Read Online Veiled Innocence (Book One, The Soul Cycle) by Krystle Jones - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Krystle Jones
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everyone turned to stare.
“It’s such a shame, really. I was thinking we would have a beautiful thing tonight,” Gerard said. “However, you’ve left me with no choice. Th ere’s simply too much at risk, a nd the less you know, the better for me.” His eyes roved her body one last time. “Such a shame. At least you won’t go completely to waste. Blood always tastes best when taken straight from the source,” he added with an icicle smile.
He motioned someone forward, and the crowd parted as Malachai, sword drawn, stalked past Gerard to kill her.
CHAPTER 5
Sacrifice
IT SETTLED ON VISHKA too late, a revelation she should have had when she discovered the true identity of Gerard’s underground cult, and she silently scolded herself.
She vaguely recalled Malachai’s words, too consumed by her bloodlust for Gerard to have paid much attention at the time. “ With this tribute, may Erebus give us His blessing and protection from death.”
Tribute. She was to be a sacrifice.
Vishka studied Malachai as he approached. The look on his face was stony, devoid of remorse or any second thoughts to the task demanded of him.
The pupils of her eyes narrowed to vertical slits, like a cat’s, as their color shifted from brown to deep red. Her pulse raced through her arms, every nerve on edge, and the beat of Malachai’s heart grew louder with each step he took toward her, sending bands of swollen red light through the air only she could see.
The silence in the room was palpable. Having a clear shot, Malachai swung his sword toward her throat, but he was much too slow.
She dropped to the ground and kicked his legs out from under him, yanking the sword from his hand when he hit the floor. Before he could react, she stabbed him through the heart with practiced precision. Within seconds, his body went limp , and his eyes drained of their shock.
Women screamed , and the men fumbled for their weapons, having long lost control over their bodies to intoxication.
She snaked through the crowd like a poisonous shadow, soundlessly and quickly killing them all before they knew what was happening. Within a few minutes, the room was full of corpses . Orbs of light drifted up from the ir empty bodies – or as folk of the Underworld call ed them, “Shells ” – floating away into nothing as the darkness absorbed them and welcomed them home.
Everyone was dead. All but Gerard, who cowered like a frightened child behind his throne.
She walked toward him and kicked the chair out of the way. It crashed into the wall, exploding on impact.
He shrieked and held his arms above his head. “What are you?”
She ignored him and threw the sword to the ground. Reaching around to her hip, where a jeweled sheath had materialized, she pulled out a long black saber with a single red stone encrusted in the hilt. Gerard’s eyes flickered to the stone, and the color drained from his face.
“That stone… The stories… They were just supposed to be stories!” His eyes grew rounder as his voice rose in hysteria. “You’re the thing that killed all those men in Skala! Curse you!”
“Enough! ”
Gerard flinched and shrank away from her.
“Is it true then, that you have spies in the palace?”
His old arrogance slipped into place. “Guess you’re more than a whore after all.”
She ignored the barb. “I’m on a mission. I’m led to believe my bounty has taken residence here in the capital. Will you help me or not? Your very life may depend on it.” She raked the tip of her saber across his glistening neck, and he swallowed hard.
“What do you want to know?” he said, managing to keep his voice even.
“There’s a dark haired man who I’m told passed through here not several months past, a man of rank no doubt. Do you know of whom I speak?”
He glared at her with clear annoyance. “A lot of men at the palace have dark hair.”
“A name,” she snapped.
“What do you expect me to do when that’s all
“It’s such a shame, really. I was thinking we would have a beautiful thing tonight,” Gerard said. “However, you’ve left me with no choice. Th ere’s simply too much at risk, a nd the less you know, the better for me.” His eyes roved her body one last time. “Such a shame. At least you won’t go completely to waste. Blood always tastes best when taken straight from the source,” he added with an icicle smile.
He motioned someone forward, and the crowd parted as Malachai, sword drawn, stalked past Gerard to kill her.
CHAPTER 5
Sacrifice
IT SETTLED ON VISHKA too late, a revelation she should have had when she discovered the true identity of Gerard’s underground cult, and she silently scolded herself.
She vaguely recalled Malachai’s words, too consumed by her bloodlust for Gerard to have paid much attention at the time. “ With this tribute, may Erebus give us His blessing and protection from death.”
Tribute. She was to be a sacrifice.
Vishka studied Malachai as he approached. The look on his face was stony, devoid of remorse or any second thoughts to the task demanded of him.
The pupils of her eyes narrowed to vertical slits, like a cat’s, as their color shifted from brown to deep red. Her pulse raced through her arms, every nerve on edge, and the beat of Malachai’s heart grew louder with each step he took toward her, sending bands of swollen red light through the air only she could see.
The silence in the room was palpable. Having a clear shot, Malachai swung his sword toward her throat, but he was much too slow.
She dropped to the ground and kicked his legs out from under him, yanking the sword from his hand when he hit the floor. Before he could react, she stabbed him through the heart with practiced precision. Within seconds, his body went limp , and his eyes drained of their shock.
Women screamed , and the men fumbled for their weapons, having long lost control over their bodies to intoxication.
She snaked through the crowd like a poisonous shadow, soundlessly and quickly killing them all before they knew what was happening. Within a few minutes, the room was full of corpses . Orbs of light drifted up from the ir empty bodies – or as folk of the Underworld call ed them, “Shells ” – floating away into nothing as the darkness absorbed them and welcomed them home.
Everyone was dead. All but Gerard, who cowered like a frightened child behind his throne.
She walked toward him and kicked the chair out of the way. It crashed into the wall, exploding on impact.
He shrieked and held his arms above his head. “What are you?”
She ignored him and threw the sword to the ground. Reaching around to her hip, where a jeweled sheath had materialized, she pulled out a long black saber with a single red stone encrusted in the hilt. Gerard’s eyes flickered to the stone, and the color drained from his face.
“That stone… The stories… They were just supposed to be stories!” His eyes grew rounder as his voice rose in hysteria. “You’re the thing that killed all those men in Skala! Curse you!”
“Enough! ”
Gerard flinched and shrank away from her.
“Is it true then, that you have spies in the palace?”
His old arrogance slipped into place. “Guess you’re more than a whore after all.”
She ignored the barb. “I’m on a mission. I’m led to believe my bounty has taken residence here in the capital. Will you help me or not? Your very life may depend on it.” She raked the tip of her saber across his glistening neck, and he swallowed hard.
“What do you want to know?” he said, managing to keep his voice even.
“There’s a dark haired man who I’m told passed through here not several months past, a man of rank no doubt. Do you know of whom I speak?”
He glared at her with clear annoyance. “A lot of men at the palace have dark hair.”
“A name,” she snapped.
“What do you expect me to do when that’s all
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