Damon let out a groan as one of Sebastian's goons sliced his abdomen with a small butter knife. "Pour the wolfsbane into that wound," Sebastian ordered. Damon screamed as the wolfsbane touched his open flesh. This was the first time in years he'd felt its effects, because Sebastian had drained the wolfsbane and silver Damon had been injected with years ago to render him immune.

His body was weak, the pain more intense than ever.

"You're a strong one, Damon. Any other being would have died after the torture I've subjected you to, but you just don't want to die, do you?" Sebastian questioned. Damon chuckled through the pain.

"And miss the opportunity to watch you suffer? Over my dead body," he muttered through clenched teeth. Sebastian smirked.

"Well, you won't live for much longer, and I'll never suffer. If you're relying on that little group coming to save you, think again. The wolves in the south and east support me. In fact, some of them are here to greet you. Bring them in."

Damon raised his head and saw several Alphas entering the cell. He didn't remember their names, but one stood out—the one he'd made kill Gwen's father. The Alpha stared down at Damon scornfully, grabbed the goon's knife, and approached.

"This is for all the lives you ruined," he muttered, dragging the knife across Damon's chest. Damon screamed.

"Careful, we don't want to kill him before his wife arrives, do we?" Sebastian asked. The Alpha pulled the knife away.

"You're siding with the devil! He'll kill you after he's done with me!" Damon glared at them.

"We don't care if we die. I have nothing left to live for. As long as I suffer, I'm content," one Alpha said before they surrounded Damon, raining blows and kicks upon him.

His body was sore. Only Sebastian's intervention stopped them from killing him.

"Enough. He needs to be alive when I kill him in front of his wife and people. Feed him; he's our special guest," Sebastian ordered, smirking before leaving the cell with the others.

The goons tried to feed him. Usually, Damon would refuse, but he ate this time, needing all the strength he could get, even though the food tasted like dog food.

After a while, the goons left. Damon rested, but minutes later, they barged back in, loosening his chains.

"What's going on?" Damon asked, but they ignored him. Too tired to fight, he let them unchain him from the wall, then chain his hands and legs together. They dragged him from the cell.

He winced, closing his eyes in the sunlight. "Where the fuck are you taking me?" he demanded in his Alpha voice. They froze, turning to him.

He might be weak, but he was still the strongest Alpha alive, the Death Viper. His aura could still weaken his enemies, despite his condition. He saw fear in their eyes, but one began to laugh, seeing his weakened state.

"We might have feared you before, but not now. Shut up, or I will," the goon uttered. Damon silently noted this; even in death, he would ensure their demise.

He moved closer to the goon, staring into his eyes. Fear flickered, then vanished as the goon pushed him down.

"Stupid bastard! Who are you trying to intimidate?!" the guard yelled, kicking Damon's already bruised abdomen.

"Enough. King Sebastian must be waiting," another goon said, pulling Damon up. "You're lucky. Let's go."

They arrived at a place Damon recognized with a widening of his eyes: the execution grounds. All the Alphas, werewolves, and Lycans had gathered.

"Ah, the star of the show. Everyone's here to witness your death—the death of their tormentor, the devil himself, the Death Viper," Sebastian said, rising from his throne and approaching Damon as the crowd cheered.

"Kill him brutally!" "Dismember his body!" "Tear him apart!" the crowd shouted. Damon was indifferent. He knew he was hated; there was no remorse.

"I thought you wouldn't kill me until Clara arrived?" Damon taunted. He didn't want Clara to witness his death.

"I changed my mind. Besides, she'll be killed before reaching my security. Two birds with one stone. I'm bored of torturing you. I want you dead, to achieve total world domination. Chain him to that tree; we'll burn him alive. Do it now!" Sebastian ordered. Then, a scream echoed from a distance. Damon heard Clara's voice.

"Damon!" His eyes widened. He turned to see Clara running towards him, tears streaming down her face. He shook his head, telling her not to come closer, but she ignored him.

"Go back!" he yelled, but she shook her head.

"I'm not leaving without you, and by 'me,' I mean us!" she yelled. He noticed she wasn't alone. Everyone else was there. The fight had begun.