Soon enough, the sleek shape of the knights' sports car came into view, momentarily thrown into sharp relief beneath a strobe of lurid moonlight. Blake's strides slowed, dropping into a predatory prowl as he closed the distance with silent, meticulous footfalls.
He could make out Reggie's imposing silhouette in the driver's seat, the harsh line of his chiseled jawbone thrown into stark relief as he peered unblinkingly ahead at the winding road. Blake felt an insidious tendril of rage unfurling in his chest at the sight - how dare this traitor presume to deceive and betray him so utterly? After all they'd been through together...
A low, menacing growl rumbled up from the depths of Blake's throat. He would take immense satisfaction in making Reggie and his traitorous ilk suffer, in watching the arrogance bleed from their eyes as they groveled for the mercy he may never grant.
As if sensing the smoldering proximity of Blake's visceral hatred, Reggie suddenly stiffened behind the wheel. His hands tightened on the leather-wrapped rim until his knuckles stood out in pale ridges. Blake watched, upper lip curled in a sneer, as the vampire scanned the rearview mirror with narrowed eyes, probing the swaths of darkness devouring the road behind them.
But no matter how he strained his heightened senses, Reggie detected no signs of pursuit - the eerie absence only serving to prickle trepidation along his nape like a malignant secret waiting to be borne. His heart hammered against his ribs with a sense of looming premonition.
Adrenaline spiked through Blake's veins as he witnessed Reggie raise his foot from the accelerator, allowing the SUV to shed speed in response to whatever threat he suspected lurked in their wake. The other knights instantly tensed, following their leader's actions as Gunther and Randall traded a loaded look.
"What is it?" Gunther's terse demand cleaved the silence in a gruff baritone, slicing through the howling rush of wind.
Reggie remained silent for a long beat, head swiveling as he strained to detect the source of whatever had tripped his instincts."Something's not right," he muttered at last, throwing the vehicle into a lower gear to ease their speed further.
His brothers immediately mirrored his wariness, senses thrumming as they scanned the night-shrouded scenery streaming past in shuddering glimpses revealed by the SUV's juddering headlamps. Randall reflexively freed his silver blades from their sheaths spanning his forearms, allowing the wicked steel to glint in the dim illumination as he braced for an ambush.
Blake felt a surge of dark satisfaction watching them descend into spooked uncertainty, knowing the icy tendrils of dread creeping along their spines were no mere phantoms, but his own baleful influence at work. Allowing his concealment veil to flicker briefly, he channeled every iota of his hatred and menace into a psionic lash aimed squarely at their heightened awarenesses.
Reggie furrowed his brow, attempting to discern any discernible scents in the air. However, the mansion seemed to have been meticulously cleansed of any lingering odors, save for an overwhelming floral fragrance that assailed his senses.
The eerie silence of the mansion only added to the tension, each step echoing through the empty corridors with ominous finality. With no clear direction to guide them, Reggie knew they would have to rely on intuition and instinct to navigate their way through the labyrinthine halls.
Suddenly, a peculiar sound broke the silence, causing Reggie and his brothers to tense instinctively, their senses on high alert. As they turned towards the source of the noise, a slender figure emerged into view, her frail appearance belying an air of authority.
"I've been expecting you," the woman stated calmly, her voice carrying an undertone of urgency.
********
*Author's note*
Trying to make up for taking so long to drop the chapters. Yesterday was my birthday and I celebrated it in the exam hall. Came back and got to writing but like I said on the discord, this part of the plot is a bit tricky so going forward, I might take time to drop the next chapter but unfailingly, it would surely arrive!
Anticipate what's coming next. There's one more chapter!!
Also, you can do well to support this book with gifts, golden tickets and powerstones. My dream is to break into the ranks of some of the Best authors on here and I can only do that with all your help!
Thanks again!!