Blaire and Coal walked in uncomfortable silence, save the snakes that hissed and rattled as they passed.

Almost as soon as they exited the dining room, Blaire’s resolve of finding an escape had vanished. A bit of it remained. If Coal wasn’t beside her, if it was any other serpent demon, she would be restless with longing for freedom, for safety. Even attempt to run.

Unwanted and disturbing visions of Blaire’s neck in Death’s possession made her lightheaded.

She lived in the twenty-first century, in the land of freedom. This wasn’t legal, not natural, not…

“Oh god.” Blaire came to a sudden halt in the hall and Coal smoothly stopped.

Did Cole…? Was Cole…?

She couldn't even ask in her own head. The thought was too awful to consider.

Blaire looked from the rugged floor to the man diagonal her, impatiently yet silently waiting for her. He was open with his hostility towards her; how unwilling he was to lead her to her room.

Did he not want to leave dinner? Was he not finished? Or had he had enough of her for the day?

How come Coal didn’t annoy her as much as he should?

Dumb question. She knew why. It was because of who he looked like.

“Last time we were alone, I forgot to ask you,” Blaire began softly, “what happened to Cole?”

“What makes you think I know?” Cole asked with an unfathomable gaze.

“You look like him. It doesn’t take a genius to think you have some connection to him.”

Coal remained stubbornly silent.

“If you aren’t Cole,” she stepped toward him, “then who are you?”

“I’m Viperie’s son.”

“Who are you? What promise did you make with Death? Did you know Cole? Where is he?” Blaire bombarded the demon with questions as he turned and bounded down the hall.

Blaire reached him and shoved him from behind, forcing him to stumble forward.

He turned to her incredulously. “Did you just push-”

“Where is he?!” she shrieked.

“Ask my father,” Coal answered flatly. “Once you become his Chosen, he’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

Blaire stepped back as if Coal struck her. “Are you serious?”

Coal’s eyes narrowed. “Stop taking this personally, as if you and I are friends. I don’t know you, you don’t know me.”

“You know me,” Blaire argued. “You recognized me at the auction.”

“I recognized the name of my father’s Chosen. You don’t mean anything to me.”

Stricken, Blaire was incapable of moving or, rather, refused to.

The tip of her shoes grazed the floor as Coal scooped her into his arms bridal style. He was warm and this close Blaire could feel the faint pulse of his heartbeat. It was steady and strong while hers feels like it had stopped.

Blaire’s weary eyes took in his neck and followed up to his jaw. She would have carried onto his lips, nose, then determined eyes, if she hadn’t seen something. A thin, almost indiscernible scar curling from beneath his jaw to behind his ear.

Blaire reached for the old wound, disregarding any instinct warning her otherwise.

“You never listen to what you’re told,” her friend’s voice sang in her head as her fingers pressed against Coal’s flesh.

“Cole,” Blaire whispered in awe.

She should be relieved. She was relieved. But then-

“Stay there,” Coal said to Pima, who bowed silently.

His voice socked Blaire in the gut and she shouted, adamant, “Cole! You are Cole!”

Coal dropped her to her feet so suddenly Blaire stumbled a few steps before regaining balance.

They had reached her bedroom much faster than she would have liked, but that didn’t matter. Coal closed the bedroom door behind him and Blaire beamed smugly. 

This was when he was going to tell the truth. No one was around, there would be no worries of being overheard. He could explain the reason for his actions and she could save him. They could save each other! It wasn’t too late.

“I knew it,” Blaire added as Coal approached her.

The tips of his shoes kissed hers as he stared into her eyes. They were chilling but Blaire was blinded by sanguine and overlooked the situation she was in.

Suddenly, he yanked her into a possessive and iron-strong embrace, his breath hot on her neck.

“The first time’s always the most painful,” Coal informed, detached. 

It was a response Blaire didn’t expect.

His teeth pierced her flesh without warning, diving deep and ruthlessly.

If she was ever going to be bitten, Blaire expected pain, but not like this. She thought they would feel like snake bites. Those hurt, but she handled those.

This was on another plane.

This made Blaire scream.

She wanted to escape him, but his arms pinned her in place. Blaire clawed, kicked, cried, and it makes no difference.

Her blood swam around her assaulter’s teeth, draining her of energy. Like a lightning bolt, the pain shot through Blaire with excruciating force and left a warm numbing sensation, dropping Blaire on cloud nine.

The fangs remained but instead of loathing them, Blaire relished in the feel as they stretch inside her. Instead of fighting, Blaire wanted to pull Coal closer and melt her body into his.

As his fangs withdraw, Blaire felt bereft, falling from Olympus and crashing hard into Hades.

Weightless and euphoric, Blaire slid from Coal’s embrace and collapsed on her bed.