The Darkest Crown (The Eternal Darkness Duet #2)

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I entered the trial room with Allie at my side. Julian walked ahead of us with an arrogant ease that I tried to emulate.

Allie’s heart was beating furiously, and I feared the effect it might have on the other vampires in the room. And there were a lot of them.

The crowd was far larger than it was at my last trial. Julian warned me it would be. There were a lot more vampires in Europe, and this trial would provide them with the drama they loved. I could hear Allie's ragged breathing, and I knew she was struggling to appear calm. She kept her eyes downcast, as Julian instructed.

I kept my eyes glued to Julian’s back as we walked through the crowd to take our places at the front of the room. No one hissed or cursed me this time. No one would dare, now that I belonged to Julian.

At the front of the room, five of the Strategoi sat on the dais in their fancy, throne-like chairs, looking down at us with their strangely blank expressions. When we finally reached the front of the room, I saw Adam. Our eyes met, and though it pained me to do so, I turned my face away.

But the image of him was seared in my mind. He was in chains like before, only this time they were attached to bolts in the floor, holding him in place. His clothes were torn and bloody, and he’d looked at me with such pained emotion that I wanted to weep. Instead, I stared at Julian’s back, and took deep, slow breaths to calm myself. Oh, Adam .

One of the Strategoi was speaking, but I couldn’t hear him over the ringing in my ears. It grew so loud, it even drowned out Allie’s heartbeat. I wanted to look at Adam again. I wanted to go to him, and wrap my arms around him, and tell him I forgave him for changing me. For everything.

“Sarah.”

I blinked. Julian was looking at me. They all were. Shit. I opened my mouth then closed it again, not knowing what I was supposed to say. Then someone rushed onto the stage to whisper something to one of the Strategoi. All eyes turned to the distraction on the stage. All but Julian’s. His eyes bore into mine with warning.

The male Strategoi who received the message stood, silencing the whispers in the room. “This trial has been postponed," he announced. "You may all go.” The room became loud as the vampires in the crowd voiced their displeasure.

“Take him back to his cell,” the Strategoi said to Adam’s guards.

Without thinking, I looked at Adam. Our eyes held, then I felt a hand on my arm, and looked up into Julian’s face.

“Come,” he said tersely.

“The girl stays,” the Strategoi said, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

My eyes flew to Allie, then back to Julian. “Don’t let them take her!”

The Strategoi pointed to me. “Sarah Hughes, of House Velasco.”

Julian went still. He slowly turned to face the Strategoi. Allie moved closer to huddle against my side, all pretense of calmness gone.

“I am Sarah’s sire.” Julian’s voice rang out in the now silent room. “What business do you have with her?”

The Strategoi raised his chin. “That doesn’t concern you. You may go.”

Julian shifted his stance. “I don’t think so.”

The vampires closest to us started to back away, and the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

“Do you challenge the Strategoi?” the vampire on the stage asked, and everyone held their breath.

Julian's body radiated power. “The girl belongs to me. She has broken no laws. You have no right to hold her.”

The Strategoi pointed to a guard. “Escort Master Calahorra back to his room.”

The guard didn’t move. He stared at Julian with horror, knowing his life was on the line.

“Sarah, Allie, we’re leaving.” Julian never took his eyes off the Strategoi as he spoke.

Another member of the Strategoi stood angrily. “Guards!” he shouted, waving a hand towards the frightened guards. “Lock him in a cell. And the human girl too.” He pointed at Allie.

“No!” I cried, and the room erupted into chaos.

Julian’s fangs descended as he roared with fury, and claws appeared at his fingertips. Adam was snarling like an animal, yanking at his chains with such force that the guards surrounding him all stepped back. The crowd of vampires that had come for the show were now pushing and shoving, trying to flee through the doors at the back of the room.

The first Strategio who had spoken jumped down from the stage, landing on his feet in front of Julian, and the others quickly followed. They spread out, surrounding us.

“Stop!” I cried. And everything did.

Every vampire in the room froze, like someone had hit pause on a movie. They were stuck in various stages of motion, in poses that should have been impossible to hold.

Bewildered, I looked at Allie. Her mouth was open, like she was saying something. The tears on her cheeks were frozen in place. Even her heart had stopped beating.

“Allie!” I ran my hands over her face and shoulders. “Allie, wake up!”

Who are you? A voice asked, seeming to come from all around me

I spun around, searching the frozen faces of the crowd. “Who said that?”

How did you , a newborn, weak and insignificant, manage to cause so much trouble?

“Who are you ?” I asked, my eyes darting wildly around the room.

A sound filled the room, like a low growl, and a shiver ran down my spine. I stepped closer to Allie, preparing to shield her from this unknown threat.

What did you do? the voice asked, to cause such strife between these two vampires?

“I did nothing! I’m no one!” I grabbed Allie’s hand and tugged, praying she’d respond.

No, it breathed. You are definitely someone .

My breath was coming in violent bursts. I’d never been so terrified. “What did you do to them?” I cried. “What do you want?”

I want you to tell me the truth. The voice curled around me like a living thing, rubbing against my flesh. I arched away from it, and it laughed darkly.

“I’m telling you the truth,” I said, choking on a sob. I rubbed my throat, feeling its presence there.

I don’t think you are, it purred. What witchcraft have you used on my children?

I felt a touch on my shoulder, and I spun around, bearing my fangs. But it only laughed again.

So fierce , it whispered. I could feel its breath on my ear.

“Stop!” I cried.

Will you tell me your secrets, witch ?

I spun around again, and came face to face with him. The terrifying stranger who’d frozen time. He was tall and lean, with white hair falling in waves to his shoulders. His jaw was sharp, and his eyes were like liquid gold. He was dressed in black, with his sleeves rolled up, exposing his tanned forearms.

I swallowed nervously. “I’m not a witch. Witches aren’t real.”

He tilted his head sharply, like a hawk watching a mouse. “Are you sure about that?”

No, I wasn’t. I wasn’t sure about anything anymore.

He took a step towards me, and I quickly stepped back, but one step was all I got before my body froze. I strained with all my might, but couldn't move.

“Stop!” I shouted, panicked. “Let me go!”

He took another step closer. I tried to tell him to stop again, but could no longer open my mouth. I was held in place, with no control over my body.

One more step and he was right in front of me, our bodies almost touching. In my mind I was screaming, but on the outside I could do nothing as he raised his hand to touch me. He grasped my chin, and ran his thumb over my mouth, parting my lips. Slowly, he leaned towards me, lowering his face to my neck. He was going to bite me!

He pressed his face to my skin and inhaled deeply. But no bite came.

He lifted his head and looked into my eyes. “I will learn the truth,” he murmured. “One way or another.”

Instantly, my world went dark. So dark, that even with my vampire vision I could see nothing. The floor beneath my feet disappeared, and I was falling, and flying. The wind tore at me, whipping my hair around my face. Then it was over.

I fell to my knees, stunned and disoriented. I blinked as the room around me came back into focus. But I was no longer in that room. I was in a small room made entirely of gray stone. And I was alone. I struggled to stand, feeling unsteady, and nauseous. How did I get there?

I looked around the room as strength returned to my body. There was no furniture. The room was completely empty, aside from me, with a wooden door on one side and a window on the other. I rushed to the door, but it was locked.

“Open the door!” I yelled, beating my fists against the wood. I slammed my body against it, but it didn’t budge. I turned and ran to the window, which was really just a hole in the wall, with no glass covering it. I looked out and gasped when I saw a dark, turbulent ocean. This wasn’t Rome.

I hung my head out to get a better look, and saw that I was in a stone tower, built into the side of a cliff. The tower itself was at least three stories, but the cliff went on forever. I looked down to where the waves crashed against large jagged rocks. Jumping was out of the question. Frustrated that I couldn't fly yet, I pulled my head back inside and looked around the room. Think, Sarah!

What was happening back in Rome? Was everyone still frozen? What would happen when they returned to normal and found me gone? Julian said he’d always be able to find me, but what if he was imprisoned? What if he was killed? What if Allie was killed?

That thought propelled me into action. I wasn’t going to sit around and do nothing while my sister was in danger. I went back to the window and looked out again. This time, I turned my head to look up.

It was difficult to tell how much higher the tower went, but it was definitely a story or two. I thought about when I caught the owl and tried to remember how high I’d jumped, but it was hard to tell. I’d been so focused on the hunt, I hadn’t thought about anything else. Plus, I had a running start. But I was determined.

I kicked off my heels, then grabbed the front of my dress and ripped the bottom part off, leaving a ragged edge at knee level. I climbed onto the window ledge, holding onto the side as I stood. It wasn’t tall enough for me to stand straight, so I had to crouch over, which put me at another disadvantage. I looked at my hands, willing claws to appear, but nothing happened. My nails remained short and blunt. I remembered what the man called me, a weak, insignificant newborn , and I clenched my jaw. Fuck him!

I coiled myself and leapt. I was surprised by how far I made it, before I started to fall again. I frantically grabbed at the side of the tower, my hands scraping against the stone as I fell. My fingertips snagged on a stone that stuck out a couple inches further than the rest, and my body jerked, my arms pulling as my body slammed against the side of the tower. I hung from my fingertips, my bare feet scrambling for a ledge to stand on, but there was nothing.

I heaved myself up with one hand, stretching the other higher, feeling for another hold. And I found one. Slowly, I made my way up the side of the tower, adrenaline replacing my fear. There were wide notches at the top, and when I reached them, I grabbed the sides and pulled myself through, nearly sobbing with relief when I finally lay flat on the stone surface. Then I rolled onto my back and looked up into the face of my tormentor.

“ That was entertaining,” he said dryly.

I scrambled to my feet, stepping quickly away. He was leaning against the stone wall, watching me with those strange golden eyes.

I looked around and saw that I was at the top of an enormous, sprawling castle. To one side were the cliffs, and the sea, and in the other direction was an endless dark forest.

Determined not to cower, I raised my chin. “Where am I?”

He tilted his head. “Does it matter?”

Of course it matters! “What did you do to the others? Where’s my sister?”

“They are where I left them.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What did you do to them? And why did you bring me here? How did you bring me here?”

“So many questions,” he said, pushing off the wall.

He stalked towards me, and I scrambled backwards. “Stay away from me!”

He continued forward. “Or what? Will you use your magic on me, witch ? Will you put me under your spell as well?”

He was insane! “Yes!” I pointed a finger at him, and he paused. “I am a witch! Let me go, or you’ll be sorry!”

For a moment we were at a standoff, neither of us daring to move. Then in a blink, I found myself back in the tower.

I stumbled and fell back against the wall, gasping for air. He stood by the door, watching me.

“Stop doing that!” I shrieked, trying not to vomit.

He only titled his head in that strange, birdlike way of his. “Do it.”

The lightheadedness left me, and I slowly stepped away from the wall.

“Use your magic on me.” The gold in his eyes swirled as he spoke, and I quickly looked away. “Do it!” His voice snapped through the room like a whip, and I flinched.

I closed my eyes, defeated. “I’m not a witch.”

“Hmm,” he purred. “We shall see.”