Page 10 of Midnight Queen

I’ve witnessed war, I’ve experienced famine, and I’ve lived through plagues. I’ve seen the worst in humanity, and I’ve done things that most would find appalling, but now, as I stare at the screen, none of those events have prepared me for what I feel now.

Foolishly, I believed that not knowing where she was or what was happening to her was going to be the worst of it. I thought that once I knew, I’d be able to focus on my next moves and with a clearer head, I’d be able to make plans. But I was wrong.

One of the many things I pride myself in is my ability to be multiple steps ahead of everyone, but with Gideon, I’ve fallen behind and I’m completely blind to his moves.

Though, even if I had been ahead of him, I don’t think I ever could have predicted this.

Quincey, my heart, is suspended from the ceiling of a room illuminated in red light. Metal cuffs sit tightly around her wrists and blood drips down her forearms. True to her character and despite her situation, she hasn’t given up. She fights and pulls at the chains, further explaining the wounds. Her toned, bare legs kick out into the air, desperate for some kind of perch, but it’s no use. My stomach drops and my silent heart constricts at the sight of her almost bare body. The possibilities of why he’s removed her clothing running wild in my mind.

“Is this live?” Lorcan, who watches over my shoulder, asks the woman I’m considering tearing to pieces in the middle of this picturesque residential street. Over the years, I’ve grown tired of Rowena’s meddling and bothersome presence. Her showing up here may be the nail in her metaphorical coffin.

“From what I can tell, this video is a livestream of what’s happening,” Rowena explains as she reaches for the phone. Her fingers, fingernails painted the same color she wears on her lips, pinch the device and attempt to pull it away from me. Unable to look away from where Quincey dangles helplessly from the ceiling, I refuse to let go. Rowena releases an annoyed huff. “I’m trying to show you another video. It was the one in the email. The link to the live stream was under it.”

Begrudgingly, I let go and let her take the phone back. My fingers twitch at my side as I wait impatiently for her to find the other video. “Who else was this email sent to?” I question. “Who else can see her like this?”

Clicking something on the screen, Rowena passes the phone back to me. “From what I’ve heard through the rumor mill, most of the high society were sent links. Vampires with any semblance of power or status. Which means many, if not all of them, are currently members of the council.”

The council.

Council is a loose term for what it truthfully is. Over two hundred years ago, I had a group of vampires attempt to take control from me, stating they didn’t agree with my methods. In a false attempt to appear more civil and accommodating, I established a council of sorts where vampires could air their grievances or give their opinions on various subjects. They falsely believe that I take their viewpoints into consideration when making my decisions, but if they feel like they’ve been heard, they remain civil. Due to this, there haven’t been any more attempted uprisings and that’s all that matters. I will entertain their fictional power as long as it continues to keep some sense of order.

I don’t respond to her, instead I press play on the video she’s loaded on to the phone. Just like the livestream, Quincey hangs from the ceiling. Her powder blue eyes are round with fear as she watches something or someone across the room. The camera shifts and adjusts a bit before Gideon himself walks into the frame.

Long gone is the stately man I knew. The exquisite clothing and borderline obsessive behavior regarding his appearance are no more. His clothing is ragged and stained. His hair is longer than I’ve ever seen it, but it’s not his clothing or change in hair that is most noticeable. In the loss of all emotion in his previously expressive eyes and face. The man I once knew and trusted with my life is no more. Replaced with a shell of a person.

He turns and says something to Quincey, something I can’t quite make out before he faces the camera. In a calm, even voice, he declares, “My name is Gideon Rolfe, and I have something that belongs to Silas Laurent.” For just a moment, Quincey goes still and hangs limply as she waits for what else he’s going to say. Looking directly into the camera, as if he’s speaking to me directly, Gideon continues, “You’ve made yourself the self-appointed king. You take and kill as you please, regardless of whom it might cause pain. I’ve waited a very long time to even the score, to get my justice for what you did to my Margret.” He pauses, looking at the woman who hangs behind him. “My patience prevailed and I’m now able to return the favor. You murdered the love of my life in front of me and now I will do the same.”

I’m aware of the redheaded vampire standing in front of me, glaring holes into my skull. My affection toward Quincey was something I never wanted to air publicly, as I didn’t believe it would be safe for her. Rowena is already aware of Quincey’s existence due to hercoincidentallywalking down the same street we were on. My behavior was suspicious at best, and no doubt alerted Rowena to my interest in the human. But Gideon declaring she’s the love of my life, leaves no unanswered questions or debates to be had.

I will never confirm those feelings aloud to Rowena, or anyone for that matter. That admission is reserved solely for Quincey. She is the only one besides myself that owns my secrets.She is the only one who I would reveal everything to with one simple “please”. Things I’ve never disclosed to Duke or Ira, I would trust in the hands of Quincey.

“I’m not the only one you’ve angered, Silas. In all my years in hiding, I’ve heard the whispers. Your entire kingdom doesn’t worship you like you believe them to.” Not once when Gideon talks does his face display what he’s feeling, nor does his tone fluctuate with emotion like it should. It stays completely flat. Monotone.

Gideon is wrong in his belief that I want to be worshiped. I don’t wish to be prayed to or adored by the many. I’ve never wanted that. My only wish is to walk into a room and immediately hold everyone’s attention. I want them to know with a single look in my direction and without me having to speak a single word that I am in charge. By doing that, that’s how I maintain order. Had I not intervened and controlled the vampires, history would be a lot darker and a lot bloodier.

Gideon moves closer to Quincey. Once he’s close enough, he reaches out to trail his gnarled fingers down her sternum. With an angry snarl, Quincey kicks in his direction. Her foot collides with Gideon’s gut. Her success is meaningless in the end. A blow such as that does little to wound a vampire.

Gideon’s hand wraps around her ankle to stop any more attacks. “Unfortunately,” he begins, his focus on the finger he’s begun to trail up her exposed calf. There isn’t a single outcome where Gideon makes it out of this with his life, but watching him touch her—touching what is mine—confirms that his demise will not be easy. “I can’t grant everyone the same level of revenge as I will be receiving, but do not fret. I’ve found a way to make it fair. Shortly, you will be receiving an additional message from me. Inside will be a link to a private online auction.”

“He’s a twisted little fuck, isn’t he?” Lorcan mutters to himself.

“I think it’s only fair that I share my newfound prize with the rest of you.” Gideon drops Quincey’s leg and takes a step back from her. “Have you ever wondered what the blood of Silas’s woman tastes like?” He reaches into the back pocket of his dirty jeans. At the flash of metal reflecting off the red lights of the small room they’re in, my fingers tighten on the device, causing a crack to form across the glass screen. “Highest bidders will get to find out just how sweet she is.” He twists the knife in his fingers a few times before lifting it to Quincey’s hip bone.

I want to look away, but I’m frozen in place as I watch him press the end into her perfect flesh. Any other time, I would have been proud of the way Quincey is able to keep her reaction subdued. The only sign she’s been injured is by the way she presses her lips into a flat line and her eyes briefly squeeze closed.

Meanwhile, I feel like I’m going to start slaughtering people at will.

Blood pools from the small wound, slowly dripping toward the waistline of her lace panties. As if he’s making eye contact with me before he does it, Gideon looks back at the camera before pulling her panties down an inch and swiping the stream of blood up with his tongue.

A menacing snarl escapes my lips as my entire body begins to shake with rage. Lorcan places his hand on my shoulder, a gesture I assume is supposed to show his support, but only angers me further. Shaking his hand off me, I take a step away so I can focus on the video.

For the first time since he’s stepped on screen, Gideon grins at the camera once he’s licked all the blood from her body. “Delicious. How does it feel that while I savor every second of my short time with her, you’ll be helpless to just watch? Or that you’ll have to watch as I auction away her precious blood until there isn’t any left?” The forced grin widens. “I will make you watch as she cries out in pain and begs for you to save her.”

“Silas!” Her voice cuts through my very core. It feels like a lifetime since I’ve last heard her speak my name. It seems so foolish now that I refused to allow her to call me by my first name when I first brought her home. My name on her lips is my lullaby, soothing the rough edges of my bitter soul. “Don’t watch.” Quincey’s voice cracks, despite her attempt to be strong. “I don’t want you to see this.Pleasedon’t watch.”

This is a prime example of why it wouldn’t matter how many times I try to atone for my sins or beg for forgiveness for my transgressions, I will never be worthy of her tender heart or her love. In a moment where her concern should be on herself and her life, she’s worried about me.Me. The sole reason her life is even in danger.

“He’ll watch,” Gideon declares arrogantly, as he shuffles toward the camera. Getting close to the screen, he speaks directly to me. “He won’t be able to stop himself.”

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