Bound By Blood: The Pureblood Prince

Chapter Seven

I dozed off to the sound of his steady breaths. I'd completely forgotten about the plan I was supposed to execute, until something shook me awake. I looked around, disoriented, skin slightly damp. Gabriel's arms were cloaked loosely around me. I moved myself carefully away from him, sitting up. I watched him sleeping under the moonlight. Forgive me, Gabriel, I said silently. I suddenly felt like I was betraying him somehow.

I tiptoed to his door, placing my ear against it as I slowly turned the knob. I said a silent prayer as I tried to open it. It opened without so much as a creak. I walked out carefully, keeping my eyes on Gabriel until the door was completely closed. Okay, there was a door on the left. It seemed to lead outside from what I remembered. I kept one hand on the wall, trying to count the doors as I passed in the darkness. I stopped in my tracks at an open door, barely stopping myself from stepping into the light that poured out from the room. I moved quickly against the opposite wall, hoping to God I wasn't detected. I listened carefully for movement.

I heard a deep growl, almost inhuman. Followed by a soft whimper and a sickening, wet tearing sound. My heart was beating rapidly. Surely whoever it is can hear me. Whatever was happening in there, it sounded horrible. More tearing, shallow breathing, growling, and then a faint, weak "No..."

I leaned over, daring to look into the small crack in the door. Lit by the orange light of a fireplace, was a bed. On the bed, a man was leaning over a girl, naked and covered in blood. Her head was hanging off the bed, her eyes half-closed. It was the young girl from before, the barefoot one with the dead eyes. Her blood stained her skin and the sheets, pouring from her neck. I clamped my hand over my mouth, struggling to conceal the sound of my horror. The man turned his head swiftly, and looked right at me. It was Ulric. Immediately, I bounded to Gabriel's room. He was right behind me, I could feel it. He was going to catch me, and do to me what he did to her. I choked back tears, terrified. Finally, I made it to Gabriel's room. I swung the door open, slamming it behind me. I turned, and Gabriel was in front of me. I collapsed at his feet, sobbing.

"Cora, what's going on?" he asked, seeming to struggle with keeping his voice down.

He leaned down, holding my shoulders. I couldn't get the words out, my lungs wouldn't allow it. I could only cry, choking on my breath.

"Cora, talk to me." Gabriel pressed, sounding desperate. He was squeezing my arms, to the point where it almost hurt.

"It was Ulric. The girl... I think she's dead, she looked dead." I sputtered out.

I felt his hands on my face, wiping my tears and pushing my hair out of my face. "Listen to me," he said. I looked up at him. "I'm going to take care of it. Whatever you do Cora, do not leave this room until I return. Understood?"

I nodded. He helped me up, and I watched as he walked out. I didn't know what to expect, or what was going to happen. But the feeling of doom followed me into the room, and I was certain something bad was going to happen. Was he going to deal with Ulric? From what I've seen, he and Ulric don't have a lot of civil interactions. And the girl. What's become of that girl? There was so much blood...

I sat down on the bed, trying my best to calm myself. I switched on the lamp on the end table. The light was relieving. The darkness was smothering me. I stared down at my hands, suddenly aware that I was ringing my fingers nervously. Gabriel knows I was trying to escape. What would be my punishment for that? All of this wouldn't have happened if I just quietly passed that door.