A low bell tolled. Again. Again. The deafening tone echoing and compounding within the cavern walls.
Charles twitched his lips in the smallest of smiles. “I believe Graely and his men have arrived; now you won’t be fighting alone. Just remember, when you get everyone away, safe and sound, and Alora’s got her strength back, tell her to transport me to her. Don’t let her come to me, okay?”
“But what if I can’t save them?”
“No, don’t say it. Please don’t. You have to save them, Jireo. I believe in you.”
Jireo returned a brisk nod, with his chin jutted out. He turned, bounding out of the water and disappearing down the corridor.
Wesley’s lips trembled as he spoke from the portal. “Goodbye, Mr. Whitford.”
“Goodbye, Wesley,” Uncle Charles coughed, probably trying to hide the crack in his voice.
“Goodbye.” Markaeus’ own voice sounded small and hollow to his ears as he shut the portal door and sealed it forever.
*****
“I’m so glad you’ve come to see the wisdom of my suggestion.” Vindrake pulled back his lips in a dazzling smile with even white teeth, his tone as benevolent as if they were all sitting down to drink a cup of tea. He rubbed his hands together in a brisk motion. “Now where did I put my blade? Ah! Here it is, right in my pocket where it should be.” Yanking the blade out with a flourish, he brought the edge to Alora’s neck. “Shall we test to see if it needs sharpening?”
Alora barely flinched as the razor edge slit the skin under her throat. The sting was nothing compared to the agony of her ravaged arms. In the background, Empusa observed them, her cool marble expression unchanged.
“Leave her alone!” screamed Kaevin. “I’ve said you can perform the ceremony. Why do you still torture her?”
“Because,” Vindrake gave an answering scream, his voice rising to a hysterical pitch. “Because. I. Am. Her. Father.”
He leaned in close, speaking in her face, his foul breath a contrast to his brilliant smile. “I am your father, and I demand your respect. You will obey me in all things.”
Alora’s breath hitched as a sob broke from her lips. Why can’t I just die?
“Please,” Kaevin’s voice betrayed her own emotion. “Please don’t hurt her anymore.”
“Ha! I won’t have to hurt her. Ever again. After you take the bloodbond, she will obey me. She will respect me after you bear my bondmark.”
Alora’s stomach rebelled again at Vindrake’s proximity and the thought of Kaevin taking the bloodbond. Though Kaevin had chosen his words carefully, agreeing only to let Vindrake perform the ceremony and never swearing to speak the required words, she still worried he might give in.
Vindrake held his hand in the air, crisscrossed with white, scarred lines. In a flash, his other hand circled with the blade, slicing his skin. A line of red blood oozed out, dripping to the stone floor. He sliced Kaevin’s palm as it lay bound in the iron cuff. Alora felt the bite of the blade, but neither she nor Kaevin cried out.
She turned her head and locked gazes with Kaevin, willing him the strength to withstand the temptation. His deep green eyes were open windows to his emotions. Fear. Despair. Overwhelming love.
Don’t do it, Kaevin. Don’t do it. I can handle the pain. God help me… I have to stand it.
Vindrake stepped forward, pressing his bloody palm to Kaevin’s, blocking her view of his face. The low, sing-song voice made Alora think of the snake in the Garden of Eden. “I will swear never to hurt Alora again. After this, you will be the one to force her to obey me. We will see how long she can withstand being tortured by her own soulmate.”
Alora gasped as her heart threatened to leap from her chest. She couldn’t hold her tongue. “No, Kaevin! Don’t do it! Don’t speak the words!”
“No! You will take the oath! You will! Empusa… the iron.” Vindrake’s veins bulged on his face, the blue of his eyes gone, replaced with blackness.
Empusa placed the iron in Vindrake’s hand, and he lifted it toward the ceiling, his entire body shaking with fury. The smoke spiraling from the end of the fiery rod was so thick Alora could smell it.
A bell tolled, resonating through the caver
ns.
“A fire bell! Glare it to damnation! I’ll have to continue our persuasion after I’ve investigated this disturbance. Allow me to give you something to consider while I’m gone…”
He lowered the smoking iron to her arm.
~ 18 ~