Free The Violet Line by Bilinda Ni Siodacain Page B

Sam wasn’t standing facing Oskaar anymore; he was back in the high council’s palace in Carpathia. The throne room was a magnificent affair. Gilt thrones lined the dais; chandeliers lit the cavernous hall, thousands of twinkling lights hanging with crystals to help reflect the light around the room. Black and silver velvet hung from the ceiling and covered the walls. Rich vibrant tapestries of famous historical scenes from vampire folklore hung among them. The stone floor was covered in a rich red carpet that spread out from the centre of the room like a giant pool of sparkling blood; vampires certainly knew how to decorate in the most dramatic fashion.
    The council stood on the stage. They all wore their most elaborate costumes, the ones usually reserved for the important ceremonies. The hall was filled with vampires of all nationalities, all wearing the elaborate costumes of ceremony.
    Sam’s eyes flitted over the whole scene, ignoring it. He knew this already, had seen it numerous times, but this time something was very different. She stood on the edge of the stage, beautiful and magnificent. Her chocolate coloured tresses fell about her in waves to below her waist; it looked even darker against the icy tone of her skin. Her blue eyes stood out against her face; a deep furious blue, more of an indigo than an ordinary blue. They glowed with the violet sparks of power that danced off the ends of her hair and fingers. She shimmered with power where she stood. She wore a long white gown to the floor; the front of the bodice was laced in a black velvet thread holding her together.
    Jade stood there in a haze of her own power and the room bowed to her presence and ferocity as she beckoned a group of vampires towards her. They approached holding a struggling young man and woman. They cried and the woman begged for her and her partner’s life. Jade observed them from her position on the stage, a strangely detached air about her. Her eyes filled with violet flame and before Sam could cry out for her not to do it, the necks of the young couple slashed open, spraying blood all over the vampires who held them and Jade herself. She turned at the shout from Sam, the white dress stuck to her body with the splash of blood; it looked like an artist had poured a deep red paint across her. She looked at Sam and smiled. He could see the points of her fangs as they flashed in the light. There was no humanity left in her, nothing of the Jade that he had fallen in love with. This creature simply wore the mask of the one he loved.
    Sam sagged and Oskaar’s power and vision left him. He fell forward onto his hands and knees. Blood still dripped from his face but it mingled with the tears he shed. He wept for the one he loved and would lose if he turned her over to the monsters. He couldn’t allow it. Dragging his hand across his face, he wiped away the blood and tears that ran in streaks down his cheeks and chin; he could taste it in his mouth. He dragged himself to his feet and faced Oskaar.
    “ Oh dear, I fear it did not quite have the reaction I was hoping for.” Oskaar’s voice held a jeering quality and the smile that split his mouth told Sam that he knew exactly what he was doing when he showed him that vision; after all Oskaar fed on pain and cruelty just like all the other vampires here.
    “ I cannot promise to bring you Jade, but what I will tell you is that I will tell her of your plans and let her decide what she prefers. I have seen that one possible future and I will avoid it if I can, but I will take your message to her.”
    Oskaar stopped smiling. “You will bring Jade here or I will send Raphael to collect her!” Oskaar spoke low, his tone menacing.
    “ No you won’t; you can’t afford to let Raphael anywhere near your precious dark queen. You and I both know what he is like. Jade would use her power on him and that would just serve to excite him further. He would kill her and not be able to help himself. It’s his