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My heart began pounding like a hammer. The love of my life turned evil. And the one I accepted as my friend betrayed me. I had no one. Tears began trickling down my cheeks. I curled into a ball, at least to protect my baby. She also had no one except me.
Focusing on keeping my breath steady, I closed my eyes. Once I opened them again, I saw Kira’s combat boots and froze. As I looked up, her hardened face painted in shadows and light appeared before me. It was over. What did I expect? A human in the world of the undead never had a chance at survival. I was but a fool to believe vampires to be good. Not an ounce of mercy from a nest of predators. Not even for a mother and her baby.
“The study is clear,” Kira yelled.
What did she mean by the study was clear. I was clearly here in front of her.
“Come, Milady,” Kira whispered. “We don’t have enough time.” She took my trembling hand and guided me through a dark path in the study. We rushed through the Petra Museum and reached the secret room, the one where Gabriel and I kissed.
“Why are we going through here?” I asked.
“I’m surprised His Majesty didn’t tell you. This is a secret passage leading to the back of the castle. It’s our only way out of here,” Kira said.
“Why are you helping me? I asked.
“That’s what friends are supposed to do.” She turned on a flashlight and went ahead to make sure the coast was clear.
The dense, musty air of the passage made running more difficult than expected. Even Athena began wiggling in her sleep. But nothing could be done. This was our only chance of escaping a guaranteed death.
We ran for what seemed like ten minutes. No threat accosted us along the way, except for the occasional drip of condensation. Once outside, Kira turned off the light, turned toward me, and handed me a dagger. The dagger Gabriel gifted me in Wallachia.
“It’s best to have some kind of weapon just in case,” Kira said and sprinted ahead.
I ran after her, fearing I could get lost in the woods. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“There is a path through the woods which leads to a main road. The only problem is the woods are festered withstrigoi.”
“They also live in the castle woods? I never met any before.”
“His Majesty has given them free rein over all forests in The Other Realm, so it’s expectedto find them here as well,” Kira said as she guided us through a hidden path.
“Do you thinkstrigoiialready know about my escape?” I asked.
“Most likely not. His Majesty made it clear he wanted you and the baby to be retrieved safe and sound.Strigoiiwould fail at the ‘safe and sound’ part. Which is why we should stay quiet for the time being.”
Hundreds more questions swirled in my mind, but the fear of encountering astrigoiquickly settled my curiosity straight. We walked through uneven terrain next to a stream for about half an hour. I asked Kira to stop for a bit so I could drink some water. As we descended toward the stream, we began hearing noises everywhere. “Are these sounds coming fromstrigoi?”
“It could also be animals,” said Kira. “But I believe it’s best to leave. We have just a short stretch before we reach the main road.”
“It’s easy for you to say. I don’t mind walking the long roads, but with the risk of Athena waking any minute, my stress levels are making their first steps on the moon right now,” I said as I sat down next to the stream.
“I could always entrance her,” Kira said.
“You can also do that?” I asked.
“I’m a Once Diluted, so I hold many powers similar to His Majesty. However, his are superior in every aspect. He is indeed the strongest supernatural being in The Other Realm.”
“Then why did you betray him? Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond grateful, but you seem to admire him so much.”
“I believe it’s what His Majesty wanted. Think about it. If he wanted you both dead, you would’ve already been. He probably knows I’m missing as well, but, as you can see, he’s not chasing us through the woods though I believe he can smell us miles away.”
“You believe he let us escape?” I asked.
“Rest assured, Milady, us being here is completely his decision,” Kira said. “I do not know the reason why he wishes the death of your child, but it must be a valid one.”
“Then why did he order to catch us?”
“He is king to one of the most ruthless societies to exist. I believe he tried to keep face.”
