Page 6 of Crimson Devotion
She wanted them to suffer for the rest of eternity, and it somehow translated into them living for the rest of eternity.
She wanted them to feel hunger forever, and because she used human blood as a vessel to create the potion that she later threw at them, it connected them to human blood forever.
It was a funny sight, really.
The Sacred Seven, five hundred years ago, were confused as to why the sun was burning them, why they craved blood, why they suddenly got strength, sharper vision, extreme speed, and why they were no longer aging.
Yvonne tried reversing the spell, but it failed.
And ever since, she’s been on the run.
With a deep breath, I shake off the thoughts of the Sacred Seven. Right now, my focus is Ophelia. I can’t help but wonder who the rest of them are. I’ve heard — and seen Lucifer in the crystal ball, had the displeasure of meeting Valerio, and am about to face Ophelia.
There’s still four of them. Who knows how brutal and ruthless they are?
I’ve heard a specific story about one of them. No name, no physical description, only that she’s the strongest of the Seven, blood-thirsty, and insanely reckless. She has a whole house of blood vessels, and she keeps killing them, then kidnapping more humans, rotating them to her liking.
I’m praying Ophelia isn’t as deranged, but if she is, then I might have a problem.
Mud splashes all over the bottom part of my jeans, and my boots, when I accidentally step into a puddle that was way deeper than I thought.
A groan comes from me, and I have no other option but to continue. I shift the weight of the backpack to one shoulder, feeling the other one getting sore. I point the flashlight toward the small path in front of me, going over the branches and bushes that are overgrown.
My heart starts fluttering when I finally spot it.
After five hours of trying to find my way through the forest, I’m finally here.
The castle is still a bit far from here, but I see it.
It’s massive. The path leading up to it is made out of cobblestone, the grass neatly trimmed all around. There’s a big fountain, and a beautiful garden filled with roses that will bloom in the spring.
Adrenaline rushes through my veins, and with a determined nod to myself, I continue walking toward the castle.
Soon, I’ll get my revenge.
The mere thought is enough to get me excited. My senses sharpen, and I lower the flashlight. My keen hearing picks up on nothing but rustling leaves, nor do my eyes spot anyone. I can feel when vampires are near, and thus far, I’m all alone.
Soon, one of the Sacred Seven will fall by my hand. She’lldie at the hands of a woman whose parents she killed in cold blood, and I’ll return the favor. Count your hours, Ophelia D’Achille, because once I’m inside the castle, it’s over for you.
THREE
Ophelia
The sound of a branch snapping somewhere on the property causes my eyes to snap open. The footsteps are light, and whoever it is, is trying to be as silent as possible. Unfortunately, my keen sense of hearing would never let that slide.
With a sigh, I brace myself to confront another nosy human who dared to set foot in my family home. I toss on a sheer silk robe over the thin nightgown, sliding my feet into the home slippers.
I don’t feel cold, nor do I feel the warmth that the slippers are supposed to provide, but they’re very pretty, and since I paid for them, I might as well use them. My breathing is shallow, the hunger within slowly starting to surface.
The paleness of my skin is more prominent now that I haven’t had any blood in a while. Has it been a week, or perhaps a month, since the last time I ate properly? The castle is located in avery secluded part of the woods, and since I’ve lost my bracelet, I was unable to go out and feed freely.
I have to count on Valerio, or perhaps our other sister, Juliana, to bring me a human or blood bags. Though, I do prefer blood bags. Humans are messy, and getting rid of a corpse is tedious. Who has the time for that?
My sharp sense of smell picks up on a scent that I have never smelled before. It’s sweet, yet it has a certain depth to it that doesn’t make it nauseating. In fact, it’s a pleasant scent. It fills my nose, and I close my eyes, taking in a deep intake of the sweetness.
My eyes snap open, and I leave the castle, looking around. Footsteps are coming from my right side. The darkness of the night has never been an issue — and I can see perfectly clear, as if it were daytime.
One of the perks of being a creature of the night. All my senses are seven times better than those of a mere human; their speed and strength could never measure up to my own. They’re all beneath me, and although this isn’t the first time a human has tried to enter the premises, it’s the first time they’re trying their best not to be noticed.
