The Ripple Effect (Rhiannon's Law #3)(69)

A hand forced my head back and I gazed into Anton’s face. He seemed awed, his green eyes glowing. Portions of spit had dried on his nose, leaving behind white patchy smears. “The despair in her eyes tastes delicious.”

“Don’t do this.” I couldn’t believe I was pleading with the man who’d killed Paine. “Let her go.”

“She’s so much better when she’s obedient,” Anton observed, lowering his head and licking the blood streaming from my nose before he let me go. “Sticky sweet.”

“What say you, Victoria?” Revenald asked. “A life for a life. A loss for a loss.”

Victoria grabbed my head this time, looking down at me. I didn’t know what she was looking for. I simply gazed into her endless green eyes, humbled, pleading, and desperate. After a moment, she seemed to have found what she was searching for. She nodded and released me.

“Make her watch.”

“No!” I screamed a second time, trying to break free, wishing I had the power to do something. Instead my head was forced back at an angle that left me with no alternative but to witness Victoria approaching my sister.

I prayed, pleading for God to help me, to intervene on behalf of an innocent soul. Jennifer was a victim, someone who had never done anyone any harm. It wasn’t fair—no, it wasn’t right—that she should suffer further atrocities. I strained beneath Revenald, knowing I couldn’t break free, unable to forgive myself for being so weak. They were going to destroy the only part of my sister left, taking the last of her sanity.

“You said I could plead and you would listen,” I whispered to Revenald, past my breaking point, no longer whole. “I’m begging you. Begging you. Please let her go. I’ll be your f*cking slave if that’s what you want. I’ll do whatever you tell me to. Just don’t hurt her.”


“See, I told you that you’d beg. Eventually, you all do.” He sounded smug, but I was too terrified to be angry.

“Please don’t do this. Take your anger out on me. She doesn’t deserve it. I won’t create chaos in your home. I’ll be everything a proper servant should be. I promise.”

“Poor soul.” Revenald petted my head. “I believe what you say, but it’s too late. You’ve brought this upon yourself. From this moment forward, you decide how your sister is treated. If you do as I instruct, I’ll make sure that no harm comes to her. Defy me and she will pay the price. Your pride is too precious to you, your will too strong. From this moment forward, you will belong to me in all ways.”

“Please, please, please.” I continued repeating the word, watching Victoria snag a handful of Jenny’s hair. “Don’t do this. Please don’t do this.”

“It’s done,” he said simply. “Watch and endure. There is nothing left for you.”

The panic in Jennifer’s eyes was almost too much to take, but I suffered with her, knowing if I turned away it was the same as turning my back on her during a time of need. When Victoria forced my sister’s head to the side, baring her neck, I wished I had Disco’s gift of telepathy, to give her comfort and the strength she needed. Tears streamed down my face, but I didn’t give a shit. If she was going to endure, I would endure beside her.

“Jenny,” I yelled, trying to see her face. “Look at me.”

Her eyes were wild—like those of a trapped animal—when she did as I asked. The weight in my chest settled, but I refused to turn away. We’d been through so much together. I would not abandon her now. It was my fault she had been brought into this horrific, supernatural world. If not for me, she wouldn’t be in this situation.

“I’m here,” I said. “I’m here.”

“Why is this happening?” She broke eye contact with me to glance at Victoria. “Is this Hell?”

“As close to Hell as you’re likely to get.”

“Get the f*ck away from her!” I screamed, long and hard. It felt as though I’d blown a vessel in my throat by the time I’d finished, stopping only so that I could breathe. Victoria sneered at me and lowered her head, her long and sharp canines shining in the light before they pierced Jenny’s neck.

I knew how bad vampire bites hurt, how painful they were. “I’m here, Jenny,” I cried, big fat drops of agony winding down my face. “You are not alone. I promise. You are not alone.”

I don’t know if she heard. All I could understand was her wail of agony, of confusion, of fear. Victoria’s throat moved as she drank Jenny’s blood, rhythmic swallows, one after another. Even though Revenald made it clear he expected Victoria to change Jenny, I feared they’d drain her dry. So in some perverse way I felt relief when Victoria eased her fangs free of Jennifer’s throat, cut a line in her wrist and forced it to Jennifer’s mouth.

Jennifer attempted to turn away, but it was useless. In seconds, she was drinking the blood from Victoria’s wrist, gulping it down. I didn’t know if I should thank God or curse Him. She was alive, but she wasn’t. She was something else now. Someone else. Would her madness evaporate with the change? Or would it become worse? I had no way of knowing, left only with empty musings.

When Jennifer slumped, the servants caught her. I lowered my head, weeping silently, unable to look at Victoria or my sister turned vampire. Within hours—by sunrise—the change would take place.