Page 77

Chapter 26

Abigail saved me; she saved my life knowing she would expose herself, expose her family. She nearly died to save me. Now, I fear what Silas is going to do to her. I can feel the bond, feel them, and right now they are all in shock. So what happens after the shock wears off? What happens when Silas wants to break the curse again?

I try to hop off Silas’s lap, and his grip just gets tighter. Matitus and Dragus are both sitting on the floor with us.

“I’m sorry, Elora. I don’t care about the curse; I just need you, please forgive me,” Silas whispers into my neck, clutching onto me like I am his lifeline.

“Let me up please, Silas,” I ask, and he reluctantly lets go, allowing me to stand. Turning around and staring down at him, I can tell he has been crying. It looks strange to see someone as cruel as him have tear stains on his cheeks.

“Are you going to leave us?” Silas asks, gazing up at me. I don’t know what to say, I love them. Even when the bond was gone, I still loved them, but this situation is toxic. Silas is toxic.

Instead of answering, I walk away. I can feel their eyes on me as I exit the room. Feel their worry through the bond. I can’t allow them to have this much control over me. It is annoying and can’t be helped. Still, I have to draw a line somewhere. They need to learn to compromise. Instinctively, I know Dragus will follow me blindly, maybe even Matitus, if I leave. However, I don’t want it to come to that. As much as I hate him, I still can’t bring myself to leave him.

I enter the kitchen, searching for Abigail and Marian. They aren’t here though, and one of the cooks tells me they went outside so I decide to see if I can find them. I walk past the library to the front door when I am stopped by Dragus.

“Where are you going?” he asks, and I can feel his unease through the bond like I’m walking out on them.

“Abbie and Marian went outside; I am looking for them,” I tell him, and he exhales. I go to open the door when I feel a hand on my shoulder, sparks burst across my skin, and I glance over my shoulder to see Silas. He places a cloak over me.

“Don’t stay out there too long, it is cold today,” he says, tugging on the cloak and turning me to face him. He ties it closed then lets me go and I open the door to leave. I see Abigail and Marian by the gates and head over to them. Abigail is arguing with one of the guards wanting permission to leave.

Abigail seems distraught as I approach her, screaming hysterically for the guard to open the gate. Marian is trying to calm her down but failing as Abigail grows more frantic.

“Abbie, what’s going on?”

“I found a text on the old Nokia phone, we only use it for emergencies. My mother can’t get out, they are captured at the eastern wall, they have Claire,” she sobs.

“It’s alright, Abbie, calm down, I will speak to Matitus.”

“No, no. You know why you can’t, Elora. I can collect my daughter, but mum has to stay till she is granted clemency,” she pleads, grabbing my hand. Sizing up the guard, I can tell he is a Vampire by the crimson color of his eyes. He folds his arms across his chest refusing to step aside.

“Move, let her out now,” I tell him. He smirks at me, stepping forward menacingly.

“You don’t give me orders, woman, now get back inside to your owners,” he snarls, spitting next to my feet.

“I said let her out; now step aside leech,” I yell at him. The Vampire grabs my arm, his nails digging in, yanking me to him. I am enraged that he thinks he can touch me. I palm him in the face, only I’m not expecting the blow to actually hurt him. He starts screaming in agony when I feel energy burst from my palm as it connects with his face. Blinding white light spurts from my hands. I’m not even sure what I did but nevertheless, he starts screaming.

“My eyes, my fucking eyes!” he screeches as he pulls his hands away from his face and I see I have blinded him. His eyes turn a ghostly, milky white. He growls, lunging at me, my shock makes me slow to react as he knocks me to the ground. Abigail screams and Marian tries to pull him off me only to be shoved to the ground.

“You’re dead now, bitch,” he growls, his fangs protruding. I struggle to get him off, fear consuming me when I notice his fangs so close to my face. His eyes glow with his rage. Abigail screams, blasting him with her powers, green light shoots from her and the smell of leaves hits my senses just as vines shoot from the ground and pull him off. The vines wrap around him, pinning him to the ground. They only hold him down long enough for me to get to my feet when I see more Vamps jump from the brick walls to help their fallen friend. The man gets up, lunging toward me again. Before he attacks, he is blocked when Silas’s hand wraps around his throat. I can hear the snapping of his bones, the wheezing as he tries to breath around his crushed windpipe. Eventually, he lets go. The Vampire drops to the ground clutching his neck. Silas growls loudly and I spot Matitus and Dragus stalking toward us, feeling their anger vibrate through me.

“That bitch blinded me!” the Vampire screeches, having healed from Silas crushing his neck.

“That bitch is my mate,” Silas snarls, kicking him in the face. The other Vamps put up their hands in surrender, backing away from us and the three Dragon Kings. The man on the ground coughs on his blood. Silas glares down at him then grabs him. Matitus walks over, pulling me into his chest. I go to turn back to Silas when Matitus pushes my face into his chest holding it there, just as I hear it. The sound of flesh tearing. The sound is sickening and Abigail throws up next to me. Matitus lets my face go and I turn to see Silas holding the man’s head by his hair, his body on the ground at his feet with blood pooling around it. I fight the urge to throw up. Marian is white as a sheet. Matitus and Dragus, however, are unfazed by the gory scene in front of them.

“Now, what happened?” Silas says, turning to me.

“He wouldn’t let Abigail out to retrieve her daughter,” I tell him, and he looks to Abigail.

“Where is she?” he asks, watching her, his eyes glinting oddly more like a snake than a human as they flicker.

Abigail shakes her head, and I hear Silas growl when she refuses to answer. I grab his arm making his eyes dart down to my hand.

“She is at the eastern border, they were caught trying to leave,” I tell him, and his brows furrow.

“Why was your daughter and mother leaving the city?” he asks, turning his gaze on Abigail.

“Silas, please,” I beg, knowing Abigail would rather die than answer.