Page 16 of Bitten By Chaos

Tomas let his arm fall to his side, blood dripping down his pant leg as the wound closed.

“You glamoured him?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“I am five hundred years his senior. He’s practically a baby. Not even quite a hundred yet.” Elsa stood and slapped his cheek lightly. “Now, Tomas, tell Charlotte where Honeywell is.”

“She is in Nevada,” he answered.

“And what is she doing there?” Elsa pressed before drinking deeply.

“She is in hiding.”

I looked at Elsa. “At least she’s done coming after us.”

Elsa shrugged. “For now. She doesn’t feel powerful enough yet, perhaps. But she does enjoy revenge if what Tomas tells me is true. Which it is of course since he can’t help himself. Kneel.” She barked the command at him, and he dropped to his knees.

Words still eluded me, but I managed to whisper a thank you as I shifted my weight between my feet.

“Your father wants her for his experiments,” she said, setting her glass on the coffee table and walking toward me. “I’m thinking of having you do the honors. You would like that, wouldn’t you? A chance for your own retribution?”

I licked my lips as I thought it through, staring into her violet irises. “I don’t need revenge. I really don’t want any part of contributing to others being used as guinea pigs by my father. I can’t stop you from sending someone to get her. But I won’t be that person.”

Elsa stared at me so long, I began to fidget with concern. Then she smiled coldly. “I made a mistake by offering it as a choice. That’s on me. I will send someone else to retrieve her when I am ready.”

My shoulders drooped. The woman made me nervous.

“Just so we are clear on expectations, though, Charlotte.” She nodded toward the man kneeling on the floor then caught my gaze again. “When I tell you to do something, I expect it done. I may not be your sire, but I hold the highest office of any vampire. You see, back in my early days…well, I’ve never tolerated mistakes very well. I’m a bit of a perfectionist.”

I swallowed back the lump in my throat as anger flared. I was tired of people thinking they could order me around. “You are an elected official, not an empress.”

“Kill Tomas. Now.” The words slid into my brain, echoing slightly as they took hold. And before I could fully register what was happening, I’d stepped past her, gripped Tomas’ head with both hands, and yanked with all my strength.

I dropped the head I’d just severed immediately, vomiting beside it as Elsa sipped at her glass, considering what I’d done.

“Messy. But acceptable. You may leave.”

I zoomed past her and back to our rooms where I shredded my outfit and jumped in the shower to scrub off what I’d done. I was still there when Julian came back and slipped in to join me.

“It wasn’t the demons,” he said, pulling me so my back was against his front. “But I’m afraid the scent belonged to Tomas.”

I cringed at the name, and hung my head.

“Charlotte?” Julian asked gently, turning me to face him even though I refused to look at him properly. “What’s happened? Did you see him?”

Telling him, though difficult, helped sooth my guilty conscience.

He pulled me against him, resting his chin on my head as he rocked me. “It’s alright, my love. I’m sorry I wasn’t here. I’m sure Elsa thought she was doing you a favor, though she had no right. I will speak to her.”

I pulled away, finally looking up at him. “Favor? Glamouring me to kill?”

Julian pressed his forehead against mine. “Her mind is twisted, Charlotte. She couldn’t fathom the idea of not wanting revenge. I am so sorry.”

“I want to leave this place,” I said, crying again without producing actual tears.

“We will. As soon as the threat of the Demons is behind us. I swear it.” And Julian’s mouth met mine, seeling that promise.

“Demon energy has been detected in the woods surrounding the estate,” Elsa said by way of greeting one morning as Julian and I sipped our own coffee in the sitting room.

I looked up to find her violet eyes set on Julian as she stood with regal posture in a beautiful black suit with a coat trimmed in ivory that curved around the floor at her feet like a train. The collar stood at attention framing her head then dipping into a low V that showed the curve of her breasts and buttoned to her waist in the front. It was quite the fashion statement. She hadn’t sought me out since Julian had “spoken” to her about forcing me to kill Tomas. I supposed this was good enough reason for her to do so.

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