Children of the Night by Zan Safra

Author:Zan Safra [Safra, Zan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: vampire fiction, urban fantasy, vampire, monsters
Publisher: Quirky Crow Books
Published: 2021-09-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Jette

I PACE AROUND THE room where the Dead women left me, a circular one with black walls and a red alchemical light mounted high above. It seems as though hours have passed since they marched me in. Wait here, Amaranta spat before they locked me in, as though I had any choice.

I circle the room. A smell permeates the air, faint but revolting. Death.

The dead califactor glove lies by the wall where I tossed it. I kick it out of the way. It is as useless as I am.

The alchemical blast was too strong. It took everything from me. And none of it has returned.

I feel like a trapped beast. The chamber seems smaller than before, as though as soon as I glance away the walls contract by a fraction, shrinking the room to a cell.

My cell in Edinburgh. My cell at the Scholomance.

I tug at the collar of my gown, trying to loosen it, but the sense of choking does not lessen. I wonder if someone is watching me, watching me pace, watching me sweat.

I keep my face blank, my back straight and my head high. If they do see me, I must not give them reason to think me weak. They do not know that she is gone.

At least I hope they do not.

I swallow. I do not need her. I am strong en—

My throat tightens. I catch myself. Those words.

I breathe deep. I must not sink. I must not fall. Not now.

The lock clanks. The door squeals open. The vampire women prowl into the room. Vittoria’s lizard tongue flicks out. Her quicksilver eyes pass over me, but she does not even bother to meet my gaze. I know why.

I am not a person. I am not even an experiment.

I am food.

In a bound Vittoria covers the distance between us and grabs me by the shoulder. The cold of her touch sinks through my clothing. She shoves me towards the door. “Move, meat.”

I nearly fall and catch myself. No. I must not let her handle me. I must not let her win this.

I face her. She must hear the pounding of my heart, but there is nothing I can do to slow it. All I can do is stare back into her blurred face and force a growl through my teeth.

“Touch me again and I will rip you in two.”

Vittoria steps forward and stops inches from my face. Every drop of warmth drains from the air.

She growls, a grating rumble like a wolf’s. “I’d like to see you—”

Amaranta snaps at her. “Vittoria. Enough.”

Vittoria sputters, nearly whining. “But she—"

“Let the lady deal with her.” Amaranta turns to me and jerks her head towards the door. “Come.”

Amaranta strides through the door. Vittoria casts me another snarl as I follow Amaranta out of the cell, my heart in my throat.

The lady is the fiend. I know it. They are taking me to the fiend.

We enter another passage. The same blood-red lights shine from above, making the damp walls glisten like the gut of some slimy beast.

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