Blood of the Infinity War (Afterlife saga Book 8)

by Stephanie Hudson

  “Oh, sorry, my bad…speaking of which…?”

  “She’s not here,” Sophia said interrupting my question, knowing instantly who we were talking about.

  “You came alone?” I asked and she shrugged her shoulders and said,

  “Not exactly but come on, I will explain on the way.”

  “On the way to what?”

  “What do you think, the Black Gate of course,” she told me with a wink and then grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the door. I pulled back a bit and asked,

  “But the guards, what will…”

  “Already taken care of,” she replied with a mischievous smirk and then she opened the door to reveal four guards all slumped over one another. Oh, so that had been how she had got in here then, good old-fashioned assault and battery, I though wryly. It made sense, considering this was Sophia we were talking about. In fact, I was just surprised to see them unconscious but still breathing as they seemed to have all their vital body parts still attached and in good working order…or was that at least one bone I could see popping out of flesh…Ewww!

  “I…I…Oh god, I have to be sick!” I shouted letting go of her hand and having nowhere else to throw up, I did so over the poor unconscious guards. Projectile vomiting was never a pretty sight but waking up just in time to see it being rained down on you was quite possibly the worst. That and a sandaled foot just before it connected with your face…yep, that was a bad day in anyone’s books.

  “I am not even going to comment right now,” Sophia said looking down at her foot with utter disgust before then dragging the sole against one of the guard’s tunic sleeves, trying to rid it from vomit.

  “Next time can I suggest less gory means of incapacitating the guards before the human with a fragile stomach needs to step over them?” I said making her roll her eyes at me.

  “And can I suggest you try and stop getting your ass kidnapped for more than a week…ergo, no guards in need of stepping over?”

  “Good point, let’s go,” I replied as yeah, it was a good point. I mean hell, it was as if people had score cards or something, although I had to say I think if that were the case then Lucius would be winning so far.

  Sophia started to walk down the hall and I had to catch up with her in time to say,

  “Wait, what about them? Won’t anyone see them?”

  “Well, I was going to drag their asses in the room but that was before you vomed all over them, so there is no way I am touching them now.” Sophia was wrinkling her nose in disgust again.

  “Vomed?”

  “Puked, vomited, hurled, spewed, discharged, look I don’t care just pick one!” she said making me laugh and say,

  “You have been around Pip too long.”

  “I have been around Pip too long,” she agreed and then we both laughed. I couldn’t express how happy I was to see Sophia here as it could only mean one thing…

  I was finally going home.

  We made our way down the halls and even though people were staring at us, there seemed to be no soldiers in this part of the palace. Although from the looks of the way they kept whispering as they walked away from us with added pace, I had to say I didn’t think it would be long before we had trouble.

  And I was right.

  “Dariush!” I said his name just as we turned a corner and found him stood at the centre of the hallway with his arms folded…oh and did I mention he did so with a small army at his back.

  “Fuck!”

  “I gather this wasn’t part of your plan?” I asked leaning a shoulder into Sophia after hearing her hiss a curse.

  “That would be a no.”

  “Looks like the diversion didn’t work as planned Princess, although I must confess to being surprised to see you here at all, as last I heard it was you yourself that tried to have her killed,” Dariush said looking intrigued and I gave Sophia a sideways glance. One she understood pretty quickly, as she merely gave me a small shake of her head in return. It seemed the only knowledge Lucius had of me being here in this time was that I did so with some of the others he rescued that day, but obviously didn’t think this included Sophia. Which meant Dariush must have thought this Sophia was the one who had tried to poison me that day.

  Maybe we could use this to our advantage…now if only I could make a T shape with my hands and call time out, as I needed a moment alone with her so that we could have a private conversation. And then of course it hit me and I felt like slapping myself…I could have a private conversation with her!

  I quickly catapulted myself back through time and soon found myself sitting next to Draven in the VIP. It was when I had just got my period and needed Sophia’s help with some girly things, like pain killers and a box of white torpedoes. (I swear that I will never be able to call them white mice again, or even think about ‘mice’ in any other scenario without feeling sick!).

  I had tried to focus my mind and open it up to allow messages to get through, which I had been amazed to find after a few attempts of me foolishly screaming ‘hello’ in my mind, I finally got a response back. Which is precisely what I did now. Although I had to say looking back at all the times it would have come in handy, I was surprised that I was only thinking about this ‘little gift’ now.

  “I can hear you, only not sure why you’re talking like a commando?” Sophia’s voice spoke in my mind and her reply was referring to me shouting, ‘Keira to Sophia, do you copy, over?’

  “Just playing the part, seeing as this is quickly turning into a covert mission. So, what’s the plan, ‘cause he doesn’t know you’re not who you are…if that makes sense.”

  “I don’t know but I think he is going to figure out something quick if we don’t just stop looking like a couple of deaf mutes trying hard not to move our lips.”

  “Good point,” I said again trying to refrain from moving my lips or worse shrugging my shoulders for no apparent reason.

  “Just follow my lead.”

  “On the contrary, I am not here to steal her from the Vampire King, I am here to make sure she marries him.”

  “What?!” I screamed at her and I could almost see her rolling her eyes at me in my mind.

  “Work with me here,” she muttered back in my mind.

  “Well, my outrage could be easily believed if that helps!” I all but snarled the words back.

  “Oh really? Now I am curious.”

  “It is true, for it is my brother’s men out there creating the diversion, I was just simply intercepting his retrieval of her and ensuring she could not escape her new husband to be,” Sophia said adding a higher authoritative lilt to her voice, one that sounded haughty like the spoilt Saphira I had encountered before we…well before Sophia drugged her and the three of us stuffed her ass in a trunk!

  “And why exactly would you do that?” Dariush challenged.

  “Because I do not believe her to be his chosen Electus,” she replied and I couldn’t help my reaction. I sucked in a sharp breath from the pain hearing that sentence caused me. I knew she was only playing a part but just hearing the words…well let’s just say she was making it easier to act my own part out.

  “No? Well then I have to wonder what reason you have to think so, for I am sure the King should know this for himself.” I knew Dariush was just testing her and I couldn’t imagine what her response would be to this.

  “Because the Oracle told me that he would only meet his Electus many years from now and as you know, the Fates are never wrong. Therefore, she stands in the way of my brother ever finding his true Electus, for you know it is forbidden for our kind to…well, to commune with such a being.” The way she said this last part was with a sickened hiss directed at me and I had to give it to her, she was a pro. So, I decided it best if I at least tried to match her acting skills.

  “You lied to me!” I shouted hoping that I looked as outraged as I tried to sound.

  “Quiet girl!” Sophia snarled at me and brought back a hand as if ready to slap me…I released a relieved bre
ath when Dariush stopped her before she could make the swing.

  “Enough!” Sophia dropped her hand and the look we exchanged was one I would never have thought to see in a million years. Well okay, so I had seen her hate me but that hadn’t been the real Sophia, not the one I knew.

  Not the one I called sister.

  “So, what makes you think she is right for Septimus Severus?” Sophia laughed at the question and said,

  “I really couldn’t care if she is or not. No, my only purpose in all this is served to my brother in getting rid of the girl, whether that be dead or with your precious Vampire King. Either way, she is out of my hands and more importantly out of my brother’s life. So, do with her as you will, but just make sure you do it fast, for you will not have long before he tries to claim her!” This seemed to do it for Dariush as he nodded his acceptance. Sophia did the same as something silent passed through them and my jaw nearly hit the floor when I saw her start to walk away.

  “Don’t worry, I will think of a way to stop it…just go with them and pretend to be compliant,” I heard Sophia speak in my mind and I had to be careful as a massive sigh of relief wanted to slip out but then I replayed her words and almost screeched out in my mind,

  “You want me to pretend to go through with it!?”

  “Just act like your fate is already sealed and there is no other option left for you,” Sophia replied more calmly and I knew I had no choice but to trust in her words.

  “Sophia…you…you will come back for me, won’t you?” I felt Sophia smile in my mind before telling me sincerely,

  “Always…my sister.”

  “Come on little bird, time to get your wings clipped,” Dariush said gently and I scowled up at him, no matter how calm he sounded. But I didn’t say anything. No, instead I did as Sophia told me to and walked alongside him flanked by an overkill of guards.

  Even if Sophia hadn’t of told me to do this, really, what other option did I have? Also, if Dariush believed Sophia as he obviously did, it meant that they hadn’t yet discovered the puke covered guards piled outside the door like rubbish on collection day. And how long that would be was anyone’s guess considering they were a bit of an eyesore.

  I could almost hear Darth Vader’s ‘Imperial March’ music as I was accompanied through the vast hallways on my way to meet Lucius at the altar. Surely, he couldn’t do this? I mean once I explained this wasn’t what I wanted, that it was a mistake, then maybe he would listen and call this whole thing off…yeah right! I mean, who was I kidding, this had Alpha male bullshit written all over it!

  Swallowing hard I realised we had arrived at a huge archway that had double pillars each side. I looked up and saw a great marble eagle with outstretched wings with the same word I had asked Lucius about…

  SPQR, meaning ‘The Senate and People of Rome’. Well I doubt him marrying me now had anything to do with the good of the people, because surely an emperor was expected to marry into wealth or power? Although this was Lucius we were talking about here as, other than Draven, I had never heard him taking orders from anyone.

  “Just keep walking, Keira,” Dariush told me looking down at me as I’d not realised, but I had stopped on the threshold. I knew with every step that this was wrong and my entire being was screaming at me to run. I even looked behind me, over my shoulder and as if Dariush knew where my thoughts lay, he cleared his throat and informed me softly,

  “You wouldn’t get far…he wouldn’t allow it.”

  “No, I don’t suppose he would,” I muttered back before swallowing hard and taking another dreaded step closer. The massive hall was covered floor to ceiling in the whitest cut stone and flawless marble I had ever seen. It was as stunning as it was cold. With a floor that looked like white water, made that way by turbulent rapids swallowing up the blue. The first step I made I was half expecting to apply weight and sink. Hell, it felt like I was drowning anyway.

  I looked up and half expected to see a room full of people all there to celebrate such an occasion as to witness their emperor getting married. But no, there was only about ten people, and that was including the robed priest that stood waiting for me like the Devil about to cast judgement. I didn’t see Lucius at first and my heart skipped a beat in the hope that something had happened to detain him.

  I looked to Dariush but was quickly left feeling deflated as he didn’t look worried. So, I tore my eyes from him and took in the rest of the room. Connecting arched doorways all lined the walls with a balcony corridor situated above, with a long line of balustrades all looking like small white soldiers standing to attention. Above this was another floor of arches set further back and it mirrored the ground floor level. The third level looked to be simply a homage to the Gods, fallen warriors, mythological beings and past emperors. As above each second-floor arch there were massive plinths atop marble Corinthian columns holding these mighty statues all standing tall and immortalised in action.

  And at the centre of it all, the Emperor’s Throne.

  It was situated up at least twenty steps in a massive domed recess, making it look as though part of a Temple stood at the head of the great hall. I couldn’t make out the throne itself as it was still too far away but the two colossal Roman Centurion statues that crossed long spears above would have been hard to miss.

  I would have thought that walking the full length of the room would have taken forever but in the situation I was currently in, it didn’t take long enough. At some point the rest of the guards stopped following us as it seemed it was left only to Dariush to deliver me.

  “It looks as though I will be playing the role of the father in this,” Dariush said and I wasn’t sure if it was to me or himself.

  “You’re giving me away?!” I hissed making him laugh.

  “Trust me, it wasn’t ever a role I envisioned for myself either, little bird,” he replied before nodding ahead at someone and I turned just before we approached the steps to see Lucius stepping from the side and joining the priest. He was an old man, swathed in a deep purple sash that covered most of his long white tunic. When Lucius motioned towards him he started filling the hall with the echoing sounds of some Latin prayer.

  “As I once said, the Gods will envy me greatly, for your beauty is breathtaking,” Lucius said once we had made it up the stairs and I was now by his side. I bit my lip and looked up at him with wide eyes. I hated what I had to do next but I knew I had no choice. I couldn’t be allowed to marry Lucius, even if it didn’t count legally, as it was not of my own time. To me, it would always symbolise my greatest betrayal. One I would never forgive myself over.

  “Thank you, but Lucius I…” I started to say when he stepped closer to me and spun me to face him. Then he reached down and gripped my belt in his hands.

  “What are you…?”

  “This should be shown at the front, for it is the Nodus Herculeus, the united knot that symbolises both our union and the virility of Hercules,” he told me, spinning the belt around and making me suck in a sharp breath.

  “And this is the flammeum, a veil both representing our combined blood and that of the Eternal Flame,” he continued motioning for a servant to come forward so that he could take the crimson rectangular veil from her and place it just slightly over my crown, so that it didn’t hide my face.

  “Now come, it is time to make you mine in all eyes of Rome,” he said and I looked back at the empty room, making him chuckle.

  “Figuratively that is.” Again, I bit my lip and hated that I was about to destroy this man’s happiness by trying to gain back my own. He looked so handsome and carefree, it felt as though I was about to take a dagger from behind my back and plunge it straight into his heart.

  He now wore a golden breastplate over a deep red tunic, that was half hidden by the matching crimson sash that fastened at one shoulder by a round emblemed clasp. It held the symbol of two swords crossed over a wreath and this matched the golden crown of leaves he wore on his head. Oh yes, he was painfully handsome alright,
and looked as though he had moments ago passed through the gates of Heaven themselves.

  Looking at him like this, it was almost impossible to think of him as a vampire, let alone the King over them all. But then again, I had seen many sides to Lucius and I knew more than most just how ruthless he could be. But it was the hidden tender side to Lucius which scared me more. The side that seemed to make it his mission to keep me safe and had even reconnected past alliances with Draven after decades of being enemies, something I wasn’t at a loss to know why he did this for…or should I say who.

  But unlike then, when I had been the cause for their reunion, now I seemed to be the reason for its breakdown.

  He took my hand and led me to the priest just as wine was being poured into a golden goblet he was holding out. He gave my hand a squeeze as if trying to ease my unspoken fears.

  “Wine is offered to the Gods so that they may bless this marriage,” Lucius whispered down to me, translating what the Priest was saying. Even the way he did this was thoughtful and made what I was about to do even more heart-breaking.

  I pulled my hand from his and whispered,

  “I’m so sorry Lucius but I…” I never got to finish as suddenly a booming voice echoed through the vast room and it was loud enough that I was surprised to see the walls didn’t crack. I looked back at the same time as Lucius did and the snarl of anger coming from him made me take a step back. I looked back at the others to see that they had been frozen, every one of them now paying witness to nothing as they became living statues. Lucius had done this no doubt to save the audience from seeing what could come next.

  Then a mighty roar, followed by a commanding voice I would know anywhere, drew my attention back to the entrance. There was no mistaking him and I cried out his name, almost falling to my knees for the strength shouting that name held,

  “Draven!” He strode towards us with furious purpose and suddenly my happiness at seeing him was being quickly replaced with fear.

  Something he confirmed to be justified when he issued his first threat…