you?!"

I feel a cold hand on my chin, bringing my head up to look at them.

"Hello, sweetheart. I'm Thanatos..."

He grins and I frown.

"You abandoned him...you left him to do die."

"Who? The excuse of a man I call my son?"

My eyebrows furrow.

"Alec..."

I mutter, before glaring at him.

"You left him to die, Thanatos."

He scoffs before abruptly letting go of me, watching as I fall onto the floor with a small thud.

"He was a disappointment to my name, Stella. And as if you'd understand anything about being a parent."

I lift myself up on my elbows, pushing my hair from my face.

"I never said I did. All I know is that good parenting isn't sending your sixteen year old son out in the woods to get attacked by a group of seven shapeshifters."

Thanatos chuckles.

"He told you about that one?"

"Yeah! We told each other everything, until—"

Thanatos grins, eyes tracking me as I try and move.

"Until you went psycho on him? Trust me, stellina, I remember."

I make a face.

"Stellina?"

"Little star in Italian, girlie."

I scoff, before standing up.

"You still love him, don't you, Stella? You still love Alec."

I pause, snapping my head around.

"What?"

Thanatos looks away from me with a derisive smirk.

"I can see it in your eyes, child. And all you do is defend him."

"So I can't defend a friend?"

He covers a burst of laughter.

"Friend?! Hah! I could almost believe you with that frown, sweetheart. You can't lie to someone who does it for a living. And anyhow...why lie to yourself? Only damaging your own mind."

I give him the stink eye.

"Stop trying to distract me, Thanatos! What the hell do you want me to do?!"

I gasp when I'm against the wall, staring into his hungry eyes.

"I don't like this attitude, girl. Keep it up and I'll eat you."

He teleports away, and I stay there in shock.

"Don't act so surprised. We all know you liked the feel of my hands on your skin."

My mouth drops open.

"You are disgusting."

"Why, my little flower? Because I know the truth? Let me tell you this, babe, you're going to get Aiden. Because I need her. You will not hurt her, because that's my job. Take her back here and I'll gladly let you go without any scars."

I rub my arms self consciously, giving him a look.

"And if I don't?"

"You don't want to know...but you'll find out if you don't get out of my sight in five seconds, Stella. I'll see you soon, don't keep me waiting for too long."

********

BACK TO THE PRESENT...

(CARDEN'S POV)

"They know where Aiden is?! What in tarnation are you waiting for?! We have to find her!"

I begin to walk forward when Rylan grabs my forearm, pulling me back into his chest.

"What're you doing?"

"I have to find her, Carden. You're staying here."

He flips me around to face him, handing me an envelope.

"Don't open this unless they're coming."

"What—?!"

Rylan sighs.

"You'll know what I'm talking about when the time's right. This person might be dangerous, love—"

"Oh? So that's it? You think I'm a weak little bitch, huh? Well I'm not! I'm a strong ass bitch for your information!"

I slap him harshly across the face, giving him the stink eye.

"Is that weak enough, bastard?! I'm going whether you like it or not!"

Rylan retracts himself, rubbing his cheek.

"I wasn't calling you weak, Carden Sky, and you are testing my patience. You won't like it when I'm angry at you. I won't be so nice."

He takes my wrist forcefully, dragging me backwards towards a room.

"Let me go you psycho!"

Rylan throws me in it, slamming the door and locking it.

"Have fun in there since you're so strong, sweetheart. I'll be back in a few."

He shuts the little window thing, and when I finally process what's going on my blood runs cold.

Fuck.

I'm in a red room.

A torture room.

And there's six hungry looking people sitting in the corner.

"Welcome to the red room, Carden. We'll be happy to convert you."

********

(ALTHEA'S POV)

Pandora and I stare worriedly at Dax, and he cocks his head to the side.

"Why don't you two get down from that tree so we can have a chat? And even if you were...which I doubt it...trying to escape, the tree won't work."

Dax grins sinisterly.

"There's a force field preventing you. Now come down."

Pandora looks at me uneasily before dropping down, landing on her feet.

I slide down after, flailing before landing with a thud on my bottom.

I grunt before standing up, staring up at Dax.

"I have a good reason to believe you two have been bad girls."

He smiles, showcasing a row of razor sharp teeth.

Pandora speaks for me.

"I...umm...why?"

"Because I just happened to find my mate's dead body on top of the cottage you two were in. Myra? She was mutilated."

I shake my head rapidly.

"I love Myra...we love Myra...we wouldn't hurt her."

"Of course you wouldn't. Then why did I find this next to her, Althea?"

He grabs me by the collar of my shirt, pushing a necklace with intricate golden plated flowers on it in my face.

The necklace my mom gave me when I was thirteen as a symbol for my purity.

"My necklace?! Where'd you get that!?"

"On Myra's body! You two won't get away with murdering her."

He growls, before dragging me and Pandora down a flight of stairs and into an underground dungeon.

*********

(AIDEN'S POV)

We all turn our heads to see Thanatos, even happier than before with a large grin plastered on his face.

"Ahh...this is just so much better! I get to slaughter seven of you instead of one!"

He starts laughing and Alec stands up, glaring at him.

"You aren't killing anyone, Thanatos."

Thanatos makes a mock frown.

"No dad? Boo-hoo, I'm so hurt that my own son refuses to address me by dad!"

He begins laughing again, and Ryder backs away.

"Don't seem so scared, Sargent!"

Ryder grimaces.

"How can I not? You're horrifying."

Thanatos's red eyes glow with mischief and he gives her a filthy grin.

"What a liar you are, Miss Scarlet! You weren't saying that when I was kissing your neck!"

Ryder's eyes widen and Alec makes a disgusted face.

"My dad...? You...Thanatos, did you fucking sleep with her? Did you sleep with Ryder?!"

Thanatos moves his eyes to Alec with a nasty smirk.

"Son, you don't know how many of your female toys I've slept with! But the point of this isn't to expose your little sluts, but to kill your little sluts! Tell me son,"

Thanatos teleports Alec over to him, wrapping his arm around his shoulder.

"Which one of these bimbos am I to kill first? Since you're back, I believe you can help me! Unless Goth Chick wants to help out?"

He moves his eyes to mine, an even larger smile stretching across his face.

"Come closer, darling. I won't hurt you. Not yet at least."

He uses his powers and the chains holding my wrists down snap, and he sucks me closer to him with his hand.

"Now, Alec, Aiden, which should we kill first?"

I grimace, pulling myself away from him.

"You're sick. You're disgusting. I won't just agree to let you slaughter one of my friends, who the fuck do you think I am?! Who the fuck do you think you are?! Let me get one thing straight with you, Thanatos,"

I narrow my eyes, and he simply looks amused as I speak again.

"If anything? You're the one who's going to die today."

*******

(HAZEL'S POV)

I pull away from Alaric, catching my breath.

I look up at him, and he grins.

"Thanks for that, sweets. Remind me that whenever I'm angry I should kiss you...it's refreshing."

I smirk.

"Ahh. That's why it was so rough. Angry kissing. But you aren't too bad, Walker."

I stare at him blankly.

"What do we do now? I mean...I'm kinda confused."

"About?"

"I mean...we escaped getting killed by whoever that batshit crazy bitch was, are we meant to just sit here now?"

"Probably not...but I can't remember what I was going to do."

I smile.

"Why? Because my lips are so mesmerizing?"

I start laughing, and he rests his hand next to my head, looking down at me with a playful smirk.

"Maybe that's the reason, doll. But don't worry, I remember."

"You do?"

Alaric nods, before walking in the opposite direction towards the woods.

"What the heck?! Get back here you spoon!"

Alaric stops, turning his head over his shoulder.

"What the fuck did you just call me?!"

"A spoon! Now where in the world are you going?! I know you aren't going into those damn woods!"

"I am, Hazel. And if you want to come with me is up to you."

A malicious grin spreads across his face.

"I'd gladly leave you to die out here."

My eyes widen.

"Oh hell no! You're taking me!"

I run to catch up to him, letting out a breath.

"What are we doing exactly...?"

Alaric smiles.

"Finding the werewolves so we can take their blood and get the fuck out of the Twilight Zone."

*******

(RYLAN'S POV)

I leave Carden in the room, realizing maybe that was a mistake.

They're going to hurt her.

Too bad.

I walk over to the main room area, knocking on a door.

"Bryson? Blake?"

The door opens, and Blake grins at me.

"Why don't you look who it is? Rylan. Bryson's interrogating the shit out of them. I'd go over there now."

I nod, walking past Blake to see Bryson in a different little corner, basically yelling his ass off at this random woman.

She has mint green hair, and an accent I can't seem to put my finger on.

"Bryson!"

He snaps his head around to look at me, smirking.

"Rylan, hello. You can talk to her. She won't budge. Maybe you can get the answers out of her."

"Alright."

I nod at Bryson as he walks past me, sitting in front of the woman.

She's holding three darts, every few seconds throwing another at the target on the wall with a bullseye.

"Excuse me?"

She pauses, switching her eyes on mine with a grin.

"Bossman."

"You can call me Rylan. May I ask what your name is?"

"Why of course, Ry. My name's Adrienne. Leader of a supernatural hunter group."

I nod slowly, cocking my head to the side.

"And you know where Aiden is?"

She grins.

"I do happen to know where Aiden Weiss is, Mr. Rylan."

Adrienne gives me a sort of unnerving grin.

"I know where is everyone is, and what everyone's doing. All the time. But I won't just tell you where she is, Rylan. I'm going to need a deal."

I sigh.

"What type of deal, Adrienne?"

"One where you won't tell Mister Thanatos that I killed his wife."

My eyes widen, and she holds out her hand.

"Don't even say anything. She's with Thanatos and her friends in a house."

I nod, standing up when she grabs my wrist.

"You may wanna hurry, Rylan, he's planning to kill all seven of them in ten minutes."

*********

(ANONYMOUS'S POV)

Oh, Darcy.

She really killed herself.

Weak little bitch didn't even get the job done.

I bend down, taking some bright red blood on my finger before licking it.

I grin.

"Aiden Weiss."

I look down at the body, cocking my head to the side.

"Clarity John...you failed me as well."

I hold my hand over her heart, sucking it from her chest.

I put it in my bag, before banishing her to Lethe.

She can roam around there as a soul.

Stupid little shit.

I stand up, walking out onto the balcony of Darcy's home.

Across the way used to be Ayla Murthy's home, until we killed her and her family.

They're still buried right there.

I want to see more...more blood.

I will get it.

Then my life will be complete...well...not yet.

Not until I get Davina back.

********

(MYRA'S POV)

I jolt up, hearing the echoing of voices.

Of souls.

Where am I?

I look up, seeing the luminescent blue water of Echo Lake.

I'm really dead now, aren't I?

I sigh, before swimming deeper.

I swim further and further until I see the top, poking my head out.

I haven't completely deteriorated into a wandering soul yet.

Pulling myself out of the dead people lake, I wander into a cave.

Where life threads are held.

I look around, at all the different colors.

There's names underneath each one.

I need to find the one I'm looking for.

I search around with my eyes until they land on a green one.

I read the name underneath it.

Alec Walker.

I stand on my tip toes, grabbing the glass case before opening it, pulling his thread from it.

I sigh before looking around again, my eyes landing on the red one.

Thanatos.

I grab it, pulling it from the case.

I shouldn't be doing this...I shouldn't!

I take both between my hands, shoving them into my pocket before running off, back into the real world.

You can't trust things to stay dead.

*******

(AIDEN'S POV)

Thanatos claps slowly.

"Encore, encore! I love this feisty little side of you, Aiden. But me? Dying! Ha! I'm immortal you young fool, the only way for you to kill me would for you to—"

"Have your life thread?"

Our eyes all snap on Myra, who grins.

She holds a bright red thread in her hand, and a golden pair of scissors in the other.

"You wouldn't."

"I would! And if you don't let them go?"

She pulls out a green thread and Alec's face pales.

"Myra, what're you doing with that?!"

Myra moves her eyes to Alec before back to Thanatos.

"I know how much you need your son, Thanatos, but if I was to cut his thread, you would be stuck! We all know that Alaric doesn't possess what Alec does, the power of healing the dead!"

"What?!"

Alec moves his eyes to Myra, and Thanatos is pale as a ghost.

"Healing? Myra, what're you talking about?! I don't—"

"Why do you think Aiden came back to life, Alec? She was shot in the chest. She died. But when you gave her CPR, put your blood in her system, she became part immortal. Your blood and DNA contain magic greater than your father once wielded, and with his power and Nyx's you became more dynamic than they could both imagine."

Alec's face contorts with confusion and Thanatos looks like he's about to snap.

"Say another word and I'll snap your neck, bitch! These matters are private! How do you even know this?!"

Myra smiles.

"Clairvoyance. Magic. My ancestors used telepathy to get their way, and I don't see why I shouldn't do the same. Mind control comes in handy."

Thanatos growls as his eyes start to glow.

"I thought those damn coyotes killed you!"

Myra simply shakes her head.

"You can't keep a chaos spirit dead, Thanatos."

We all snap our heads back up to Thanatos when we hear a feminine shriek, seeing Ryder stuck against Thanatos's chest.

Myra's eyes widen and she makes to run forward.

"Take another step and I'll slit her throat."

Ryder pries at his hands, her dark eyes wide with pure fear.

Myra stays where she is, her eyes filled with concern.

"Don't kill her, Thanatos. Don't involve the fire spirit in your problems with me."

"I'll gladly kill this little vixen, Myra. Give me Alec's life thread and I'll let her go."

Ryder struggles against him.

"D-Don't! It's a—"

"Shut it!"

Ryder shuts up, and we all watch in horror as the knife moves closer and closer to her throat.

"I'll give you his life thread, okay? Just don't hurt him, or her."

Myra shakily grabs the green thread, extending her hand when Thanatos snaps his arm out with the knife, slicing a part of the thread off.

The part of it falls onto the floor, disintegrating into ashes.

I jump when I hear a yell of pain, turning around to see Alec on his knees, black liquid oozing from the side of his mouth.

"What the hell?! Alec?!"

I start to run over to him when I hear his voice.

"I wouldn't move, Aiden."

I look over to see my life thread in his hand, as well as Ryder in his other arm.

"I will kill both of them."

Myra shakes her head.

"Don't! Why...why did you cut your own son's thread?!"

"I didn't cut it all the way..."

My fearful eyes move from Ryder, to my thread, to Myra, then to Alec on the floor in agony.

His dark hair is drenched with sweat, while the same black ink-like liquid drips from his nose, mouth, and eyes.

Alec begins to grow more pale, and I let out a choked sob.

"Help him!"

Ryan's wide eyes move from Alec to Thanatos, and she holds out her hand.

"Please, Thanatos—"

"Why are you even here, Ryan?"

His eyes soften when they meet hers, and I remember.

Ryan is his niece.

He seems to have a good connection with her.

We can use Ryan.

Ryan steps forward, frowning.

"Let her go, please! Ryder did nothing!"

He releases Ryder from the chokehold, and she falls onto the floor with a thud, gasping for air.

He holds my life thread with a vicious smirk, and Myra grimaces.

"Do not cut Aiden's thread."

"Oh I won't, but can I be so sure you won't cut mine, doll?"

Myra looks down, at Alec's somewhat cut and losing color thread before Thanatos's.

"I'll make a deal with you, Myra. Give me Alec, his life thread, and my own, for Aiden's, and the rest of you get to live."

Myra looks at all of us and our panic stricken faces, before looking at Alec on the ground, now dry heaving and coughing out almost black blood.

She frowns, before holding out both life threads.

"Deal."