Digging his heels into the floor he unknowingly propelled himself towards the impenetrable force field, his body a surging mass of pumping muscle. Oblivious to the danger that awaited him he was blind to all but the single minded purpose of freeing her from the restraints.
Darla watched on in horror, aware that no words of warning would stop him in time. From the corner of her eye she saw the others racing in a bid to stop him from making the terrible error. Gallion- being the first to reach him -was thrown to the side by a blow from Quinn’s shoulder. Larissa- went low- ploughing into his side, the weight of her body causing him to stumble and breaking his stride but not enough to stop him.
Knowing he only had one shot at saving him, Valmont kicked into vampire speed and raced headlong at his friend. Dropping right at the last moment, he used the full force of his velocity to charge into Quinn’s unprotected ribs lifting him into the air. The pair sailed backwards, landing heavily in a heap on the floor, the impact momentarily knocking the wind out of Quinn.
Gallion and Larissa rushed to assist knowing Valmont would have no chance at restraining him alone, not in his present state of mind. Pinned and unable to move Quinn fought like a madman, his eyes never leaving Darla once.
“Quinn.” Valmont raised his voice, something seldom necessary for a vampire of his age. “Quinn stop this now! Ecoutez-moi de porc que vous avez dirige.”
Quinn jerked frantic eyes to Valmont as if seeing him for the first time. A burst of frustration tore from his throat in angry uproar, releasing his rage and calming his fury.
“I’m okay,” he gasped, crushed under the weight of his friends. “I’m okay.” He tugged his arms, now desperate to be free.
“Be still Mon ami, least you cause Darla further pain.” Valmont whispered.
The words fuelled his anger once more. “Pain? Fuck you, I’m trying to save her.”
“Look to her face old friend and tell me you do not cause her pain.”
Quinn looked across to where Darla lay. Her head was raised and twisted at an uncomfortable angle in a desperate bid to see what was happening, her beautiful features pinched and strained with worry and fear.
Groaning in misery Quinn slumped back against the stone floor. “I can’t stand back and do nothing while she dies. I just can’t.” he rasped, his throat restricted by the intensity of his emotions.
“Let us hope you will not have to.” Valmont whispered forcibly. “But for now we have a major obstacle in our way. A couple of more steps and you would have discovered it for yourself… very painfully I might add. Standing between us and them is a force-field, very powerful and very strong. Now are we good here?” he asked staring determinedly at Quinn.
“Yeah we’re good.”
Valmont nodded for Gallion and Larissa to release him and Quinn sat up groaning when he realised just how hard Valmont had hit him to take him down.
Leaping to his feet with the fluid grace of a dancer Valmont offered Quinn a hand, whilst across the room Darla relaxed breathing a sigh of relief.
Cautiously approaching the force-field Quinn could now sense its pulsing energy.
“So you have decided to join us. I had hoped you would deem it unnecessary to witness the act itself.” Beelzebub said slowly approaching the barrier, stopping when he and Quinn were standing face to face, separated only by the intensity of the invisible shield. “I am intrigued as to why you would deliberately choose to cause yourself more pain especially in light of all that you have already lost.”
Quinn seethed with anger. “I promise you, if I find a way through this shield I won’t be the only one experiencing pain.”
Beelzebub smiled invitingly. “Feel free to try. The shield was designed to prevent all living things from passing through. Now if you will forgive me I believe we have delayed long enough, time for me to go home.”
Dismissing Quinn, Beelzebub returned to the Alter and resumed checking the restraints that held Darla’s wrists and ankles.
Noting the way in which the demons hands not so innocently brushed against her skin, Quinn silently roared inside. His fists clenched with an unsuppressed need to crush the fallen angel’s throat.
Think Quinn, think.
He knew there was something he was missing. It was there, niggling at the back of his mind. If he could just grasp… spinning on his heels he crossed the room to Valmont, silently signalling the other two to join them. “We can save her,” he whispered fiercely. “Demon scums’ fucked up big time. Listen up. I need to charge the barrier…”
“I thought we’d already established that would be pointless.” Larissa replied keeping her voice to a whisper. “Quinn, we’ve checked it all over, twice, there are no weaknesses. If I really had to hazard a guess I would say it was the work of one, if not both of the Kashran twins.”
Quinn knew of the Kashran twins. They were infamous as being the two most powerful witches in Redemption; twin sisters heinously cursed at birth but blessed with an incredibly amount of power. It seemed logical that having planned for tonight’s events over such a long period of time, Beelzebub would require nothing but the best to guarantee its success and the Kashran twin were without doubt the best, which made what he was about to propose all the more exciting.
“The reason I need to rush the barrier,” he continued, “is to create a diversion.”
“Diversion for what?” Valmont asked sceptically.
“For you my friend.” Quinn smiled looking incredibly pleased with himself. “I have it on very good authority that the force field is only impenetrable to all living things.”
A devilish smile worked its way across Valmont’s face. “Well it’s a good job I do not fit into that category, at least not in the true sense of the word. Rest assured I will do all that I can to save your woman.”
Quinn clasped hands with Valmont. “May luck guide us.” whispered Gallion.
“Amen to that.” chorused the others falling into position.
Uninterested in the activity on the opposite side of the force field, Beelzebub concentrated on Darla. The time was at hand. Centuries of research and endless planning had unfolded over many years, inevitably bringing them to this one defined moment. The task was at hand and he would not allow his unexpected attack of conscience to override his determination. His need was too great.
Withdrawing a large blade from the sheath on his thigh, Beelzebub clasped hold of Darla’s hand on the side nearest the force field. Unfolding her clenched fist he spared a last furtive glance in her direction. Noting the panicked confusion on her face he whispered, “Forgive me!” before sliding the blade softly across the palm of her hand opening up a long, shallow cut.
Confused by the significance of the wound, Darla could only stare as her blood pooled into tiny balls, resting on the surface of her skin. How could such a wound kill her? Was the blade poisoned?
Beelzebub backed away, a look of eager anticipation on his face. “And so it begins.”
Quinn charged at the invisible barrier, a resounding roar exploding from his lips. Hitting the force-field at full speed the impact activated the shimmering shield, bathing the room in a wash of blue light.
Thrown back by the force of its power, he sailed through the air, hitting against the wall at the farthest end of the room. Groaning in pain he crumpled to a heap on the floor.
As Gallion and Larissa ran to his aid Valmont manoeuvred the forcefield at preternatural speed. In blur of activity he penetrated the shield with nothing but the faintest of ripples emanating from the point of the breach. With a fluid grace he lunged forward diving to land horizontally on the floor at the side of the Alter with his arm outstretched. Lying safely in the palm of his hand was a single solitary drop of Darla’s blood nestling as though it were the most delicate of crystals.
Relief washed over him. Darla’s blood had been saved from being spilled. It could only signify one thing, the prophecy had failed.
Winking devilishly up at Darla he nimbly flipped to his feet. “Catas
trophe averted.” Triumphantly showing her the solitary drop of blood nestling safely in his palm, Valmont lowered his head without thinking. His tongue snaked out and removed all trace of her blood in one fail sweep.
In a single breath the air around him changed.
Darla sensed the difference immediately. Valmont had always made her feel safe and relaxed. His playful flirting and debonair manor had been nothing short of endearing but all that was now gone in an instant and a sense of dread settled over her.
Valmont groaned as if in pain, doubling over and clutching at his stomach.
Beelzebub silently appeared from the shadows, moving cautiously towards the incapacitated Vampire.
“Valmont!” Darla called, sensing his distress. “Valmont!” Something is desperately wrong she thought.
She watched helplessly, fighting against her restraints as Beelzebub began circling the vampire in a slow menacing gait, gradually decreasing the circle with each turn that he took. Stalking. Waiting. But for what?
“Don’t you hurt him,” she cried. “You swore to me; gave me your word. Valmont, please answer me,” she begged increasing the struggle against her restraints.
Ignoring her Beelzebub inched closer. “That’s right,” he hissed with an air of excitement. “You can feel it can’t you? Growing, spreading through your veins. Such intensity. Such pleasure. Such desire.”
Valmont’s groan’s intensified.
“Taste the innocence. Not a baby’s, not a child’s. A woman’s innocence. Decadent; strong; full of desire. Blood has never tasted so good, never felt so satisfying. Your body needs it, it craves it. You know what you have to do, what you cannot fight. You know the nature of the creature that you are. Give in to your desires,” the demon hissed slowly backing away.
Darla gasped with understanding. Everything was all so suddenly clear. The fallen angel had never intended to be the one who took her life. After all, how could he stand to redeem himself in heaven with the blood of an innocent on his hands? What he had planned instead was so much more sinister.
How many times had he uttered the words ‘so many wheels set in motion’? It was not just her he had needed to bring to his castle, but the others too. Every detail so meticulously staged right down to the attack in Sunny’s bar. How could Valmont refuse his friends request for help having witness the danger first hand?
Valmont was the crucial link to it all, for he was the one ultimately fated to end her life.
“Valmont, please listen to me,” she pleaded knowing that if Beelzebub succeeded in his carefully constructed plan it would not only be her soul that was destroyed tonight but Valmont’s along with it. “He is using you. You don’t have to do this, you’re strong; you can fight this.”
Quinn had groggily watched trapped behind the shield. Realising with horror the meaning of her words he forced his way to his feet. The words of the prophecy echoing in his mind…
The land between all others will open its portal wide
The purest of all souls numbered 999 will fall
Blood will be drained on the darkest day…
Drained! Darla’s blood needed to be drained for the prophecy to succeed. What better way to drain the blood of an innocent than at the hands of a vampire? How had they made such a fatal error?
Darla had the one thing no vampire could possibly resist once tasted. Blood of an innocent! Like nectar to the gods! As welcomed as crisp, clear, water to a man dying of thirst; a blessing too miraculous to be denied. Restraint would be impossible.
Valmont’s head rose up off his chest to reveal eyes as black as coal. His tormented soul had waged a war of conscience but in the end the blood had won. With a deathly hiss his teeth elongated before her very eyes producing two large lethal looking fangs that sparkled white under the dim light. Where she had once found beauty Darla could now only see death. His mouth widened further to produce a rasping cry of hungry desire as he lunged at the vein in her unprotected neck.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Darla released a cry of pain as Valmont’s fangs tore mercilessly into her exposed throat piercing her vein. Momentarily she felt the heat of his breathe on her skin, his lips encasing her savaged artery, drawing long, deep draughts of the intoxicating nectar into his body.
Panic fled her mind abandoning her to the peace, her body floating in a euphoric daze.
Join with me my beauty. We shall be as one.
Valmont’s hypnotic voice caressed her mind, his soft gentle tone beautifully laced with his exotic accent. It soothed her, reassured her. Her body felt as though it were floating and she felt safe. Valmont was her friend, he would never harm her. His comforting voice continued to reassure, soothing and caressing her senses until her body gradually began to feel heavier, her relaxed muscles succumbing to the hypnotic state.
Quinn fell to his knees the pain in his chest too much to bear.
This can’t be happening, not again! His shoulders slumped in abject misery. She was dying! “Please God, please I’m begging you don’t let her die.” He whispered in despair.
Somewhere at the furthest edges of his tormented mind he sensed a presence beside him before a soft gentle hand slipped inside of his holding him tight.
Through eyes awash with unshed tears it took a moment for him to recognise the red-headed woman. “Maisey...? But, how did you….?”
“Hi there sugar.” The beaming beauty of her smile seamed out of place in the morose darkness of the room. “Just say thank-you.”
“Thank you?” he asked dazed and confused.
Squeezing his hand excitedly, she whispered, “I brought you a present. We’ve got in-coming.”
Could he dare hope? Maisey had no preternatural gifts of her own, could her unexpected arrival mean…?
Moving as close to the barrier as he dare Quinn held his breathe…hoping more than anything that he wasn’t wrong.
He didn’t have to wait long.
A bolt of light came from out of nowhere striking the floor at the base of the altar and the castle shook on its foundations. Valmont flew through the air, penetrating the forcefield and setting the room all aglow. Propelled by an unseen force of incredible strength his body ploughed into the wall close to where Quinn’s had hit earlier.
Gallion and Larissa hurried to his motionless body.
A second bolt of white light descended from the ceiling above blasting into the solid floor of the castle creating a cloud of stone and dust, and as the dust cleared standing at the centre of the impact stood the Archangel Michael in all his majestic glory; a creature of immeasurable power.
His eyes slowly travelled over Darla’s face, noting her vague and distant stare caused by the deep jagged wound that still remained open, pumping her life’s blood onto the floor beneath the alter.
Michael took a step towards her.
Snarling in a fit of rage Beelzebub lunged from the shadows. “No…no…no.”
Without so much as a glance in the fallen angels direction, Michael moved his hand in so slight a gesture that it could easily have been overlooked had Beelzebub not froze in mid-stride, his body elevated so that only the tip of his toes grazed the floor beneath him. The veins in his arms and neck strained and bulged beneath his skin in a dramatic display of fury, but Michael’s attention now lay with Darla.
Slowly approaching her lifeless figure, the Archangel peered down at her face. His hand reached out and sweeping her hair in a display remarkably resembling reverence before resting his fingers most tenderly against the jagged wound on her neck. Closing his eyes and lilting his head to the side he appeared to be lost in the moment as a steady increasing light seeped from his fingertips into the torn and weeping flesh.
The damaged skin and tissue began repairing itself at a phenomenal rated beneath the angels touch until where there had once been ripped and torn flesh there was now only flawless beauty. With her neck restored Michael lent forward and once again stroked his fingers through her hair only this time he whispered words so
faintly into her ear so that only she could hear them.
Slowly-as if waking from a deep sleep- Darla opened her eyes and starred up at the figure before her. The man- no not a man, something altogether different - carried with him an aura of such divine reverence that it took her breath away. Her heart swelled almost to bursting with such a feeling of overwhelming love. Who was he and why was he starring at her as if she was the most precious thing in the universe?
A distorted memory of Valmont plunging his teeth deep into her throat flashed across her mind. Hesitantly lifting her hand to examine what she remembered was true she was abruptly pulled up short by the restraints that still held her in place.
“I don’t understand,” she said to the beautiful blonde man at her side. “Am I dead?” If so, why am I still chained?
The ethereal blonde with the clear blue eyes shook his head. “You are not dead Darla, you are far too important for your soul to return home. You have a great destiny awaiting you should you so choose to accept it.”
The melodic sound of his voice evoked such sweet emotions inside that she was unable to describe; love, joy, happiness, the beauty of which brought her to the brink of tears.
Who is this enigmatic stranger and how can one man inflict such emotion? “I don’t understand what’s happened. Who are you?”
“All will be revealed soon enough, but for now you have lost a great deal of blood and you need rest.” Circling the large stone altar, Michael paused briefly at each shackle that bound her to the stone. Gently brushing the metal with the tips of his fingers one by one the chains fell away clattering loudly against the stone.
No longer restrained and desperate to put as much distance between herself and the cold stone slab Darla sat up, the sudden movement causing a wave of dizziness. “Quinn!” she gasped, needing to know he was safe.
Redemption - A Darla Gray Novel Page 28