Heart of Darkness (An Immortals of the Damned Novel Book 1) by Claire Marta

Author:Claire Marta [Marta, Claire]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-14T03:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

An orange glow lights the dark on the horizon as the carriage speeds across the fields toward Mina’s home. Even at this distance, I can see the eerie shadows cast by the mob standing in a semi-circle at the front of the building. Burning torches raised, their angry voices are loud and raised.

“No!” The word is torn from the center of my being in desperation.

Taking the first train from London, I’ve travelled fast as if the Devil himself is snapping at my heels. Flinging the carriage door open, I leap, transforming in mid-air. Any thought of Renfield and the horses he commands by their reins forgotten.

Paws hitting the grass my fluid lupin muscles power me like a streaking black bullet toward the scene. Feminine screams fill my ears. The shrill, high, sound of my name vibrates through the burning cottage.

It pierces my mind like cruel talons. This will destroy me. I’ll never be able to recover if I lose my beloved twice.

Ramming into the first few hunters, I split them in two with my jaws and claws. Screams erupt around me. When more advance with knives and guns, I partially transform.

“Mina!” My shout is inhuman through my wolf-like snout. Standing up on my muscled fur covered legs, I snarl at the men who stand between and my beloved. I can sense Lucy within the walls of the cottage. Her desperation to save Mina from the flames. With all her vampiric speed and strength, something prevents her.

The air is filled with the smell of burning wood and billowing plumes of thick smoke.

Fire.

It’s the only thing I truly fear. The one element that can destroy me.

“Miss Murray will not become your concubine. A wanton succubus her soul condemned to damnation.” Van Helsing’s voice carries clearly from where he stands in the center of his fold. “The cleansing fire will set her free while sentencing your minion to her own fate. Your taint will not touch the pure of heart. God stands with us tonight in our work.”

My eyes glow crimson as I bare my fangs. “You do not know what you meddle with you fool.”

Distracted by another terrified shriek, I turn my head in its direction. A stupid mistake. Pain erupts through my chest. Curling a clawed hand around the handle of the wooden stake, I’m fully aware it’s barely missed my heart.

“I condemn you to hell, Demon of the pit!” the old man bellows, brandishing a hammer.

Snatching him up by his throat, I glare menacingly into his shocked face. “I am Dracula. Prince of my kind. Their master. If you think a mere mortal such as you can end me, think again. The night is mine to command, and you will all pay for what you have done here!”

Tossing him into the crowd, I let the powers of darkness within me free. A mass of small writhing bodies descends from the heavens. The bats set upon the men in a cloud of tiny beating wings. Focusing upward I call on the storm and rain.

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