Chapter 10 — Lilith POV
For a moment, I wondered if my mind was playing tricks on me. But then I suddenly felt the brush of air at my neck as a voice whispered to me.
"Miss me?"
Scarlett.
Before I could do anything, she threw me against the table, causing the coffee to splash on my body. I quickly moved to the side dodging another attack from Scarlett. Her fist collided with the table, breaking it apart.
I slowly moved around the broken table, staring at Scarlett as she followed me.
"How did you find me?"
"It's not so hard to miss your scent, sister." She flashed me a grin before charging at me. I punched her face before she could reach me, tackling her to the floor.
"You know, I had a good time whipping the hell out of you." She smiled.
"I'll fucking kill you!" I growled, grabbing a broken leg of the table and raising it, prepared to hit her, when her head collided with my forehead. I moved back, shaking off the dizziness that washed through me.
As I took a step forward, she suddenly disappeared.
"I'm right here, sister." The voice came from behind, and when I spawned around, I saw nothing.
"Here."
I spun again.
"Right here."
I turned.
"Back here." Frowning, I whipped around trying to catch hold of Scarlett but I grasped only air.
"Here, sister." This time, I heard the voice in my mind, and the power it took shook my entire body. Only powerful hunters could project clear thought in one's mind. Slowly, I turned around to find Scarlett standing at the entrance of the door.
But this time, the redness in her eyes darkened. Her lips were pressed in a straight line.
"Chaos magic sister," She said. "I'm not afraid to use them. If you fight me, I'll fucking kill you, and Morgan would never learn about the truth of your death."
"Did you came here to torture me?"
"You know, I've been merciful towards you," She said. "First, you stole our mother's love. Secondly, you were named heir instead of me."
Her rage grew enormous, she suddenly pinned me against the wall. Her hands swiftly came around my neck, throttling me hard. She sneered, raising the bread knife she'd snatched from the table against my neck. I kicked her bottom hard, escaping her grip and staggering backward. My hands burned for my sword, but with the bracelet around my hand, I could do nothing.
"Ever since Morgan sent you away, I've grown closer to her," she said. "Just imagine what would happen when you fail this task and I'm named heir. I'll hunt you down and kill you as a traitor."
The mention of heir stirred an uncontrollable rage inside me, and I charged, prepared to tackle her, when I abruptly slipped on broken glass. I instantly fell to the floor. I groaned, feeling a throbbing pain at the back of my head. Just before I had enough strength to stand up, Scarlett rushed to me, driving the bread knife through my thigh.
I bit back a scream, staring at my blood-soaked gown. Blood continued to leak down my thigh as I clutched the wound.
"I thought you were best at seducing your prey during hunts." She slowly encircled me. "What happened now?"
She halted, leaning closer. "Perhaps the Lycan King isn't attracted to you. Or perhaps you aren't doing your job."
I gave her the middle finger.
"Thirty days," she said. "You have just thirty days to seduce and kill the Lycan King. Or you risk losing your throne to me."
"The only one apart from me that can sit on that throne is your corpse, because I'll see to your death first before I let you be crowned."
She grinned, walking around the house and kicking broken furniture and glass. Fuck. Sylvia would kill me if she discovered the house like this.
"How does it feel to be trapped in this tiny apartment?"
"Feels miserable," I groaned.
"Hmm." She moaned, reaching for the wine bottle at the bar.
"No," I barked. "Keep your hands off that."
"Or what?" She took the bottle, turning to smile at me.
"Sylvia would fucking kill me if she finds the house like this and also discovers another wine bottle missing."
"Sylvia," she tested the name on her tongue. "Who's Sylvia?"
"Just return the wine."
"I think I know Sylvia." She took a step closer. "Met her when I was coming here. She's a werewolf."
"Just take the wine back. If you need something else, you can check the fridge."
"Are you afraid of Sylvia?" she asked. "Is the powerful heir to Blackheart afraid of a pathetic werewolf?"
"Well, ever since my powers were suppressed, I've been pathetic."
"The Lycan King's new pet." She smiled.
"I'm not anyone's pet," I snapped.
"Between you and Davina, who does he favor more?"
"Well, I'm his mate."
"Considering he has you locked in this house and still plans to kill you, I think he despises you."
Her eyes fell on the deep wound on my thigh.
"You're losing a lot of blood."
"If you think I'm going to beg you, then get the fuck out of here," I snapped. "I'll survive."
"I'm not leaving so soon. Not when we haven't had a good time together," she said.
"I know the reason you're here. You came here to mock me," I said. "Well, you've seen it for yourself — how miserable I've gotten."
"That's one reason. But Mother's growing impatient."
"It's not even up to two days yet!"
"Well, you've never delayed a task like this before," she said.
"It's not entirely my fault. The Lycan King won't stop resisting the bond between us."
"Maybe he doesn't find you attractive."
"It's because of the other woman — Davina."
She gulped down the wine. "Don't fail this task, sister. I'd hate to see you lose your claim to the throne."
"Deep down, I know you want me to fail."
"Deep down, I just want you gone."
She gulped the wine down.
I lowered my gaze to the wound, taking a deep breath before dragging the blade from my flesh.
Just before I could say anything, I heard the sound of a car driving up.
Scarlett snapped her head and walked toward the window.
"The Lycan King is back."
My eyes widened. "You need to get the hell out of here. Now."
"One moment." She gulped the entire bottle before walking toward the window, then she turned back.
"I'll do you a favor," she said. "I already lifted the magic from the house the moment I stepped in. You're free of your powers."
"What?" I looked down at the bracelet on my hand to realize I was now wearing a fake one. When did this happen?
"You heard me well." She lifted the window. "But you must play along. Let the Lycan King believe your powers are still suppressed."
I nodded, and within the next second, she vanished.
I cursed under my breath, using what little magic I could muster to heal my wounds enough to move. Once done, I hurriedly cleaned the room, hiding any sign of a fight. I fixed the broken table with my magic. I could already hear Maverick's footsteps as he approached.
The moment he appeared, I was sitting where Sylvia had left me, calm and composed. He took a step inside, nostrils flaring as he glared at me.
"What hunter was here?"