Dark Sonata Page 31

  He sounded out of breath. “Go find Ezra before he blows up this half of the planet. Hell's bells! I cannot use my powers to stop him for the sound somehow prevents that, draining my energy.” He hissed in agony, doubling over.

  “Are you OK?!”

  He was bleeding profusely from his right leg, having landed on something sharp.

  “Go!”

  She turned around slowly, seeing the destruction that had taken place. God, was she too late? Victoria closed her eyes and tried to find her inner courage. Michael was leaving it up to her to be brave.

  Be brave.

  Victoria’s steady walk turned into a sprint, her determination driving her now. She would not let this story be a tragedy.

  The only thing that was left standing was the balcony, as if Ezra preserved it so he could still play his sound of death. The massive house behind it was in a total ruin of ash and fire. It was hard to believe that she was just in it only a short time ago.

  She made her way to the stairs completely out of breath, her lungs feeling as though they had fire coursing through them. The music was so loud she could barely hear herself think let alone talk. Victoria climbed the stairs, one by one, making herself move even though it hurt her to do so.

  She saw him.

  In all of his glory.

  He truly was a force to be reckoned with. In the back of her mind she thought that maybe this is what Michael wanted, what he had foreseen. Michael wanted the Master Musician to come out in Ezra. To be born for some master plan.

  “Turn around,” she whispered, or at least she thought she did. She had the necklace firmly in her hand, not letting it go.

  It was over for her, wasn’t it? Everything was always about Ezra, not her. All this time she thought everything revolved around her when it was quite the opposite. This did not make her sad in the least because she still loved him, even now. Blood dripped from out of her nose and fell on her open palm almost beautifully. She stared at its black appearance and felt no regrets. The dark melody was killing her and she didn’t mind. Ezra needed his mother’s necklace back to be sane of mind once again and that was her role in all of this.

  She understood now. Ezra needed to feel his dark power emerge in order to unleash this new talent, bringing him to new heights as a Master Musician. He would never have taken the necklace off unless he’d given it to someone, and that someone was her, once upon a dream, in a different life.

  The irony of it all.

  She smiled as a tear streamed down her cheek.

  Ezra suddenly turned around, eyes narrowed, as if he heard her quiet voice or her loud thoughts. When he saw her he stopped playing.

  Have strength.

  Victoria raised her arm, the arm that felt like it weighed too much for her to lift. The silver necklace dangled from her trembling hand, glittering in the moonlight.

  It took a second for Ezra to realize what he was staring at but when he did, his hand went to his neck, as if to search for the necklace that wasn’t there. He expelled a breath and his mouth fell open.

  Ezra’s voice was the whisper of death, “How … did you get that? That can never be removed, only I can remove it.”

  His violin dropped to the ground, bouncing on the hard marble.

  Victoria forced a smile, or she thought she did. “You gave it to me before you died. Would you like it back?” she made her mouth ask, thankful that her voice worked.

  It seemed like an eternity, as he stared intently at her, mixed emotions flashing over his handsome, pale features. Victoria had to lie down, feeling her legs give away.

  That’s better.

  It was so quiet.

  “Victoria,” came his whisper in her ear.

  She opened her eyes to stare into his silver gaze. The necklace hanging around his neck sparkled and caught the light just right. It really was a beautiful necklace. Victoria felt him pick her up because she now thought she was floating in the air.

  Weightless.

  She pried her eyes open again, feeling her strength coming back little by little. Ezra was staring down at her with an expression that stole her breath away. Light bathed behind him and it seemed to make him even more beautiful, like an angel, not a demon.

  Did he believe her now?

  She didn’t know, but what she did know was the fact that she did not hear his music playing, creating destruction anymore. He had stopped this madness so in that respect she won.

  “How do you feel?” he asked, his eyes tracing over her face as if he really cared.

  She took a moment to answer, not really sure how she felt, emotionally. “I am alive.”

  He looked down then back up, his mouth opening then shutting, like he thought better of it. “You will live.”

  “And you?”

  He smiled at her, his hand brushing a hair strand away.

  She frowned.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  That caught her off guard.

  “Stunning.”

  Victoria took a steady breath, wondering what she didn’t know. “I am flattered,” she whispered carefully.

  He laughed, the sound making her heart flutter.

  “So, you once loved me?” he asked as he studied her face. “I find this so hard to believe, someone like you, someone so pure.” He frowned as he stared down at her. “All this time …”

  Victoria tried her hand at humor. “Don’t let it go to your head, you already have an ego that is unsurpassable.”

  He grinned.

  She tried to move but he held onto her tightly. “Where is Michael, and the other Liorians?”

  “I don’t care about them.” He took a deep breath and something forlorn flashed over his features. “God’s breath. You took my breath away, from the first moment I saw you,” he confessed and his jaw flexed like he was holding something back. “I vowed to never let anything control me, and here, a Liorian woman has brought me to my knees.” His laughed was breathy.

  Victoria didn’t like the look in his eyes, like he was confessing everything to her because he would never get the chance again. “Ezra,” she whispered in question.

  Ezra ignored her and lowered his head to her neck, like he was worshipping her, which alarmed her. He blew softly making an army of gooseflesh creep over her skin. He exhaled, his hot breath tingled her skin, jumbling her confused thoughts. “Only if you would have shown me this sooner,” he breathed into her jaw. “But who knows if I would have listened.”

  “Ezra,” she said carefully. “It’s alright because you have it now.” Her pulse was accelerating, this feeling of dread consuming her.

  “Shhh.”

  Ezra’s mouth was suddenly on hers and his kiss was so powerful, moving over hers with such skill and hunger, so passionate. It was drugging. In her book she had written many times on how skilled he was at kissing, and she didn’t do it justice in words. She tried to lift her head but couldn’t, the only muscles working in her body being her lips.

  He kissed her deeper, making her open her mouth to his assault. He groaned as his tongue slid inside, tasting her over and over again. As good as this was, she still felt this inner dread, a fear she couldn’t explain. But mercy, his kiss made her think dark, delicious thoughts of them both intertwined, legs wrapped around each other …

  Ezra slowly lifted his head to stare down at her, a look of sadness crossed over his perfect features. And once again her feeling of dread was back, making her feel sick.

  She felt stronger as seconds past, being able to feel her toes. He was still carrying her she realized, holding her to him as if she were so dear to him.

  “Ezra? What is going on?” her voice wavered.

  He glanced up then back to her, taking a deep breath. He suddenly removed the necklace that hung around his neck then made eyes contact with her. They were intense and full of regret. “I think,” he whispered, “I shall just let you keep it. I gave it to you once before and you shall keep it now.”

  “No,” she hissed, feeli
ng her heart pounding against her chest. “No … why are you doing this?”

  “I insist,” he said gently.

  He lowered her down to her feet, now being able stand with his help. This is the first time she has glanced around, taking in her surroundings. There seemed to be a ball of energy around them because she couldn’t see out of it. “What is going on Ezra?”

  No …

  “I messed up and foolishly broke the balance.”

  She looked up at him, trying to read his expression. “When?”

  He exhaled, like he was trying to find the right words. “When you showed me the necklace.”

  She did remember him as he stopped playing the violin.

  Oh God.

  Victoria’s mind was reeling, trying to think of what that meant. In her story, Ezra had said that if one messes up they will destroy … themselves and everything around them. “You’re not dead,” she whispered carefully.

  He wiped a strand of hair out of her face, the act so intimate. “Not yet love.”

  Not yet love.

  She shook her head. “You’re lying,” she said, anger and denial now consuming her. Victoria scowled as she looked around. Was it getting brighter?

  Please no …

  It was getting brighter and brighter to where she had to squint. “Ezra!” she gasped, “What is going on?!”

  He whispered something in her ear, his breath hot on her cheek. What?! She couldn’t make it out! It was just getting brighter and brighter!

  “Ezra!” she screamed and felt him fasten the necklace around her neck.

  And what happened next came too quickly.

  He pushed her backwards, out of this bright sphere and darkness overtook her senses, unable to hang on to her consciousness yet again at the most important event in her life.

  Chapter twenty-three

  “Where am I?”

  Victoria squinted as she glanced around, seeing only sparkles of light at first. As her eyes adjusted, she barely refrained a gasp. Her pulse jumped to life and she gripped the layers of cream satin that she laid upon. The stunning room was made up of towering columns of pale marble, which glimmered as if internally enchanted. White billowy curtains hung from the twenty foot pillars and blew inward with the slight breeze. She gazed around making sure she was breathing instead of holding her breath as she took in everything. Oh dear, she was dead wasn’t she? The room was large and airy due to the fact that one side of the room had no walls, just those towering pillars. A fresh scent of rainwater and flowers wafted through the air as if the sky at any moment would open up, spilling the purest of waters over the land.

  And the land that she saw through the columns seemed to be something conjured up from a very lively imagination, completely fiction. If she was not mistaken, then this place rested on the side of a mountain for all she could see was distant highland masses. She would not be surprised if this place stood upon Mount Olympus and this was Zeus’s sanctuary.

  Victoria exhaled and for one frightening second she wondered if she possibly had actually died. This place resembled Heaven, so she could be dead; it would make sense.

  Looking down she realized she was wearing the most beautiful gown, flowing down her like a misty waterfall. The dress was made out of thin white silk with transparent blue material flowing over the top making it fit for an angel, or a lovely goddess. The top was made of white shimmery fabric with the faintest hint of blue lining the low bust line. The straps were thin, so thin in fact that she barely noticed them and wondered how her dress was held up.

  This couldn’t be right.

  Think.

  She lay on a grand bed, the smooth surface soft on her bare feet. Slowly she sat up, her mind trying to remember, trying to recall anything.

  Wait a minute.

  Victoria stood up on trembling legs, the cool marble making her feet tingle. Her unbound hair tickled her elbows as she thought hard. Dread and denial started to seep into every pore of her body as she tried to recall.

  “God, no,” she whispered.

  She covered her mouth and she watched visions flash through her mind like a nightmare replaying itself. She looked up, eyes glazing over, hands shaking from an onrush of emotion.

  He’s not dead.

  She will not believe it.

  Where in the bloody hell was she? Suddenly she felt something shift in the air. Victoria narrowed her gaze and walked out onto the marble balcony, sensing someone’s energy there. Her heart started to accelerate as she took in the spectacular view. Victoria had to grab onto a pillar for balance. She knew now why it smelt like rain, for a magnificent waterfall roared with life not too far from where she stood. Yes, this had to be Mount Olympus, for nothing could be this magnificent. She was so distracted that she didn’t realize that she was not alone.

  Michael.

  A wave of fury washed over her as she saw him leaning up against the rail, staring with his aqua gaze. His hair was loosely tied back and he was clothed in white and silver airy garments, looking like a mighty god at ease. Power seemed to radiate off of him, like if the man flexed his muscles the walls would surely crack. She swallowed, tamping down the urge to unleash her demons.

  “How are you feeling?”

  She gritted her teeth, the wind blowing bits of unbound hair into her face.

  He exhaled as he looked her up and down. “You’re alive, I guess that’s all that matters.” He continued, “You almost didn’t make it, I was actually worried.”

  “I’m alive?” she repeated, jaw clenching. “That’s all that matters?!” her voice wavered.

  “I know—”

  “You brought me back so I could save Ezra's life! Or so I thought.” She took a staggering breath. “You lied to me,” she accused as tears streamed down her face, unable to stop them.

  His expression was unreadable as he studied her for what seemed like a lifetime. “I never lied to you.”

  “So you know what happened then? What you promised me a different life ago?” She wised up to him, never breaking her eye contact.

  “Of course.”

  She bit her lip, biting back words that would have made the Devil proud. “This was no romance I was writing, but a tragedy.”

  “Not a romance you say?” he asked, his eyes intense.

  “No,” she hissed, “You made this into a horror that no one will ever want to read.” More tears streamed down her face. “You made my life out to be a shocking story of misery, and worse.”

  He leaned in a little and tapped his chin. “Why would you say that?”

  Victoria eyed him, trying to figure him out. Michael was deliberately acting innocent. “Ezra is dead, am I right or wrong?” she asked carefully, her pulse pounding.

  He stared back at her for some time making her nervous, so nervous that she wanted to scratch her own eyes out.

  “Is he?!” She looked around and waved a hand. “And where the hell am I?!”

  “You are in Lior.”

  Victoria inched even closer to him. “Is he dead?”

  “Presumably. I cannot sense him, but he is, after all, good at hiding.”

  Victoria raised a brow, trying to tap down the urge to push him over the balcony. “What,” she took a breath, “does that mean?”

  “It means he is dead, or not,” he said carefully.

  Victoria was so close to exploding, narrowing her eyes. “Stop trying to confuse me.”

  He exhaled. “If I just told you he was dead then you’d have no hope. I need you to have hope.”

  She felt faint. “So, he is dead but you are letting me down easy. You want me to have false hope.”

  Michael bowed. “I am not a monster Victoria. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go clean up Ezra’s mess. And I need to find Ezra if he had not passed. I too hope that he has not died, which you may not believe. I am just as shaken as you are, for I did not intend for him to die.”

  He did not feel the same as she did.

  A curious expression passed ov
er his features. “If he did in fact die then I have failed miserably, so I pray to the Lord of Spirits that he has not. The power he can yield with the sound of music is quit astonishing. He is the first Master Musician in our history and I should have handled the situation better. If he has passed then I hope one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me.”

  She closed her eyes and fought back the tears. “I won’t believe you,” she hissed. “It can’t end like this.”

  He gave her an almost pitying look which was so out of character for him. “You will be well cared for here. I must go, I have much to do and so little time.”

  And then he was gone.

  Just like that.

  Victoria fell to the floor and let the tears slide down her face, one by one.

  * * * * *

  This night didn’t seem normal, so still, so quiet; even the stars ceased to twinkle. Mother Nature seemed to be holding her breath, bracing herself. Victoria walked as if she were dreaming and the soft grass beneath her bare feet felt like clouds, a mist surrounding her mind and body.

  She sauntered across the moonlit meadow like an enchanted fairy with a dark purpose. She wore a crown of black metal reflecting brilliant shades of blue.

  Victoria idly glanced down at her daring gown and her gaze became fixated on the shimmering material. It had the appearance of water that reflected the moon, rippling with each careful movement. Her hand grazed over the slick silver fabric draped over her hip, loving the incredibly soft feel. The dress she wore tonight was like no other, the fabric rivalled the purest of diamonds, and even royalty in past history could not claim to wear something so fine. The bust line was scandalously low and sleeveless. What a stunning sight it was. The flowing fabric had a dangerously high slit that caught the wind just perfectly, showcasing her trim thighs.

  She was shameless tonight.