EVANGELINE.
I watch as Zed enters with a bang, introducing himself. It’s not the time to have such thoughts, but there was something incredibly sexy about that.
My heart is pounding as several vampires surround him. I’m ready to assist if need be, and I know he is powerful enough, too. But still, I’m on edge.
The vampires stare at him, clearly taking it with mixed reactions. Some are shocked, others hostile, and some are hesitant.
“To Vadam Exodus, now,” Zed snarls. His power radiates off him, and I glance towards the mansion entrance.
The vampires seem to converse with one another before they motion to the door, and Zedkiel walks confidently to the entrance.
I don’t like being apart from him, but there’s not much I can actually do but wait for his signal that Vadam is with him before I move.
How long will you wait?
For his signal,
She’s been silent since I’ve returned to my body. Neither of us has brought up what happened when she took control, but sometimes, I feel as if she wants to say something. I feel her come to the front of my mind before she backs away.
Okay.
A few vampires come running and seem to be exchanging orders.
Evangeline, perhaps we should inch closer while they are distracted. We can wait outside but within the walls until he gives us his signal. It’s riskier staying out here,
Yes, good idea. It won’t be hard to sneak in. Let's make our way around while they are distracted, and then we wait for Zed,
Be careful, my love.
Pulling my hood up to disguise my white hair, I slowly stand up in the tree.
Silently, I jump down to the ground. Ducking down, I edge to the wide opening where the broken gate lies on the floor of the entrance. Slipping inside without being seen, I keep to the shadows as I sneak around the side.
Spotting a side entrance, I quietly slip closer. Jumping down the small wall, I crouch down behind the gargoyle fountain. There are several windows and a double door leading into the castle, but this area is quieter.
Now I wait.
A few minutes pass, although it feels longer. I spend the time simply scanning and assessing the area and making sure no one spots me.
Did you find answers in the realm?
I frown.
Somewhat,
I remember Selene’s words about not telling anyone anything, when Luna begins pacing in my head. After all, werewolves and hosts share the same space.
But Selene said Evelyn is a victim,
I know,
And?What did you learn?
Do not even talk to each other … But why does my heart urge me to tell Evelyn? To trust her?
You are the Goddess of the Moon, Evangeline. Follow your intuition,
You don’t trust me,
No, that is not true. I do, and so does Zedkiel. Even Selene herself says you are a victim. There’s something or someone else who is the true evil,
Selene said not to even speak to each other. This should be okay.
The curse of the Eternal God was to doom us. Raziel cursed you, yet the one who sabotages us is someone else,
I know that,
I frown. What do you mean?
He … I know who it is,
Oh?
She’s silent, and I can feel that even Luna is on edge.
Who is it?
She rarely talks to her, but I know ever since Luna killed her wolf, the two do not see eye to eye. But now, Luna is at least trying to see the good in her.
Zerachiel,
For a moment, I don’t comprehend what she has just said.
What about him?
He’s the one,The true evil.
An icy wave of realisation washes over me as her words hit me like a bag of bricks.
Luna’s tense, and I can feel her denial, but there is something in Evelyn’s voice that tells me she isn’t lying.
Why do you say that?
He admitted it. He said he will blame me, and no one will believe me. That I will be killed once again for his crimes,
There’s terror in her voice, and I have no idea why she is so afraid, but there’s no lie in her words.
Zedkiel will be disappointed,
My mind is a tornado of thoughts as Selene’s words ring in my head.
There is evil within everyone, we only need to open our eyes to it.
She made a mistake and created a monster.
Find the monster whose life force was tainted.
She said not to talk to even one another about it.
Why else would she say that if she didn’t trust one of us?
She was looking at Zed when she mentioned the word evil.
Why does it somehow all make sense?
Has he played us all?
No! No, I can’t believe it!
Calm down,
How? He is my mate; he can’t be evil!
I feel physically sick, her pain getting the better of her and me.
My mind is a storm. Three different sets of emotions are coursing through me, and it feels crowded.
He was the one who killed everyone in the town when we were children, and our mother! He said you are obedient, and that's why he likes you,
It’s like she’s lifting the dam on everything she had bottled up inside.
Why didn’t you tell me this yesterday?
How do we destroy Zerachiel? He is a part of Zedkiel, and he has never shown me that darkness. But now, as the Goddess, would I be able to pick up on it?
Could this just be a misconception?
This could break Zed.
In every lifetime, he said that Zedkiel kills us. I don’t know. What if it’s Zerachiel who wants us gone? He kills every woman that Zedkiel tries to sleep with,
No, he wouldn’t want us- me dead. He cares. He told me to be careful of Zedkiel himself!
Or he wanted to create a rift between you. He’s never cared for Zedkiel, ignoring him for most of their life. He has his own intentions, Evangeline.
It’s too much to comprehend. How will I even tell Zedkiel this?
My heart squeezes, and I take a steadying, choked breath. It’s Luna’s pain that is crushing me.
Luna, calm down. I don’t want Zedkiel to pick up on our distress,
I’m sorry,
She’s a wolf. She’s connected to Zerachiel. Although I have always loved Zerachiel, I realise now that it is Zedkiel who is the better one.
We’ll find a way,
I will be the final judge of the truth. But if it is Zerachiel, then what does that mean? And how will I kill him? And how will Zedkiel survive without his Lycan?
The night gets darker, and the impending doom is like a giant crushing hold on me, suffocating me.
All clear. Move in. I’m with Vadam,
Understood! Keep me in the loop,
A time will come when I somehow have to tell Zedkiel, but it’s not the priority right now.
The windows are all barred, but there’s one much higher up that seems to be opened. That will be my entrance.
-
Ten minutes later, I’m making my way through the castle. Every door is padlocked, and there are men stationed at every corner.
I’m masking myself, but Selene told me there was a limit to how much of my powers I could use. So I have to use stealth over using a high level of power.
That guy there, knock him out and steal his clothes. It will prove a good disguise,
I glance at the armoured guard and frown.
Go steal his clothes,
I don’t really have any other option, but I don’t want to undress him!
Let’s just continue without the clothes. I need to find out where Ziahra would be kept,
Oh, stop being dramatic. Hand me control for a few minutes.
Evelyn.
I promise to give you back control,You can trust me.
I know. I didn’t mean it like that,Here you go.
I hand her control, and she places the sword Zed had managed to steal down and instantly saunters straight into the open.
“Hey, who are you?” The guard asks. He turns, he doesn’t look too old. He looks me over.
“Your next snack,” Evelyn purrs, pressing herself, or should I say me – against him.
Don’t do that!
He instantly relaxes as he looks down at my breasts.
“What are you-”
“Where is the princess? The High Lord wants her.” She says seductively, running her hand down his chest, and I’m mortified when she cups his crotch, giving him a good feel.
“Top floor, as usual.” He groans, reaching for me.
“Thank you,” Evelyn whispers before she reaches up and snaps his head, making me gasp. “Oops, I think he’s dead,” she giggles, a little sadistically.
I stare at the body, shocked, as she quickly bends down and begins taking off his thick leather jacket and his weapon.
We need his weapon, too, to blend in. We will leave ours here. Ah, shame he isn’t dead.
I simply stare at her as she quickly drags his body into a corner before dusting her hands off and donning the jacket before giving me back control.
See, that wasn’t hard,
Thank you, Evelyn. We make a good team,
She doesn’t respond, but I sense the glimmer of sadness from her as I hurry up towards the top floor.
Two flights of stairs later, I’m in a dark, tight hallway. There are a few guards against the wall, but it’s obvious they look bored.
“Hey, where are you going!?”
“The princess is needed downstairs; orders of the High Lord himself,” I say smoothly.
They nod, and two men walk towards the door down the hall.
“How are things down there?” One of the men asks.
“I’m not sure. I wasn’t in the room. I was told to get the princess,” I reply smoothly.
I’m surprised they don’t realise I’m not one of them,
Vampires don’t have the same scent abilities as werewolves. Their hearing is better, though. I wonder if Zed's marking me contributed to them not realising I am rather different from them.
Your concealment is helping, too,
The door is under heavy lock and key. The chains are removed, and when the door is thrown open, I feel the intense power radiating out of the room.
She’s being held here by magic.
Ziahra is lying in the middle of the floor, and I can tell she’s bloody and bruised. No chains are holding her, but there are symbols on the floor which confirm my thoughts.
“She’s almost dead,” one of the men sneers. “Traitor!”
I do my best not to let my heartbeat get the better of me as the two men grab her and lift her off the ground roughly.
She’s worse than I had initially thought.
She’s beaten badly,
Is that regret or sympathy in her voice? I’m not sure.
“I’ll take her from here,” I say calmly as I sling Ziahra’s arm around my shoulders.
“Be careful. She’s a vile whore who’s been fucking with the mutts,” one of the vampires scoffs.
I have barely taken two steps out of the door when suddenly she tenses. A low hiss leaves her lips as she turns, her eyes blazing red as she slams me against the wall.
“Blood!” She hisses, ripping my jacket off.
My hood falls off, too, all eyes turning on me, and recognition hits them.
“She’s not one of us,” One of them murmurs.
But I can’t respond because I have a bigger problem at hand.
Oh no, she’s hungry!
“What the fuck is going on?!” Someone shouts.
Careful, Evangeline!
Ziahra’s eyes are on me, but she’s unseeing.
She isn’t herself.
“Ziahra, come to your senses,” I say quietly, feeling her powers swirl around me as the other vampires raise the alarm.
But before anyone can do anything, she’s in front of me in a flash, and within a split second, she sinks her teeth into my shoulder, making pain erupt through me.