When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity #1)(45)

Stepping directly behind the servants, who had not yet noticed Ms presence, Dante reached out to wrap his arms about their throats. With one smooth motion, he twisted both their necks until they cracked, and he lowered them to the floor.

They had never seen death coming, and he was one step closer to freedom.

There was a sharp hiss from the master. "You fool. You stupid, greedy fool."

"No, not a fool," Amil denied. "At least not fool enough to allow myself to become mere fodder so you can wallow in your own glory."

There was a startled beat, as if the master hadn't expected his student to realize his ultimate fate.

"Ah, perhaps not such a fool after all," he whispered in cold tones. "Tell me, Amil, what do you intend to do?"

"What I should have done to begin with. Kill you and offer the Phoenix to the dark lord myself."

Not surprisingly, the proud boast brought only a laugh from the older man. "Kill me? You?"

'You are weak from your battle with the witches," Amil boasted, causing Dante to pause in the shadows.

So, the wizard was responsible for the carnage at the coven. Bloody hell. The sooner he could get Abby out of this cavern the better.

Sinking back into the shadows, Dante began to inch his way behind the wizard.

'You can barely conjure enough power for a summoning spell," Amil continued his taunting.

What might have been a smile curved the thin lips as the wizard grasped the medallion about his neck.

"Not so weak as you believe." Pointing toward the younger man, the wizard struck.

Abby was well aware there was some mystical battle brewing between the two robed men. It would be hard to miss when the younger of the two abruptly slammed against the far wall only to scramble to his feet and lunge toward the older man.

Her attention, however, was not on the dueling wizards.

She had sensed Dante the moment he had entered the room. Fierce, near-heart-stopping joy had rushed through her as she had at last spotted him creeping through the shadows.

He was alive and free and on his way to sweep her away from this horrible place.

Then her joy had faltered when the light had flickered and she had seen the wet crimson that stained his shirt. Vaguely she recalled the young man in robes claiming a vampire was ripping the woman Kayla to shreds, but somehow she had not connected it to Dante. Not until she watched as he slipped from the shadows to dispatch the servants with swift and lethal ease.

He was silent, gliding death. A ruthless killer who stalked his prey without mercy.

A chill shot down her spine as she studied the alabaster features set in a pitiless mask and the eyes that glittered with a frozen silver fire.

This was the vampire he had warned her of.

The demon who lurked beneath the image of a man.

Another chill shot through her.

But not out of physical fear. Perhaps it was ridiculously naive, but she didn't believe he would harm her. Or at least not intentionally.

It was more the knowledge that she had come to think of Dante as… what?

Her boyfriend?

Her lover?

God, she didn't know.

And now was not the time to consider such idiotic thoughts, she told herself with a mental slap.

For God's sake, if Dante didn't get her untied and out of the cavern, she was about to become a midnight munchie for some evil spirit. Surely that was more important than her love life?

There was a furious screech and sounds of scuffling from the two men battling in the middle of the chamber and a prickling feel of electricity in the air, but Abby refused to take her gaze from the ever-approaching vampire.

As long as she kept Dante within sight, she knew she was safe.

A ridiculous certainty perhaps, but what was a terrified, soon-to-be-sacrificed woman to do?

Unable to even whimper with the gag stuck in her mouth, Abby watched Dante move closer. His silver gaze held her own, as if compelling her not to panic.

Yeah, right.

Only the ropes binding her to the post kept her from crumpling onto the ground so she could babble in terror.

Abby Barlow, savior of the world.

Careful to avoid the raging battle in the center of the chamber, Dante flowed through the shadows.

Her heart nearly halted when he disappeared behind her. Oh God. She couldn't see him. What if he disappeared? What if there were more evil baddies hiding…

The feel of cool, slender fingers on her wrist put a swift end to her crazed thoughts. Abby would have wept in relief if she hadn't realized they were still far from safe.

The ropes slithered to the floor, sending painful prickles through her arms as her blood was allowed to rush through her veins. She felt Dante's lips at her ear as he struggled to remove the gag from her mouth.

"Say nothing," he breathed, waiting for her nod before allowing the disgusting rag to fall away.

Abby sucked in several deep breaths as she stepped from the post and directly into Dante's welcoming arms. He gathered her close, as if sensing she would collapse without his support. Her weakened state, however, didn't keep him from forcing her wobbly legs to carry her toward the narrow opening across the chamber.

She bit her lip to halt her instinctive protest. She had been tied to the post for hours, and her entire body felt as if it had been ridden hard and put up wet. Still, she had no more desire than Dante to linger in this damp cell.

Not when that pasty-faced moron considered her a yummy treat for Prince Badass.