Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 65871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
“You were holding wolves hostage. You had babies in moon-silver collars. You’re a monster.”
“We’re all monsters, Alexei. Be less hysterical. It doesn’t suit you.”
He gives me the answer all true psychopaths give. He believes that his evil is actually nothing special or unique to him, that his cruelty is in everyone, and everyone would act the way he does if only they were true to themselves.
“I don’t have any baby vampires being tortured in my dungeons,” I reply. “The only reason I am keeping you alive is you may one day become useful, and because you deserve to suffer. Oblivion is too good a treatment for you. Death should come to those who deserve it, and you deserve nothing but the suffering of an existence that will not end.”
He smirks slightly. “A monstrous statement.”
“I am not here to argue for my soul with you, vampire. I have one. You do not. You care for nothing and nobody. You are incapable of softer feelings or goodness. You are a rapacious void imposed on this world.”
“Does it make you feel good to stand in judgment of me, Alexei?”
“Yes. It makes me feel good to know that the thing that caused me pain, and caused my mate pain, will suffer for as long as I live at the very least, and quite likely beyond it.”
“Idiot.” He bites the word out almost as though he is disappointed in me. “You will die. But you will bear young first. You have no doubt already impregnated her. You will do so again and again. You will produce a living chain of creatures whose future existence depends on your current fornication. And each and every one of them will be at my mercy.”
“Not if you’re dead. Not if I ensure that you end at the same time I do, or perhaps before. I intend for one of the last things I see in this world being your demise.” My tone is vicious and yes, perhaps monstrous. But this is the proper use of monstrosity, to punish those who deserve it, and to protect those who do not.
“If your forefathers had come to the same conclusion, you would not exist. I took your mate because she consumed the flesh of my son, and because you disrespected me when I paid you a visit. The pair of you are uncontrollable, impulsive, spoiled little whelps, and I know for a fact you are a disappointment to your ancestors.”
I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Trying to get me to kill you now? It won’t work. You will suffer, vampire. You will suffer the way mortals do, slowly and inescapably, fearing death and eventually begging for it. That is what happens when you take what is mine.”
“What is yours is also mine, you need to remember,” he says, repeating his vile claim to Anya. “I know you don’t believe me. I know you think you’d be better off killing me because of all of that in the basement and the rest of it, but the thing is, Alexei, you haven’t listened to me. Neither of you have.”
“What have I not listened to?”
“I am her father. Well. Not biologically, of course. I am a vampire, and we only have seeds of death to spread. But I did organize her breeding. I know who her father is. I selected him. And of course, I knew her mother. I am family in a way you cannot understand. I have your best interests at heart, believe it or not.”
“You’re a perverted freak.”
“Plenty of fathers are.” He sighs to himself. “Terrible things are going to befall you, your mate, and this pack, Alexei. I warned you. The vampires are rising, and without an ancient to command them…”
I turn and walk away, leaving the light on. No more sweet embrace of darkness for him. He will be eroded and eradicated by the very thing that gives everything else on this planet life.
CHAPTER 18
“Awave of bloodshed is rushing over Europe, as murders increase beyond all sense. People are restricted to their homes, living in fear as bands of unknown aggressors roam the streets by night, slaughtering innocents and appearing, at times, to drink their blood. More at eleven.”
Elena downs her third double whiskey of the day. Her hair, usually perfectly neatly done up with pins and such, is half-down. I don’t think she is aware, and I do not think she would care if she was. We are past the point of fine appearances. There are weapons laid casually on tables and leaning up against walls, close to hand. We are ready for an incursion at any moment. The castle has always been a sanctuary, but nowhere is truly safe anymore.
Elena turns her head toward me, her eyes slightly bloodshot as she weighs whether or not to give me shit. She gets up and pours herself another few fingers instead, then gives me shit.