Page 25 of Diamond Queen
Dante winced as the metal tore his flesh, ripping open the skin with each pass of the blade. Helix pushed the tip of the blade into his thigh, twisting the handle, so the knife dug into his muscle. Dante closed his eyes, his thoughts only on Amalee. He’d wanted to spare her from any more pain, promising to love her for eternity. An eternity that was ending sooner than he’d imagined.
“Master,” a man poked his head around the doors opening, “Something is wrong.”
Helix stood to his full height, “What do you mean?”
“This storm seems… odd.”
Helix glanced back at Dante, “Watch him.” He ordered the man as he stepped from the room.
Dante stared at the man watching him from the opening. Calling him a man was a stretch, he was barely a man, maybe even a boy.
“Why are you doing this for him? You have to know he can’t win.”
“Shut up…” the boy spat.
“What did he promise you?”
“I SAID SHUT UP!”
Dante rocked. The blood loss was making him weak. The desire to close his eyes was strong, but he knew he had to fight through it if he was to ever see Amalee and Baxter again.
“Please… the Amethyst Queen will reward you for helping me.”
The boy stepped closer, “You’re going to die.” He seethed as his spit dripped from his mouth. A loud crash outside made the boy jump. He ran to the window, “Somethings happening…”
Dante inhaled a deep breath, “You should go see what that was. Helix needs you.”
“No, he’d kill me for leaving you.”
Another loud bang shook the house, causing the boy to pace.
“What if Helix is hurt? How will you feel when your master needed your help, and you didn’t go?”
The boy stopped beside Dante. Leaning down, he dug his finger into the gaping hole left from Helix’s butcher job. Dante cried out, his vision swimming as pain thrummed through his body.
“I told you to shut the fuck up.”
Dante forced his eyes open, “Fuck you, you spineless piece of shit.” The back of the boy's hand connected with his face. The force of the blow toppled his chair to the side, spilling him to the floor. It was the last thing he remembered before darkness consumed him.
Chapter 33
The house was a two-story bungalow, set deep in the woods. The four of them, flanked by the guards, Jason, and Drake, snuck down the gravel driveway. They reached the front of the house, looking for any of his followers.
“I don’t see anyone.” Dimitra glanced at Jason.
“Me either… I don’t like this.”
“Let’s create a distraction.” Onika held her hands high, commanding the darkness with her fingertips. Their surroundings were sheathed in total darkness. The outside lights came on, illuminating the area.
A man stepped out, “I know you’re here. You might as well show yourselves.”
“Helix,” Sarifena hissed.
“Ah… so you did come. How foolish. Taking your crowns will be easier than I thought.” Helix ducked back inside just as the ground opened, attempting to swallow him down.
“Emersyn. Be careful. Dante is likely inside. We don’t need the house to come down around him.” Onika looked over at Emersyn, who was seething mad.
As they inched their way closer, the lights went out, bathing everyone in black.
