Once Upon a Steamy Night
Chapter Thirty-two

Claire stepped out of the mirror and shuddered at how dark the energy around the veil was. She saw different creatures killed and she followed the trail to where she saw Aiobel holding an injured Anede.

His shoulder was bleeding and so was Liam's ankle.

They both looked exhausted and were panting furiously as they tried to stand.

"Claire, I'm so sorry!" Adam and Liam said in unison.

She nodded and placed a hand on Liam's ankle trying to heal the injury while Aiobel tended to Anede's injury.

After she was sure they had stopped the bleeding, she headed towards the veil. The tear had widened, and she didn't feel like sticking around for a while.

She brought out her mother's necklace from her backpack and performed the spell, slitting her palm and spilling a little of her blood on it.

Then she released the necklace as it floated into the small tear In the veil. She slowly began feeling her energy being drawn from her. "Claire, can I talk to you?"

She glanced at Liam and shrugged. "Sure. It's not like I'm going anywhere."

Liam sat down on the rock beside her. "I'm sorry, Claire."

"Tell me everything," Claire mumbled.

"My dad had asked me to befriend you and spy on you, but I didn't know the reason. I thought it was probably because of your adopted parents' death so I agreed."

"I tried to befriend you, but I ended up falling in love with you and my father didn't like It. I had to convince him that I was still spying on you by giving him information." "You told him I was a faerie. He could have killed me!"

"I didn't think you guys were serious about the hunter and faerie thing but when I got home I told my dad and he flipped. I know that was stupid, but I have no plans of hurting you." "Don't bother."

Claire felt her head spinning as blood trickled out of her nose.

"Claire, are you alright?" Adam asked, rushing to her side.

"Never mind, Dad. If I die then you won't have to do it yourself."

Claire felt a powerful tug as she coughed up blood and shuddered. She was growing weaker.

Suddenly, there was a flash of light and a woman appeared in front of them, holding the necklace. Claire gasped when the pain stopped, and relief flooded through her body.

"Mom?" She called timidly.

The beautiful woman with silver-blonde hair and the brightest blue eyes ever smiled at her.

"Claire?" She called, disbelief evident in her eyes.

Claire raced into her arms overcome by tears of joy as she patted her back lovingly.

"I can't believe you've grown so big," she smiled but then her eyes widened in shock.

"What are you doing here, Claire. Why are you using magic?"

Claire frowned. "Adam brought me."

The woman whirled around with fire in her eyes as she stalked towards Adam.

"You abandoned me!"

Adam gazed at her with so much love and admiration in his eyes. Then he swept her into his arms and kissed her lovingly. When they parted from the kiss, her mom shook her head.

"I can't be here, Adam. Send me back, Claire," she said.

"What are you talking about, Nuella?" Adam asked.

"Who told you my name?" She asked, chuckling softly. "John."

A tremor ran through her body as she shuddered in fear. Adam wrapped a hand around her.

"He's never going to hurt you again."

Instantly, she pulled away.

"Claire, send me back into the underworld. I didn't give you up and sacrifice myself in this place for nothing," she cried.

"Mom, what are you talking about?" Claire asked confused.

"Claire, you have to do it now!" She screamed falling on her knees.

"Mom, I can't," Claire cried, shaking her head.

Her mom ran towards Liam and grabbed his sword crying out as it burnt her hand.

"Fulfil your destiny, child. You can't let him win!" She screamed at Liam like a maniac.

"Mom, calm down," Claire took a step towards her but Adam stopped her.

"The hunter's sword only harms magical creatures," he whispered.

"But you said mom is human," Claire protested.

"I thought so too but a human can't survive in the underworld and your mom didn't die, she willingly entered the underworld," Adam explained. "So, what are you saying now?"

"I'm sorry, Claire," her mom's soulful voice filled the air.

Claire looked at her mom and gasped. Her eyes were pitch black and she didn't look like the hysterical woman from earlier.

"Mom?"

When she released her hands, a flaming sword appeared in it and she threw it towards...

"Aiobel!" Anede screamed, knocking her out of the way. Claire gasped as she stared at the person standing a few steps away from Anede. The sword was buried in Liam's chest and he was bleeding.

"Stupid boy," her mom snapped.

"Why did you do it?!" Claire yelled, running towards Liam, tears running down her cheeks.

Anede held onto Aiobel whimpering in her hands.

"I'm sorry, Anede," Liam said.

Claire wore the necklace her grandmother had given her on his neck Immediately.

"You'll be fine, I promise."

She was so wrapped up in her grief she didn't hear the warning until she felt the sharp pain pierce through her heart.

She glanced down and saw Liam's sword embedded in her chest, his hands on the sword.

"I'm sorry, princess," he chuckled weakly, "A hunter never misses his target."

"Why, Liam?" Her eyes watered with tears.

"Because I love you and I don't want to see what the darkness will do to you," he coughed.

"What are you talking about?" She asked, confused.

"Your mother was right. We both have to fulfill our destinies and now I've done mine," he sputtered.

Claire wrapped her hand around his neck as she placed her head on his forehead. Her eyes glowed golden as she searched his mind and what she saw left her reeling in anger. "I hate you, Liam!" She yelled angrily.

"I love you," he whispered, and his hands dropped.

Claire ripped the necklace off his neck, anger coursing through her body at his betrayal. He had lied to her even as he was dying.

Then she looked around her and gasped.

Aiobel was crying as Anede took his last breath. The injury on his shoulder had worsened because it was inflicted by a hunter's sword. He was going to die.

Adam was holding her mom as she whispered something to him, her hands were stained with blood.

Her blood.

She had stabbed herself with a dagger so he wouldn't win, that was what she was telling her father.

Ryan and Scot were fighting creatures escaping from the veil trying to harm them. A monster clawed at Scot's stomach and Ryan rushed to help him.

Eerie laughter sounded behind her and she blinked when Sabrina appeared.

"Sabrina?"

"Looks like my spell worked," she smiled a wolfish smile.

"What did you do?" Claire glared at her, as she ripped the sword out. She cried in agony as the blood gushed out of her chest.

"I returned his hunter's instinct. The one that his childish love for you clouded. Claire, you are the harbinger of darkness and I can't let that happen. I didn't mean for anyone to die but perhaps if you hadn't rescued your mom she won't have to sacrifice herself again."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying you deserve to die for being selfish and craving a life you can never have. It's your destiny to die after sealing the veil not to live after that!"

Somehow, her words made an answer to Claire because Anede was dead, so was her mother, and Liam. Scot was injured and so was Ryan.

"If you don't fulfill your destiny, Claire you will remain in eternal agony."

With a gust of wind, Sabrina vanished.

"This is pathetic."

Claire glared at the green-eyed man. "Who exactly are you?"

"Seal the veil, Claire. It's almost over-the supernova."

Claire drew the symbol with her blood and felt the power rush through her as the supernova reached its peak.

"They aren't worth It but it's your destiny," his voice echoed in her head.

Claire started the spell chanting in ancient Greek as the veil gradually closed, taking with it every other creature that escaped from it except her mother's dead body. When the dark aura had cleared from the environment, Claire lay on the floor breathing heavily.

Her father came over to her weeping like a baby.

"I'm sorry, princess. I didn't know. This is all my fault, I shouldn't have let you use magic, I had no idea!" He wept.

"What are you talking about, dad?" She asked, "I ruined everything, dad. I listened to a hunter and trusted him." "It's none of your faults."

"Yes, it is. Liam had told his father about the faerie realm and they're attacking there now."

Adam's eyes widened. "How did you know?"

"I entered his mind and saw it; he wasn't being completely honest. That's why I took the necklace."

Adam gasped. "Oh my gosh! This is bad!!"

"I know. I sealed the veil and yet I brought chaos and pain to everyone that I love. I am a horrible person."

"No, you're not," Adam shook his head.

"I love you, dad."

"Claire, no you can't leave me..."

His words faded in the distance as she felt the ground gradually pulling her in and covering her left in the spot her blood was spilled, a willow tree.

***

Claire was so sure she was going to die as the blood kept pumping out of her open wound. Her head hurt as her father's voice faded in the distance.

Her eyes stung from unshed tears as she wondered why Liam had done what he did killing himself in the process.

Her hands clawed at the sand as they remained. She had sensed something greater when she had touched her mom.

The words of the prophecy came back to her. It had spoken of betrayal and anger. Chaos, doom, and darkness.

And now, she understood the meaning of those words.

Her mom was battling with the same thing she was battling with.

The same demon.

Her mom wasn't human.

But what was she?

Claire felt her life slipping away and she took her last breath.

Her time on earth was over.