Eyes Of Crimson : Vampire Paranormal Romance (Transfusion Saga Book 8)

by Stephanie Hudson

  I had been right, my girl had fought, not once giving up despite her fear. But even then, had the shifter brothers not turned up when they had, then she wouldn’t have lasted long, for they had protected her and saved her life. A few minutes later and I didn’t need to see anymore, dropping my hold on her and ignoring the moan of pain the second I did.

  “Was it as you suspected?” Dariush asked as he approached.

  “It is,” was all I said in a tense tone, for seeing her in danger that way wasn’t exactly easy despite knowing the outcome. My brother nodded and told me,

  “Then I will return to the castle and wait for them to arrive with the girl, that is if Carn’reau doesn’t get to them first.”

  “I care little who walks her through my doors just so as when she arrives she does so walking unaided, and above all, unharmed,” I replied making him smirk in a knowing way.

  “But of course,” he said before his eyes glazed over in a demonic way as he started to create a portal, doing so with little effort. But just before stepping inside he looked back at me over his shoulder and said,

  “And naturally I look forward to meeting her, for then perhaps I will finally learn the truth you yourself are refusing to say.” Then before I could respond he disappeared through the wavering air, leaving me scowling at the empty space he had once been stood in.

  I gritted my teeth at the thought of not being there when she arrived and being questioned by Dariush who was obviously determined to discover his own answers. Not that I could really blame him, as in the past there hadn’t been much I had kept from him. But knowledge of my Chosen One was not for the likes of Hell, which, unfortunately, included him.

  Speaking of Hell, I looked distastefully back down at the broken woman at my feet when she reached a shaky hand back up at me and with a strained voice begged,

  “Ppplease…kill…me…” I thought back on everything her mind had shown me and before giving it a single thought more, I let my demon take action.

  “With pleasure,” I said, at the same time my demonic armour liquefied down my arm and became a solid entity only when in the shape of a large blade. It shot down too fast for eyes to trace as it speared her straight through the neck. Then a quick flick of my wrist was all it took to sever her head completely as the blade twisted. It cut through flesh, muscle and bone like butter and the result was her head now rolling away from her body.

  The wailing hiss of agony echoed all around me, proving there were more of her children still left alive than I had first thought. They cried out for the loss of their Queen, one they had been trying in vain to piece back together.

  But my real satisfaction came when picking up her head by the hair, walking closer to the cliff’s edge and flinging it into the dark abyss below. Then I walked away to the sounds of an entire race screaming as one as they mourned their mother.

  Then I told them…

  “Trying fixing that, assholes.”

  14

  Slipped Through My fingers

  This time when I landed, it was in the vast wastelands that surrounded the Kingdom of Death, which was the neighbouring land to the Kingdom of Blood where my castle was. Hence why I was named the King of Blood and Death, for both belonged to me. And speaking of what else belonged to me, it was time to go reclaim my girl.

  I narrowed my gaze on the colossal head of a death dealer who had his mouth open as if he was about to swallow the souls of all who dared step inside. I just hoped like fuck she was here, for I was reaching my limit in waiting and this worrying was driving me fucking insane. To the point that my demon side was ready to take over completely just as he had that time back in the silent garden. Which was a thought that only ended with me quickening my steps, deciding against using my wings in case I missed something below.

  I also wanted to keep my identity unknown for the moment so I called forth my helmet, letting it materialise in my hand. This particular one was a favourite of mine and usually sat in my private tower with the rest of my collection. It was a continuation of my demonic armoured suit, forged in such a way that it was connected to the blood it had been made with…my own.

  I slipped the black metal over my head that was the same style as the rest of my armour and cut down over my face in a T shape, typical in some ways of a Trojan warrior. But with its overlapping plates and two large horns reaching high above my head in a U shape, that were tipped in blood red, then that was where the similarities ended.

  I reached the steps that lead up into the town, only feeling better once the cavernous space started to open up the further I walked. I ignored the questioning looks of those who no doubt suspected I was some bounty hunter because of the way I was dressed. A newcomer that most would distance themselves from, where others with something to prove would most likely challenge me. To be honest, out of the two I wasn’t sure which I was hoping for more, as I most certainly could have done with a good fight.

  But did I have the time for that…? Fuck no!

  Did I want it…? Fuck yeah!

  Before long I came to the tail end of some of my army that were holding their position and stood waiting for their general’s orders. I frowned in question before approaching them, demanding,

  “What is the meaning of this?”

  “Move along, bounty scum,” the soldier said with a mere glance back at me, making me snap at the disrespect despite him obviously not knowing who I was. So, I grabbed him by the throat at the same time ripping his own helmet off his head, before forcing him to his knees. In response, I soon found all those around him with the tips of their blades pointed at me.

  Unphased by this, I growled low and dangerous.

  “You dare speak such words to your King, for you must tire of the use of your tongue to beg of me in such a way to rid you of it!” I snarled with a rumbling sound of displeasure from my demon at the end. But this statement was enough to have those that once pointed their swords at me now wisely lower their weapons along with quickly falling to their knees. This started a wave of movement throughout the entire army that snaked up the main street of the town, as they first split in the centre before finding the floor.

  Well, so much for being inconspicuous, I thought wryly.

  I could barely see the end of this river of bodies that were still falling as the presence of their King travelled up the ranks like a fucking Chinses whisper. Which was why I had no patience to make a show of storming through the centre of them all. So instead I took to the sky until I could see the end, where my commander was positioned. But then something else took my eye…Gods alive but could it really be…

  “Amelia…?” I spoke her name as if she were some kind of myth. Some magical creature that only existed in the realm of hopeful dreams. Gods in fucking Heaven, but she was alright! She was right there, and she was standing tall and from what I could see, was unharmed!

  “Thank the Gods,” I muttered, closing my eyes for a second as the feeling overwhelmed me, for it was as if my prayers had finally been answered. But then, when I opened them again, I took in the scene in more detail and moved my gaze beyond the sight of my girl.

  But even hovering fifty feet in the air above, I could still see that she was stood next to the three brothers and opposite them was Carn’reau upon his beast of a steed. I narrowed my eyes seeing that they all looked to be in what appeared to be some kind of standoff, with the McBain brothers standing guard over the girl against my army.

  “What the fuck?” I questioned with a frown. I was about to get to the bottom of it and take possession of my girl when suddenly the worst fucking thing happened! It started when Trice suddenly cried out in anger,

  “NO!” but then it was too late, as my eyes homed in on something in the younger brother’s hand. It started when the one named Vern had stepped forward to converse with my general and commander. But then the second I eyed the cause of Trice’s anger I too seemed to mimic the sound that had come from him, as I bellowed in fury,

  “NO!” but it was t
oo late, as the younger brother had thrown a glowing bottle behind him and the second it smashed, it created a portal, that had the power to suck those who stood next to it inside…

  Amelia included.

  Undiluted rage had me dropping from the sky and landing with enough force it cracked the cobbled street and made the whole town shake. I looked up and snarled furiously before gaining my full height when rising from my bent knee to fully standing. I did this in dangerous, slow movements that had those around me staggering backwards, including the cause of my rage…Vern McBain.

  “My King…” Carn’reau said in surprise as I turned his way and suddenly thundered,

  “WHERE IS SHE?!” The army behind him responded quickly and the beast my general rode upon whined in an anxious way, sensing the higher power pulsating from me.

  “Oh darn,” Vern said uncharacteristically before he became the second life I held in my grasp in the past few minutes. I did this by lifting him in the air by his throat, ready to choke the fucker! He clawed at my hand in a desperate attempt at trying to draw breath and I knew that I would have to force my hand to let go if I was to get my answers.

  Fuck, but she had been right there for fuck sake!

  “I asked you a fucking question, Wyvern!” I growled after first dropping him to the floor and giving him no time to cough through his first few breaths. But I had to give him his due, he was a ballsy mother fucker as he glared up at me and said,

  “I haven’t a dickybird.” I scowled down at him and instead of kicking the shit out of him, because I simply didn’t have the time, I instead took control of his mind. His eyes glazed over and rolled back in his head the second I forced my way in there, and because he was in his own right a powerful asshole, it didn’t come as easy to me as it should.

  However, with that being said, I forced my way deeper and stripped him of his rights to keep me out, seeing it all starting to play out. I skipped over the parts I had seen, that included the battle with the Queen, ignoring how well they had fought in keeping my girl safe.

  Because despite it being a factor that would no doubt save his life, I was too furious right now to let him get away unscathed and wanted no image in my mind to cloud that decision. He would feel my wrath, there was no doubt about that!

  But then I slowed down those memories when I reached what I was looking for…where they had perhaps purchased the portal orb.

  “Necromancer,” I hissed letting him go and turning back towards where they had obviously come from.

  “No…No don’t go…” I ignored his pointless pleas by storming down the street until coming to a shop front I recognised from his memories. The stained glass displayed the name and when I walked inside, I found a girl with navy blue and white tipped hair. She was also muttering to herself about pains in her ass handsome bastards, as she was bent behind the counter arranging something on one of the shelves behind.

  I cleared my throat and she snapped,

  “Sorry we are closed…on account of the army standing in the street, dickhead, or did you miss ‘em?” She muttered this last part to herself making me wonder with that attitude how she had any customers at all. But then again, this was Hell and she wasn’t exactly dealing with the most reputable clientele. Not especially considering what the witch was selling. I took a few steps forward and when she heard that I was still there, she rose up from her crouched position and released an annoyed sigh. This was all before turning around to face me, as at the same time telling me,

  “I said we are closed assho…holy shit!” She ended this irritated comment on a shriek of fear as I was removing my helmet, making her stumble back the moment I revealed myself. Good, I was glad the girl feared me as it would make it easier this way.

  “You know who I am,” I stated making her nod her head in quick jerky movements and I glanced down in an expectant way telling her she was missing something when faced with a King. Her deep blue eyes widened as realization took hold and she lowered her body to bow in my presence. To be honest I couldn’t give a fuck but with half the damn town now watching, I knew it was needed. However, what came next was unfortunate, as I had no choice but to threaten her.

  “Then you also know what I want.”

  “Erh…not really…” she replied in an unsure way and I held up my hand to silence her and snapped,

  “The girl, I want to know where you sent the fucking girl!” My growl of anger was easily read for she paled. Then she muttered under her breath,

  “Damn it, Vern.” This was said off the back of Vern, who could be heard shouting in rage, despite how much like a posh twat he sounded when doing so. But it was clear he cared for what I was doing in here, as one glance out the window and I could see he was fighting my men. Doing so now with one clear goal in mind, to get to the girl I faced…interesting.

  He was trying to fight his way free of my men that soon had him restrained to the ground. It was also testament to his strength for he didn’t make it easy and much to Carn’reau’s annoyance, took at least six of his men to achieve this.

  “I didn’t send her anywhere, I swear, my Lord,” she replied when I made it clear I was still waiting for an answer. So, I took a threatening step forward and warned,

  “I will hurt you, woman…and then when I am done with you, I will burn all you built to the ground…now give me the information I want to know!” If I thought she had paled before, then now she had lost all colour, even in her once peach coloured lips.

  “I…I…honestly…I don’t know what you’re talking about…please.” She held up her hands in fear as I stalked towards her, too afraid to move back and try and run from me.

  “The portal orb you supplied the Wyvern, tell me, where did it lead?” I asked again in a tone that said I was closer to following through with my threat. She frowned a moment as if genuinely confused before she cursed,

  “Fucking Vern!” I frowned and then heard another roar from the street as he shouted,

  “SHE DOESN’T KNOW ANYTHING! LEAVE HER ALONE YOU NINNYHAMMER!” At this unique insult for a simpleton, one I will confess to have not heard since the sixteen hundreds, I halted my steps, tipped my head to the side and commented,

  “Your handiwork, I presume?” She awkwardly shrugged her shoulders and replied,

  “Uh…maybe…what can I say, he pisses a lot of people off.” I took a deep breath and agreed,

  “Indeed.”

  After this I continued to close the distance between us making her cry out for the Wyvern in panic.

  “VERN!” she shouted despite the fact moments ago just cursing his name, meaning that this witch had deeper feelings for my new prisoner. She ran from around the counter without thinking about the danger and I snagged her body from getting any closer to the door. She cried out making Vern hear her and the guttural sounds of the fight was obvious as to why.

  He cared for her too.

  I held her squirming body still, doing so by collaring a metal hand around her throat. She stilled the moment I applied enough pressure to tell her how serious this was, and then I whispered down in her ear,

  “I don’t want to hurt you girl, but you try my patience.”

  “But…but…I swear to you, I don’t know what he took as he certainly didn’t pay for it…as usual,” she said in a strained voice more down to the circumstances and not because I was hurting her like I promised I would.

  “And what of the girl?” I asked this time.

  “Sire?”

  “What do you know of the girl?!” I snarled dangerously down at her this time and as a result, I felt the lump pass down my hand at her throat as she swallowed hard.

  “Alright, I will tell you, but please…don’t hurt her,” she replied surprising me. For the reason she held back now was because she was worried what I would do to Amelia. I released a sigh and told her,

  “Do not fear for the girl’s life, for I don’t intend to harm her.”

  “And how do I know you’re not just lying?” she braved snapping b
ack and I had to say, I liked the girl’s spirit. Besides, she would clearly need it considering who she had chosen to fall in love with.

  “You don’t. But then again, I don’t need you to, not with your life in my hand…now tell me of the girl!” I said squeezing slightly to add emphasis to my words.

  “Alright, alright!” she shouted making me ease my hold after a few seconds.

  “So about five or so hours ago they brought a mortal girl into my shop. I didn’t think much of it, other than doing as they asked…”

  “Which was?” I interrupted.

  “They were looking for an elixir to restore their energy, which I gathered had something to do with needing it for getting the girl to where she needed to be,” she told me and so far, nothing seemed out of place.

  “Then what?” I prompted.

  “We went in the back to try and find it when Trice realised Vern had followed and no one was watching her. After this he freaked. By the time we ran back to the shop, she was gone.”

  “Gone?!” I snapped, seeing that this was the part that was new to me.

  “Yeah, well obviously they found her again, only it seemed she was attacked,” the girl added making me tense all over.

  “ATTACKED!” I roared making the girl in my arms cower, squirming harder now to be free of me. I therefore forced myself to be calm enough so I wouldn’t accidentally break her bones, for I was holding her too tight as it was.

  “Not by me! Or them, it was by a witch or something…please!” She shouted, and this was when I hit my fucking limit. Once again I ignored the bellowing sounds of a Wyvern’s rage beyond the doors and focused on discovering the truth. I did this by spinning her to face me, placing a hand over her eyes and said,

  “Fucking show me!” She whimpered at first but then the second I accessed her mind she relaxed in my hold. Then I scanned through her memories and the second I saw Amelia entering inside this room, everything stopped.