Page 28 of Cursed Lifeline

Pow.

He has a weakness.

Bam.

A weakness that threatens to enslave him.

Crunch.

He'll never be free.

Kapow.

There's more at risk than he knows.

Thwack.

I can't let him go through with it.

The man falls to the floor, and I quickly straddle his lifeless frame. Yanking his head off the mat by his hair, I violently punch his bloody face, and his eyes roll back in his head. The ringleader shouts the fight is over, but I'm not done. As thoughts of Felix and his weakness fill my mind, I continue to unleash hell and only stop when I am pulled off the fool by two men while another rushes past, kneels, and inspects my opponent.

Shaking his head, he brushes down the lids of his eyes and whispers, "he's dead."

Catching my breath, my eyes lift and lock on the man responsible for the fight. I grin wickedly, licking the tips of my canines for emphasis, letting him know if he dares to rig a fight like this again, the same will happen to any other pathetic soul he pairs me up with in the ring. He shakes his head and starts to walk away.

A satanic chuckle leaves my lips as my eyes drift into the crowd. But it stops as my gaze lands on Lord Martin and a mysterious woman in a black cape. Brushing off the men at my side, the crowd starts to disperse as one of the workers pulls the lifeless form off the mat.

I don't move as Lord Martin and the lady walk toward me. Swiping my sweaty brow, I stabilize my breathing as they come to a stop at my feet.

"Good fight," Lord Martin grins. Hope hangs in his eyes as I shake my head, knowing what he's going to ask next before he even says it. "Your skills would be put to good use with…"

"Let me handle this," the woman says, halting him with an outstretched hand she authoritatively places on his shoulder.

To my surprise, the lord nods and walks off. Stunned, I watch his retreating form momentarily until the woman in front of me lifts her cape, and I take a startled step back.

My eyes widen.

I shake my head in disbelief.

She is almost identical to …

"I'm not who you think I am," she warns, stepping closer.

"How?" I stutter in wonder.

Is she a threat?

Does she come in peace?

Who exactly is she?

"Irrelevant," she grins. "But after watching your fight, I think you and I can be of service to one another."

She eyes me with lewd intent that makes my gut revolt.

"No thanks," I frown, side-stepping around her, intent on collecting my winnings and getting the hell out of here.

"Your coven is doomed to crumble because of your brother's deeds," she forewarns behind me, and I stop dead in my tracks. Turning around slowly, she grins, "You know it. I know it."