I want to ask about Seven and Luci, and what happened back at the mansion. I want to know why he’s here, and what I’m supposed to do now that I’m in Valentine’s clutches.
Perhaps most of all, I want to know what evidence he needs to save me.
A wave of relief washes through me as I realize whatever spell Valentine’s kiss put on my body before seems to have worn off, mostly. Even the memory of what I’d wanted from him makes me shudder, until I’m reminded of the strange, sweet nectar that flooded my body.
He must have drugged me, yet again.
It’s the only explanation that makes any sense. Why else would a simple kiss make me lose all reason when it comes to this monster?
Though, I have to wonder why its effect seemed to fade so much faster this time.
The massive entryway is full of people as they mill about or are ushed further into the building to wait for whatever it is they’ve come here for.
“See, what did I tell you?!” shouts a voice from somewhere up above, drawing our attention.
“You can’t blame me for doubting your word on things, Julius, especially when it comes to Valentine,” Horacio shouts back as I glance up to see another giant man leaning over some railing several floors up.
We watch as he pushes away from the banister and makes his way down a set of spiraling stairs from the second floor, which I’m almost surprised don’t bend beneath him, to stop and wait for us at the top of a wide set of central stairs that lead from the main lobby to the first floor.
Standing before us, even with a far more menacing grin on his face, there’s no doubt in my mind that this man is Horacio’s identical twin. Though, by far the more attractive of the two.
Where Horacio is hunched and gnarled, his twin is broad shouldered and commanding in his presence … and perhaps atinybit less terrifying than the image of him I’d conjured up in my mind when I was hidden beneath Valentine’s desk.
“Julius,” Horacio says, his tone thick with annoyance, “is the VIP room ready as I instructed?”
“Of course,” Julius answers, his eyes glittering as they suddenly come to rest on me as he sucks in a huge lungful of air. Exhaling, his grin becomes even more toothy. “Ah, you actually brought her?”
He says this with such surprise that I’m quite taken aback. Wasn’t he the one who suggested Valentine bring me here in the first place?
“Of course, is something wrong?” Valentine asks, though the tone of his voice is more of a challenge than worry.
“No, completely the opposite,” Julius says, his face brightening. “I just didn’t expect—"
“No one is to touch her,” Horacio interjects. “No one, Julius. Not without Valentine’s approval. Do I make myself clear?” Julius’s face falls slightly at this, but he nods. “Good, then would you please escort them to their suite?”
“What about him,” Julius asks, jerking his head toward Dante.
Horacio hesitates, glancing at Valentine nervously.
“He’ll be joining me,” Valentine answers for him.
Julius shares a strange look with Horacio who only shakes his head before waving us off with a twitch of his hand.
“Very well, right this way,” Julius says, turning to press his hand to the wall.
The wall in front of us slides apart, revealing a glass elevator beyond. Valentine steps inside, pulling me in behind him. My stomach lurches as my heels click against the glass floor.
I make the mistake of looking down into the depths below just as the doors slide shut behind us and the elevator begins to descend. I can’t help it; my knees give out and I crumple forward.
Strong hands catch me, gently guiding me to the floor before they’re suddenly gone.
The whole elevator shudders as I glance up to find Dante pinned against the wall by a monstrous-looking man I’ve never seen before.
“No. One. Touches. The. Girl,” the man snarls, his eyes wild as his muscles quite literally burst through the seams of his clothes. If I didn’t know any better, I’d almost swear the man is growing larger by the second. His head twitches as if he’s having a hard time controlling it, the knuckles of his claw-like hand whitening around Dante’s throat.
“Stop, you’re hurting him!” I cry out, my brain suddenly pushing aside the shock of it all as I turn to look pleadingly up at Valentine.
“Come now, how do we ask for things?”