Vampire's Labyrinth (Vampire's Valentine Book Three)

by Rosette Bolter

  But the figure behind her was taller than the nurse.

  The figure was someone else entirely.

  “Prudence Blythe?” he demanded.

  “Uh … no…” Pru tried.

  He grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her off the bed.

  “You’re coming with me.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  He had changed his mind.

  There would be no freedom for Prudence, no voice to call her own. Bastian had swiftly decided that his bride must be recaptured and returned to him at all costs.

  Or so she thought.

  How else could Prudence explain the circumstances surrounding this abduction? The man in question hadn’t revealed any weapons to her, but his strength alone was weapon enough. As she tried to dodge and weave her way out of his grasp, it only seemed to get stronger. She knew this was no ordinary man – he was a creature – much like Bastian.

  Just as she was about to scream out for help, her assailant shoved her up against the nearest wall, his fingers wrapped around her throat.

  “Stop,” he demanded. “Just stop for one moment.”

  Pru stared back at him, petrified.

  He then looked over his shoulder, afraid someone may have heard the commotion. He turned back to her.

  “My name’s Reese, of Creekridge MC. I’m friends with Elliot. Christine must have mentioned me.”

  “I don’t care who you are,” Pru said between breaths. “If you don’t get your hands off me at once –”

  “Sorry.”

  He released her and stepped back, allowing Pru to slide down the face of the wall. As she went to pick herself back up he attempted to help, which she wasn’t having any of.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” she snapped. “Leave me alone.”

  “I’ve got to get you out of here,” Reese said. “Before Bastian finds out I’m onto him.”

  “He said I can stay here, and I’m choosing to trust him,” Pru replied. “I don’t want to get involved in whatever –”

  “Don’t you wish to be free of him?”

  Pru closed her eyes. “Get out. Please, just go.”

  “I can help you, Prudence,” Reese said earnestly. “This may be your only chance to break his spell.”

  Her eyelids lifted. “What spell?”

  “The one he cast over you, on the day you met him.”

  “What do you know about it?”

  “I have contacts who know all about Bastian and what he’s been up to recently. When I first heard about this I was intrigued, as the chance to be rid of any vampire warrants the world’s blessing. But Bastian … is so much more than your typical vampire. It is said that he has been known to consort with an ancient faction of spellcasters who practice black magic. It is believed he was trained by one particularly vile sorcerer known as the Red Glove, as his hands were always covered in blood. After much was proven against Bastian, he was banished to an island in the paranormal wastelands. His only way of breaking free of his prison was to find his way into the heart of a woman … and now that woman is you.”

  Prudence looked down, shaking her head. “This isn’t my fault. He was here before I had anything to do with him. In the maze when –”

  “For whatever reason, even before you met, he was in your heart. You were searching for him that day. And as time passed, his presence within you grew stronger. Now that you are wed, his prison is no more. He can appear anywhere for any duration. Which is why you’re not safe without someone watching out for you.”

  “I can’t just run off with you,” Prudence protested. “Where are we supposed to go?”

  “One of my contacts has put me in touch with a woman who claims to know Bastian. She may know a way to lift his spell.”

  Prudence exhaled and stepped past him into the light of the doorway.

  The still corridor stared straight ahead.

  “What if I say no? Will you attack me again?”

  Reese hesitated. “I suppose I’ll have to.”

  “You say you’re friends with Elliot?”

  Reese nodded.

  “How would he feel about that?”

  Reese took out his phone. “Why don’t you call him and find out?”

  Pru looked at it. “That’s okay. I … I …”

  “I insist.”

  He handed her the phone.

  She placed it against her shoulder.

  “I haven’t spoken to Elliot in forever,” Pru said. “He probably doesn’t even care about me by now.”

  “Trust me,” Reese said. “He cares.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The night was taking a dive.

  Before she even knew what was happening, Pru was on the back of Reese’s motorcycle, racing through the artificially lit roads of the metropolitan, clutching onto his back for dear life. Prior to their departure he had made the passing comment that he would ‘enjoy’ riding with her – even going as far to say that Elliot flat out refused to get on his bike. It made sense enough to Prudence. Reese was reckless, life-endangering, and ignorant of his feelings. If the bike hit a corner the wrong way, or managed to somehow go headfirst into another motorist, she could easily see Reese getting up and shaking it off with a smile on his face. All according to plan. Meanwhile, she’d be dead of course.

  By the end of their journey, Pru was seeing stars. She got off the bike and stumbled, falling down on the wet grass. Overhead, bright lights bore down on her. She clawed through till she reached the dirt below, trying to steady herself. She thought about her ordeal through the forest on Bastian’s island, the wind and rain tearing into her body like fire. In a way, this was somehow worse. She didn’t know where she was or what was going on.

  “Pru, could you stand up please?” Reese called from a short distance. “We have company.”

  Pru took a moment, waiting for the haze of the lights to thin down.

  Then there was a woman’s voice. “I’ll go talk to her.”

  Caught off guard, Pru filled her lungs with the fresh air and forced her way to her feet. A small figure was approaching her, feeling their path out with something long and firm.

  A cane.

  Pru’s eyes adjusted further and she saw they were in the middle of an empty football field. Reese was talking to another man standing beside a second motorcycle, not even paying attention to them.

  The woman before her was wearing a leather jacket and pants. She was aged in her late forties, and from the vacant stare in her eyes, Pru could see she was blind.

  “Over here,” Pru whispered.

  The woman walked slowly forward. “Prudence?”

  “Or just Pru,” she mumbled.

  “My name’s Helen. Nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise.”

  “We have to keep this short I’m afraid. Victor and I have a lot going on tonight. But of course when I heard that Bastian –”

  “Reese said you knew him?”

  “I was his wife. As … you are now.”

  Pru’s head tilted forward. “Did he…?”

  “Did he what?”

  “Did he blind you?”

  Helen laughed. “Of course not. I was born blind.”

  “Oh.”

  “I must say though he used my lack of sight to his advantage.”

  “He did?”

  Helen cleared her throat. She seemed a touch uncomfortable. “Yes.”

  “I’m … sorry…”

  “You wish to be free of him?”

  Pru nodded.

  A moment of silence followed.

  “I – yes –” she stammered.

  “Do you still have the ring he gave you?”

  Pru looked down at her fingers. “Yes.”

  “Good. You’ll need it. You’ll also need his ring too.”

  “His ring?”

  “It’s the rings that bind you together.”

  “I – honestly it feels like I’ve been enchanted by him much longer than I’ve been wearing this.”

&n
bsp; “The rings are the enchantment manifest. Its power is stronger now it has physical form. But that also means we can destroy it.”

  “You mean … destroy the rings?”

  “Yes.”

  Pru inhaled. “Like, throw them in the fire or something?”

  “The rings are magical, dear. A simple fire won’t be enough.”

  “So how – where can I destroy them?”

  “That’s where it gets tricky I’m afraid. I was lucky to have the assistance of a sorcerer, but finding the services of such a person these days –”

  “So, you don’t even know how… What’s… What’s the point?”

  “I’m sorry,” Helen said sympathetically. “Reese will be doing everything he can to track someone down. The main thing is that you get the rings and bring them to him.”

  “Wait – you want me to go back there? To Bastian?”

  “That’s all I can tell you.”

  Helen raised her cane into the air.

  Reese and the other dude walked over.

  “We’re done here,” Helen said.

  “See you again,” the man said to Reese, while turning to assist his partner.

  “So long, Victor.”

  They waited until they were gone, and then Reese approached Pru.

  “Well?” he said softly. “What did she say?”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  So that was that. The only way to break the spell Bastian had over her was to steal both their rings and hand them over to this lot here. To maybe have a chance. No guarantees.

  The way Prudence saw it, she’d have a better chance of just talking him out of their marriage. But then how would that look now? She’d agreed to marry him merely hours ago. How history repeats…

  “I don’t want to run from this,” Pru said, still standing with Reese in the field. “If I keep running I’ll never be free of it. I’ll always be looking over my shoulder. Sooner or later, he’s going to come for me.”

  “There is a third option,” Reese said.

  “What’s that?”

  “Don’t worry about the rings, or trying to convince him. Just … bring him somewhere. A location worked out in advance.”

  “You mean like…?”

  “This place will do just fine. Send Elliot a text – something like ‘Tell Reese we’re here’ and I’ll have the MC come down and sort him out.”

  “That sounds dangerous.”

  “No more dangerous than … well, trying to steal his ring I guess.”

  Prudence looked away. “He can read my mind. He can feel my thoughts. I can’t hide anything from him.”

  “But isn’t that only if he suspects you?” Reese shrugged. “I guess you have a lot to think about. I’m sorry we can’t be of any more help to you.”

  Half an hour later, and they were driving along the road to Prudence and Michael’s house. There was nothing left for her back at the hospital. As long as Millie and her friends were gone there wasn’t any reason she shouldn’t be here.

  They stopped at the end of the drive and Reese walked around the outskirts of the house to make sure it was deserted. Then he walked back to Pru, signaling the all clear.

  She stepped forward. “I guess you better come in. Just in case.”

  Inside, the place was trashed.

  Along with Michael’s things that had been taken were all of the other valuable items they’d shared, as well as plenty Pru owned herself. She didn’t mind so much though. There was nothing Millie could do that would make Michael’s departure any worse. If taking it out on Prudence gave her any kind of relief, then Pru was in a way glad to help.

  Arms folded inward, she stood perfectly still in the living room, as Reese returned from the hall.

  “They’re gone,” he said simply. He walked past her to the front door.

  Pru turned anxiously.

  “I can’t do this with you,” Reese said. “You have to face Bastian alone.”

  “I know,” she gulped. “Can you just … hold me for a moment?”

  “Hold you?”

  “Please.”

  “Alright.”

  Reese moved silently towards her and put his arms around her. Pru used the side of his neck to muffle her tears.

  She felt Reese’s heart beating.

  It was strong.

  He released her. “Be careful.”

  Pru nodded. “I will.”

  He left.

  Pru stared down at the carpet, the emotions still caged inside her. The hug wasn’t enough. For her to release…

  She lowered her head and walked back into the hall and towards her bedroom. The door was open and the light was on. She saw it waiting for her as if it had been all along.

  Instead of gazing across the torn up remains of her wedding dress, it was Bastian’s red dress that was laid out perfectly for her on the bed. Untouched. Unharmed.

  He had left it for her.

  And now it was time to go and see him.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Neck. Body. Both ankles. Both wrists. Each were fastened inside a harness which was attached to the ceiling with iron chains. His body lay extended out in midair, beneath him a cauldron of lava, spitting blue flames. “Lower,” he whispered. The lever turned and his body moved closer to the fire, its heat scorching. “Lower.”

  Phillipa looked up fearfully. “Are you sure –?”

  “Lower!”

  The lever turned once more and his skin was almost grazing the edge of the fire. Blood ran in small slivers down the sides of his lips, the hot air unbearable to breathe in.

  “Now the whip.”

  Phillipa stepped back and went to the wall where the whip was mounted. She pulled it down and unraveled it, before turning back to her master.

  “What are you…” he whispered. “What are you waiting for?!”

  Phillipa unleashed the whip’s full force across Bastian’s naked body.

  His face remained expressionless – he didn’t even wince – and so he was commanding her –

  “Again!”

  Phillipa lashed him a second time. His blood spilt from the wound into the fire where it bubbled and burst.

  “Don’t fucking stop. Just do it.”

  A third time whipped. This time the whip landed inside the cauldron, dragging hot gooey substances out with it.

  “It’s ruined,” Phillipa said. “Should I find another?”

  “Absolutely not,” Bastian said. “Hurry up. While it’s still hot.”

  Phillipa couldn’t look at the next one. This time he actually screamed.

  “Yes!” Bastian cried. “Again!”

  Tearfully, she complied.

  “Again!”

  Through the thick of her tears she now see part of Bastian’s skin had melted right off. It was utterly disgusting.

  “I can’t!” Phillipa pleaded. “I can’t do this!”

  Bastian fell silent a moment.

  She stepped forward. “Master?”

  “Okay,” he said. “You can release me now.”

  She hurried to the control panel and pushed the right levers to move Bastian across the room away from the fire. She waited until he was hovering over a laid out mattress, and then released the harnesses with the push of a switch.

  Bastian landed with a plop, and immediately sat up.

  “My robes,” he said snapping his fingers.

  Phillipa rushed to get them.

  “Are you alright?” she asked as she helped him into his clothes.

  He didn’t answer until she had handed him his gloves.

  “I am now,” he said in a low voice. “She’s come back to me.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  His beloved had made her way over to the other side of the palace, into one of his recreation rooms specifically. As Bastian climbed the stairs exiting the dungeon, his mind focused on her, and what she’d been up to. Images began to rise. He could see tears. Sorrow. Blood. Her ex-fiancé’s death had caused her far more damage than he’d
anticipated. In his mind he could see her face – her whole body guarded and blocking him from entering her thoughts further. At first … it put a bad taste in his mouth. And then he of course realized that this wasn’t just what Prudence wanted – it was what he wanted too. The pleasure one obtained from victory, was much less if the game was rigged.

  Bastian stopped outside the door knowing she was only a short distance beyond it. He was hesitant. Anxious almost. He didn’t want to ruin whatever this … was. He would have to be careful.

  He turned the handle and entered the room.

  Bastian’s eyes moved from right to left. Prudence was standing in front of a large painting which filled much of the adjacent wall. Her back was to him and he could not see her face. Even so, the way her dress gleamed through the dim light made his heart race. There was something about this moment. Something he would remember forever.

  Bastian walked towards her. “What are you looking at?”

  She didn’t turn. She didn’t reply.

  He stood beside her. Of course, he knew what she was looking at. It was the labyrinth at the centre of the island. The labyrinth he’d designed.

  “I was wondering if there was a connection,” Pru said. “Between this maze … and the one I found you in.”

  “This one belongs to me,” Bastian said softly. “It’s … far more complex than the other one.”

  Her face shifted slightly. “Are you sure about that, Bastian?”

  Bastian paused, contemplating the question.

  “Perhaps you will find out for yourself, someday,” he said.

  Pru lowered her head.

  She would not look at him.

  “You know I’m not reading your thoughts,” Bastian said. “And I have granted you the freedom to come and go as you please.”

  “I feel like you tricked me,” Pru said. “You used your magic to … whatever, and –”

  “You don’t think what’s between us is real?”

  “No more real than…”

  “What you had with Michael?”

  Prudence sighed. Her fingers touched her eyes and she moved towards the corner.

  Bastian remained where he was.