“Gone.” She shrugged. “Dead… I don’t know.”
Her answer disturbed Anastasia. She’d seen Maris depressed before but this was something entirely different. It was as if her offspring lost all hope. “How long have I been out?”
“Long enough.”
“We need to get out of here.” She stood to her feet and couldn’t help but notice how rejuvenated her body felt. It was as if she just fed from some unlucky victim but she didn’t remember who. “Have you tried to leave?” She shuffled her feet to the stairs.
Kenneth finally spoke, “Oh, I wouldn’t go up there.” He stopped rustling with his chains.
“Why not?” she asked in a stern voice.
“They’re up there,” Maris agreed with him. “All of them: Krerina, her sister, and Amenirdis.”
Anastasia surveyed the basement door. “We can’t stay down here.” She contemplated confronting them, even if it meant her own death. She concentrated her hearing but not a peep came from upstairs.
Maris planted her hand on the wall and slowly raised herself to her feet. “No. Don’t do it. Don’t leave me.”
“I won’t leave you.”
“They all leave me.” Somber and still upset, she remained near the wall. “Finley, Silvanus, Jesse, and now Ayden… this damn curse has taken everyone away from me.”
“Ayden?” At first, she thought her own hearing deceived her. “What happened to Ayden?”
“You killed him!” As he smiled, Kenneth showed off his sharp fangs.
“Right now isn’t a good time to play games with me.”
“No games. You killed him.”
“Maris?” She looked to her for clarification and her offspring turned away. “No, I couldn’t have killed him. That’s impossible. You know I wouldn’t do that. You know I would never do that.”
“But you did.” She wept. “Krerina had control over you and she made you do it.”
Anastasia didn’t want to believe that any human could overpower them, physically and mentally. Her actions were her own. As for Ayden, she held back her distain for him because of what he meant to Maris.
“I swear to you, I would never intentionally harm you in that way.” Anastasia rushed to her side. “You must believe me.”
“I-I-I believe you.” Maris embraced her.
It had been a long time since Maris had been in her arms. “I will protect you, even if it means my own death.”
“You plan on killing them all? You!?” Kenneth banged his chains together and the sound rattled the basement. “She’s right. Krerina took you and the rest of those idiots out in under an hour,” she sighed.
“Before, you were excited at the possibility of our deaths.” She approached him. “Why the sudden change?”
“That was before Amenirdis walked right through the front door. They’re going to put me in Limbo so one of her other friends can get out. Thanks to you, I’ll spend eternity trapped in there.”
“No,” Maris said. “She said something about destroying Limbo.”
“Limbo can’t be destroyed,” Anastasia replied.
“Tell her that.”
She approached Kenneth. “Help me and she’ll be the one going back to Limbo.” She grabbed the lock on his chains and pulled. The possibility of playing into Kenneth’s hand by giving him his freedom crossed her mind. But so did the idea that Krerina would use her again, as a weapon, didn’t sit well with her. She pulled until the lock snapped, releasing him.
Kenneth stretched his left arm, the only arm he had, and then stretched his back.
“First, we’re going to get out of here.” To her surprise, it didn’t take him long to agree but on one condition.
“Everything goes back to the way it used to be before this.”
“Fine. I’ll give you a ten-second head start before I come after you.”
“If we leave, then what? They’ll continue to chase me and hurt anyone who gets in their way.” Maris buried her face in her hands. I should do what should’ve been done over a century ago.” She spread her arms out to the side. “Kill me and do it quickly.”
“You want me…” Anastasia struggled to continue her question, “… to kill you?”
She nodded. “Yes. Without me, the ritual won’t happen.”
“No. Out of the question! I’m not doing it.”
“I’ll do it,” Kenneth spoke.
“You try it and I’ll rip you into pieces!” Anastasia growled.
Maris dropped her arms. “You have to. You know it’s the only way to end all of this.”
Anastasia shook her head.
“If you don’t, I will make you end me!” Maris punched her across the face.
The blow stunned Anastasia for a second and she felt her jaw bone crack. “Stop.”
“Kill me.”
She straightened her jaw. “No.”
Maris punched her again. “If you won’t, I will kill you.”
Blood trickled down her nose. “I’m not going to do it.”
Maris pushed her down to the ground.
Anastasia sensed her rage and anger, but also sensed her hopelessness and sadness. It was a conundrum; the fight within her offspring felt all too familiar to her.
“I loved Ayden!” She punched her again. “I loved him and you killed him.”
She covered her face from the hard blows. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Anastasia once fought the same feelings brewing within her when she was sired. The animosity she had toward the one who made her Ramanga over four hundred years ago never went away. Instead, it shaped her into the abomination she was now, into the killer that she was used to being, and the monster that everyone saw. She understood loss and the anger that came with it.
“Robert.” The name she whispered had no real meaning to Maris or Kenneth, but it meant everything to her. “You always said I never loved anyone but myself; you were wrong. I did love someone. His name was Robert.”
Maris stopped her attack.
“I met him at the Rose Theater. It was love at first sight. He was beautiful. He was perfect but my sire killed him in front of me. She made me watch and then turned me. I killed my mother and I stood back and did nothing as she killed my father. She took everything I loved and ripped it from me. She created holes inside my life and filled them with darkness and blood. Those years I spent by her side were filled with torture and betrayal. She gave me up to Dorvo vampires in a heartbeat. I never mattered to her. I was expendable.”
“Your sire?” Maris backed away from her. “You never told me this.”
“Not all Deamhan are so lucky to be sired by a Deamhan who actually cares.” Anastasia sat up. “I never truly cared for you, Maris, and for that I am sorry. I never have but things are different. I’m trying. I really am trying and to kill you…never ask that of me again.”
“I don’t think you’ve ever apologized to me and meant it,” Maris whispered. “I’ve never felt emotion from you like this before.”
Anastasia straightened her clothing. “I do mean it.” She placed her hand on Maris’ cheek, covering her scar. “I will protect you. If that means I have to die, then I’m ready.”
Suddenly, Maris’ demeanor changed back. “No. You have to kill me. All of my burdens, all of the pain in my life… it’s all because of you. You ruined my life. You’ve ruined a lot of lives, including your friends. You’re obligated to end me.” She threw herself at Anastasia, but fell short. She struggled like a ferocious animal caught in a cage. She snapped her fangs, kicked her feet, and twisted her upper body. “Why won’t you kill me? Just… kill me!”
Anastasia pushed her against the basement wall.
“Just do it. I want to be with Ayden.” She lowered her head and whimpered.
Kenneth sighed loud enough to break through their intimate conversation. “Are you two done?”
Anastasia couldn’t take her eyes off her. Her offspring, the same teenage girl she sired because of her own desire to get ahead. The same teenage girl who spe
nt a century and more hating her to the core, fighting against her with everything she had. How defeated she looked now, knowing that soon she’d be sacrificed.
“The only way to end this is to kill those who’re after you.”
“And then what!” Maris screamed. “A year later, we go up against another Deamhan? Maybe another coven or someone looking to avenge Ruby? How many people have to die just to make sure I live?”
“As many as it takes.”
Maris paused in thought. “Ayden, Ruby, Silvanus, Lucius, Selene, Finley, Ethel…”
Anastasia knew all of the name which floated from Maris’ lips. They all met their deaths either by trying to protect her or in pursuit of her.
“Kei, Jesse…”
“Maris, stop this.”
Kenneth interrupted. “Don’t forget Nathan.”
Anastasia looked over her shoulder. “What did you say?”
“Nathan,” Maris repeated the name.
“No.” Anastasia felt her mouth empty. Her body felt raw and with her mind frazzled, she couldn’t think beyond what Maris just told her. “Nathan is dead? Did I…”
Maris nodded.
She didn’t know how to respond.
“So, can we now focus on getting the hell out of here?” Kenneth clapped his hands in glee.
She glared at him with a ferocious look in her eyes.
“Hey, it’s not my fault you killed him,” he replied. “Krerina gave you the stage and you didn’t hesitate to perform. Like a trained minion.”
At that moment, a gust of wind blew open the door and swept into the basement. Anastasia positioned her body in front of Maris and prepared herself for a possible attack. “I don’t trust you,” she said to Kenneth. “But I have no choice. If you want to live, you have to get Maris out of here. Take her to the Brotherhood.
“No, that’s not part of our little arrangement.”
“It is now, if you don’t want me to rip out your heart.”
They heard the basement door creak open, followed by Krerina’s voice. “No one is dying, especially before the ritual.”
She descended the stairs and made it to the basement floor. Soon after, the Defiler followed. Both were dressed in white gowns, which looked familiar to Anastasia. It was the same clothing they wore when she first saw them in the cave years ago. The Defiler didn’t wear her mask and her face, as clear as day, looked exactly like Krerina’s. She held what looked like a wine glass full of blood in her right hand.
They stood like princesses among servants; their body language exuded nothing but confidence.
Anastasia didn’t wait. She leaped at them and thought she moved fast enough to hinder their reaction. Instead, she found herself suspended in midair, frozen.
“You can keep trying but you can’t stop what will happen with brute force.” Krerina let her go and her body dropped to the ground.
“I’ll kill you both.”
“No, you won’t,” the Defiler replied. “Don’t you see? We’re made of flesh. We’re stronger this way. You couldn’t handle us when we first had the pleasure of your company and you certainly cannot handle us now.”
Her body felt pressed against the basement floor and as she tried to move, the pressure increased.
“Anastasia knows better. You can’t go.” Krerina turned to Kenneth. “We haven’t broken you yet.” She pushed him back with such force that his feet slid back across the floor. The chains which once wrapped around his wrists moved in a snakelike motion on their own. They clasped over his body and pulled him back, chaining him against the wall where they magically held him captive.
Anastasia’s fangs dropped from her gums and she quickly went into defensive mode. Now alone, protecting Maris became her number one priority.
The Defiler approached Kenneth. “You must drink. Your body is famished.” She held the glass out to him.
“Don’t drink it!” Anastasia knew exactly what the drink contained. A small drop of blood proved more than enough to allow Krerina to control her. However, Kenneth’s hunger pangs challenged that notion. Without hesitation, he snatched it from her and finished it in one gulp.
“Good.”
Kenneth’s cough started lightly. It soon increased to gurgling and his body began to convulse.
“What are you planning to do with him?” Anastasia fought against the dark magic, which kept her contained.
“Mother hasn’t decided yet.”
“No!” Maris placed her hand over her chest. “Stop or I will rip out my own heart.”
Her action was soon stopped by the Defiler who magically maneuvered her hand away from her chest. “That task is for the Dark Mother.” When she graced her finger over Maris’ on her left check, the Ramanga flinched. “You’ll feel the pain as she drains every drop of blood from your body. You’ll feel your life slipping away while our gods are released from their hell.” Krerina’s creepy smile dissipated, replaced with a mulish stare. “But first… Anastasia, you need your rest. Our Mother wants you to suffer.” She stood and chanted in a soft and low voice. There was nothing Anastasia could do when Maris gasped loudly.
“Dark magic, unwilled and untested. Rest and do no further harm until called upon.
Hibernation calls. Detached and unframed from its human vessel.
Dark magic, rest and do no further harm.”
Anastasia felt her body stiffen and dark-grey splotches appeared on her forearm. Her vision blurred.
“Dark magic, unwilled and untested. Rest and do no further harm until called upon.
Hibernation calls. Detached and unframed from its human vessel.
Dark magic, rest and do no further harm.”
She’d experienced this before but this time, he forced this upon her and there wasn’t anything she could do. “No… don’t!” She tried to stay awake for her own safety and for Maris, but the dark power pushed hard enough to turn her completely immovable. Her heavy eyelids closed over her eyes and her body went stiff.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
REMY
Remy felt the shadows, resembling thick smoke, engulf them. The ground underneath his feet disappeared and suddenly, he found himself floating, flying. The strong smell of burned wood and sulfur entered his nostrils. At one point, he thought he heard screams in the distance, but there was no horizon to compare anything to. Instead, he saw a never-ending sea of darkness, so much so that if he did let go, he knew he’d be lost in it forever.
How Sia was able to maneuver in this darkness blew his mind but he remained grateful. If it wasn’t for her quick thinking, he would’ve been burnt remains on the front lawn of Blind Bluff Manor.
Deamhan came in all different types with different unique characteristics that catered to their own clan. Ramanga were ruthless and effective fighters. Metusba were great at covering their tracks. Lugat were great at adapting to unusual environments. As a Lamia, his sire taught him to believe that he would always excel at being a great hunter and he did master that trait. But Adze Deamhan? No one knew a damn thing about what they excelled at.
Sia headed directly for a burst of light ahead of them. The closer they came upon this oddity, the brighter it blasted into his eyes. He squeezed Hallie’s hand and before he knew it, they’d left the shadows and arrived in Lambert’s office at Dark Sepulcher. Fatigued and relieved, he fell to the carpet. He could’ve French kissed it. They didn’t bother to notice Lambert, sprawled out on the couch, with Alexis straddling him.
Remy found their evening attire disturbing to look at. Lambert wore shiny, black shorts and Alexis was dressed in pink and black see-through lingerie, complete with a large, black bowtie nestled in her brown locks.
“What in the hell!” She jumped off and went into full-blown armament mode at their unexpected and rude interruption.
“Remy?” Lambert immediately sat up. “What in the hell are you doing here?” He studied them. “And why do you all look like you went for a stroll out in the daylight?”
Remy lifted his head a
nd examined his burned hands. “Dark magic.” He turned on his back and glared at the lights on the ceiling. He heard Hallie’s distraught cries but being too tired and in pain to calm her, he ignored her for the time being.
“What do you mean dark magic?” He stood from the couch.
“Dark… fucking… magic,” he spoke slowly.
Lambert knelt over him. “Where’s everyone else?”
Seeing Lambert upside down in his vision made him chuckle. “We’re going to need a favor.”
“Of course.” He nodded rapidly. “You need to feed. You need to get better.” He gave Alexis an order. “Darling, would you be so kind and grab a few individuals from our stock in the basement and bring them in here.”
“To feed them?”
“Yes, to feed them. What else?”
“Sweetie.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “I don’t think your vampires will be happy that you’re taking their stock for Deamhan.”
“That isn’t their choice. It’s mine. Now, if you please.”
She sighed. “I don’t understand why you’re still going out of your way to help them.” She marched toward the door and left the room.
***
“I can’t lie. That chick I just ate was pretty hot.” Remy paced back and forth from the window to the bar. Even before his body settled and healed, he was ready to go back out there and face Amenirdis head on. His newly grown skin felt tight and it had yet to completely cover over the rest of the burned skin on his neck, chest, and part of his face.
Lambert stood behind the bar with a glass of bourbon in his hand, watching as the last human who he ordered to be brought in to feed them, stumbled out of the room with Alexis’ help. Before leaving, she gave her consort the evil eye and slammed the door shut behind them.
“What’s gotten up her skirt? We didn’t kill any of them, like you said.”
Lambert had one rule. Don’t kill their meals. It wasn’t easy to abide by but Remy made it happen by taking a little at a time from each victim. This meant that it’d take days for his body to return to its beautiful self. This also left his littlest Deamhan at a disadvantage. Because of her age, the sun had done more damage to her than the rest of them and feeling generous, he allowed her to take half of his portion. He also didn’t want to look all night at the peeling skin on her face.
Divination (Deamhan Chronicles Book 4) Page 18
