Page 142 of Cursed Lifeline

“What makes you think Ember doesn’t have someone else ready to take Viktor’s place?” I ask.

A few heavy sighs fill the room as all three men turn and look at me.

“Remember what happened with Celeste,” I add.

“Regardless, we’ve devised a plan to pull the devil from her hiding place and end this once and for all,” Felix insists.

“What kind of plan?” Alfred demands as I make my way back over to the group.

Opting to stand far away from Alfred and Viktor, I cross my arms over my chest and ask, “Should this plan have us worried?”

Felix eyes me cautiously, then turns a stern eye on Alfred and ignores my question. “I need you to let me train Esme.”

Alfred laughs, “Not going to happen. We saw how well that went over in her last life and…”

“I’m not asking, Alfred. I’m telling.”

Alfred’s jaw sets harshly.

“How is you training Esme part of any plan that will end the curse?”

“You’re going to have to trust me.”

“I’ve trusted you before, Felix. Two separate lifetimes, to be exact. Didn’t do me any good then, looks like it will do me even less good now, seeing as Viktor stands to gain all I’ve ever wanted if he’s allowed to break whatever oath he has with Ember.”

“What I do with my life is my say,” I interject. Alfred and Viktor’s eyes swing my way. Crossing his arms over his chest, Viktor tries to hide a smug smile. He thinks I’ve embraced a chance at love. But we are a long way off from that. Looking respectfully at Alfred, I add, “You’re in no position to train, Esme. The bite wasn’t infected with venom, but it still drained you more than I can tell you’re letting on. Especially due to the poison. Your strength isn’t back yet. And it is true Esme is not taking well to training with Silas and Caelum. So let them try to fix this. How bad could it be?”

Alfred laughs, “How bad could it be? I forgot you weren’t there in Esme’s first life.Let me remind you how bad it can be. Viktor failed to fight the oath he wants so badly to break and ended up sending Esme to her first grave.”

“That won’t happen this time,” Viktor insists.

“How can you be so sure?” Alfred asks, turning and eyeing the vampire angrily. Viktor’s eyes lock tight to mine. “I see,” the watcher growls with animosity.

Rising, Alfred begins to walk to the door. “Since Caelum and Silas have been training Esme in my absence. Take it up with them.”

“I have,” Felix says. “They’re agreeable to our plan. But they told me to come to you for final say.”

“Well then, I guess if they’re okay with putting Esme once again in harm's way, what can I say or do to stop you.”

As Alfred stalks angrily out of the room, my eyes land on the two brothers and I shake my head.

“He’s right,” I sigh. “Just breaking the blood oath won’t ensure Esme’s safety. Viktor may be the one she’s used as a weapon up until now, but I’ll say it again, that doesn’t mean she won’t stop at finding others to take his place.”

“Let me worry about my battles, and you worry about your own,” Felix glares at me as he walks out of the room and I am left alone with Viktor.

Stepping forward, Viktor eyes me curiously and says, “I’m glad to see you considering the watcher’s affections,” I roll my eyes at him and his playful look turns serious, "But I meant what I said to you, Evangeline. You helped me in that cave for decades. You put yourself in harm's way to save my life when Felix came to claim it. When we finally defeat Ember, I will swear an oath to you. If only to protect you from anyone who could ever turn out to be another Oberon.”

I smile at him, and nod my head.

Though, if that day does come, I’m not sure I can let Viktor do what he says because my heart warns me it has already sworn its oath to another.

Fifty One

Esme

song: bleed for me | digital daggers

My breath comesout in shaky, puffy clouds as I stand in the cold, dark corner of the abandoned warehouse. Since leaving my date with Felix earlier, I’ve been waiting for him to come find me for close to an hour now. I’ve been training with Felix exclusively for a few weeks now, and as much as it irritates me to bide my time, I know why he’s doing this. I know why he loves keeping me anticipating.

---