The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 175

was pretty experienced.

Once I got home, I put my things away and went to help Wendell and Lisa in the kitchen. The cake had cooled and I put together frosting for it real quick before covering it and decorating it. I had always done Val and Harmony's birthday and celebration cakes, so I Decorating their cakes had always made me happy. It was something I could put my whole focus on and the lovelier it looked, the nicer my ex-mother would be to me. Aside, from approved books, she would let me look at cooking magazines. I got to see a lot of pretty cakes there.

"Wow, Echo. That looks like a professional did it." Wendell said.

"I've been decorating cakes for years. I like it a lot." I replied.

After I finished the cake, I helped with getting the foods all packed away. There were some mousses that would be behind a 'vampires only' sign. We had to make it look like it was a real party. I doubted anyone would really be hungry. Maybe after.... My phone alarm went off as we packed the cake into a protective box and officially called it good. My nerves were on fire. I was more nervous than I'd been at the beginning of the day.

I climbed the stairs to Victor's room. Everything would change once the sun went down. I could end up losing everyone I loved. I could die. The realization of it hit me like a ton of bricks. What would happen tonight?

When I got up to Victor's room, I turned on the blanket and crawled into bed with him. Talia was downstairs already, going over the plans on the phone with Trent and Maeve. Bellamy and her rogue warriors were on their way as well, for added support.

I rested my head on Victor's chest and listened to his very slow heartbeat as if it were the last time. It really could be the last time. I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

Suddenly, Victor's heartbeat sped up. That didn't make sense, it should have been at least twenty minutes. I gripped him tightly and tried to stop crying.

The door flew open and Gray rushed in. He climbed into the bed on the other side of me and cuddled my back. Victor wiped my tears away.

"Don't be scared, princess. Everything will be alright. I promise." Victor murmured.

"He's right, angel. I know it's scary to face something like this, but we're ready. We have allies and a good plan, your plan. They can't win against us, Echo. We have the Goddess and all of her people on our side." Gray whispered. "They have lots of big guns and other weapons. We don't have weapons." I sniffled.

"We are weapons, Echo. The fae will have weapons and magic. The witches have magic. Vampires have magic. Werewolves have claws and fangs. There are forty of them, maybe one or two more. We have fifty pack wolves, two dozen fae, ten witches, forty vampires, thirty rogues, and none of that is counting the people in our house." Victor told me gently. "There is no way we don't win this, princess."

"You promise? You promise everything will be fine and we're all going to live?" I asked.

"I... I wish I could make that promise. I can promise that we will win. This isn't an insurmountable obstacle. I can't promise who will survive, though. Only that everyone will do their best to survive." Victor said softly and kissed the top of my head. "I need you to be brave for me, my princess. You can come back here until the fight is over. One less person won't be the difference between winning and losing."

"I can't do that. I would hate myself for leaving everyone. This is my fault. This is my plan. I can't let everyone else fight for me." I replied.

"That's very noble of you, Echo, but I want you to use your best judgement. If it does seem like we're losing. I want you to come back home. Alright?" Victor said.

"Alright." I agreed.

We laid in the bed for a while longer and they held me until I was feeling better. I needed to do this. I needed to go out and fight with everyone. It was the only way to ensure that we would win.

Derrick had been giving the hunters bad information about dhampyrs and ancient vampires. It changed their weapon choices and tactics. It played to our advantage.

Once I was calmed down, we went downstairs to go over the plan. We had a lot of information from Derrick's notes and the papers he'd stolen. I knew that would help a lot.

While everyone was busy talking, I went up to Victor's room and retrieved my luck bag. I held it in my hands and thought of what I should say to get the result I wanted. When I was sure I had it, I lifted it to my mouth.

"Please give good luck to everyone I love tonight. Let them come home safely." I whispered, then put the pouch on my neck.

I felt a lot better knowing everyone was going to be watched out for. Now I knew it would all work out. Everyone would come home safe.

The next few hours went by in a blur. Finn didn't want Amelia coming out for the fight, but she insisted. Her affinity would be a big help.

Victor reminded those of us with sensitive noses, that the hunters wouldn't smell like anything. It was part of the masking spray they used. The witches would just be working from their best guesses of who was an ally and who was an enemy. I didn't like that, but we didn't have other options. There wasn't time to make magical protection charms.

"I want to help." Emmalyn said as she entered the room. "I hate the idea of my little sister being out there and me not going."

"We don't have a way of getting you out there without blowing Derrick's cover." Gray replied.

"What if I used my ability? Once we put out the lanterns, I can travel here, get Emmalyn, and travel back with her. It should take a minute or less." I offered.

"Yes! Let's do that." She insisted. "I can't just wait around here and hope."

"What do you think, Victor?" Gray asked.

"I think it's a fine idea. The more witches we have on our side, the better." Victor smiled politely. "Will you be alright doing that, princess?"

"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't. It's getting close to time. Let's get the cars loaded up. Emmalyn, I want you to wait here in the living room for me." I answered.

Those of us who could go out in the dwindling daylight, started loading food and other items into the vehicles. The cake would be held, so it didn't topple somewhere. We took as much care of everything as we could, as if we were really going to this party.

-

Once we arrived we hung and turned on the lanterns. We set out food on the tables, a bowl of punch, some cups, plates, and flatware. Someone turned on some soft music and we waited on others to arrive.

I was a little surprised to see Maeve approach with Rosario. He was in his male glamour. We didn't need to pretend as much anymore.

"Maeve, what are you doing here?" Victor asked. "I thought you were just sending your warriors to help with the fight."

"I couldn't let you fight this alone. I'm no leader if I don't stand by my allies in battle for my people." Maeve replied.

We started moving around and chatting with everyone. The warrior who was dressed up to look like Trent's mate, gave me a hug. She told me it was from the Luna who was at home with her children and praying for our safety. Marius and Lila came over and each hugged me. I was really starting to feel my nerves. I knew the hunters were probably already out there and preparing to attack, but we had to wait for the signal.

"You're shaking, Echo, and you smell frightened." Marius said.

"I'm trying to be calm, papa." I told him.

"It will happen soon. I can already smell the forest scent getting faint as the hunters draw near. This battle shouldn't last long. We have a mighty force that will annihilate them for their hubris." He grinned wickedly. "You're so hot when you're all battle ready like this, daddy." Lila purred in his ear.

I giggled as he looked over with a heated expression. "I should probably leave you two alone for a few moments."

Wandering away, I found Victor and Gray talking quietly near one of the tables. Just as I was about to talk to them, a howl went up in the forest. That was the signal.

All the lanterns were turned off. I waited for a moment before going back home, grabbing Emmalyn, and returning. She thanked me quickly before running out of the tent and into the forest.

Quickly, I also ran to the forest. There were screams, howls, snarls, and gunshots all over. A man appeared in front of me. He didn't smell like anything and started aiming the gun he held.

I used my ability to travel behind him, then gripped his head and twisted it like Marius had taught me. There was a sickening crack and he fell to the ground. I picked up his gun and kept going.

Though I'd never used a gun, it seemed pretty simple. The first time I tried it, I didn't do well and missed the man who was sneaking up behind Val. But the gunshot made Val turn and he set the man on fire.

Dropping the gun, I slipped away. I wasn't going to try that again. I had no idea what I was doing, and it hurt my hand. There was a scream from above me and I looked up to see Sean drop a woman from a great height. She landed on her neck a few feet from me.

A man ran past me and stumbled. Within just a few moments, a werewolf jumped on him, rolled him over, and started tearing at him with its claws. All around there was the sound of fighting.

I sniffed the air, seeing if I could find Gray or Victor. I followed Victor's scent to a very small clearing in the center of some tall trees. He was fighting a man who had a stake in one hand and a big knife in the other.

They regarded each other briefly before the man lunged at Victor with the stake raised high above his head. Victor moved fast and plunged his hand into the man's chest. He pulled something out, held it in front of the man, and then dropped it on the ground. As he did this, the man slowly fell to his knees, then slumped over. I smiled happily. I hoped it was going okay for Gray too and started to look around. That's when I saw her.

Melissa. She was standing in the shadow of a tree on the other side of the clearing. Her hair was tied back and she was wearing some sort of dark outfit. In the moonlight I could make out tears in her eyes.

She held up a crossbow with a stake in it. I could see her aiming for Victor. I ran as fast as I could toward him. He was facing me so he couldn't see her.

"This is for my father you bloodsucking fuck." She growled.

When I reached Victor, I grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side, just in time. The stake went past him. I saw Melissa smirk and disappear into the forest.

"Echo. What have you done?" Victor whispered and reached for me as I lost control of my legs.

The pain was unbearable. I looked up at him and he seemed like he was going to cry. Victor helped me to the ground.

Another howl went up. This one was sad and sorrowful. A few moments later, Gray appeared. He skidded to his knees next to me.

"We have to pull it out." Victor said. "If she dies with a stake in her heart, she won't come back."

"I wasn't ready for you to be a vampire, angel." Gray murmured.

"Grayson! Get the stake out of her. I lose my strength if I touch it. I can't save her. Only you can. Now, pull it out!" Victor shouted.

He gripped the stake in my chest. I wanted to talk to them, to tell them not to worry, but it hurt so much to breathe. I could only watch as Gray grip the stake and pull it from my chest. "Give me your shirt." Gray told Victor.

I watched Victor strip his shirt off and hand it over. Gray held it tightly over my chest. My vision blurred a little.

"I love you both very much." I whispered.

"Everything's going to be alright, Echo. We got the stake out. You'll be a vampire when you wake up." Gray said.

"I'll teach you everything you need to know, princess. It will be okay. Then you can spend all night with me." Victor murmured in a cracking voice.

I smiled and closed my eyes. Blood loss was very tiring. I sighed and let the feeling overtake me. There was nothing I could do to help them. The world faded away as I slipped into darkness.