“We also need a vampire.”
“And, that’s where your mommy comes in.”
Revealing a dagger from a strap on her thigh, she clicked her fingers, and Jacqueline appeared from the side-lines, subdued with handcuffs, as she was dragged across the floor and up towards Angelique.
Holding up one of Jacqueline’s wrists, she slid the dagger across her skin, and allowed the blood to drip into her goblet. Once she was done, Serena went up and took the goblet from her.
“You will be damned if you think you’re getting my blood.”
Looking over at Darius, he seemed awfully quiet for someone who was probably going to be murdered soon. He caught my eyes and smiled devilishly, as if he had a plan all along.
Angelique kicked Jacqueline down the two steps, drawing my attention back to her as she lifted Jackson’s face up, “You’re friend here, he put up quite a fight when we caught him. He was very protective over the others, but once Serena got a hold of him, he had no escape.”
“And what of Eric?”
Eric hadn’t stopped staring at me, as if he were in a trance, and it pained me to see them both in this position. How did any of this happen?
“Eric came to me, pleading – begging even.”
She laughed a little as she lifted up his face, kissing him passionately on the lips, and although he continued to stare, he kissed her back.
“He begged for me to turn him into a vampire, so he would be rid of his feelings for you, but I couldn’t allow that, especially after Serena told me I could use him. And use him, I did.”
She disgusted me, her very being shouldn’t exist, and I wasn't ready to help turn her into a complete immortal. Someone that wooden bullets and stakes wouldn’t be able to stop. The women who killed my parents, Eric’s family, his team, and Jackson’s true love. No, this wasn’t happening, and I wasn’t about ready to die in a damned white dress either!
Feeling as rage and strength soared through my body as my blood felt hot, as if it were boiling, I channelled the emotions into pulling at the cuffs around my wrists.
Bringing my arms upwards while pulling hard, I could hear the chains clink and the hooks begin to snap.
Angelique’s eyes widened as did Serena’s. I had never felt such strength and power before, where was this coming from? Looking at Darius his smile slowly disappeared as did the colour from his face, was this power coming from him? Was I draining him?
It dawned on me then, magic was linked to energy, our life source. You could lend your energy to someone, aiding them in a spell but it could come with great consequences and as much as the part of me that cared for Darius demanded I stop, I knew he wanted this, he wanted me to get out of here.
“STOP HER!” Angelique yelled as the chains came out of the hooks in the floor, and I was free.
Flinging one of the chains outwards, I hit one of the werewolves, who had tried to advance on me, in the face. The chain hit with such force; I could hear his neck snapping as his head was jerked completely backwards from the impact.
A mist of rage covered my mind as I took a hold of my dress, ripping it up towards my thigh as a vampire jumped on my back and he tried sinking his teeth into my neck.
Grabbing him by his hair, I yanked him over my shoulder, and knocked him down in front of me, stomping on his chest with my bare foot and kicking him then in the face, he passed out.
“GET HER!!”
Angelique was continuing to shout and bark orders at her soldiers as she stayed put near her throne, standing in between Jackson and Eric. I needed to decide if I were to save anyone or to destroy Angelique and Serena then and there.
An invisible force wrapped itself around my neck, lifting me off the ground as Serena stepped out to stand in front of me, her eyes black as the black veins that spread across her face.
“I will drain your blood right here if you don’t stop.”
Her voice was venomous, and not like anything I heard before.
“If you touch Darius or Jackson, I will kill you myself!” I shouted back, unsure of what to do.
“Be silent.”
Stepping away from me, she took the goblet from some sort of altar she had made and headed towards Eric. Although I felt greatly betrayed by him, I never wanted to see him get hurt. I knew deep down I had hurt him more than any human being could, rejecting his love but continuing to mess with his heart, he didn’t deserve any of this.
Angelique handed Serena the dagger as I watched in great horror, unable to move or speak. Serena slid the dagger across Eric’s throat and as blood poured from his wound, she placed the goblet under it to catch some of the blood, and then she turned towards Jackson, who by this point had woken up.