“A good design; sturdy, if a little plain,” he comments. “I’ve got my smithy working on duplicating it. He’s promised to have a second ready for Imogen by tomorrow morning.”
I look at my sister in horror, but Immy’s face has gone from hysterical to blank. Like her mind has shut down under the onslaught. The bites decorating her skin drip blood on the floor as her own horror keeps her frozen, pinned to the cold stone in silence.
Cain doesn’t care that two-thirds of his audience is shattered beyond the ability to hear his words, he keeps taunting Frost regardless.
“Know this, human. Your idea will be used to torment her forever. You may have the privilege of dying, but die knowing my favourite daughter will never follow you. Evelyn will live on in a prison of your own making, feeling every agony you intended for me. For as long as it takes for me to believe she’s learned her lesson.”
I’ve been stoic until now, clinging onto my dignity like it will save me. But I can’t help but kick and scream as my sire forces me into the coffin. The silver has no effect on him, but my skin blisters the instant it touches me.
I screw my eyes shut, unable to watch. It doesn’t save me. I can still smell my skin burning as I’m chained down, and the noise is horrendous—a crackling, hissing sound close to roasting meat on a fire. I’m accustomed to pain, but this… this is worse than anything I’ve experienced before.
I know it’s useless, but pleas for mercy stream from my lips. I beg Cain’s forgiveness, promise my every possession in exchange for my freedom, yet he remains unmoved. Soon my words devolve into whimpers, replaced by pathetic noises I’ve never heard myself make before.
Cain’s strength is easily a match for mine, despite my struggles. He holds my flailing limbs in place as servants lock the ropes of metal across my body. The flimsy dress offers almost no protection, and I know that’s why he chose it.
When his fingers pinch my cheeks, forcing my jaw wide, my eyes fly open again. Just in time to see the gag before they force it into my mouth.
The ball of silver spikes burns against my tongue, but no amount of thrashing is enough to deter the quick fingers buckling the hated thing behind my head.
Agony. So blinding I can barely think. My mouth is on fire, and all I can taste is blood and pain. I want to vomit, but I can’t.
My tormentors step back, and it takes all my remaining strength to look beyond my tears and seek out Frost. His head is being held up by one of the vampires behind him, and my blood drips from the corners of his mouth as his deadened stare pierces me to the bone.
With the bond shattered, he no longer cares what happens to him. Not now that he’s no longer mine.
With another nod from Cain, the guards open the door to the ghouls’ cage and shove him inside.
It takes a few seconds for the ghouls to realise they have a new meal. When they do, they’re on Frost like a pack of ravenous wolves. Talons and teeth rip into the arms which had once held me tight.
I scream. I rub my mouth raw on the gag, trying to beg my sire, my sisters, anyone.
He betrayed me, but I’ll still do anything to stop this.
Anything. Anything to save him.
“Let this be a lesson,” Cain begins, almost casually. “Never, ever, let love trick you again, dear daughter. Betrayal—intentional or not—will never be tolerated in my house.”
The last thing I hear before Cain slams the silver lid over my face is Frost’s screams.
Chapter Four
Evelyn - 1897
It doesn’t take longfor me to go mad.
In the beginning, I foolishly believed myself strong enough to withstand my punishment. I convinced myself I would emerge no different to who I was when Cain locked me inside.
I was wrong.
My heart broke when Frost was forced into the cage with the ghouls. My body broke within hours of being chained in the coffin.
My mind never stood a chance.
It didn’t even take long. Betrayal, pain, and terror have a way of wearing down a person into a shell of who they were.
Then there’s the thirst.
Burning. Constant. Endless thirst.
