When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity #1)(88)

In the end, the battle was short and brutal. The older witches were dead at the hands of Viper and the Shalott while Dante had used his powers of en-thrallment on the younger witches. They now sat huddled on the floor, nursing their injuries and obediently awaiting Dante's commands.

His hasty touch had been crushing as he had easily broken their spirit. They couldn't so much as stir from the floor without his permission.

Retrieving his dagger, he wiped the blood off before slipping it back into its sheath.

As he straightened, he watched Viper slowly stalk toward the female demon, the older vampire's eyes glittering with a dangerous fire.

"Ah, the Shalott," Viper murmured in silken tones. "Beautiful."

Moving until her back was to the wall, the demon held out a warning hand.

"Stay back."

Viper chuckled. "I won't harm you."

The Shalott tossed back her long mane of raven curls. Dante stifled a groan at the unconsciously provocative motion. With the bloodlust running hot in the air, the demon would be better served to play the role of a passive victim than to directly challenge Viper.

"Yeah, I've heard that a lot," she sneered. "Usually right before someone tries to harm me."

Not surprisingly, Viper slid forward and Dante hurriedly followed directly behind him.

Dammit, they didn't have time for this foolishness.

Debating how much force would be needed to halt the determined vampire, Dante found himself careening off Viper's wide back as he came to a sudden halt and sniffed the air.

"Human," he breathed.

The Shalott's eyes widened. "What?"

"You're a mongrel."

Without warning, the demon leaped on Viper and toppled him to the ground. She ended up seated on his chest.

"Don't push it, vamp," she growled.

Viper laughed as he twisted to send her to the floor with his larger body pinning her down.

"Don't take on more than you can chew, human."

Dante had endured enough. His entire body vibrated with the need to find Abby and carry her from this house.

"Are we going to fight the witches or each other?" he demanded sharply.

Viper gave a nod as he flowed to his feet and tugged the reluctant Shalott off the floor.

"We'll have to finish our game later, pet," he murmured as he moved directly to the door nearly hidden in the pantry. "Business first, I fear."

Chapter 25

It seemed a shame to leave the darkness.

The darkness was warm and soothing and didn't have one psychopathic witch or rampaging zombie.

And best of all, the darkness didn't have the throbbing pain that she could feel lurking in the back of her head.

Unfortunately, along with the throbbing in the back of her head was also the ever-present sense of Dante. Although they were separated, she could feel his cold fury as he battled to make his way to her side.

Until he could reach the basement, it would be up to her to keep Edra from using the Phoenix to perform her demented spell.

Damn.

Slowly absorbing the pounding pain that seized her head, Abby wrenched open her eyes to discover she was strapped onto the slab of marble.

Somehow she wasn't a bit surprised.

How sick was that?

She bit back a groan and then like any fool who ever found themselves tied up, she instinctively struggled against the leather straps that held her down.

It was a futile effort, of course. The straps were not overly tight, but they would hold her. Still, her movement had brushed her arm against her waist and reminded her of the dagger that was in its sheath. Her shirt had managed to hide the weapon, and thankfully the witch hadn't thought to check her.

Now if she could get her arms free to use it.

Covertly she scooted to one side. As she expected, the strap bit into her left arm, but it eased the pressure on the other. On the point of discovering if she could wiggle her arm free, she was halted as a shadow fell over the table.

"Ah, so you have awakened." Edra smiled with cold pleasure.

Forcing herself to hold perfectly still, Abby glared into the lizard eyes.

'You must stop this," she gritted.

"It is too late. The spell will soon be cast."

The witch stepped closer, holding what looked to be a silver goblet. Abby shrank against the cold marble. She didn't know what was in the strange goblet, but she was fairly certain she didn't want to find out.

At her movement, the candles flickered and her attention was captured by an unmoving lump in the middle of the floor.

Her heart halted as she blinked, and then blinked again.

It wasn't a lump. It was the body of a woman with short black hair and the sort of Goth make-up that made it impossible to determine anything more than that she was female and young.

And very, very dead.

Lying on the hard floor, her eyes were wide as if caught in eternal surprise and her mouth open. Most horrid of all was the ugly gash that marred her throat and allowed her thick blood to pool onto the dirt below her chin.

Abby gasped as she struggled against the rising nausea.

"Holy hell. Did you kill her?" she croaked.

"Such powerful magic demands blood."

Abby reluctantly turned back to the woman poised above her.

"You're crazy. You're stark raving mad."