Chapter 108: The Rise Of The Dead

Chapter 108: The Rise Of The Dead

Roderick's POV

I had known from the moment Peter first stepped into this house that he would cause a disaster—or be one himself. Now, he had made it happen. He told Lif and ruined everything.

Watching Lif walk out of that door was devastating, a hollow ache settling in my chest. My plan wasn't important anymore. No, I didn’t give a fuck about it. I only cared about getting Lif back, explaining everything, and telling her how sorry I was for every lie.

“What?” Peter said, his voice dripping with mockery. “Are you sad to see her leave?” He laughed, the sound gritting against my nerves like sandpaper. “You should have seen it coming since the first day you lied to her.”

Fury exploded within me. My hands curled into tight balls, my knuckles turning white.

Using my vampiric speed, I blurred across the room. I was in front of him before he could draw another breath, and I buried a punch into his face that sent him flying. Before he could even hit the ground, I was there again, catching him and punching him over and over until the copper scent of blood filled his mouth.

A mocking laughter ripped through his lips. He pushed himself up from the broken wooden table I had smashed him into. “Wow... This is the very first time I’ve seen you this mad. You’re more enraged now than when I mentioned your stepmother and sister.”

The fury in me pumped like fuel to a fire. I moved with a burst of speed, aiming for his throat, but he waved the attack aside and caught me with a heavy blow to the mouth. I staggered backward, the sharp, metallic taste of liquid filling my throat.

I used the back of my hand to wipe the blood away.

“Do you still think you can beat me when you are this weak?” Peter sneered.

“Who told you I’m going to beat you?” I groaned, gritting my teeth until they threatened to crack. “I’m going to kill you.”

A sarcastic laugh echoed through the room. “You? Really?” He stepped closer, his shadow looming over me. “Let’s see how it goes, then.”

He suddenly lunged forward, but I dodged the strike and drove my fist into his face, lifting him off his feet and slamming him to the floor. Within a second, I was over him. I raised my hand, my fingers poised like a blade, wanting to rip through his chest and drag out his heart. But he caught my wrist, his grip like a vice, preventing me from penetrating his skin.

A chorus of grunts followed as we struggled, muscle against muscle, but he suddenly surged upward, using almost all his strength to throw me off. I hit the wall with a sickening thud and slumped to the ground.

“You really think you can get rid of me? No, you can’t. Because I’m way stronger than you—more than you could imagine.”

In the blink of an eye, he was in front of me. He strangled me by the neck, his fingers digging into my windpipe as he hoisted me off the floor.

I grunted, clawing at his hand to free myself, but this time his strength was incredible.

“Only if I hadn't forced you to drink human blood these past weeks, you wouldn't have beat me like you did. I will take that as a warning, but I won’t let it happen again,” he said, his grip tightening until my breath cut out completely.

I twisted and whined, struggling to break free, but he wouldn't even budge. He was so strong that for a moment, I truly thought I would die. I saw it in his eyes—he was ready to commit murder, his face twisted and his teeth gritted like a mad dog.

Then, he threw me away. I flew toward the entrance of the house, hitting the floor so hard that pains shot through my entire frame, making me whimper.

“I told you, you are now more likely a human,” he said, taking slow, deliberate steps toward me.

I quickly sat up, coughing up a spray of blood. He moved closer, bending down to my level until our eyes met. “You don't stand a chance against me.”

“You fucking bastard,” I cursed, wincing. Every part of me screamed in agony. I found it strange; the pain shouldn’t be this intense, and by now, I should have already healed. But everything felt different. I wasn't mending, and the pain was too raw, too deep.

It was like everything he said was true; I was more like a human.

“If you don’t believe me...” He paused, grabbing my hand and forcing it against my own chest. “Feel it. Feel the beat as it pounds. You don't stand a chance anymore, Roderick.”

As my palm touched my chest, I felt it. The rhythmic, heavy thud-thud of a beating heart.

It was impossible. I had never heard of such a thing. How could a vampire, whose heart was supposed to be frozen, start to beat? Was it because of Lif's blood? Or was it because I had let her grow on me?

What could be the reason? My mind clouded with a thousand questions.

“It’s funny,” he said, his lips spreading into a wide smile. “You said you would go against the Vampire Council, but you can’t even defeat me.”

“If you don’t kill me now, trust me, I’m going to make sure you die in my hands,” I spat.

He laughed mockingly. “Die by you? Do you still think you can beat me after what just happened?” He scoffed. “You can’t win, Roderick. You can never win against me. Trust me.”

I tried to stand, but my body refused to obey. The pain was cruelly battling my resolve.

Suddenly, a sharp knock came at the door. I raised my brows in perplexity. I knew for sure it wasn't Lif, nor was it Michael. It had to be someone else. But who?

“Oh, just on time,” Peter mumbled, moving toward the door. “There’s someone I want you to meet, Roderick. The person I know you’ve been longing to see. The leader of the Vampire Council.”

My eyes widened in shock. The leader of the Council? Why would they be here? What was Peter planning?

Finally, he opened the door, revealing the silhouette of a figure. I couldn't see them clearly at first because Peter was blocking the way.

“I thought you were going to be late, but it seems you beat me to it. Just like always,” Peter said to the stranger.

“I don’t like tardiness,” the person replied.

I felt a jolt of recognition. The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it.

“Now, Roderick, meet the glorious leader of the Vampire Council,” Peter said, stepping aside.

I was frozen for a moment. But when I finally realized who the person was, a shocked gasp left my throat and my eyes nearly bugged out of my head.

“Hello, brother?” the woman said.

“Seraphina?” I asked, unable to hide the raw shock in my voice.

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it, brother?” she replied, a smug smirk playing on her face.

What was going on? What was Seraphina—my step
sister, the one I thought was dead—doing here?

Was this all a dream? Or a nightmare?