Back in the palace, prior to this present moment, Lyne had watched as Zeidan played with Aurora and it made her laugh. If anything, she was glad Aurora was able to see her father and that joy seemed to have cured Zeidan somehow. He now seemed suddenly agile. Zeidan returned to where he sat before Aurora came in to interrupt the Good Thing they had going on with Aurora still in his arms as he did so.

    “I remember the good old days Lyne,” Zeidan said glancing at her with a smile on his face shortly after sitting down beside her.

“When things used to be very peaceful and all we did was fight about having a baby.” They both chuckled and looked at Aurora. 

“She’s beautiful.” He said with a tone of sincerity. He turned his gaze back to Lyne.

“I still remember our old objective to capture who killed the Manager, Tina….”

“Samantha….” Zeidan said raising his head and gazing at the ceiling as he completed Lyne’s statement. Lyne gave a weak smile. 

“The death of Tina was painful. And I still want to hunt that killer down at all costs. The poor child did not deserve to die. I really wish there was something I could have done to save her.” She said clenching her fist.

“I am very sorry I could not protect you from all of these Lyne.”

“Hey, look at me.” She grabbed his head with both hands gently and said,

“You tried your best Zeidan.” She said reassuringly.

“I don’t know what Chloe is up to. I’m worried about her.” 

Lyne reflected on what Chloe had told her before Zeidan came in. She had said she had an unfinished business to take care of. There was only one thing that Chloe ever wanted to do so badly and that was take revenge on the person that killed her sister. The look she had on earlier before she left her room gave her away. As she came to realization of what Chloe could probably be doing at the moment, she stood up with so much worry on her face.

“Oh no!”

“What?” Zeidan asked confused by Lyne’s reaction. 

“What’s going on Lyne?” 

“It is Chloe, she is going to fight Maya. I need to find her. Please stay with Aurora.”

“No, I’ll go with you.”

“No Zeidan, you can barely walk.”

“I think I can manage. I will go with you. We can leave Gabe and Aurora with Amber.”

“There’s a high chance she’s at the temple. We will check there first.” Lyne said. She took her sword and then they both left the room and headed out in search of Chloe. 

Now, Lyne knelt beside Chloe who was covered in so much blood. She pushes hard on Chloe’s wound trying with all her might to stop the bleeding.

“I’m sorry Lyne……..I am very sorry.” Chloe said sobbing.

“I have always loved you, right from the very first time I set my eyes on you. You looked so much like my sister and there was this need always to protect you. After I learned you were my sister’s daughter, it only made that need rise even more.”

“And you did Chloe, you did. You were always there when I needed you.” 

“No, I did not protect you truly. I had other objectives that clouded my judgment. I never meant to hurt you, Lyne. I guess my emotions got the better of me.” 

“My sister was very dear to me. It all started when I and your mother went for the challenge. We went into the woods and she got lost. I tried so much to find her without success. I gave up later on and came to Vampire City where I got married to my husband, a soldier in the army. That was how I became a vampire too and also join the army.” Chloe coughed and as she did so, blood oozed out from the side of her mouth. 

“When I got to know that the wolves had come to attack Vampire City, I had a feeling that my long-lost sister was among them. My feelings are always right Lyne. It was the same when I first saw you. I had that exact feeling that we were somehow related. I was in the army and I should be part of those defending the city against the wolves. I could have found my sister if Zeidan had allowed me to fight that day. He asked me to stay behind even after I pleaded to join in the fight. That was the only chance I ever had at saving my sister. Zeidan took that away from me. She was killed with the rest of the wolves. That was the beginning of my hatred for the Vampire King.” She forced a weak laugh.

Lyne looked up at Zeidan with her teary blue eyes as he placed his hand on his face and paced about where he stood with uneasiness.

“That was not the end. After Zeidan denied me from going out to fight and save my sister, my husband went without his consent instead.” She took a long pause, 

“He never……. he never made it back.” She said as tears trickled down her eyes. 

“The people I cared so much about. They were taken away from me with no chance at all for me to save them. I decided I was going to take my revenge on those that had hurt me so bad.”

“I joined Shelbrooke because of how much I wanted to kill Zeidan. I joined him to help destroy you Zeidan, for fourteen years now. We have made so many plans to destroy you and this city and we have carried out so many attacks of which I was part or even the master planner. But, I love you Lyne and I know that the death of Zeidan will break you. I did not want that for you either.” 

Chloe didn’t have much strength left in her again as she was slowly slipping away. 

“I am so sorry for everything I’ve done to you both.”

She managed to glance at Lyne who struggled with her chest. 

“Oh Lyne, you worry yourself, I am not going to make it. Maya made sure of that.”

Although Lyne knows that what Chloe had just said was the actual fact as she truly will not make it due to the severity of the wound. She said, 

“Do not say that Chloe, you will be fine. It’s not that bad.” She said as she sobbed bitterly. 

“I just hope you both can forgive me for all that I have cost you or ever done to hurt you,” Chloe said, her eyes blinking weakly.

“I……I am…..so…..sorr” With this, she drew her last breath without finishing her sentence. Lyne eased off her hands from her chest, sat beside Chloe’s corpse, and wept bitterly, ignoring the Zeidan’s plea and consolation. Chloe’s death will be a great loss to her and she will miss her greatly. Zeidan helped her up and together they managed to carry Chloe’s body which was now pale outside where their horses were. They placed it on Zeidan’s horse and together they rode back home to bury Chloe.