Chapter 441: No Point in Running
August noticed Brandt’s body lying on the kitchen floor and slowly walked forward to get a closer look. His badly slashed face was rolled to the side, the head severed from his body, and yet there was very little blood. Her stomach turned. What had happened here? Had Zagan done all of this?
"I am telling you," Nedra growled, pushing at Seth who was trying to help her up, "you must go now. Please," the last word came out as a sob.
A clap of thunder sounded overhead that was so loud, the castle walls shook around them.
"I am not leaving you," he argued, and just as he did, the monster that had been thrown into the oven hood moved from where he had landed, beginning to collect himself from the surprise of that impact.
"Fucking alyko," he cursed, and then he began chuckling. As he straightened and dusted himself off, the chuckle turned into a maniacal laugh that twisted his features, and he threw his head back.
August watched in shock as this monster who was definitely not Zagan stood there, absorbed in his own comedy as the thunder breaking outside threatened to bring the castle down. This guy’s presence in the Veiled looked similar to Zagan—the energy around him dispersing like water from a drop of oil as if repelled by him.
Seth managed to tug Nedra to her feet as her resistance to him gave way, and when he finally tore her attention away from the intruder, they made for the side door of the kitchen. He pushed August from her spot by Brandt and urged her to exit in front of them while the maniac behind them continued to be absorbed by his own bizarre delight.
"What is that thing?" Seth asked as they made for the side exit of the castle where Brandt kept the door propped open.
"He is a vampire, but he is part fae," Nedra said in a tremulous voice. Her fear was consuming her. Seth was here. Seth was here, and she was going to lose him. She was going to lose him and her dream of living together with their children. It was all going to come crashing down around her. But at least Sage and Selah were safe.
"A vampire fae?" August asked. "Why is he here?"
"He is after Zagan and his mate," she told them.
"Wait, Zagan has a mate?" August asked. "What?"
"So it is true," Seth mumbled as they continued to rush through the dark halls of the castle, seeking the way out.
"Who? Who is his mate? I don’t understand..." August trailed off as she ran, wondering just what all had happened during the time she was out.
"It’s the Winter," Seth told her as Nedra seemed lost to her thoughts.
"Penelope?!" August exclaimed. "Penelope is Zagan’s mate? Are you serious?" Penelope was the one who had convinced her to come here, and yet it had turned out that she was the vampire’s mate?
"Yes," he growled, "Now keep moving."
Once they made it out of the castle, August stopped to turn and watch the exit, anticipating the pursuit that would be coming, but Seth urged her and Nedra forward and they continued running through the bent forest. The trees were densely packed together, but the sky beyond became visible now with bolts of splintered lightening licking it, threatening to break open this world.
"There is no point in running, is there?" Nedra asked, offering the question to the air. She couldn’t see how running was going to do them any good, but she didn’t have another plan so she let Seth lead them.
"No, there is no point in running," the chilling voice called, its owner dropping to the ground in front of them.
They all froze, watching him stalk toward them with his average height returned, but his face twisted unnaturally for a moment before he cracked his neck, snapping all of his features back into their rightful place.
Seth pulled the two females behind him, offering himself as a shield.
"Seth, no," Nedra pulled at his arm, but he shook her off and glared at the approaching creature.
"Zagan has so many pets," the creature said with a crooked smile. "I do not understand the appeal. Unless he lets you loose to hunt you." His eyes then narrowed in on the intricate design shining on August’s arm as she stepped from behind Seth.
"August, get back," Seth growled, seeing the interest suddenly prick in the monster’s eyes.
August ignored him, seemingly captivated by the intruder as well as she walked forward to get a better look at him. The vampire’s head tilted to the side as he watched the innocent little prey animal approach, curious about the predator that had come for it.
"You are interesting," the vampire smiled when she came within an arm’s reach. Seth and Nedra were wrestling with each other in the background, each trying to pursue August while the other was holding them back.
"So are you," her eyebrows pinched together. There was a dim light wanting to break through in the center of this creature’s chest. It reminded her of Graeme—when she had taken that heaviness from around his heart. But this was the inverse of that. This was like the smallest glimmer of hope shining in the abyssal darkness.
The intruder pointed to her arm where the new design had traced itself along her skin. "May I?" He asked, his eyebrows arching in question as he gazed into the glowing, golden crowns of her eyes.
August didn’t answer, pressing her lips together in thought. She didn’t just have herself and Graeme to worry about anymore. She had a growing life that was made all the more evident of its presence by the increasing roundness of her belly. She had to be careful about what actions she took, but she also had to protect those who were on the island from this creature. He had the ability to destroy them all.
