The next day I was woken up roughly. I opened my eyes to see a pissed Sybil. On sighting Meredith behind her, I knew I was in for a day."So it's simple," Meredith began as we hastily walked down a long corridor. "We brew a scent-concealing potion, you go to Manhattan using the apparat--""Manhattan?" I asked, my breaths shortening to a pant. Increasing my stride to keep up with her, I rushed out, "But he's in Chicago, isn't he? At Gornagon.""Our intels at the castle have informed us he has gone on a short trip to Manhattan."My brows furrowed. "Why?"Meredith made to speak but was cut off by Sybil snapping, "Can you stop asking pointless questions? The king's reason for going to Manhattan does not matter; what does is that he's there, with few protection, and that we've got to send you off to him before he leaves for Chicago tomorrow."We'd gotten to a huge oak door. Meredith worked a key in. "If it helps any, he went to Manhattan to pay a visit to one of the vampire lords, Igor.""
Although vampire helps milled about, the mansion was relatively quiet when I walked in. Shades had been pulled over the windows tightly to keep sunlight away. The only lights available in the foyer were the ones from the giant chandeliers spiralling down the high ceilings. I suppressed a jolt when a male vampire traced to stand behind me.Sliding a covert glance at my back, I realized he'd only traced to help another vampire in carrying some items. Hefting the huge painting in one hand like it weighed nothing, the vampire passed by me as he headed towards another opening across the hall.The massive twin staircases in the middle of the white-themed hall called to me. I made a beeline towards it, but slowed my pace when I felt eyes on me.The next thing I did was what I've been doing for practically my whole life; I tried to belong, tried to blend.Loosening up my shoulders while striding casually like I had all the time in the world, I noted other similarly dressed ladies walked about
He tilted his head at me, those sharp green eyes scrutinizing my face. His low voice sounded again. "Are you coming in or not?"My breaths slowed at his open attention and I found myself saying, "Yes...I am."With that he went over to his closet, taking bold strides. The mere act of him walking commanded attention. He walked with such animal grace and raw vitality. Lines of arrogance and something darkly menacing were stamped on the sharp planes of his face.He withdrew a pair of worn jeans and made to sling it on, the towel parting. I looked away on instinct. Then looked back again, my mouth drying up at the size of his junk. It was huge.Shirtless, he casually strolled over to the large chair at his reading table, seating. Eyes never leaving me, he leaned back on his chair, muscles bunching as he propped an elbow on the armrest, absently twirling the gold ring on his finger. "You know what to do," he stated plainly.My face scrunched in confusion. "What?"A black brow went up. "Do
The air thickened ominously and glowing white streaks bursted out of my palms, heading straight for a shocked Lan.Before it got to him, a bodyguard jumped in, getting struck. He froze, then erupted into black ashes. Dead. I fought down the panic and guilt threatening to rise, focusing on one thing; I missed. I'd missed and that was the only opportunity I would get. And I'd f*cked it up. Frantically I summoned another energyball as the guards closed in on me. The death of the guard seemed to snap Lan into action. He stood, fury boiling in his feral eyes. "Bound her hands," he ordered with deceptive calm.I fought wildly as one grabbed my hair. I fought wildly while the rest rushed for me. But before they got a hold of my hands, I worked up another energyball and blasted them with it, weakening. More and more warriors poured in, and when they came at me again, I desperately chanted a spell, "Lis eida!" A call for help.My hands were pulled painfully behind me and shackled. I was for
The sound of my cell bars sliding open snapped me wide awake. I started to stand but was stopped by a growl. On taking stock of my surroundings, it gradually registered to me that a pack of huge, frightening men stood around the room, their faces stoic. They were here, the Lycans.My heart spiked, the events from the past rushing back to me. Two men approached me, taking me by my arms. Once they proceeded to carry me off, I frantically rushed out, my voice rising with each word, "My aunts, where are they? What did you do to them?! What did you do with the rest of the witches?"I kicked out my legs, surprised when I found they were bare. My breath hitched once I took in the state of my dressing. I was in different clothes: someone had changed me.My gaze connected with the stocky vampire from before. He gave me a slow, sickly smile at the realization in my gaze.My eyes widened. "You pervert!" I kicked wildly, fighting against the strong holds on my arms. "I would turn you into a pig
LAN FARROW_Guards bowed low as I came storming through the chamber. The prisoners inched away from the bars, blending into the shadows. They hid, not entirely from me. But from what they knew I could do to them. On entering the central hall, I spotted an elder tear away from the crowd of people he was with, fast approaching me. I held up a hand, needing to be left alone.Head pounding, I climbed up the stairs, thoughts frantically zipping across my mind. After navigating the keep, I marched into my private wing and instantly drew up short when I saw it was teeming with lycan warriors. The hell? This part of the castle was private for a reason.On sighting me, the warriors fell silent. The sound of my boots reverberated as I slowly walked through the large hall. Looking at the faces around me, I came to a stop. "Out."For a while they stood there, staring at me, their faces starting to twitch anxiously. This ratcheted up my ire. I roared, "I said get the hell out!" I wasn't used to
MEREDITHThe voices around bombarded my ears, heightening my anxiety, although I tried not to show it, I never did. "Quiet," I stated calmly. When the noise still persisted, I screamed, "Quiet!"Unused to hearing me raise my voice, they quieted down. "Willow is in trouble," I began. "It's up to us to get her back from the Lycans before... Before they torture her to deat--"Hellene suddenly snapped, "It's all your fault, Corinne! If you didn't come up with that stupid plan--"Corinne scoffed heatedly. "Oh, like you would have thought of a better plan? Funny how I didn't hear you object t--""Ugh! I can't believe you! I can't believe any of you!" She proceeded to storm off.I made to stop her, but Maren beat me to it. She placed her hand on Hell's shoulder, saying calmly, "Hey, we're going to get her bac--"Smoke literally blew out of her ears. "Aren't you supposed to be her friend, Maren? For all we know they could be picking off her nails from the skin of her fingers one by one, and a
WILLOW __My cellmate was quite... talkative. Even now the scaly woman's voice rang out in the cramped room, grating on my ears."...Yes! I'm telling the truth. I was a princess in my land, right up until these dogs decided to take my sister, Dierdre, for some debt we haven't paid yet. To be fair, something that old shouldn't be considered a debt anymore. But, noo, king La--"I didn't want to even hear his name being spoken, but sadly, my ears were not immune to Yvonne. The 'princess'--an interloper from another dimension--had landed herself here when she came to get her captive sister, and now she was stuck in our dimension, or kingdom Earth as she'd called it."...I mean, every night before I sleep, the palace maids comb my hair with exactly two hundred and five brushes. Imogen used to add an extra one..."From the side of my eyes, I took in the young woman who was at the verge of hysterics, that was, if she wasn't already driving into it headfirst with a speeding limit. She was bl