We flooded the corridors with soldiers within minutes. Valentina sprinted down the right side while Aldric followed me to the left. The scraping sound of metal on metal echoed through the halls as we cut our way through. The scent of oleander stung my nose as I turned down another corridor. Jezebel was close.
Halfway down the hall, a bloodied Zari stumbled out from one of the laboratory rooms. She hunched over, holding her side. Blood oozed out through her fingertips.
I ran to her. “Zari. Are you, all right? What happened?”
Her lips quivered between deep breaths. “She…she has Dhampir soldiers with her. Newborns.”
I shuddered. Newly made Dhampirs were the deadliest. They were ravenous, insatiable, and unpredictable. They lacked training and strength, but they were fast on their feet and full of stamina. If cornered by a group of them, it would be difficult to get out unscathed.
I clasped her hand. “Can you walk?”
She was losing a lot of blood but nodded. “I’m slowly healing, but the cut is deep.”
Aldric threw her arm around his shoulders. “Let’s go. Lean on me for now.”
We continued down the corridor as screams and battle cries rang out around us. They bounced off the metal walls and thumped in my ears like war drums. A group of newborns rounded the corner and came straight at us. I dropped my sword and pulled out two daggers.
I crouched down low, baring my fangs. Aldric and Zari flanked me on either side. They charged at us like wild banshees. I ducked and slid feet first into the first one. Knocking it off balance, I plunged both daggers into its throat and ripped outwards. Its throat gushed open just as its body went limp.
Aldric stood above me, firing off arrows with rapid speed. Zari had another one pinned against the wall. It snapped and salivated on her like a rabid dog. She lifted her sword straight up and then pulled it down, piercing straight into the newborn’s skull. Its eyes bulged out, coating Zari’s face with a spray of blood.
Aldric cried out. “Gray, behind you.”
He readied an arrow as I spun around. The newborn lunged at me just as a sword plunged into its chest from behind. It shriveled and slumped to the ground. I looked up to see Dragos, blood soaked and drenched in sweat.
I nodded at him. “Thank you.”
His face was expressionless, like he didn’t care. He just saved my life and it was as if it didn’t matter to him. He was just doing his duty. How did we get to this place where we couldn’t even feel anything for each other anymore? I didn’t want him to love me, but I didn’t want him to hate me either.
I came to a sudden stop as a group formed up ahead. Arcadia, Valentina, Dragos, and half a dozen descendants gathered in front of a set of double doors. The corridor dead ended into them. They were the same doors we had entered the first time we came here, when the descendants were hooked up to blood tubes. The same doors that the note was pinned to when I arrived the second time by myself. The days when we thought Tobias was the enemy. How fitting that Jezebel would be hiding behind these same doors. I could smell her through the metal. A mixture of oleander and burnt flesh. Human flesh. Smoke drifted through the cracks. My heart raced. She was burning bodies.
I gave everyone a nod, took a deep breath, and charged through the doors. I stopped dead in my tracks and gasped. The scene was reminiscent of Pendle Hill, from over four hundred years ago. Humans tied to pyres and stakes, surrounded by flames. My stomach turned. They were sacrifices to Lamia.
Jezebel stood in the center, a crazed look in her eyes. “You’re too late, Gray. Lamia will have her children.”
I coughed as the smoke hit my lungs. “It’s over Jezebel. Your Serpent Bearers are being dispatched as we speak. You lose.”
The others crept in around me and began making a careful path toward the humans who were still breathing. Their cries were deafening as their flesh singed.
I kept Jezebel’s attention on me. “Spilling their blood will not make you a god. You think you have power, but you are weak.”
Jezebel sneered. “I created you and I can destroy you. You would be nothing if it weren’t for me.”
I took another cautious step toward her. “The gods created me, not you. You were just a vessel through which I entered this world. Your darkness has reigned long enough.”
Her hands trembled as her eyes darted back and forth between me and my army closing in around her. “I will not let you destroy my life’s work.”
I moved closer, almost bridging the gap between us. Another group of Serpent Bearers and newborn Dhampirs flooded in. Aldric and the others moved into formation, wedging themselves between them and the humans in attempt to fight them off. We were outnumbered. I was running out of time.
“Let them go. I’m the one you want. Here I am.” My heart raced.
She narrowed her eyes down at me. “You’re a fool.”
A flicker danced across her face as she pulled out a torch from behind her back. Before I could react, she flung it toward the last of the human survivors. I raced toward her and pounced, pinning her down.
She laughed in hysterics as I looked back. I let out a sigh of relief as Valentina stood strong, her feet planted, holding the torch. She had caught it. I nodded, gratefully, and twisted my head back around to lock eyes with Jezebel.
She was stronger than I had anticipated. Without warning, her hips reared up and she flung me over and landed on top of me. Her hands went to my throat. The air drained from my lungs as she squeezed tighter. Her wicked laugh rang in my ears. Panic rose in my chest as I clawed at her wrists.
The world began to blur around me. My eyelids fluttered as I felt like drifting off to sleep. Images flashed in my mind like a dream. Faces cycled before me in fast forward. Voices whispered—humming the Siren’s song, urging me to let go.
A sharp pain seared through my chest, snapping me back to the present. My eyes flew open to see Jezebel hanging over me, wild-eyed—her hands still around my throat. A rage from deep in my bones surged forward.
I fumbled for my dagger as she shook me, banging my head onto the floor. With one swift motion, I shoved the dagger into her side and wiggled out from under her. She cried out and started to crawl away from me when I dug my nails into her open wound and yanked her back.
She shrieked and squirmed underneath me, but I had her locked in place between my legs. I bit open my wrist and shoved it into her mouth, forcing her to drink. Her eyes grew wide, then glazed over as she gave in to the venom. My blood entered her veins like wildfire. I loosened my grip as her muscles began to relax.
I scanned the room just as her army began to drop, one by one. Their eyes rolled back into their limp bodies and their breath escaped them for the last time.
I pulled my arm away and tore off a piece of my shirt to quickly wrap it up. I was still dizzy from her choking me and I couldn’t afford to lose any more blood.
I glared down at her, my jaw clenched. “It’s over. Lamia will never have us.”
She smiled wide and looked past me into nothingness. “Now, I will rule the Underworld. See you on the other side…”
Her last breath hung in mid-air and her arms fell limp at her sides. I put my ear to her chest. Silence. She was gone.
Unexpected tears rolled down my face. I had won, but I had just killed my mother. A mother I had never known. A mother who wanted me dead from the moment I was born. Yet she was smarter than that. She was smarter than death.
I stood to face the others, their faces soaked in blood and sweat. That feeling of dread filled me to my core. Valentina rushed around to untie the remaining human survivors. Dragos and Zari began gathering up the dead newborns and Serpent Bearers for the burning ritual.
Aldric gazed at me, his eyes bright and full of relief. “You did it.”
He wrapped his arms around me, but I couldn’t move. He drew back, a look of concern spreading across his face. “What is it?”
My lips quivered as I struggled to find my voice. “I think I just created a monster.�
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He shook his head, confused. “Gray, she’s gone. You killed her. We won.”
My whole body trembled. He didn’t understand. “I did her a favor. Don’t you get it? It was a trick. Another part of her plan. She’s going to rule the Underworld.”
Aldric cupped my face in his hands. “Darlin’, the dead can’t leave the Underworld. She can rule whatever she likes down there, but she can’t hurt us anymore.”
I nodded, but I couldn’t shake the black cloud that was forming over my heart. That last look on Jezebel’s face was already haunting me. That wicked, knowing smile that was still frozen on her dead lips. A shiver ran through me. I wanted to believe it was over, but a nagging voice inside me told me otherwise.
The purging of Stonehaven was underway. The other covens pitched in to scrub the blood off the floors and dispose of the bodies. Our fallen were being gathered and prepped for a proper burial. The surviving humans were with Valentina and Dragos. They would be given a choice to either become a Dhampir or have their memory wiped.
I wandered off to clear my head. I was in one of the offices when Tobias found me.
He cleared his throat. “With Jezebel gone, we will take back Stonehaven and continue our work.”
I scoffed. “And what work would that be?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Training newborns. Keeping the descendants safe. There are more of them out there. I thought by now you would have a little more trust in me.”
I sighed. “I don’t know what to trust anymore. I watched her die with my own eyes, so why do I feel like she’s still out there?”
He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “She took a lot from you. Sometimes after a battle, it is common to still feel the heat of it. It becomes difficult to discern what is real and what isn’t. Give it time. You won’t cling to this forever.”
I hoped he was right. “Aldric and I will go back to the Hall of Secrets tonight. We will see the others off with parting gifts as tribute for their service to us.”
Tobias nodded. “A wise move. We will perform the coronation ceremony before they depart.”
A lump formed in my throat. “The what ceremony?”
He smiled. “You will take your official place as head of the Consilium. You fought well today. You’ve earned it.”
My stomach was in knots. “What if I don’t want it?”
He let out a deep sigh. “The others already look to you as such. They chose to follow you. You have a duty to them now.”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. He was right. I led them into war. I gave them my blood. My magic. Lives were lost, but victory was achieved. If I abandoned them now, there would be no peace. There would always be war.
I swallowed hard, forcing back the lump in my throat. “Get everyone on the ships. We sail at dusk. That’s an order.”
Tobias nodded, pleased with my response, and scurried out of the room. A chill ran up my spine as Jezebel’s face flashed in my mind. Her voice echoed in my ears. I will rule the Underworld. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. If she was still out there, I would find her and stop her again because I ruled this world.
I stepped outside to clear my head and drank in the cool, crisp ocean air. Aldric walked up behind me and threw an arm around my shoulder.
“You all right, darlin’?”
I nodded. “I will be. So much has happened in such a short time. I’m still trying to process it all.”
He smiled. “Elemi would be proud of us. All she ever wanted was to protect the humans. To give them a choice. I wish she could see us now.”
I squeezed his hand. “She’s still with us. We carry her in the work that we do.”
The descendants had come home, and that was a victory in itself, but my heart ached for the ones we couldn’t save. The ones Jezebel took from us. I may have squeezed out her last breath, but the damage had been done. Her voice was still haunting me. Tobias had said she wasn’t always that way. That she was like me once—brave and hopeful. What if that was my destiny too? Her maternal blood ran through my veins like a disease. I shivered at the very thought of it. I wanted to suck it out like a poison and never think about her again.
Thirty
The Hall of Secrets hadn’t seen this much festivity since the Order of The Keepers was created. Tobias had led the Consilium for over six centuries. Though not all his intentions were evil, he had ruled it with an iron fist. Today, all that was about to change.
Valentina fussed over my hair as I attempted to swat her away. I had been doused in nine different essential oils, forced into a corseted ball gown, and had my face painted with blood and ash. I longed for the ease and comfort of my sword and battle armor.
I popped up from the vanity. “Val, my hair is fine. Please stop.” My black strands had been curled and pinned up into a half-bun with loose tendrils that fell down around my face.
She grunted in annoyance. “Just once, can you try to look less warrior and more lady?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a lady. I’m a Dhampir.”
She threw her hands up. “Fine, but you need to learn how to do all this stuff if you are going to look halfway decent when you marry Aldric.”
I shook my head. “Oh no. I will marry Aldric in private, and not in a dress.”
“So the rumors are true.” Dragos leaned into the doorway, his arms folded against his chest.
My heart sank. I glanced at Valentina, who was already scurrying out of the room. I crossed the room to face him—the black satin and lace ball gown weighing me down like a ton of bricks.
Dragos smirked. “You look—”
“Ridiculous,” I snapped.
He chuckled. “I was going to say…beautiful.”
I shifted uncomfortably. The corset’s clasps dug into my back. “I was going to tell you about me and Aldric. I was just waiting for the right time.”
He lowered his head. “There’s nothing to tell. It’s not my business anymore. I’m sorry for how I treated you that night in the war room. I was drunk, but my actions were inexcusable. It will never happen again.”
I drew in a sharp breath. “I know. You don’t have to apologize for being upset. For anything. I know it hasn’t been easy.”
He smiled sadly. “I’ll be leaving for Romania after your coronation ceremony tonight. I think it’s for the best.”
I nodded. Our eyes locked in a moment of anguish, nostalgia, and loss. My heart raced as I feared this would be the last time I’d ever see him.
He straightened up and turned to leave.
I called out to him. “Dragos…do you think I can do this? Lead the others?”
He paused at the door. “You were born to do this. They will follow you to the ends of the earth. I always did.”
He turned and gave me a wink. “Ramas bun, my love. Ramas bun.”
My heart ached, and my eyes welled up with tears. I whispered back, “Farewell,” but he was already gone.
The covens were gathered in the ceremony room. They kneeled as I entered. I took a deep breath and joined Tobias and The Keeper at the sacred oak tree. I scanned the room and locked eyes with Aldric. He gave me an encouraging wink, his lips grinning from ear to ear.
I looked around at all their faces. Some beamed with joy, and others stood stoic and expressionless. Arcadia pouted like a child; I was taking a place she had always coveted. Valentina and Dragos giggled and whispered to each other. It was a mixed bag of emotions in the room.
Tobias turned to the crowd and cleared his throat. “It is a new dawn. A new era. It has been my honor to lead you, but now the torch must be passed. There is no one more qualified—or worthier—than my daughter, Gray Wynter. She will lead us into a new age. I hereby renounce my title as Imperator of the Consilium so that she may take command.”
Tobias turned to face me. He reached into the jeweled box that The Keeper was holding and pulled out an infinity necklace. I bowed my head as he clasped it around my neck.
The Keeper nudged me f
orward, toward the crowd. “The initium ferendi potestas is complete. I present to you your new leader, Gray Wynter—soon to be Gray Bannister—Imperator of the Consilium.”
Tobias motioned for Aldric to join us. He placed a hand on his shoulder. “Your ancestors would be proud of you. You have stood by her side just as Bannisters and Wynters have stood for centuries.”
Aldric nodded. “Always.”
My heart raced. The infinity necklace was small, but next to the crescent moon necklace, it felt heavy around my neck. All these covens were looking to me now. The weight of it was not lost on me.
The coven leaders began lining up to pledge allegiance to me, another customary part of the ceremony. It was ancient and a bit archaic, but it meant everything to them.
Valentina was first. She sauntered up, giddy, yet poised. I drew out my dagger and made a tiny incision in the palm of her right hand.
She winced slightly as she bowed her head. “Sanguinem meum tuum est.” My blood is yours.
Lycos came next, then Josephine, followed by Zari, Nadia, and the rest of their warriors. I repeated the process with each one as they spoke the Blood Oath to me.
Lastly, Dragos approached. My stomach was in knots. Aldric watched us like a hawk from just a few feet away. Dragos bowed his head in front of me and stuck out his hand. I breathed a sigh of relief.
The Keeper raised his hands. “It is complete.”
Happy cries rang out as they toasted and cheered with goblets of blood and sweet plum brandy. The crowd mingled as one after one they came to congratulate me.
I smiled at Aldric from across the room just as he was being whisked away to the dining hall. I winked and nodded when another warrior tugged at my arm. I spun around and came face to face with Dragos.
He leaned in and whispered, “You’ve always had my blood.”
My cheeks flushed, but I smiled and nodded as if he had said something pleasant and had not just made another pass at me. Everyone was watching my every move from here on out. I discreetly shoved him away and made my way out into the hall.
Flesh and Bone (Blood and Darkness Book 2) Page 16
