Empire of the Damned: The most hotly anticipated fantasy sequel of 2024 (Empire of the Vampire, Book 2) by Jay Kristoff

Author:Jay Kristoff
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780008350482
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2024-02-29T00:00:00+00:00

‘“You belong to Lilidh now, Dior Lachance,” the dame with the scarred chin declared.

‘“Not Fabién,” the redheaded maid whispered.

‘“Nor Alba or Aléne,” her sister smiled.

‘“I am yours, Mistress,” Dior vowed.

‘“Mine.” Lilidh looked the Grail over, lips pursed. “But almost not. Ye flew thy cage yestereve, pretty poppet. Thy lock undone as if ’twere smoke.”

‘Dior sank to her knees immediately, hands clasped before her. “Forgive me, I—”

‘Lilidh waved a hand, irritated. “The fault lies not with thee.”

‘As Dior bowed her head and whispered thanks, Lilidh withdrew a familiar sliver of metal from her bodice. It gleamed in her fingers, iron hard and dagger thin.

‘Worm blanched as the Contessa tossed the hairpin onto the stone before her.

‘“Again, ye fail me.”

‘The serving girl breathed swift, mismatched eyes welling with an awful fear. “Forgive me, Mistress, I was in haste after Laerd Nikita—”

‘“SPEAK NOT HIS NAME!”

‘Lilidh’s scream was an awful thing, the walls shaking with her fury.

‘“I’m sorry, Mistress,” Worm whispered, brow to the stone. “Please …”

‘Lilidh stalked towards the prostrate girl, and Worm began to beg, voice rising with every step closer. “Oh, please, no, please pleaseplease …”

‘The Contessa seized a fistful of strawberry blonde, and Worm shrieked, hauled to her knees. Lilidh gazed into the girl’s eyes, emerald green and ocean blue. The pity I had felt for Lilidh was gone now, and where but a moment ago, she had been at her brother’s mercy, now this poor girl was at hers. Such is the way of things, we suppose. Those hurt will hurt in kind. Cruelty is an infection, spread from one victim to the next; an avalanche rolling ever downhill and crashing worst upon those at the bottom of the pile.

‘“Not again,” Worm sobbed. “I love you. Please don’t hurt me agai—”

‘“Hushhhh,” Lilidh whispered.

‘The vampire caressed the girl’s cheek, soft as silk, brushing the tears away.

‘“Hush, now, little faeling. I shall punish thee not.”

‘“Thank you, oh, God, than—”

‘“They shall.”

‘Worm sucked in one trembling breath, looking now to Lilidh’s ladies. The three women stood in a half circle, faces gone pale as their mistress spoke.

‘“Ye shall,” she commanded them. “And if ever the names of those Voss usurpers slip thy lips in my presence again, I shall gift thee twice the lesson, test me not.”

‘The Contessa let Worm collapse to the floor.

‘“Now punish her.”

‘Without hesitation, without pity, the ladies obeyed. With gorgeous velvet heels and heavy bejewelled hands, those beautiful swans descended on the maidservant like vultures to a corpse, kicking, hitting, spitting. Worm could only curl into a ball, wailing, arms up to protect her head as they struck her, over and over again. Dior watched, her face death white, but mute as stone. And looking into her eyes, Lilidh spoke.

‘“Thee also, Dior Lachance. Punish her.”

‘This was the last of it. The final flame of hope inside us. It surged briefly – one moment where we thought we saw her tremble. But in a heartbeat, it was gone, Dior taking her place among the swans. And she kicked that poor maid.

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