JК
Burnt Offerings :: Гамильтон Лорел
Страница: 279 из 286"If you had just insulted the vampires of this city, then it wouldbe over and you would owe us nothing. But we are lukoi and not vampires. You called our Geri to your hand and she came. You tried to break her, and when she would not bend you tortured her. You tortured her when you knew it would not give you the lukoi. You dishonored her for no reason, other than that you could. You did it because you expected no reprisal. The Master of Beasts thought our pack was beneath notice. Pawns in a larger game."
I released his heart, because if I hadn't, the munin would have killed him. I shoved the power deeper into him. I shoved it hard and fast until he screamed. Gideon and Thomas echoed the scream.
Padma collapsed backwards onto the floor with me riding his body.
I rose up, hands flat over his chest, legs straddling his body. "We are the Thronos Rokke, the Throne Rock people, and we are no one's pawns."
Fernando knelt just outside the circle. "Father," he said.
"His life or yours, Padma. His life or yours."
Padma closed his eyes and whispered, "His."
"Father! You can't give me to her. To them!"
"Your word of honor that he is ours to punish as we see fit, even unto death," I said.
Padma nodded. "My word."
Damian, Jason, and Rafael just suddenly appeared around Fernando. He reached out to his father. "I am your son."
Padma would not look at him. Even when I crawled off him, he curled on his side away from Fernando.
I wiped blood off my chin with the back of my hand. The munin was leaving, draining away. I could taste blood all the way down. I rolled onto my side and threw up. Blood does not improve the second time around.
Jean-Claude reached out to me and I went to him. The moment his cool hand touched mine I felt better. Not a lot, but some. Richard's hand touched my face gently. I let them draw me into the circle of their arms. Jean-Claude seemed to gain strength just from my touch. He sat up a little straighter.
I glanced over to find Gideon and Thomas doing much the same with Padma. Blood poured from all of them, but only Padma's eyes were still haunted by fear. I'd pushed him to the edge of the abyss. Pushed us both. I'd been raised Catholic and I wasn't sure there were enough Hail Marys in the world to cover what was happening to me lately.
52
Fernando tried to make a break for it but he was outmanned. Or would that be out-monstered? They bound him with silver chains and gagged him. The last was to stop his constant begging. He just couldn't believe his father had betrayed him.
Liv didn't fight.
I released his heart, because if I hadn't, the munin would have killed him. I shoved the power deeper into him. I shoved it hard and fast until he screamed. Gideon and Thomas echoed the scream.
Padma collapsed backwards onto the floor with me riding his body.
I rose up, hands flat over his chest, legs straddling his body. "We are the Thronos Rokke, the Throne Rock people, and we are no one's pawns."
Fernando knelt just outside the circle. "Father," he said.
"His life or yours, Padma. His life or yours."
Padma closed his eyes and whispered, "His."
"Father! You can't give me to her. To them!"
"Your word of honor that he is ours to punish as we see fit, even unto death," I said.
Padma nodded. "My word."
Damian, Jason, and Rafael just suddenly appeared around Fernando. He reached out to his father. "I am your son."
Padma would not look at him. Even when I crawled off him, he curled on his side away from Fernando.
I wiped blood off my chin with the back of my hand. The munin was leaving, draining away. I could taste blood all the way down. I rolled onto my side and threw up. Blood does not improve the second time around.
Jean-Claude reached out to me and I went to him. The moment his cool hand touched mine I felt better. Not a lot, but some. Richard's hand touched my face gently. I let them draw me into the circle of their arms. Jean-Claude seemed to gain strength just from my touch. He sat up a little straighter.
I glanced over to find Gideon and Thomas doing much the same with Padma. Blood poured from all of them, but only Padma's eyes were still haunted by fear. I'd pushed him to the edge of the abyss. Pushed us both. I'd been raised Catholic and I wasn't sure there were enough Hail Marys in the world to cover what was happening to me lately.
52
Fernando tried to make a break for it but he was outmanned. Or would that be out-monstered? They bound him with silver chains and gagged him. The last was to stop his constant begging. He just couldn't believe his father had betrayed him.
Liv didn't fight.