Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
She sucked in a breath, capturing Roy’s awful attention.
“You done?” he asked.
“All done.” The scientist who’d drained me nodded. “However—”
“Give it here.” Roy snapped his fingers. A maid appeared almost on cue, carrying a tray with six empty shot glasses.
I stiffened as the two scientists carried our blood to the sideboard where the maid placed the tray. Snipping the top off one of the translucent bags, the scientist who’d harvested Rook filled each small glass with her thick black blood.
Raking his hands through his greying hair, Roy grinned at the board members. “Finally, we can regain our energy.” Clearing his throat, he grinned in my direction as if the news of his murdered daughter was nothing more than a little blip in his afternoon. “Gentlemen.”
As one, the men headed toward the sideboard and snagged a glass.
I glowered at them, memorising every wrinkle, receding hairline, and paunch, vowing to drain every droplet of blood in their bodies for ever daring to drink some of Rook’s.
“Eh, should it be this dark?” one of the men asked.
Roy frowned, sniffing his glass. “I admit it looks different, but...I’m sure it’s fine. They’re immortal, after all.”
The men hesitated but Roy just lifted the glass to his lips. “Bottoms up.” He tipped Rook’s blood down his throat.
That was all it took for the rest to follow.
I wanted to rip their motherfucking throats out as they swallowed and ingested a piece of the woman I’d failed to protect.
Fuck, I want to—
Lucien...it’s okay. Rook’s voice flowed through my mind, wrenching my gaze to hers again. We’re in this together and we’ll endure together. Just don’t look.
They’re all dead. I don’t care how. I’m going to kill them.
I believe you. She smiled, holding my stare, so much calmer than me. Even without her icy coolness, her very presence helped me breathe a little easier. Just...stay with me and we’ll be alright.
I wanted to apologise to her. Needed to tell her I wouldn’t let her down again, but the pain in my fractured bones tried to knock me out just as Roy set his glass back on the silver tray and clapped his hands. “Right...I guess we’re about to find out if the girl’s blood is stronger than Lucien’s.”
The other men grimaced as they swallowed. Their hands shook a little as they returned their glasses.
I watched them closely for signs that our blood no longer held the power they sought.
It didn’t take long.
Three out of the six fought their gag reflexes. Two burped as if it repeated on them. And one wedged a fist in his stomach.
Rook shifted in her chair as Roy staggered against the wall, clamping a hand over his mouth. And I had great fucking pleasure as karma finally decided to be on our side.
Two men barely made it thirty seconds before they jackknifed in half, grunting in pain.
The other four turned queasy.
One of them said, “It doesn’t feel the same as Lucien’s. It’s—” A groan cut him off.
All six men suddenly dropped to their knees, eyes watering, hands clawing at their throats. The scientists just stood there, gobsmacked.
Oh my God, what’s happening? Rook asked silently.
I’m guessing whatever’s going on with us means our blood is no longer palatable. I watched with savage satisfaction as the board members clung to each other, swaying like drunkards.
“Someone get help...” Roy wiped the back of his hand over his lips, turning green. “Guards—”
One of the men screeched as the audible snap of a bone bounced off the walls. He grabbed his left elbow with a wail. “M-My arm. It broke! What’s going on! Help!”
Another man broke out in a glowing scarlet rash all over his face and neck. He hissed in pain as his fingers found open sores, scratching like crazy. “What the hell is happening?!”
Roy staggered to his feet, scrambling for the door. “Bring us something to make us vomit. Immediately!”
I smiled as the board members writhed on the carpet.
One screamed, “Make it stop! It feels like it’s corroding my insides.”
Another convulsed and flopped onto his side, white foam bubbling from his mouth. His legs jerked as his eyes rolled into the back of his head.
“Fuck,” Roy roared. “Someone give us an antidote. Now!”
Rook locked eyes with me. What does this mean? Is our blood that toxic it’s killing them?
Be rather convenient. I shrugged, cursing the leather biting into my wrists and the fractures autographing my bones. Would save me a job.
I kept my thoughts blasé, all while deeper worries lurked.
Could they no longer stomach our blood because our blood was no longer human?
“Sir?” A servant girl dashed into the room. “I don’t know what can make you vomit. Would raw egg whites work? Saltwater? Tell me and I’ll—”
“Here.” One of the scientists ripped a brown glass bottle from his trolley. “Ipecac. It’s not commonly used these days, but it’ll do the trick.” Pouring healthy amounts into the shot glasses still stained with Rook’s blood, he gave it to the men still conscious and dripped it into the mouth of the man foaming on the floor.