by Lucinda Dark
Her grin disappeared altogether. “Still hurts like the devil, if you must know,” she sneered. “But it’ll heal.”
“Will it?” I asked. “It was a holy sword.”
“Yes, curious thing that was,” she replied, tilting her head to the side and tapping her chin with one nail. “Wherever did you find those swords? A gift from Torin, I presume?” I stiffened, my teeth grinding down until my jaw began to ache. “Why so quiet?” she asked, standing. Striding towards me, her long nails traced up the front of my throat, forcing me to tip my head back or risk her slitting it. “I asked you a question.”
“Did you?” I asked dryly. “I’m sorry, I thought you were just talking to hear yourself talk. You sure do seem to love the sound of your own voice.”
She paused, tipping her head slightly to the side at an angle and clearly demonstrated her confusion. “I’m not sure what you mean, darling.”
I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could, relaxing my features into a placid, dispassionate expression. “Just saying, you sure talk a-fucking-lot.”
Her hands left my throat as she circled the chair I was tied to and when her hands settled on my shoulders, I tensed. With good reason, it seemed, because a moment later, the sharp tips of her talons tore through the fabric of my t-shirt and into my skin just like they had my arm. I bit my lower lip to keep any sound from escaping. She leaned close until her breasts brushed against the back of my skull.
“That’s right, human,” she whispered. “Keep your screams in or I might have to cut out your tongue.”
I sucked in a breath and released it on a low, breathless chuckle. “Kinky,” I shot back.
Her nails were ripped from my shoulders and I gritted my teeth as skin tore in the effort, blood soaking the collar of my shirt. “Look what you’ve done,” a distinctly masculine voice chastised. “I was so hoping to save the bloodshed for later.”
“M-my Lord!” The woman’s voice held a note of surprise as well as a healthy mixture of fear and awe. “I wasn’t aware that you’d arrived.”
I froze as a tall man rounded the chair I sat in—the woman trailing behind him. “Clearly,” he said. Red eyes, devoid of any other color, as opaque as solid molten rock, roved over me. “You must be the last remaining Steele,” he said.
The ache in my shoulders faded as I realized who stood before me. As much as I’d built this monster up in my mind, I had expected him to look older. There was no graying at his temples, but instead thick chocolate locks with golden natural highlights. Sharp cheekbones graced his features as well as a strong jawline.
Had I not known who I was speaking to, had I not been bound and presented before him on what I was sure were his own orders, I might have met him on the street and trusted him to lead me home. A wolf in human skin. He had probably killed many people with nothing more than his beautiful face. He was perfection. Angelic by all appearances aside from the blood red glow of his irises.
The thing about angels, though, was that so many people forgot … the devil, too, was once one of them.
“Well?” Arrius prompted. “Are you going to answer me?”
“Well, what?” I replied. “You didn’t ask a question.” I was proud at how steady my voice sounded considering I’d spent the last year fueling my desire to find this creature and cut out his cold, unbeating heart.
“You insolent—!”
Arrius raised a hand as the golden-haired female vampire strode towards and then around me, her arm raised as if she meant to attack. His fingers latched onto her wrist, talons punching through the beds of his nails and sinking into her flesh. To the woman’s credit, though, she didn’t cry out as her own blood dripped down her forearm and onto the stone floor at our feet.
“That’s enough, Eloise,” he said—low, commanding.
Her eyes immediately sought the floor in submission as she bowed her head. “I apologize for overstepping, my Lord,” she whispered subserviently.
Arrius released her from his grasp. “That’s quite alright, my dear,” he replied. Eloise’s head popped up as the endearment left his lips, a soft smile overtaking her face as she drifted nearer to him. Someone obviously wanted to get laid by the monster that was Arrius Priest. So gross. Arrius lifted his hand to his mouth, his lips parting as his tongue stretched out and licked at the blood coating his nails and fingers.
“I thought vampires’ blood was useless to you,” I commented.
Arrius paused before finishing his last lick. “A vampire’s blood is useless in the way of nutrition,” he agreed, “but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t taste delicious.” From the sigh Eloise emitted, I thought for sure she would combust right then and there. But surprise, sur-fucking-prise—she didn’t. Too fucking bad.
Be cautious with him, Barbie, Satrina’s voice filtered into my head. There is something not right about him.
Shut up! I snapped at her. You’re a fucking traitor and you were useless when I needed you. You can consider our contract null and fucking void. As soon as I get out of this, you’re finished.
You cannot get out of this without me. Satrina’s tone was sharp with irritation. I held you back for a reason. If they know about me—about your abilities as a demon—we will certainly have bigger issues. As of now, you are essentially a half-breed—like your dhampire. This is the creature that coordinated the creation of a creature such as your friend through forbidden magic. That kind of magic has an effect on all it touches. Take my warning, darling. Do not let them know about the powers you now possess.
“How old did you say she was?” Arrius asked, turning to Eloise.
“Eighteen, my Lord.”
“A mere child then.” Cold red eyes met mine. Arrius slowly moved towards me, stopping before me and bending his knees until he was crouched low and his face was level with my own. “How did a child such as yourself manage to kill the men I sent after the Steele family?”
I swallowed roughly. “Easily,” I lied.
He reached up and scratched at his jawline. “I doubt that,” he said absently. “But it is interesting how you managed to not only do that, but also weasel your way into my son’s life.” He turned his head. “If I recall correctly, Eloise—you said there was nothing amiss from my son’s last examination.”
Behind him, Eloise’s body stiffened, her eyes widening. “T-there wasn’t, sir!”
He hummed low in his throat before returning his attention to me. My shoulders ached with the strain of the bindings and the drugs were obviously all but gone now. My arm was encased in wicked fire and sweat beaded on my upper lip and brow. It took all of my effort to keep from showing how much pain I was actually in, but something told me he could see right through me. And what was worse … he was amused by my attempt to hide it.
“Regardless,” he said a bit absently. “I suppose it’s time to get his punishment underway.” He rose to his full height and I looked up at him, distracted slightly as Eloise nodded and moved to my back. I tensed and then cried out in shock as the ropes binding me were cut and needles of feeling reached up my spine. Air washed over my skin as my shirt split open just before the red hot agony of being sliced down the center of my back hit me.
“Yes, my Lord,” Eloise said. The excitement in her tone told me more than anything else that what would happen next was not going to be fun. She leaned down, her lips barely a breath from my ear as she whispered her next words. “So it begins, human.”
Chapter 42
Torin
As a child, I used to think that evil was something made up by man. Evil was merely something those who perceived themselves as good didn’t understand. It was one view whereas good was another and somewhere along the line, people had chosen the two sides and pitted them against each other. Everyone wanted to be good because to be evil was bad. It was the same in society. Everyone wanted to be included. No one wanted to be on the other side of what was accepted, of what was respected.
But with each time I’d come into contact with my father—via th
e underlings that collected around me in order to gain his favor or via the man himself—that belief had been slowly, but surely stamped out. Until only the truth remained and that truth was this: there was true evil in the world and its name was Arrius Priest.
I could smell her blood before I saw it. My fangs punched out of my gums as my body tensed and swelled. My muscles strained beneath the borrowed clothes. Had I been able to see myself in a mirror at that moment, I wouldn’t have looked anything like the Torin Priest both Barbie and Maverick knew. Without a doubt, I would very much look like the monster I’d been born to be.
The scent of spilled human blood was splattered across a broken chair. A short tangle of rope with severed strings rested amidst the carnage, the red liquid soaking its fraying ends. Across from it, my father rested against a low stone wall, his eyes watching me as he spoke into a cell phone. I strode towards him, anger rattling my every step.
“Where is she?” I barked.
One dark brow arched in mild surprise. “I do believe I’ll have to call you back later,” he said to the person on the other line. “I have a nuisance to deal with. Do be sure to take care of that little problem for me, won’t you? Thanks.” He ended the call and slid the phone into the inner pocket of his suit jacket before taking the thing off and laying it over the low, crumbling wall.
“Answer me,” I snapped, growling through my fangs as my vampire pounded within my veins.
Arrius didn’t look up at me as he slowly rolled up the crisp white sleeves of his dress shirt until they revealed his forearms. “I don’t believe you were ever taught to speak to me like that, son.” The words were said calmly, without a hint of anger. Yet the moment they were out of his mouth, a blow slammed against my cheek. It didn’t just snap my head to the side as it might have were it Maverick or Barbie who’d hit me. Or even another vampire. No. There was so much force in the hit that my entire body spun and lifted off the ground.
I slammed into the wall, which before had been a good ten feet away, and his hand wrapped around my throat a split second later, hoisting me back up as my back met the wall once more. I coughed through the sharp pain. Arrius’ eyes were a solid red—as they always were—and when he smiled down at me, the surface of my bravado slipped.
“In fact, I do believe you were raised to respect your betters,” he said coolly. “But it does seem as though you’ve fallen from the path I had hoped you would take.”
He squeezed, cutting off not just my air, but my circulation as well. I felt the blood beneath my skin—none of it moving north where it should. My vision grew blurry and dim even as I instinctively fought against his hold. My talons cut out of my nail beds and ripped into his forearms as I struggled to free myself from his hold.
Arrius tsked as he tightened his grip. My mouth gaped open like a fish dying for a bit of water. Only I didn’t need water. I needed air. To a true vampire, this wouldn’t have hurt so bad. But I wasn’t a full vampire and this was his reminder. I was partially human and that part needed oxygen.
“I’m disappointed, son,” he continued. “I’ve given you the freedom I knew you would crave. I sent you away. To America. Let you go to school with the cattle. A roof over your head. Clothes on your back. All you could want. Blood. Food. Playthings. And this is how you repay me?”
Had the man shown even an inkling of true emotion, I would have felt somewhat relieved. Anger could be turned. Fear could be used. Even irritation would have been welcomed. As he spoke, however, his voice rang with emptiness. There was no heat in his words. Even as he quite literally choked the life from my body, his tone remained pleasant—as if he were merely discussing something as mundane as weather.
“Where…” I gasped out. “Is…” The room darkened. “She?”
“Hmmm? Your little human pet?” He released my throat and my body collapsed in a heap before his expensive Italian loafers. “She’s being dealt with as well. Feisty one, that little sheep is. She’s lasted far longer with Eloise than I expected.”
“You—” His foot slammed into my stomach and sent me careening into another wall. My lips parted on a choked noise. When I stopped, I reached down and held my abdomen with one hand as I tried to get back up on shaky legs.
“You’ve forgotten the most basic of etiquette, I see,” Arrius said with a sigh. He reached my side in a flash and without thought, I flinched back. He paused, tilting his head to the side and then he did the most deceptively dangerous thing I’d ever witnessed him do. He smiled. “But not to worry, son.” He clapped my shoulder, the weight of his grip a boulder that locked my body tight. I didn’t dare move. Not a muscle. I even halted the breath in my chest as I waited. The burn in my lungs ached. The agony in my body was minor compared to my true fear.
A smile from Arrius Priest could only mean one thing. I was a fool to think I could just walk in here and take Barbie. I’d been around people like Katalin for too long. Unlike Arrius, she’d lost interest in life and people long ago. But not him. Arrius craved the power and control that he had and there was never enough of it. There was always some way to attain more. I’d forgotten what it was like to be in his actual presence. I’d ignored it—suppressed it, perhaps. He was the one with the power and next to him, I was nothing. A pawn, like Katalin had said. A piece on his board and I’d stepped out of my placement. Whatever was happening to Barbie was already well underway and my punishment was only just beginning.
Chapter 43
Barbie
I didn’t know mucus could bleed red. I supposed, though, that anything would turn red if you added enough blood. I coughed and more of it flooded my tongue. The metallic taste of it burned the inside of my cheeks and my tongue as I opened my mouth and spat a thick wad onto the stone floor beneath me. A chest-wracking laugh left me.
“I fail to see what is so amusing in your situation.” Eloise’s hand gripped the back of my head, her nails cutting against my scalp. Blood oozed from the wounds and dripped down the sides of my face, over my temples and down my cheeks.
“I’m sure you do.” I spat out more blood, licking my cracked lips as I tried to get rid of the foul taste.
“Care to let me in on the joke?” she inquired.
I shrugged as she arched my head back, her nails cutting deeper into my flesh. It was only another pain in a long list of pains. “I just honestly can’t believe no one has killed you yet,” I said dryly. “Truly, it’s a shock.”
She scowled, her fangs overlapping her bottom lip as she did so. “Brazen,” she said, “for a hunter.”
I lifted up and ripped her hand free of my scalp, ignoring the pangs of agony that shot through my skull even as I spun and kicked her legs out from beneath her.
Satrina? I called as Eloise shrieked in outrage. Ever since Eloise had dragged me into this dark, damp antechamber, something had happened to my demon. I could hear her breaths wheezing in my ear. Her power waned inside of me. Though it was obvious that she’d given up trying to hold it back and was, in fact, now trying to shove her power into me; I could sense the push she was attempting. The core of her power was so close by. Just out of my reach, and the harder she tried, the more Satrina’s own spirit seemed to be weakening. She’d stopped me from using her power in an effort to keep it hidden, but now she knew that, without it, I could very well die. And her portal into this mortal realm would go with me.
Satrina’s voice was quiet, struggling as she replied. I’m trying, she huffed as something popped inside me. A release of some kind.
I didn’t think. As soon as she managed to lift whatever barrier had been thrown up between me and her power, I grabbed at it with both hands. Putting on a burst of speed, I darted out of Eloise’s grasp as she reached for me once more, spinning and kicking her in the side of her face—snapping her pretty ivory neck to the side with the blow.
“I think that’s enough, Eloise,” a regal voice called from across the massive space. Panting, sweating, and definitely broken in places inside I didn’t want to think about, I
turned my cheek as Arrius Priest strode through the massive, arched entryway with another person at his side. He’d discarded his suit jacket and rolled his sleeves up, and somehow, that made him appear even more handsome—even more dangerous. I scowled and swished saliva through my mouth before spitting it out onto the floor. It, too, was red.
When the second person came out from the shadows, I straightened. Ignoring the twinges, I took an unconscious step towards him before drawing up short. Torin looked like shit. His face was darkening with a large bruise on one cheek. A line of similar bruising was forming around his throat and when he walked, he held his side and shuffled as if in pain. He looked up and when he saw me, his body swelled, red flooding his eyes but he didn’t move from Arrius’ side.
“My Lord,” Eloise responded, growling my way even as she stood straighter and smoothed the front of her now wrinkled pantsuit. My skin tingled as I tried to suppress the burn of my wounds so that I could think straight. No matter how hard I tried, however, my breaths still came in quick pants. I couldn’t seem to pull in enough air. Did that mean my ribs were broken?
“Now that our last guest of honor has arrived,” Arrius announced with a clap of his hands. “I think it’s time to get the festivities underway. Shall we?” He lifted his hands and waved them to the corners of the room.
“What the fuck—?” I screamed as shadows shot out of the walls and latched onto me. Thick manacles of weight settled around my limbs—pulling my wrists and ankles down until I was sure one of my arms or legs would pop off. I sank onto the cold stone floor, the wickedly hard rock cutting into my legs through my jeans.
“No!” Torin moved to dart forward. Before it even happened, my body tightened, preparing for the oncoming attack even if it wasn’t against myself. Arrius turned towards him and lifted his leg, slamming his knee into Torin’s abdomen. Spittle flew from Torin’s lips as he collapsed on the ground, coughing through the pain.
