Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Although I faced the bloodthirsty monster, no warning bells rang in my mind, as if the center of my brain, where people detect fear and danger, had malfunctioned.
Or was exhaustion settling in, making me feel reckless?
My tired body wanted to give up on me, frustration building up since we’d entered the underground tunnels. Still, I couldn’t stop the scream that escaped my mouth. My chest heaved as I couldn’t take in enough air.
By the Gods, I wanted to swing my daggers at the abusive woman, but the vampire General blocked her from my view.
He stood unmoving, watching me with amused eyes.
His black clothes clung to his lean, muscular frame, hinting at his predatory grace.
Around his neck, he wore a choker adorned with tiny metal chains, each ending in a delicate leash.
His sleeveless fishnet shirt revealed pale skin. On his wrists, he wore black leather cuffs studded with metal spikes.
I could feel the violence that lay beneath his seductive demeanor.
“If you call off your men and give up, I won’t have to kill you. This is your only chance,” I said.
My fingers brushed over the leather sachet hanging on my waist. The General couldn’t compel my witch mind, and none of the vampires could unleash their compulsion power over my friends and allies as long as I carried the crystal.
He slowly extended his hands, revealing razor-sharp talons. His body stood unnaturally still like a statue, signaling he would attack first.
“So this is your answer, then,” I said, placing my hand over my other forearm. “Then I’ll personally see you die for killing my friend Lisa.”
My inner voice reminded me that revenge against this monster would only provide me with temporary satisfaction and wouldn’t return Lisa to me. But I couldn’t help it. Revenge was like an ember feeding on past wounds and growing stronger with every passing thought of Lisa.
Revenge was what my dark magic consumed.
With a feral growl, the vampire lunged at me, using ferocious speed, his fangs bared and eyes ablaze. His talons slashed through the air with deadly precision, barely missing my face and neck.
“And if you give up, I will make your death quick and less painful,” he said with a clenched jaw.
I dodged and threw punches and kicks back at him. “Did Victoria compel you to do evil acts? You can still change.”
More anger poured behind his red eyes. “I will follow my Queen until I take my last breath,” he said in such a tone that I believed his conviction.
He was truly brainwashed to serve Victoria well.
The General swung to my side. The tip of his talons ripped the side of my shirt.
I quickly placed my hand there but couldn’t feel the pain or warmth of my blood.
Exhaling, I willed my witch weapon, grasping the end of the golden material.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the enchanted whip ignited in dark magic.
But it didn’t. The whip looked like liquid gold, shimmering with light magic.
As it moved, it radiated a blinding glow of pure light so powerful it pierced through the dimness in the throne room.
The sound of my whip cracking echoed over the battle noises of grunts, howls, and flesh hitting flesh.
I swung the golden whip again, creating a dazzling arc of light.
But the vampire was quick, avoiding the lash of my weapon. His frustration grew as his talons failed to find their mark, my whip keeping him at a distance. Sweat formed at the sides of his temples.
His gaze darted across the hall until the vampire spotted a gleaming dagger lying on the ground. With swift movements, he snatched it and immediately threw it toward me. Lunging toward the throne, I landed hard behind it. The dagger hit the metal part at the headrest and clunked to the ground.
That was a close call.
I peered from the side of the oversized chair, staying low. As soon as my gaze landed on the vampire’s hand holding another silver dagger, I groaned.
But my determination to fight energized me to stand. The simple movement caused me to grunt as pain traveled all over my body. I sprang out of my hiding spot, not giving the General a chance to toss the deadly dagger.
With a swift move, I lashed out my whip and wrapped it tightly around the General’s arm, causing him to drop the dagger as I tightened the rope around his flesh.
Yanking him toward me, I caught him off guard, and he stumbled and fell forward. But when he came too close, he reached with his other hand, and his talons slashed at my chest.
Ouch.
Sharp pain exploded at my skin, my blood seeping over my chest. My shirt clung to one shoulder by a thread, about to drop at any moment.
He swiped his talons again, and as I blocked his arm, swatting it away, his talons ripped the leather sachet off my waist. The tiny bag dropped to the floor, opening. The crystal tumbled onto the sleek marble floor and rolled away.
No.
I gasped as I watched in horror, losing the only thing that could keep my friends out of danger. The crystal bumped into shuffling feet and disappeared from my sight.
I flicked my gaze to the side, where the vampire General recoiled from the lash of my whip, which had loosened its grip on him.
His eyes burned a deadly threat—a promise that this time, he would finish me.