Riley Hayes | A Vampire Novel | Book 2

Chapter 10

Archie's taunting voice cut through the chaos, a dark thread weaving through the disarray of the room. His gaze swept over the scene with a chilling calmness, a twisted satisfaction in his eyes.

"Oh, as if I would your children escape, Riley... Of course they won't... They'll die here, maybe beofre you? I'd rather hold it out, I want him to suffer about as much as I did." he said, his tone dripping with contempt. His eyes flicked to Amalia, Bailey, and Abigail, each of them standing defiantly despite the terror in their eyes. "Bailey and Abigail, at least, have some semblance of worthiness. They bear the Devonshire name well enough. But Amalia," he sneered, his voice laced with venom, "is nothing but an abomination, a half-blood."

Amalia's face flushed with a mix of anger and sadness. Her shoulders trembled, but she stood her ground, refusing to look away from her father's derisive gaze. Despite the tears in her eyes, her defiance shone through, a small act of bravery amidst the overwhelming darkness. ''You chose to impregnate my mother.'' She spat.

Archie's lips curled into a disdainful smile. ''Love made me blind, weak. It was a mistake, you are a mistake!'' He then turned to where Lazarus and Charlotte sat. "Lazarus, too, is weak. To be so easily dispatched by the loss of a mere limb. It's disappointing." His gaze swept across the room, landing on each of us with a critical eye. "None of you measure up. Leuca was the closest to being a perfect heir."

The weight of his words hit hard, a grim acknowledgment of the futility of our struggle. My heart pounded in my chest, the enormity of our predicament crashing over me like a tidal wave. But even as I struggled with the reality of our situation, I knew that we had to act.

Wyatt and Christina stood beside me, their expressions grim but resolute. I turned to them, determination firming my voice. "We need to hold him off. Just for a minute. I have a plan."

Christina's lips twitched into a wry smile, a hint of amusement breaking through her worry. "A minute? You overestimate us, Riley, but we can try." Her eyes met mine with a blend of affection and urgency. "We'll do our best."

Wyatt shrugged, his face set in a serious line. "An order from the lady is an order." He gave me a nod, a silent promise of his support. His gaze was steady, his commitment clear.

With a determined nod, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the confrontation ahead. Wyatt and Christina moved into position, preparing to engage Archie. Their resolve was a beacon of hope in the midst of despair.

As Wyatt and Christina braced themselves, I turned my attention to the children. Their safety was paramount. I had to find a way to protect them, to ensure they remained out of Archie's reach. Every second counted.

The room was a whirl of chaos as Wyatt and Christina faced off against Archie. Doing everything they could to keep him away from me, as I just ran. I could see the strain in their movements, the desperation in their eyes. My heart ached as I watched them, but I had no time to focus on anything other than getting my children to safety.

I sprinted back to where Leia and Zera stood, their small faces etched with confusion and fear. Their little hands reached out for me, and I scooped them up, holding them close. The urgency of the moment made my heart pound painfully in my chest.

Kissing their cheeks, I whispered through my tears, "I love you so much. Mommy needs you to be brave now." My voice trembled as I tried to mask my fear with a semblance of cheerfulness. "We're going to play a game of hide and seek. You need to hide, and I'll come find you."

Leia and Zera looked at me with wide eyes, their confusion deepening. I tried again, my voice steady despite the tears streaming down my face. "You need to hide now. Mommy will find you. It's very important."