Page 38

“I thought you said she got out?” I ask Marian, panicked. Marian stares at me, then follows my gaze. Silas is halfway down the line of people he has herded into the castle. Rows of them have been stood outside already and I turn to run to the door, unsure of what I can do but can’t sit still and do nothing.

“You can’t go out there, they will know you have your magic,” Marian says, gripping my arm as I am about to throw the front door open. I shake her off.

“I can’t let them kill her,” I say running outside. The cold air whips my skin harshly. Silas is nearly all the way to where Abigail stands. I see Dragus’s eyes dart to mine, but I won’t stop as he pulls up in front of Abigail; I throw myself in front of her, using myself as a shield.

“Elora, what are you doing?” he says when I shove past him, and I feel Abigail grab the back of my shirt and duck her head behind me. Silas’s eyes dart to the stones as they spin at rapid speed. I hold my breath, and I know what is about to happen; I know my secret is out, not that I had to keep it long.

Silas’s eyes snap to mine, and I see the anger burning brightly in them making me step back and bump into Abigail. Silas grips my arm and pulls me away from Abigail before yanking my hands forward and dropping the stones in them.

Everyone watches as they spin rapidly, glowing the same amethyst color of my eyes. I feel my shoulders slump and I give in before I hear everyone gasp and the stones freeze and start pulsating. They burst in a dust of purple and white. Silas grips my chin forcing my eyes to meet his and I flinch when I see the furious look on his face. His fingers brush over the vines on my face and I know he can see them. I drop whatever is shielding me and hiding what I am.

“I offered you a chance last night to tell me. I told you there would be consequences for lying to me.”

“I didn’t lie,” I blurted out. That is a mistake when I feel his palm hit the side of my face. My head whips to the side and everyone gasps collectively. I feel his handprint burning into my face, feel the welts of his fingers rising on my skin as tears burn my eyes.

“I gave you a fucking out,” he screams in my face, and I feel hot tears running down my cheeks as he grips my hair and yanks my head back.

“I didn’t lie, please,” I beg and he rips me against him, making me face the small crowd that is left.

“My workers, inside now,” he bellows, Abigail and two of the cooks run into the castle.

All that is left is around twelve teenage girls no older than seventeen. I expect him to dismiss them as they all stand freezing and shivering in the cold, waiting for orders. I feel his breath on the side of my neck, making me shiver.

“Now you will see what happens when you disobey me,” he says, his voice cold and void of all emotion.

“Kill them,” he says in a blasé tone, as if he is ordering someone to do some mundane task, instead of slaughtering a group of people. Silas grips my head, and I realize he wants me to watch.

“No, no, I didn’t lie. Please they didn’t do anything,” I scream and thrash. I feel his hand wrap around my throat as he pulls me flush against his chest. I look at the girls’ faces, and they scream when they see the Vampires who guard the perimeter jump from the ledges they were watching from.

“No, no, no. Please,” I beg him, and I try to fight against him yet his grip never waivers.

“Silas, please,” Dragus says, and all the Vampires stop at Dragus’s words, waiting to see what he says. Silas growls and goosebumps run over my skin. Dragus tries to reach for me when Silas backhands him, knocking him into the brick wall behind us. Dragus gets up to come at him when Matitus stops him.

“Kill them,” he says, and the chaos and screams start again. I close my eyes and scream as I see the first one get slaughtered, hear the tear of flesh as the Vampires rip them apart and feed on them. Placing my hands over my ears I can’t handle their blood-curdling screams. The only thing holding me upright is Silas arm around my waist as my legs give out under me. People on the other side of the gates scream for their loved one’s, trying to get past the gates. One growl from Silas and the entire place goes silent except for the sobs of the people on the other side of the gate and my own hysterical screaming.

I collapse when I see only what remains of them, my legs going out from under me, and I realize by saving one, I just signed their death warrants. If only I told him earlier or when Matitus checked on me last night, they may still be alive. Silas grips my arm, forcing me to my feet and I avert my eyes. I can’t see those innocent girls like that, see the dead look on their faces with their throats ripped out. Silas drags me toward the castle, my feet barely able to keep moving as the doors open and I see Abigail standing in the corridor, tears running down her face at what happened outside. She knew they died because I saved her.

“Get to work,” he snaps at her, and Abigail and the cooks run off down the corridor. Silas drags me into the library. Matitus and Dragus follow us in before he lets me go and I crumble on the ground. Dragus comes over and kneels beside me. “Leave her be,” Silas growls at him, making him back up.

“That was unnecessary, Silas,” Matitus says angrily at his mate.

“She needs to learn,” is all he says as he retrieves my grandmother’s book. “Come here,” Silas says, making my gaze snap to him. “Don’t make me say it again.”

Dragus moves closer before picking me up off the ground and placing me on my feet. I stagger toward him, gripping the desk for support. My entire body is shaking and numb. Silas unwraps the cloth around the book, and I watch the fire crackle in the fireplace off to the side of me. Stepping in front of me, Silas hands me the book.

“Read it, now,” he says, thrusting it in my hands. I grip the book in shaking hands, letting my thumb run over the leather. Silas watches me expectantly as I open it and drop my head to examine the first page. The fireplace is crackling loudly beside me, and I allow my eyes to dart to it again. Not even hesitating, I toss it in the fireplace. I watch as the fire licks at the leather binding it. Silas walks over, clearly unafraid of the flames as he reaches in picking it up. The cuff of his shirt caught alight, and I held my breath, praying it was long enough to burn the book. Silas blows off the flame burning the book and pats his shirt. I am shocked to see it isn’t even marred and still perfectly intact.

“Nice try, I don’t recommend you do that again,” he says, placing it back in my hands. “Now read it,” he says, his voice holding a warning that I won’t like what he will do if I don’t do what he asks of me.

“No, fuck you, Silas, read it yourself,” I spit at him.

Silas growls low, and it makes my hair stand on end as he steps closer pressing his chest against mine and forcing me to lean back. Silas grips my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

“I will burn this entire city and everyone in it to the ground if you don’t tell me what it says.” His voice is deadly calm and emotionless, making a cold shiver run up my spine. He lets go of my chin and I open the first page. I see the emblem that’s bound into the leather, and run my fingers over it.

“What is it?” he asks.

“The emblem on front,” I answer before flicking the page over and I almost burst out laughing when I read it. Of course, why didn’t I realize that.