Page 10 of Crimson Devotion (The Sacred Seven #1)

TEN

Faith

I didn’t fucking expect that.

Back when I peeked into Yvonne’s life, I didn’t see this. I don’t know if it’s because it’s such a distant past, or because somehow, it didn’t want to be revealed to me, but this information shook me to my core.

“You killed them?” I whisper.

“We burned them all at the stake.’’

“How?” I ask, stepping back. “They were witches. How come they didn’t just…use spells against you?”

Ophelia chuckles. “Because they knew that if they fought back, it would prove to the people that they were a danger to society. So, they died instead. And they knew that there would be more witches to come, to avenge them. Our karma came in the form of Yvonne. Even if she were in front of me, without using any magic, I would not be able to kill her.’’

“That’s fucked up.’’

“Yes,’’ Ophelia agrees, then walks over to the couch and sits down, crossing one leg over the other, still looking at me. I’m rooted to the same spot in front of the portrait, unable to move. “We acted out of fear. Back then, we didn’t know any better.’’

“You didn’t know any better?” My voice raises slightly. “Your first instinct was to kill them?”

“Oh, little hunter, don’t act so innocent.’’ She chuckles, leaning forward, spreading her legs. Why the fuck is that little action so damn attractive?

“You’ve killed…how many vampires?”

“That’s different.’’ I grit my teeth, hands clenching next to my body.

“Is it?” She lifts an eyebrow. “How so? Because from where I’m standing, sure, there are vampires who have killed many.

But there are vampires who’ve never harmed a human, and there are some who were turned against their will.

So, tell me, how is you killing them out of fear different from us killing the coven of witches? Go on, I’m listening.’’

“Because by nature, you creatures are evil.’’

“And back in the day, witches were deemed evil, so that excuse doesn’t hold up.’’

A small scoff comes from my lips, and I take a seat on the couch opposite her.

“But vampires are an abomination. You weren’t created naturally.’’

“And whose fault is that?” she asks, tilting her head to the side and leaning back into the plush seat. “Yvonne’s.’’

“Yes, but—’’

“You really need to look outside the box, little hunter,’’ she cuts me off. “I’m not claiming to be a saint. But aside from a few exceptions, murder is murder. You can’t call me a monster, because the call is coming from inside the house.’’

Fuck.

That sentence alone causes me to shut the fuck up.

No matter how much it pains me to think about it, and no matter how wounded my pride is by this admission, she is right.

I can’t judge her without also judging myself.

Who knows if the vampires I’ve killed without batting an eye were actually terrible, or perhaps they were just trying to live in the shadows, staying away from any trouble?

“Don’t think about it, Faith.’’ Ophelia’s words effectively stop that train of thought.

“It won’t do you any good to dwell on the past. If you start overthinking, you’ll throw yourself into depression.

And trust me, the difference between a human depression and a vampire one is too big for you to handle.

It will eat you whole, and before you know it, a whole century will have passed. ’’

“Speaking from experience, I assume?”

She blinks. “Yes.’’

With a deep breath, I lean back, staring at the big chandelier above my head. There are a lot of small white candles all around, but the design is unique, and very expensive.

“If you’re from England, how come you’ve ended up here?”

She chuckles.

“Ever heard of Lord Dracula?”

Immediately, I sit up, mouth dropping open. “He’s real?!”

Ophelia bursts out laughing at my flabbergasted reaction, eyes twinkling under the sunlight. She shakes her head, and then, for the first time, a soft, genuine smile takes over her features, and I’m blown away.

She looks so pretty when she smiles.

“No, unfortunately, he’s not real. He was just Bram Stoker’s character.

However, after the success of the novel, many wealthy men pretended to be one.

One of them being the man who lived here.

He was wealthy, but his entire family was taken out by the plague, and as the sole survivor, he believed he was Dracula.

He had his maids and employees call him that.

Lucifer stumbled across this castle, and the man, accidentally.

Apparently, the man was drinking blood, and well…

he didn’t live long. Humans plus drinking excessive amounts of blood equals death.

Once he died, and the staff left, Lucifer took over, and the rest of us followed suit.

The place hasn’t changed much since the lord staying here, though.

We kept it as close to its historical look as possible. ’’

A sigh of disappointment leaves me, shoulders slumping. “That’s a rather boring story. I’d hoped that Dracula was real,’’ I mumble.

“He wasn’t, unfortunately.’’ Ophelia’s voice takes on a dry, almost teasing tone. “Any specific reason you’re so disappointed?”

I shrug. “Not really.’’

Silence falls around us, though it’s not uncomfortable.

We’re looking at each other, and despite trying desperately, I cannot look away.

Those ruby eyes lure me in, making me forget everything around.

It’s like I’m in a daze, under the influence of the highly addictive drugs, and my organism can’t fight against it.

“Anyway…’’ I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure, though it seems to be cracking more and more with each passing moment. “What about me?”

“What about you?’’

“You turned me into a vampire.’’

“Accidentally,’’ Ophelia defends.

“Right,’’ I draw out. “Accidentally. Well, you still turned me into one. Are you going to kill me?”

“No.’’ Her response is immediate, and it shocks me. The determination in her voice, and the way she almost seems offended I’d even ask it makes me more confused.

“Then…should I leave?”

“Also no,’’ she says. “Besides, I can’t leave the bracelet on you forever. When Lucifer wakes up, he’ll want it back.’’

“How did you acquire these, anyway?”

“Witches enchanted them.’’

My eyebrows lift to my hairline. “Witches? As in, the same species you killed? How the hell did that happen?”

She rolls her eyes. “A long time ago, Lucifer used to think with his dick only. And a lot of witches hadn’t heard that we were responsible for the death of the very first coven, so when Lucifer charmed them, they enchanted them, no questions asked.’’

“They can’t reverse it?”

She shakes her head. “Not without having the bracelets to work with. And they are long dead, since we’ve had these bracelets for centuries already.’’

“Do you plan on getting me one?”

“Why don’t you ask Yvonne for one? I doubt it would take her more than a minute.’’

I wince.

If anyone hates vampires with a burning passion, which is justified now that I know the reason why, it’s Yvonne. When she finds out I’m a vampire, I doubt she’ll want to make me one. In fact, I can bet she’ll kill me in a fit of rage.

The thought of losing her as a friend hurts. Although we’ve spent many years bickering and fighting, it doesn’t erase the fact that when I need backup, it’s always Yvonne. Whenever I need someone to vent to, she’ll listen, and although her advice is shit, it matters that she’s simply there.

I bite the inside of my cheek. “What are your plans with me, Ophelia?”

She pauses, eyes burning into mine. Her throat bobs when she swallows, and for a moment, she lets the silence eat me alive. It’s thick, and I’m tapping my bare foot against the hard floor, impatiently waiting for her answer.

“I won’t kill you, that’s for sure.’’

Somehow, that doesn’t make me relieved in the slightest.

“But I can’t let you go, either.’’

“Why not?”

“Because…’’ She looks away. “When I bit you…something happened.’’

“What happened, Ophelia?”

“You know how one turns into a vampire, right?”

I nod, my mind immediately drifting to the early days of vampire education I received at the agency.

It was similar to high school classes, and although I was never a particularly good student, I found interest in this specific topic.

I always found the entire whole process of a human turning into a vampire fascinating.

“Yes, a vampire needs to feed first, then inject their venom into the human.’’

“Correct, but the action is always wanted by the vampire.’’

I blink in confusion. “I’m not following.’’

“Meaning, the vampire needs to want to inject the venom. It won’t come out on its own.’’

“Alright?”

“I didn’t want to turn you into a vampire, Faith. In fact, I’ve never turned another person into a vampire. But you? When I bit you and fed on you, the venom was sucked out of me, and I couldn’t stop it. By the time I realized what had happened, it was already too late.’’

“What? How is that possible?”

“I don’t know,’’ she breathes out. “But that mark that you have on your neck?”

“Yes, what about it?”

Slowly, Ophelia rolls up her sleeve, revealing her wrist to me. Immediately, my mind goes blank. I’m staring at the same teeth mark that I have on my neck, in a light pink shade. It almost looks like a scar — but vampires don’t have scars. They all heal upon turning.

“What?” I whisper, staring at the two dots.

My eyes flick to hers, and I don’t recognize what look she’s giving me. It’s half sympathy, half hatred. It’s a mix of complex emotions, much like her character. Her lips thin into a line, and for a moment, she lets me process what I’m seeing.

“That…’’ She looks down, the thumb of the opposite hand brushing the mark. “That is a mark.’’

“I can see that,’’ I say, unable to stop sarcasm. “Why do we have a matching one?”

“Do you know what fated mates are?”

“Yes.’’ I nod. “It’s believed that fated mates were once one soul, split into two.

A lot of people, most, actually, never meet their other half.

It’s similar to what humans believe to be soulmates, though this one is for the supernatural only.

I’d say, from what I’ve read, that fated mates fit more into the twin flames category, rather than soulmates.

They are two sides of the same coin, and once the souls find each other, it’s like the hottest fire burning.

It’s usually displayed in...’’ I pause, realization hitting me, “marks.’’

Ophelia nods slowly.

“That means,’’ I stutter out, abruptly standing up and stepping back, creating more distance between us.

All of a sudden, a lot of things start making sense.

From the way I’m addicted to Ophelia’s scent, the way her touch, and her presence, is able to calm me down in an instant, to the fact that we even started smelling the same.

My eyes close for a moment, and all I can see behind the closed lids is the image of the night she turned me. The way her eyes were wide in shock, the way she repeated those same words over and over again.

No, not me. Not with you.

It all makes sense now. And the way she’s looking for any reason to be near me, why she’s actually trying, despite not saying it out loud, to take care of me. It’s because she can’t resist. It’s because our souls — or whatever is left of them — are now molding back into one.

That’s why she wants to keep me near her. Because if we’re apart for a long time, our hearts won’t be able to take it, and they’ll burst from the pain. And that’s fucking why my heart is still beating, and why hers started beating again.

I was debating whether to bring it up with her, because now I can hear birds chirping in the trees miles away, I can definitely hear her heart beating from such a close distance. Now, it all makes perfect sense.

It makes sense why the anger disappeared, why I no longer want to kill her.

Because Ophelia is my fated mate.