Lethal Lineage: New Lines

Chapter 12

I struggle to open my eyes, something blocking my vision. Then the whimpers and shouts reached my ears. Cold tile touches my face.

"Cover her eyes!" A hauntingly familiar voice demands.

Fabric is replaced over my eyes and I'm yanked upright to my knees, wrists pinned together. Panic overwhelms me as the deja vu proves to be much more real than I thought.

Lineage day.

No. This had to be a hallucination, a flashback, even a nightmare!

"Or else."

Larken! He played along with Kyree's plan so that he was the one to 'restrain' me. Just as before, his thumb brushed over my wrist as he whispered my cue to summon the basilisk.

Reliving it all again so suddenly, I broke under the pressure, sobbing silently into my cloth gag. This was too real. I couldn't do this all over again.

"Or else."

I go still, slowly leaning back as I realize I can change what happens next. If I don't summon the Basilisk, Nora would survive!

I move my fingers so that I can feel Larken's hand before very slightly shaking my head no, hoping he was the only one to notice. His grip on my arms tightens and then my chin is jerked upwards someone in front of me. I could sense the heat signature.

"Daughter of Medusa, brought to her knees so easily." Kyree chuckles.

Medusa! She was hiding in plain sight as Madam Celeste! But where was she in this? Did she already sneak away?

"Do you understand what is happening, little snake?" Kyree asks me, hot breath fanning over my face. Ew, he ate the onion dip.

I nod to his question, trying to gauge all the different heat signatures around me. It was hard to focus with my head throbbing. All the original injuries from Lineage Day remained just as painful as the first time I experienced them.

"My daughter offered you a chance to join the winning side, yet you declined. Have you changed your mind?" He asks.

I hesitate, then slowly nod yes. If I played along like Larken there may be a chance to take advantage.

The gag is removed from my mouth and I cough, tasting blood. Asena's sucker punch cut open the inside of my cheek.

"I want to know what true power is." I gasp out.

"Smart girl." Kyree chuckles. "Remember, your vampire mate is still under my knife, so keep your eyes where I tell you."

I'm pulled up to my bare feet, blood trickling down my shins from my torn up knees. The blindfold is taken away. Even in the dim candlelight of the ballroom I had to look down to let my eyes adjust.

Seeing it all, the terrified students in the corner, the bodies that were abandoned or being dragged out of the way. Nora. Her black eye make up was streaking down her pale cheeks from her fearful tears. I had to look away before I broke down once again.

"What are you doing?" Larken whispers lowly next to me, keeping his evil facade.

"Medusa is hiding as Celeste." I mutter. My eyes scan over the chaos, searching for her gray hair.

"What?"

"Trust me." I lift my chin to appear more stoic. Medusa was no where to be seen. She must have slipped out of the room while I was unconscious.

"Nathara," Asena smugly approaches where Larken and I stand. "Did I knock some sense into that reptile brain of yours?"

Every fiber of my being wanted to take my revenge on her then and there, but I needed to think this through.