Chapter 188 - Alaric

The group went to a hotel in the city to get off the streets at night. If someone was daring enough to light the house on fire while they were sleeping, there was no telling what else they were willing to do.

The group needed to get somewhere safe to talk about their next step. Someone had waged war on them.

"What was what?" Elias asked once the door to the hotel room swung shut. Adrenaline still thundered through him at a rapid pace, and he couldn't get his heart rate to slow down if he tried. They all could've been killed tonight!

Melina glanced at her father.

"Remember that demon I mentioned?" she asked him with a grave look on her face.

Daniel sighed as he sat down on the small couch in front of the two beds.

"How could I forget?" he asked.

Elias walked over to them, looking between them with a confused look.

"What demon?" he asked. He had never encountered a demon before. He had only been around witches and vampires, and they were dangerous enough. He couldn't imagine facing off with a demon. They were incredibly powerful.

Melina turned to Elias.

"When I was attacked, I knew that whoever attacked me wasn't a witch or a vampire. He had some of the darkest energy that I've ever sensed before. I felt that again tonight," she explained to him.

"I saw someone across the street from the house tonight. Do you think that was him? He was the one who lit the house on fire?" Elias asked her.

"I believe his name is Alaric," Melina replied. "He's been around for years, but he just started gaining power and supporters."

"Supporters? So, he would be backed up," Elias asked. Things just kept getting worse and worse.

Melina nodded.

"We can't just give up, Elias. He's going to come after us regardless," she said as she stepped toward him.

Elias turned away from her. He already knew that, but he didn't want to accept that. He was basically signing a death sentence by agreeing to fight Alaric. Maybe he was already as good as dead if Alaric was determined to kill them both.

"I don't know what to do," he admitted. He couldn't run forever. He didn't feel strong enough to fight. He felt trapped by a demon that he hadn't even met yet. He felt like some sort of cruel joke was being played on him. He didn't want to play this game any longer.

Melina placed her hand on his shoulder, feeling him flinch in response.

"Just help me. We're stronger than we think," she assured him.

Elias looked over at Alyssa, needing her input. She was always his guiding light, and he really needed help right now. He had never felt so lost before in his life, but he knew that he could always find his way back through her.

"You can't fight him alone," Alyssa pointed out.

Elias sighed and nodded, knowing that he would have a better chance at survival if he teamed up with Melina. He still didn't know how that would work, but they would have to figure it out. And soon.

He doubted that Alaric was going to give them much of a recovery period before attacking them again.

"Fine. I'll help you," he said. He didn't really have much of a choice at this point. He also knew that Alyssa would be safer if they were all a team.

He didn't want to risk Alaric going after Alyssa because she was connected to him.. If Alaric was twisted enough to set his childhood home on fire, he was twisted enough to go after the love of his life.