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Evangeline
My eyes opened to the creak of wooden wheels and the rhythm of hoofbeats on a road. I’d been dreaming again about the same velvety voice, but I’d lost interest in figuring out who Joleen was and finding out what those words meant. “Two halves of the same soul.”
I sat up on a seat inside a carriage in motion. No cuffs. I patted my dress pocket. Shit. The syringe was gone, but something felt off with my right boot. I stuck my hand inside and ran a finger along a short cool blade. A dagger, about the size of my palm.
Nina must have put it there. Nobody else in the vampire lair cared about my life. I rubbed my neck where Nadira had sunk her teeth and drank. No lingering pain and no wound. And since I wasn’t dead, I could safely assume my blood had healed Nadira.
I pushed aside a curtain and glanced out. Hematite bars on the window blocked parts of my view. The same type of bars barricaded the door too. How convenient. A carriage to transport angels.
The sun sank toward the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of pink and violet. The air smelled of dry earth and sap along the dirt road surrounded by tall thick trees.
Where was I headed and who was taking me? Hopefully, Victus had kept his end of the bargain and I was headed to Asmodeus’s castle.
I spun back to the seat and a curtain split in the middle from the driver’s seat. Markane’s round face appeared in front of hematite bars. Scowling as usual.
“You’re awake,” he said.
“Either that, or I killed you and I’m in the void with you.”
Markane hissed, “Feather bitch, you’re lucky you’re locked in a cage. Watch what you say to me, I might not control myself next time.”
“Next time?” My pitch rose. “You’re never in control of yourself.”
He gripped the bar and his canine teeth elongated to sharp points. Instead of spitting out a retort, he inhaled a deep breath and released. I’d thought Victus would be the one taking me to Asmodeus. Not that I favored him, but I would take Abacus or anyone over Markane.
“Who’s driving?” I jerked forward as the carriage went over a bump.
Markane pushed half the curtain to the side, revealing Victus with the reins.
“Just you two?” I glanced back and forth between them.
“The small one is here.” He pushed the other half of the curtain.
“Stop calling me small, or I’ll call you Tiny Dick,” Abacus snapped, keeping his eyes on the road.
Markane growled.
“Just the three of you?” I peeked out the window. But the bars didn’t give me a wide range anyhow. “You’re on your way to Asmodeus and you have no guards?”
None of them replied, and Victus kept his gaze straight ahead.
They must have some plan up their sleeve they weren’t willing to share with me. Up ahead, the road led us out of the forest and into a town.
“Do we have a plan?” I asked.
I couldn’t believe I was working with vampires. But at least I was headed to Asmodeus to find Zander and possibly Dawn. I wished Tank and Otis were with me.
Hold on, Zander. I’m on my way.
“Why do we need a plan?” Markane’s body swayed with the carriage’s rocking. “It’s simple. We take you to Asmodeus, we get Levia, then we leave.” He hiked an eyebrow. “You’re still our prisoner, so I suppose you’ll come with us too if you don’t get yourself killed.”
“Not if I kill Asmodeus first,” I said through my gritted teeth.
Markane scoffed. “So full of yourself, but I’m not surprised. You’re a Seraphim.”
I leaned closer to him. “Why do you hate angels? We’ve never done your kind wrong.”
Markane slid his hand between the bars and gripped my jaw hard. “You know nothing. Because you are nothing. The lies you keep secret will break free, and once they do the world will know your true face. No human will believe angels or your god is good.”
