Chapter 26: Losing Princess Drucilla
1919 Words
(Trigger Warning, SA, DV)
Four Years Later
Dragu
I was meeting Ashlyn today because she asked for me instead of her mother, I missed my daughter but she has been taking care of herself. I met up at our favorite restaurant under disguise so it wouldn't get back to King Roman, Erik had been keeping tabs on her lately and I was beginning to think something was going to go down. I felt it in my soul but I hadn't had a vision about my daughter dying since the last time long ago. Marion was meeting with the Supremes in their secret location with their Allies, I was part of their group but I chose to let Marion handle that side of things while I kept Volterra in line. Volterra had many new covens emerge between the old ones as it was prospering, we were a nice community among the others in Ravena and were well-protected like the Elves. I had recently gotten back from a miniature vacation with Marion before she was called away, Nola has been a great second in command, well respected, and the same for Lenora as Marion's third.
Luc and Phillip were my second and third in command respectively, Laurel was promoted to the Highest Elder, he has the final say on many matters after consulting with me or Marion or when we are not around. On other occasions, we would override his decision if necessary which seldom happens since we are all on the same page. We trusted Laurel and didn't undermine him when it came to certain things, but we are still heavily involved. Marion and I never found out who was trying to drive a wedge between us but it stopped after a while, so we figured the person got bored realizing nothing would separate us. It has been years and we never talked about it again, we were more focused on making Volterra what it is today and preparing for the Supremes' return. I looked at my watch when I saw Ashlyn pull up in the car park, she was my world and I was happy to have these moments with her.
Ashlyn looked so much like her mother except for my eye and hair color, she was kind and feisty like her mother, I smiled because Marion was my everything. When I learned what the former High Elder, Joimar did to her, I was glad he was out of Volterra never to return banished forever until he died. I learned the truth behind King Willix's decision to terminate my people, Joimar was scared that we would out his secret of overthrowing Marion's bloodline. He manipulated Willix and I was glad Marion found love with him before I came along, I wasn't proud of wanting to kill him because my parents were my everything and we had lived a long time, that's why we were a small community. Ashlyn sat down after our formal greetings, she was excited about Allison's upcoming coronation but it was put off again. It was taking so long because of Erik, Allison respected and loved her father, she didn't know what we knew and I wished we could tell her but Addison didn't want her to know the truth about her evil dad.
We had a brilliant lunch and she asked about her mother and how things were in Volterra, she missed Nola and Lenora and hoped to see them soon. It was the way she was talking that made me feel like something else was wrong, I tried to get a read off her but it was cold which meant one thing, and I closed my eyes, she touched my face and that is when I saw it. I held her hand opening my eyes and saw her tears. I told her, "Ashlyn, you are going back home with me, this is not going to happen, do you understand me?" She said, "I love you, Dad but it's fate," I said, "No, it's not, fate changes all the time, don't ask me to watch you die, Ashlyn, I will not do it." I watched my daughter walk out of the restaurant heading home to talk to her mate, she finally decided to return to Volterra where we could protect her. She could get the magic back where she would be strong enough to protect herself and change fate.
I was excited, I left the office early and walked through a portal to the Palace, I knew Marion would be home a lot later after her meeting. I had decided to give my daughter my penthouse and had linked the maid to get it clean and prepared for their arrival, I was going to surprise Marion with the news I still felt uneasy and it would not stop until I knew my daughter was safe in Volterra, Addison was safe as Gamma Ty won't let anything happen to her and I trusted Cayden to keep Allison safe. Eventually, I was reading a book in the home office as Phillip looked into ways to help Lenora develop the school activities for the summer. Alma had come back to the school to work as a teacher, her mate had never hit her again since his imprisonment and they have three daughters, all mated. She never came on to me ever again and we mutually respect each other, I was going to my quarters to prepare for my mate's return when I felt this excruciating pain, I dropped to my knees and sweat profusely, I heard Luc calling my name as a bright light went off and I saw Black.
******
Marion
I was having dinner with Aidan and the others, it was a long day but things were looking up for the boys, they are currently studying to get their respective degrees to keep up appearances. Cayden was visibly upset that Allison put back the coronation again because of her father. Ty hated Erik and snickered saying, "I could make it easy for you and end him," Aidan said, "Ty, not yet but you will be the one to end him." Drax was smiling saying, "At least you have it easy, I am going to kill my former mate," I felt bad for Drax, he was torn but I understood his predicament. They went over everything they learned about Roman and his allies, we were working overtime to bring everyone down. Dominic brought out the strong stuff and started drinking, he offered me a glass and I was skeptical with a room full of men. Elijah looked at me and said, "We won't do anything you don't want us to do, Marion," winking at me and I smile saying, "I know, you don't want an angry seer on your ass."
Aidan looked at me with a smile and said, "I like Dragu, he has balls, he has no fear and I loved working with him," we laughed when I felt uneasy. I blew it off as the drinks started to make me feel tipsy and I was thinking about ravishing my man when I got home. However, if I am too drunk he won't touch me because he believes in consent always and I love that about him, I started to dance with Ty, from outside looking in, this looked so bad with me being the only woman in the room full of men, horny ones at that but I trusted them. They were men of honor and respected me, not even making a pass at me when they could easily take advantage, I was a powerful witch who could make those who were not Supremes bend to my will and they knew it. I felt the pain again but it was intense this time and I leaned into Ty who said, "Marion, what is it?" I screamed in pain as Aidan rushed over to me, I was sweating profusely and I felt Ty lift me before I saw black.
*****
Ashlyn
After leaving the restaurant, I was excited and had a new lease on life, I was going to Volterra which was the only way to save me from my fate. I felt my magic slightly so I knew this would work, I called my husband to give him the news and he said, "I was ready to leave years ago," we both laughed. He decided to leave work early and I was going home to pack, I would talk to Addison later once we settled in, my father was going to open a portal in our house so no one would know that we moved. Erik had been watching our moves for years and we had to play it safe, so Addison or Allison wouldn't be hurt. I walked into the house and saw Erik waiting for me, I didn't see his car in the driveway so I was shocked. He was drinking, I could smell it on him and I asked him, "What are you doing here, Erik?"
Erik looked at me and said, "Your daughter seems to be pulling away from me again, she is always here, why is she here, Ashlyn?" Are you her alibi? Who is the wolf she is f*****g?" I knew he was drunk and I knew about Ty but I would never put my daughter in harm's way. I told him to leave and he smiled heading to the door, I didn't even see it before I felt a pinch on my neck, he smiled and I couldn't link anyone for help. I started to panic and turned around to run to our panic room, he was behind me, and he grabbed me as I screamed for help. He put his hand around my mouth and I bit his hand, he back-slapped me yelling, "You b***h," I ran to the bedroom with him trailing me but he pushed me onto the bed. I was weakening and I knew this was it for me, my vision was coming true sooner than expected. He started to strangle me but I used what little power I had left and knocked him off me, I gasped for air as he got up stumbling over to me, and punched me in the face.
I was stunned, I could barely keep my eyes open when I felt him on top of me, I tried pushing him off screaming as he thrust in and out of me. Erik said, "I always wanted a taste of you," I spit in his face as he punched me again, I closed my eyes as he groaned and moaned. The bed hit the wall with each thrust, I saw my parents' smiling faces, I saw my daughter's and granddaughter's faces, and I knew I wouldn't see them again. He got off me when he finished and I lay there in shock wanting to see my husband's face again when I saw the dagger in Erik's hand. He stabbed me over and over again, yelling, "Your death will bring her closer to me and remind her that she is mine, always." I crawled away from him falling off the bed as he laughed, I couldn't speak and he grabbed my hair, pulled my head back, and sliced my throat, he left me to die and walked out. I saw the cordless phone next to me on the ground, I tried to reach it, I was getting weak and I whispered thinking about my mate, "I love you," before seeing black.
- Writer
