Chapter 38
Ella’s POV
Elena’s emotions are haywire.
They are so overwhelming that even I am having a hard time dealing with them, and these emotions are not even mine. I have no idea how she is going to be able to control them.
Her entire frame is shaking in anger as she keeps on glaring at the ashes. Oliver's eyes are focused on Elena, while he looks concerned.
Closing her eyes, she takes deep long breaths.
“I am an amazing killer, ain’t I?” Raises her head to the sky, with a smile playing on her lips.
“I feel satisfied when I take lives. Isn’t that amazing?” She turns to us and raises her eyebrows, “They say it is not easy to take a life. That moment always haunts you. But not to me. I cherish all my kills.”
“Why did you summon the restless?” I ask her while I can sense Oliver’s surprise.
“Because, normally, no one can see them until an unless they have possessed the powers to command them. But we can see and communicate with them without doing anything.” She shrugs, “Minds can be controlled, so I wasn’t sure that we should mindlink each other if we find something. So I evoke the restless.”
“How can only we see them and not others?” Oliver’s voice is filled with curiosity. However, somewhere I know the answer.
“Because we have been touched by death.” I glance at Elena as she nods her head in confirmation.
Restless are the creatures of the other world, and somewhere we have been a part of that world.
"I might have always kept them blocked. That's why I haven't seen them before." I nod my head to myself.
"Yes, and the stronger your connection gets to your other side, the stronger your connection becomes with the other world." Elena adds, and then she points at Oliver, "But it is not the same for him. He can feel the presence and see them, but he can't draw energy from them, nor will they help him. Because he is a guardian, and his powers clash with the other world."
"Summoning powers from the other world should be your last option, Ella, because you aren't powerful enough to control them. Such forces can overpower you very easily." The experience and maturity in her voice are astounding.
"And what about you? Can't they harm you?"
"Mom doesn't call me her dark princess for no reason." She smirks with a mysterious glint in her eyes, "They know I am not the one with whom they can control."
“I found someone was weakening the wards around the clan’s territory.” Elena glances at Oliver, a sign that she has dismissed the previous topic and she is not interested in explaining herself anymore, “Because if any place is shielded, then affect of any kind of evil forces is not as powerful.”
“The field was attacked to weaken it so that these forces could be stronger,” Oliver explains the rest.
“You were gone without informing me.” I give Elena a pointed look, not hiding my annoyance with her, “Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?”
“The entire attention was on you both, and I couldn’t miss the chance to dig deeper into this when everyone was occupied.” She stares at me nonchalantly.
I want to confront her about what I saw. I want to know why she killed all those people, but I stay silent.
“You could have at least informed me.” Shaking my head at her, I sigh.
“Ella, you are empathic. You feel for others.” She holds my hand, “This makes you a great Alpha, but this also makes you vulnerable.”
“I am different from you. I don’t feel others’ pain. I don’t believe in being good to fight off evil.” She holds my gaze, “My ways are completely different from yours. The things I have done, or might do in the future, would hurt you. And I can’t do that. So it is best for both of us that you don't involve in what I do.”
Looking at me, she gives a rueful smile because she knows that I have seen what she has done. Even though I would not always agree with how she does things, I have never doubted that she could do anything wrong.
Somewhere she believes there is no good in her, but I can see her heart which is filled with nothing but goodness.
"The wards are the weakest in the southern region of the territory, which is where we are. So it is my strong feeling that whoever is behind this is somewhere in this part of the territory or near it." Elena waves her hand around, getting back into the business.
"She could be right." Oliver nods his head after pausing for a moment, "Because I can feel the presence of unfamiliar energies here."
"Tammy was one of them, so her death would have alerted them that we are here." I glance at both of them, "But going there all by ourselves is not an ideal thing to do."
"Yes, but it is the only option we have." Elena slips her hands into her coat pockets and shrugs, "We don't have the time to get back up, and honestly, at this point, we can't trust anyone because we don't know who might be working with them."
"And it is not like we are helpless or anything." She rolls her eyes, "You are pretty badass because you have rescued all these people from Emmet's captivity."
"But I couldn't see Tammy's truth." I can't help but feel stupid not to sense this earlier.
"Hey, it is okay. It is not your fault. You are just a softie." Elena smiles at me, and I notice how her eyes are shifting back to her normal color, and so is her skin, "Your kindness is what makes you different from everyone."
"And makes me vulnerable too," I add, feeling disappointed to believe Tammy's pretense.
"But you have me. I am like your evil twin." She fake growls, "I will destroy everyone who tries to mess with you and your heart. And this is for you too, Handsome. I will even protect you, but if you hurt Ella, then you would need protection from me." Even though she sounds playful, it is evident in her eyes she means what she has said.
"Okay, tough girl." He chuckles, and wrapping his arm around her neck; he ruffles her hair, which earns him a punch in his side.
"Ella!" She groans when I look at her messed-up hair. "Great, now you two will join forces to annoy me."
"Since I am being on my best behavior here, so this how you are rewarding me," She throws a dirty look in our direction, "Once we return home, you should sleep with both your eyes open, Ollie. Because I am going to shave your head for this and tattoo a dick on your shaved head." She punches her palm.
"She isn't serious, right?" Oliver looks at me, a bit unsure.
"You never know because she is Elena." I shrug with a wink and watch his eyebrows shoot up comically.
Even though danger is looming over our heads, it feels good to live some moments of normalcy in this situation. It gives me hope to look forward to a good life for us, a life that might be filled with ups and downs but wouldn't lack any happiness.