It carried me up the spiral staircase.
My legs moved so fast, I didn’t think my feet actually touched a step.
When I reached the hall, I stopped, listened, and waited.
The sound of two approaching heartbeats drowned out all the chaos down below.
They came rushing around the corner.
The two scents that I missed so much…
Seb and Jace…
They froze instantly when they saw me.
My mates stood only fifty feet away from me.
We all stopped and just took in the sight of each other.
It was a second that we shouldn’t have wasted.
Seb and Jace must have come around the corner, running from something and got distracted by my presence in the hall. Out of nowhere, four guards sprang in from behind, blades drawn, barreling down on my unsuspecting mates.
Chapter 43
The Aftermath
Simon
Seb and Jace had disappeared from sight with the red-haired vampire and one of her men a few minutes ago. The remaining vampires spread out throughout the beach leaving me, Marie, Bobby, and Lily alone.
“Well, what do we do now?” Lily asked, picking up a rock and tossing it into the dark waters.
“Get out of sight and wait.” Marie responded, walking away from the edge of the beach. Slowly, the rest of them fell into step behind her.
“This sucks! Everyone is gone, and I'm stuck here with the losers.” Bobby complained.
“You could always do us a favor and leave, or go play in traffic.” Lily responded dryly.
We reached the parking lot, and we all plopped down on the cool pavement. It was now dark and the moon cast a soft light over the ocean. I glanced at Marie, taking in all her soft delicate features.I longed to touch her silky brown hair but felt that she might not like that.
“You know what? I think you have a crush on me. Don't you, chubs?” Bobby said to Lily with an overly confident grin on his face.
Lily jumped to her feet, moving faster than she did when she ran from the dwellers.
“Excuse me?! First of all, my name is Lily, not chubs! And you're mistaking my wanting to crush you with having a crush on you, moron!” Lily snapped.
Bobby also jumped up, and the two of them began arguing like children. Marie shook her head, clearly annoyed by their antics. I felt like I could use this as an opportunity to get some alone time with Marie.
“Hey, uh, do you want to maybe go for a walk? You know, to get away from this?” I asked timidly while pointing over to the yelling pair.
At this point Bobby, had taken his shirt off to prove to Lily that he was “ripped” as he called it.
Marie stared deeply into my eyes, and a slow smile spread across her face.
“I would like that.” She replied.
I tried to keep the heat from rushing to my cheeks at the happiness I felt, but that failed. As I stood up, I took her small warm hand in mine, and we walked back to the sandy beach. The walk was nice, but Marie had a distant look in her eyes. She must be worried.
“They’ll be okay, you know,” I said, breaking the silence with gentle a encouragement. Marie stopped walking and gazed into the vast ocean before sighing.
“I know, but I'd feel better if I was there with them.” She whispered, dropping her backpack to the ground as if it were weighing her down.
“I feel the same way, but since I can't be there, I'm glad I’m here with you.” The words slipped from my lips before I had a chance to stop them.
With my heart pounding and hands sweating, I waited patiently for Marie to say something; anything. But she didn't. For a full minute, she only watched the ocean waves in silent thought. I felt foolish. How could a girl as amazing as her possibly like a guy like him? I fumbled for words to apologize or something; to end this awkward moment. I found none.
Finally, Marie turned and faced me. Her beautiful eyes shined with unshed tears.
“Simon, you are the sweetest guy I've ever met. No one’s ever said things like that to me or make me feel these tingles in my stomach the way you do.” Marie said shyly.
I beamed. The tingles she referred to were the same ones I felt around her which must mean she liked me too.
“Can I kiss you?” I blurted out. My heart was pumping so fast, I wanted to burst.
“Yes,” she said with equal excitement and nervousness.
Shakily, I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. My heart exploded with love, and I knew without a doubt she was the one. Neither of us had much experience in kissing, but that didn't stop us as we greedily took in each other. All our combined fears and worries melted away as the kiss deepened. It was as if we were in a world all of our own.
“Well, well, well. I leave for a few weeks and I comeback to find little Marie turning into a slut.” A masculine voice spoke, interrupting our moment.
Marie's whole body became paralyzed in my arms, and her face was drained of its color. I didn't recognize the voice, and when I turned to see who had spoken, the moon had vanished behind a cloud. All I could see where two shadowy figures emerging from the ocean, getting closer and closer to where we were.
“Marie? Are you okay? Who is that?” I asked, getting worried by her frozen state.
My words snapped her out of her reverie, and she turned to face the intruders who were now coming out of the water.
“It's Talon.” Marie sneered.
The moon once again shared its light, and I cursed when I saw the person standing behind the man.
“And Kim.” I added. “Ahh, hell.”
***
Cassandra
After we entered the blood castle, the two human boys scurried off to find their friend and a backup escape route. Friend? Yeah, right. I could see the determination shining in both of the boys’ eyes. Those humans weren't here for friendship. They were here for love. It didn't matter to me either way because I was here for a completely different reason: revenge.
My best skilled counterpart, Kellan, and I made our way towards the grand room. Just being in the blood castle again after all these years made my skin crawl. Oh, how I loathed this castle. Burning it to the ground seemed like the best solution for such a horrible place.
We rounded the corner and was almost to our destination when I noticed something was wrong. Vampires left and right were walking in a quick pace in the opposite direction of the execution room.
Strange. Back when I used to be the assistant to the King, I had attended many executions. None of them ended with vampires fleeing in the opposite direction. If my intuition was correct, Acacia was more than likely the reason behind this.
We reached the huge wooden doors and wasn't surprised by all the commotion we heard inside.
“You’ll pay Ferox! You are not the true King.”
I hesitated at the sound of a voice I hadn't heard in centuries. Acacia. My best friend. For a moment, the hype slipped, and the pain from all those years ago crept in.
“Are you sure you want to do this, mistress?” Kellan asked. The vampire looked at me with so much love, it was almost hard for me to meet his eyes. But I did. I placed a spiteful smirk on my face and squared my shoulders. Nothing was going to stop me today.
“Of course, I'm the hell raiser, remember?” I said with a hint of seductive edge that made me who I was now. I reached for the door, but it swung itself open. A female vampire in a beautiful light purple gown dashed by us using immortal speed. I didn't recognize her so I proceeded to stroll in with Kellan close behind.
The execution room looked as it always had: the King’s panel up front, the execution floor in the middle, and the witness seats thereafter. Only now, the chairs were scattered about, parts of the walls and floor were covered in ice and flames, and most of the vampire witnesses had left. The part that really astounded me was the battle that was taking place a few feet ahead.
Acacia and Ferox.
They were locked in a power standstill. The queen pushed h
er ice ability against Ferox’s inferno heat. When the white ice and red heat clashed together, it created a fury of power unlike anything we had ever seen before. Although Acacia was strong, it was not strong enough. Within minutes, the King will overcome her.
Not if I have anything to do with it.
Beside the King was the reason I came here: Catalina; the evil princess. I knew I wouldn't be able to save Marcos and maybe not even Acacia, but the one thing I was willing to risk my life in doing was to kill the bitch princess that ruined me. I dug in the cup of my cleavage and pulled out my favorite weapons: platinum throwing stars. .
“Hope I'm not late to the party.” I announced as I palmed my weapons. I had to hold my composure at the sight of Marcos’ decapitated head.
Goodbye, old friend.
“I see you got my invitation. So glad you could make it, but seems you missed the main event.” Catalina sniped, playfully while pointing a gloved finger at Marcos.
I maintained my blank face as I thought of a plan. I had to act fast. The queen was now on one knee, trying to hold Ferox off.
“No. Your death is the main event.” And with that, I gracefully launched six stars towards the panel. They shone as they zipped through the air magically. Catalina and Cassius were able to dodge the ones coming their way, but Ferox was not. The King was too focused on killing his wife that he didn't see the sharp blade coming until it swiped across his left cheek. It was all the distraction Acacia needed. His inferno instantly stopped, and the Queen sagged to the ground, exhausted.
“Go Acacia! NOW!” I yelled, yanking my old friend from the floor and all but threw her out of the room. We held eyes for a brief moment, but it was long enough for me to see all the Queens’ pain and grief. I wished there was more I could do to help, but there wasn’t.
Something registered in Acacia’s eyes then she took the small advantage I provided, but before fleeing from the room, she shot a fury of ice into the ceiling right above the King's head. The impact immediately caused it to crumble and fall in a huge explosion that shook the room. All the added chaos alerted more guards who came rushing in as soon as Acacia went out.
Kellan prepared for the coming fight by pulling two sharp knives from up his sleeves. Hequickly began killing guards before they even came near me.
I turned back to panel. The royal family were clearing themselves from the rubble. Cassius immediately looked around for his mother and took off after her once he realized she was missing. I only hoped that his conscience would kick in and he would save his mother this time.
“What a mess you have caused again my pet.” Ferox sneered, dusting debris from his expensive suit.
My skin crawled at the mention of the old nickname he had for me.
“What can I say? Old habits die hard.” I snapped angrily.
“Go kill Acacia, Father. I'll handle the ginger.” Catalina spoke up almost gleefully.
Ferox nodded, pulling out a radio to call more guards and send them after the Queen.
“It’s just you and me now. I don't even think I'll need to take my gloves off for this.” Catalina added with a devious giggle.
I looked around the destroyed room. Kellan was in the middle of a fight with three guards, and he'd just slit open the throat of one. He was holding his own well; no backup necessary.
I allowed my eyes to bleed black, and my fangs burst free as all my rage surfaced when I turned back to Catalina. It was time for the Princess to die.
“Your mine, bitch!” I roared then attacked.
***
Ana
The guards were closing in on Seb and Jace. My instincts to protect them took over. I raised my fingers. Four short blasts of lightning shot out and stuck all four vamps with excellent precision. Their bodies exploded into black dust, causing Jace and Seb to duck and cover.
Wow! That was new. I had no clue how I did that, but it didn't matter right now. Before they could even stand back up, I launched myself at them, hugging them both a little too hard.
“I’m so happy to see you guys!” I exclaimed.
“You too, Ana” Jace said with much relief.
“Are you okay? Have you been hurt?” Seb asked, examining me. His expression changed from worry to lust as they both took in my attire. I didn't have the chance to respond because a loud explosion shook the whole castle. It had to be the grief-ridden Queen down below. My guilt for not helping her took over, and I knew what I had to do; even if it meant missing my opportunity to escape.
“Go back around the corner. The first room on the left is the only one you can get out from,” I said, turning around and walking back down the hall.
“Not without you.” Jace shouted.
“What's going on?” Seb demanded.
I stopped no more than two feet away from them. “Marcos is dead. His love, the Queen is fighting for her life against Ferox. Please just go back to our friends. I have to stay and help her. Then I'll join yo…”
My words were cut off by an icicle impaling my upper arm. The cold sharp force pierced through the skin, barely missing the bone. A blast of cold ripped through the hall like a tornado, knocking Seb and Jace off their feet. Quickly tearing the icicle protruding from me, I turned to face the cause of this, already knowing who it was.
Standing there in a cold blazing rage was Acacia. Her blue skin, red eyes, and now snow-white hair gave her a monstrous image. It was only emphasized by her frosted eyebrows and lashes. The queen stared at me hard, not making a move to get any closer. All of a sudden, behind her, a thick clear wall of ice formed. It built up from floor to the ceiling in seconds. I glanced over my shoulder and the same thing happened behind me. The blurred figures of my mates pounding at the ice were all I could make out.
She had trapped us in this hall together. But why?
In a blink of an eye, she stood inches away from my face, staring deeply into my eyes. Stunned, all I could was stare as her as coldness continued creep up my skin.
“You,” she said in a crazed shrill voice. “It's all your fault!” She yelled, her cold breath fanning over my face.
I could sense that the guards had come up from the stairs and were trying to break down the wall behind her.
“Me?” It was the only word that I could form. I'd never met her so I don't have any idea what she talking about. Maybe watching the love of your life die was all it took to lose every bit of your mind.
“Listen,” I started slowly and gently. “I’m sorry about what happened to you. I wanted to help…”
“NO!” She screamed. Shards of ice lashed out from her mouth and fingers and scraped against my face. I felt blood surface before the wounds healed. “You were supposed to come for him! He was meant for you! Not me!”
The queen now paced frantically in the small space she enclosed us in. I wiped the blood from my face and snuck a peek at the ice wall. My mates were apparently arguing with each other. I tried to focus and hear what they were saying, but the ice was too thick for me to make out anything sensible.
I needed to think of a way to get out of here. At first, I wanted to help her, but seeing her now, I realized she may be beyond my help. A part of me wondered how she managed to get away from the King downstairs, but I didn't dare ask. Instead, I tried to reason with her once more.
“Acacia.” I called out. The Queen abruptly stopped, whipping her head to me in such a sudden manner; almost like she forgot I was even there. Her red eyes darkened the longer she stared. For some reason, it seemed she had turned her rage on me.
“Little Celeste.” She spat. Her words caught my attention so swiftly, I nearly gasped out loud.
“What do you know about my mother?” I asked cautiously.
Maybe, just maybe, the Queen wasn't as crazy as she seemed. Acacia laughed hysterically, almost making me reconsider my earlier thought.
“You. Are. LATE!” She shrilled so loudly, I heard the ice crack on my side. Seb's voice came through, and I could hear him ordering Jace to use magic and melt
the ice.
“You were supposed to be for him! Why didn't you come for him?!” She hollered.
“I don't know what you're talking about. Come for whom?”
Slowly, I began to let my ability build up inside me. If the guards got through that wall before Jace gets through the other side, we were all dead or pretty damn close to it. My life I would risk, but not my mates’. I no longer cared what she was rambling about or what she knew about my mother. It couldn’t be that major. Now I needed to protect my mates, and if I had to blast down these walls myself or knock her out and throw her over my shoulder, I would.
“Celeste didn't bond with Erebus! His mark passed to his son! But it went wrong! Everything went wrong!” She yelled and cried which made the surroundings even colder.
Acacia still wasn't making sense to me, but her knowledge about my mother may be more important than I thought after all. The Queen dropped to the ground sobbing. A patch of ice formed beneath her. Slowly, I lowered myself and decided to give it one more try to figure out her nonsense. The ice walls were still holding up so I had a few more minutes to make a break through.
“Queen Acacia?” I cooed.
“Don’t call me that!” She snapped. “I am not the true queen! You are.”
Her tears froze on her face, leaving thin trails on her cheeks.
“Can you tell me what you mean about Erebus and his mark?” I tried again slowly.
“AHHH!” She screamed as she pulled at her hair. “Don't you know?! It's the mark of the three mates on the back of the neck. Every pure one has three; vampire, witch, and werewolf. Celeste had three mates. Arc had three mates, and so do you. I know who you are, pretty girl.” She added as she laughed again “You are the daughter of Celeste; the splitting image! And you failed! You are too late now! It's all wrong now!”
The Queen was spiraling into madness again, and I needed her to focus. She was on the verge of telling me something very important. My curiosity wouldn’t let it go.
Pure: A Paranormal Romance Page 47
