Tabitha, Marco, Colson, and Ruby shifted into their wolves without question. They were ready to protect their friends and loved ones if anyone dared to challenge them. The wolves faced themselves toward the crowd keeping Zachary and Gretchen in the middle.

Gretchen sucked in a breath as she watched the wolves gather around her and Zachary to protect them. She looked over at Colson’s wolf, and her heart swelled. Never had she seen a wolf look so beautiful to her before, and her fear of Colson’s wolf melted away.

Emil looked between the two men challenging him to a fight, and laughed. “You think you can kill me, Deak? All with the help from your little wolf.”

Both wolves growled at the skinny man that provoked them. Malakai was ready to show Emil the kind of Lycan he really was. He and his human were no longer that scared little boy Emil knew when they were younger. Together, they would teach this vampire who he was messing with.

Artemis, Hudson’s wolf, was done being toyed with. He motioned to Malakai that he was ready. Malakai laughed huskily and did the same. Malakai gained the attention of Emil for Aramis to attack him from the back. But Emil was faster than Aramis anticipated and was grabbed by the neck and thrown across the way. Aramis landed on his feet as he slid back and regained his footing. He rushed back to get back into the fight, not wanting to leave Malakai to fight this man alone.

***

Colson nipped at the vampire as he attempted to challenge their barrier. The vampire hissed as he bared his teeth to spark fear in them. Gretchen didn’t want the wolves to risk getting hurt by these fanged demons. She pushed her arms out and yelled an incantation that pulled a barrier spell around them.

Vita decided to pull her sleeves up and show off her skills as she threw people into the crowd, making her way over to Amanda to protect her. “Where’s Merida?” Vita yelled out as she pushed back the angry vampires with her magic.

Amanda shook her head. “I don’t know. That vampire and the witch in shackles were at the cottage when we arrived. Merida disappeared into the coffin, and I haven’t seen or heard from her since.”

“We have to figure out something, and we need to figure it out quickly,” Vita warned.

***

Quincy walked down the shallow steps that took him to the cold dark room. He strolled casually toward the wooden box in the middle of the room. Quincy ran his fingers over the casket and whispered sweet nothings at it. “It’s time, my sweet child, time to show the world who you really are.” He pulled out a small drawstring bag and opened it. He reached inside the small pouch, pulled out his fist, and sprinkled the golden dust all over the top of the coffin. Quincy stepped back as the large box in front of him started to bounce and move, a bright light blasted through the cracks, and the lid bounced open. Quincy rushed back over and looked into the coffin.

There Merida lay and slowly began to wake up. When her eyes were fully opened and adjusted to her surroundings, she looked up at the man staring down at her and smiled, “Hello, old friend. It’s been a long time.”

“I don’t know who you are calling old; I look fabulous,” Quincy responded as he smoothed the sides of his hair. “All kidding aside, it’s time for you to rise and help those girls.”

Merida sat up quickly, “What’s happened?”

“In a word itself, Emil.”

Merida’s eyes narrowed as she heard the man who started all of this name. “Where are they?”

Quincy extended his hand, “I’ll be happy to show you, my dear.”

Merida gladly took his hand, said, “Let’s go have some fun,” and disappeared.

***

Rita watched Emil with intensity, waiting for the right moment. She was surprised that the two wolves had lasted as long as they had against Emil. Rita could see in Emil’s eyes he had the same opinion.

“A little help here, Rita,” Emil called out.

Rita quickly dropped the shackles that bounded her and pushed the wolves throwing them in opposite directions, giving Emil a minute to catch his breath. She walked down to him.

“You’re a dear sweet pet,” he said to her as he placed his finger under her chin and lifted her face to look at him.

Rita smiled coyly at the man before placing the bracelet on his wrist and whispered the girl's name in the coffin.

With a lifted brow, Emil looked down at the leather-bound and back at Rita, “What’s this?”

“The perfect way to rid yourself of the baggage in the coffin,” she responded.

Emil’s facial expressions changed from curiosity to rage in seconds. “What have you done?”

Rita’s heart raced in her chest as fear came over her. She stepped back from the angry man. “I thought this was a way for us to be together,” she admitted in a small voice.

Emil grew larger as Rita shrank down. “Why would I give up my chance for power for someone like you,” He said to her disgustedly.

Rita’s lip quivered as her heart felt like it was being ripped out of her chest. “But I thought…”

“You thought what? I paid attention to you and fed you words you needed to hear to get you to do whatever I wanted. You’re a pathetic girl I used for pleasure and errands.” His eyes glowed red as his teeth grew. “Come to think of it; I don’t need you anymore. You’ll make a tasty meal and help me regain my strength,” he confided before he bit into her.

Rita screamed out as her body became limp and her life faded away.

***

Malakai howled as he got back up from being thrown by that dirty witch. He snarled as he watched Emil toss the poor girl aside like she was trash. Malakai could feel the rage pulsing through his veins.

“That’s right, accept us; it’s your destiny. You shall rule over all,” the voices said in persuasion.

Vita looked up as she sensed Malakai moving through the crowd; he looked over at her and saw nothing but black holes staring back at her. Vita’s heart raced as she tried to figure out what to do. How would she save Deak if he had already accepted the darkness inside him?

She shivered as a cold breeze moved around her; she heard a voice say to her, “You’ve had the power to cure Deak all along.”

Vita looked over to Amanda and watched her manacles drop to the floor. Amanda looked up and smiled at Vita, “Let’s go save our men.”

Malakai moved wildly through the masses, pushing away anyone who got in his way. He reached Emil and grabbed him by the neck before Emil could stop him.

“You can’t kill me; you don’t have the guts,” Emil spat out.

Malakai was ready to tear Emil apart when a voice boomed through the streets— “That’s enough, all of you!” —forcing everyone to their knees and bowing down.