Page 31 of Forty Deaths Till Us Part
Rene ran his hand through his hair. He was returning to his handsome self by the second. “There is no cure for witch sickness. I cannot believe Brigid would use such a potion. It almost destroyed the coven in ancient times.”
Cassara grabbed her chest as if her heart was about to explode. “No. We can’t lose her. She is a vampire, too. Why isn’t she bouncing back?”
Constantine stared at me. “She is empowered. Vampire or not, she cannot change what she is.”
Cass shook her head. “There has to be a way. She found a cure for you. We have to find one for her.”
Constantine’s eyes flickered. “There is no cure. Her only chance is to bond with Rene and take his blood. This is a choice only she can make. Once he has purged the compound from his blood, and if she agrees, we should prepare. The full moon is tomorrow night. She must stay alive until we can bind them.
Rene stepped up to me, and I allowed him to support my weight. “Bond with me, Raven, do not condemn me to an eternity alone. I beg you to hold on. Just one day of pain and I promise to make every day after, worth it.”
CHAPTER 12
As the poison continued its insidious work, spreading through my veins, I could feel its deadly touch, like dark tentacles consuming my vitality. My vibrant energy ebbed like an outgoing tide, leaving me with a heaviness that crushed my spirit and my soul. My body was engaged in an arduous battle, fighting against an unseen enemy, and with every passing moment, brought me closer to eternal darkness.
The power that had surged through me like a tsunami was now a mere trickle, leaving me weaker than when I was human. I struggled to lift my hand and comfort Rene as the weight of it crushed my spirit as much as my body. He held me steady, and my steps were slow and unsteady, as he began to lead me back to the limousine outside.
My magic, the core of my being, that I had nurtured over years of practice, now flickered like a candle in a gusty wind. I tried to focus on the healing spells I had learned as a child. Even the most basic of incantations slipped from my mind like water through my fingers. One small dart and my magic was a mere shadow of the power that had surged within me.
As Rene helped me sit in the back seat of the limo, and I caught a glimpse of my face in the darkened window,the fragility of my condition became painfully evident. Deep wrinkles were etched on my face, and my once-bright eyes were now dulled by the creeping poison. Beneath the weight of this dark affliction, an ember of determination still burned within me. The sexiest and most powerful creature alive wanted me for eternity. It was a humbling and exciting thought.
I may be weakened, with my magic waning, but I was no stranger to adversity. I had faced daunting odds before, and I refused to succumb to this malevolent poison without a fight. With each labored breath, I gathered my remaining strength, vowing to reclaim the vitality that had been stolen from me. The door to the limo closed and only Rene and I were inside.
“Please Raven. Do not leave me.” His voice dripped with pain.
“I will bond with you. But I need to rest. Are we heading to the mansion?” Rene tapped the glass that separated the driver from the back seat.
“No, we are going to a private location. Our bonding site is close to a private cabin I have retained for this very occasion.”
My eyes closed as he pulled me against his chest. “Where is this cabin?” My voice was thready, and Rene’s arms squeezed my shoulders.
“You will see. Allow me access to your mind. I will place your body in a form of stasis, so the poison does not progress.”
“Okay.” I felt his mind move in mine, but this was not an invasion. He caressed me from the inside as if he were touching angel wings before the darkness reached for me.
I slowly stirred from my slumber, and the soft sheets surrounded me like a warm cocoon, coaxing me to savor the blissfulmoments between dreams and reality. A gentle rustle of leaves outside the window alerted me that I was not at the mansion. A faint crackling of a fire from a nearby hearth reminded me of the events that had transpired earlier. My movements were slow as I pushed myself slowly to a sitting position.
Blinking my eyes open, I found myself in a quaint rustic cabin that exuded a modern elegance I hadn’t encountered before. The interplay of moonlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the polished wooden floors. My gaze was drawn toward the carefully curated blend of contemporary and rustic furnishings. The cabin seemed to have a conversation with time itself, capturing the essence of both the old and the new, blending them together in a serene charm.
I appreciated the sensation of crisp linens against my skin as I stretched, searching for the man who had held me when I succumbed to my slumber. The cabin’s walls, adorned with tasteful art and muted colors, invited me to enjoy the tranquility they offered, but Rene was not in the room. As I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and let my feet sink into the plush dark rug beneath, I noticed the inviting main room through an open doorway. Modern furniture mingled seamlessly with the cabin’s rustic framework, hinting at the harmonious duality of old and new.
Making my way to the window, on bare feet, I marveled at the panoramic view of the surrounding forest. Towering trees swayed to a sacred rhythm, whispering secrets known only to nature’s inhabitants. An owl hooted as Rene entered the room with a box in his hand.
“How are you feeling?” he asked as he placed the white parcel on the bed.
“A little better, but the poison is progressing.” As beautiful as the cabin was, it could not stop what was happening to me.
“I gave you some of my blood. It has sustained you. But we need to bond for you to have access to my power. I can withstand Dark Dahlia and Belladonna has no effect on me. You need these immunities in order to heal.”
“What does the bind do that drinking your blood can’t?”
He pulled me back to the bed, and I sat down beside him. “A bond creates a permanent connection that cannot be broken until death. You will gain some of my abilities.”
I stared at him for some time. “Will you gain mine? Will you have magic?”
“I don’t know. There is no precedence for bonding with a witch.”
I frowned. “You understand this could be a one-way street, right?”