Chapter 54

Lynda jerked back. “Necromancer?” That didn’t sound so bad…they were magic users who talked to the dead and raised them like she thought. Just a different brand of magic like healers versus fire users or witches who talked to animals. “That's better than being a demon though, right?” Truth was, she'd rather just be Lynda at home watching her favorite romantic comedy with her princes beside her.

The elder smirked. “No that's worse. Along with magic, you hold the power of life and death. Your lineage mated with demons to get the power.” His face hardened. “Every so many generations, one of your ancestors spreads their legs again to keep the magical bloodline pure. Guess that's why you’re attracted to these foul creatures.”

How dare he insult her and her men! Raged flared in her heart.

“Pierre, Andrei, and Mihnea act more human than you,” Lynda spat. “They don't go making spells to hurt others like the zombie-tainted blood.”

“I had nothing to do with that!” the elder shouted.

“A few on your precious council did though, didn’t they?” Lynda crossed her arms. “That’s why you had them exterminated.”

Pierre raised an eyebrow at the elder. “So Lynda having demonic heritage means she has both demon and witch magic. Why does that concern you or your council?”

“I can guess.” Lynda paced before them. “It means my magic is chaotic.” Which explained why her simple light of fire had turned into an inferno and crushed a skyscraper. Then there was the issue of her blood healing the zombie virus including her being immune to infection from a bite. Was it because of her demon side? She shuddered. First, she was a witch and now she was part devil?

“And I'm too powerful for witch enchantments like the zombie spell which is why I don’t get turned from a bite.” She paused in front of the elder. “That's why you lured me here with Andrei because you and your kind can't control me. You figure the world is safer without me. That’s why you created this mock trial to ease your conscious.”

“No, the world would be a better place without your kind or his.” He gazed from her to Pierre.

Anger surged through her veins and she wanted to scream and punch something. In answer, magic buzzed along her skin, lifting the hairs along the back of her neck like static electricity was waiting to discharge if she touched something. Stay calm.

After a few deep breaths, the magic sizzling along her skin subsided some.

“What exactly did you do to Andrei and Mihnea and how do I heal them? And don't tell me there's no remedy or you don't know because I will blast you into the depths of hell to get the answer if I have to.”

The elder squirmed in his chair as her magic threatened to surge forward again. Could he feel it?

“Answer her or I will break every bone in your body starting with your fingers.” Pierre clenched his fists.

“I-I swear, I don't know. What the witches did for whoever they worked for was black magic. Evil. We want no part in it.”

“So you just murdered the witches without making them reveal their sources?” Lynda crossed her arms. “Why not get to the root of the matter? What if you've others here that participated in zombie magic?”

“They took a blood oath. None could tell us anything or write it out or communicate in any way why or who ordered the curse.”

“Sounds like something my dad would do.” Pierre rubbed his chin. “Like whenever he reaches a new place, he has shields and traps like what we went through and he binds the witches to him. If they speak or act against him in any way, they die before they finish thinking the thought.”

“So Dracula could've done this to get rid of the Russians.” Lynda raked a hand through her short hair. “But why attack Andrei?”

Pierre frowned. “I don't know. Unless Andrei stumbled across something that Father didn't want him to interfere in.”

The elder stood. “If you both will excuse me, I have to see about the others.”

“No,” Lynda pushed against his shoulder. “Not until I know you won't harm me or my men.” How she was going to stop him or any of the others was a question for later. For now, she had to heal Andrei and Mihnea. Find out if Andrei knew anything about who hired the witches if it was Dracula or not.

Wait. What if Andrei had found out his father had taken her data? Or if he was there and tried to stop him? Dracula could've had a witch spell him with the coma. It would be just like him to have a secret trap implanted in him that sprang when Lynda tried to heal him.

Dracula hadn't counted on her mixed blood being able to heal the Russians. But why hadn't it worked on Mihnea?

She chewed on her thumbnail as she paced.

Unless there was another issue with Mihnea and Andrei. Like an invisible link and her blood wouldn't work until she'd broken the spell on Andrei.

She grabbed Pierre's hand, her heart swelling with hope. “C’mon, let's go get your brothers, I think I may know how to save them.”

“What about Mr. Prejudice Elder here?” Pierre pulled against her.

“He won't try anything, will you?” She patted the elder's balding head. “'Cause he knows I'll perform the forbidden enchantment and turn him into a ghoul.” Even though she knew little to nothing about magic much less demonic incantations, his widened eyes told her she'd hit a mark.

“And if you harm me or any of my princes, I will make certain you live an eternity serving the darkest demons of hell and my necromancer status will make me look like a saint compared to you.” God, she hoped he didn't call her bluff.

When he nodded, she clasped Pierre's arm and they took off down the hallway toward Andrei. She'd give him her blood and pray her theory was correct. If she was right, then when Andrei woke from his comma the magical link connecting him and Mihnea should break.

This had to work. It was the best chance they had.