Page 17 of Castings & Curses

“I know,” Hanne said without missing a beat.

“And I’m not Aleksi!” Mikaela screamed.

“That’s right. You’re Mikaela. My Mikaela.” The gentleness in Hanne’s voice made Fabian’s heart ache.

Aricin buried his hand in Mikaela’s hair and yanked her head backwards, exposing her throat. As Mikaela screamed, Hanne jumped forwards, but Aricin was quicker. His fingers came to rest on Mikaela’s throat. In front of their eyes, they elongated until they’d turned into razor-sharp claws. Blood trickled down.

“At the moment, she belongs to me,” Aricin announced gleefully. “Humans die. Always. You think it’s undying love, but there’s nothing you can do to stop her death.” He smiled cruelly. “And it’s all your fault. Again.”

Fabian didn’t dare to breathe. Mikaela whimpered, unable to get away from her abuser.

“You think you’re such a big shot!” Jan stormed forwards, sword raised. “You might be able to kill Mikaela, but you won’t get out of here alive!”

“Jan!” Lucille shouted, while Fabian’s fingers twitched. He wanted nothing more than to slam a stream of water into Aricin’s face, but that would endanger Mikaela even more.

Hanne stepped into Jan’s path before he could reach the two. “Stop! Jan, please!” She cast a pleading glance at Aricin. “I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll be yours for all of eternity.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’ll give you children. I’ll never mention Mika or Aleksi or any other human for the rest of my life. Please let her go. Please.”

Fabian watched on, horrified. Hanne couldn’t be serious. Or could she?

Everyone else was just as shaken. Mikaela whimpered, and even Aricin stared, his grip on Mikaela’s throat lessening.

Hanne sank to her knees. “Please let them go.”

“They’re too much of a danger,” Aricin said reflexively.

“Greenvalley is far away. They have no idea where we live or how we live. Whom are they going to tell?” Hanne suddenly sounded too cold.

Once more, Aricin pulled Mikaela’s head backwards. “And what’s with her?”

Hanne glanced at her, and for a moment, she held her breath. “Mikaela won’t talk. She won’t be returning to Finland. If she does, I’ll drink her blood.”

Fabian shuddered, while Mikaela gasped. Aricin, however, smiled. He lowered his head and hissed at Mikaela. “Did you get that? Human?”

“Every word.” Mikaela’s voice was shaky. She searched Hanne’s face, but whatever she saw there made her shudder.

At last, Aricin let go of her. He cut through the bonds with his claws. His fingers clamped around her arm and jerked her out of her chair before throwing her into Jan’s arms.

Jan closed his arm around Mikaela and led her to the exit, where Fabian and Lucille waited for them.

Immediately, Lucille took Mikaela’s hand. “I’m so sorry.”

Fabian glanced over his shoulder at Hanne, but the Verenimijä was staring straight ahead at Aricin, refusing to watch the woman she claimed to love more than anything go. A heavy feeling settled in Fabian’s chest. It was obvious to him that she was sacrificing herself to keep Mikaela safe, but that didn’t make him like it one bit. Aricin couldn’t win, not like that.

However, in the end, it wasn’t his decision. They had promised to get Mikaela out. The rest was between the two Verenimijä.

The sunlight felt cold after what they’d witnessed in the warehouse. Although they’d escaped with their lives, none of them felt victorious. They had only exchanged one life for another. A monster’s life, but a life nonetheless.

They got about fifty metres from the warehouse when Mikaela crumpled. Immediately, Fabian and Lucille bent down to help.

“Did he hurt you?” Fabian asked, instantly wanting to slap himself. Aricin had hurt her right in front of them.

“I guess it’s the shock of Hanne betraying her,” Jan said with a shrug.

Lucille glared at him. “But she didn’t.” She caressed Mikaela’s hair, smiling at her with compassion. “Hanne only said all those things to save your life. She loves only you. She couldn’t bear seeing you hurt.”

“What about Aleksi?” Mikaela asked through her tears.

“That was an accident.” Fabian couldn’t believe what he was saying. That accident had caused a young man’s death. But when Hanne had told her story, he’d recognised the impossible strain she’d put herself under. As much as he detested it, vampires needed blood, and Hanne had starved herself for love. “I’m sure she suffered for centuries because of that.”

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