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THERON

A few hours later, everything was nearly wrapped up. The grounds were empty of people and most of the team was already on their way home. I stood staring at the house that had held so many horrors for me for so long. It sat empty and dark, nothing more than a building with memories I was ready to leave behind.

Demetrius walked up with Viktor and Kon in tow.

“You look like hell,”

Demetrius said. “But I’m glad to see you mostly in one piece.’

I grinned and shook his hand. “You too, my friend. Thank you for saving Nyx by the way.”

“Think nothing of it,”

Demetrius said. His eyes took on a mischievous light. “On second thought, I think you owe me a favor.”

I barked out a laugh. “It’s about time. You hold on to that—make it count.”

“I probably won’t make you wait ten odd years,”

he said dryly with a smirk.

I shrugged. “We have the time.”

Demetrius chuckled and clasped me on the shoulder. “That we do, Theron. I’ll see you at home.”

Tex, Sakari and Knox were the next to approach. They stood by me looking at the building and Tex shook his head.

“Now what are we gonna do?” He asked.

“I think you all deserve a vacation.”

“I don’t know what that word means,”

Knox said.

“I think you need one, boss,”

Sakari smirked. “Take your girl and your man somewhere tropical or something—just somewhere with no guns.”

“No guns?”

Tex frowned. “That doesn’t sound fun.”

“He’ll be too busy holding a mai tai to care,”

Knox chuckled.

“Come on degenerates,”

Tex threw an arm around Sakari. “Let’s go home and prep the torture chamber. See ya soon, boss.”

I nodded to them and they headed off towards a waiting car that would take them to the airstrip. They were headed home to help ready the house for everything I was going to do to Vetticus. Because this wasn’t the end. Not quite yet. I still had to make him suffer.

I looked at the building again and saw Knight emerge and give me an all clear sign. He walked off towards where Nyx and Atlas were on a small rise, heads together as they talked. Seeing Nyx alive had been shocking but I was so glad Atlas didn’t have to suffer again. I couldn’t imagine coming out of this without either one of them. This revenge was for them as much as it was for me.

I walked towards the helo and climbed aboard to wait for the others. I rested my forearms on my thighs and said goodbye to the past. This nightmare was over. The ghosts in this place were dead.

It was time to go home.