His Dark Obsession by Moonlight Muse

23. Against my Conscience

ZEDKIEL

She turns when I enter what looks like a broken-down lift of some sort, and motions for Blade to leave us.

“Are you sure?” He asks wearily, as he glances at me.

“I’m sure.” She replies firmly. “We’re in a metal box, Blade. If a fight breaks out, you’ll hear

He nods, but he doesn’t seem too sure, but he obeys and pulls shut the metal door that scrapes loudly. I raise an eyebrow as Ziahra turns to the other side, and pressing a button, motioning me to step out

I follow and we’re in a small room, but it’s a bit bigger than the lift at least.

The door shuts behind her, and I glance around the tiny room.

“You changed your mind about talking to me?” I ask, crossing my arms.

She crosses her arms and walks over to me. “What can you do?”

She doesn’t beat around the bush as she looks up at me, determination burning in her eyes.

“Depends on what you want from me?” I reply, looking her dead in the eye

There’s a reason she called me and I’m not going to make this easier for her

She sighs, turning away and wrings her hands.

“I don’t know what I want, or what is the right thing. Am I making things worse? Mother had faith in you. She believed you will come and take your place. That you would be one of the greatest kings we’ve ever had…” She says, turning back to me.

She no longer looks like the fearless vampire princess, but a girl who is trying to hide her fear

“But she said the timing must be vital. I don’t know what timing she means, I think we need you now, or never.” She continues.

Timing… could it be what Evangeline mentioned, being offered power? What exactly does this woman know? Could it be something that can help us?

“Where is she now? You said the steward is holding her somewhere?” I ask.

“In the fortress, where he resides and rules. He wants her to marry him by tying himself to her It will only strengthen the approval of the people, at the moment they are split. Some willing to serve the true bloodline, others wanting the power and life that Vadam promises.” She says as she begins pacing in the small room.

“How long has he been in power?” I ask. It’s hard to think that my mother is alive and out there.

I’ve never cared, and I don’t even know if I even want to meet her… but seems that we may just be destined to cross paths.

“Fifty years?” She replies, not sounding too sure. Vampires do live longer….. “But it was when he found out about you several years ago that things changed. He feared the loss of his position because you are a male heir, something that has not been born in the Aton line for centuries. “You are the rightful king.”

I lean against the wall, observing her

“Out there, you were keen on handing me over. How did that change?”

“You can’t trust everyone now, can you? I’m not sure which of my men are loyal to me. I’m certain he’s

placed a few in there to keep an eye on me” She says icily will ask you one more time, what power do you hold?”

She’s asking me to defeat an overlord for the sake of their people my people.

If I agree

Time is ticking and I need Evangeline back, and something tells me I need to get to the realm of the gods. to find the answers that Evangeline was after.

What power do I hold?

see she’s out of options. They

in line to

pushes,

the answers she was looking for. She’s not been

‘Smart.’ Zerachiel hums.

in the room.

long story, but that’s not her. She’s the

know why

frowns, as if trying to

then what? How do you get her back?” She asks, strumming her fingers

to find the answers and somehow get her back.” I reply, my eyes

that I don’t

So, what do you want in return for you to

that the vampires hold great power, that they excel in the ancient arts.” I

moment, her

She says, about to turn away,

I’m reminded that

you want my help, you need to tell

known about them or

have a

aren’t the ruler yet. Why are you asking about the ancient

to lose. I need

need to find a way to cross into the

this a joke to you?” She replies in

you find a way, or the

don’t just enter the realm of the

but I need

enough power to fuel the ritual that would

My stomach twists.

Fuel?

came

there in that realm… surely as Evangeline’s mate, I hold some power to be

guilty. Zerachiel

own dilemma I didn’t even pay attention,

you can

“What do you know about the ancient arts or crossing into the realm of

little.” She admits quietly, “but that is something that must

“You?”

you also hold the power,

fuelling it?

look at her sharply

time, blood, and power. You are asking for a portal to be opened to another realm. You need enough power to sustain yourself there.

one more thing. If I go, it

before she looks up at me

have the

cock a

can seal her in one of them, and we can draw the power from the undead!” She says quietly, her eyes flashing

beings who were said to be locked. away somewhere unreachable, clearly

said?” She asks.

glancing up at

in a crypt, will she see it

Of course she will.