Page 92 of Fated In Blood

But I couldn’t have stopped my feet from walking my curious ass over there, like a cat who definitely didn’t have nine lives left. More like eight, and that was if today went as planned.

I sifted through a pile of worn, gold coins with squared-off edges and a bunch of jeweled rings strung onto a leather cord before I found what was emitting the light. A small glass globe, fairly nondescript except for the galaxy of lights swirling around inside.

I cradled the tiny ball in my hand, no bigger than a marble. It was heavy. Heavier than something this small should be, and the longer I stared into the light, the more fascinated I became.

I wanted to keep the tiny, glowing relic forever.

In fact, I couldn’t live without this thing.

I couldn’t explain where this dragon-hoarding urge came from, but I slid the globe into my pocket, deep enough the thing wouldn’t fall out. Then rechecked the dagger—the real reason for risking this trip—turned, and stepped across the threshold to freedom.

Pain tore through me like a spear of blue fire, cleaving me in two. Light flared, bright enough to blind, and I ripped off the night goggles, the room fading in and out of focus as wave after wave of agony splintered me apart.

Dimly, I recognized this.

Well, not precisely what caused it, but its purpose. The blue glow hadn’t been there to keep thieves from getting in, the seal had been put there to keep them from getting out, and the containment magic wasfucking working.

I was trapped here, my body crumpling beneath this nonstop assault.

The pain coalesced, turned into a hot brand of fire between my shoulder blades, like someone was pressing a glowing iron to my skin. The reek of burning flesh filled the Vault, and I collapsed on all fours.

I tried breathing through the pain.

Which just made everything worse.

I couldn’t scream, though, I couldn’t. Screaming would be the death of me. I clamped down on my lips, fangs sinking in, blood pouring down my chin and splattering onto the floor. This was a fucking disaster, and I was going to be trapped down here. And when my father found me…

Oh God, the things he’d do would make this pain seem like nothing.

That singular fear galvanized me into action, forcing me tomovedespite being torn to pieces. I crawled forward, straight through the bowels of hell, that spot between my shoulder blades screaming, my vision darkening and blending together with the black walls of the Vault.

“Keep going, Evie,” I wheezed. “Keep going or you’ll be stuck in this place forever. And she gave her life so you could be free.”

My fear for my father paled against my fear of disappointing my mom.

I couldn’t let her sacrifice be for nothing.

Couldn’t leave my sister in that castle.

I slid one hand forward across the cold stone floor, then the other, then my knee, dragging my body forward, the magic raking over me like claws. Finally, I tore myself away from the light and the pain faded, leaving me trembling, clambering to my feet before the steps that rose and rose without end.

My strength was sapped, legs so rubbery I doubted they’d support me. Whether from this whole hallowed ground thing, or the magic that had it me up like a sparkler, I was toast.

But I sure as fuck wasn’t dying in the basement of a house I despised with every fiber of my being.

By the time I’d cleared the last flight, my legs were too heavy to lift, and I was pulling myself up with bloody fingers dug into the rough stone walls, sweat dripping down my spine, off the tip of my nose.

I had to drag a table over to the window, barely able to lift the thing because of my burned, ruined back, fingers slipping off the edges as I staggered beneath the weight. I didn’t know how I managed, but I climbed up and pried the window open.

I tumbled from the cool basement into the full heat of a Virginia night, thick with humidity and mosquitoes, rolling through the window onto the deep loam beneath the azaleas.

I was so screwed.

I’d severely underestimated my own strength, my need for blood and my wonky muscles were so weak I doubted I could crawl across the lawn to those hickory trees.

I tipped my head against the wooden clapboard siding, showering myself with tiny chips of flaking paint, vaguely wondering if vampires were immune to lead poisoning.

I’d just rest here for a moment.

---