Read Online Blood Curse (Pulse #8) by Kailin Gow - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kailin Gow
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terrified heart, she wondered, hoping she had been able to keep her pulse quiet from their ears.
“Shh!” Jaegar whispered into her ear. “They're coming.”
And come they did. Fifty vampires were marching towards them.
“I recognize the one at the front,” whispered Samson. “That's Perseus. One of Nereti's most devoted followers. Once her great General, though I think from that particular position he has been deposed...”
Kalina winced as images of Octavius and Nereti intertwined flashed through her brain.
She could see Perseus in the distance – the familiar crazed eyes that signified Life's Blood coursing through the veins. She shuddered at the sight of him, shuddered thinking about what young Life's Blood Carriers had been slaughtered to get that blood down his throat. He had been handsome once, she could see that much, but evil had transformed his features, casting his whole expression and countenance in a waxwork model of cruelty. Was this what Octavius too would one day become? Kalina shuddered at the thought. Would her beloved Octavius turn this fierce, this ferocious, this insane, under Nereti's noxious influence?
But she couldn't think about that now. There was no time for wondering or for recriminations. She had to focus on one thing and one thing only – saving Uzo and his men.
“It's working,” hissed Uzo in her ear as the vampires made their way into the caves, their footsteps virtually silent upon the soft desert sands.
“Those fools are asleep in the darkness yet,” sneered Perseus as he passed by, just over Kalina's head. “We shall slaughter them, each and every one, and we shall at last find that which we seek.”
That which we seek? Kalina furrowed her brow. Isn't this supposed to be putting down a rebellion? What are they looking for?
“If we can get a fresh taste of the Carrier, too!” one of Perseus's underlings licked his lips, showing gleaming fangs.
“Nay!” Perseus rounded on his underling with a horrific growl. “You know Nereti's orders. She wants the Carrier alive.”
“All the better...I know ways to torture that don't leave marks.”
“No!” Perseus said. “You know the orders. Nereti wants to do all the torturing herself.”
Kalina felt her stomach lurch as Perseus and his men vanished inside the cave.
“They're all in,” Jaegar said.
“Very well,” Uzo brandished his stake. “Now it is time for attack.”
And with that, they rounded on Nereti's men, following them into the caves, tiptoeing up behind them and goring them straight through with ruby stakes.
The first round was the easiest. Caught unaware in the midst of their stealth attack, the vampires dropped to the floor and vanished into ash so silently that their compatriots did not even hear them. It was not until Kalina and her allies had each killed two or three vampires that the others began to notice what was going on.
By then it was too late. Uzo and his vampires would have been formidable enough on their own, Kalina guessed, but with ruby stakes between their fingers they were unstoppable.
Soon, they had slaughtered each and every one of the invaders.
Chapter 8
“ W e did it!” Jaegar turned to Kalina, joy in his glimmering eyes. The ash of the vanquished vampires was floating in the air all around them, shining in the first light of dawn. “Kalina, you were amazing.” He took her in his arms, holding her tight, kissing her softly. “I'm so proud of you.”
Kalina stood for a while, staring at the stake in her hands. Her heart was beating
“Shh!” Jaegar whispered into her ear. “They're coming.”
And come they did. Fifty vampires were marching towards them.
“I recognize the one at the front,” whispered Samson. “That's Perseus. One of Nereti's most devoted followers. Once her great General, though I think from that particular position he has been deposed...”
Kalina winced as images of Octavius and Nereti intertwined flashed through her brain.
She could see Perseus in the distance – the familiar crazed eyes that signified Life's Blood coursing through the veins. She shuddered at the sight of him, shuddered thinking about what young Life's Blood Carriers had been slaughtered to get that blood down his throat. He had been handsome once, she could see that much, but evil had transformed his features, casting his whole expression and countenance in a waxwork model of cruelty. Was this what Octavius too would one day become? Kalina shuddered at the thought. Would her beloved Octavius turn this fierce, this ferocious, this insane, under Nereti's noxious influence?
But she couldn't think about that now. There was no time for wondering or for recriminations. She had to focus on one thing and one thing only – saving Uzo and his men.
“It's working,” hissed Uzo in her ear as the vampires made their way into the caves, their footsteps virtually silent upon the soft desert sands.
“Those fools are asleep in the darkness yet,” sneered Perseus as he passed by, just over Kalina's head. “We shall slaughter them, each and every one, and we shall at last find that which we seek.”
That which we seek? Kalina furrowed her brow. Isn't this supposed to be putting down a rebellion? What are they looking for?
“If we can get a fresh taste of the Carrier, too!” one of Perseus's underlings licked his lips, showing gleaming fangs.
“Nay!” Perseus rounded on his underling with a horrific growl. “You know Nereti's orders. She wants the Carrier alive.”
“All the better...I know ways to torture that don't leave marks.”
“No!” Perseus said. “You know the orders. Nereti wants to do all the torturing herself.”
Kalina felt her stomach lurch as Perseus and his men vanished inside the cave.
“They're all in,” Jaegar said.
“Very well,” Uzo brandished his stake. “Now it is time for attack.”
And with that, they rounded on Nereti's men, following them into the caves, tiptoeing up behind them and goring them straight through with ruby stakes.
The first round was the easiest. Caught unaware in the midst of their stealth attack, the vampires dropped to the floor and vanished into ash so silently that their compatriots did not even hear them. It was not until Kalina and her allies had each killed two or three vampires that the others began to notice what was going on.
By then it was too late. Uzo and his vampires would have been formidable enough on their own, Kalina guessed, but with ruby stakes between their fingers they were unstoppable.
Soon, they had slaughtered each and every one of the invaders.
Chapter 8
“ W e did it!” Jaegar turned to Kalina, joy in his glimmering eyes. The ash of the vanquished vampires was floating in the air all around them, shining in the first light of dawn. “Kalina, you were amazing.” He took her in his arms, holding her tight, kissing her softly. “I'm so proud of you.”
Kalina stood for a while, staring at the stake in her hands. Her heart was beating
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