Anastasia no longer underestimated the power both Lucius and Selene gained from the Pure Ones. For Deamhan, they were stronger than anything she had faced in her lifetime. Bestowing power such as that into them just proved how far the Pure Ones would go to want out of Limbo. Anastasia couldn’t fathom what else they would do once they had their freedom.
She had to free herself and she struggled against the chains, capturing Selene’s attention.
“You might as well stop. Those chains are strong and thick enough to hold you.”
Lucius leaned toward Maris. His eyes altered, turning red, and as he continued his drawn out gaze, entering her thoughts. “This might hurt at first.” He seized her by the neck.
“Salvation?” Maris snarled. “Is that what you call it? Oh please, spare me the lecture.”
Lucius squeezed harder and Maris grunted at his strength. “Yes, it is our salvation.”
Maris scoffed. “I never wanted any part in this. I never wanted to be a Deamhan.”
Lucius placed his hand on her chest. “Once you have this knowledge you will do the spell.”
“And what if I don’t want to?”
“You won’t have a choice.”
Maris released a horrified yell and her head tilted back. Lucius’ compulsion became too much to bear. In seconds she stopped and her body went limp.
“When she awakes, she will be ready.” Lucius took a step back from her and he turned to Anastasia. “Now what to do with you.”
The left corner of Selene’s mouth curled upward. “I thought it’d be best that she would be the Dark Mother’s first meal.”
“A present for Amenirdis?” Lucius questioned.
Anastasia couldn’t believe what she heard. “You’re both crazy.”
In Deamhan speed, Selene rushed over to her and slapped her across her face. “Don’t mock us.”
Anastasia felt her mouth beginning to fill with blood from Selene’s hard slap. “I’m just stating the obvious.”
“Of all people, I thought you would understand,” Lucius said. “I wanted you to be by Amenirdis’ side and guide all the Pure Ones into this new world.”
“So she and the others can destroy it?” She argued back. “That’s what they’re going to do, Lucius. They’re going to kill us all at once as soon as they’re able.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Your purpose was to be her obedient servant, to help them all understand this world. It is an important task that Selene and I can’t do.”
She eyed them carefully. “Why not? You’re doing a wonderful job now.”
“This spell needs sacrifices.” He turned back to Maris. “She’s starting to awake.”
Sacrifices? Would Lucius and Selene take their own lives to free them? Anastasia attempted to search their thoughts but she found herself blocked. After all the centuries she’d known Lucius, she expected him to not die in this way.
Maris moaned and opened her eyes.
Lucius looked her over and he smiled. “You know the words. Start the spell.”
“I’m not saying anything!” she yelled.
“We will make you.”
Maris fought against his influence. Her mouth opened slowly and with her eyes widened, she looked to Anastasia for help. She began to chant. “Gods of the Old. Gods of the new. Dark Gods of our flesh. We honor you with the blood of our brethren.”
Anastasia restarted her struggle to free herself.
“Gods of the Old, Gods of the New. Dark Goddess of our flesh. We honor you with the blood of your children.”
Lucius pulled out a long, sharp wooden stake. “I strike true and I offer you her blood, the blood of the descendant, in exchange for their freedom.”
Jumbled, Anastasia whispered to Maris, “Can you stop this?”
Gasping for air, Maris replied. “No. I’m trying but I can’t. He’s somehow forcing me to chant. He’s too strong.”
“Keep fighting him.”
“I can’t!”
Anastasia growled. “Yes, you can!”
Lucius grabbed Maris’ wrist and he made a long cut extending from her forearm to her wrist.
“Gods of the Old, Gods of the New, Dark Gods of our flesh.” Maris struggled as Lucius telepathically forced the chant from her lips. “I honor you with my blood.”
Lucius began to rub the stake in her blood. He walked over to Selene. “Are you ready?” He placed his hand on her cheek.
Selene smiled and nodded slowly. “I think.”
He drew Selene close and kissed her on the top of her head. “I’ve always loved you, Selene, like a daughter.”
Anastasia studied their behavior. The idea of Lucius killing Selene to free the Pure Ones bewildered her. She looked at Maris who also stared at the spectacle, amazed. “Maris, keep trying.”
“He’s going to kill her,” Maris whispered back. “There isn’t anything I can do.”
The ritual took a dark turn.
Selene held her arms out to the side.
“I strike true and I offer you her blood, the blood of my dark daughter, in exchange for their freedom.” Lucius spoke the chant. He paused and stared at Selene. “Close your eyes.”
Following his instruction, Selene closed her eyes and Lucius struck the stake into her heart. Selene’s body lurched forward and now her eyes opened slowly. They glanced at the stake in her chest then at her skin that started to deteriorate into ash. The skin on her face began to shrivel, falling off in long pieces. Her smile withered away and what remained of her tumbled to the floor, leaving behind a pile of ash and blood.
For a few moments, Lucius stood quietly, staring at what remained of his offspring. He then walked back over to Maris. “Gods of the Old, Gods of the New. Dark Goddess of our flesh. We honor you with the blood of your children.”
“Gods of the Old, Gods of the New, Dark Gods of our flesh.” Again, Maris struggled as the words escaped her lips. “I honor you with my blood.”
Again Lucius rubbed the tip of the stake in her blood and he looked at her. “It’s almost over. They will be freed.” He stepped back. “I strike true and I offer you her blood, the blood of the descendant, in exchange for their freedom.” He placed the stake against his chest, closed his eyes, and pushed the tip through his body and into his heart.
Almost immediately, he dropped to his knees. A shriek expelled from his mouth and his head leaned back with his eyes facing the ceiling. His body then jerked forward and blood spurted from his mouth.
The sight was uncanny but only when Anastasia saw Kyra standing behind Lucius and another stake sticking out of Lucius’ chest from the opposite side, did she know that Kyra had struck first. Anastasia didn’t care how she managed to get behind him or if the stake had actually hurt him. She appeared too late. Lucius had finished the ritual.
Ayden also appeared and he rushed over to them. “We had to wait until Lucius was vulnerable.” He began to free Maris.
“You left me!” Maris barked back at him. “Why did you leave me?”
“I didn’t leave you. I told you I would never leave you.”
Kyra stepped slowly away from Lucius. “We’re too late.” She broke Anastasia’s chains.
Now freed, Anastasia wanted to rush to Lucius’ side but Kyra stopped her. “It’s too late for him. We must go before they arrive.”
At that moment Anastasia felt a large jolt ravage her body. She arched forward. Ayden, Maris, and Kyra also felt it and they leaned forward in pain. Maris dropped to her knees and she gripped her chest. Kyra curled up in a fetal position in pain and Ayden fell onto his side.
“What the hell was that?” he asked in a belated breath.
“They’re here,” Kyra said in agony.
The pain stopped. The air went silent. Anastasia glanced up in time to see Kyra and Maris stand to their feet. The room began to light up in a fluorescent glow. It formed into a large circular ball and it moved in breakneck speed, circling through the air. It then hovered and turned from white to a reddish color
. An explosion of light followed by an immense yellow light blinded them all.
Then again, silence.
Anastasia opened her eyes, finding that Selene’s sacrificed remains had disappeared. She raised her body slowly from the ground just in time to see a naked woman, in flesh, standing in the center of the room, next to Lucius. Her waist length dark hair rested over her shoulders, covering her breasts. Her brown skin glowed. Her young and exotic features astounded even Kyra who cautiously examined every inch of the woman’s body with her eyes. Power and age seeped from her.
Amenirdis.
Lucius’ thought echoed through their minds. The woman examined her hands as if she’d never seen them before and her red glowing eyes moved to Lucius. She knelt down and gently caressed the side of his face.
Anastasia cautiously looked around the room, waiting for the remaining seven Pure Ones to appear but nothing happened. No one else came. Just Amenirdis.
Immediately Maris, with her eyes the color of charcoal and her sharp teeth exposed, took a defensive stand.
Amenirdis caressed Lucius in his final moments. She began to speak to him in a language that none of them understood. Anastasia couldn’t find any strength inside her to battle even the youngest Deamhan let alone a Pure One, fresh out of Limbo.
Amenirdis stood up to her feet, cradling Lucius, who remained barely alive, in her arms.
Anastasia whispered to Kyra, “What is she saying?”
“She’s comforting him,” she slowly replied.
Lucius lifted his hand up to her face and he whispered, “Mother, I failed you. I’m sorry.”
Amenirdis shrugged and finally she replied in a language they all understood. “But you haven’t failed. I’m free.”
“But the others...” Lucius held out his hand to her.
“Sleep now.” Amenirdis kissed him on his cheek. He opened his mouth again but she hushed him. “Your work is done here.” She pushed the stake further into his chest and his body arched forward. He closed his eyes and his body began its disintegration. His remains draped over Amenirdis’ forearms. Blood and ash peppered her face.
She wiped the bloodied contents away and her eyes scrutinized Kyra, Maris, Ayden, and Anastasia.
“She wants us to bow down to her,” Kyra said slowly.
“Like hell I will,” Maris replied. “It’s all of us against her. We can take her.”
Kyra shook her head. “No. We can’t.”
Amenirdis examined her body again.
“I thought the ritual was supposed to free all of them?” Ayden said in a hushed tone to Kyra.
Picking up on his question, Amenirdis replied. “With my release, I can free all of them.” She looked at her breasts and she held her arms out in front of her face. She stepped forward then suddenly collapsed onto the floor. They all stepped back, watching her struggle to raise herself up again.
“What’s wrong with her?” Ayden asked.
“She’s weak,” Kyra replied.
“So let’s kill her, now,” Maris suggested.
“No.” She silenced her. “If we kill her, we kill everyone in her lineage.”
“She isn’t Ramanga. She isn’t any of the four clans,” Ayden argued back with her. “She’s of the other four; an Ekimmu. So what does it matter?”
“It matters, Ayden,” Kyra whispered her reply. “There are Ekimmu Deamhan still alive. We kill her. We kill them.”
“You told me that the other four clans, including her own, are extinct.” Anger flashed in his eyes. Anastasia heard the same story, centuries ago, but from her sire. In her lifetime she’d never ran into an Estrie, Ekimmu, Empusa, or an Adze.
Amenirdis raised herself to her feet. “You are me and I am you.” She reached out her hand to Maris. “Together, we are all one.”
Kyra grabbed Maris. “We have to leave. Now.” Still holding onto her, Kyra began to pull Maris toward the exit.
“You can’t hide my servant from me.” Amenirdis dropped her hand.
Maris broke away from Kyra. “I’m not your servant.”
Amenirdis smiled. “You are the descendant. Therefore you are my servant.”
Ayden gently shoved Maris toward the exit.
Curiosity overcame her fear and instead of leaving, Anastasia remained where she stood, observing Amenirdis who didn’t take her eyes of Maris until she left the building.
Now alone with her, Anastasia spoke. “You belong in Limbo; not here.”
“We all belong in Limbo, Ramanga.” Amenirdis finally refocused her gaze on Anastasia. “You know the truth. You understand. I showed it to you the day you came into the cave to free Lucius.”
“Remember what?”
“The revelation.” She veered her foot along the ground. “The day that will signal the rebirth of our kind.”
Anastasia turned her head slightly to the right. “Rebirth?”
“Yes, the day when Deamhan will die by the thousands.”
Anastasia stepped back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes you do Ramanga. You just refuse to see the truth. It will come and in that day Deamhan will suffer tremendously. They will scratch out their own eyes in pain. Their knees will become calloused and bloody from constant prayer—”
“And this is the golden age that Lucius was referring to?” Anastasia smacked her lips. “Yeah, I think I’ll pass.”
“It will come.” Amenirdis closed her eyes and her tongue slithered over her lips. “And when it does, the descendant will be martyred and those Deamhan who remain will rejoice in her much needed sacrifice.”
1
DARK CURSE. DEAMHAN CHRONICLES #2
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Anastasia stood still, looking out of the window in Blind Bluff Manor. The trees swayed in a rhythm to the wind. She saw the yellowish tint on the horizon, signaling that sunrise was only moments away. It was a sign she and Deamhan knew all too well. If they hadn’t found any resting area or place, they needed to move quickly. She no longer had to worry about that.
A book slamming onto a table broke her solemn concentration and she looked back for a quick moment to see Nathan grab the book and move to the comfort of his chair in front of the fireplace. For days he spent his time with his head in his father’s journals, figuring out why they failed in their mission at the warehouse. It didn’t matter how long he spent with his head immersed in old writings, he would never find his answer there. Nothing in those books could tell him why the ritual only freed Amenirdis from Limbo.
However Anastasia knew and she kept the information to herself. She didn’t tell anyone of how she suspected that Amenrdis would eventually come for Maris and there wasn’t any Deamhan in the world who could stop her. How she planned to sacrifice Maris for her blood to start what Amenirdis called ‘the revelation.’ She assumed that Kyra knew exactly what the Pure Ekimmu wanted. After all, Kyra spent majority of her existence in making sure that The Dark Curse remained a mystery. Whatever the case, Anastasia began to rethink killing Maris. Instead she wanted to mend the fragile relationship she had with her.
Remy walked into the room and he placed his hand on the table next to Nathan. “The warehouse is still littered with bodies,” he said.
“And Mr. Austin?” Nathan didn’t look at Remy as he questioned.
“I don’t know,” he answered. “I think The Brotherhood took him or he ran off.”
“More than likely they have him,” Nathan answered.
Overhearing their conversation, Anastasia rolled her eyes. Since leaving the warehouse, Remy remained quiet about the events of that night. Anastasia sensed nothing from him when it came to Kei, which she understood, but she how could Remy have lost Mr. Austin and the amulet that easily? According to what he told them after they left the warehouse, he left Mr. Austin alone in an alley across the street. When he came back the old man was gone. He didn’t mention anything about tracking down his scent to locate him. It was as if Remy just released him.
He turn
ed to walk out of the room but before doing so, he walked up to Anastasia and placed his hand on her shoulder.
“You’ve been quiet lately.”
“I have nothing to talk about.”
“Or maybe you’re worried that Ayden and Maris are still alive and coming for you?”
“I’ve changed my mind about Maris.”
“Oh, have you now?” Remy smiled.
“Maybe I’m more worried about how you could lose Veronica’s father and the amulet?” She threw a question back in his face.
His smile turned into a prominent snicker. “Who said I lost the amulet?” He walked out of the room.
Anastasia turned back to Nathan. “I’m heading out tonight; see what I can find.”
“Kyra said you should stay in while Amenirdis is out there.”
“Kyra has said many things, but she is a liar.” Anastasia walked out of the study and out the front door. She stood on the porch, taking in the fresh air while she thought about Lucius. Part of her missed him; mourned him. She wanted to turn back the clock, to a time when things were simple. When she hunted and traveled across Europe with him. He freed her after being confined in a coffin for a hundred years. She wanted to take it out on herself for not doing enough to stop him.
Just then a familiar smell of a Ramanga entered her nose and Anastasia looked, finding Maris standing by one of the tall oak trees in the front yard. Her sudden appearance surprised Anastasia and she descended down the porch steps.
“Are you here for your revenge, Maris?”
Maris leaned against the tree. “I guess we could settle things now.”
“I’d rather not fight.” Anastasia approached her. “I know you have questions for me.”
Maris exhaled. “It’s not that easy.”
“Sure it is. Do you want to know why I betrayed you? Why I left you? Why I never came looking for you? Why I sired you in the first place?”
“I know all the answers to those questions.”
“Or why Kyra and Ayden left the city without you?” Anastasia cocked her head to the side and blinked slowly. “Why they’re putting distance between themselves and you?”
“Ayden is loyal to Kyra. He always will be. He’ll go wherever she goes.”
Dark Curse (Deamhan Chronicles Book 2) Page 25