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I swallowed a lump of anxiety swimming in my belly. “Tank. Otis. Go to Gorgo’s wagon. Don’t tell Sam you couldn’t enter. Just tell him Gorgo asked you to stay behind. Got it?”
Tank lowered his head and Otis shook his head, his dark brown eyes full of hesitation. He didn’t like that we were being separated. Before I changed my mind, I hurried down the stairs.
The vines extended into the tunnels along the walls. The torch didn’t give me enough light, and yet it gave too much as we approached doors set in the stone. I would have much rather walked in the dark and passed the rooms, but my curiosity always won.
In a room, clothesless vampires, demons in their monstrous form, and humans were on top of each other on multiple beds. Kissing, sucking, stroking, giving pleasure to each other in all different positions.
I couldn’t stop staring. Their moans and pants aroused me and I felt a throb between my legs, recalling Zander’s hands all over my body.
A male vamp embraced a woman as he lay on top of her. His fangs grew long and he bit down on the side of her neck. As he drank her blood, his deadly red eyes met mine as he rode her hard and fast.
A hot sensation blazed through me and every inch of my body longed to be touched. I imagined Zander’s hands stroking my breasts and his mouth on my neck. My feathers yearned to be released, to be caressed. I wanted Zander. Saving Grace. Hot. It was too hot in here.
I’d heard of “orgies” but never had I seen one. The walls disappeared. Nothing remained between me and that vampire and his prey. Someone called my name from a distance.
I stumbled to the side and the spell broke. Gorgo took my hand without my permission. I yanked it back.
“Don’t touch me.” I glared.
He dipped his head in apology. “I should have warned you to mind your business. Don’t speak to anyone or look at them.”
As we went further down the tunnel, we passed more rooms and I turned the other way, but at the last one I halted. While the other rooms had only bare walls, this room … this room … I gasped and covered my mouth with my hands to suppress a scream.
Vines slithered around several naked female humans standing together in the back corner. The women whimpered through the material binding their mouths as the plant coiled around their legs, stomach, chest, neck, and their heads. Then thorns protruded from the vines all at once and pierced through their skin and muscles.
Blood streamed from their temples and down to their toes, and into grooves on the stone floor. Where did the blood go?
“Evangeline, what did I tell you to do?”
Gorgo had realized I didn’t follow him and he had come back to get me. We rounded a corner to another tunnel and passed through a thick metal door. No vines with thorns here.
Rays of light streamed through the glass ceiling, creating a kaleidoscope of color across the white marble walls. A large fountain nestled amid rosebushes and exotic flowers that should be impossible to grow in this climate, lined the garden path. A stark contrast to what was on the other side of the metal door.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Gorgo kept a steady pace to a darker area where the light did not touch.
We went down the hallway, then arrived at a grand door.
Gorgo gripped my shoulders, his hazel eyes boring into mine. “Allow me to do all the talking. And only talk when you’re spoken to. And one more thing. This is very important. Do not tell anyone you’re a Seraphim or your name. Your life depends on it. If anyone questions you, say you’re a lesser angel.”
My pride shouted no, but that inner voice told me to be humble and listen.
Before I could agree, the door opened on its own. Our footsteps echoed when we entered. Torches mounted the four corners, flickering with the soft breeze.
A vampire sat on a black marble throne on a raised platform, the two thrones beside him empty. His dark tunic and breeches did nothing to add color to this room.
My skin crawled and I tightened my fists, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart when his crimson eyes pinned me with a stare. Six soldiers, as large as Tank, guarded on either side of the throne with no weapons. I supposed teeth and claws sufficed for most dangers.
I’d heard rumors that Victus was tall and deadly, but the one sitting on the throne looked like he couldn’t kill anything. Good. Then perhaps Victus would be easy to dispose of after I used him to dethrone Asmodeus.
His face was a mask of innocence with warm-brown skin and a friendly, boyish face. When he stood, his thin body rose to three feet above my height, the same height as the raised platform. I knew better than to underestimate his size.
“Welcome.” He extended his arms. Dark eyes replaced his red ones, gleaming against the torchlight beside the throne.
I was surprised by his deep voice.
“Lord Abacus.” Gorgo bowed while I remained standing. I bowed to no vampire. “My friend would like to talk with King Victus. She shares a common goal to bring down Asmodeus.”
So, not Victus. Then why would he be sitting on the throne?
