Dark Sonata Read online

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  Victoria swallowed; her heart was beating slow and hard as she peered at the horror-struck occupants of the ballroom, hearing their fearful murmurs and prayers. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her mind trying to rationalize what was happening. The massive chandelier was swinging, lighting one wall of the room then the other.

  A slow shiver licked its way down her spine. The evil that surrounded them baffled her, for she never felt fear like this. Never in all of her life had she had every hair on her body stand on end. The beings holding them captive were truly horrifying. They didn’t appear to be human for they were hunched, having no face from what she could make out. Just the subtle glow of crimson eyes that were watchful. They were no doubt a demonic force, an idiot could deduce that much. Commotion to her left gained her attention.

  “Quick! She passed out! Dear God my wife, she’s passed out!” Lord Mallory bellowed, his wife’s frail body lying limply on the ground. “We need a priest in here! This is no doubt a punishment set upon us for our evil ways!”

  “Shhh!” an elderly lady hissed. “Do n-not bring the attention to us, you overgrown fool,” she whispered harshly. “Or I will be the first to throw you at their feet and see you die.”

  “This is our curse, death coming to take us all.”

  “They will kill us all!” a woman behind Victoria bellowed, her sobs turning into strangled heaves and choking sounds.

  “Shut up you blasted woman! Or I will kill you myself, I will!” the Duke hissed, spit flying. A pale footman discreetly patted his sweaty and splotchy forehead and eased the Duke back down into sitting position.

  The darkness hanging in this ballroom was dizzying, her vision wanting to tunnel out of control. They had already killed a few people, ones that had tested their authority. Victoria took a shaky breath and closed her eyes, remembering what they had done to a poor drunk woman.

  She was out of control, her husband was unable to contain her. Merciful heavens. The woman was stripped of her ball gown to just her undergarments then was possessed by something evil, wicked. She snapped a champagne glass, to everyone’s horror, and put the crystal stem to her throat, slicing slowly and with purpose. Now she lay, silenced forever, in a black pool of blood. What a damning sight. The fear in the room was feeding their dark corrupt spirits, which was obvious.

  Henrietta was tied up in the middle of the room, sitting on a chair waiting for who knows what. Her wrists were tied and her feet were bound by the ankles. The ballroom was now silent save for the choking sobs emerging from Henrietta’s raspy throat. Victoria focused on her, knowing she should feel compassion.

  She should.

  But she didn’t. It seemed that for once, her dear cousin was paying for her lies, not being able to place blame. Henrietta claimed the choker was hers? So be it. It was secretly refreshing to see her in humility, her cheeks painfully rosy and her body quivering with horror, fright, and absolute dread. She was the center of attention and every eye, every suspicious glare, fell on her, as if maybe she was the cause of all of this evil. Henrietta's gaze flickered around the ballroom, pleading, begging with her strained gaze for someone to come to her aid. Victoria glanced around too, seeing Henrietta’s once brave suitor avert his eyes, pretending not see her silent pleas. She was on her own.

  Victoria shifted, still watching her poor cousin. This might be the only time she has been shunned in her life. And what a time for it.

  Victoria’s head jerked up as the large double doors burst open with a deafening crash; everyone around her instantly tensed. Victoria gasped when she saw Lord Stone and three other men walking through the entrance.

  Her pulse accelerated.

  The room instantly dropped in temperature to where she could see her own pants of breath. Ezra stormed in with the other men and she felt everyone around her tense and gasp, placing hands on their chests as if they had never seen something so horrifying. Whispered prayers and sobs echoed around the room as they prowled. Victoria saw that Ezra was quite disheveled, looking as if he had ripped open the collar of his shirt in a fit of rage. His expression was dark, cold, and dangerous. His skin was ghostly with a sheen of perspiration, and deep circles. He was not in a gracious mood. His jaw flexed and his fists were clenched, making everyone sink closer to the ground to not get noticed.

  “It’s the D-devil himself,” a horrified whisper came from somewhere behind her. “I knew he was not what he seemed.”

  So, apparently she was not the only on to pick up on that fact.

  As Victoria stared, she realized she shouldn’t find him appealing at all. No. She shouldn’t find his appearance agreeable in anyway. Every bone in her body recognized him as something evil. It was plain to see that he was the one who the dark beings answered to. He was their leader, which meant he was more of a threat than she originally had thought.

  God, she shouldn’t find the way he moved to be so … seductive. She felt her pulse jump as her eyes fastened on him. It was like each step he took was so calculated and graceful, oozing with the sheer confidence of a lion. The dominance that surrounded him was undeniable.

  Victoria bit her lip as she watched him, trying to calm her harsh breathing. He shouldn’t be making her feel as though she couldn’t catch her breath. Why were his deep eyes and deathly pale skin having this devastating effect? The man eluded something so dark and erotic that she couldn’t work it out in her head. Her conscious was confused, panting on the ground next to her, wanting to give up! His mouth hung slightly open like he would smile at any moment but didn’t. His eyes were narrowed intensifying them. His thick fringe of sooty lashes made his gaze appear to be glowing from within. Victoria took a breath as her hungry eyes rested on his broad muscled chest, his physical form holding her arrest. Her fingers itched to touch him, to see if he felt as hard as rock like it appeared.

  Victoria’s eyes traveled lower, to his black breeches which were sucked to his legs hiding nothing. Heat instantly crept up her neck. She knew the anatomy of a male, having seen many Greek statues in drawings. She took a shaky breath as her hot gaze flickered over him there, and instantly squeezed her eyes shut, scolding herself.

  He suddenly laughed making her open her eyes, startled.

  Ezra stopped in the middle of the room and eyed everyone, his gaze never landing on her, thankfully or he might have seen her guilty expression. He suddenly smiled devilishly reducing everyone to whimper slightly. Victoria frowned, seeing a silver violin strapped to the side of his trim hip.

  That’s odd.

  Ezra’s gaze landed on Henrietta then he slowly walked towards her.

  “P-please don’t hurt my daughter, my L-lord.” The Duke pleaded beside him on his hands and knees. His face was pale, opposite from his usual ruddy complexion. Her aunt had passed out thirty minutes earlier and was being fanned by the same colorless footman.

  Ezra ignored him. Ezra leaned forward making Henrietta moan in fear, tears sprang out of her sea-green eyes. Ezra tilted his head as he stared at her, the suspense rising. “Happy … birthday.”

  More tears gushed from her eyes and she visibly started to tremble. He grabbed her hair in one fist and yanked her head back, making her scream. Victoria placed a hand over her mouth, praying he would not kill her. She deserved a lot of things but not death. Lord Stone trailed a finger down her quivering neck with a lethal look in his flickering gaze. His finger stopped when it came into contact with the sparkling diamond necklace. “I traded you this for a rare choker. Now I’m questioning in my mind if you were lying about it being yours. You told me earlier it was,” he whispered in a chilling voice. He jerked her hair forcefully to the right and leaned down to whisper something in her ear.

  Victoria's heart was pounding as she watched. Whatever he said it was not good, for Henrietta started to sob in horrid sounding chokes.

  She shook her head wildly, obviously going back on what she originally said. The diamonds were shimmering with each shudder of fear. Victoria’s whole body was
now thundering, the urge to get up and run was overwhelming.

  He let go of Henrietta’s hair and grabbed her chin, making her look at him in the eye. “Hmm, didn’t your parents teach you not to lie?” he inquired as a slow grin spread across his lips, intensifying his dark appeal. Henrietta tried to look away but he held her still, an expression of terror illustrating her scrunched features. “Well, then whose is it?” He arched a brow with a curious intimidating expression.

  Lord Stone knew how to install fear. Henrietta whimpered again and continued to sob even more.

  Victoria sucked in her breath. Would Henrietta tell? Of course she would.

  The Duke stood and pointed at Victoria. “It is Lady Victoria’s I tell you!” He took a breath as he staggered toward her. “My brother gave her that damned choker when she was but a babe! I swear it!”

  “You don’t say.” Ezra’s shocked expression looked mocking like he was not shocked at all. He turned slowly around to face her, locking eyes with her for the first time since he entered. Victoria couldn’t breathe; she couldn’t do anything but stare.

  The Duke stammered, “Y-yes! Henrietta just borrowed it, I put my life on it!” He turned toward Henrietta, “Tell him, Henrietta.”

  Henrietta whimpered again as more tears trickled down her flushed cheeks.

  "Henrietta, tell him!"

  Ezra’s sudden laugh silenced the Duke, making him snap his mouth shut. Leisurely Ezra walked up to Victoria and motioned for her to stand before him. She swallowed, and then stood, her velvet skirts flowing around her. Victoria was certain everyone in the ballroom could hear the pounding of her heart. Frightened murmurs were whispered around her. Holding up her chin high Victoria met his silver gaze, trying to seem strong when all she really wanted to do was escape, to run away screaming.

  “Lady Victoria, is that true?” he quietly questioned; his eyes moving over her face in an unsettling way.

  The room was dead silent.

  He already knew the answer, making her nervous, and he was now second-guessing her plan to play the innocent. He couldn’t possibly know, could he? She looked up into his face and lost her nerve, she couldn’t think standing this close to him. Ezra’s eyes were so expressive, unsettling her to the core. He’s reading my mind. He was definitely staring at her like he could. She swallowed, shifting a bit.

  Victoria glanced over to her uncle and did not mistake the determination in his beady eyes, like he was just waiting to prove her wrong if she thought to disagree. Now it didn’t seem like she had a choice. “Yes,” she barely said and looked down, knowing she had just sealed her fate.

  Ezra took her chin and tilted it up, the contact startling her. His gloved hand was warm on her skin making a slow shiver slide down to her feet. His mouth twitched, like he felt her shiver. “Now, that was not so hard, was it?”

  She tried to look away but he wouldn’t let her, holding her chin in place. His thumb moved along her jaw ever so slightly, then padded over her full lower lip, his pale eyes fastened there. Her pulse jumped with each slight movement, her body betraying her as her cheeks heated. Her knees wanted to buckle and her mind wanted to scatter, unable to deal with his nearness.

  He met her eyes directly, regarding her too keenly. Her body sought to squirm, her blood was racing faster with each passing second that he stared. Victoria had never experienced being with someone with this amount of magnetic pull, like he was charged from within. Victoria closed her eyes, trying to release intelligent words. “M-my Lord, what do you want with me? I have nothing,” she barely got out and looked up at him.

  Ezra tilted his head at her, a dark grin spreading over his lips. He leaned down, his warm breath fanning her neck, his hands locked behind his back. “I told you to use my name, love. If you continue not to use it … I will think of more creative ways to get you to say it,” he mouthed into her hair next to her ear. Ezra continued when she took a sharp intake of breath. “Let me clarify in case you miss my meaning. I will start by lightly kissing your feet. Then, slowly, I will lick my way up to your calf until I reach the soft skin at your inner thighs …”

  “Ezra,” She quickly said. “W-what do you want from me?!” she whispered harshly, trying to stop him from talking, trying to force his seductive threat out of her mind! There was no missing the sincerity of his words for it made her joints start to shake unwillingly. Victoria swallowed, her skin tingling. She tried to talk over her thundering heart but couldn’t, so she closed her eyes in humiliation instead. Her response to him was shameful.

  She could sense him smiling when he spoke. “I want a lot from you,” he whispered into her neck making her visibly shiver. “But, in the sense you are referring to I will tell you this. I am going to take you. Kidnap. Abduct. Whichever phrase you understand best. Satisfied now, love? ”

  Victoria prided herself for being a quick thinker for right now she had but seconds to conjure a plan to save her life. Tunnel vision was beginning to set in and her rapid breathing echoed in her head. She needed the choker but she doubted he would just hand it over. Her gaze darted around the room and then back to him, thinking rapidly. “I feel very sick,” she wheezed out, clutching her throat.

  Ezra leaned up and frowned down at her.

  She willed tears to come out of her eyes, this being a performance she couldn’t mess up. Victoria pretended to hiss in pain and she wavered on her feet, as if she were truly dizzy. She felt him grab her arm in an attempt to steady her.

  Ezra took a moment to study her with assessing eyes.

  More tears streamed down her cheeks and she was thankful she was able to produce them in this dire situation. “I need my choker,” she gasped. “I have never been without it, this being the first night in all of my life.” She took a shaky breath, and bent over coughing deeply. “Oh God, this is … starting to hurt. What's happening?!” she glanced round then back to him, then rolled her eyes back alarmingly. “Ah! Please tell me, do you know why it feels like my body is on fire?” She breathed heavily, “If it does not stop I fear I will pass out,” she got out, taking three quick gulps of air, before doubling right over, clutching her throat, her sapphire skirts swishing around her perfectly.

  Not bad.

  She barely opened a lid to see if Ezra bought her dramatic performance. Ezra was scowling and it seemed that her theatrics were having the desired effect. She took an enormous gulp, and then choked forward with force. Ezra turned and commanded, “Shafren. Give her the choker!”

  A large man in English finery came forward. "Ezra Are you mad? Your father would not like the choker back in her possession …"

  “Get it.” Ezra’s voice sounded like the whisper of death.

  Within seconds the choker was handed to her. Victoria held the precious stone by the ribbon and did not let the stone touch her skin. Time seemed to stand in one place. She slyly glanced up at Ezra’s curious expression — his interest reflected in the crease of his brows as he studied her. He was waiting to see what she was going to do, if it were not for merely just wanting to put it on.

  Luck was finally on her side and her mind was made up. A diversion was her only option.

  Victoria slowed her breathing, concentrating her mind into complete silence. Exhaling, she searched for her inner energy. This had to work, otherwise she was out of opportunities. Whenever she screamed or produced a sound of extreme emotion when not wearing the choker, she created havoc. Yes, the White Witch was about to live up to her name.

  Victoria smiled at Ezra as she stepped back, taking the biggest breath she could muster, focusing her anger up and out of her throat.

  Ezra’s eyes widened.

  Too late. The sound was earsplitting, the force too strong. Ezra tried to shield his face with his arm but was hurtled backwards, hitting the far wall behind him. The sound had the same effect on the rest of his men, who were also thrown across the room brutally. She faintly noted that the noise seemed to have no effect on everyone else, just Ezra and his men. The people around her took
that as an opportunity to run out of the ballroom, screaming for their lives. The Duke ran over to his daughter and untied her, dragging her with him. Victoria’s body felt limp as she tried to breathe correctly, coughing and gagging through her sore throat. Her vision became fuzzy; she had never used so much energy before. A loud crash of thunder erupted from outside rumbling the marble floor under her feet. The sound of rain and hail pounding the mansion’s walls began instantly.

  A blinding flash of lightning lit up the towering windows, illuminating the vast ballroom.

  Ezra slowly got up, spitting blood out of his mouth as he did so. Victoria’s eyes widened, not realizing how much damage she had just inflicted. His shirtsleeves were ripped and blood stained the outer edges of his mouth. Their eyes collided and she didn’t see anger in their pale depths like she expected. It was more like bewilderment, confusion.

  “Ezra! How dare she!” Shafren hissed, the man’s eyes glowing crimson. He spoke as he wiped the blood from his nose, “I will fix her so she will give us no more problems,” he threatened and a red tattoo on his palm flickered.

  Victoria tried to run but her legs wouldn’t move, paralyzed!

  Ezra quickly stood and punched the man sending him smashing onto a table, and immediately Victoria felt as if someone had let go of her. “You brainless bastard! You may not use your powers or the Liorians will sense where we’re at! It’s bad enough our little Victoria is using hers, but hers is not as easily detected as ours.” He shot her a glance. “Bravo love, pull a stunt like that again and you can be sure you won’t have the energy to breathe,” he warned slowly moving towards her like she was some wild animal.

  “I feel fine, I do this all of the time.” Victoria was not sure why she just lied. “Stay back or I will do it again and the … Liorians … will find me.” She had no idea what she was talking about, just trying to appear like she did.