Chapter 34: The seal

Before my mind processed what happened, blue flames shot out of my hands. One got the first vampire right between the eyes. He flew back into the wall, leaving marks of scorched clothes.

Two other vampires took my arms. I kicked one in the knee, then struck the other with my elbow. The guy's nose cracked, and he released me.

Cross stood next to Zoe's chair. His arms were crossed as he watched me. "You can't fight all of them." He shook his head. "Magic will wear out much quicker than you expect it."

The basement door was suddenly burst open. Jenna rushed down the stairs, rods in each hand. She slashed with a rod towards one vampire's neck. Then another rod hit a vampire on the side of the head. "Stay still."

The vampire dropped, and she didn't stop there. With incredible precision, she whipped her rod around and struck another vampire on his chest, blood splattering from the punctured spot. "I told you to hold on."

Jenna pushed a vampire away from me, wiping her sleeve against her face.

Mira woke up on the floor. She grasped the black smoke strangling her from below. Her nails dug into the substance as she yanked at it, then she panted and struggled to her feet.

Through Zoe, Raze sounded irritated. "Impossible." He leaned Zoe's head forward slightly. "You lack power enough to break my hold."

With determination shining in her eyes, Mira held her hands in front of her. Black smoke started swirling inside, then she threw the substance into Zoe. "I am no longer a weakling." The black stuff wound around Zoe's hands, choking her.

Cross leaped at me. As I attempted to raise my hands, he took my wrists in a vice grip. His eyes bore holes into mine. "Your magic now belongs to me."

The coldness of his touch spread up my arms as he squeezed tighter. Blue flames flickered on my fingers then disappeared. I tried again, but nothing happened.

While Jenna was trying to pry Cross off me, a vampire tackled her. Both of them tumbled to the floor, then the vampire's fist struck Jenna's ribs.

The basement door opened once more.

Dorian appeared on top of the stairs. His face was paler than before with a bead of sweat rolling down his face. He still had an iron rod in his hand.

Taking cautious steps, Dorian descended the stairs, face twisting in pain. "I told you not to come alone." At the bottom, he lashed out with his rod, dropping the vampire with the stroke.

Cross stared down at me for a moment, then he loosened his grip. "You should be dead." He stood, waiting for his next action.

"I am too stubborn to die," coughed Dorian. Blood was trickling down from his lips. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

Dorian took a stance, then pointed his rod at Cross. "Let her go."

"You can barely stand." Cross laughed at his threat. "What will you do? Poke me to death?"

Without thinking, Dorian rushed at Cross.

Cross released me from his grip then turned to face Dorian. Grabbing his rod, Cross wrenched it from Dorian's grasp. "You shouldn't have come."

Cross grabbed Dorian's throat in his fist, lifting him up. "You should stay in bed."

The vampire dropped to the ground, his body trembling as his fingers dug into Cross's arm. "Arya... now..."

Raising my hands, I fired another round of blue flames towards Cross's back. He doubled over in pain, dropping the vampire onto the floor.

Dorian managed to get up from the ground, clutching his chest. Dark stains of blood were soaking his shirt in two places.

Cross looked at me, then at Dorian. "Now you are outnumbered." He pointed to the other vampires. "Kill them."

The vampires froze.

Cross snapped his fingers. "Kill!"

Before anyone could move, the vampires pounced. One jumped at Jenna, who successfully blocked his attack then stabbed the vampire right through the heart.

Another vampire took Mira by surprise, attempting to choke her. She used her elbow as a shield, then black smoke escaped her mouth, clouding the vampire's sight momentarily. His eyes turned black, and he fell onto the floor.

Two vampires approached me. I shot the blue flames at them, hitting the first one in the gut. The vampire fell backwards, and the other one dodged the blast. He grabbed my neck with his hand, pressing my windpipe closed.

Dorian struggled to his feet. "Let...her...go..."

Cross turned to look at Dorian, grabbing the vampire's arm and throwing him to the side. Dorian landed hard against the floor then fell onto the wall.

"Now your turn." He faced me then took both my hands into his, squeezing them until I felt my bones creak under pressure. "Your magic is strong." He squeezed harder. "But you are a pitiful mortal."

I tried again to summon the flames, but I wasn't able to concentrate on anything. My arms were completely useless.

"Arya!" Mira yelled.

"Let me go!" Jenna shouted. She tried to rush toward me, but vampires stopped her way.

Dorian tried to stand up, but he collapsed immediately.

Cross bent closer to me, staring right into my face. "Say goodbye."

No sounds escaped my lips, no matter how much I wanted to.

The earpiece buzzed, then I could faintly hear Jenna's voice. "Hold on."

Then the basement door was opened once more.

Heavy footprints sounded through the stairs. They echoed in the room.

"What else did you bring here?" Cross asked.

I couldn't see anything beyond his arm.

Then Vance's voice sounded. "Calvary."

Bright blue light invaded the room.