Chapter 31 ∣  Loyalty

-Maverick

"That came from the dungeon," my mother's whitish-blue irises locked with my own from across the dark parlor couch she was sitting on. She slowly lifted to her feet, my heart skipping a beat when I felt the rush of energy emit through our home. It was dark, an evil pulsation that could be felt through everyone, and the only way I knew that, was the number of vampires that hurried into the area bordering the hallway to the dungeon.

"Eris..." It had to be her, Micah had told us to keep her away from others, and it was Ryker's suggestion to put her in the dungeon so she couldn't harm anyone.

We were mistaken.

"Lucca," my mother's eyes shifted to a black rose and despite our family blood bond, their own connection was much deeper due to their beloved bond. I didn't feel entirely what she felt, only that his energy and very life was fading fast.

She rose to her feet and immediately bolted through the open door, my own speed almost seeming like a child's play compared to her drive. Pushing past bystanders probably uneasy and afraid of what could possibly have immobilized their King kept everyone back. Not us though, Zak's white irises meeting our gaze as he approached the open door to the dungeon.

When we turned the corner, I had to double-take to make sure I was seeing correctly. Eris' form stood just near my father; her electric blue eyes transfixed on his unmoving body as I felt the power radiating off her skin in waves. Her leathery bat-like wings were extended behind her while her tail flicked slowly back and forth behind her.

There should have been a guard...

...but how could she have even escaped, she's not that strong...unless we've pushed past the Eris being possessed with some control and the demon is in full possession of her mind, body, and soul.

"Mother," I whispered just under my breath, Eris' head tilting to the side when she looked up at the three of us blocking the doorway.

I think that's when everything finally fell into place, as in the next moment I locked onto only two heartbeats in the dungeon.

My eyes flickered to Hendrix, his chin touching his chest as his muscles were slack against his bonds. The only blood rushing through anyone's body was my father and Eris.

Hendrix is dead.

"Eris...what did you do?" I'm in disbelief, unable to actually believe that Eris was capable of killing another. She had always been the one who refused to take a life, showing me that there were better ways to deal with the situation and my feelings. This isn't my Eris anymore, and I don't know if I'll ever get her back again.

Micah's promise...but will it be too late?

"I simply killed the one who helped assist in my death," she giggled at her own handiwork, but her eyes locked with my mother's and her laughter soon died away.

"We needed him. You killed the only person who we knew had ties and connections to the Alpha King..." my mother's voice is extremely dangerous and it makes my own skin crawl when she continues, "What did-"

"I didn't kill your king, even though I'm sure the world would be a much better place without him. I simply want my revenge and if you stand in my way, I won't have any choice but to kill you too," Eris' playfulness died away after that, her own anger stirring emotions that have been conflicted within her for some time.

My mother narrowed her eyes and stated, "I won't hesitate to kill you either-"

"Mother...it's not her," I tried to stop her when I placed my hand on her shoulder.

She shrugged me off before she stated, "I don't care, she killed our only lead and almost killed Lucca."

"If she wanted him dead, he already would be," I knew it cut her deep, but the fact of the matter is true. There must be a small sliver of hope inside of her, but I know it's fading fast. My mother tensed at my words and I continued, "This was me...killing just because and even when I did something horrible, you never wanted to end my life. Let me-"

Eris snarled, "Let you what little vampire? You think you can just sweet talk your way and convince me not to kill. Oh no, no, no, no, that won't do. You see," Eris walked closer to us, stepping around my father's body and narrowing her eyes, "She may have loved you and sympathized with you, but I don't sweetie. I have my own intentions and none of hers will ever come to the surface again. You lost her and now the only way to rid yourself of me is to kill me."

She's toying with us...

Mav, she's going to kill again if we don't stop her.

We can't kill her, Micah said he can save her.

But at what cost? How long until your dark savior appears? What if it's a few days, a few weeks...we don't have that kind of time and she can't be restrained.

Please...we can't. She's still inside like he said, in pain and fighting to be heard.

Maverick...no.

"You're both doing it," Eris' voice breaks the silence, her tail flicking back and forth with a little more anger, her body tensing. "Hiding behind your protected thoughts to communicate with one another. If you're done talking to me, I'll be leaving."

My mother glared at her and firmly stated, "You're not going anywhere."

"And you're going to stop me?" Eris grinned evilly and glanced from the two of us before she said, "I wonder how long it will take before your heart gives out. Don't even bother saying your coven will help you, they're terrified of what I am, and they should be. Cross me, I dare you."

Stop her Mav.

I don't want to hurt her...

She's NOT your beloved! She's a demon and if you don't stop her now, I will!

My mother shot me a warning look and I knew then; it would be a battle of loyalties. Unfortunately, the only way to protect Eris was to stop her...whatever the cost otherwise she's going to kill everyone without remorse.

Fucking demon!

I quickly brought the inner part of my wrist to my lips, immediately sinking my fangs into the soft flesh. I know I can't get close to her, or she could easily kill me with that electricity. Opting for my blood magic, it would be the first time Eris ever saw it this way...but not in the way I wanted. In the way, it would be used as a weapon directed at her.

Eris' stance shifted, but she was completely unprepared for what was about to hit her. I flung my arm away, the blood arcing out in front of my body as she ran directly for me, no longer waiting around for me to make the first attack. I didn't need to move to make that attack though, her movements pausing when the blood stopped and floated in the air between us.

When the electricity pulsates to the top layer of her skin, her fist drawing back and slamming full force into the wall, I let it give. The blood eased and took her blow, wrapping around her fist and rendering it useless. Stunned, she grabbed her arm with her other hand and tried to pull away, trying to escape, but my control was too strong. Her electric blue irises glowered at me, the energy increasing from her body, and the change in the charge of electricity escalated.

Oh no...

"Mother get out! Get everyone out now!" I yelled at her and she didn't question me for a second. It was like when Rook had apparently given Eris his energy, the power much stronger than anything before, and now that she had taken my father's energy, I didn't know what she was capable of. My mother grabbed Zak and bolted out of the door, their heartbeats fading away from us and feeling the connection to the coven broadening with their sudden leave of the home.

Eris snapped her arm back and the blood shattered.

"Your father may be an ass-hat...but he's got some power behind his energy," she flexed her fingers, the power coursing through her veins. With one more look, she punched the remaining blood and it fell to the floor in pieces before I let go of the connection and it became liquid.

Eris next flew straight for me, the darkness in her heart and mind clouding everything good she once was, my heartbreaking in that moment. My hand lifted and so did the blood now beneath her as she sailed across the air, taking hold of her ankles, and drawing her down to the stone floor.

She did manage to get close enough to me though, her tail had slipped around my own ankle and the sudden flood of electricity through my body instantly broke my concentration and connection. I struggled to breathe, the pulsation striking up and into my chest, headed straight for my heart.

Micah's words haunted me, that I was on her list and that this demon wouldn't stop until I was dead.

It isn't her.

It isn't Eris.

I had to block out my thoughts and feelings of her, but it was hard, especially when I collapsed to my knees, finding it extremely difficult to control my own muscle movements. She walked two feet to me, her tail still keeping a death grip on my ankle, the electricity not lifting for a second. In fact, it amplified further.

Eris...

Please forgive me...

I lifted my hand, feeling the call and lust of her blood, the one thing I could not have any more would be her own undoing. I outstretched my fingers, my control, and focus solely on the steady stream of blood flowing through her veins, hearing her heartbeat, the rhythm changing when I completely shut her out.

She gasped, the tail becoming slack around my ankle as the electricity stopped pumping through me like a lightning storm. Slowly, I began to rise to my feet, my eyes shifting to a black rose and locking with her own ones filled with pain. Her body was no longer in control...her blood was one thing the demon could not control, making it a prisoner within the vessel of her body.

The shrieks and screams that came from her lips were a little easier to ignore, pulling my hand back and I could see the agony in the contortion of her features. The veins in her body rose to the surface of her skin, visible through her skin as the pull was right about to break through the delicate layer of flesh.

We stood close to each other now, just inches apart as her irises reverted back to a translucent green, her demonic features fading away. She cried out in pain, tears falling down her cheeks as she pleaded with me to stop, "Maverick...please stop, help..."

Her voice was hers; the demonic undertone had vanished. The demon was still inside, I couldn't let her go knowing it would just surface the second it had the opportunity to.

"Please...stop," she was crying harder, but I just couldn't do that...I couldn't stop. I couldn't stop knowing she'd be taken over again, controlled, and manipulated. Anger took over at the mere thought of the demon hurting her, what it had done to her and what it had done to our relationship.

Everything turned out so wrong...

We can't restrain her...if we lock her away, she'll just break free...

"Maverick..." my father's weak voice sounded, his heart rate has picked up and my eyes widening. He was struggling to even sit up, his body weaker than it ever has been.

I can't stop her...unless I kill her.

I didn't have to though, the air shifting around us and causing my control to falter for a moment. At that moment, two electric blue orbs peered over the top of her head, wings overshadowing her body and my heart stopping for a split second.

"Oh, love..." his voice paused and before I could make a choice, it growled, "I can help with your little electricity problem."

This demon didn't make a single move and there was no trust I could fully give to anyone. Instead, I asked, "Who are you?"

He stepped to the side and smirked, "Harlan."

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To Seduce a Mortal by K. A. Young and Laisha C. Gardner

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