Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“Your mother also asked me to tell you she misses you terribly and to wish you a happy birthday,” Belinda went on unenthusiastically. “So, happy birthday.” And with that she vanished into thin air.
“Happy birthday, indeed,” I muttered to myself. A part of me was relieved to be leaving, but another part felt like the whole thing was annoyingly unfinished. I’d accepted the mission from Sergeant Davis, fully intending to complete it on my own, and now my parents were having to pay a bunch of money to get me out. Though it didn’t surprise me at all that the warden was corrupt. I’d learned it for myself seeing how the prison was run with no care for the welfare of the prisoners.
I sat there, so caught up in fretting that I didn’t notice when my thoughts shifted to something else entirely. A strange feeling pushed and prodded at my brain, forcing its way in. Images of the tree in the courtyard with its burgundy leaves filled my head. Its beauty struck me, its arms twisted prettily, stretching out its leaves to absorb the sun like a hand outstretched. Heavenly rays shone down, filtering through the leaves. The sky above was azure blue and dotted with white, fluffy clouds.
It was one of the most beautiful things my mind had ever conjured, and there was a seductive pull. At first, it merely told me to go to the tree and sit under the safety of its heavy branches. Then other more negative ideas filtered through. I thought about what a lovely place it would be to die. I saw myself strolling through the prison, at peace and at ease, calm in the knowledge that I would take my own life. I’d never been so sure about something before …
Wait, no! That wasn’t me, and those weren’t my thoughts. I stood from my spot on the floor, shaking myself from the dark reverie as I started to panic. What the hell had just happened? Something wasn’t right because I didn’t have a suicidal bone in my body. No, it was the person Sarasin had warned me about. The one who wanted me dead.
The tiny hairs on my arms stood on end, an eery chill skittering down my spine as I looked outside the cell. There was no one suspicious hanging around, but that didn’t mean I shouldn’t be on guard. If someone was mentally influencing me, then they didn’t need to be close by to do it.
I considered my options. Vasilios would be back any minute, but his presence wouldn’t keep me safe from the psychic powers of another prisoner. I was torn about what to do when suddenly Mack, Vincent, and several other vampires appeared at the top of the stairway, spotting me standing outside Vasilios’s cell. I considered making a run for it, but it was dark, and there was nowhere in the prison to hide. Instead, I remained in place, determined to face whatever they planned to do to me.
“Well, well, well,” Vincent declared. “You’ve been a hard woman to find.”
“You’ve been looking for me? I’m flattered.”
“Don’t act cute. We know you’ve been hiding,” Mack said, her callous eyes running over me. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately and what I’d like to do to you.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve been crushing on me as well. I already have my hands full with Vincent here,” I quipped, side-stepping out of the way as the rest of Mack’s goons tried to corner me. They slowly advanced while I continued walking backward.
Vincent frowned, looking confused as he glanced at Mack, “What is she talking about?”
“Bit slow on the uptake, isn’t he?” I grinned at Mack before bringing my attention back to Vincent. “I bet human magicians love practicing their tricks on you.”
“That’s it. Get her,” Mack ordered, and her goons lunged forward.
My back met something solid, Vasilios’s familiar scent hitting me. Cloves and a wood fire burning in the forest. I turned my head and found him there, freshly showered, his stance protective. He placed his hands on my shoulders as he stared Mack down.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“This doesn’t concern you,” Mack replied.
“If it pertains to Darya, then it does concern me. Now back the fuck off,” he warned, his voice a rumbly growl vibrating through me.
“Either you walk away or face the same fate as her. It’s your choice,” Mack went on, and more vampires appeared, slithering up the stairways like snakes. About a dozen more were behind Vasilios. We were completely closed in.
“Just go,” I said to him, swallowing thickly. “She’s got it in for me. There’s no point in both of us suffering.” I tilted my head to meet his eyes as he frowned.
“I won’t abandon you.”
“Yes, you will,” I said, gritting my teeth.
“Aw, isn’t this sweet,” Mack crooned before she ordered, “Grab both of them.”