Page 38 of Barely Breathing

“I’m a Devine.” I don’t know what to do. I can’t fight them all.

The smirks I get in response are about what I expect.

“But are you? Really?” Elizabeth jeers.

“I didn’t kill Costin,” I insist. I don’t have it in me to kill anyone.

I fight what’s happening. Elizabeth’s head bobbles, and her eyes roll like she’s stuck in a loop. I need to escape this memory before it sucks me in completely and I forget this is over.

“Show me,”Costin’s voice whispers.

“There is no wayyoucould have taken out my brother,” Elizabeth continues, not hearing Costin speak. “So much for old men and their prophecies.”

I don’t know what she’s talking about.

“We talked to Conrad,” Elizabeth continues. “He made an intriguing proposition.”

I sigh in relief and try to relax. My brother Conrad talked to them. All will be well.

“So, we’re good? This is over?” I ask, hopefully.

“Sure, it’s over,” Elizabeth agrees, “as soon as we kill you.”

“But…” I prepare to go down fighting. “You said Conrad made a deal.”

“Oh, you don’t…” Elizabeth laughs, prompting the others to do the same.

I wish somebody was coming to save me, but there’s no one. I’m all alone in the world. Who would even care that this is happening?

“Sweetie.” Suddenly, Elizabeth is in front of me, cupping my face. Her fingers feel like ice cubes against my skin, and the scent of ash lingers like perfume. When I stare into her eyes, I see a cold emptiness.

Rage burns through me—not only the helpless fear of that night that I can’t escape, but present fury at Costin for making me face his sister again, even in memory.

“Conrad did make a deal with us,” Elizabeth continues. “We kill you. We turn him. And we gain access to the great Devine empire.”

I try not to cry, but I can’t help it. Elizabeth lifts her fingers from my cheek to her mouth to lick my tears before lightly slapping me with her wet hand. “Brothers! Am I right?”

“I don’t believe you.” I don’t want it to be true. Conrad is my brother. Family has to mean something.

“You do know he tried to sell you to my brother in exchange for turning him.” Elizabeth is enjoying herself. “Costin refused, of course. This offer, though? Yeah, I’m going to take it.”

More tears fall, and I’m shaking. I lift my hand to swat her away, but it’s like slamming against a brick wall. The blow has absolutely no impact on her.

“Gah, you’re so…” Elizabeth grunts in disgust. “Mortal.”

“Let’s eat her,” one of the vampires suggests. “I’m hungry.”

“Yeah, such a tasty little treat,” another adds.

Time wavers and their image blurs slightly before coming back into focus. I see Elizabeth’s fangs coming toward me. I try to fight, kicking and thrashing to be free.

“No, no, no…” I beg. I taste blood in my mouth.

I’m going to die. I feel only one regret. Paul. I regret that I did not have more time with him. I should have told him how much I care. We could have been in love.

Nothing makes sense. I hear my heart hammering in my head. I taste the blood in my mouth, stinging my tongue. I feel my body being held down. Vampires converge like locusts to feast upon me.

“Stop. Go back,”Costin’s voice whispers.“Let me see them all.”

---