“What, does your vampire boyfriend no longer need you? Did he throw you away like a useless toy?” A smirk curled Nigel’s lips but asecond later his brows furrowed and his nose caught a whiff of something in the air.
His gaze fell on Violette’s hand – a burgundy stream of blood slowly flowed down her palm. She backed away, face turning pale.
Their gazes met, something terrible darkened in Nigel's eyes, which prompted her to run. Though the time was already ahead of her. The last thing she remembered – two white fangs and a terrible pain in her neck.
Everything faded to blackness too soon.
Chapter 41
SOME THINGS DON’T CHANGE
Dante entered the grotto once again. The air didn't seem this thick the first time, it was becoming heavier with each step. He didn't notice how he was already standing before the pedestal with gloves, his thoughts were occupied by another event. His gaze fell onto the box, the hesitation veiled his eyes – Violette's face once again fleeted in his mind before his hands leisurely lifted the case.
He remembered the feeling of release when he took off the mask last time but it still brought him pleasure to freely work his jaw. He stretched his mouth but as he wanted to open it wider, his head flinched and his fingers trembled. The memory of what he did thefirsttime raised the goosebumps over his arms and lodged the chill inside. The mask fell inside the chest when the sudden sharp sound entered the space.
“So you did it after all,” a voice, the cracking sound slicing between the bones, evoking only disgust in Dante’s soul every time he heard it –Nigel.
Dante's eyelids dropped for a few seconds, cursing the powers which brought him here.
“I think I’d already said that you're not a welcome guest here,” he grumbled.
“As if I'm listening to you.” Nigel's lips slanted in a wry smile.
Dante speared him with an icy look over his shoulder as he slowly turned around.
His fingers started taking off the gloves. “Will you report to Caidas?”
“In any case, he'll find out when rumors and news about mysterious brutal murders spread throughout the cities.”
Nigel's careless tone full of amusement caused a look of absolute hatred on his face. And yet that wasn't what was bothering him right now. His thoughts were with the girl with the dark brown hair and blue-gray eyes full of stars which he brought to tears. At least, it's better for her to cry than be dead. He didn't regret his decision even if he broke her heart, even if it was breaking him too.
“Did you leave your girlfriend?” Nigel leaned over the wall, crossing hands over his chest.
“You know, it would be nice if you minded your own business…if there was any, of course. Sorry, I forgot that you don't have your own life. That's why you keep your nose in others’.” Dante turned to the chest to close it from snoopy hands.
“Okay, I'll go domybusiness, otherwise I'd be late – your little pet detained me. Did I mention we met?” He gritted his teeth in a shameless grin.
Unhidden indignation and concern embraced Dante's face. His brows pulled closer, a line creaking between them. Perplexing feelings filled his lungs.
“What have you done?” he breathed, his voice deepened.
“Nothing she wouldn't like if she really enjoyed the company of a vampire.” Nigel flashed his snow-white teeth again.
Dante’s stomach churned. A high-pitched aggravating sound that drowned out any other thoughts rang in his ears. The nightmare on his face seemed too real to suggest that Violette really meant nothing to him.
Spinning on his heels, he left the grotto before Nigel could say anything else – he'll deal with him later. Finding Violette was more important, he didn't send her away to di–No!
The snowflakes were calmly falling on the already white surface as if it were an ordinary winter morning. As if nature had no idea what had happened here before and what was happening now.
Dante’s eyes fell to the ground – her footprints were barely visible, the snow had managed to already powder them. He just hoped she didn't go far.
The pulse was throbbing in his temples, a sludge of dread in his chest, as he searched between the marble graves and crypts for a sign of her presence.
He crossed half of the cemetery, but the girl was still nowhere to be seen. A panic began to creep into his consciousness, which he vigorously tried to muffle: he couldn't let himself lose his head now, he had to find her…she had to be okay, she couldn't–A quiet groan reached his ear.
He turned quickly.
“Violette!” Dante exclaimed, hurrying to her.
