Akeemo, I should have destroyed you years ago. I failed when I let you live. Never mind, you will fail. I will go but she goes with me. Lilim hissed, now draining Christy's life force.
"Release her, Lilim. I command you." Akeemo ordered.
Lilim shook. She was done, and she knew it. Was this need for vengeance worth being banished into the abyss.
Keeley screamed, "Let her go." Lilim laughed.
Christy couldn't breathe. Lilim needed to be away from these spirits. So they returned. Gernick moved to help his niece. Christy hurt. She was dying. She had no fight left. Then she felt her mother's heartbreak. She saw her husband's fear. She had to try even more. Pastor Henry arrived, and prayed. Lilim was losing her grip. Akeemo had grabbed her. Keeley held on to Christy refusing to allow Lilim take her.
Everyone rushed to Christy who was now struggling to breathe. She had to say good bye.
She sent to her parents, and her mother screamed. Her uncle demanded to know what happened. Kalen held Keeley, who was still unconscious but breathing.
Navarro held his wife, praying that she would recover. In the spirit realm, trapped with Lilim, Christy struggled to be freed.
"Stop it. They want me gone. Then they get what they want, I'm gone. All of me, including you." She added, cackling.
"Let me go. You can't do this. My family doesn't deserve this." Christy demanded.
"Your family, really let me tell you about your family. They don't care about you Christiana. Your entire life with them is about their convenience. Growing up, they never really included you, or your cousins. I should have taken Kalen as well, but that witch he married was too powerful. We'll be together now, daughter. We can rule over them for eternity." Lilim explained.
Christy cried, "Navarro, he doesn't deserve..."
Lilim laughed, "He won't be alone long. That is one fine specimen. I bet you regret not sampling him before I killed you now, don't you."
"Your time is done demon. Let the girl go." Akeemo demanded, appearing before everyone.
"Grandfather!" Ja'Mal gasped. Akeemo didn't flinch. He faced her once more. "Release her now!" He demanded, and Lilim trembled.
"Master, I beg for mercy. These creatures think they have dominion over us. They are nothing. Her family needs to suffer." Lilim explained. "The Ivanovs are not above the law of nature. Many people were hurt because of them. All Esmeralda wanted was to be loved, yet they didn't love her. Even in the end, her children hated her. She did not deserve that."
"Let her go." Akeemo ordered.
Everyone froze. Pastor Henry dropped to his knees. He prayed louder and louder, citing the scripture to bind the evil spirits. Lilim grew weaker and weaker as his prayer grew stronger. In a desperate move, she sent a force to the elder pastor incapacitating him. Yet, his church members surrounded him and prayed and bound the evil even more.
Nicolette moved to help the minister, as Gernick never took his eyes off of his nieces.
Leave Essie. Just go!
He sent.
Lilim ignored him. But she knew she was done.
She reached a decision. She wouldn't win, but she'd hurt those that betrayed her. Lilim smiled, and once again Christy began to slip into darkness. Keeley spoke ordering her to end her hold. Lilim glowered at the youngling. She was taking someone with her.
Christy thought of her mother, her little brother, her father. She looked at Navarro who was trying to reach her, but Lilim had frozen. She could not let them down, so she fought even more. Lilim's grip loosened. Keeley reached for her, and with the help of the Were Princess, both women were freed. Lilim screamed as the spirits surrounded her.
Navarro and Kalen moved to their wives. Keeley was bleeding, and Christy was barely breathing. Both men held their wives. Gernick checked on his niece and Nicolette was awed. She's never witnessed anything like this. Christy was not moving.
Gernick called her and called her. She did not respond. Above everyone, Christy watched. The darkness was gone, and she was free. She saw her uncle crying, touching her. She saw her aunt, stunned, speechless. Her husband held her, crying as well. "Christiana, go back." A beautiful woman told her. Eva smiled as the young woman nodded and went back home. The Were Princess was relieved when Christiana began to breathe again. The Were Princess, whispered goodbye to Keeley and Keeley held on to Kalen.
Suddenly, the shackles broke, and Christiana was free. Her spirit rushed home. Her husband's arms held her. Aunt Nicki and Uncle Gernick were talking to her as well. She tried to smile but it hurt too much Wanting to reassure them, she whispered. "I'm OK."
"What? Babe, what?" Navarro asked. He wanted her to speak once more.
"Love, I'm OK." Christiana whispered. He held her so tightly, as her uncle and aunt comforted each other.
She looked over and saw Keeley and Kalen. Aunt Nicki had moved to help them. She and Kalen shared a look.
She's gone, Kalen. She's gone for good this time.
Kalen smiled as he cried tears of joy. The nightmare was over. The evil spirit was gone now. Christiana was finally free.
He looked at his wife. She was amazing. He swore his life to her, but now he'd make sure she never wanted for anything again.
Navarro had to speak. He faced his cousin. "Thank you for letting us come here. Thank you for letting us come back home."
Oman smiled through his tears. "Navarro, you don't need an invitation to come. Home is the one place that you can go, and when you go there we have to let you in." He hugged his cousin. "This is home."
As they talked, Nicolette grew concerned about the pastor, because he was still unconscious. Keeley went to him; she held his hand as they waited for an ambulance once more. She looked at Kalen and he could see that this hurt her more than anything. She held Pastor Henry's hand. She whispered. "I don't know you, but I need you to stay here a little longer. Please, don't go."
Pastor Henry wanted to go. He wanted to finally rest, but he knew it was not his time. Slowly he regained consciousness. The ambulance arrived and he was taken back to the hospital. His church members assured everyone that they'd stay with him.
Kalen wanted time with his wife. He knew she was dealing with a lot and needed to make sure she wasn't too overwhelmed. So, he sent to his uncle who told him to take his wife and go. They vanished.
Spirits appeared. The wolves froze, vampires stared, and the church prayed. Continuously casting Lilim into the fiery pit. Pastor Henry was being fanned by two of the women, as they were gravely concerned for their patriarch. Lilim looked at the devastation she'd caused. She smiled, then she faced Gernick. He was no longer angry, but cradling the girl. His mate, Nicolette stood with him as he called to her. Lilim quaked. The spirits of old surrounded her, and Akeemo spoke once more,
Come now!
He ordered, and they vanished.
Ja'Mal rushed to the entity just as they vanished. Marcus was frozen. "Grandfather!" Ja'Mal called to the air. He looked around, tears streaming down his cheeks. He saw his grandfather. Grandfather dressed in tribal garb, dressed as a warrior should be. He was so strong, so powerful, and at last he was free. He cried out, as Marcus joined him. "Did you see?" He asked.
Marcus nodded, "Yes, I saw him." was all he said.
Oman began to chant. It was a prayer for calmness for peace. Grandfather used to sing it whenever bad things happened. Navarro, held on to Christy, willing her to fight. Gernick and Nicki were right there with him. Kalen held Keeley close. Tonight had taken a lot from his powerful, beautiful vampire. Garrick, Krill, and Clause arrived. All three men ready to do whatever it took to protect their family.
Kerri sensed that something had happened and called too Ja'Mal. He answered, and hearing her voice calmed him. She reported that the children were fine and recovering. Something shielded them. She explained how the seizures ended as a comforting calmness surrounded the compound.
*****
Meanwhile at Welbern, Rosita was adjusting and all seemed to be going well. She made friends easily. She carried out her duties carefully and thoroughly. She even took time to mentor younger females that had questions. Everyone liked her, and for the first time in centuries Nials was really relaxed.
Alpha Nyric called a beta meeting the day before Nials and a few other wolves' elevation ceremonies. He'd received two phone calls concerning the event. He wanted the betas to be aware, but he was really excited to share the news. It seemed that Nials was not only being elevated, but because of who his mate was they had several special guests attending. As the betas gathered, Nials amongst them, they mumbled about what this meeting was about.
