Page 65 of Vendetta

I walk down the staircase descending into what feels like the abyss. I already know exactly who is waiting for me. The few surviving members of my father’s family. The heads of all the other houses too. I summoned each and everyone. I made it clear no excuses were to be had. If they failed to show I would butcher them in their homes.

Emerson is here. As is his cousin. His brother is no doubt still recovering from what Blaine did to him.

And my own brother is here. Sat at this very moment at the same table as the person I care most about.

Eleri.

Even now, even though I know this is the best way to ensure success, the thought that I have risked her life, have even considered it makes me more angry than I can articulate. And the thought that she is sat within touching distance of Roman after what he did to my last queen… I shake my head.

This is the only way. I know it. And besides she agreed. She was willing.

I take my last step, I hear it echo and I smirk looking around at everyone sat.

It’s almost like a photo, a picture perfect cut out scene before me. Everyone sat, still, waiting for me. I look at them, walk around, take my time to study each and every one. Loyal servant and traitor alike, I stare at them all with the same look on my face until I reach the head, where my queen is.

Her eye is on me. It’s the only part of her body that she can move. I tilt my head, taking in her frame. She’s so expressive. Even now, even frozen, I can feel my body wanting her, yearning for her and I can feel her need for me too.

But she isn’t begging. As immobile as she is, as much as her very survival right now depends on the vial safe within my pocket, she’s waiting for me. Patiently. Obediently. Even my old queen wouldn’t have behaved as such, wouldn’t have been as loyal and perhaps that should have been a marker. A sign of what was to come. How easily Roman would seduce her to his side and how it would all end in blood.

Her blood.

Like a fucking Greek tragedy if ever there was one.

Star crossed lovers. That was what the note had said. How Roman had classed them and in a way I guess they were. Only she didn’t understand what her actions actually meant. That is until she walked into this very room and saw my mother, laid out on the floor, her blood pouring from the wound at her throat, like an unholy sacrifice to the gods of greed.

And when she did realise, I guess drowning herself in the lake must have been the only logical next step. Because she would have known I would have killed her. For all my love, for all my want for her, she betrayed me, and worse, she let my mother bear the consequences and for that I would never forgive.

My hand slides into my pocket. I grasp the vial and as I pull it out her eye flickers to it. She knows that just one drop is enough to give her what she needs. To give her my salvation.

“Your wine was laced with a poison.” I state. “It works by overriding your body, overriding your muscles, and eventually it will stop your heart.”

Eleri doesn’t react. She just watches me, still waiting.

“There is only one antidote. One form of salvation.” I say turning to look at everyone else for a moment. “Without this, you have four hours at the most to live.”

Eyes move, that’s all I get. Pupil dilation. No other gestures but it’s enough to tell me that every one of these men and women are petrified. There’s a ticking clock above their heads and I am the only one who can spare them.

I open the vial slowly, careful not to spill it because it’s more than just her life that depends on this holy elixir.

I let a tiny drop fall on my finger and as I do I know every other person sat, frozen, immobile, is watching the action. I run the liquid over my own lips, let it coat them and I can taste the slight bitter taste.

“My queen.” I murmur as I lower my face to hers she shuts her eye. And as my lips touch hers I feel it, the hardness, the iciness, the poison that has turned her body to stone slowly start to change. To melt. Her skin warms, her lips move just a fraction, and my tongue instinctively dives into her mouth, claiming her even as she’s coming back to life.

She lets out a moan, her tongue wraps around mine and as her hand reaches up to cup my face I grasp it holding her to me as I devour her very essence with my kiss.

I break away, not because I want to but because there are others I must save before the poison goes too far.

She lets out a low breath, leaning back into the chair, watching as I walk around the table choosing who I will spare and who I will sacrifice. Constantine of course I save. My uncle has been a loyal soldier. Carla, head of the La Perla Family I save too. Though she’s got a mouth, and a big one at that, I know she hasn’t done anything close to warrant execution. Hell, she was the first to come to me, months ago, when the first plot to usurp me was formed.

I save a few more. Those who are useful, and those who deserve it. But the rest…

I turn, looking at them, at Emerson, at Jace, at all the heads of the other families, families that after tonight will no longer exist. And then finally my eyes settle on him.

On my brother.

Though his face is frozen he’s still got his signature smirk, as if he knew what was happening in the last few moments before he lost all control, and he set his face to an expression he thought would annoy me the most. Only it doesn’t. Not this time.

I let out a laugh. His eyes move a tiny bit but beyond that there is nothing.

---