He chanted in a language I had never heard before. The fire raged and expanded as if his words agitated it. The shadows bent in chaotic but sylphlike motions across the room—until one broke away from the corner. My weak heart recalled the sinister smile and set of crimson eyes.
I was about to scream until I noticed there was something oddly familiar about its movements.
I watched the shadow morph into something else entirely. The deafening cracks of bones pulling and snapping together pierced my eardrums.
Then a woman emerged from the darkness.
Her heels clicked against the floorboards as she glided to my side. Her effortlessly loose ebony curls contorted to blonde and bounced with each stride. Her long legs glowed against the fierce flames that burst out of the fireplace and then settled back down.
My mouth hung open as I looked at how Tara materialized before my eyes.
A thought stirred in my mind and lingered a little longer than I would have liked.
They were probably spying on me since the beginning. So, did that mean Jared only approached me for that exact reason?
I could feel my heart drop; I was easily manipulated and then thrown away, but I shouldn't be surprised. I was accustomed to feeling this way to a certain extent.
So, why did I feel like there was a knife lodged into my heart and someone was slowly twisting it?
“Ryas, take her to the guest suite,” Kaschel said in a low, but commanding voice.
My attention went to him. He walked back to his chair, sat down, and crossed his arms without breaking eye contact with me.
If his gaze alone could kill… I would have already been dead from the pure hatred radiating from him.
But why should I care? All I wanted to do was get this over with, so I could go back to my life where someone wasn’t threatening to snap Lucien's neck.
“Of course.” She bowed her head.
I glanced back at Tara, and all my suppressed emotions burst out of me. “What the fuck is going on here?”
I had so many questions, but the more I wanted to know, the more they kept getting stacked on top of each other—one after another, after another. I couldn't keep up.
Tara grinned at me and it was truly something to behold. It was captivating but deadly. I wanted to run away and never look back, but I also wanted to throat-punch every fucker in this room.
I knew that wasn't an option, and my attempt would be futile—just like when I tried to run away at the warehouse.
I was seriously surrounded by deranged monsters. One inserted herself into my life, and the other one started dating me.
So, she was the one Jared was talking about. The one who told Kaschel my whereabouts.
About my necklace.
A flashback to when she caressed my collarbone popped into my mind.
Was she checking to see if I had it then too?
I was beyond frustrated. I felt insane. Would Kaschel even keep his promise? How would I escape if he didn't?
Think Addy. Damn it, think.
God, why could my brain never function when I needed it to?
I stole a look in Kaschel’s direction.
He held his gaze and talked as if I wasn't even there, or like I was translucent. “Enlighten her on proper etiquette. I'm growing rather aggravated by her uncivilized demeanor, and I can't have her acting out of sorts while accompanying me.” He flicked his wrist and apparently that was that.
Tara or fucking Ryas tried to herd me out of the room, but my rage returned before we stepped out, and I couldn't hold my tongue any longer. I muttered under my breath, “Arrogant asshole.”
I had a mouth and I knew it. It had gotten me into many dangerous situations, and this time was no exception.
I needed to learn how to whisper or just shut the fuck up because sometimes, it was like I had a death wish.
He stood up and walked towards me. “On second thought…” He tilted his chin down and smirked—one that screamed he was going to torture me. I quickly averted his gaze, hoping he would change his mind as my eyes stumbled upon his open shirt. His pecs were practically bursting out of it. “I will escort her, and you can gather some of her things, but be quick. I don't have all night.”
I would much rather bet my life on Ryas’s temperament than his. I also wanted answers and she seemed more keen on spilling them.
“Nah, I'm good,” I said, abruptly.
Damn it. I really needed to shut the hell up.
“You're all out of choices I'm afraid.” He snatched my wrist, and his whole hand devoured mine and made me feel more feeble than I thought possible. He said another chant and the shadows balled together and formed a massive gaping black hole in the wall. He dragged me behind him, and I stumbled over my feet. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the endless void that we were apparently going to walk through. “First time might be uncomfortable. I'd hold my breath if I were you.” When those words left his lips, he pushed us through.
The darkness clung to my clothes like a phantom of hands grabbing me and trying to pull me under, but it was thicker than water and smelt of stardust and moonlight. I could barely comprehend anything as we shot through and landed in a massive hallway decorated with gaudy antiques and dreary oil paintings. It looked like the decor of some thousand-year-old vampire; he seemed to have questionable taste.
I staggered for a split second as bile threatened to rise.
He caught my waist and I was instantly squished against his firm chest but he quickly pushed me away once I gained my balance.
I patted my clothes down and shot him a glare. I felt violated after whatever the hell that was.
He pulled me behind him and I could barely keep up with his long strides.
We entered what appeared to be a loft that looked as dreary and unwelcoming as the hallway. My eyes landed on the woman resting on the couch drinking a thick red liquid.
It was the same vampire lady who I thought was going to shove me off Hades Cliff. My eyes darted to the black curly mess lounging in a chair as he sipped on a full glass of beer.
This bastard.
The woman lifted her gaze to us, spit her drink all over Jared, and launched up. “Sir, I can explain!”
He threw one hand up and that silenced her. “I will forgive your incompetence this one time,” he paused and looked down at me like he was staring through my soul. “It appears, even if you tried to dispose of her, or if I snapped her neck right here, she would resurrect. As irritating as it is, she's bound. I wish I had sensed it sooner. Right now, I need you two to gather the others.”
The woman let out a breath of relief and nodded as Jared just sat there gapping at us. But all I could think about were the words, snap neck and resurrect. Would he have demonstrated it if we hadn't made that deal?
That was the end of the conversation, and Kaschel began to tug me behind him again.
I glanced back at Jared. His dumbstruck face only pissed me off. He was the reason I was in this mess. If it wasn't for him, maybe I'd be on my loveseat watching rom-coms and eating ice cream out of the container like a normal girl mourning a breakup.
My pettiness won, and I flipped him off. I knew it was extremely juvenile, but what the hell, he deserved it, and it was the best I could do in my current situation. I also would be lying if I said it wasn't satisfying seeing the look of horror on his face.
A smug smile escaped me as he disappeared from my view.
I needed that little win.
I turned back to face Kaschel and didn't notice he wasn't dragging me behind him anymore.
His gaze was fixated on me like he was confused about how I could be smiling in a situation like this.
My smile quickly vanished, and I stared at the weathered door that would probably give you a couple of splitters if you just touched it.
He opened the door and let go of my hand. “You have a couple of hours before we leave. I suggest you sleep in the meantime.”
He pushed me inside and shut it without giving me a chance to process what he just said.
I heard a loud click on the other side, and I attempted to wiggle the door handle, but it was locked.
I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair.
Of course.
God, this was ridiculous.
I didn't know what to think as I peeked around the room.
It had a Victorian gothic vibe going. With its midnight blue walls and black spiral bed frame where the pillars had intricate designs carved onto them. The closer I got, the more it looked like skulls with flowers protruding out of the eye sockets. There was a mirror on every wall except for the one with the vanity dresser beside the bed.
I slowly sat on the bed and it was softer than it looked. I fell backward, and let the cool comforter soothe my chaotic mind.
All my emotions seemed to flood me when I was left alone with my thoughts.
One tear escaped, and then a sudden knock on the door made me jolt up.
Didn't Kaschel just tell me to get some sleep? Then again, he didn't seem like the type to knock.
Reluctantly, I got up and walked to the door. “Who is it?”
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