Page 34 of Vampire's Promise
“Gwen,” he screamed. The pain in his voice echoed off the stone walls and cut across the small room. He moved to her limp body and pulled the immortal killing blade from her chest, tossing it to the ground, where it skittered across the stone floor. With great care, he removed the silver collar from her neck then busted the shackles that held her until she was free and in his arms as he slid to the floor and pulled her into his lap. He kissed her lips and nuzzled his face into her neck.
“Don’t leave me,” he whispered, and it tugged at her heart. She wanted to stay, but no longer belonged on this plane. Diara had killed her, as had been Gwen’s fate. Her death meant Kian would call upon his darkest self and save the rest of them. She tried to leave, but something pushed her back. Right, she recalled Ra had given her a gift. One that would allow her to remain in-between worlds for a short time.
Suddenly, Apep appeared in the doorway and his anger was an entity of its own. “You murdered my daughter.”
Kian was ever so gentle as he laid Gwen on the cold floor and rose. “Your daughter.” He laughed, a sound that reminded Gwen of Hades when he was about to rain hell down on someone. “I should have suspected since she was an evil, lying bitch.” He called the dagger to him, and Gwen watched it slide across the floor, her blood trailing off it as it lifted into the air and straight to his palm. Once he held it, it was as clean as it might be if one had taken care to polish it. All traces of the death it had just caused vanished.
Apep’s gaze fell to the blade. “The god killer doesn’t belong in the hands of a child such as yourself.” He held out his hand as if to call the blade, but nothing happened. Anger drew lines on his already harsh face.
“You cannot call this blade. It does not do your bidding. Only those the Phoenix gives permission to can hold it. How you gained it to begin with, I don’t understand, but I’m sure your daughter was behind it.” Kian took a step closer.
Apep launched a ball of red power, but Kian waved his hand and deflected it where it crashed into the stone wall, leaving rubble in its wake. That only angered the god further. He also seemed confused. “Who are you, really? I saw a vision of you in your mortal mother’s womb and knew you were fated to try to destroy me. I would have laughed at the fact that a demigod could hold such power, but visions being what they are, I killed her just to be safe.” He snarled. “Someone saved you. No one can deflect my power.”
“I am the grandson of Cera and Thedos. A descendant of Ra. I am Prince Kian and I will make you pay for the death of my mate.” Kian shoved his palm outward and forced the god against the wall, pinning him. Apep fought to free himself but was unsuccessful. Death and pain filled the small room until itmade even Gwen shudder. Kian was almost unrecognizable. He had allowed everything that was dark in his soul to unleash, and it held him in its grip. She tried to reach out to him, but he was flesh and blood, and she was no more.
“You took from me what I loved most. The woman I had so little time with that I didn’t even realize how I felt about her until she was gone.” His lip curled as he stood inches from Apep. “They wanted me to welcome my darkness. The death and pain of my grandfather. Well, here it is.”
He tipped his head back, looked at the ceiling, and spread his arms at his side. “The power that courses through me is exhilarating. There was no reason to fear my dark side, for it is what will end you.” Then he raised the blade and shoved it into Apep’s heart. The god let out a scream before he faded away into nothingness. Gwen hardly believed it had ended so quickly, but when Kian turned and faced her, she saw madness in his eyes. Again, she tried to touch him, but failed.
He dropped to his knees and crawled back to where her body lay, pulling her back into his lap. Unable to comfort him, she was torn about what to do when a bright light opened up beside her. When she faced it, the warmth and love that came from it tugged at her and she watched as Apep walked into it and vanished. She moved toward it, wanting to go to wherever it led, but it snapped shut as quickly as it had appeared.
“You do not belong on the other side,” a soft female voice whispered. “Your fate is tied to his. Go back to my grandson.”
Gwen blinked. Grandson? “Cera?” There was no reply, but somehow, she knew the sleeping goddess was the one who spoke. The one who blocked her and pushed her back to this reality. She turned toward Kian. “I don’t know how to go back.” She was stuck between two worlds and Ra’s gift would soon run out, leaving her in limbo forever.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The agonythat tore through him was so severe he couldn’t catch a breath. It wasn’t physical like a wound, though he would swear his heart had shattered into a million pieces. He was lost in a haze of red anger and thick, dark energy that filled the room. It was difficult to believe all that death and pain spilled from him. Was this how the god Thedos felt, and why he had to be taken down by his mate? Kian wished for someone to end his torment, or at the very least, he needed a place to vent it, but he’d already much too easily ended Diara and Apep. All he could do at the moment was hold on to Gwen. Stroke her hair and take in her scent. His mate was the sun and in a short time she had given him everything he’d ever wanted, except now he wanted her back and even as desperation filled him, he didn’t know how to fix this.
“Son.”
Kian was so lost in his grief he hadn’t even noticed his father had entered the room. He lifted his head and looked upon the god who had sired him. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Argathos squatted and touched Gwen on the cheek. “But it was supposed to happen this way. It was her death that pushedyou into your hidden power. Now, you must bring her back before she is lost forever.”
He blinked as if that might help him understand the words he’d just heard. “Bring her back?”
“You are understandably too deep in your grief to notice she is still here.” He looked around. “In this very room. Cera has not allowed your mate to cross over, and Ra’s gift has kept her tethered to you, but Gwen’s time is limited.”
“I don’t understand. How do I bring her back?”
His father smiled. “You carry much of your grandfather inside you. He was the god of death and pain. Shove aside your own torment and look for death and there you will find your mate. She is waiting for you to pull her back into this world.” Rising to his full height, he continued. “Only you can do this, and it will be easier if I am not here to disrupt you. Believe in yourself. You have saved many lives, now it’s time to save the one you treasure most.” Then his father faded away.
Kian looked down at his motionless mate. He had zero fucking idea what he was supposed to do, but he was a demigod, and one with apparently some kick-ass powers. If he could bring Gwen back, then he would try everything at his disposal. Closing his eyes, he delved deep for any link still present to her.
“Gwen, if you are still here, I need you to let me know.” It was in the silence of his mind that he finally realized there was still a connection. Their bond had not been completely severed. A soft caress touched his arm, and he knew it was her. She was still here, and he knew he had to work fast. The dark power that had been swirling in a chaotic mess about the room slowed to a pulse. Waited for his command and now he knew why he and Gwen had bonded so quickly. He needed this connection to her in order to save her, as well as the fact that he needed her to save him from the dark destruction that had nested in his soul. Right now, however, he required that darkness to assist him.
Searching for death, he blew out a breath and opened his eyes. Standing beside him was his mate. She had been here all along. He only needed to open his eyes and see her.
Kian, can you hear me?
He nodded. “I can hear you.”
She smiled.Your grandmother is keeping me on this plane, but I fear my time is running out.
He knew then what he had to do, and it was so simple it seemed ridiculous. He reached out, and to his surprise, was able to take her hand in his. “Gwen, I need you here with me. We have an eternity of discovery, and I want to explore the love I feel for you. You are my other half and I command you to live.” He shoved all of his power into her and swore he felt Thedos right there with him.
Gwen screamed before her soul melted away in front of him. He panicked but knew he had to keep shoving his power into her or lose her forever. It seemed like minutes ticked by with nothing happening when suddenly her eyes snapped open, body went stiff and her back arched as she took in a ragged breath. When her lungs were fully expanded, again she let out a scream that both elated and broke him.
