Chapter 198
The vines turned hard and brown like tree bark. Then, Ian picked up his head and set it on his shoulders.
I had never seen a vampire revived before, but it was kind of horrifying. The blood stopped, his face slowly began to regain color then his eyes popped open as if he had just been sleeping. He let out a scream and looked around before gnashing his teeth.
“Of course, the little welp’s mother was the one.”
Francia backhanded him, and I saw a tooth go flying out of his mouth. A bruise started to bloom on his face as he grunted. He panted and turned back to look up at her with a leering, bloody smirk.
“Don’t you think you should buy me dinner before foreplay?” He chuckled. “I thought you old ones were all about the old ways?”
My face heated. What did that mean?
Francia grabbed a hand full of hair and jerked his head up.
“That wasn’t even a warm-up,” Francia said softly. Her eyes filled with red light. “And if you’d like me not to get serious and beat you into your second afterlife, I’d suggest you answer our questions.”
She let him go and stepped back even though it looked like she would have liked to continue. Damian snorted and spat out a mouth full of blood.
“Questions? What could you possibly have questions about? Shouldn’t you be too busy mourning or running for your lives?” He sneered. “Though I guess there wasn’t much to bury.”
Francia pulled out a dagger and stabbed him in the chest. Candido looked like he wanted to stop her, but Ian looked completely unbothered as she dragged the blade up and twisted it. The scent of blood filled the air as he cried out in agony. She pulled the blade out of his chest and wiped it on his pants.
“I could do this for the rest of eternity, Damian.”
He panted, and I watched the wounds twitch and start to close. His clothes were soaked with blood. He was pale, but he didn’t look about ready to pass out.
“Poor form. Not using silver.”
“Wolfsbane is more painful,” she said and dug her claws into his shoulder. “Where is your master?”
“And where are the rest of your forces?” Candido asked.
He snorted. “Ah, Candido, or do you prefer Armeggedon? Nice ring to it, even if it’s a bit pretentious….” He smirked. “How I would have loved to take a direct bite. Your little princess barely had enough juice to give me a decent high.”
Candido said nothing, staring at him. His expression was pensive, but I had no idea what he meant.
“But I guess I wasn’t the only one drinking… Hm?” His lips twitched. “You know I could smell Lunae’s beloved general all over her. Wonder what they got up to….”
My face heated. I looked around, but no one looked at me. Candido didn’t flush or narrow his eyes. I couldn’t tell if he was unaffected or if he already knew. It made me angry that he didn’t react at all. How could he let Damian talk about me like that?
Shiloh let out a low whistle. “Uncle, does he mean….”
“Yes,” Ian chuckled. “So much for love and mates.”
I bristled and bared my teeth at him. “You—”
“She should have taken you to Lunae.” I turned back as Francia spoke and looked up at Candido.
I went still as Candido looked at her with wide eyes. He looked speechless.
Francia placed a hand on his shoulder. “And I am sorry that I didn’t push for it. We would have all been in a very different place if I had.”
Her lips twitched. “I supposed Hedwig had something to do with it.”
Candido said nothing, but I had a bunch of questions to ask about why the shock seemed to fade, and he nodded slowly.
“The path ahead of us… has already been decided in some ways.”
Then, Damian started talking again.
“It’s about time we met in person, Candido.” Damian laughed. “Shame that you weren’t man enough to fuck Sibyl. Would have probably kept her in line a little longer.”
Candido looked back at him. “Shame that you had to fuck her to keep her in line. I guess that’s the best you could do.”
Ian snorted and clapped. “I take it back. You are far more entertaining these days, Candido. The temple has done you some good!”
I frowned. What did that mean? What did any of it mean? Damian looked over at me and smirked.
“Ah, the little princess is still alive… love the look. Seems like Candido has a type. Come to give me the rest of your blood, or did you just want a good fuck at last? You look like you’re practically gagging for it. Do you make a habit—”
“Knock it off,” Candido growled. My heart lifted. He did care! If only he would just be more open with it. “Just answer.”
“I think you’ll have your answers sooner than you think.”
Ian turned his head toward the forest. “He has been quite persistent over the years.”
“The walls are falling. He’s already found an interstice.” Ian’s eyes narrowed at Damian as he laughed. It won’t be long. As soon as the artifacts are all recovered. Can you feel it? His power? Can you tell that we already have an artifact?”
Ian turned his attention back into the distance. His eyes narrowed.
“They’ll be here shortly,” Damian said “It’s your doing, you know?”
Candido turned on Ian as he continued to peer into the forest. His eyes glinting with light.
“I told you they can’t be trusted! Estella—”
“What does he mean by that?” Candido asked. “What are you seeing?”
Ian gestured vaguely, and Shiloh stepped forward, grabbing Damian by his collar.
“What interstice? How many others are there? Which artifact, you piece shit!”
I went to Candido’s side, though he didn’t look at me.
“You overestimate my importance in the scheme of things if you think I know where it is,” Damian said with a laugh. “But that’s to be expected, considering.”
“Considering what?” Shiloh growled.
“Do you really think that taking over Full Moon was the full extent of the plan?” He laughed. “You’re dumber than I thought. I guess she’s rubbing off on you. Must run in the family.”
Shiloh sent a bolt of lightning through him. He screamed and thrashed before the lightning released him. The smell of burning flesh filled the air.
“Start talking, Damian. You’re running through my patience!”
“Soon,” Ian said softly. “Quickly, Shiloh.”
Damian coughed. “The vampires I command are only a fraction of the forces that stand against you. Ian doesn’t want to get involved with this war because he knows who lives, and our forces vastly outnumber his. While you all can hide in Lunae, you can’t hide for long. He has an artifact! He’ll tear the walls of Lunae down soon enough. Then, we’ll see who is the true heir!”
Ian turned his head slowly. “Release him, Shiloh. He knows nothing.”
Candido went still.
“You can’t believe a thing they say!” I said.
“For once, the little idiot is right,” Damian said. “Go ahead and continue to play vanguard to Ian’s schemes. Go ahead and let him use you all like cannon fodder. At least, if you joined us, we’d get you nice collars.”
Ian gestured through the air again and sent a wave of light soaring over the forest. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw set.
“Messiah, get to Estella. Tell her that we’re going with Plan C. I’ve sent a message to Cillian.”
Messiah turned, and I tried to stop him, but he was too fast. I grabbed Candido’s arm and tugged.
“Don’t you think it’s strange?” I asked, glaring back at where Estella and everyone else were as Messiah rushed towards her. “She said that she might be the only person alive when this was all over. Don’t you think it’s suspicious? How could she really be loyal and say that? Obviously, if she was really loyal, she should be willing to die before you die. I would die if it meant saving your life.”
I pointed at Ian. “And he’s not saying anything! Damian’s right. We’re just being used as a shield. We should—”
“As usual, you know nothing,” Ian said. “The difference between heroism, martyrdom, and plain stupidity is thin at the worst of times, but they are different. Do not attempt to make them the same thing.”
“You–”
“And we don’t have time to argue semantics,” Ian said and turned to Candido. “If you believe him, that is your choice. My forces and I will leave. Otherwise, get whom you can into a truck, and we leave. We are no state for another battle.”
“Too late,” Damian hissed.
I heard a sharp cracking sound like breaking glass. And Ian’s eyes glinted.
“Get going!” Ian snarled.
