Passion for Blood

Chapter 31:

Fitz:

Standing in front of the pub I was told to go to, I take in my surroundings. For months I have been trying to figure out Lucian's aim, for centuries we have fought and he never came close to killing me but this time is different, he has leverage. I have never considered those around us, I knew Thea could hold her own and Cole had his pack to protect him, the people closest to me were safe but now Madeleine is in the picture and what's worse is she walks around in the mouth of the lion.

For months we have been trying to figure out where Lucian was conducting his experiments. We went back to where we first encountered one of them and Thea tried to track its origin. The Gifted have the ability to track others' magic or sense the use of dark magic but we weren't lucky that is until the second attack. We managed to trace it to a woman who practices dark magic for a living. Once I know the coast is clear I walk inside, the stench of booze fills the air and the shouting of drunken fools is heard from every corner.

Thea found out from a close friend that she likes crowded areas, she feels safer there since we can't risk exposing our world. That was the one thing us beings could agree on over the centuries, keeping our world a secret would prevent another war from breaking out. I notice a pale woman in the corner, her lips blood red. I notice the marking on her hand, the marking in the shape of a star. That's her. I make my towards her, her hair is tied up in a painfully tight bun. Noticing me, her lips form a scowl.

"Judging by the look on your face, you know who I am," I say skipping greeting as I take a seat in front of her. "What is it that you want crossbreed? I have lots to do and not enough time." She takes another sip of her beer, her blue eyes watching me closely. "Then I'll get straight to the point, stop with the experiments, you know that that power only lasts so long before they die anyways, you are killing innocent people." I have been called many things in my existence, a monster, a traitor, cold-hearted and the list goes on. The one thing I am positive that I wouldn't fall under is an abductor. Changing the functionality of your body is a crime especially when a gifted helps you.If it's not done right you only have a certain amount of time before you die, Thea discovered this when she analysed the boy. It is an act of magic that has been banned for many years and for a good reason. Many have tried to replicate the spell my mother used on me and a few other children but none have come close, until now. If Lucian manages to create a full crossbreed it will be chaotic. "Why? Jealous someone might take your title?" she challenges to which I give her a fake smile. My tilt would never be passed to another, I'd make sure of it.

"No that's not what I'm worried about." "You could ask me nicely Mr. Baker and I still wouldn't stop, not even for you." "What does Lucian have on you, Irene, you do realise this is the highest of crimes." I see her roll her eyes, I suppose the nice tactic won't work. "Why would the great crossbreed care about a simple gifted breaking the rules especially when he has more sins on him than anyone I have ever known? Killed your parents, exposed our world to the world and started a war and not too long ago you tried to kill your mate." Yeah, which hurt like hell. The first time I met Madeleine I was unaware of the fact that she was my mate, after I drank from her I suffered immense pain and all the blood I drank from her came up burning my insides. "Now that's my business isn't it?" "I could say the same about my relationship with Lucian." she raises her brow.

"You are wasting your time, you should be asking what he plans to do with your mate." I feel my rage build. Keeping calm has become an everyday challenge, my magic depends on my emotions and I don't plan on burning this building down but if she keeps pushing I might kill her. "Fine then tell me this if I were to kill you would that at all affect his plan?" I smirk at her shocked expression, not smug are we now? "He has many others willing to help him, you forget that you turned this world against you, and people lost their loved ones because of your anger. I lost my best friend because of you." her scowl returns. "A minor casualty to restore peace." "Funny since she was your lover, do plan on telling Lucian the same? The death of his sister was a minor casualty." Snapping, I instantly grab her neck and squeeze tight. I feel the veins in her neck fight to pump blood. "You dare say that name in my presence."

I feel someone try and pull me away, dropping her to the ground I turn to face our interruption. I come face to face with the whole pub, looking at each of them, I sense the presence of dark magic. Shit! The first one growls and attacks me, but he's too slow for my speed. They're newborns, so they haven't really grasped the scope of their newfound talents. I drive my fist into his chest, looking for his heart. I rip it out while he yells in pain. The blood spills across my boots, irritating me even more. Looking at his body on the floor, I detect the same burn mark as the council. They are hunters. "Who's up next?" I ask waiting for the next person to make a move.

I've made my way through half the bar in a few hours; they're all experiments. It is troubling that Lucian is working quickly to flip the entire council and I have figured out that this is a trap. When I glanced at all of their necks, I realised they all had the symbol of two swords creating an x the hunter's mark. Would he turn her as well then? My chest begins to hurt, and the agony becomes more intense, almost as if they are attempting to rip open my chest. I can't help but scream as I fall to the floor. My flesh pierces open like the knife they used all those years ago. The pain fades quickly, but my vision is skewed for a few moments until they focus on a smug Lucian. "It's about time you grew a pair of balls to face me." I'm able to say. "Should you be talking in your state?" Why do people continue to say that? It's starting to irritate me. First Cole now him.

Irene approaches me and squats next to me. "Easy," I say, as she rips open my coat and shirt, "I don't think my mate would appreciate you touching me." "I don't think she'd mind; you recently broke her heart; perhaps it's time for you to have your heart broken." Lucian towers over me. "Oh, yes, that would be effective if I had one." I notice the rage behind his eyes; it's as though I've gone under his skin. Irene gets up and shakes her head at Lucian. What exactly were they looking for?

"It's a shame she can't see you like this." I know who he referring to so I say nothing. I can't move, it's almost like something is holding me down. Nor can I heal. "You've lost it, don't you think? This is exactly what she did and where did that get her?" "She died because of you!" He recollects himself and clears his throat. I may have killed her but we both know the real reason why she died. "If I can't save her I'll save everyone else, including Madeleine." I try to sit up but the pain is too overwhelming. "I'll kill you if you touch her," I seeth. "Well once she is my wife next week I'll do whatever I want to her, I'll get her to see you as the monster you are and she will be your end." "So what? Do you plan on experimenting on her as well?" I ask feeling my world stop as I wait for his answer. "We may never find out how you survived the experiment, everyone else dies each time we try it, killing her might hurt you but that doesn't make up for the pain you caused me over the years so no Fitz I won't experiment on her."

I feel my head begin to spin again. "But that doesn't mean I won't try and find the solution in you." "What have you done to me?" My vision starts to fade, I'm losing consciousness and Thea is outside. How would I warn her?

The last thing I hear is Lucian ask to hunters to pick me up.