The Darkest Song (The Eternal Darkness Duet #1)

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

W hen we got back to Julian's room Maria was there waiting.

“Get her cleaned up,” Julian said to her. “We leave in thirty minutes.” Then he left, closing the door behind him.

I stood there, staring at Maria, too overwrought to say anything.

She gave me a sympathetic look. “Go wash your face. There are clean clothes in the bathroom.”

Numbly, I walked to the bathroom. I glanced at myself in the mirror, and once again, I was covered in blood. My face from my tears, and my chin and neck from the feeding that took place in the dungeon. Whatever that was, it had somehow given Julian power over me. I prayed there was a way to reverse it.

In a daze, I washed and dressed in the clothes that were laid out for me. Black leggings, a silk camisole, and an oversized sweater. I slipped my feet into the black flats that were provided, still in too much shock to notice that everything fit perfectly.

Maria was still waiting in the bedroom. I followed her downstairs, and this time we didn’t encounter anyone else. We exited the building, and I shivered when the night air touched my skin. After being locked in that house for so long, being outside felt wonderful. It was strange to notice something pleasant like that after everything I’d just been through.

We started to descend a large stone staircase, and that's when I noticed the helicopter. Julian stood beside it, talking to another man. He was taking me away from Adam . My steps faltered, and his head snapped towards me. Even from this distance I could feel his dark eyes on me. I continued down the steps and followed Maria across the lawn.

The helicopter ride was unpleasant, to say the least. Neither Julian nor Maria spoke as we flew. The sound was deafening, even with the protective headphones I wore. I tried to focus my senses, like Adam taught me, but I was too upset.

We landed on a runway beside a private jet, and in a matter of minutes I found myself back in the air, seated in a plush leather chair across from Julian. Maria had disappeared into a room at the back of the plane, leaving the two of us alone. Julian watched me silently, and I looked down at my lap, avoiding his gaze.

“We’re flying to Madrid, in case you’re wondering,” he said, finally breaking the silence.

My eyes shot to his. “Why?”

“That’s where I live. Therefore, that’s where you live now.”

“You want me to live with you?” I didn’t bother hiding my distaste.

“It’s what's expected.”

By who? “What did you do to me earlier?”

“Adam relinquished his control over you to me.”

I shook my head. “I don’t understand. How did you make me follow you like that?”

He sighed and looked at me in a way that suggested I should already know the answer. “A sire can call their progeny to them. Adam had that power, and now he has given it to me.”

I frowned. “Adam didn’t have that power.”

“Yes, he did. He didn’t use it because he didn’t want you to know he was the one who changed you.”

“I don’t believe you.”

He tilted his head as he looked at me. “I think you do.”

I looked away. Did I? Whatever went on in that cell, Adam had taken part willingly. I swallowed at the lump in my throat and curled my hands into fists, digging my nails into my palms. I would not cry in front of him .

I took several deep breaths to calm myself before I trusted myself to speak. “Who is Valentina, and what happened to her?”

A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Valentina is none of your concern. But you needn't be afraid, I have no intentions of harming you.”

“Then why did you say those things to Adam?”

“Because I wanted his last hours to be filled with sorrow and fear for you.”

His last hours? "What’s going to happen to him?”

“He’s going to be executed. Tonight, probably.”

I screamed and flew at him, but he caught me easily. He pushed me back into my seat, looming over me.

“Do not test me,” he snarled, his face inches from mine. “I have no intentions of hurting you, but there are other ways to assert my control over you.” He lowered his face, and I turned away. He pressed his face to my neck and inhaled deeply. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for his bite. But it never came. He released me, and I cautiously opened my eyes to see him back in his own chair, his completely black eyes the only sign that I hadn't imagined the whole thing.

W e arrived in Spain just before sunrise. We climbed into the back of a limo that had special windows to block out the sun, making it impossible for me to see outside. I wondered how the driver was surviving on the other side of the partition, but I didn't ask.

When we arrived at Julian’s home, we exited the car into an underground garage. Julian told Maria to take me to my room and promptly walked away.

I followed her through the house, which was even larger and more luxurious than the last place. We passed many windows, but all I could see through the glass was what looked like dark gray metal.

“Steel shutters protect us during daylight hours,” Maria explained, noticing my stare.

I followed her up a large curved staircase and down a long hall. We eventually came to a door which led to the most beautiful suit of rooms imaginable.

“This is you.” She stepped aside, allowing me to enter the room. She followed me in, and I noticed she didn't bother closing the door behind her. I tried not to stare at the doorway as she told me about the room. Closet through here, bathroom through there. Yeah, yeah. Was my door going to remain unlocked? Could I possibly escape?

“And of course, the shutters will automatically open after sundown,” Maria said, motioning to the wall of windows on the far side of the room. “You have a lovely view from this room.”

I nodded, as if I’d been paying attention all along.

I planned on escaping as soon as she left, but my internal clock had other ideas. I barely made it to the bed before I passed out. How was Maria still so wide awake? I wondered, before slipping fully into sleep.