Page 56 of Blood Match
God, he’s an ass.
I meet his gaze unflinchingly. “Let’s get this over with.”
He gives a flourish, and a section of the chamber shimmers, transforming before our eyes. Ancient runes pulse with energy, creating a barrier around what has become an arena. From the shadows, a group of younger vampire warriors emerge, their eyes hungry for the challenge.
“The first test…a fight to the death.” Lucien grins.
I roll my sleeves up and smile darkly.
Bring it on.
I’m suddenly more confident in my abilities than I was before. As the first opponent lunges at me, I feel a surge of strength. My body moves with fluid grace, my Viking instincts rising to the surface. I dodge the attack, countering with a lightning-fast strike that sends the warrior flying.
Another comes at me from behind, but I’m ready. I spin, my fist connecting with a satisfying crunch. As I take down opponent after opponent, I feel a rush of savage satisfaction.
This is what I was born for.
It takes barely three minutes for the fight to be over. Half a dozen vampires are scattered around me. I turn back to Lucien, straightening my shirt.
“Right. What’s next?” I stand tall, my body buzzing with power and adrenaline.
Lucien stares at me for a moment; I’m pretty sure he didn’t expect this. He steps forward, his eyes narrowed. In his hand, he holds a silver dagger that gleams wickedly.
“Impressive display of strength, Lord Drake,” he says, his voice is laden with false praise. “But let’s verify your…healing abilities.”
I can feel the other vampires’ stares, can almost taste their anticipation. This is a critical test, one that would clearly reveal any weakness the Bloodbane might have caused.
It’s what he’s hoping for.
Lucien moves closer, the dagger catching the light. Without warning, he slashes across my forearm, the blade cutting to the bone. The silver sizzles against my skin, and pain explodes through my nerves. It takes every ounce of willpower not to snarl. The agony is excruciating, far worse than I remember silver being. He’s probably treated the blade with something, the fucker.
I grit my teeth, forcing myself to remain stoic as I feel my healing powers kick in. The familiar prickling sensation spreads from within, racing to mend the wound. I watch, along with the others, as my flesh begins to knit itself back together. The skin ripples and stretches, closing the gash with remarkable speed.
The acrid smell of burning flesh slowly dissipates, replaced by the copper tang of my own blood. In mere moments, the wound is gone, leaving behind only a faint pink line that’s already fading.
Murmurs of approval ripple through the gathered vampires. Lucien’s features darken with fury, his pale eyes flickering.
I meet his stare steadily, refusing to show any sign of the lingering pain or the effort it took to heal so quickly. Inside, I’m reeling. I’m surprised at how fast I healed. But I’ll be damned if I let them see it.
“Satisfied?” I ask, almost nonchalant.
“Oh, I’ll be satisfied all right,” Lucien’s voice is taut, “when I see you complete the final test.”
I shrug. “Bring it on.”
Lucien sweeps an arm, stepping to the side and gesturing to the room. It shifts before my eyes, darkness shrouding its changing shape as it forms a complex maze.
“The test of shadows. You will use them to hide in plain sight,” he says smugly. “Begin.” He wouldn’t be so smug if he knew that shadow manipulation is one of my special strengths. Then again, maybe he knows and is assuming that I’ve lost the ability.
With a nod, I step into the labyrinth, the shadows immediately enveloping me like a second skin. The darkness feels…different. More alive. More responsive to my will. I meld with it effortlessly, my form becoming indistinguishable from the inky blackness surrounding me.
The maze shifts and changes, walls materializing and dissolving unpredictably. But I move through it all with an ease I’ve never experienced before. My senses are heightened, every whisper of movement, every subtle change in the air, crystal clear to me.
As I navigate the twisting corridors, I catch glimpses of the vampire observers stationed throughout the maze. Their eyes scan the darkness, searching for any sign of me. But I am the darkness itself, slipping past them undetected.
It’s almost too easy, and my mind drifts momentarily to the witch who’s monopolized my thoughts so much lately. As if summoned, her voice echoes in my head, clear as a bell.
“I don’t understand. My powers…they’ve grown stronger. How is this possible?”