Six
OceanofPDF.com
Dianna
A nother kick to the gut had Drake coughing. Flames licked the walls,
climbing higher as they ate every curtain, framed picture, and
painting. Rubble fell as another part of the mansion crumbled into ruin.
“You know,” I groaned, tipping my head back and lifting my arms, “I have to be honest with myself here. I really am a selfish fucking bitch.”
Another kick and his body lurched up before slamming back to the
ground.
“I hate when people touch what’s mine.”
Another kick had Drake skidding across the floor, slamming into the far wall hard enough to crack the stone. He groaned and spat blood onto the ground.
“Also,” I snickered, stepping forward, “you want to know what’s so funny? I honestly believed it was another fucking illusion. How stupid is that?”
I picked him up by the front of his shirt. One punch and his cheek split open. “Imagine how I felt when that blood deal broke.”
Another punch.
“The searing pain as I watched her fall to the floor.”
Another punch
“And my stupid self, realizing that the one person I thought was my friend had betrayed me.”
Blood dribbled from the corner of Drake’s split lip as it slowly healed, but the cut on his cheek tried and failed to seal.
“We didn’t know he was going to kill Gabby,” Drake said, his voice choked and filled with pain as he tried to right himself in my grip. “We were only told to bring her to him. That’s it. I swear.”
“You don’t get to say her name. You don’t ever get to say her name.” I hissed the words from between gritted teeth and kneed him in the gut. He crumpled forward, not even fighting back, not like before. “Can you believe I risked everything to hide your family from him while you sold out mine?”
“I’m sorry. I really am, Dianna.” Drake winced.
“Yeah?” I wrenched his head back, forcing him to look at me. “I’m sorry too. Sorry I ever trusted you, believed you, helped you. I’m sorry I ever followed you in that damn desert. I am sorry for my gullibility in thinking you were an angel sent to save us. Most of all, I’m sorry I ever thought I had a real friend.”
My voice slipped, emotion nearly overcoming me. My eyes burned, and my vision blurred, tears threatening to spill over. It was the same every time I talked to Samkiel. I closed my eyes, imagining another lock on a chain on a door in a faraway house. I swallowed and opened my eyes to glare at Drake, shoving those emotions away. Relief flooded me when the new lock formed and snapped closed, leaving only cold hard hate.
“You betrayed me in the worst way imaginable. I hope when I reduce you to ash, you don’t get to see your family in the afterlife, the same way I will never see her again.”
Drake only nodded, defeat settling over him. “Do it.”
I gripped the back of his head, pulling until his neck was exposed. He didn’t fight, didn’t move. My gaze danced across his throat. “I will, but first, I want to see how it happened.”
The muscles in his neck flexed, the vein below his jaw pounding. I lowered my mouth to the rapid pulse. My fangs slowly extended, piercing his flesh. Blood poured into my mouth, sending me away from this room.
I stood at the large framed window of the mansion, watching Samkiel and Dianna walk further into the garden. Dinner was less of a disaster than I’d thought it would be. Which was great, considering Ethan hadn’t exactly played nice like we’d agreed he would.
Ethan sighed behind me. “You really think what Camilla saw is true?”
“Camilla’s ancestors go too far back for us to even date. If some magical force suddenly gives her visions, then yes, I do.”
I snorted. “Some magical force? You sound like Father. What, do you think fate is intervening?”
Ethan took another long draw from his cigar. “I don’t believe in fate.”
“Why antagonize him so much?” I turned away from the window as they disappeared into the garden.
“Says the antagonizer.” Ethan took a pull from his cigar, the orange ember flaring at the end.
“I thought the dress was a good idea. I just wanted to see if he looks at
her like Kaden does?”
“And how is that?”
“Like a prize to be won, a slab of meat.”
Ethan exhaled a stream of smoke before tapping his cigar on the ashtray in front of him. “And how does the World Ender look at her, Brother?”
“Like I looked at Seraphine all those years ago, and how you look at Naomi.” Ethan met my stare. “As if the world doesn’t exist without her.”
Ethan’s eyes darted from mine. “I hope for the sake of the world you are right.”
I nodded, and Ethan huffed. He took another drag from his cigar but stopped mid-draw. His gaze caught on the mirror across the room. It was humming, and the reflection wavered.
“He’s calling. Turn some music on to drown out the sound and make
sure they stay in the garden.”
I gave him a salute.
The vision shimmered, and the setting changed.
Sunlight danced across Silver City, and I adjusted the sunglasses on my face.
“How do you even know about this coffee shop, Drake? You haven’t been to Silver City, have you?” Gabriella joked and laughed, poking my side with a single finger.
My head reared back from his throat. I gasped, blood slipping from my lip and coating my chin. Crackling flames danced behind me, the burning, crumbling mansion coming back into view. Gabby. Her voice had been so clear, crisp, and happy. Had I forgotten it? Already? Had the blood I’d consumed already stolen my memories of her? I held Drake’s head as he sagged against me. My breathing became erratic as her smile danced across my subconscious. More. I needed more.
I lowered my head again, sinking my fangs deeper. Drake groaned, and I could feel the vibration of the sound against my lips. My hand cupped the back of his neck, forcing him closer.
Silver City came back, only this time we were in the shop, standing in
line.
“Get whatever you want. My treat.”
I smiled at her, hoping to be convincing. If vampires could sweat, I’d be shedding bullets. She smiled up at me, and I hated it. Don’t smile at me, Gabby. I am afraid we are not here for fun.
The dark-haired celestial with her caught my gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly. She hovered next to Gabby protectively, keeping her within reach.
Dianna would love it. I shook my head, trying to dislodge the thought before plastering on my best fake face.
“And anything you want as well, Mrs. Neverra.”
That was her name. She was Logan’s mate. Luckily, he was away. The only problem was Rick. The mortal male had been glaring at me from the beginning.
“So, how do you know Gabriella?” Rick asked, a hint of jealousy wafting off him as he clung to her side. I pitied him for loving her, knowing what was to come.
Gabriella popped him, knowing why he asked. The interaction reminded me so much of Dianna.
“I work with her sister. We go way back.” I smirked at Gabriella.
Gabriella smiled. “So, Samkiel sent you here?”
“Yes.” I winked back as the line moved forward. “He is so nice. The stories are completely wrong.”
Gabriella giggled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “How is Dianna?”
Of course, her only concern would be for her sister. They had that in
common, too.
“Sassy as ever.”
She smiled up at me and nudged me playfully, just as her sister always did. “I’ve missed you. You should visit more after this is over.”
Don’t say that, and don’t smile at me, please.
“Of course,” I said, forcing a tight smile.
The barista smiled at us as we reached the counter. “Welcome, what—”
His words died, his eyes glazing, a puppet no longer in service. The entire
cafe stilled as the cord controlling it all snapped. Kaden stepped from behind the wall separating the cafe from the kitchen, Tobias flanking him on his right. Kaden took a sip of his coffee and lowered the beige plastic cup.
“You know, for a highly respected city, you would think they wouldn’t let just anyone walk in.” Kaden swirled the coffee in his cup.
My stomach sank as he smiled at me, and I saw the exact moment fear
suffused Gabriella.
“Drake. We have to leave.”
I took a step away from her, away from them all, the space a final divide in so many damned ways.
“I’m sorry, Gabriella. For what it’s worth, I truly did care for you both.”
Her eyes gleamed, and she gripped Rick’s arm. “What did you do?”
My stomach clenched at the accusation in her voice and the betrayal in her eyes. “What they told me to do. Get you far enough away from the Guild so backup had no time to arrive.”
Neverra didn’t hesitate, two blades appearing in her hands, power rippling off them as she stepped in front of Gabriella. “Both of you will die here,” she said, her voice cold.
She was such a powerful and fearless celestial.
“Oh, I do so love it when you all try to fight,” Kaden said and grinned at Tobias, who only smiled in return.
Kaden’s smile turned deadly. Tobias lifted his hand, and the people in the shop bent and broke, the corpses returning to what they were in death.
Then, they circled us one by one, preparing to help their master. Neverra stopped, watching in horror. Gabriella raised her hands to cover her mouth, her terror obvious.
“You won’t win here, little celestial, but I do want to see you try,”
Kaden taunted.
The room shook, and the images became distorted.
Neverra spun toward Kaden, her swords singing through the air. It didn’t matter how many bodies she dropped. They were outnumbered. With one hand, Kaden caught Neverra by the throat, a flaming portal opening in the floor. She fought, but he was stronger. Her blades fell, and he laughed before tossing her into the gaping darkness.
The coffeehouse shook, reality distorting as if time was on fast forward.
Tobias held a limp Rick by his neck, bruises covering his face as if he’d
tried to fight and lost.
The world trembled again.
Gabby kicked and screamed in Kaden’s grip, tears streaming down her cheeks. He jumped with her into the portal and disappeared.
Darkness consumed me as I followed them.
I leaned my head back, the memory fading. I had drained almost all the blood from Drake, and I didn’t care. He’d led her to Kaden. To see it, to feel what he felt, and to know he didn’t even try to stop it. He hadn’t hesitated or even thought about changing his mind, and it broke any connection or care that might have remained. The sliver of my heart I had left was in tatters. I had no real friends. I never did, and because of him, I had no family either. The final connection snapped, and every emotion inside me seemed to die.
“I’m-I’m sorry,” Drake managed to gasp out as I cradled him.
My fangs retracted. “No, but you will be,” I said, my voice cracking.
Her memory floated away from me. “You all will be.”
OceanofPDF.com
