Page 41 of Crimson Devotion
“I love you too.’’
EIGHTEEN
Faith
Ophelia’s holding my hand tightly, the sparks undeniable. My heart’s beating rapidly, and I swallow a knot that formed in my throat a while ago. Just having her by my side helps a lot, and I don’t think she’s even aware of it.
“You’re anxious,’’ she states, turning to look at me.
“You can tell?”
“I can feel it,’’ she murmurs, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear, her finger lingering on my cheek for a moment longer. “You’re not alone. I’m right here with you, alright?”
“I know. Thank you.’’
She presses a soft kiss to my forehead, and my eyes flutter closed. The smallest, simplest action is enough to ease some of my worries, and knowing that I have someone to carry the burden with fills me with contentment. I’m glad I have her by my side, despite how it came to be.
“Are you ready?” She pulls back, eyes narrowing at me. Looking me up and down a couple of times, she tries to gauge myreaction. There’s worry etched on her face, something she’s been showing me a lot lately.
With a determined nod, I take a deep breath. “Let’s get this over with.’’
Valerio and Aurelia returned with someone two nights ago. I haven’t seen them since, and it wasn’t until last night that Ophelia told me the mission she sent her siblings on was to find those who killed my parents — the sole reason I even came here.
They found the couple who did it.
And much to my shock, surprise, and horror — it was two people I’ve known since I was a child. They lived next door to us, Liam and Evie. The only two vampires I never thought of killing, simply because they used to babysit me while my parents worked, and because they were very close to my family.
The thought of them doing something as gruesome as murdering my parents in cold blood is devastating. It’s never really a stranger you need to look out for; it’s the people around you. My heart is aching, and knowing that the last people my parents saw before they were killed were people they considered friends makes me angry.
Ophelia’s grip on my hand doesn’t falter as she takes me down to the basement. On the right side is Lucifer’s current room, and across from it is the room where Aurelia and Valerio are keeping Liam and Evie.
She pushes the door open, the old metal creaking. My heart thumps against my ribcage, and I’m struggling to control my rage, and all the resentment that’s been building for years is starting to surface.
With a deep breath, I enter the room behind Ophelia.
Valerio’s on one side, leaning against the wall. His eyes soften a fraction when he sees me, before he schools it back into stoic, neutral expression. He doesn’t say a word, his gaze returning to the two vampires tied to a chair.
Aurelia’s across from her brother, sitting on the floor and trying to solve a Rubik’s cube. Her eyebrows are pinched in concentration, fingers working diligently on the object. I don’t want to break her illusion and tell her she’s doing it the wrong way, since she’ll find out for herself soon. Or get pissed enough to toss the cube aside.
“Faith.’’
My eyes snap toward the middle of the room, where both of them are tied to a chair each. Evie’s familiar face provokes a deeply rooted sadness within my chest. The same soft tone she used to tell me bedtime stories with, the same kind eyes I’m used to seeing.
“Evie.’’ I nod, then turn to her husband. “Liam.’’
Both of them reek of guilt. Evie’s avoiding my gaze like the plague, looking down on her lap. Her body is trembling, as if she’s on the brink of tears, her hair falling over her face.
Liam, however, is bold enough to look at me. Regret flashes behind his eyes, a lone tear sliding down his cheek. The black tear rolls down, falling onto his lap. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t need to. We both know why he’s here, tied to a chair.
“I won’t ask why,’’ I say, taking a small step forward.
Ophelia releases my hand, and the loss of her touch stirs something inside me. Ignoring the sudden feeling of emptiness, I lift my head, eyes dancing between Liam and Evie. “I don’t care why. But I do hope that you two know that they trusted you.’’
“I know.’’ Evie’s words are a mere pathetic whisper, and it only fuels my anger.
“They trusted you enough to take care of me when I was a child. They trusted you enough to hide you from hunters on many, many occasions. And you killed them. Not once did you think of telling me that it was you, did you?”
“I’m so sorry, Faith,’’ Evie mumbles, voice trembling. Shefinally raises her head to look at me. Her cheeks are stained with tears, her bottom lip quivering. “I’m so sorry. We were just—’’
