The Darkest Song (The Eternal Darkness Duet #1)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

J ulian led me through the house like a dog on a leash. Barefoot, with every inch of my body on display. The few times we encountered someone they stepped aside and bowed their heads as we passed by. The house was enormous, and I was hopelessly lost, until we came to the staircase leading down to the basement where I had been kept before.

“No!” I cried, digging my feet into the stone floor. I grabbed the leash with both hands and pulled, but I might as well have been trying to move a mountain.

“Stop,” Julian said harshly, yanking on the leash. My neck cracked as I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with him.

“Come.” He turned and started walking down the stairs.

“Please!” I begged, stumbling down the steps behind him. “Don’t lock me in here again!”

He led me down the hall of steel doors. Two guards were standing at the end, in front of a cell that was enclosed with thick metal bars, rather than a door.

“Open the door and leave us,” Julian told them, as we approached. One guard quickly unlocked the cell door, and they both disappeared down the hall.

I struggled as he pulled me closer to the cell. “Please don’t!”

“Sarah?” The voice was faint and raspy, but it was Adam’s.

I rushed towards the opening, just getting a glimpse of Adam before Julian yanked on the leash, pulling me back.

“Sarah!” Adam shouted.

Julian casually strolled over to stand in front of the cell, taking me with him, and I could finally see Adam clearly.

“Adam!” I cried out at the sight of him. He was leaning against the far wall of the cell, bound at the wrists and ankles by thick chains that were attached to the wall. His shirt was gone, and his torso was covered in welts and cuts, crusted with dried blood.

“Adam!” I cried again, as hot tears rolled down my face. I pulled at the leash, stretching my arms towards him.

His body was slumped as far as the chains would allow, and he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before opening them again, as if he was having a hard time focusing. Then his expression cleared and his face hardened. I knew he was taking in my revealing dress and the collar around my neck. He pushed himself upright, still leaning heavily against the wall.

He looked past me to Julian. “I’ll kill you for this.”

Instead of responding Julian yanked on the leash, causing me to stumble backwards. I yelped, more from shock than pain, and Adam surged forward. He pulled at his chains, causing his muscles to flex, and fresh blood trickled from his wounds.

“Let her go!” he snarled.

Julian gave the leash another little tug. “Not until I’ve had my fun.”

“Why aren’t you healing?” I cried, looking at the blood running down Adam’s chest.

His body slumped, and he leaned back against the wall again. His eyes met mine. “I’m alright.”

“They’re starving him,” Julian said casually. “He can’t heal unless he feeds.”

I sobbed and tried to reach for him again, but Julian yanked the leash. Snarling, I spun around to scratch his eyes out. He moved so fast I didn’t even see it. He grabbed my face with one hand, gripping painfully.

“Let her go!” Adam roared.

Julian held my face close to his. “I’ll enjoy breaking this one.”

“You have me, Julian, let her go.” Adam’s voice broke as he spoke. “Please. I’ll do anything. Just let her go.”

Julian released my face, and I scrambled as far away as the leash would allow. He looked at Adam for a moment, as if considering his words. “Relinquish control to me, and perhaps I’ll be merciful.”

“Never!” Adam snarled, yanking on his chains again.

“Relinquish control, or what was done to Valentina will be done to her.”

Adam made a choking sound and bowed his head. For a moment everyone was silent. The only sound was my own ragged breathing. Then, Adam lifted his head and looked directly at Julian. “Promise you won’t hurt her and I’ll relinquish control.”

“I promise,” Julian agreed.

What was happening? My eyes darted back and forth between them. Whatever they were talking about, Julian agreed far too quickly for me to believe him.

Adam’s eyes bore into Julian. “You never lie. Remember that.”

Julian nodded once and stepped towards the cell. “Come,” he said, without looking at me. Not having any choice, I followed him into the cell. I had no idea what was happening, and I was terrified he was about to kill Adam.

My eyes darted around, looking for a weapon, but of course there were none. Fine, then I’ll jump on his back and tear his throat out. Just as I was preparing to leap, Julian looked over his shoulder at me.

“Come,” he said again. I reluctantly stepped closer, and he grabbed my wrist tugging me to him. He released the leash and lifted his hands to remove my collar.

“What are you going to do?” My voice wavered as I spoke.

“It’s okay Sarah,” Adam whispered.

As soon as the collar was gone, I threw myself at Adam. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed myself against his chest. To my surprise Julian allowed it. Then I felt his body at my back, pressing me harder against Adam. I gasped in shock as my body was pinned between the two of them.

“What are you-” I shrieked as Adam sank his fangs into the side of my neck. “Stop!” I tried to yank away, but Julian pressed me closer, holding my body still. Why was Adam doing this? And why was Julian helping?

I tried to struggle, but feelings of pleasure quickly overrode my fear. “ Stop.” The word came out as a sigh this time, and my eyelids fluttered shut. Involuntarily, my body relaxed, melting against Adam. Arousal began to curl low in my belly, and I hated myself for it. How could I feel this way when Adam was chained to the wall, beaten and bleeding, and Julian, whom I despised, was pressed against my backside?

I tried again to tell Adam to stop again, but the words would not come out. Instead, I rubbed myself against him. My slip was so thin it felt like there was nothing between us, and I loved it. I felt my legs give out, but Julian wedged his thigh between my legs, holding me up.

I writhed and moaned as Adam’s lips sucked the blood from my body. It seemed to go on forever, and I never wanted it to stop. I started to feel lightheaded, and the thought flitted through my mind that Adam was taking too much. Then I was lost to my pleasure once more. My ears began to ring, and I struggled to open my eyes. The world around me had faded into shadows. There was nothing, except the three of us. Three? Why were there three of us? That was strange, wasn’t it?

I tried to focus, but my thoughts were fuzzy. My head fell back against Julian’s chest, but still Adam didn’t stop. Something inside of me knew he should. I looked up and saw Julian looking down at me. His eyes were completely black and his fangs were exposed. Was he going to drink too? Were they going to kill me?

I watched Julian raise his wrist to his mouth and bite himself. No, that couldn’t be right. Was I hallucinating? I could smell the tang of his blood. It was sharp and spicy, and I wanted it. I struggled to focus as he brought his wrist to my mouth. I drank greedily, moaning at the taste of him.

Strength slowly returned to my body. Feeling returned to my legs, and I knew I could stand if I wanted. Instead, I chose to remain held up by Julian. I tried not to give that too much thought. I could feel Julian’s blood pumping through my veins, mixing with my own.

Adam lifted his head, pulling his fangs from my neck, but I hardly noticed. I grabbed Julian’s wrist with both hands, clasping it against my mouth as I drank. I moaned loudly and rubbed myself against his thigh. He stiffened and stepped back, pulling his wrist away from me. I spun around, desperate for more.

“No.” He stepped back, pressing his other hand to his bleeding wrist. “You’ve had enough.”

Desire clouded my mind, and I shook my head, trying to clear it. My body was throbbing with arousal, and I felt desperate for release, but fear slowly began to creep in. What just happened? I looked at Adam, still chained to the wall, his mouth smeared with my blood. Then I turned to Julian, who looked smug and satisfied. Warning bells went off in my head.

“Why did you do that?” I asked, not sure which of them I’m talking to.

“You belong to me now,” Julian said. “Truly.”

“I don’t understand.” I looked at Adam and was astonished to see his wounds heal in real time.

“Adam!” I cried, throwing myself at him. I hugged him and kissed his face. “You’re healing!”

He didn’t kiss me back. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, bowing his head to rest against mine.

“It's okay,” I assured him. “We’ll get out of this somehow, now that you're healing.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Sarah. I’m so sorry.”

I leaned back to look at him, and his expression filled me with dread.

“Touching,” Julian said mockingly from behind me. “But it's time to go. Come, Sarah .”

I felt his words, like a whip against my skin. My body stiffened and my eyes widened with shock. I whispered Adam’s name, even as my hands released him. I tried to stay with him, but my body moved as if someone else was controlling it, my feet carrying me towards Julian.

“Adam,” I whispered, terrified by what was happening to me.

“I’m sorry!” he shouted.

My body came to a stop in front of Julian. He raised a hand to touch me, letting his fingertips brush across my collarbone. I was trembling with fear, but unable to move away.

“You know, on second thought,” Julian said. “I think I’ll continue with my original plan. What was done to Valentina will be done to Sarah. After I've had my fun that is.”

Adam roared and yanked against his chains. “I’ll kill you!” The concrete wall cracked where the chains were attached. “Julian! You promised! You never lie!” He yanked again and one chain came bursting free from the wall, showering the cell with bits of concrete.

Fully healed by my blood, those chains were no match for him. Julian seemed to realize that, because he reached past me to slide the cell door closed, locking it.

Adam’s shoulder’s sank when the door slammed shut. “You gave your word, Julian!” he panted, his chest heaving from exertion, and rage.

“Yes,” Julian agreed. “And I never lie. I will not harm Sarah. I will use her beautiful body until I tire of it, then I’ll turn her over to the Strategoi.”

Adam roared again and yanked his other hand free. “I’ll kill you!” He pulled at the chains on his ankles.

Unperturbed, Julian brushed his hand across my shoulder, causing the strap of my slip to fall. The flimsy material sagged in the front, exposing one of my breasts. I gasped and tried to yank it back up, but Julian grabbed my wrist, stopping me. Adam raged against his chains, and tears welled in my eyes.

“I hate you!” I cried, choking on a sob.

“Good.” He smiled cruelly before releasing me. I yanked my strap up and rushed to the cell. I reached between the bars, trying to get to Adam.

He stopped fighting his chains, and his shoulders slumped in defeat. “I’m so sorry, Sarah.”

Julian turned and started walking away. “Come, Sarah.”

I once again lost control of my body. I screamed Adam’s name as my body turned and walked away from him.

Adam shouted my name, until we exited the dungeon and Julian closed the door, cutting off his voice. He glanced at me briefly, then turned and walked back up to his room. There was nothing I could do but follow.