Page 79 of Wicked Magik

Chapter 26

Veylor

My hand trembled uncontrollably as I lifted it to cover my mouth, desperate to stifle a gasp. Oryx bolted out the door, his massive hooves pounded against the wooden floor, creating a thunderous echo as he raced down the hallway.

My legs felt like jelly as I slumped against the floor, drained and defeated. Every project I'd embarked upon had crumbled in my hands like sand slipping through my fingers. I had set out with the best intentions to mend the broken pieces of our lives, but each attempt seemed to unravel further into chaos.

I rose to my feet, relying on my trembling legs for support. Earning back his trust wouldn't be easy, but even in my hollowstate, I had to make an effort. What else could I do? Just stand by and watch him find joy with someone else?

He had transformed into something new, and I was the reason for it. The beings he was merged with had changed him. Despite everything, I still felt drawn to him, and I was certain he felt the same way about me. But why was he also drawn toher?

Why was I drawn to her?

Is it the guilt he feels for bringing her here, where she ended up falling in love with a monster? Is that why he can't leave her and be with me? Or is there another bond because of how I've made him?

A chilly tear slid down my cheek, and I lifted my fingertip to brush it away. It felt cold, just like the rest of me. Why would he even want to embrace me in my current state? She was warm and understanding, it took time to understand who I am. We were both so different before and it took time for us to court one another in our past life. He is here now, it was my turn to act and I was afraid to make another mistake.

I'm devoid of heart and soul yet he is the one that holds them both.

Heavy clomping from Oryx’s hooved feet echoed through the hallway, causing the delicate crystal chandeliers to tremble and sway. My heart raced as I sprinted down the corridor. As I neared the source of the noise, the roars grew more intense, reverberating in my chest. Suddenly, with a deafening crash, the front doors burst open, slamming against the walls with a force.

A thunderous roar, a terrifying blend of a Minotaur's bellow and a dragon's growl, erupted from Oryx's gaping maw. His massive body reared back, muscles bulging beneath his skin like coiled ropes, veins standing out like cables under immense tension. His obsidian tail lashed the air with such ferocity that I instinctively stepped back, narrowly avoiding its powerful swipes. It struck the doors with a force that sent them crashingto the ground, their hinges wrenched free and clattering to the floor.

“Her blood is in the air!” Oryx cried, his voice a growl as his claws elongated like sharpened daggers. He dropped onto all fours, his muscular form low to the ground. He bounded down the stairs with a feral grace, each step a controlled leap. As he hit the dirt, his claws raked through the earth, sending clumps of soil flying behind him. His petrified snout pressed to the ground, sniffing and searching with an urgency that suggested he could almost taste the scent.

Benedict came behind me, his hand on my shoulder. “By the Shadows, what happened?”

I growled and faced him. "Where is Vesper? You were responsible for her." I seized him by the throat and shoved him against the remnants of the door frame.

Benedict panted and shook his head. “I was bringing her afternoon snacks. She was sore with me, I was bringing a peace offering.”

I snarled at him. “Where did you leave her?”

Oryx's fur bristled, and his tail flicked sharply as he turned his head toward the forest.

Benedict’s eyes widened.

I shook him again. “Speak! This is life or death!”

“A walk! She went for a walk, on the grounds! I told her not to venture out past the walls!” He hooked his thumb behind him. “That way, she went that way!”

I sighed in frustration. If she headed in that direction, she must have gone to the stables. Her curiosity was just like that of a cat.

“Did the stablemen arrive last night?”

Benedict gasped.

I released my grip on Benedict and sprinted down the steps. Oryx had already disappeared beyond the courtyard, his figurebecoming a mere silhouette against the backdrop of the looming forest. With a swift flick of my hand, my attire transformed into sleek black leather armor, every segment glistening in the dim light, and a cape fluttering like liquid night behind me. The inky darkness swirled around me, tendrils of shadow enveloped form, lifting me gently from the soil as if I was weightless.

I'm lifted high above the treetops. Below, I observe Oryx's enormous form crashing into trees, unsettling the whole environment. I shake my head and focus intently on his location, gliding quietly behind him. In his monstrous hunting mode, he is relentless, stopping at nothing until his mission is accomplished.

As he stopped, I moved in closer and formed a protective barrier. We didn't need any additional complications. If my suspicions were correct, these vampires had Vesper trapped in a tree, and it would take Oryx some time to locate her. Setting up the ward was essential, as even a single drop of her blood could attract more vampires, and I wasn't inclined to deal with any more of them.

Another roar echoed through the forest, sending leaves rustling and birds erupting into a chaotic flight, while small creatures scurried for cover. I descended rapidly through the dense canopy, branches brushing against my armor, and landed with a solid thud on the forest floor.

In front of me, a tense standoff was unfolding before me. The vampire, his face streaked with crimson, stood glaring at Oryx. Blood, unmistakably hers, glistened on his lips. High above, perched precariously on a thick limb, another vampire clung to her body, a sinister grin playing on his mouth.

Vesper was bleeding heavily. There were bites in her arms and legs, but luckily not in her neck. No arteries seemed to be broken, but she is full of scratches and bites along her body.