Chapter 21: Richard’s Exile

*Esmerelda*

I was going to die. I was sure. But at the very least, I would die knowing the truth and knowing that Elijah was good and different. He was nothing like these monsters that had hunted me and tied me down. They were so willing to kill me.

Elijah was nothing like that.

I closed my eyes. I could face death bravely.

I felt his fangs brush against my skin slightly, just a sharp touch, nothing more. And then the lights all went out.

“What the hell?” I heard Richard mutter right against my throat.

He turned away from me. I could feel the empty air in the dark.

“Find out what’s going on!” he barked an order to someone.

“I told you we shouldn’t be doing this!” another one screamed, half panicked. “Elijah will find out!”

“Just do what I said!” Richard screamed again, but still no one moved.

And then there was a loud bang. Even I could recognize the sound of a door being ripped off its hinges. And then everything happened all at once.