Page 16 of Sonata
11
Viola
The crashing coming from behind me made me glance over my shoulder, and I skidded to a stop. My ankle twisted awkwardly, sending a sharp pain to spread up my leg that developed its own heartbeat a second later. I hesitated for a few moments before turning around in a circle, searching for anything that I could use in a fight. A couple of things looked like chairs, those cumbersome ones that needed four people to carry them, and I gave up that idea. Back in my room, I knew something strange happened when I screamed, but I wasn’t willing to test it in case shrieking brought more attention to me than actually helping Lucien while he grappled with the witch on the floor. Furniture scraped over parquet, some of it flipping over while they rolled around attempting to punch each other’s lights out.
I noticed a vase that hasn’t seen flowers for decades judging by the dust gathered on it, and rushed to grab it. One hand bunching the skirt so I could move, I hugged the urn to my chest, afraid I might drop it, and wobbled over through the hole in the wall. As soon as I stepped over it, I had to slide back or be mowed over. Grunts and snarls filled my ears, and I raised the vase above my head, waiting for the perfect opportunity to smash it over Seraphina’s head. Knocking Lucien out, although tempting, was not in my best interest.
Heart galloping in my chest and arms trembling from holding the heavy urn up for longer than anticipated, I chewed on my lower lip. My shoulders tensed every time the witch ended up on top, but those moments didn’t last long enough for me to hit her. A shadow moved where the door was left open, but when I flicked my gaze up, there was nothing there. My patience wore thin, so blowing out a breath, I took a chance. Seraphina’s head came into view, and I hurled the vase at the back of her head.
The ceramic smashed into pieces, sending sharp shards flying in all directions. I suffered a few cuts that burned like a bitch but nothing major. At least I didn’t poke an eye out, which was a great possibility with the way my arms were shaking while I held the stupid thing up. There was a loud grunt, and the tornado of arms and legs stopped moving. My heart jumped in my throat when Lucien went limp while Seraphina scrambled to crawl out from underneath him.
Frozen, I stood where I was owlishly blinking at her, and my blood turned to ice when she bared her bloodied teeth at me like an animal. I guessed she was going for a smile, and if she wanted to freak me out, I should’ve told her she succeeded one hundred percent.
“I did not believe you when you said you tried running from him.” The witch grimaced when she looked down at her destroyed clothing. Fabric was dangling from the rips, and blood was spreading in dark patches in many places.
“What?” I clearly heard her words, but I didn’t understand a word of what she was saying.
“I should thank you.” Wiping the blood dripping from her temple with the back of one hand, Seraphina waved the other at Lucien’s prone form on the floor. “We need to tie him up before he wakes.”
I wanted to run.
No matter how strong the urge to bolt out the door was, I knew she was much stronger. Even bloodied and bruised, the witch was already moving around with ease. She was healing faster than my mind could process, and it cemented the feeling I had about being trapped. If Lucian struggled to fight her, I stood no chance. Not like I could tell her that, so I nodded just to buy myself some time.
“I will not punish you for your disobedience, this once.” Seraphina sashayed to look out the door before turning to face me. “Next time you have the idea to cause problems, you’ll pay twice to make up for my lenience.”
“How generous of you.” Clenching the skirt in my fists, I muttered under my breath.
“What was that?” her thin eyebrow lifted, and it just made her look more evil with all the dirt and dried blood caked on her face. The red lipstick she always wore was smudged into a Joker smile, and a shiver passed through me.
“Nothing.” The satin felt rough as I kept scrunching it between my fingers.
“Well, go on, don’t just stand there.” When I flicked my gaze from her to Lucien and back, her mouth formed a firm white line. “Pick him up. You don’t expect me to carry him, do you?”
Lucian had a good hundred pounds or more on me and all pure muscle. If Seraphina expected me to move the guy, we would be standing in the room until someone finds our skeletons sprawled on the ground. Still, I had to act as if I was doing something until I see the perfect opportunity to get the hell away from her. At least Harmony was out of harm's way. I could breathe easier knowing that.
The witch kept tugging on the strips of clothing hanging off her with tears in her eyes. I didn’t need to see the tags to know everything she wore was an expensive brand. Those fashion houses that had names to break your tongue until you pronounce them. What used to be pale yellow from the tiny spots left unmarred that I could glimpse, her silky blouse now had a maroon mixed with dark brown color and stuck to her skin. The always perfect waves of her hair were messed up and sticking in all directions. One of her heels was barely holding onto the sole of her left shoe, so she wobbled while she moved. Funniest of all were the pants with the front right pocket ripped and hanging in a straight line pointing at her crotch. It was impossible to see the pale grey color I noticed while she held Harmony by the upper arm in the hallway because they were all dirt, plastered on her legs. Tracking her with my gaze as she fidgeted with her clothing, I noticed the bookshelves in the room for the first time.
My eyes widened when I zeroed in on the thick volumes that were probably heavier than the vase I smashed accidentally over Lucien’s head. I steeled my spine and counted my blessings as I jumped over the guy, fingers outstretched. Taking the opportunity for what it was, I knew it was now or never. If I waited until Lucien was locked up, I’d have his life on my conscience, too. Feeling guilt for Melody and Harmony dealing with the witch was enough to last me through few reincarnations. There was no reason to add to it.
Obviously, Seraphina didn’t expect me to pull my ninja tricks, so when the leather-bound tome sailed through the space, it caught her off guard. She was just turning to see why I was making noise, and the expression she had on her face just as the thick book smacked her dead center was comical. Neck snapping back, she dropped like a rock a few steps from the door. Not wasting time, I fell on my knees next to Lucien.
“Get up.” My eyes kept going back to Seraphina, making sure she didn’t move as I grabbed hold of his shoulder with both hands rolling him over. “Come on, sleeping beauty, open those puppies. We don’t have time.” He swatted my hand that was going to town on his face, slapping away.
Lucien groaned.
The next thing I knew, I was pressed on the floor with a lot of muscle crowding me. There was something sharp poking at my neck, as well. Not breaking the skin, but it sure felt like an animal had my throat in its mouth. Growls and all. My mind blanked for longer than I could afford, but luckily I snapped out of it just as fast.
“If you bite me, I swear to everything holy I will stab you in the junk with the first sharp thing I come across.” The bravado in my tone did not match how I felt inside.
My thighs were pressed tight together, but I wasn’t sure if it was because having him on top of me did stupid things to my brain, or I was trying very hard not to pee myself from what I assumed were fangs gnawing on my neck. It did the trick, turning his threatening snarls into a deep masculine groan that sent butterflies into a frenzy in my stomach.
“Lucian, get off me.” I wanted to see if the witch was still out but I was afraid to move my head so I don’t impale myself on the fangs. “She can wake up any moment, and we will be screwed.”
“No.” the sharp pincers were replaced by a wet tongue that licked a slow trail from the crook of my neck to behind my ear.
My heart was about to punch a hole through my chest.
“Fine, let her kill us both.” It worked. He lifted off me but didn’t get up. Those stormy blues searched my face, and I swallowed thickly when one corner of his lips curled up in an arrogant smirk.
