Chapter 12
1358 Words
Unknown POV
I watch as two soldiers drag Dimitri's unconscious body out of the room and down the corridor towards the basement steps.
"Make sure his binds are charmed! I don't want him running off again!" I yell into the corridor and turned back towards the demoness who was now reading an old script, while whispering under her breath. "Speak up Dakini, no whispering to the undead when you have living company."
The old woman rose from her seat, eyes the shade of the night sky as waves of dark, curly hair fell onto her face. Wrinkles pulled at the corners of her eyes as age lines marred her cheeks and the corner of her mouth. A wicked grin spread across her lips as yellow and crooked teeth smiled back at me. I felt the goosebumps rise on my arms and I told myself not to lose my cool, as the old hag took a few slow steps closer to me.
"My lord, I keep no secrets from you. If what the mage says is true, then the bloodline of Cerberus himself would be perfect for your purpose. The purest of blood from the vein of an innocent will ensure that the spell binds properly. But be aware, the blood can come from the children, but the vessel still must be the female hellhound herself."
"That I already knew, witch." I take a few steps towards my desk as her eyes kept following my movements.
"Very well, my lord. I will leave to collect the remainder of the ingredients needed." And with the huff of a cloud of dark smoke, she disappeared from the room.
"Creepy old hag. I will be happy to end you when your purpose is over."
Sitting in my chair, I pull the scripts closer to me as I riffle through the old sheets. I stop when the image of a single, large black hound appears at the center of a parchment. Encircled by a ring of fire as its eyes glowed with bright red and orange embers, the hound's head was arched back and its mouth baring large, deadly canines. At the feet of the large mutt, silhouettes of humans kneeling before him while offering large vessels, most likely containing blood, over their heads.
But looking closer at the image, a very faint image could be seen within the embers of Cerberus's eyes. Leaning in closer, I focus on the strokes and lines as they come together. My eyes widened as I realized just what the old hag was doing. I quickly opened my desk drawer and pulled out the small magnifying glass. Setting it to the head of the image, I adjusted it many times before the words became more visible.
'sangue e cenere, maledetti nella pietra'
"Blood and ash, cursed in stone." I move the glass to the other eye and smile as I see more words inscribed there. Adjusting the magnifying glass once more, I lean in close once more.
'uniti come uno, custode di tutti'
"United as one, guardian to all."
I lean back as I think about what those words meant, and why they were placed in such a location. I look at the script once more and my breath gets caught in my throat. I lean in close and look on in awe as the eyes of the hound are no longer glowing embers, but closed and in a sealed state.
"How can that be? I just saw it with my own eyes! That old hag must have done something!" I pick up the script and hold it up to the light in the ceiling. Nothing. The sound of soft laughter echoed from the hall and into the room.
Your path shall not be an easy one. What you seek will never become yours.
"Silence!" I scream to the empty room.
Stop this act of nonsense now. Think about what it is you are trying to do.
"I am about to achieve greatness! Something that neither you nor anyone else who tries to stop me will ever understand. The Circle agrees that this is the only way that we get what we want. Consequences be damned!"
Then so will your soul.....
Annalise's POV
As we disembarked the plane, I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret about leaving without telling the kids where we were going or when we were coming back. I feel Stefan's warm palm close itself around my own as we walked hand in hand behind Liam, who was happily babbling off tips and sites that we could visit if we had the time.
"We don't have time for site seeing, Liam." Stefan said seriously as Liam spun on his heel, his wide grin faltering slightly when he saw my concerned expression.
"I know why we're here. I'm just trying to lighten the mood. Goddess knows the twins are probably having a field day with aunt Lexi and Killian. I can see it now. Killian running them down to take a bath, while aunt Lexi burns the kitchen down." Liam's face is split with a bright smile as his eyes glaze over. Stefan walks over to slap a hand upside his nephew's head with a resounding 'tap' as Liam howled out in pain while rubbing his palm behind his scalp.
"Hey! What was that for?"
"Your mother told me to do that when you talk bullshit. Said it would help you get your head back in the game," Stefan said as he fought the smile pulling at his lips.
"Oh yeah? Well I don't feel --- hey, hey relax!" Liam side steps as Stefan raised his arm again.
"Alright you two, let's get to the rental car and go find our hotel. We need to regroup and figure out our next move."
I move ahead of Stefan and Liam, but stop short in my tracks when two large black SUV's pull-up in front of me. Several large men dressed in all white exit the vehicles and stand in a line as one single man dressed in all black made his way to the center of the group. I feel the heat build up in the pit of my stomach as my senses go on high alert. None of the men had a particular scent to tell me if they were human or supernatural. Stefan and Liam took positions at either of my sides, soft low growls rumbling from their chests.
I can't get a read on any of them. You?
Nothing. It's like they don't have a scent. I can't tell what they are.
Stefan's body bristled with uncertainty beside me as Liam suddenly took a step forward. I instinctively move with him.
"We're not here to cause any trouble. We just came to see the sites. Last time I was here, I didn't get such a warm welcome." Liam says, his tone low and threatening even though his words didn't imply such.
"The last time you were here, compagno, you broke my sister's heart," the man in black grunted as the men behind him cracked their knuckles and craned their necks.
Liam's body relaxed slightly as he turned his head and smiled sheepishly at me and Stefan. "In my defense, I waited like two hours, and she didn't show up. What was I supposed to do? Miss my flight?"
Stefan groaned as the group of men formed a semi-circle around us while the man in black, leaned back against one of the SUV's while lighting a cigar and puffing out a large cloud of smoke.
"Why am I not surprised that this is what we get for traveling with Cassanova here," Stefan grunts as he drops his carry on to the ground at his feet and I did the same.
"Because then you'd never truly experience the land, uncle Stef. Think of it as your cardio for the day. We can splurge on wine after!" Liam heckled as he dropped his duffle bag next to mine and smoothed his wavy hair from his eyes.
And I seriously thought we were going to be able to come here quietly. Jokes on me.
- Writer
