“Me either,” he confirms, making my nose crinkle in confusion, but it’s Rion who speaks.
“So why is he here?”
I can tell Thorne hears him, but he doesn't turn his attention away from me. “He’s here so you can siphon his abilities.”
Understanding washes over me as the guy's eyes manage to grow an inch wider with desperation. Instead of losing myself to pity, my gaze dips, landing on my hands as jitters threaten to take control.
I ball them into fists in an effort to keep the panic away, and I'm reminded of the stance I took earlier.
My mother's words guided me then, and I felt calm.
I can repeat that.
It may not be earth beneath my feet right now, but the marble will do. Standing with my feet shoulder width apart, I take a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that threaten to get the better of me. One single nod from me and the confirmation is accepted.
Thorne brings the vampire closer, dropping him to his knees as he remains bound by his magic, waiting for me to take control.
I can feel everybody's eyes on me, but I don't look in fear of giving up.
Instead, I take a deep breath and thrust my hands forward. My breath catches in my throat as my magic takes hold, and I close my eyes so I can't see him struggle against my abilities.
My head feels heavy as my mouth aches and my pulse thunders.
Stop now, Elodie. Stop.
I’m in control. I’m in control.
I stumble back, gaping at my hands as he slumps to the ground, but I’m too in awe of the fact that I was able to stop siphoning on demand. Looking around the space with fresh eyes, my soul draws me closer to the fountain as I peer over the edge of the water again.
I'm moving without thinking. Rion's voice cutsthrough the air as he calls out my name, but it's quickly muffled as I dive into the water, the depths darker than I imagined, but as I recall the riddle, I know that I'm in the right place.
Panic takes hold of me as I quickly start to flail.
I can’t swim.
My eyes widen, but my breathing doesn’t tear at my lungs as I expect.
Maybe it’s the vampire abilities coursing through my veins? I don’t know, but I have zero clue how to make myself go deeper.
Desperation has me spinning on the spot, when my gaze latches onto the wrought iron bars acting as steps down the marble wall beside me, edging deeper into the water. Hope blossoms in my chest. I can use them to plunge myself deeper.
It’s my only hope, and it has to work because the only alternative is defeat.
Determined, I curl my fingers around the first one and pull myself deeper, skipping a few as I keep my arm as outstretched as possible. Except, I don’t find the next one as something wraps around my ankle, halting me in place.
My gaze darts over my shoulder and bubbles steal my scream as I find myself staring into the bloody eyes of a mermaid. Horror burns throughmy veins. Their skin is still the color of marble, but they’re no longer frozen in place. Instead, jet-black hair floats in the water around their face, while deep-red eyes bore into mine and razor sharp nails pierce the skin around my ankle.
Attempting to yank my leg from their grasp is futile in their deathly grip, but rage burns through me, starting deep in my soul, and accelerated by the vampire thirst coursing through me.
Their mouth parts, revealing jagged teeth, and another scream tears from my lungs, only to be muted by the water.
I’m going to die.
Of all the threats I’ve faced, this is going to be the one to take me.
I hiss as something else punctures my skin as I spy them digging their nails into my other leg, higher up this time, making me even more immobile.
Give up or fight.
