Page 11 of House of Darkness (The Fallen Star #1)

ESTRELLA

Every step echoed through the silent castle as I tiptoed toward the spiral staircase, clutching my stuffed bag like a lifeline.

The servant door creaked open, and the crisp night air tugged at the wisps of my braid, making my skirts flutter.

My hand instinctively brushed the handle of the steak knife strapped to my thigh, and I took a deep breath before stepping onto the gravel outside.

Without allowing myself to dwell on the flaws of my plan, I broke into a sprint.

The mist-dampened stones of the bridge glistened like fish scales in the soft moonlight.

Freedom lay just beyond, and flames of adrenaline coursed through my veins, my racing heartbeat synchronizing with the pounding of my feet.

I dared not pause to catch my breath, fearing the shadows might snatch me back. My throat burned, and a metallic taste coated the back of my tongue. Low-hanging branches of beech trees clawed at my hair and skirts, fighting me every step of the way.

Terror clutched at my throat and chest, each step taking me away from the castle felt more and more like a mistake. I would be captured, just like every time before. It was too late now though, I had already put this in motion. There was no going back.

Each breath felt like an eternity. I lost track of my footsteps until the forest gave way to a ramshackle town.

I slowed my steps as I entered the town square, dimly lit with torchlight, and I allowed myself a few steadying breaths.

The quaint town I had imagined from Solaris’ books was nothing like this—soft creaks and thuds echoed from every crevice, from what I hoped was the gently blowing wind.

Once my heart had steadied, I moved forward, still clutching my small traveling bag.

Towns like this typically had inns. I wasn’t sure of the cost, but perhaps I could convince the owner to offer a few hours of safety in exchange for a few of the silver trinkets I had taken from the castle.

I turned down a narrow side street, squinting to read the faded wooden signs.

A bang in the darkness made me freeze. An uncomfortable, slimy sensation gripped me, as if I were being watched. I spun around but saw nothing in the inky blackness. Helplessness constricted my throat, stealing my breath.

I needed to move. My feet churned into motion, and I took off as fast as I could. A crash echoed down the alley, followed by a soul-wrenching snarl. I didn’t dare look back. This was a new kind of terror—the terror of prey just before it’s torn apart. The terror of running for my life.

I threw my bag over my shoulder, hoping to buy a few seconds, but it didn’t help.

A body slammed into me with the force of a locomotive.

I hit the ground with a sickening crunch, pain shooting through my body as a heavy weight landed on my back.

Claws raked down my spine, and the coppery scent of blood filled the air.

I screamed, but the beast covered my mouth with a clawed hand.

“Precious little morsel,” his voice rasped over my flesh like nails on a chalkboard, “what are you doing out in the dark? Don’t you know the shadows hide monsters?”

“You smell decadent—like the Kulta family. You’re an acolyte, aren’t you?” Something slimy slid up my neck, making my hair stand on end. “Mmmm… Your flesh tastes as good as you smell. I bet your blood is heaven, morsel.”

I grabbed at the stone until my hands bled in a desperate attempt to free myself.

The vampire growled as the first rubies of blood smeared across the ground.

Nails dug into my hips, flipping me over.

Rabid red eyes stared down at me, dimmed only by glowing white fangs. Death incarnate had come to welcome me.

“Oh, honey, you are a tease.”

He snatched one of my hands and brought it to his lips.

I raked my nails down his face with my other hand as his inhuman tongue brushed my flesh.

Blood spilled over my fingers—lukewarm, like that of a freshly dead corpse.

I fumbled for my blade, but he caught my wrist. “You’ll regret that, morsel.

I’m going to drain that delicious little neck, and then you’ll fetch a pretty penny at market. ”

A blood-curdling snarl echoed through the alley, shaking the ground beneath me.

The vampire froze in terror. A chilling dread gripped my heart.

Whatever instilled such fear in this monster was something far worse.

Before I could register what was happening, he was tackled into the side of a building, the brick wall collapsing on him and his attacker.

A beastly shriek sliced through the darkness, then silence.

Adrenaline numbed my pain, allowing me to scramble to my feet.

I forced myself into a sprint event though I knew it wouldn’t be fast enough.

The encroaching forest loomed, and I ducked into the trees.

Terror drove me forward. Branches whipped my face, tearing my hair and clothes, but I ignored the sharp pain.

My fingers fumbled with the edge of my torn skirts, grasping for my weapon.

At least I wouldn’t be caught unarmed this time.

As I heard the rushing water of the nearby river, my slipper caught on a web of roots, and I fell.

Sharp stings in my knees and forearms told me the worst—more injuries meant more blood for my hunter to track.

I managed to push myself up just as an arm wrapped around my middle, dragging me into an iron-like chest.

No, no, no. This couldn’t be how it ended. My life couldn’t be summed up in torture endured at the hands of monsters. I twisted in my captor’s grip and drove my blade into his heart.

His arms loosened, and I resumed my desperate flight. I lost one slipper and threw off the other. Stones and branches mercilessly cut into my feet, but I ignored the pain.

The river grew louder, and I skidded to a halt just before toppling into the rushing water.

I was trapped. I could endure the river’s depths or return to the beast at my back.

My mind scrambled. He should be dead. I had stabbed him through the heart.

I could follow the river and hope to evade more vampires.

“I’ll admit, I didn’t think you’d have it in you to stab me. In the heart, no less. I’m proud of you, doll.” A voice like satin rumbled through the darkness. I stiffened.

The tsar had found me.

He shouldn’t be alive after what I did. I spun to face him. The knife still protruded from his chest, yet he seemed unaffected by the wound. Taloned hands grasped the wooden hilt and yanked the blade free. He tossed it into the river with a soft splash.

He would be furious. He had to chase me down. My blade might as well have been turned on myself as his rage over my attack was sure to be my doom. He’d send me back to that hell, to the demons that haunted my every breath.

I’d rather die.

I stepped backward, acceptance washing over me as I fell toward the icy depths.

Blackness consumed me. I opened my mouth to gasp, but water rushed into my lungs.

I was dragged across the river bottom like hot coals but even as pain raked through me, I accepted my fate.

At least if I killed myself, no one else would get the pleasure.

I allowed my eyes to roll back as calm washed over me. Maybe death would be peaceful, unlike this world. Then arms wrapped around me, dragging me from the depths and forcing me to return. Roman dragged me onto the riverbank.

“You are not dying on me, Estrella.” His voice was laced with panic. I wasn’t sure why he was panicking. Everything felt warm and comfortable now; he should be relieved.

His fists battered my ribcage. I wished he wouldn’t, it hurt. I tried to scream, but the words wouldn’t come. It felt like I was drowning.

I was drowning.

My eyes fluttered open and caught his gaze. His were bloodshot and wide with terror. He struck my ribcage again, and water gurgled from my lips. I rolled onto my side, gasping desperately, trying to regain my breath as water poured from my lungs.

“Oh gods,” Roman murmured, curling over me. “You scared me, doll.”

I couldn’t respond. My lungs felt battered and broken.

I was pretty sure Roman had fractured a rib in his attempt to save me and blood pooled from my injuries.

Icy water leached my heat, forcing my body to shiver, which only intensified the pain.

I was barely aware of his featherlight touches, inspecting each injury.

“I can’t move you like this… Estrella, I need you to trust me.” His fingers pinched my chin, tilting my head back to meet his eyes. “I can make the pain go away.”

I nodded, exhausted. All my energy had gone into ending up right back where I started. The world was meant to devour girls like me; what did it matter what he did to me?

Our eyes locked, and though they were fuzzy, his eyes still seemed to consume my very being.

His fingers brushed over my cheek, then the sweet scent of sap and polishing oil overtook my senses.

I was sure my eyes were open, but instead of his ruby gaze, there was a crackling fire, its warmth enveloping my frostbitten limbs.

A soft quilt wrapped around me, trapping in that comforting heat.

I sat in a rocking chair next to a large workbench, wood shavings scattered around me. A pile of logs for the fire sat in a corner, a splitting maul worn with love leaning against the stack.

Then I was yanked from the vision by the taste of copper. Roman’s wrist was pressed to my mouth, his blood trickling from puncture marks into the seam of my lips. I choked.

“Shh, doll. Drink it. It’ll help, I promise.”

I reluctantly parted my lips, allowing the foul liquid to enter. It slithered down my throat like liquid fire, igniting my insides and leaving a numbing tingle in its wake.

His free hand gripped my wrist tightly. The pads of my palms were shredded, blood streaming down my arm and over his talons.

The pain had been excruciating, but now all I felt was a soothing warmth.

I giggled, realizing I hadn’t even lasted two hours on my own.

I could almost hear Solaris’ voice in my mind, gloating about being right.

“Quit fighting me, Estrella. You don’t want to see this.

” I wasn’t sure what he meant and was about to ask when the visions of the cabin surged back.

The last thing I saw was his tongue sliding over my palm before I found myself back by the fire, its comforting warmth spreading through my battered body.