Chapter 24 - Free of Chains

Chapter 24 - Free of Chains
Castle Vitalis Garden Pond

Five days ago

A crack of lightning appeared some distance away from where Amanda stood. It was so strong and loud, but it didn’t divert her focus on the man that continued to close in on her.

Steady were his footsteps, simply bidding his time, just like some sick old lion stalking its prey. But to Amanda it was an advantage. It gave her an enough time to plan her escape. It gave her the time to evoke the witch blood within her.

Her mother always told her that their kind had natural abilities. Powers that they can use even though they haven’t reached their twenty-fifth birthdays yet. Unfortunately, her mother didn’t get the chance to teach her how to summon it. A sure disadvantage indeed.

Though Amanda still doubted she had an ability, it was her best choice to fight off the man who certainly eyed her like a piece of meat. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, evoking whatever power she could use.

But then, the unexpected happened.

The angry sky flashed another batch of lightnings again and this time, the man used this to his advantage.

Literally lightning-quick, he was upon her, large hands secured on her shoulders to halt her escape.

Amanda’s breath knocked right out of her lungs. Her heart, she swore, could have just jumped out of her chest.

“No!” she yelled, pushing his chest away and in the process, shoved a little of the collar of his maroon long-sleeved shirt. There she saw the tattoo, or a mark, peeking itself; two inverted crescent moons she knew were supposed to be for the use of witches only. Her mother created one for her father - her soulmate. Her only lover. If the man had one, then that meant...

Could it be that he had a witch lover too?

That was the ultimate question that swam in her mind.

She stared at the man’s face, just to see who he was, but she was already too late. The man was already lowering his head directly into her neck; white fangs gleaming in her peripheral vision.

“Let me go. Let me go!” she ordered, but he ignored her.

“Hmm, you smell so good just like before, woman. I certainly want to taste you.” He inched nearer, his grip tightening on her shoulders.

Frantically, Amanda fought to save herself - pushing his face and kicking his groin, hoping he’d feel some pain there. It was successful. Well, sort of.

Her neck at least was spared.

But a bite was still a bite, even in the shoulder. It still hurt fucking big time.

“Ackhhh!” Amanda flipped her head back to scream in agony. She squirmed, but the man only pressed himself, jailing her using his body. She felt her flow of blood change. She felt her veins collapse. She heard the sucking noise of his mouth, his pleased groans as he took all of her.

In that moment, she remembered Cord. Remembered how delighted she felt as his fangs pierced her wrist.

Shit.

His fangs were nowhere near Cord’s. His felt like a jagged arrow dipped in poison. Felt like barb wires drenched in acid. But maybe, it was expected. Her blood didn’t sing to him. It sang and favored the Vitalis Master.

Tears from Amanda’s eyes rolled down her cheeks. She wasn’t a crier but considering the current circumstances, she was disappointed with herself for not being able to fight back.

Yes, fight back.

And then, she remembered her ability. Or the possibility that she might have one.

Before her eyes rolled back and heart shut down, she gathered her will and summoned whatever ability she had.

No! I will not die like this! she cried.

Inside her then, Amanda felt the beginnings of heat. Caustic heat. She clenched her fists and there she found her fingers hardening, spewing off energy currents.

Without waiting, she grabbed the nearest body part of the man she could find - his elbow. Quickly then, the man’s arm and shoulder petrified - turning gray and fossil-like.

There was a pained gasp before the attacker wrenched himself out of Amanda’s flesh, glaring, and in haste, pushed her into the pond.

Amanda would have seen his face then, but sheer fatigue and loss of blood eased her eyes shut as she fell into the depths of the murky water.




Castle Vitalis

Present


Boreal eyes versus arctic ones landed on Amanda as soon as she heard Cord and Matteo’s voices.

She stared at Cord and saw that at least he looked worried enough for her as oppose to Matteo who appeared jealous. Really jealous. An almost punch-to-the-face jealous. And Amanda somehow knew why, but she was too shaken, too disturbed of the appearance of her attacker and the flashbacks she had to even care about the two men’s obvious tension.

“Are you alright?” she heard Cord ask, voice low and with a hint of concern.

“She isn’t, it’s pretty obvious,” Matteo scoffed, moving forward to stand some few feet away from them.

Cord ignored him. He didn’t so much as raise his head or eyes to look at him.

“What’s wrong?” he continued. He gripped her left wrist tighter, urging her to answer.

Amanda released a shaky breath. When their eyes met, she felt a sense of safety instantly.

“Cord, my atta-”

“Cait, you don’t need to answer him. It’s none of his business,” Matteo interrupted.

The Vitalis Master still ignored him, but produced an impatient huff he did.

“You feel cold, Amanda,” he pointed out.

Much to the alarm in her eyes, Amanda then felt another hand grab her right arm.

“Let her go. I’ll warm her up if she feels cold,” she heard Matteo say.

This time, Cord glared at the man, showing the same amount of anger his competition was showing.

“Are you a walking kettle, Mr. Threvelli? A heater perhaps? I think not. So fuck off,” was his blunt remark. Speedily, he pulled Amanda by the waist and turned heels. “Come with me.”

But Matteo was insistent himself. “I believe I’m supposed to say that.” He pulled her arm and ordered, “Amanda, let’s go.”

“Unhand her. Now.” Cord stepped in.

“No, you do that. Not me. I’m her fiancé. It’s my duty to see to her needs,” Matteo voiced out, heat filling his face. “You, on the other hand, meant nothing to her. So you fuck off.”

The air was thick. The tension even thicker. With how ready the two were with punching each other’s faces, Amanda’s state of shock died out. The issue of her attacker was important, but these two hormonal Alphas were even more.

“No. Both of you. Unhand me,” she grounded, fed up with being treated like an object.

Yet, Cord and Matteo didn’t.

“I’m not going to say please nor will I ask you the second time.”

“Amanda.” It was Matteo who voiced out first. He pulled her again but Amanda jerked her arm free.

“Stop it Matt. Just stop it.” She gritted her teeth, sending him a small frown that didn’t perfectly represent the maelstrom of different emotions inside her.

Matteo, because of this, fell silent, feeling defeated, but he still looked at the Master with hate in his eyes, disliking the fact that Cord’s hand was still resting on her waist.

Amanda’s attention then moved to a small group behind him. Two were the vampire ladies watching them like some sort of sick T.V. drama, the other was Noman who stared at her with confusion and the last was Garett, standing behind Heather wearing a smug grin on his face.

“Cord, lead me away from here, please,” Amanda stated just as she turned to look at him.

Was the Vitalis Master the lesser evil if she were to choose from the group? Maybe. Well, Noman wasn’t evil so to speak, but she didn’t want to drag him into her mess.

Cord was the best option. Although the fear within her that was caused by his honesty was still present, she knew he was the right choice.

The one chosen, pleased, moved to hook a possessive arm on her back, but before they could step forward, Matteo complained:

“What’s the meaning of this, Cait? Why do you choose him over me?”

Amanda shut her eyes and controlled her breathing, counting to three. “I’m choosing no one, Matt.”

“Then stay with me.”

She shook her head and looked at him with a grave face.

“I can’t. It’s complicated.”

“No, you don’t say that.”

“Just give me this night, please. There’s just something I needed to fix. Urgent. It’s very urgent.” Her eyes wandered unconsciously on Garett and saw him still looking at her with wickedness. She clutched the back of Cord’s coat in response and continued in haste, “I’ll tell you everything tomorrow. You can stay in this castle if you want. There are plenty of rooms here.”

“Then I’ll stay,” Matteo agreed although it was with a heavy heart.

Though with trembling lips, Amanda smiled a little. “Noman will accompany you for now.”

She turned to face the opposite hallway, intent on leaving the area asap, but then Matteo grabbed her arm again, pulled her, and called:

“Cait.”

“Ma-!”

It was an unexpected move.

His lips then clashed on hers like a flash flood on the rooftops. He held her tightly, putting an arm around her back, the same back that Cord had just claimed earlier. Their faces were so close that Amanda couldn’t tear herself away.

Noman gasped, putting a hand over his mouth.

Heather showed a partly shocked, partly amused grin. Same went to her sibling.

Pamela, on the other hand, raced to shake her head, sticking her sights not on the kissing couple but on Cord, who certainly was fuming inside, showing as if he was ready to throw his deadly shadows at the audacious fake fiancé.

‘No,’ Pamela, the ever wise, ever calm vampire, mouthed at him.

Cord saw the message. He wasn’t one to throw a scene, especially one that came from a jealous man, so he took a sharp inhale and clenched his fists in the end. Seeing them kissing was utter torture for him, but at least, as an small incentive, she looked slightly upset. Just slightly.

When Matteo was done, he grinned and darted his tongue out to lick his bottom lip.

“I’ll visit your room later,” he stated, sounding as if he had just won a petty competition.

“Right,” was the only word Amanda could say, or was the only word her battered brain could fish out. She turned to Cord, stepping out of Matteo’s hold and said, “Let’s go.”

Cord followed, but he inwardly cursed, displeased of what took place.

They both exited the hallway connecting the rooftop. Amanda, by this time looked at Cord, wanting to ask where he was leading her. But in all honesty, she cared less where they were going. Just as she was away from her attacker that was enough.

Cord turned to another hallway on the left side of the third floor foyer. Amanda silently followed, but prior castle tours with Arissa told her that they were headed for the Master’s chamber.

No. Not there.

Amanda opened her mouth to object, but Cord beat her to it.

“I’m confused,” he said, suddenly pausing on his tracks.

She stared at him, puzzlement showing in her face amidst the anxiety she was feeling.

“I’m confused as to which issue I should tackle with you tonight,” Cord elaborated and then pushed her against the burgundy wall. His left hand lifted to press it, putting an invisible barrier to keep her in. “Should I ask what made your heartbeat drum with fear or should I stick to my anger and interrogate you about that stupid man?”

“Mat...Matteo is anything but stupid,” Amanda pointed out, instantly flushed with how Cord caressed her chin.

“Oh really? The way you said it makes me want to choose the second option. Interrogate you.”

Amanda, with eyes not meeting his, pressed her lips thinly. “There’s nothing to interrogate Cord. He is my fiancé. You’re already aware of that.”

“Ah, so you are acknowledging that now.” He released a noise that could be compared as an annoyed sigh. “He’s going to be ecstatic.”

“You’re acting like a boy.” Her knuckles whitened, trying her best to control the trembling of her fingers.

“Hmm,” Cord mumbled, “That maybe so but I am a boy who worries for you. He may not have noticed but I knew, before you left the pergola, there was an instant fear in your heart. I felt it in my veins. I felt it in the blood I took from you.”

“My attacker. He is here.” Amanda finally admitted, but Cord only nodded once.

“I know that he lives in this castle Amanda. I just needed you to pinpoint him for me.”

“Garett,” she breathed out, still not looking at him. “Heather’s older brother. It’s him.”

There was a pause and then followed by Cord’s audible nasal sigh.

“Calvin,” he spoke, ice and fire mixed in his voice.

Amanda appeared lost for a moment. Who was this Calvin? She braved a glimpse at him who was staring at her with stormy orbs - his blindness not at all a hindrance.

“Calvin. Calvin. Calvin. Calvin. Calvin. Fuck, Calvin, come here this instant.”

Upon the mention of the last word, a man appeared from a dark corner of the hallway connected to a narrow stairs.

“Shit, you don’t need to be so whiny,” Calvin muttered, stepping out into the light with his brows furrowed. Then, he flashed his pearly whites towards Amanda and waved a hand at her, “Hello, Amanda.”

The one greeted wasn’t able to answer as Cord swiftly inserted without even looking at him, “Garett. That’s our culprit. Chain him this instant.”

Calvin executed a low bow as if to tease him and said, “As you wish, Master Vitalis.”

Like any other vampires, he vanished, blending in with the darkness of the area.

When they were left alone again, Cord grinned and caressed her bottom lip with his thumb.

“Now, where were we?”

Amanda clenched her teeth, trying to hold back a thrilled moan. His precise attention on her was enough to make her swoon, enough to create tingles all over her body, but for now, she had to painstakingly keep them in.

“Aren’t you going to attend to my attacker first?” she asked, her line of sight landing on his lips, err...his neck.

“He can wait. He has plenty of time to spill his guts. But you, don’t. I don’t want to leave you when that Threvelli man is in my land.”

“I’m not a damsel-in-distress Cord,” she reasoned, well at least not now. “And come to think of it, I should be safer with Matteo than with you. You are after all my enemy. As per your words, you slaughtered my kind, exactly just like I have in my dreams.” She knew they were painful words, but she had to spill them outright. She wanted to test him.

“Those were in the past Amanda. The past!” Cord’s voice rose higher.

“But it happened still! Now tell me, tell me a good reason why I shouldn’t be afraid of you!”

This time, their eyes met - hazel-violet orbs to greenish-red ones. A raging flame of challenge versus a burning iron of purpose.

“I promised not to suck you dry didn’t I?”

“Inadequate,” Amanda hissed, disliking his choice of words. “You want to keep me in this castle. You don’t want me to leave. Wouldn’t that scream odd for you if you were in my shoes? I am not an object Cord. I am not your pantry. I am a human. I have a life outside of this place.”

She pressed a finger on her chest as if to prove her point.

But was it even her true point?

Or was there something else she wanted to tell him? Like words that opposed her previous statements?

Because yes, in all honesty, she hated herself. She hated herself for feeling for him. She may not care to admit it but yes, she just wanted to be locked in his castle, in his embrace, bathed in his warmth that made her complete and free. Free than being outside his castle.

How twisted was that? A woman lying to herself. But she couldn’t say that to him. She couldn’t tell him the truth. At least not audibly.

“Is Fate playing with me?” Cord released a resigned sigh, stepping a meter away from Amanda and opening a space for her to escape. “I’ve killed too many witches, hated them with all my dead heart, but now, I’m drawn to you - who is probably the last of your kind. Are you Fate’s answer to torture me?”

“I’m not torturing you,” she objected without delay, not moving on her spot.

Cord simply smiled, but it was one without weight.

“You are, Amanda. Standing there, acting like I have a disease and accusing me of my past transgressions. Do you think I didn’t atone for that? I’ve lived for far too long. Guilt and darkness had been my constant companion, and because of that, sometimes it made me wish I was human again just to die and end my suffering.”

“I’m not torturing you,” Amanda uttered again, looking down, unsure of how to answer him.

Cord’s stare on her deepened.

“Then kiss me,” he suggested, “Kiss me like you did before I poured my past to you. You standing there is torture enough.”

Amanda was taken aback. What a great suggestion indeed. But she refused to move.

The corner of Cord’s mouth twitched.

“Come to me,” he said.

But Amanda kept her feet still. She lifted her head to meet his gaze, daring him to act out his command instead.

Cord’s patience broke. “Shit. Such a stubborn woman you are.” In a swift move, he seized her waist and pressed her body against his. His mouth collided against hers and so did her back against the wall. He moved to steady her face, one hand on her nape while the other palmed her cheek.

Amanda’s moan escaped in response. She would have been alarmed with this, but somehow, it made her happy. By the heavens, it was far better for that released than confined. Her hands found the collar of his coat and boldly, she gripped them tight, pulling him closer in the process.

Their tongues dueled, igniting their desires the same as what they felt last night. And more. More. It was enough to replace the dangerous words they hid within themselves.

But in a distant area of the hallway, away from view, one didn’t approve of their union: Matteo, who curled his fingers into a tight fist, blood almost draining out of his palms.

“Spy them and see for yourself how your witch got tempted by the Vitalis Master,” the words of Garett rang again and again in his mind.