Page 18 of Crimson Devotion (The Sacred Seven #1)

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 my reaction. 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. She finally raises her head to look at me. Her cheeks are stained with tears, her bottom lip quivering. “I’m so sorry. We were just—’’

“Enough.’’ My voice cuts through the room, and even Valerio seems shocked at the higher tone. Evie’s mouth clamp shut, but I can tell she’s itching to try to justify herself. “I told you, I don’t want to know.’’

“Are you going to kill us?” Liam asks.

I look at him, contemplating for a moment.

The only reason I even came here was to find out who killed my parents, and then kill them.

However, circumstances have changed since I became a vampire.

I learned at the agency, during my training, what happens to vampires who take another vampire’s life.

It is not something I want to go through — nor put Ophelia through.

She would feel everything through our bond, and I cannot bring pain to the one I love the most.

“No, I will not.’’

A glimmer of hope shines through, their eyes widening a fraction.

“You’ll meet a fate worse than death.’’ I pause, taking a deep breath. “I’ll starve you until you’re weak, then I’ll put you in two caskets and dump you at the bottom of the ocean. What happens afterwards is none of my business.’’

“You can’t!” Liam tries to struggle through the restraints, but Valerio’s quicker. He appears behind Liam, grabbing a fistful of his hair and holding him back without a word.

“I can, and I will. If you survive and manage to get to the surface, do as you wish. If you do not, then the rest of eternity under the sea will be the price of your crime.’’

The two start protesting, but I don’t stick around to listen. Ophelia’s right behind me as we exit the room, our footsteps the only sound I can focus on in the poorly lit corridor.

I don’t care that it seems ruthless. If I were a human, their fate would’ve been far worse, because I would’ve taken my sweet time torturing them. And if the price of sending them below the surface is meeting the Devil himself, so be it.

I never claimed to be a saint, anyway.