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Angelina
When Luca and Salvatore left our home, I experienced the separation as though it was a palpable pain. We’d spent time away from each other before, but this was different. I understood that Antoine’s territory was having a spate of demon-related murders, and as we were the Hybrids closest to his territory, it was our responsibility to assist him.
Rumours had shown it was a distinct possibility that Viktor was behind the deaths. But deep down inside, I felt edgy about the whole situation. My hopes of proving to my mates that I could be an asset, only to have them dashed when they said no, still hurt. I’d acted immaturely and stormed out of the house. They’d attempted to reason with me, but I’d refused to listen. Now, as I sat in the library, I reflected on my actions. Their reasoning was sound. They needed to stay alert, and if I’d gone with them, their focus would have been on me and not the job in hand. And Diane and Michael were my priority.
“I’m so sorry. I understand totally why I need to remain here.” There wasn’t anything else I could say, really.
“We know, bella. We’ll be back before you know it.”
Luca’s words brought a smile to my lips.
“I’ll make it up to you both, I promise.”
“We love you. And don’t you worry, there will be a lifetime for you to make it up to us… in and out of the bedroom. We must concentrate now. You may not be able to connect with us for a short while.”
My skin warmed at Salvatore’s words. Yes, I would make it up to them in every way that I could. I was about to head for the kitchen to spend time with Diane and have a chat over a cuppa when my skin tingled. This wasn’t the usual sensation when I thought about my mates. The feeling was almost hostile, a bit like the sensation I’d experienced at the bistro.
Rising from my seat, the tingling became more pronounced. This time, there was a physical pain, and I doubled over. My initial response was to call out to my mates, but as Salvatore had said, they wouldn’t be able to hear me for a while. Chills rolled over my skin, I headed out to the garden in case the source of the danger I felt was outside. It was no different than being inside the house.
“Angelina!”
Diane’s panicked call distracted me. She was heading down the path, her eyes wide. I could feel her fear.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, holding her by the shoulders.
She was shaking, and there were tears in her eyes. “Children… Viktor’s holding children,” she wailed and crumpled against me.
At her words, the prickly sensation reached fever pitch. Demon. The intensity was due to demon activity. My mates had been thrown off the scent by being called to assist Antoine. It was a setup; my initial instincts had been right all along. That demon was going to die today. My venom would be quite potent. I’d shared blood with Luca and Salvatore so many times that any toxin released from my fangs into a demon’s blood system would render it helpless. I would need to ensure that I gave him enough to keep him unconscious until my mates could help to finish him off. Only when he was full of our combined venom would he die.
“How do you know this, Diane?”
Without a word, she led me to the kitchen and indicated to the television she watched sometimes while she prepared meals. The headline on the bottom of the screen stated it was breaking news. The blood pounded in my ears, along with the thudding of my elevated heart rate. Listening to the reporter’s words was terrifying. Apparently, a group of children was being held hostage up at the stately home where my gallery used to be.
“A group of eight ten-year olds was taken hostage today as they visited the stately home. There are at least ten people holding them captive. No ransom requests. No communication at all.” The words of the reporter made the blood freeze in my veins.
“This has to be Viktor. The setting of this kidnapping is too much of a coincidence.” Diane’s tear-filled words drew me to her.
“How do you know this is Viktor?” I asked again. “It’s terrible, but it could be anyone.”
“Wait. You’ll see,” she whispered.
The camera panned round to the windows of the ground floor of the building. There were children facing most of the windows, their eyes filled with terror. Behind each child was a person holding a knife to their throat. What kind of crazy group was this to not even have a list of demands? And then the camera paused at the last window. All warmth left my body, and I shook with rage and fear.
Since my conversion, I no longer felt extreme temperatures or pain. In that moment, I suffered with both. White-blond hair and vivid blue eyes stared back at me. His trademark smirk chilled me deeply. Viktor. My instincts had been right about this. Then I witnessed what no one, not even Diane, could see. A small boy that Viktor held a knife to had a piece of paper in front of him, which read, If you come willingly to me, Angelina, I’ll give the children free passage. Don’t come, and the children will be taken to hell and used as slaves.
I turned away from the screen and slumped onto a chair.
“Can you contact Luca and Salvatore yet?”
In response to Diane’s question, I reached out, but the pathway was still blocked. I was going to have to make a huge decision. Whether I liked it or not, I would have to face Viktor alone. Those children didn’t deserve any of this. My decision made, I rose from the seat.
“Where are you going, love?” Diane’s soft voice indicated she already knew the answer.
“I have no choice. I must save them.” I tried to keep the waver from my voice, but my body trembled.
She stood in front of the door to prevent my exit. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. When I opened them again, tears flowed down her cheeks.
“Can’t you call anyone else?” she begged.
“No. There isn’t time.”
“Then let me at least contact Luca and Salvatore’s parents. If they know about this situation, maybe they can send someone to help you.”
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. “That’s a good idea, but I can’t wait for an answer. I need to go now.”
Diane bit back a sob. “If you die…”
I walked into her arms and embraced the woman who I considered to be a mother to me. Her sobbing almost set me off. I had to be strong, though. Breaking apart from her, I fixed my eyes to hers.
“Diane, I’m not going to die. Luca and Salvatore will come to me. I know it. I promise you we’ll return soon.”
Before she could say anything else, I left the room. I couldn’t bear to see her crying again. As I hid myself from view and took to the skies, I called out to my mates again, praying they’d hear my call.
“Luca, Salvatore. Viktor is holding children hostage where I used to work. I have no choice but to go. If I don’t, he’ll kill them all. Can you hear me?”
And as I flew towards the stately home, I wondered if I was heading to my death, or the children’s salvation.
* * *
