Chapter 449: Bait
"Done," August sighed, feeling the beams of the cage lock together.
"Goddess, at last," Penelope exclaimed. "No wonder Nedra finds that exhausting. And that was with two of us! Now how do we get him in here?"
"I believe you will need to be the bait, my dear," August said softly, her eyes sliding to find Penelope’s. "He is here for you."
"No problem," she shook her head to dispel the worry that she felt August projecting. "I will do whatever I need to. Let’s just get it done and then figure out what is next before this island collapses entirely."
The thunderous sky and earth were still rumbling but seemed to otherwise have settled now that Nedra was not conscious of what was occurring. Perhaps it was her fear alone that had destabilized the portal. If they could contain the vampire in the cage before she regained consciousness, then the integrity of the portal might just be safe.
"I hope Nedra is alright," August thought aloud, not able to catch a glimpse of her in the vicinity. Seth must have moved her away from where the two vampires were fighting in order to keep her out of harm’s way.
"Have you been with her this whole time?" Penelope asked.
"I guess I have," August muttered, glancing back down at the design on her arm. "I was with Graeme. I don’t even know how much time has gone by."
"What do you mean you were with Graeme?" Penelope asked, her eyebrows pinched together in confusion when the two fighting vampires drew their attention. They were both snarling viciously at each other like rabid dogs locked in battle to the death.
Penelope saw blood go flying through the air before her vision traced it to Zagan’s neck where there was a large, gaping wound. His white shirt was splattered with red.
"No," she cried, the color instantly draining from her face. "Give me something sharp!" She exclaimed, holding her hand out to August. "Do you have anything?"
But August was focusing all of her concentration on the black hole of energy in the Veiled that was wrestling with Zagan’s now more lively, more colorful aura. She gritted her teeth and sent a wave of green life up through the ground to wrap its vines around the vampire’s body once again.
"Not this again," the vampire growled, pulling against the fibrous vines that curled around him like the earth had come alive to conspire against him.
"Wow," Penelope breathed. "I did not know you could do that."
"Neither did I," August replied, still straining her concentration to keep the vines in place where the intruder was ripping at them one by one.
Zagan stepped back from the restrained intruder, covering the wound on his neck with his hand where blood was gushing out at an alarming rate.
"Bring Zagan into the cage," August told Penelope as she watched her speed off to help her mate.
Penelope tried to pull Zagan away from the vampire who was terrifying up close. His face was contorted unnaturally, and even while he was struggling against the vines that August had sent to him, he gave her an ominous grin.
"Do come closer," the vampire said, ripping a vine out of the ground before another quickly replaced it.
"Zagan, come with me," Penelope ignored the male and tugged her mate backward toward the cage. "I can heal you. Please," she begged when Zagan seemed resistant to leave the one who was a threat.
"Yes, go get tended to by your delicious mate while you have a chance," the intruder taunted, licking his lips. "It will not be long before her blood paints the ground on top of yours."
Zagan moved like he was going to attack, but he became unsteady on his feet and stumbled, surprised by how much this loss of blood was affecting him. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before. Penelope wrapped an arm around his waist and supported him while attempting to lead him away.
"No," he protested, "I have to finish him now."
"You cannot do anything like that in this state. Please let me help you," she begged.
He groaned his displeasure but stumbled along next to her, finally dropping to the ground near the Luna who appeared to be the one sending the vines that were restraining his opponent.
"Let me see," Penelope said, urging him to remove his hand from the wound he had suffered. When he did, the blood that had been running steadily between his fingers released a fresh surge, spilling down his neck. "Goddess," she mumbled, her lips quivering as she tore fabric from her shirt to press against the wound.
"It is not that bad," he told her, lifting a hand to caress her cheek and leaving a trail of blood along her skin. His head dropped to rest against hers, their foreheads kissing as she continued to put pressure against the wound and focused all of her energy on sending healing light through herself and into him.
"I can’t hold him forever," August called from next to them. "You need to be able to move when he comes."
"I need to heal him first. He has lost too much blood," Penelope replied, squeezing her eyes shut in concentration once again—but this time it was to heal the vampire she had planned on coming here to kill.
"You do not need to heal me," he whispered against her, his breaths becoming shallow and his hand dropping limply to his side from where he had been caressing her cheek.
"Shut up," she scolded him.
Both of them were distracting her. She could have been done by now!
The golden healing light she had often bathed others in with her pure intention flowed out of her, extending its warmth into the male who was slumped against her now. But he seemed unable to receive it. Something was wrong. Something was different from when she had done things like this before. He was not receiving what she was offering.
"Zagan, let me help you," she cried, pushing against him so she could see his face. His eyes were closed, but he whispered something softly.
"I am sorry I could not protect you."
The words were so soft, it was a moment before they registered in her mind.
"You can still protect me, dammit! Just let me help you!"
