Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
an attic full of chaos
Aurora is on my heels as we exit the attic back into the narrow hallway. “Find him,” she warns. “Callum will not wait.”
I turn on my heels, facing her. “You are not in charge here.”
“You’re right. Callum is. I suggest that, unless you want to watch your lycan friends drained of their blood, you do what he’s asked. This is not a game, young one.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“My own,” she answers quickly. “Find him.”
I don’t know what to do. I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.
Finding Terrin will result in his death, while not finding Terrin will result in the lycan’s death.
I fight the tears threatening to fall. I long for the time when my biggest concern was what color shoes to wear with my dress for the day.
“Violet,” Terrin’s soft voice calls.
“Terrin? Where are you?”
Time passes before he answers. “I can’t tell you that, Violet. I’m sorry.”
“I know,” I whisper through my mind. “I’m sorry I asked.”
“You have to save them.”
“I don’t know how,” I answer truthfully.
“Lucien is coming. Stall…”
What? Lucien? I resist the urge to look around. “What are you doing?” Aurora asks.
“Walking,” I answer, using the bitchiest voice I can muster.
A strong slap across my cheek throws me into the wall, leaving a dent in my wake. “I will not hesitate to kill you,” she warns.
“You’ve done that already.” I stand straighter. “If you kill me, you’ll never find him.”
Aurora smiles a wicked smile. “He’s here, isn’t he?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.
“I’m here,” a young voice interrupts. We turn, discovering a young man standing alone in the hallway. His hair is pure white, a perfect match to his dark skin. I recognize him instantly. The boy standing in front of us isn’t Terrin, it’s Lucien.
“Are you the one we’re searching for?” Aurora asks. “What is your name, child?”
“Raphael,” he lies.
Aurora sniffs the air. “You don’t smell like a vampire.”
“The magic covers the vampire energy.”
“This is a spell,” she announces. “Where is the boy?” She stalks closer to the child version of Lucien.
“I am the boy,” he answers. He shivers slightly, and the familiar energy of Terrin fills the hall. “Is that better? I was hiding my energy.”
Aurora doesn’t answer, but from the look on her face, she accepts his explanation. “How old are you?”
“I was born in 1654 in Spain.” Lucien’s lies grow, protecting the immortal child from harm.
She moves closer to the boy. “Every immortal child I’ve met is…shall we say, out of their mind? How are you in control?”
“Control is easy,” he answers, smiling a crooked smile as he speaks.
Aurora lifts her arms and begins chanting something in Latin. Lucien stands in place. His energy shifts slightly with her words, but he doesn’t falter. “I told you I am the boy. Your spell will not work on me, witch. I am who you are seeking.”
“Very well,” she answers, crossing her arms across her chest. “Take him to Callum.”
I stare at the young version of Lucien, unsure if I should take him to what could mean sudden death or free him.
“I am not afraid,” he says, answering my unspoken question.
Small fingers lace with mine as we move through the hallway, back toward the attic entrance.
His hand squeezes tight, telling me something I don’t understand.
“You go first,” Aurora demands as we approach the silver-covered door. The silver burns as I unlatch the handle, forcing it open.
Lucien and I walk side by side to the spot where my friends still lie unconscious.
Next to them is the man I’m here for…Cyrus.
His body is covered in bruises, bites, and dried blood.
The strong man who purchased me to sell is replaced by a gaunt figure of skin and bones.
I know without asking, this is a trick. Callum pretends to be ignorant of the situation and sits in a chair, staring out the window.
“We have him, Father,” Aurora says, pulling Lucien away from me.
The ancient vampire turns. The handsome face he wore earlier has been replaced with that of a monster.
Deep wrinkles protrude from the corners of his mouth, and what little hair he has is nothing more than a wisp of white fur.
He stands, moving in front of Lucien. “This is not the boy, you imbecile.”
“I’m the one you’re seeking,” Lucien answers quickly. Without a second thought, Callum raises a hand and backhands the boy across the cheek. Lucien flies across the room, slamming into the brick wall. He moves in front of Aurora. “You disappoint me.”
She falls to the floor, lying prostrate on the wood. “Forgive me, father. I was weak-minded.” I stare at the spectacle in front of me.
“You are weak-minded and no better than the rest,” he continues.
“Get out of there, Violet,” a deep voice says through my mind.
“Terrin?” I ask.
“Normally, that would offend me. However, I will let it pass for now. As your maker, I demand that you leave the building.”
“Fuck you, Harrison! You left when we needed you. Don’t you dare tell me what to do. You have no right over me.”
His laugh rings through my mind. “I have every right over you.”
“I’m not leaving here without Cyrus and my friends.”
Callum’s energy shifts, along with his appearance. He returns to the handsome man from before. “Wankers,” he says under his breath with a deep sigh. “Get up,” he demands toward Aurora. “Others are here. Take care of it.”
Without hesitation, Aurora is on her feet, literally flying toward the door. I send my energy out, hoping to feel what Callum feels, and am met with nothing. “Harrison?” I ask my maker, not sure what’s happening.
“Get down,” his deep voice answers. On cue, a window crashes inward, sending shards of glass flying throughout the room.
“About damn time,” Lucien says, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward Cyrus and the lycan. “Get them out of here,” he demands.
I don’t wait to be told twice. Wrapping my arms around Simon and Stella, I race through the attic and down to the front entrance of the school at vampire speed. Both are still unconscious, but I’m relieved to see their wounds are healing quickly.
“Violet?” Simon’s weak voice says as I set them down safely away from the building.
“Stay here,” I warn. “I’m going back for Gideon and Cyrus.” A weak arm reaches toward me as he collapses next to his sister.
Seconds later, I’m back in the attic. The chaos in front of me is hard to describe.
Callum is standing in the same spot as earlier, while three vampires circle him, reminding me of predators on the hunt.
They’re moving faster than my eyes can track.
I recognize the energy of Harrison, Phillipe, and Erick instantly.
I don’t take the time to figure out the chaos. Instead, I run toward the man I’m here to save. The chains holding his body are deeply embedded in his skin. So much so, the metal has pierced through what’s left of his flesh, exposing the bone underneath.
“Cyrus?” I gently turn him from his side to his back. “Cyrus?” I shake him this time, hoping for a response.
“Violet?” his whisper is so soft that even with vampire hearing, I’m barely able to understand his words.
“I’m here. We have to get out of here.” The moment I touch the silver being used to bind him, my hand feels like it’s on fire. “Shit!”
“Let me,” Lucien says at my side. He’s still the size of a child as he bends down, wrapping his small hand around the metal, and whispers something in a strange language. Magically, literally, the metal melts in his hand. He does the same for the chains wrapped around Cyrus’s legs and neck.
“Is Terrin safe?”
“Yes,” Lucien answers. “You must leave now.”
“I can’t go without Gideon,” I argue. “Or you.”
Lucien smiles. “You are a good person, Violet Du Four. I shall forever remember you.” He rushes to Gideon’s side, placing a hand on his shoulder. With a few words, the Alpha awakens and jumps to his feet.
“Where?” he says, looking at the floor next to him.
“They’re safe,” I answer.
“Stella?”
“Healing. You have to get out of here.” Gideon turns toward the vampire chaos in the room.
“Not while Callum O’Brien lives.”
“Gideon, my friend. You don’t stand a chance against him. Do your family and your pack a favor and leave while you’re still alive.” Lucien lays his hand on Gideon’s arm.
“No.” Gideon shifts into a wolf, seemingly larger than before. His eyes glow with the light that filters through the windows, and his growl rattles the lead glass filling them as he races straight toward the ancient vampire.
Out of nowhere, Harrison, Erick, and Phillipe join the Alpha. The four of them begin moving faster than my eyes can track.
“Get him out of here,” Lucien repeats.
Wrapping my arms around Cyrus, I lift him close to my chest. He smells like death itself and doesn’t seem aware of the chaos around him. I don’t know what’s been done to him, but it’s difficult to see the strong, virile man who turned from being my buyer into my friend.
“Starving,” he whispers.
I carry him through the convent and down to the street a heartbeat later. “Tell me what to do,” I plead. “I don’t know how to get you food without killing someone.”
Out of nowhere, a woman appears. She has the same look on her face as the woman on the train. “What are you?” she asks.
I look around, confused where she came from. “It’s not safe here,” I warn.
She rolls her sleeve up, exposing a vein. “I can help.”
“How?” I start.
Her face is a mixture of confusion and ecstasy.
“I don’t know,” she answers, confusing me even more.
Something tells me Lucien is responsible for this.
I don’t ask any more questions. Grabbing her arm, I place it in front of Cyrus.
He latches on quickly, wrapping both hands around and pulling her close.
The woman gasps as he freely drinks from her body.
“That’s enough,” I warn as her heartbeat begins to slow.
Cyrus ignores my words and continues to fill the endless hunger.
The woman falls to her knees and moans. “Cyrus, that’s enough!
” Grabbing his hair, I pull him away from her arm just as she collapses to the ground unconscious.
Her heartbeat is weak, but still beating, telling me she’s going to be okay.
“More!” he growls.
Just like the first, another woman appears.
She doesn’t speak. Instead, lowers the collar of her shirt, exposing the vein on her neck.
Cyrus doesn’t hesitate. His teeth are inside her, draining her of the life essence she provides.
Like the first woman, she sighs orgasmically.
When her knees buckle, I pull him away. This time, he’s strong enough to fight back.
“Enough,” I announce, separating him from his food.
The woman leans against the brick building behind her, breathing as hard as if she’s just run a race.
“Cyrus?”
He looks at me with bright blue eyes. “I’m here,” he says, out of breath.
I watch as the skin that, minutes earlier, was the home of deep lacerations and bruises, heals almost instantly.
He stands straighter, returning to the man who purchased me not so very long ago.
“I’m here,” he repeats. Long arms wrap around me, pulling me to his chest. “Thanks to you, Violet.”
I pull back. “I didn’t do it alone.” I nod toward the convent. “Gideon and Lucien are still inside, along with Harrison, Erick, and Phillipe.”
Cyrus follows my line of sight. “Shit.”
“You’re not ready to fight,” I remind the man who was close to death moments ago.
“You’re not strong enough on your own,” he retorts.
“We…I can’t leave them in there.” My words sound sad, even to me.
“Cyrus!” a deep voice calls behind me. I turn to see Simon and Stella running toward us. Neither is dressed, and neither seems to care. The men embrace, wrapping long arms around each other. “I thought you were…” Simon doesn’t finish.
“Yeah, me, too.”
“Dad’s still in there, isn’t he?” Stella asks. I nod, not wanting to say the words aloud. “Harrison, Erick, and Phillips showed up, and Lucien’s a child.” All three stare at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“I don’t care about the vampires, but I won’t leave my father in there alone,” Simon announces.
“I’m coming, too,” Stella adds.
“Are you forgetting what he did to you?” I ask, being the only voice of reason.
“Dad would do it for one of us.”
“He’s supposed to. He’s the alpha and your father,” I retort.
“I won’t allow him to die for nothing,” Simon says, moving toward the convent.
Cyrus turns me to face him. “I’m not letting Simon go alone.”
“Then, I’m not letting you go without me.”
“Or me,” Stella adds.
“I’m coming, too,” a soft voice says, moving from the shadows.
“Terrin?” I stare at the immortal child. It takes a few minutes to put the puzzle pieces together. “Those women, the ones who fed Cyrus. That was you?”
“Yes.” He nods. He looks each member of our small group in the eye. “You do not stand a chance in there. Callum is too strong, even for your maker.” He nods toward me. “Without me, you won’t defeat him.” His words are not meant to be arrogant, just honest.
“Absolutely not,” I argue.
Cyrus sighs. “He’s right.”
“With all due respect, none of you is powerful enough to stop me. Lucien saved me. It’s time to return the favor.” Terrin steps off the curb and takes off, moving faster than my eyes can track toward the convent.
“Shit!” Without another thought, I follow with Cyrus, Simon, and Stella close behind.