Page 95 of Stalked

“What are you doing, Dorian?”

My lips wobbled, and I bit down on them to stop the sob caught in my throat. Dorian frowned. “Mercy—”

At that moment, Maurice approached us and bellowed, “Dorian, where is Colin?”

The nostalgic scent from Dorian was replaced by the pungent smell of Maurice’s cologne as he waved Dorian away with his hand.

“I haven’t seen him,’ Dorian replied. ‘Do you want me to search the house?”

Maurice shook his head. “No, I’ve waited long enough.” He bent down, sniffed my neck, and protruded his fangs. He then pushed me down on my back until I was lying flat on the altar. I glared up at him in a warning.

I’m going to fight you, Maurice. I am going to fight.

A woman with dark brown skin, ruby red lips, and a beautiful black sleeveless gown walked onto the stage. Her eyes met mine for only a moment. If I had to guess, she almost appeared like they forced her to be there. Her face looked pained to see me bound and ready to be fed upon.

It made me wonder if they forced every witch here to do Maurice’s bidding.

The witch recited her chant and gently wafted the smoke from the herbs around us. She circled me a few times till an earthy, herbaceous scent covered the stage.

I had to think of something?—and I had to do it fast. Maurice was the last vampire in the world who deserved the power of my blood. He placed his arm under my back, lifting me toward his mouth, and arched my neck. As he did that, I felt the sensation of an object slipping from the red scarf around my bun.

As it was about to hit the altar, my hand reached back and caught it. Moving it around in my palm, I figured out what it was—a key.

Holy shit! A key!

Dorianwason my side, trying to save my life.

I let both my hands dangle loosely behind my back, avoiding touching Maurice’s hands, which supported my body, and unlocked the bracelet from around my wrist. My magic surged through me like a spring, and I felt whole once again.

Steady. Breathe.

I slowly tucked the key and bracelet under my rear while keeping my wrist hidden from his view. Maurice tightened his hold on me as the witch concluded her chant.

I closed my eyes and did what I had done with the water at the cove. That time, there were no chants, herbs, or spell books. My mind was the only thing in control as I mustered all the energy I could.

How much power am I truly capable of?

I stretched out my fingers, and with my palm facing up, I focused my energy on all five elements. The strength came crashing through me, almost causing Maurice to lose his hold of my waist.

“What the hell are you doing?” he hissed.

The green energy in my fingertips sparked, and the sound of a bucket wobbling in the corner of the room caught Maurice’s attention. For a few quick seconds, I looked at the trees outside the walls of the house. Their branches were shuddering and waiting for my command.

Maurice looked back at me, his eyes saturated with fury, and opened his mouth, ready to bite down.

“Trees,” I whispered, “save me.”

A shock wave of energy shot through my body, blasting Maurice across the platform. He quickly jumped back to his feet and charged at me, but I swiftly planted my hands on the ground and used my feet to kick him away from me as hard as I could. The force of my kick caused him to go flying across the stage again.

I turned to the witch next to us and used my strength to throw her against the wall?—so hard it knocked her out.

My physical abilities had heightened even further. The astonishment of what I had done loomed over me for a moment. But my mind was abruptly drawn back to the ballroom. Hisses and gasps came from every vampire in the room while I looked down at my hands, which illuminated a bright green glow.

The chandeliers shook, the walls cracked, and everyone scurried around the chamber like roaches. I coughed as Maurice gripped my throat, but I wouldn’t crumble under his strength. I stayed still as magic flowed out to my fingertips.

I lifted my hands above my head and threw my arms out to the side, allowing the green power to leave my body and slam into the walls. Suddenly, a crash from the windows lining the hall echoed in my ears. The trees broke through the glass, shattering it to pieces. Their branches moved swiftly, stabbing the hearts of the vampires who tried to run in the opposite direction.

My eyes narrowed in on a black-haired female vampire running toward me. The roots from one tree blasted through the floorboards, stopping her in her tracks. She tried to run in the opposite direction, but the roots grabbed her by the leg. Her body twisted and soared up into the air. She screamed and punched the tree frantically with her fists. Still, the roots only squeezed tighter and tighter around her body until she exploded into ash.

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