Release (The Protector Book 3) (41 page)

Dante laughed. “Yes! Yes he was. Poor cripple tried to fight me off with a makeshift cane.” Dante sighed. “Oh, to be in the old days once again.”

Vincent’s eyes met mine and he clenched his jaw. “Because they denied my plea, I refused the Sovereign’s invitation and forfeited my status as prince. I resolved to never have any connection with them from that moment on.”

“The most unintelligent decision I’ve ever seen in all my life,” Dante said, shaking his head. “You sacrificed everything for a blood-filled skin bag.”

“I sacrificed nothing! I had all I could ever want in her.”

“And then he ran away like a dejected child.” Caterina smirked.

“When I realized what I had done, it was too late. I hadn’t just signed my own death certificate—I had signed my sweet Rozeilia’s as well. When I returned, her head was on a spike outside our home. Rozeilia’s body had been mutilated. Her feet had been burned and her skin cut open with jagged shears, and most of the damage she had been compelled to do to herself…” Vincent’s shoulders trembled and he closed his eyes, taking a long, deep breath. His eyes came back with a calm that had been missing, and he lifted his chin.

“Don’t forget what we did with her eyelids!” Caterina giggled from the corner of the couch and grotesque suggestions flashed in my mind.

Vincent shuddered and shook his head. “And so I ran. Like a coward I ran and boarded a ship to America where my newfound life, although empty and alone, was waiting. I spent centuries on the run before finally settling in Stonewall. It was large enough to have the life I desired, and small enough to keep me off the map from the Sovereign. Until now, of course.”

“And cut. That’s a wrap!” Dante rose from his chair and clapped his hands. “A fine, dramatic performance.” His smile and clapping stopped and he tucked both hands behind his back. “And now you know why you have been dragged into this very sad and pathetic situation. What he failed to mention was on his way to the boat, he murdered seven Sovereign guards. All of whom were royal children, awaiting their acceptance into the Sovereign. Because of this, Vincent must be punished for his atrocities.”

“No,” Alessia said. “He must return home with us so we may be a family again. Our son lost his way, as you once did, Dante, and this is his time for redemption.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I knew all creatures of the Underworld had rules, but this seemed extreme, even to me.

“He has had his chance. His disrespect and insolence has proven he is not worthy. The Sovereign will not grant his pardon—I will not allow it! And if you recall, I took my punishment like a man. Vincent will do the same, and with any luck, the process will cleanse him of his sins.”

Alessia laughed but a look from Dante quickly silenced her.

“I require no pardon, Father, and I will not be returning either, Mother.”

“Enough games, Vincent. You are coming with us, and you will face the consequences of your misguided youth. You will take the judgment cast down like a true Lazzario.” Dante’s face was stern and his voice unmoving.

“I will do no such thing. I am not a Lazzario. Not anymore. I am a Taryk, and I am done with your games. I stand before you a changed man, but I do not regret my actions. The only regret I have is resigning. I should have vanished without a word and my Rozeilia would still be among us. Now take this opportunity and be gone from my home!” Vincent’s skin became clear and black veins rippled across his face.

“If I could go back in time, I would tear that beggar woman’s throat out myself,” Dante said through gritted teeth. “You are coming with me, or so help me gods—”

“No!” Vincent shouted and his power flooded the room. “Enough is enough. I am not running. Not anymore. My family is here, and your gods cannot change that.”

Awkward silence fell around us and my hands grew clammy. Rayna’s hand touched my arm, but we both jumped as Alessia shouted behind us. “Vincent, why are you doing this to us?”

“To you? I have done nothing. You stole the only thing I ever treasured, and I will be damned if I let you do it again with my family.”

“Those…things are
not
your family.” Alessia pointed at the wooden door. “They are mistakes—flukes of nature that should not exist. They are filthy, rotten—”

Vincent moved with a speed I couldn’t follow, and when he finally stopped, he had his mother pinned against the wall by the throat. His veins swelled beneath clear skin and his fangs dropped. “They are all I have left and I will die protecting them.”

Alessia’s power crashed over Vincent and her hands gripped his arm. “Release me,” she said, pouring her power into him.

Vincent shook his head. “I have grown too much for your abilities, Mother. Your power no longer affects me.”

Claws shot from her hands and she shoved them into Vincent’s stomach, but his grip didn’t falter.

“Vincent, this is your last warning. Release your mother or I will skin you myself.” Dante walked towards him and I stepped between them.

“Remove yourself from my path,” he said. “Your death will come in time, but not until my disgrace has been dealt with.”

“As far as I can see,” I said, “Vincent has done nothing wrong—except for killing all those vampires…but really, I can’t blame him for that—and to be honest, you’re even more of a dick than he is, so I’m not going anywhere.”

Dante’s magic crashed into me and my feet left the ground. My body crumpled against the bar’s marble counters and I landed on the floor. I felt the swelling already from the force of the impact and I struggled to my feet.

Rayna drew her knife and plunged it into Dante’s back. He roared and swung his hand around, his knuckles connecting with her face. Rayna flew into the wooden door and shattered it to pieces.

Caterina charged us, but Veronica met her in the middle, claws tearing across her face.

Rayna panted on all fours, wincing from the pain. Her head snapped back and a deep, throaty growl escaped her lips. Bones cracked and her clothes tore, falling off her body. Clear fluid burst into the air and she cried out in pain. Blood ran from her mouth as long fangs extended. Her jaw snapped and popped as it dislocated and reformed itself into a long snout.

I balanced myself on a barstool, using it as leverage. Pain throbbed in my back and my elements churned inside me. Vincent rolled across the ground, exchanging blows with his mother, and Dante stalked towards them.

Goosebumps danced along my arm at the sound of Rayna’s knees snapping out of place. Her skin split, pushing blood and fluid down her sides as thick black fur pushed its way out. Her bones shifted and her clothes fell to the ground. A waist-high panther stood in front of the door with teeth bared. Bright green cat eyes glowed and she unleashed an ear-shattering roar.

Dante winced and turned around, responding with a primordial roar of his own. His milky skin vanished, replaced with a glassy film that showed all the working muscles in his face. Fangs descended from the top of his gums, and another longer set from the bottom. Talons dropped from his hands, and they were jagged and fierce.

Rayna broke into a run and in two short strides was across the room. Her claws tore into Dante’s face before he could react and her teeth ripped into his neck. Blood spurted and his power collided with her body. Rayna yelped as her body rose into the air and Dante climbed to his feet.

Without touching her body, Dante smashed Rayna into the floor repeatedly, until her body dropped to the ground in a limp mass of dark fur. He snarled and the power in it made my knees weak. I let the fire element spark inside me, giving me the strength to push off the stool and rush towards him.

Dante stepped towards Rayna and drew his talons up. The moment he started to bring them down, I unleashed my air element at him. His body folded in half and flew across the room.

Alessia was on top of Vincent now, her claws back and ready to strike, but Dante’s body flailed through the air and crashed into her.

Vincent’s face was covered in blood, but he was on his feet in a flash and hovering over Rayna.

“What have you done?” he screamed, his words slurred through his fangs. He ran his fingertips along Rayna’s furry side and growled.

Dante and Alessia brushed themselves off. “We have done what is necessary. Your brain has been mutilated by bagged blood and half-vampires. You
must
answer for your crimes and be cleansed!” Dante screamed.

“I do not care what you believe. Love is not crime. Not now, not ever.”

“Love itself is not a crime, no,” Alessia said. “But loving a lesser creature and supporting that filth to become like us is of the utmost disrespect. As is attacking a member of the Sovereign—a lesson I thought you had learned. I sought to bring you home and wipe the slate clean. Yet you insult me with your feeble attempts to save a creature that does not deserve the name vampire. You disrespect your father and your sister. You are a recurring disappointment.”

“You are a fool, Mother,” Vincent said. “I cower to you no more. Nor you, Father. I will fight—or die—but I will not succumb to your ancient laws.”

“Then so be it,” Dante said, and his magic engulfed us. Vincent and I rose into the air. “I will crush you for your disrespect, son. And you, hunter, for your stupidity. You align yourself with your enemy? Your father should be ashamed to call you his blood, and your mother should die an unhappy death with the disrespect you’ve caused your family.”

Fire raged inside me. It snapped and burned deep in my soul, filling my body like it never had before. I felt the magic in my eyes and my vision changed. Everything became a hue of red, and sweat ran down my sides.

“Save your parlor tricks, human. Your flame does not strike fear in my heart.”

My magic pulsed again and formed in my palm. I ignored the searing pain in my chest as the skin split, reopening the existing scar, and a stream of fire burst from my hands.

Blue flames bit at the air and blasted towards him, but Dante waved his hand and the fire stopped. It moved down my arm and through the air, but his power created a wall of energy that blocked my element.

“I told you to save your tricks. Your kind was always so arrogant, even in the beginning, yet still you throw your futile magic in the Sovereign’s face? You’re an embarrassment.”

Willy leaped through the shattered wooden doorway, tackling Dante to the ground. The power around me broke and Vincent and I collapsed on the floor.

Marcus and Tiki walked through after Willy, and a dozen vampires stood behind them. Everyone ran into the room and the power in the air was too much to swallow.

Dante lifted Willy above his head and brought him down against his knee. Willy yelped and fell limp to the ground.

All the vampires that had rushed into the room bared their fangs and roared in unison. Dante stared at them intensely as they crept forward, and he stepped back.

“Fine,” Dante said. “Have it your way.” His milky skin returned and he pulled back his inner demon. “Vincent survives another day, but don’t be fooled, this is not over. You desire war? I will bring you a battle you will
never
forget.”

“You’ll have to find a way out first,” I said. The heat still filled my eyes and everything was a shade of red.

“Chase…” Marcus said, and he stepped away when I turned to him, not finishing whatever thought he’d started.

“Leaving will not be an issue,” Dante said.

Screaming came from behind us and Caterina held Veronica by the neck. Caterina looked up at the vampires filling the room and released a deep, vampiric roar. The pictures on the wall rattled, the air became heavy, and everyone in the room was forcefully knocked to the ground. Caterina tore the head off Veronica’s body and threw it at the fallen vampires. Blood rained over them before it lit up in a burst of orange and red flame, leaving ashes to spiral to the floor.

Vincent’s family jumped to their feet and reacted with a chorus of angry screams as they charged towards her. Dante and Alessia moved with unparalleled speed and appeared behind their daughter. Dante gripped them both and a loud
bang
sounded. A cloud of black smoke was left in the air, the only remaining sign of the trio. The vampires tore into it, as though destroying it might accomplish something, but the trio was gone.

Stinging vibrations moved up and down my chest. The blood flowing out of the wound on my chest was hot and bubbling against my skin. I took a few deep breaths as the noise settled and I pulled my power back. The red hue that had taken over the room vanished.

“Chase, are you okay?” Marcus asked.

My eyes were fixated on the empty space where Dante had vanished and I nodded. “Yeah…I’ll be fine. Why?” I asked.

“Your eyes…they were on fire.”

Chapter 32

Vincent remained at the safe house to deal with his enraged family. Veronica, although only a newly made vampire, had been a big part of their life. She had led their vamplings for years, and they all felt her loss.

The safe house was far from safe, and there wasn’t enough room for all of them at the warehouse. Luckily, Vincent had multiple safe houses throughout Stonewall, and the Sovereign had only managed to infiltrate one. Although sometimes unbearable, I had to admit Vincent was smart. He had a backup for his backup plan, and because of that, many in his family were still alive.