Chapter 127: THE BLOOD CONTRACT

"You’re not supposed to be here, Ivanka."

The voice of Orion reverberated across the shadowy passageway. I went cold. My chest was thumping with my heart.

I said, "I followed Damian," as I moved into the gloom. "He came this way."

Orion's smile fell short of his eyes. "Damian walks his path now."

I balled my fists up. "I need answers."

"Then you must make a choice," he continued, extending a tiny, jagged blade. "A covenant of blood. Your allegiance is assured.

I paused. "What do you want from me?"

"A life debt," says Orion. "I'm connected to your life. In return, I’ll show you the truth."

I gazed at the blade, then at Orion. My thoughts were racing. Could I rely on him? Were I left with an option?

"I swear," I muttered, piercing my palm with the blade. The ground was soaked with blood.

Orion gave a contented nod. "Welcome, Ivanka."

Out of the corner of my eye, a shadow suddenly shifted. I looked, but there was nothing.

When Orion repeated, "We must go," he led me farther down the tube.

I sensed someone following us while we were walking. observing. Awaiting.

Damian.

Behind me, the air seemed chilly, as if someone was breathing near me.

I quickly turned. "Who is present?" I sounded unsteady.

Nothing. On the stone wall, only shadows.

Orion continued to move. "Ivanka, don't look back. Now we have an agreement. Continue to move.

But I was aware of my feelings. There was a person present. observing.

I pressed my wounded hand to my side and rushed after him. I felt a tingling on my skin. My footsteps were not as loud as my heartbeat.

We saw damaged lights flickering and rusty cables dangling from the ceiling. The tunnel led to a circular chamber with odd devices in it. On a large screen, red lights flashed.

Something on the wall was tapped by Orion. The map appeared, gleaming.

He indicated a blinking dot and stated, "Damian is here." “But he’s not the same anymore.”

"What do you mean?" I inquired.

He stared at me with a serious expression. Ethan lied to you. You are not the only one with Aria's code. Damian also has it inside of him. concealed. locked.

I took a step back. "No. That is untrue.

"Yes," Orion muttered. I required your blood for that reason. to make it accessible.

My hands became icy. "You took advantage of me?"

He grinned. "You volunteered."

The screen flashed abruptly.

A caution.

WE FOUND THE INTRUDER.

Then I heard it.

Behind me, there was a little chuckle.

I turned once more.

Damian emerged from the darkness.

He had crimson eyes.

He seemed... incorrect.

"Hello, Ivanka," he murmured. "Have you missed me?"

I went cold.

He had no smile on his face.

Not with affection.

No more.

"Damian," I muttered. My voice sounded a little as if it weren't mine. "Is that you?"

He moved ahead slowly. He didn't blink his crimson eyes. He resembled Damian. However, something was lacking. His coziness. His grin. His tenderness.

His voice was as calm as ice as he replied, "I remember everything now." "The truth, the lies, the code."

My pulse quickened. "What is the truth?"

He halted a little distance away. "You selected him," Damian remarked, gesturing to Orion. "You committed to the blood pact." You are now his.

"No! All I did was look for you! I sobbed. "I assumed you had left."

He chuckled, but not in a joyful way. "Ivanka, you never trusted me. That was the most painful thing.

I reached for his hand and murmured, "I never stopped believing in you."

He refused to accept it.

Orion moved closer behind me. "Ivanka, it appears that you have a decision to make."

"What option?" I inquired, keeping my eyes fixed on Damian.

Orion handed me a little silver knife and said, "Kill him." "Or he will murder us both."

I gave a headshake. "No. I won't.

Damian then grinned. A slow, ruthless smile.

He declared, "I don't need your choice." "Because I made mine already."

A piercing blue light appeared in his palm as he raised his hand.

With my heart racing and the knife sliding from my grasp, I stepped back.

I said, "Please, Damian." "This isn't you."

He gave me a prolonged gaze.

Then everything turned white as the light got brighter.

"Damian!" I shielded my eyes from the dazzling blue light and yelled.

It was so loud that it shattered the sky in two. My ears are ringing. My heart pounded. The air was heavy with smoke. I was no longer able to see him.

"Damian!" Coughing as the smoke struck my throat, I yelled once again.

I moved forward after falling to my knees. The chilly dirt scratched beneath my fingertips. My eyes hurt from the dust. I kept blinking until the smoke took on a shape.

There was a body on the ground.

I slithered over.

Damian was the one.

He remained still.

I touched his arm and said, "No." "No, no, no."

I flipped him over. He had his eyes shut. He had a motionless chest.

Tears streamed down my face. "You must stay with me," I replied. "You said you would."

Orion emerged from the darkness behind me. He spoke in a soothing tone. "I told you. You never had him.

I got to my feet, trembling. I tightened my hands and yelled, "Shut up." "Stop talking."

Then Damian let out a gasp.

His eyes sprang open. vivid blue. more radiant than before.

I went cold.

He glanced at me. But there was a serious problem this time.

His voice was deeper now as he spoke gently, "Ivanka." "It's no longer me."

"What do you mean?" I backed aside and asked.

He smiled again, but it wasn't his own.

He stated, "It's what's inside." "The code became active."

He was stronger and taller now. Under his flesh, something surged like wires.

Damian stepped up and stated, "You made the blood pact, but I made a deal too."

I gave a headshake. "With whom?"

He leaned in.

He muttered, "With the thing inside me." "And it wants you now."

The earth gave way under my feet before I could flee, and a voice came from underneath.

"Ivanka, please come down."

It was my voice.