The Castus laughed as it became solid, a horrid, grating sound that scratched at Chrysabelle’s ears. Fortunately, its attention was devoted solely to Tatiana. ‘Proceed, my child.’
‘The light and the dark shall collide.’ Tatiana grabbed a handful of Maris’s hair and notched her head to one side.
The words sounded familiar. Like one of the old comarré prophets or—
‘Sorrow shall bind the darkness.’ Tatiana slipped the ring onto her finger. She gasped as blood welled up over the gold band. The scale-like prongs inside must have dug into her skin.
‘Continue, child,’ the Castus demanded.
‘It shall devour the light.’ With a guttural cry, Tatiana fell upon the unconscious woman before her, stabbing her fangs into Maris’s gilded neck.
Chrysabelle cried out as Maris’s eyes shot open. She jerked against the ropes binding her until she saw Chrysabelle. Sadness and regret welled in her gaze. She mouthed the words, ‘I’m sorry’ as her eyes started to roll back in her head.
‘No,’ Chrysabelle screamed. She surged forward, using her armored forearms to deflect the guards’ swords and shove them away. Her hands slammed into an invisible wall. She pounded, meeting nothing but air.
Mikkel snickered, his hands outstretched toward her.
Helpless to do anything but watch, Chrysabelle’s heart broke at the sight of her dear aunt and Tatiana’s cruel use of her. Tatiana drank until Maris was pale and still. At last, Tatiana raised her head, not bothering to wipe away the blood drenching her mouth and chin. ‘And the covenant shall be broken.’
She rubbed her fingers across her face, letting the blood drip down her fingers to mingle with the blood spilled by the ring. ‘Now shall the darkness arise reborn. So be it written, so be it done.’
The Castus howled with pleasure.
Trumpets blared and a brilliant light flooded the room. Every vampire cowered, clapping hands over their ears, save Mal’s beast who just seemed stunned. Fi bolted upright. Inside the light, another shape began to develop. Wings of pulsing white fire spread out behind the being.
‘Michael,’ the Castus spat. ‘So good of you to come, brother.’
‘We have not been brothers since you were cast out, Samael.’ The creature leaned on an enormous glowing sword and shook his head. ‘How far you are fallen from heaven. How dim the Morning Star has become.’
Holy mother. She bowed her head. Only one kind of being was powerful enough to call the Castus by his names without retribution. Her hands trembled at the presence of the archangel, glad his blazing radiance prevented her from seeing his face. There was little doubt in her mind such a sight would overwhelm her. Or blind her. Still, his presence brought comfort. As though he were there to protect her.
‘Who breaks this covenant created between the Sons of God and the Daughters of Man?’ Michael asked in a tone ripe with power and peace.
Chrysabelle shivered. The covenant had been put in place after the Great Flood, to protect the dwindling numbers of Castus against the rising swell of human population in exchange for the othernaturals leaving humans in peace.
‘I do,’ Tatiana spoke through bloodstained lips. She raised her hand to show the ring she wore. ‘I am bound by sorrow. I have devoured the light. Now I break this covenant and will arise reborn with the power inherent in the ring of sorrows.’
‘You must abide by the rules of the covenant, brother,’ the Castus taunted.
‘And so I shall.’
The shadows shrank back and his radiant countenance shifted toward Tatiana. ‘The covenant protects mortals as well as your kind. Do you understand this?’
She lifted her chin. ‘The noble houses don’t need protection.’
He tipped his head at Maris. ‘Mortal, you consent to this, fully understanding what the breaking of the covenant means?’
Tatiana shook Maris, rousing her. Maris nodded weakly, her eyes shifting toward Chrysabelle. Forgive me, she mouthed before her eyes fluttered shut again.
‘So be it. You must live with the consequences.’ Michael spoke to Samael. ‘The blood ritual for breaking the covenant is accomplished, but not the ritual for the power of the ring of sorrows to be granted. That cannot yet be fulfilled. Not in the one you have chosen.’ He pointed the holy blade at Tatiana. ‘This one is not the darkest of her kind.’ His aim shifted to Maris. ‘And this one is no longer the light.’
‘What?’ Tatiana’s face dissolved into disbelief. She pounded a fist against her chest. ‘I defy you to find another darker than—’
Michael laughed. ‘You are as blind as your master.’
A squalling sound erupted from the Castus. Shadows leaped from the corners of the room toward the archangel. ‘How dare you deny—’
‘I deny nothing. The covenant is broken.’ And with a second great flash of light and a peal of thunder, the archangel was gone.
An immense ripple of power burst through the room like a shock wave. The Castus disappeared, the guards fell, and Tatiana slammed into the table behind her. Mikkel’s invisible wall vanished, rocking Chrysabelle forward. She caught herself, then hurdled Dominic, and rushed to Maris’s side. Chrysabelle slit the ropes binding Maris and pulled her limp body into her arms, scattering the circle of salt and earth.
‘Come on, Maris, hold on.’ Chrysabelle pressed her palm against Maris’s neck to staunch the trickle of blood. A weak pulse still beat in her veins. ‘Stay with me, Maris, please.’