Devin 's POV
Nikolai gave a nod, and one of his associates approached holding a silver chalice brimming with blood. Seeing it made me feel sick to my stomach, but I maintained a stoic expression. This act was a component of the ceremony, a promise that would unite us in a covenant of mutual advantage—or mutual ruin.
I took the cup, sensing its chilly metal on my skin. The blood within was dense and almost black, its smell overpowering. The vampires observed me carefully, anticipating any signs of hesitation. However, I did not. I raised the cup to my mouth and took a sip.
The blood tasted sharp and metallic, causing a burning sensation as I swallowed. An unsettling power ran through me, taking root in my veins and causing a shiver down my spine. However, I continued. I consumed the contents of the chalice completely before giving it back to Nikolai, maintaining eye contact throughout.
There was a moment of silence. The vampires watched me carefully, showing a combination of curiosity and approval as they evaluated my value. Following that, Nikolai smiled in a slow manner, causing a shiver to run down my back due to his satisfaction.
"Devin , welcome to our group," he greeted in a hushed tone, his voice filled with ominous purpose. "May our collaboration fulfill our individual desires."
I gave a nod, making an effort to keep a neutral expression. Internally, I was anything but peaceful. I had recently made an agreement with the devil and I was already feeling the heavy repercussions.
Before I had a chance to ponder the consequences, loud shouting and crashing noises suddenly filled the warehouse, accompanied by glass breaking. I whirled around, my awareness heightened, when a group of masked figures suddenly broke through the windows.
"Sudden attack!" Nikolai hissed and narrowed his eyes as he pulled a blade from his coat.
The vampires surrounding him immediately reacted with supernatural quickness, getting ready to protect themselves. However, it was already too late; they were already being attacked - weapons glowing in the dim light as they attacked with deadly accuracy.
I had little time to grab my own knife before one of the attackers lunged at me with a sword aimed at my neck. I evaded the blade as it came dangerously close to my neck and responded with a swift slash in return. The assailant staggered, blood oozing from his arm, yet remained standing. Instead, he charged at me once more with relentless quickness.
The warehouse became a scene of disorder as the air filled with the sounds of steel clashing and vampires snarling. I defended against our attackers with all my strength - my heart racing as I tried to match their persistent attack. However, their numbers were overwhelming and they were highly skilled, executing precise and lethal actions.
My strength diminished as I struggled to catch my breath while deflecting another assault. Sweat was running down my face and mixing with blood on the floor. I had to finish this fast or I might not survive.
Out of nowhere, a silhouette materialized on the edge of my sight, gliding with an unsettling elegance within the darkness. Nikolai was the one, his eyes shining red while swiftly moving and efficiently eliminating our enemies with brutal precision. He too found it difficult to match their substantial numbers.
Amidst the turmoil, my attention was drawn to a shocking sight - a glimpse of red hair and a silhouette heading towards the rear of the warehouse amidst the conflict. I felt my heart skip a beat when I realized who it was.
Angela .
I felt my heart pounding with fear when I spotted her standing in front of me.
Being in this area devastated by war was risky for her. If she were to become involved in the conflict, she would have no hope of survival. I needed to get to her and ensure her safety no matter what.
Desperate to reach her, I pushed through the attackers, drawing strength from my overwhelming need to reach her. As I approached, I observed something peculiar. She was not sprinting or attempting to flee. She was walking with determination, as if she had a clear destination in mind.
And suddenly, it dawned on me.
Her presence here wasn't a coincidence. This was an arranged situation.
The sudden understanding left me breathless and I hesitated briefly, allowing the opponent the chance they were waiting for. A sharp edge cut into my side, creating intense agony and causing blood to flow down my body. However, I was unable to cease at this moment.
As I approached Angela , a chilling realization crept into my thoughts - this was a carefully set trap. She was brought there in order to tempt me into their grasp.
A combination of anger and anxiety fueled my fight, as I pushed forward with a newfound resolve to safeguard her no matter what. I approached her, severed the ropes around her wrists, and then tenderly lifted her into my arms. She was injured and passed out, but I could sense the slight movement of her chest on top of mine.
I softly murmured "Angela " as I gently shook her. "Kindly rise from your slumber."
However, without any response from her, my main focus became getting her out of the confusion. As I prepared to depart, a menacing figure cast a shadow over us, obstructing our way.