The Vampire's Bride

Chapter 32

Jason's breath was coming in ragged gasps when Cor opened the door to his cell.

"I learned from my last rescue," he told the vampire as he helped him to his feet. Jason groaned, feeling his stomach turn as they flashed from Hell. His legs felt weak, as if he hadn't eaten in days. They arrived in a bright manor. He was shaking so much that he couldn't stand.

"Jason?"

Evelyn's voice was the last thing he heard before he passed out, slumping against Cor fully.

When Jason opened his eyes again, he was lying in a large bed with sheets like pillows tucked around him. He let his gaze slide to his left to see Evelyn etching at a piece of paper. Her hair was cut short now, but it was still her in all her glory. She noticed him staring and frowned.

"Why would you go and give yourself over to Adelaide? Iris is going to give you Hell when she arrives," Evelyn scolded.

"I thought you were in Hell, too," he rasped. She offered him a cup of water, which he had to force himself to drink slowly as she talked.

"We escaped with Cor's awful assistance, but not before I was officially married to the bookworm Italian prince downstairs," the assassin recounted. "I assume Axel has Iris with him, and that's why she isn't with you?"

"You know that son of a bitch?" Jason hissed.

"He is our brother."

Evelyn smiled at him gently as the former prince sat back among his pillows. He crossed his arms and glowered at the blankets in front of him. Jason just hoped that Iris was alive. His fingers gripped the sheets. Adelaide had gloated over him back in Hell.

"Hello again, Jason," she purred. "I came to thank you for the useful information."

He glared silently at her, though panic was drowning him. Iris' blood was coating the queen's arm. He could smell it. If Adelaide had murdered the love of his life on information he had given her... Jason bared his fangs at the queen. She smiled and flicked the blood off her fingers at his feet.

"Your firstborn child," Adelaide exclaimed. Jason choked and felt his throat grow thick with a gag of revulsion. No, no it couldn't be! The queen paced around him, smirking in amusement. "Did you know? Of course you didn't, why on earth would you allow her out of her sight if you did?"

Jason raked a hand through his hair. He should have confirmed with Cor that they had Iris. He should have listened to common sense. He should have defied Adelaide longer. Holding his face in his hands, Jason felt himself begin to break.

"I need a minute alone," he rasped out, his voice breaking at the end. Evelyn stood and rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"I'll bring you dinner, and I'll come get you if they get here," she called as she left. Jason waited for the door to close before easing back. Pain laced up his throat, ending in a quiet sob. He needed this moment to be alone, to let himself break. To blame himself. To hate himself for what had happened.

He pressed a hand to his mouth and let the tears hit the sheets.

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

"Are you feeling alright?" Axel called back to Iris. They'd finally managed to purchase horses despite the many inns they had stayed at. For some strange reason, the barmaids kept giving him drinks free of charge. Axel didn't understand it.

"Better, thanks," Iris replied. He gave her a slight smile, though he worried. She'd been lynched in a noose of pain for days. Axel had held her as she cried. He had feared she wouldn't leave the bed. Olivia had been kind enough to let them stay for free, as well as offering the town physician's services. His sister had refused any treatment.