Konstantin: The Heartless Beta

Konstantin

Kai called me late afternoon the following day to let me know that the witches had arrived at the estate and I needed to get my ass over there. Cat is there as well; she wouldn't stay put no matter how Kai ordered her to.

Sounds like Cat, ha.

The anticipation is at a dangerous level inside of me; I need to know what we can do to eliminate the obstacle in front of us. Everything rides on this weapon, and my instincts tell me it needs to be done no matter what.

I stop my motorcycle in front of the mansion and run inside, catching the faint whiff of blood - the usual scent of these witches from Norway. They've dabbled in such dark magic that their entire aura is tainted blood red with the same smell as a fresh kill. Kai hates them but knows he needs them. When she sees me enter the living room, Marle turns her head, and so does Kai and Cat. “Brother,” he greets me with a nod and beckons me over.

“Hello, Marle,”

The High Priestess looks over at me, and I swear if I didn't know the type of witch she was, I would find her attractive. She's tall and slender, has pale skin, bright green eyes, and ruby red hair. The BloodCrest tattoo is taken to her face already; an intricate crescent moon underneath her left eye. This woman is beautiful; but also three hundred years old. These were the witches dying to be at our pack’s side because of our lineage. Power seeks out power, after all

"Good day to you, Konstantin,” she returns my greeting, then removes a small rectangular wooden box from her hand bag. “This is it.”

My heart pounds in my chest at her words, and I can do nothing else but eye the box as she places it on the desk in front of her. This is the weapon that can kill a demon; this is what we need to save Lily!

And yet, as I crave to hold it in my hands, as soon as she opens the wooden lid, a sense of dread overtakes me and grips my chest. Everything in my body tells me to run, to destroy this dagger and not look back.

This weapon that can kill Stefan and help us get Lily back... it's bad news.

“Do you feel it?” Marle asks while looking at all three of our faces.

"What the fuck is that?” I say, staring back at the horrified expressions of Kai and Cat.

She levels me with a cold stare when I ask this. “Do you know what a Nephilim is, Konstantin? It is a child born of an angel laying with a human - this dagger is made up of the blood and ash of five hundred Nephilim infants ripped from their mother's arms. That uncomfortable feeling in your chest telling you to flee is due to the dark magic and sin embedded in this weapon.”

I look at Kai, positive that my horrified expression mirrored his and Cat's. This is the weapon we'll use; this dagger is made up of sin and death, and it's the only thing that can kill a supernatural creature.

She moves the box closer so we can see how it looks - inlaid in silk, it is made up of obsidian glass and spun metal, the hilt looks like silver, and the grip is made up of leather. It didn't look fancy, like daggers in the movies, it looked thrown together, and rugged: like a piece of glass stuck onto a silver handle and held together with a thick metal wire.

"How do we use this weapon?” Kai asks, fear coating his voice, but no one else catches the hitch to his tone.

The High Priestess removes the dagger, and fear grips my heart. “You can use this weapon to dispel any witch barrier or curse; however, if you want to use it on another, it has to be used with the intent to kill, or it won't work. Once you hesitate, it is useless as it feeds off bloodlust. One thrust to the heart and the enemy will be killed, but being an Incubus, you will need to purge the body with fire afterwards.” She says, turning it over gingerly in her hands. The dagger does not affect her, but then again, this is the High Priestess of a coven of witches who dabble in dark magic. That and they were the most powerful coven out there.

It is a fitting match for our pack, no matter how many times Kai tries to deny it.

“However,” Marle says, placing the dagger back in the box and closing it. “There is one thing you must know.” She looks up at us and sighs, her face getting even more serious and her eyes glowing like emeralds.

"We're all ears,” I say, annoyed at the way she stalls with shit.

She nods. “This weapon forged in original sin will taint the soul of the one wielding when he takes the life of another.” She says.

“Taint the soul? What does that mean?” I ask. I frown at this, not understanding what it meant at all. Marle places her arms on the desk and leans forward. “You will live five hundred deaths repeatedly, and when you eventually pass on, your soul will not be allowed into Xamnir's, or Kai's, plain. You'll be sent to the firepit as a slave of Raerin, God of the Underworld and father of the Wolf Goddess, Tiarin.”

I knew it came with a catch, and why wouldn't it? This is a powerful weapon and can kill any supernatural creature, even a God. So what exactly did I expect?

“I'll do it; I'll kill Stefan,” I say, looking over at my brother, who seems shell shocked.

“Kon-"

I shake my head. “No, I need to do this, Kai. My mistake led my mate down the path she is in now, and my soul will pay for it. You're an Alpha and more of a leader than I could ever be; besides, we're already tainted as it is.” I say and chuckle, then let out a sigh. “I need to do this.”

Kai walks over to me and places his hand on my shoulder. “Then I won't take it from you, brother, but remember that this fight isn't yours alone. Lily is one of us too.” He says.

I smile sadly and nod my head. “Thank you.”

“That being said,” Marle starts again, looking stony and severe as she looks at us. “Kai, Caterina is extremely close to giving birth; you will need to be at her side at all times, and so will I. Dark forces will threaten to take the child born of The Wolf Gods, and the only one who can protect her is you.” “Fuck that; you're not coming with.” I turn to Kai and Cat, the latter looking tired and burnt out.

Kai shakes his head. “We won't be long; as much as I need to be at Caterina’s side, I need to be there to help you as well. Besides, Dimitri and Zephyr will be here to watch over her, and I trust them with my life.”

Zephyr Stonehaven, the young Beta has made an impression on my brother, and I think he might indoctrinate Zephyr into being a Runner at his flank.

“Kai, I implore you-1"

“Marle, it will be fine. Jersey City is not far off. If anything happens, I'll be back in a heartbeat. Besides, the estate is protected by your magic; how will enemies get inside?” Kai asks, then wraps his arms around Cat. "If you're okay with it, my love?”

Cat smiles and then nods. “Yes; get her back as well as Nikolai.” She says.

Kai smiles at her then looks up at me. /“She’s still having visions and repeating the “the epsilon lives’, not only that, but her craving for raw meat has stopped, and now she won't eat at all.”/ He says over the link.

/“Kai, remember that Stefan has moved them; they're not in Jersey City at all, so you going with depends on what Cain has to tell us.”/ I remind him.

What if Stefan moved them to Washington or Canada? He will definitely not be able to go with us; Cat and their child are too important, and he will need to stay put.

He grits his teeth and then nods. “Then let's go meet the Rogue Alpha and see what he has to say.” He says, kisses Cat on the forehead and then gets up from his seat next to her. Then he calls for Dimitri and Zephyr to meet us at Fang.

Kai slaps my back when we walk outside, a determined grin on his face as he walks to his own motorcycle. “If all goes well, we will have your mate back by tomorrow evening.” He says, with no idea how much hope it gives me.

I'll have my mate back; she'll be safe in my arms once more. It all rides on what Cain has to tell us, and I pray that it is in our favour this time.