Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Carpathians have a mutual path we can communicate with one another on. I didn’t use it to talk to Petru or Nicu because the vampires would hear. The ancients who have been in the monastery all use a different pathway, so I used that one. Gaia needed blood. Once we exchanged a small amount, she could talk to me and I to her. She helped me escape at great cost to herself.
Was there a reprimand in there? She was looking pretty pathetic to him if she was jealous. She started to explain but then just stopped questioning him. They could hash everything out later.
So, Gaia comes to help. What are we doing?
You let your brothers know you are going to get them out of here. That someone is coming to help them get out from under the evil one. They can’t give it away that anything is different. Can you handle that?
I will have to leave your mind and . . .
No. That is forbidden. We stay together. You direct me and we’ll go there.
That was a resounding no. He meant that, and she wasn’t going to be able to just sneak off and implement her plans if his didn’t work.
Fine, then, Afanasiv, but I’m warning you right now, you are not staying behind for any reason at all. You will not be left here like that poor beast living behind gates and being poked at by perfectly horrid demons. You will be coming home with me. So if you’re planning anything else, you remember you’re the one who gave the order that we stay together.
She was quite happy to turn his decree right back on him. Had she had her physical body, she would have smirked at him.
Gaia arrived, moving with her usual grace. Those watching from the stands were up on their feet, calling for Andros to cut off the head of the fallen demon, and they roared as the demon grabbed Lada’s ankle and tripped her, bringing her down. Everyone ran to help her. Grigor wrapped one arm around Karine and practically lifted her. Swinging the long blade of his sword back and forth in front of him, he ran toward Lada. He cut a wide path, sending several demons away bleeding, with intestines spilling out.
Andros swung his sword first before anyone could get to him. Lada didn’t make a sound. She didn’t move. She just looked up at Andros with love in her eyes and waited for the sword to take her life and free both of them. The blade separated the demon’s head from his neck. The head went rolling across the bare floor straight for Gaia. She casually stepped over it.
Now, sívamet, tell both your brothers you are here to free them. They cannot give away by any means that you are close. Gaia is giving aid no matter what it appears.
Vasilisa stared at Andros for a few moments, taking in every detail of his appearance. She had only her imagination for everything else, but he had given her quite a bit of details about his life. She built a picture of him at church in a suit, looking very fine. He liked to race cars. She found herself at the track with him often, one of her many concessions. As a rule, she would never go to something she didn’t care for, but in her fantasies, she was willing to do anything to be with her big brother. They had especially liked silly knock-knock jokes. They made up their own and relayed information to each other that way.
Knock knock, brothers dear
Sister Vasi is oh so near
Found the path, found the way
Don’t want either of you here to stay
Gaia will help, so heed her word as well as mine
We want out of this hellhole and now is time.
Andros stiffened, but to his credit, he simply reached down and helped Lada to her feet. She winced and bent slightly to relieve pressure on the extensive injuries to her body.
“Who beat you like this?” Andros demanded, ignoring Gaia, who stood with her hands on her hips very close to Lada.
Lada swayed and almost went down. Gaia caught her around the waist at the same time Andros did. Gaia leaned toward Andros and whispered into his ear. “I have to take your blood and give you mine in order to talk you through the labyrinth and get you out of here.”
“Do it,” Andros snapped curtly, bending closer.
He brought Lada right up to his side. To those in the arena, the three looked as if they were trying to keep Lada on her feet. She began to struggle wildly, her arms flailing and her body jerking from side to side.
Gaia was fast, taking the blood from Andros’ neck and then using her teeth on her wrist and offering the bright red drops to him. Without hesitation he took her blood. The struggling Lada, with her arms flopping wildly, helped to cover what was really taking place.