The Rising Fire (The Witch in the Woman Book One)

by Stacey Criswell

  Chapter 11:

  Skylark burst through the doors of his mansion. Bruce runs up beside him, "Sir, can I ask, why we didn't kill him while we had the chance? I would gladly do the honors."

  "The two girls and the man he was with were vampires, which means he probably is one too, which also means he's not one of the last siblings."

  They make their way down the hallway towards Chelsea's room. He unlocks the door and goes in. She is lying on her bed. "Wake up." He demands. She sits up quickly, and moves as far away from him as possible. "You lied to me." He accuses.

  "What? No, I didn't." She assures.

  "Well, then you don't have as good a friend as you thought you did. Do you know what promise I made her?"

  Chelsea looks confused, "The promise you made who?"

  "The promise I made your closest friend, Ren?e."Chelsea shakes her head, "I told her if she didn't come within forty eight hours, I would kill you. I always keep my promises. And, I absolutely can't have a liar around at times like these." He explains and takes a deep breath. "You know what I have to do."

  "No, you can't kill me. I'm the only leverage you have on her." Chelsea pleads.

  "No, you're not. She has many more friends. She will come to me sooner or later, but you are not the determining factor for her."

  He turns the knob to the door, "Bruce." He calls.

  Bruce comes to the door, "Yes, sir?"

  "Take care of her." Skylark says. Bruce nods, and sends another solider into the room. Skylark hears a brief struggle, but then it is over. "What do you want us to do with her, sir?" Bruce asks.

  "Same thing you did with the boy." He demands and makes his way to his throne room.

  He takes a deep breath and sits down in the window seal that looks over the town. Bruce walks into the room, "Sir, is there someone else we need to get?"

  Skylark shakes his head, "We need to wait and see if this makes her come to me. If it doesn't, then you will get someone else." He has a feeling it wouldn't make her come to him. She is strong willed. Just like her brother, only in a different way. Her motivation is different. She knew Chelsea had betrayed her, and she won't risk her life for a traitor. But, how did she know? Aldric must be keeping an eye on Skylark's mansion. Or, he has others watching, and he warned Ren?e before she came. He would have to find out where they are hiding in order to cripple their operation. That was not going to be easy. Vampires could easily disappear.