DAWN
I wandered back to my room after my conversation with Azrael by the poolside. I told him I'd join him soon, but I never did.
As I sat on the edge of my bed, staring into nothingness, my mind started to replay the events of the past few weeks again— Variel's death. My mother's death. My encounter with Elizabeta. The uncontrollable power surges that threatened everyone around me.
It was an inevitable thing, now.
Suddenly, a wave of nausea washed over me at the thought of unleashing again, and my hands shook, tears running down my face.
What was it Azrael had said? Something about me being born for a good purpose. A noble purpose. How was this in any way noble?
What good was that purpose if it only brought pain and death to those around me?
I thought of Dragos, locked in his father's study, desperately trying to find answers for all our sakes. Not only was I a burden to him but to everyone.
Head in my hands, I sobbed. The house was so quiet it was obvious everyone was on edge, waiting for the next unleashing, and I couldn't bear that I made them suffer this way, especially when they'd been nice to me, taking me in after my mother's death, training me.
The power within me... the dark entity responsible for the shift grew stronger each day, I could feel it.
What if it took over completely? What if I became something I couldn't control, something evil? I couldn't let that happen.
Once again, the thought of taking my life occurred to me. It brought a rather strange sense of peace... a calmness, to me.
I didn't want to die, but more than that, I didn't want to live like this— constantly afraid, constantly a threat to the people I cared about.
Slowly, I got out of bed and wiped my eyes, heading out to check on Dragos. I needed to know my fate. If he was successful, there was hope if not, I knew what I had to do.
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That night, I tossed and turned in bed, my sleep restless because Dragos had been unable to reach his ancestor.
At first, I had the usual nightmares, flashes of the first battle, and fragments of memories with my mother. But then, something new... something different, remained in the depths of my mind.
Suddenly, I found myself face-to-face with the entity within me. It wore my face, yet it wasn't me, an aura of dark power surrounding it.
"What do you want?" I asked, frightened. "Why won't you leave me alone?"
"Leave you alone?" The entity chuckled, its wicked laughter sending shivers down my spine. "I cannot leave you alone. Not until you've started fulfilling the purpose for which you were chosen" It hissed.
I tried to maintain my composure as the entity moved closer. "You cannot escape me, Dawn," it taunted. "I am a part of you. And if you won't do what needs to be done, I will take control again. You're so reluctant to kill that filthy species. How can you even be so comfortable surrounded by them?"
"They're not filthy!" I shot back. "They're good people. They've been good to me" I added in a whisper. "They're my family."
"Family?" It scoffed, starting to circle me. "I am your family, Dawn. I am what you were destined to become. And if you refuse to act, if you do not claim the lives of at least three vampires today, I will take over and kill those you love most."
I panicked. "I can't do it..."
"Oh, darling, yes, you can," it whispered, almost seductively. "Don't fool yourself into thinking there's another way. Your precious Dragos has failed. He hit a dead end yesterday, didn't he? Unable to reach Dragavei."
"Stop prying into my life!" I shouted, anger sparking within me.
The entity laughed. "I live within you, Dawn. I know everything about you. Your thoughts, your fears, your weaknesses. I am giving you a choice, a chance. Take Azrael's offer. Choose a few rebellious vampires and end their pathetic lives. Or, when I take control, and I will, soon... you'll watch me destroy those you hold dear."
My heart pounded in my chest. "I thought you were supposed to be a force of good, not evil! This doesn't feel like good."
It chuckled softly, "Oh darling, you're so naive. If only you knew..."
I frowned in confusion. "Knew what?"
It brushed my question aside. "Your sentimentality blinds you to the truth!" It snapped. "Vampires are parasites, Dawn. Predators who have lived off the living for too long. They are darkness, and darkness must be, well... purged!"
"I won't do it. I won't kill again" I replied defiantly. "Not after Variel..." My voice broke, remembering the moment.
"Killing Variel was a mercy, Dawn. You should feel no guilt."
"But I do," I whispered. "Because it's not who I am."
The entity frowned. "Look at him" it commanded, and suddenly, an image of Dragos sleeping appeared before me. "Can't you see? You're putting him in danger."
"No... Dragos is strong."
"Strength is not invulnerability. Even the mightiest warriors have moments of weakness. And I will strike in one of those moments if you don't act."
It leaned in closer. "Make your decision, Dawn. Who will it be? Pick your kill or I'll do the picking!"
I awoke, my forehead covered in sweat, I had been careful not to wake Dragos.
My gaze drifted to him, who lay beside me in his peaceful sleep, unaware of the encounter I just had.
As I looked down at him, a pang of guilt struck my heart, knowing that I was a threat to not just him, but the rest of the family.
It was now clear what I had to do.
I turned to stare at Dragos for the last time, my heart aching with the decision I was about to make. At least I wouldn't be worried about hurting him or others later in the future.
Carefully, I rose, stopping at the bedside desk to scribble a note before leaving the room, managing to slip out of the mansion without raising any suspicions.
Taking Dragos' car, I drove down to The Blue Grove, a place isolated enough to accomplish my goal.
With a gust of wind, I was able to push myself up, just enough to carry me over the fence.
Once in, I found my place on a rock, the wind angrily whipping through my hair as if protesting against my decision but my mind was made up.
It was the best decision for everyone. Sacrificing myself would mean the vampires would stop coming for me, and I wouldn't have to endanger the lives of the people I cared about when the shift happened. But underneath the surface, a part of me saw it as an escape.
I didn't want the burden of being the Divine Purge. The responsibilities seemed far too serious for me to bear, especially after my mother's death had left me feeling further demotivated.
As I remembered Dragos, my heart broke again. I knew my actions would cause him above anyone else pain, and the thought tore at me.
But, despite my reluctance to carry on, I knew the sacrifice was necessary.
The note I left behind for him contained an apology for my cowardice and included directions to my location so he could come find my body.
Inhaling deeply and releasing a shuddering breath, I looked at the sunrise, taking in a final picture of it. The beautiful sight of the break of dawn. Closing my eyes, I started to channel the energy inside me.
I wasn't exactly certain about how to go about it, but something within me guided me.
Within minutes, the earth began to tremble slightly, my power steadily building until it reached its peak. As a tear slipped from my eye, a blinding light started to erupt from the core of my being. But just as it was about to consume me, someone stepped in, a hand firmly grabbing my arm and stopping me.
Startled, I found Azrael standing before me.
"Azrael?" My brows knitted in confusion. "How'd you find me? How'd you know I was... Get away from here please!"
He shook his head slowly. "Oh, Dawn. You foolish girl" he scolded softly. "I have kept a close eye on you ever since the conversation at the pool. I won't let you go through with it"
I could see the effects of the fatal light on him, gradually, his face had started to deteriorate. Thin, dark veins caused deep lines in his skin. With each second he spoke, the welts grew more pronounced.
"Azrael, please leave" I begged, feeling the strain of the unreleased power. "I can't... I can't hold it much longer"
His expression softened, a small smile curving his lips "I know."
Then slowly he brought out the relic from his shirt pocket and extended it towards me.
My eyes widened in realization. "No!" I yelled, shaking my head vehemently "Azrael, what are you doing??!!"
My voice shook, "Stop, Azrael, stop!! Please don't do this!"
"It should be me, you know?" He said softly, a sad smile on his face."If anyone's to die here today, it should be me"
Azrael started to activate the relic.