The Impaled Bride (Vampire Bride 3)

“I was asleep, you imbecile,” I retort with a dismissive snort.

“You are lying!”

“Ágota is long gone due to your dealings!”

“Witches are very difficult to kill,” Lucifer reminds me.

To my dismay, this brings tears to my eyes. I glower at the devil with rage burning in my chest. I want to tear into him with my nails and shred him to pieces.

Mocking me with laughter, he settles comfortably into his chair. “You have seen Ágota. When I speak her name, I see that glow of hope in your soul. You cannot hide it from me.”

“I dream of her when I sleep. That is what you see within me. The joy of revisiting the fond memories of a sister and time long past.”

A half-truth.

“Do you really think you can deceive me? The Father of Lies?” Lucifer regards me incredulously. “That spell took you elsewhere. I want to know exactly where that was!”

I scoff at him. “I told you the truth. I revisit my fondest memories of my sister and find peace away from my imprisonment.”

Lucifer scrutinizes every aspect of my being, attempting to ascertain if I am lying or not. I can see I have confounded him by telling him a degree of the truth. I will not admit I suspect the visits to the past serve a purpose, or that the spell is one Ágota cast long ago.

“I do not believe you,” he says finally. “You want to be free of your captivity and you have a bargaining chip in this mysterious spell which has clearly captured my attention. Yet, you are not wielding this knowledge to your advantage. I have stated unequivocally that I want to know where your spirit is absconding to. Therefore, you are in a position to make demands. But you are not doing so. It is evident you wish to keep this knowledge hidden from me, even if it means you will remain a captive. Therefore, the spell must have to do with Ágota. You love her more than yourself.”

It is difficult to remain stoic as panic starts to build within my chest. If she cast the spell long ago in an effort to protect me, I will not betray her legacy.

“Does it pain you to always be so suspicious of everyone’s motives? Did you consider I am wise enough to ascertain that indulging you with falsehoods will only result in you adding to my torment when you discover my lies? I am in enough pain. I wish for no more.” I press my hand to the ugly wound and blood leaks through my fingers to make my point.

“You have always been clever,” Lucifer says grudgingly. “But there is witch magic interfering in your captivity. I have witnessed it.”

“If it is a spell, then it is the sweetest one of all, for it allows me moments of respite in fond memories,” I say.

The devil grunts, his blue eyes peering at me as though they can slice away my flesh and reveal the truth. “Maybe it is not Ágota. Maybe it is another witch, hidden out there attempting to find you. How many are left alive now?”

“I would not know,” I reply.

“Oh, that’s right. They shunned you.”

I stand sharply, the pain from my movement nearly rendering me unconscious. Perhaps this is not an illusion and I am temporarily free. No, no. It is an illusion and I must not give it power. “I am done here. If there is a spell, it is a weak one to influence my dreams. Dreams that I greatly prefer to my current company.”

Lucifer glides to his feet in one swift motion and seizes my shoulders. Staring into my eyes, he says, “Lies, lies, lies... It must be Ágota’s magic. You would not deign to play the fool otherwise. What did your sister do? What is this spell? I must know!”

The d

ark shape of a dragon’s shadow passes over the room and Lucifer snarls.

The illusion vanishes in an instant.

Vlad stands at the end of the bier, his hand resting upon my ankle. Lucifer releases his hold on my head with an angry growl and draws away. For once, Vlad’s appearance is a relief. His long dark auburn hair sweeps over his shoulders as he menacingly advances on the devil.

“This is unexpected,” Vlad says in his oh-so-deadly voice, stopping at the end of the bier to glower at the devil. His gaze is raw with wrath and barely contained violence.

“Is it? I am visiting my dear friend.”

“You are intruding on my personal matters.”

“Speaking of personal matters, you are supposed to be in Vienna.” Lucifer’s handsome face takes on a bored expression. “Begging your Mistress for freedom or some such nonsense?”

Vlad would never grovel before the vampire who created him. He despises her.