Crimson Veil (Book I)

The Cost of Sacrifice

With a wave of his hand, the room's magic flared to life. The runes on the walls glowed brighter, and Elena could feel the pull of the ancient energy, drawing her in, binding her to this moment. Kallista's son stepped even closer, his hand brushing against her cheek, cold and possessive.

"You and I," he whispered, his breath hot against her skin. "We are the future."

Elena's breath hitched, but she stood her ground. "I'll never be yours."

His hand slid from her cheek to her neck, his grip tightening slightly as he pulled her closer. "You already are."

Elena felt her skin prickle under his touch, the dark magic in the room amplifying the tension between them. She closed her eyes, steeling herself for what was to come. She had made this choice to save Lucien and Dante, and she would see it through, no matter how much it cost her.

He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear as he spoke. "Once our bloodlines are united, nothing will stand in our way. Not even your precious Lucien and Dante."

Elena's heart raced, her anger bubbling to the surface. "I didn't do this for power. I did this to protect them."

He chuckled softly, the sound low and sinister. "And that's what makes you so powerful, Elena. You're willing to sacrifice yourself for them. But soon, you'll realize that power is what truly matters."

She felt his grip tighten on her wrist, pulling her toward the centre of the room, where a large stone altar stood. The ancient runes that covered the surface of the altar glowed faintly, pulsing in time with the energy that filled the chamber.

Elena's body tensed as he guided her to the altar, her mind racing with the weight of her decision. She could feel the magic in the room building, the pull of it stronger than before, and she knew that what was about to happen would change everything.

He turned to face her fully, his gaze intense as he spoke. "Lie down."

Kallista's son stood over Elena, his eyes gleaming with a sinister hunger as he took in her suspended form, her body helplessly bound by the enchanted white cloth that held her in place. The gag muffled her voice, turning her cries into soft, broken sounds. The cloth was cold against her skin, tightening around her limbs, neck, and mouth, leaving her exposed, vulnerable, and suspended above the altar table. A bright white light shone down on her, illuminating her soft, fair skin, and making her seem almost ethereal in her helplessness.

He stepped closer, his hand running slowly, possessively over her swollen belly, where the heir grew within her. His touch sent a shudder through her body, but there was nothing she could do to stop it. She could only endure, her muffled voice trembling with fear and anger. His fingers tapped rhythmically against her belly, as if taunting her as if mocking the life she carried inside.

"Tell me," he whispered, his voice a low, sinister murmur that filled the room with dread. "How do you want me to deal with this?" His fingers continued their torturous tapping, sending waves of fear through Elena as he leaned in closer. His laughter was dark, filled with malice.

"Maybe I'll let it grow," he mused, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Or maybe... I'll tear it out before it even sees the light of day."

Elena's body tensed, every muscle straining against the magical binds that held her aloft, but she was powerless. She could feel the magic pulsing around her, the white light intensifying as Kallista's son moved with deliberate slowness. He revelled in her suffering, in her vulnerability. The power he had over her was intoxicating to him.

His hand moved lower, resting just above her pelvis as he spoke again, his voice dripping with cruelty. "But before I decide, let's make this more... interesting."

His hand left her belly, and a sinister smile spread across his face as he reached into the folds of his robes. Elena's eyes widened in horror as he pulled out a small, writhing snake, its scales glistening under the bright light. Her muffled scream tore through the gag as she realized what was about to happen.

Kallista's son chuckled darkly, the sound reverberating through the room as he brought the snake closer to her exposed body. "Let's see how you handle this, shall we?" he whispered, his tone full of malevolent delight.

With deliberate cruelty, he released the snake, letting it slither toward her. Elena screamed again, her voice muffled by the gag, as the snake began to make its way up her legs, its cold, slick body moving slowly, deliberately. It found its path toward her birth canal, and Elena's body convulsed in terror and revulsion as the snake forced its way inside her.

Her muffled screams grew louder as the snake slithered deeper, its movements slow and torturous, making its way through her body with malicious intent. Every inch of its cold, scaly body seemed to sear through her, filling her with a sickening mixture of pain and violation. She could feel it writhing inside her, moving closer to the life growing within her, the heir she carried.

Kallista's son laughed again, a sound that chilled her to the core as he watched her suffering, his eyes gleaming with sadistic satisfaction. "You feel that, don't you?" he whispered, his voice full of mocking amusement. "The magic inside you will only grow stronger as your body reacts to this... intrusion."

Elena's body shook, her muffled cries echoing in the chamber as the snake continued its relentless path inside her. The pain, the fear, the violation—it was all too much. She could feel the magic within her surging, reacting to the horror of what was happening, but there was nothing she could do to stop it. She was powerless, suspended above the altar, her body exposed and at the mercy of Kallista's son.

Kallista's son stood over her, his eyes dark with power. "This is your destiny, Elena."

He leaned over her, his hand trailing down her arm as he spoke, his voice low and seductive. "You'll see. In time, you'll understand."

The magic flared again, stronger this time, and Elena felt it coursing through her veins. She closed her eyes, steeling herself against the overwhelming sensation. She couldn't think about what was happening. She couldn't let herself feel the fear or the disgust. This was about survival—hers, Lucien's, and Dante's.

His hand moved to her chest, resting just above her heart, and she felt the sharp sting of his magic as it merged with her own. A cry escaped her lips, but she bit it back, refusing to show weakness.

"Let it happen, Elena," he murmured, his voice soft but commanding. "Feel the power flowing through you."

Elena gritted her teeth, her body tense as the magic swirled around her, pulling her deeper into the dark ritual. She could feel the connection forming, the merging of their powers, and with it, the sense of something far greater than herself taking hold.