Page 48 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens (The Crimson Duet #1)
A Gift
S andra stood before me.
Her hands were locked in a tight rope in front of her. Her terrified gaze met my own.
Silent tears slid down my cheeks.
Through the fear that shone bright in her eyes, Sandra whispered, “I love you.”
The bars of my cell slid open as my hands held onto the wall behind me, refusing to let go. I closed my eyes, willing my mind to wake up. I was asleep. This was just a nightmare.
Several heavy steps rushed out of the dungeon, leaving silence to take their place. I did not breathe, did not move—
A terrifying bellow echoed through the dungeon.
My eyes flew open, traveling down the traces of crimson on Sandra’s wrists. Kane dropped the piece of crimson covered glass I had broken earlier as he walked out of the dungeon, leaving me and Sandra alone.
Crimson flowed down her fingers, dripping onto the stone floor. “It’s all right, it’s all right,” she kept whispering as dozens of tears fell from her eyes.
Sandra collapsed onto her knees as the floor turned crimson in mere seconds. The crimson escaped her body in a strong wave.
Blood. My head spun drunk as the long forgotten smell burned my nostrils, daring me to feed the starving beast.
The world stopped when my legs carried me across the cell despite my pleas. The world ended as my hands wrapped around her wrists when my treasonous teeth found her wounds.
“It’s all right,” her voice vibrated through my mind, as a cry escaped my lips.
Stop! Stop!
Her blood traveled down my throat, easing the pain and fire. Her blood traveled down my throat, breaking my bones in half.
Stop!
My muscles didn’t obey me, my jaw was locked on her wrist, despite the screams, despite the pleas. A roar escaped me, yet it did not scare away the beast that willed me.
Let go! My hands squeezed even tighter. I fell down on my knees, drying her empty.
Stop!
Every drop of her blood erased any clear thoughts, every cry that escaped my lips made my heart beat slower.
“Cordelia!” A scream broke through the walls of my mind. “Stop!” Someone’s strong hands dragged me off of my sister.
“Cordelia!” Caleb’s hand struck across my face, bringing me back to reality.
My foggy vision cleared. “Sandra?” I dropped onto the stone floor before my sister who kneeled in a pool of blood.
“It’s all right,” she nodded.
“Help her!” I screamed at Caleb as he ripped the ends of his tunic, tying them around Sandra’s wrists. “Help her!”
The blood painted the white tunic in mere seconds as I held her wrists willing the blood to stop escaping.
“It’s all right,” Sandra shook her head. “It’s a gift.”
“Sandra—”
“It is not your fault.” She smiled through the tears. “I do not wish to stay here without Frederick and Eleanor. This is a gift.” She gasped.
“She is dying!” I screamed to Caleb who now stared at Sandra in horror. “Help her!”
Sandra’s eyes fluttered. “I love you,” Sandra’s pale lips trembled. “Goodbye, Lia.”
“Sandra!” A scream ripped through my throat. “Sandra!”
My trembling hands felt her pulse. A weak heartbeat reached my fingers. “Help her!” I screamed at Caleb, yet my eyes did not leave my sister. “Help her! Her heart is still beating, help her!”
“Cordelia,” his voice was barely a whisper.
“Just help her, please.” A choked sob left my lips. “I will do whatever you want. Anything.”
“Cordelia, I can't,” Caleb shook his head so slightly. His eyes slowly closed.
“Help her, you bastard!” I shouted. “Do it!”
“She is human. There is nothing I can do.”
“Then turn her!” I hit his chest. “Tell me how to turn her!”
“It won’t work, her body is too weak,” he shook his head. “She won't survive it,” Caleb whispered, looking me straight in the eyes. “I am sorry.”
Sorry? No! No, no, no! I brought Sandra’s wrist to my lips. It’s just a bite, just a bite.
A bite should be presented as a gift: nothing should be taken in return.
My teeth pierced her flesh, careful not to let a drop of blood spill into my mouth.
I put my ear to her chest.
There was no movement, no sign of life.
I heard my heart beating in my ears, I heard the sound of water dripping down on the stone. Yet the sound I longed for most did not make an appearance. Silence.
“I love you, Sandra,” I whispered as my tears fell onto her smooth skin. “I love you.”
I’d killed my little sister. My sister who had always been by my side. The only person I’d truly loved in this life.
“I am sorry,” Caleb’s hand touched my shoulder as he whispered.
“How dare you!” I shoved his hand away. “How dare you say that to me!” I hit his chest. “Burn in hell! I hope you burn in hell!”
Caleb staggered backward as I kept hitting his chest.
“I wish you burn in hell.” I met his eyes. “I wish you burn in hell for eternity.”
I dropped to my knees as a scream tore my throat; my lungs burned.
I held my sister close to my chest, brushing her hair with my palm. “I am sorry,” I whispered. Her golden strands were now red, her full pink lips were now pale. Her empty green eyes stared into nothingness behind me. “I am so sorry.”
Several steps rushed into the room as my hands tightened around Sandra’s shoulders. I could not let them take her from me. I would not let them separate us.
“Cordelia?” A familiar voice broke through the walls in my mind. The voice sounded so real, so close. “Cordelia.”
I shook my head, not letting go of Sandra’s body in my arms. “Don’t take her,” I whispered. “Please don’t take her.”
“Oh, dear Gods,” another familiar voice joined in. Florence.
“Please don’t take her,” I pleaded.
“Francis, the guards are coming this way, we have to hurry,” Roxanne said.
“We must go.” Two pairs of hands pulled me from Sandra. “I’m so sorry.”
My vision blurred when Roxanne and Florence dragged me out of the dungeon. “No!”
“Get her out of here,” Caleb instructed. “There is a passage in the back, get away as far as possible.” He handed Francis his sword, “You know what you need to do, brother.”
Francis took the sword from Caleb’s hands, squeezing the handle. “Don't ever call me that again,” he said, putting the sword straight through Caleb’s stomach. “If I see you near her again, the blade will be royal steel.”