14. Kali
Chapter 14
Kali
“ F eed,” Rya urged, giving me a push. “You need it.”
I stumbled forward, my face flushing. I didn’t want to show weakness in front of all the Shadows. But I also was fucking terrified of drinking blood. What if I wasn’t myself anymore?
Viggo slid his fingers into the man’s short hair, tilting his head to the side. My eyes were glued to the small drops of blood on his skin. The desire to attack was nearly overwhelming and I steadied myself, wondering if this bloodlust would always be with me.
“I don’t want to kill him,” I whispered, tearing my gaze from the blood to look at Viggo.
“I think you’ll have enough restraint not to,” he replied. “But I can make sure you don’t.”
“Can he be healed if I go too far?”
“Healed?” Rya repeated. “What does that mean?”
“Shadows can heal humans with their blood,” I told her, ignoring Viggo’s protests. “Another reason PARA wanted you all removed from their cities.”
“They didn’t need to know that,” Viggo said with irritation.
“Why?” I shot back. “Because your daddy didn’t want them to know how powerful they are?”
“Feed, Kali,” he ordered impatiently, pushing the man closer to me while keeping a firm hold on his hair.
“How?” I asked shakily. “I don’t have my fangs.”
“You do. And you can make them come out.” His voice grew softer. “Think about feeding. About the blood you need to survive. Your body knows what to do.”
I closed my eyes, inhaling the earthly smell of his blood. My nostrils flared, and I resisted the urge to attack. My Shadow instincts overpowered everything, and a calm washed over me. A new sensation filled my mouth, and I let out a cry when pain flared across my upper gum. My hand flew to my mouth, and shock filled me when I ran my fingertips over my fangs. They were so sharp. Deadly. I didn’t need a weapon to defend myself anymore. I was a weapon.
I slowly opened my eyes, seeing Viggo gawking at me.
“What?” I choked out, opening and closing my mouth. Speaking while my fangs were out was odd and mildly uncomfortable.
“You are going to be a menace in this world,” he grumbled, his eyes dropping to my mouth. “The way your skills come so effortlessly…I’ve never seen it before.”
“She’s going to rule the world,” Rya said, promise filling her voice. “With us standing at her back. You and your family will be nothing.”
Agreement passed over the crowd of Shadows, and Jasper inched closer to Viggo, fear gleaming in his eyes. A shiver shot down my spine, and for a moment, I forgot about feeding. The Shadows were built to be powerful. To be the largest predator in this world. And they looked at me to lead them.
Viggo’s gaze didn’t waver from mine. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but it was clear that Rya’s words impacted him. He wasn’t a threat in this room, and he was more than aware of it.
“The Kane family owns all of you,” Jasper sputtered out, his face getting red. “Show some fucking respect.”
“Leave it alone, Jasper,” Viggo said sharply. “Kali, drink before you pass out. I’ve never had to try this damn hard to get someone to feed.”
I met the hazel eyes of the man, my stomach sinking. I wondered what words of entrancement were used to make him this calm. How long had he been here, used as a human blood bag? Fury crept in, forcing out my nerves. When I left this place, I’d make sure to take the humans with me.
Viggo let out a sigh, sliding his hand into his jeans pocket and producing a small knife. He flipped open the blade and then trailed it over the side of the man’s neck. His blood flowed freely, and I breathed in the scent without meaning to. I let out a low growl before closing the small gap. All common sense was out the window as I chased my hunger.
Opening my mouth, I sank my fangs into his throat, puncturing his skin. There was no resistance, my teeth sharp enough to break his skin with ease. Warm blood filled my mouth, and my body jittered with newfound energy as I gulped it down. I sucked harder, my brain finally clear for the first time in days. The pain that had been smothering me faded until it didn’t exist anymore.
“Kali, slow down.”
Viggo’s warning didn’t break through my trance. It wasn’t enough. I wanted to drink it all. I was vaguely aware that I was in a frenzy. The thing was—I didn’t care. The blood tasted better than anything I’d ever experienced before, and I didn’t think I’d ever get enough.
A hand suddenly gripped my shoulder, ripping me away. I snarled, baring my fangs, and shoving the hand away before diving forward to bite the man again. Arms wrapped around my waist, trapping my arms at my sides, and I was hoisted in the air.
“Let her go.” Rya’s voice cut through the air.
“Touch me, and there will be a problem,” Viggo threatened from behind me, and I realized he was the one holding me. “She didn’t want to kill him. I’m only doing what she wanted.”
His words snapped me out of it, and I went rigid, blinking rapidly as I focused on the human in front of me. He was slumped on the floor, holding his hand over the gushing wound in his neck. Guilt clawed in my chest, and I struggled in Viggo’s hold.
“I’m fine,” I said roughly. “Help him.”
“Look at you,” he gritted out, his hold loosening slightly. “Still worried about humans even after you fed. Rya, feed him your blood.”
Jasper coughed harshly, and from the look on his face, I was sure he was just discovering that Shadows could heal. He clearly had no idea that Viggo could, which was why Viggo gave the order to Rya.
She glanced at me uncertainly, and I nodded in encouragement. She hesitantly bit her wrist before crouching down and pressing it against the man’s mouth. Viggo released me, and I wiped the back of my hand over my lips, realizing my fangs weren’t out anymore.
“This…this is not something your father told me about,” Jasper said quickly. “I don’t think he wants them healing?—”
“You aren’t in charge here,” I cut him off.
“And you think you are?” he spat out, getting in my face. “You’re here because it was what Amaros Kane ordered.”
“Back down, Jasper,” Viggo said quietly from beside me.
I flexed my fingers, feeling power bleed into my veins. All my senses were heightened. I could hear Shadows positioned on the other side of the room as if they were right next to me. My eyes landed on a speck of blood that was on the wall across from me. Was this how Zan viewed the world every day? My skin nearly tingled, and I rolled my shoulders, attempting to get used to it.
“She will only cause trouble,” Jasper yelled, his eyes filled with distrust as he stared at me. “We should get rid of her now.”
I struck my arm out, catching his chin in a tight grip as I silently repeated Viggo’s advice. My body knew what to do. And right now, I wanted to control Jasper’s mind. His frantic eyes locked on mine, and I grinned, focusing solely on him.
“What are you doing?” Viggo’s question sounded far away as my eyes bored into Jasper’s.
“I want you to stop talking,” I ordered, barely recognizing my own voice. “Just stand there until I say so.”
I was yanked away, and the next pair of eyes I met were Viggo’s infuriated ones. He gripped my shoulders, shaking me slightly.
“What the hell are you doing?” he hissed. “If Dad finds out?—”
“Let me go, Viggo,” I demanded, letting power bleed out as we glared at each other.
His eyes grew big before he reared back, breaking my stare. “Did you just try to entrance me?”
I shrugged. “It didn’t work. I guess now you have your answer.”
“And now I know that you’d try,” he tossed back, his voice nearly shaking from anger. “That’s fucked, Kali.”
“No, it was an answer we needed.”
“Free Jasper,” he ordered. “And make him forget what you did.”
I pretended to ponder his words. “No.”
His jaw ticked. “No?”
“I want to ask him something first.” I looked at Rya. “Don’t let him interfere.”
“Fuck,” Viggo cursed, lunging at me. “Don’t do this.”
He let out a snarl when Rya and three other Shadows got in his way, preventing him from touching me. Something tugged in my chest, and while I could admit I felt slightly bad, it wasn’t stopping me. Jasper was always with Amaros. He had answers I needed.
It was taking more than five Shadows to hold back Viggo, and I quickly focused back on Jasper. Taking a deep breath, I grasped his chin again, forcing him to look at me. His pupils dilated, and I thought my question out carefully.
“How many vampires are on this property?”
“Over two hundred,” he answered in a monotone voice.
“How many ways off the property are there?”
“Three.”
“Tell me the easiest one.”
Sweat covered his forehead, and I focused, straining harder to keep him under my control. This question was one he didn’t want to answer.
“The tunnel,” he choked out.
“Where’s the entrance?”
“Fucking hell,” Viggo yelled from somewhere behind me. “I swear to god, Kali?—”
He let out a grunt, but I didn’t dare look away from Jasper.
“In the basement.”
My impatience flared. I needed to make my questions very specific to get what I wanted. “Where in the basement?”
“There’s a false wall.” He described the room it was in, and I listened carefully, not wanting to forget.
“How long will Amaros be gone?”
“At least two days.”
“How do you know?”
“He’s three hundred miles away.”
“Doing what?”
Jasper swallowed thickly. “Meeting with PARA.”
Ice chilled my veins. “Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where’s the armory on this property?” I asked my last question.
“In the garage behind a locked door.”
“Get off me before I actually start killing you,” Viggo snarled, reaching his breaking point.
“You will forget about this entire conversation,” I ordered, my voice hard. “You will not remember that I entranced you. You don’t know that I can entrance vampires. Understand?”
“Yes.”
I blinked, releasing my hold over him. He sagged down for a moment before scrambling back, getting his bearings.
“What’s going on?” he snapped, his eyes growing big when he looked behind me.
I spun around to see Viggo shoving his way through a wall of Shadows. At least four of them were on the floor with their necks broken. He hadn’t murdered any of them, but if looks could kill, I’d be dead. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him so furious.
“Stop,” I called out. “Let him through.”
Viggo’s chest heaved as he stormed toward me, his fists clenched tight. “What the hell was that?”
“What was what?” I asked innocently.
His eyes swung to Jasper for a moment before focusing back on me. “You shouldn’t have done that. You’re going to get yourself killed. Then Zan is going to kill me.”
I patted his arm, making him scowl. “I’m not doing anything, Viggo. Just training the Shadows like your father wants.”
He pressed his lips together, forcing himself to remain quiet. I was sure he’d heard every word I said to Jasper. He ran his hands through his hair, letting out a string of curses as he strode to the exit.
“Let’s go,” he said tightly. “We’re going back to the house.”
Jasper had already grabbed the human’s arm and was following Viggo. I gave Rya a wide smile before leaving. I was lighter than I had since my birthday. Power was still thrumming through me, and I welcomed it with open arms.
There wasn’t any going back now.