Chapter 14: THE SNAP

The first vampire reached me before I could even react.

He grabbed me by the wrist. And when I tried to jerk my hand away, he only clutched tighter. His golden eyes glowed as he yawned widely revealing sharpened teeth.

Dorian brought his iron bar down into the vampire's ribcage. It made a sickening crack as the bones cracked. The vampire released his grip on me and stumbled to the side, but he did not fall down. Instead, he went for Dorian and slammed both hands into his throat.

Jenna whipped some holy water into the second vampire's face. The man started screaming as his flesh burned, and his fingers scraped along his cheeks. He staggered backwards until he collided with the pipe and fell down to the ground.

Two more vampires came to close in on me. The taller man had a shaven scalp while the shorter one had a scar running through his upper lip.

My back met the rough surface of the pipes as I continued backing up.

Then I watched as the tall vampire jumped forward and my hands were suddenly raised. An enormous burst of blue flame shot from my palms to meet him halfway. With a sickening splat, he was launched backwards towards the boiler, making a horrible metallic clang as he hit it. Then he lay there unmoving.

The shorter one hesitated, turning to look between his fallen comrade and I. "Who are you?"

I did not say anything, but my hands still crackled with energy. Steam rose from the spot where I touched the man, burning the sleeve of my jacket.

From the other side of the room, Jenna yelled, "Stop it, or you'll hit one of us!"

But I could not stop the strange energy from flowing through my body. It pulsed and flickered beneath my skin, bursting to life in the form of flame from my hand. Twice it erupted, and twice it died down.

Finally, Mira closed the book and placed it carefully atop the boiler. Her knife was dark and curved and clearly very sharp. She smiled coldly at me. "The witch is mine." She moved towards me slowly, boots making soft sounds against the concrete ground. The rest of the vampires stepped aside, letting her approach.

"You've always been more powerful than common sense," she stated.

Even if my hands were shaking, I managed to hold them at my sides. "Always too afraid to take the chance."

"And now I'm not afraid anymore," she snarled at me.

She rushed towards me. Dorian stepped in her way. With a single blow of his iron rod, he prevented her knife reaching its goal. Sparks flew as his rod touched her knife. Dorian's pale face was growing darker as the blood continued flowing from his body.

"Still able to stand, vampire?" Mira spat angrily at Dorian.

With what little strength remained to him, Dorian pushed her back. "Barely."

Stumbling two steps forward, she managed to regain her balance.

One of the vampires grabbed Dorian from behind. Their hands struggled as they tried to overpower each other. Dorian's feet were scraping the floor. An iron rod fell from Dorian's hands, hitting one of the pipes.

I tried focusing my magic once again, but nothing happened. Nothing but an emptiness appeared in my palms.

Jenna tossed her holy water in the face of the vampire who was struggling with Dorian. Liquid splashed into his face, making him step away and start clawing at his eyes. Dorian collapsed on his knees.

Mira turned her knife at me. "You see your friends crumbling down? Submit, and it will all be over quickly."

At that moment, Zoe's eyes snapped open. The human eyes of brown color met the chaos that was taking place here.

"Arya?" Her voice sounded tired. "What's going on here?"

Before I was even able to say something, her eyes rolled back into her head, and her body went rigid.

Raze laughed through her lips.

"Enough playing with us," he strained against the ropes that bound Zoe in place, causing smoke to appear where the rope touched her skin.

Mira turned her head to the vampires, screaming at them. "He's breaking free! Get the grimoire!"

A vampire immediately rushed to the boiler. Raze reacted quicker, though. With a single push, he broke free of one of the ropes, causing it to fall apart in ashes.

"It's too late," he laughed.

All the other ropes tore instantly, and Zoe's body rose, while the chair toppled over behind her. Raze stretched his shoulders as if he had just woken up from a lengthy sleep.

I looked at Dorian. He was kneeling with one hand against his chest. Jenna crouched behind the pipe and searched her pocket for something unseen.

Mira stepped away from Raze. "There was a deal."

"We made one, and I held up my end of it. I am free now, and you have the grimoire," Raze said. He turned his attention to me. "It is time to deliver the witch to me."

He took a couple of calm and relaxed strides towards me, and Zoe's body began moving as if it were not hers anymore.

I held my hands forward, and fire sparks crackled over my palms. The flame that formed was tiny and weak.

"Your magic is spent. You have survived on adrenaline and your fear these last several days," Raze said and stopped within arm's reach of me. "All you need to say is yes, Arya, and everything will end peacefully for you."

My heart sank, and I lowered my hands to my sides.

"Don't do it!" Mira shouted.

"No," Raze said and did not turn to look at her. "She is not listening to you."

Jenna stood up and walked out from behind the pipe. She held the coil of copper wires, and her eyes returned to their natural silver color. "Arya, back away."

"I see. You are trying to bind me, Warden?" Raze laughed. "I can break through those easily. You will fall in pieces as soon as you try to touch me."

Jenna clenched her jaw tight. "Then, try me."

Several vampires, who were not knocked out yet, gathered around Raze. They formed a barrier between him and Jenna. The vampire that caught fire was gone, and the vampire that was hurt by Dorian in the ribcage was already back on his feet.

"Run, Arya," Dorian called me and grasped my ankle from the floor.

I looked at the door. The smaller vampire who locked it remained right there, blocking our way.

I looked at Zoe. Her expression was empty, but the smile she was giving me was completely Raze's.

I turned my gaze to Mira. She held the grimoire in her hands and retreated backwards to the corner.

Raze spread Zoe's arms wide.

He was moving faster than I believed Zoe's body was capable of. His hand caught Jenna's wrist, dropping the copper wire to the floor. She tried to yank away, but Raze wouldn't let her.

"Good thing you're strong," he remarked. "Although I guess it makes sense seeing how your race has been dying off since before anyone can remember."

He tightened his grip and Jenna's fingers went slack. Her face paled and a strangled cry escaped her lips.

I tried to call upon my magic once again, but it refused to come to me, staying locked up inside my body.

Dorian tried to get to his feet, but a vampire pushed him to the floor.

Mira had opened the door and was slipping out of the room. "I'm out of here. Clean up your own messes."

Raze ignored her as she walked away. "Take the grimoire. You can have it."

Mira exited out of the door and down the hall.

Raze turned towards me. "Say it."

My lips parted, but I didn't make a sound.

Zoe's eyes turned brown just for an instant, whispering "Don't." Her eyes then returned to their normal color.

Afterwards, Raze slammed her back down on the floor and smiled at me. "Say it, Arya."