Page 85 of The Child of Rue Royale
“You went behind our backs with that snake?” Nicola seethes, falling in front of Oksana and grabbing her by the shoulders.
“I just wanted to be one of you,” Oksana says through her tears as Cassius pushes Bastian away from me.
I turn, the look in Bastian’s eyes murderous as Cassius places a hand on his brother’s chest.
“Why?” Bastian screams, trying to put the pieces together.
Cassius holds him back as Nicola pins Oksana’s shoulders against the wall.
“I’ve wanted it so long. I’ve begged, I’ve done everything right, and you wouldn’t turn me,” Oksana says to Nicola, her teeth clenching intoher bottom lip, her hand wrapping around Nicola’s arms. “I love you all so much. It’s all I want.”
“What did you have to do? If he was going to turn you, what did you have to do for him to turn you?”
She shakes her head, not wanting to answer.
And it hits me. Franklin said, “Once she’s dead, you’ll be turned and be one of them.” He didn’t need a witch to set the fire. He just needed someone that could be out during the day.
“Oh, my God,” I say, speaking before I have it all thought out. “You set the fire, didn’t you?”
Oksana’s head shakes, her hands falling from Nicola’s arms, and it’s like the room has turned upside down.
“Tell me, Oksana. Or I’ll go into your memory and see.” It’s a warning, and the nerve endings in my ear drums snap.
“Cassius.” She looks at him like he can save her, but he just sinks into a crouched position, his elbows resting on his knees, his eyeballs fuming with rage.
“I can’t save you, Oksana. Tell us what you did,” he growls.
Her head falls back against the wall. Her gaze meets the ceiling as she speaks low, so different from her usual sharp tone.
“Franklin told me Aster had a spell on Bastian. And that he needed someone who could set her house on fire during the day so vampires weren’t suspected. That her own aunts wanted her dead. Franklin and the witches planned the fire, telling me Aster had committed crimes against the witches and vampires. That I would be thanked for it. That to keep The Agreement in place, an outside person had to set it. So I did it. I set the fire.”
I stumble back, taking in her words.
Nicola’s hand swings back, gathering enough force to hand Oksana a blow that could break her neck, but Cassius swoops in, grabbing his mother’s hand and pulling her away.
Bastian staggers back onto the couch, his legs buckling, his hand covering his heart. I slowly walk backward, making my way to him, but Nicola’s roars stop me in my tracks.
“He told you lies! You should have come to me! TO US,” Nicola screams. “How could you do this to us, your family? You killed my son!” Cassius holds Nicola against his chest, and he looks to Bastian, a warning not to touch Oksana. Even though she killed Bastian, he’s still protecting her.
My body flashes in waves of searing heat and cold. A desire to kill her gripping my wrists, the magic seeking revenge. But I’ve never killed before, and how she looks crumpled against the wall tells me I’m not ready to commit such a crime.
And then Bastian is storming to Oksana, his anger radiating as she pulls up to her feet.
“Do you know what it felt like? My skin burning over muscle and bone? Do you know the ache from your body turning to ash and your hopes and dreams dying in front of you?”
“It wasn’t supposed to be you!” she shrieks, and my heart stammers.
“No,” I say. “It was supposed to be me.”
Bastian looks at me then, remembering who the real target was. I swipe at his wrist to stop him, but he’s too fast, slamming his fist into the wall beside Oksana before I can blink. Oksana covers her ears, tucking her chin to her chest like he’s going to hit her, and it looks like he could, his rage uncontrollable. “She was pregnant with my child,and you tried to kill her. You could have killed Aster and my CHILD!” he screams.
“I didn’t know,” she bawls, and now I do want to smack her. Smack her for taking Bastian away from me. For all the pain that has etched scars into my heart.
“I never want to see your fucking face ever again,” Bastian whispers, and how does this end? Does Oksana die for this sin? Is that how vampires handle these types of indiscretions?
Oksana falls forward, rising to her knees, her hands clasped in prayer position. She looks at Bastian, tears and snot falling down her face. “Bastian, please, please forgive me. I love you like my own brother. I have protected your family, made a vow to be your right-hand woman for twenty years. When I found out I killed you, I wanted to die, right on the spot. I wanted to die! But Franklin told me we had to finish the job. And if I didn’t help see to it, then he would tell the family about what I’d done. The two witches said I could stay alive if I never told, so I kept my mouth shut and kept my distance. I know you should never forgive me, but I love you and beg for forgiveness.” She bows her head, pressing it to her clasped hands. “Please my family, please.”
Bastian’s shoulders press back, his teeth biting the insides of his cheeks. With a look of loss and disgust, he grunts, “Get out of my sight.”
