Unmasked | Book 1 in "Dark Descendants" (Editing)

Chapter 15

"Stainless steel. A very useful material for weaponry." The hunter held the blade up to his face, carefully examining the way the light reflected off it. "It's funny, actually, how such simple things can be sharpened and used to kill."

"I fail to see your point, Markus." His turquoise eyes landed on a brown-haired boy. "I don't get what's so fascinating about you holding a knife literally inches away from your eyeballs."

Mark sighed and put the blade back in its protective case. "Easy for you to say, Luc," he muttered. A pang of grief struck him. "You didn't have to kill someone you loved."

"I don't love anyone, and I thought hunters despised a vampire's very existence." Luc raised from his seated position, looking at his comrade with a sneer. He flashed him a grin too, making sure his elongated fangs were visible.

Mark's teeth grit together in anger. "She was different, she didn't act like a vampire. She was good, pure. And then she made me kill her." He finished sourly.

"Well 'she' is your master, little hunter." Luc snapped at him, earning a death glare his way. "And whether you like it or not, you have to obey her every command."

"She already has an entire army!" Mark spun to face him, a look of regret all over his face. "What does she still need me for?!"

In less than a second, Luc had zoomed up right in front of Mark. He was the exact same height despite being a great deal younger, but no doubt more intimidating. "She will never let you go, this is all a game to her where she targets the weak ones. You are weak, but still dangerous. Anyone could use a hunter on their side."

"Stop it, both of you."

They both turned towards the new voice. Mark's gaze darkened.

It was her, Adriana. The one who had him under her command, who stole his freedom.

Her cruel coffee eyes narrowed at them in irritation as she reached the bottom of the wooden steps. Her straight brown hair was loose and perfect, as always, while her mouth was twisted in a look of arrogance. But she was still beautiful.

"You are all under my control," she stated, looking especially at Mark. He stared down at her with his jaw clenched. "Until I lose interest in keeping you here. Then, well, you know what I do to the useless ones now don't you?" Her lips curled into a manipulative smirk. Mark despised this woman, but he felt helpless against her. "So for your own sakes, don't disappointment me."

"I—" Mark suddenly grunted, rubbing his chest. Adriana frowned at him.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't—" He winced as he felt it again, but this time stronger. "I don't know, this isn't normal pain."

Then it returned, but ten times more intense. It caused Mark to suddenly let out a wail of pain, clutching his heart.

Adriana's perplexed look deepened and she lurched forward, slamming him against the wall. She ripped his shirt open, exposing his bare muscled chest to her.

A deep crimson mark was forming onto it.

Adriana's expression suddenly turned infuriated as her suspicions grew. She laid her hands one on top of the other on it, ignoring Mark's pained cries, and started silently chanting a spell.

Three seconds had passed before something flashed before her closed eyes.

It was a man with raven-black hair and dark eyes, standing in front of a young brunette in a white and red dress. She was no doubt a witch, because it seemed as if she was casting a spell as well.