CHAPTER 176: THE UNDERGROUND CLUB 2

Andria’s POV

I stiffened, my hands clenching.

Kaelric didn’t flinch. "Where’s Liara?" he asked, his voice cold, form and controlled.

Jackson tilted his head, his smirk widening. "That’s cute. You walk into my ground, surrounded by creatures who would tear you apart in seconds, and you are asking questions?" He leaned forward. "You forget, Kaelric. This isn’t Ashwood. Here, I have the power."

"Power that’s borrowed," Kaelric scoffed.

That made Jackson laugh. "Borrowed? Oh, you really don’t know how deep this goes."

I stepped forward before I could stop myself. "Then where’s Liara?" My voice cut through the silence, sharper than I expected. "You keep talking about power and plans, but I need to see her. Now."

Jackson’s smile faltered slightly, only to return with twice the arrogance. "No need for that, sweetheart. She is safe, she is my mate after all, I won’t let harm come to her."

"Safe?" I repeated, my tone dripping with disbelief. "Forgive me if I don’t take your word for it."

The air grew thicker. Even the torches flickered, responding to the tension.

Kaelric shifted slightly beside me, his stance coiled and ready. "Enough games, Jackson."

"Games?" Jackson laughed, standing. "This is far from a game. You came here looking for the truth? Then you’ll have it."

Before I could ask what he meant, something snapped. A dark energy rippled through the room, and suddenly, chaos erupted.

Spells flared like lightning. Wolves snarled, claws flashing. Kaelric moved first and fast, his back to me, his claws coming out, a blur of controlled power. I barely had time to react before a witch lunged at me.

I ducked, my instincts taking over. I felt it, my wolf taking over; I wasn’t shifting, Athena was merging with my vampire side, which was already on the surface.

A surge of strength and power overcame me; the movements in the room slowed to a halt. Every movement around me became crystal clear; I could smell blood, feel their heartbeat, and sense their echoing thoughts.

It wasn’t just strength, it was harmony.

I was moving with a kind of speed I haven’t experienced, landing strong blows on everyone I got hold of, snapping their head in two and sucking their blood.

Sir Kaelric gave me an eye, and I knew what that meant. I should stop drinking the wolves; it might be worse for me to get over it. I didn’t dare drink other creatures, though, because I didn’t want to be polluted.

I moved speedily, dodging reflexively, digging my claws at them, landing blow after blow, sometimes taking more than one of them. Their blood aroused me, but I had to control my bloodlust.

Across the room, Kaelric moved with calm precision, exhibiting great skill in combat, dodging blows with his left hand and landing a blow with his right.

It felt like he was measuring his attacks, movements, and reflexes.

The fight suddenly came to an end, silence filling the room, except for our heavy breathing.

Bodies lay scattered. And the room seemed darker now. Only Jackson was left, standing amid the ruin of his followers, breathing hard, disbelief painting his face.

He looked from me to Kaelric, his smirk gone. "You...You are not just a wolf," he said, voice low, almost fearful. "You are a vampire? An enemy creature"

I stepped closer, eyes a mixed glow of red and gold, dual reflection of what I was. "Something you shouldn’t have underestimated," I said, before bringing him to his knees.

His lips trembled, fury warring with fear. I walked towards him. "I need you to forget that you ever saw this part of me, Jackson."

I had to compel him; I didn’t want him spreading rumors about me being a vampire. He knelt there, looking confused but still scared.

Kaelric didn’t even glance at him. "Call her," he said. His tone was a command, not a request.

Jackson hesitated.

"Now."

Reluctantly, Jackson snapped his fingers.

The door to the side creaked open.

Liara walked in.

My heart sank instantly. Her eyes were glassy, lifeless, her steps mechanical if she wasn’t truly here; she looked like she was under a certain spell.

"Liara..." I whispered, rushing forward. She looked at me blankly for a second before her body slumped forward, collapsing into my arms.

Her body felt light, like her life was being gradually drained from her.

Sir Kaelric clenched his jaw in anger. He walks closer to Jackson, "You dare harm my sister? You have some guts, Jackson."

"Liara!" I shook her gently, watching as the glassiness slowly faded from her eyes. She blinked, her gaze finally focusing. For a brief second, relief washed over me until she realized where she was.

Her eyes widened in horror, and she scrambled out of my hold, rushing to Jackson’s side like a puppet being pulled by invisible strings.

Jackson’s smirk returned, faint but vicious. "You see, Aria," he said quietly, his eyes glinting with cruel satisfaction. "You might have freed her body, but she is my mate; you seem to forget that, and I have got her mind."

"You don’t seem like a wolf to have an actual mate, Jackson. How sure am I that you didn’t wrap her into an illusion of a false mate bond, after all, you gave alliances with black sorcerers and witches, they could make that happen." I opposed.

"Either way, she is still my mate, an obedient one for that matter," he replied with a crooked smirk on his face.

He looked at Liara, who stood beside him like a broken doll.

Sir Kaelric released his hands from Jackson’s collar and rushed to Liara’s side. He tried to embrace her, but she stiffened.

The room felt colder suddenly.

Kaelric’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening, and I could feel it; the storm was gathering again.

He stared into Jackson’s eyes, and Jackson faced him squarely.

"I would ask you for the first and last time, what did you do to her?".

Sir Kaelric was vibrating with fury; he looked like he would snap Jackson in two, but he was trying to hold back, since Jackson was also a student in Ashwood.