Page 19 of Tainted Souls
“At least I didn’t change for the worse.”
“Cut it out,” the masked man commands, speaking with an authority that suggests he’s used to being obeyed. “We don’t have time for this.”
Everyone instantly gathers behind him without question, my defiant brother included. Any relief I felt is quickly replaced by trepidation; now that the panic has ebbed, a grim realization dawns on me.
Time stops as I stare at the man’s face, really studying it. Bone-white strands peek from his hood, pale gray eyes holding mine as if they can see straight through my soul. Gray, not red.
He’s not just any Ravens member, he’s their leader—Revenant.
My blood turns cold in my veins. “You.”
There’s a subtle shift in Saul’s posture, his center of gravity lowering ever so slightly. It’s barely perceptible, but enough to tell me he’s ready to move. To spring to his leader’s defense.
Unfortunately for him, my hand has already tightened around my dagger. I didn’t wait this long to hesitate. My muscles contract and snap as I launch myself at the monster I’ve sworn to end, aiming straight for his unguarded chest—his heart, the only way to kill a vampire.
He makes not a single move to evade me, standing perfectly still as death rushes toward him. Confused, I look up to see his right hand raised in the air, palm facing outward.
The Ravens around us have frozen at the silent signal, their bodies tensing but remaining rooted in place.
He chose to show mercy to the wrong person.
I thrust with all my might, the lumen point piercing through fabric but meeting unexpected resistance. Not flesh, but something harder. The impact jolts up my arm as the dagger slides off to the side, leaving only a tear in his shirt.
“Armor,” I mutter, readying myself to strike again. “Coward.”
Revenant chuckles, scrutinizing me with detached curiosity, as though I am an insect pinned to a board. “Not armor,” he says, his voice infuriatingly graceful. “True immortality.”
The words hit harder than any physical blow.
I stumble back, horrified, my grip on the dagger faltering. There is no way that the person haunting my nightmares is unable to be killed.
“You should’ve let me take that bullet,” I spit, my voice sounding alien to my own ears. Broken.
“If I wanted you dead, you would’ve died ten years ago with the rest of them.”
A whirlwind of emotions bubbles inside me. I should be grateful, but all I feel is the weight of being spared.
I force back my tears, holding onto the rage. “Why didn’t you?”
There’s a pause. “Change of heart.”
“Change of heart?” I echo, the words hollow and absurd.
“You’re of no use to anyone dead.” He sighs, as if I am wasting his time. As if he hasn’t completely ruined my life. “Try to stay alive?” His intonation mocks me.
“How dare you—”
The screeching wail of sirens cuts through our standoff. Blinding spotlights sweep across the street as armored vehicles swerve around the corner, reinforcements arriving in full force. I make out the silhouettes of specialized keeper units, their weapons soon locked on our positions.
“Time’s up,” says Revenant, his steely gaze drilling into mine. “Until we meet again, Seraph.”
A primal need to see his face overcomes me.
My hand claws at the edge of his mask before he can turn and leave. I catch the fabric between my fingers and yank downward with all my strength. The mask falls, revealing enough for me to now recognize him on sight.
I drink in every detail: flawless skin stretched over a razor-sharp jawline, two silver studs piercing his eyebrow, and a nose so perfectly structured it seems carved from marble. His lips, fuller than I expected, curl in disdain.
Faster than I can track, iron fingers encircle my wrist with crushing force. A ragged gasp escapes my lips as he wrenches my hand away from his face, twisting until searing pain shoots up my arm. With one casual flick, he shoves me, the impact of it sending me stumbling backward.
