Arielle Immortal Resolve (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 8) (2 page)

He took a few deep breaths and inched closer. Peeking carefully through the sheer curtains, he saw Annabel and the girl she’d called Jane engaged in an animated conversation. Annabel was giving her directions about the people who were arriving to meet with her. Then she turned, walked toward the stairs that led to the upper floor, and started to scale the steps two at a time. She was almost at the top landing when Sebastian heard Jane’s voice one more time.

“We installed the secret path you requested. Do you want to see it?” Jane inquired.

Annabel paused and, looking down at Jane, followed her finger that was pointing at the opposite wall. Sebastian saw Annabel’s eyebrows narrow as a short smile crept across her ghastly face. She leaped down the stairs and dashed swiftly toward that wall. Sebastian saw Jane blink with a shocked look on her face, unable to follow Annabel’s immortal speed. Jane crossed the floor in fast strides to keep up. Annabel had already reached the wall at the far end of the room and waited impatiently for Jane to catch up. Jane lifted her hand, and with her palm, pushed against an invisible spot on the wall. Sebastian watched, astonished, as the wall parted, revealing a secret entrance.

It wasn’t so much the secret entrance that surprised Sebastian, but its location. This was a rundown, dilapidated house, not quite where anyone would expect to find secret passages. Annabel seemed to hesitate and then moved quickly through the gap in the wall with Jane by her side. They disappeared behind it, leaving no signs that would disclose what Sebastian had just witnessed. The opening had closed instantaneously, leaving what now seemed to be a normal wall.

Sebastian’s thoughts whirled, trying to make sound decisions in a matter of milliseconds. His loathing for Annabel increased by the minute, but he decided to do the right thing. He pulled his mobile phone out of his pant pocket and pressed Troy’s number. Troy picked up on the first ring.

“Troy,” Sebastian said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Where are you?”

“I’m on my way,” Troy said. “Give me the exact location.”

Sebastian gave him the address and added, “Listen, Troy, I’m going in. I want to deal with Annabel in a swift and conclusive way. Come find me in case I need help. There’s something very peculiar about this run-down house. I saw Annabel and a human friend of hers go through a secret passage. The house is very small, so I’m thinking that this opening leads to some kind of secret cellar. The location of the switch is on the wall approximately one-point-five meters from the northeast corner and two-point-one meters high.”

“I’ll be right there.”

“Thanks, Troy,” he said, but didn’t wait for his friend’s reply. He ended the conversation and slipped his mobile back into his pocket.

The door was locked, but that wasn’t an issue for Sebastian. He soon found himself standing in the middle of the front room, which was poorly furnished and silent as a tomb. Quickly he scaled the staircase to the upper floor. He was going to clear any obstacles and leave Annabel as his last and most revolting elimination. This was the best and most shrewd way to approach this attempt on Annabel’s miserable life.

Four fully furnished bedrooms graced the upper floor and they all looked lived in. He was now sure that more people were in this house besides Annabel and Jane. Sebastian was standing in the last bedroom, one filled with Annabel’s scent, ready to walk out, when he heard footsteps and froze. It was but a few minutes before Jane walked in carrying a laundry basket. Sebastian was standing behind the open door; he didn’t want to hurt her, but he'd do what it took to carry out his mission.

Jane set the basket on the bed, started to take clothes out, and put them carefully in the dresser drawers. She was nearly done when Sebastian's phone went off and she spun around to face the angry immortal. Her jaw dropped and her eyes reflected intense fright.

Sebastian was stunned for a moment as silence stretched and he forgot about the phone when she suddenly darted toward the door. Her mouth opened as she prepared to scream. Sebastian moved with unfathomable speed, grabbed Jane by the throat, muting her scream forever. His strength broke her neck, and when he let her go, she dropped lifeless to the floor. Sebastian pulled her body into the small closet and shut the door. He felt dreadful for killing a human, but didn't regret his choice. She’d been ready to alert the other occupants that something was wrong and he couldn’t allow that.

Leaving the room, he moved like a ghost along the upstairs corridor and descended the staircase carefully. He crossed the room on the main floor, walked down a small hallway, and noticed two doors, one on either side. He went into the door on his left and found himself in a small study full of books, boxes, and a foul odor that had to be a combination of several things. He backed off and shut the door behind him, shaking his head to rid his nostrils of that awful odor. He moved down the hall and opened the second door. Again, he was struck with the most god-awful smell. It was a sitting room connected to the kitchen area. Both rooms were poorly lit, giving Sebastian’s perfect immortal eyes a sharp view of a disgustingly dirty area.

The smell came from the kitchen floor that was clogged with garbage bags, animal food, and feces, making the odor intolerable. Sebastian held his breath, moved quickly out into the hall, and shut the door behind him, shaking his head again in pure disgust. He headed back to the front room, where he stood in front of the wall through which he’d watched Annabel and Jane disappear. He looked for a noticeable gap, but there was none. He ran his palm across the wall, feeling every little bump and scrape until he encountered a small rise.

He pressed, holding his breath, and was delighted to see the wall part, exposing the opening. He listened for any sounds, contemplating his next move. Sebastian knew that Annabel was there, but was she alone? And if not, how many immortals would he be facing? Pulling his mobile from his pocket, he glanced at the screen. A smile spread across his face when he saw Arielle’s text.
I
’m worried to death. I love you more than life, please be careful.
His arms ached for her, but he had a serious issue to deal with, so he set the phone to vibrate and slipped it back in his pocket. Troy had to be getting close, so he decided to go for it.

Quickly he crossed the opening and forgot to breathe, consumed by total shock. He found himself on the landing of a steel staircase that spiraled down to a dark corridor. Taking a deep breath, he filled his lungs with the stale air and descended cautiously, one step at time, until he reached a damp floor. His immortal vision gave him a well-defined view of the place and he gasped in astonishment. How could a small house like this conceal such a large cellar? Sebastian scanned the area and noticed several doors on either side of the long corridor, but they all appeared dark and soundless except for the last two on the right. A thin streak of light escaped from a tiny crack at the first door.

Sebastian moved slowly, listening for any noise, but all he heard was his own footsteps. He exhaled as he reached the door, pausing to listen. Men’s muted voices and low laughter reached him. Sebastian set his eyes on the crack and saw three men sitting around a small table playing cards. They seemed completely engrossed in their game, totally unaware of his presence.

Sebastian moved away quietly and approached the last door. His breath caught in his throat as the air thickened with Annabel’s scent. He waited, motionless, while his mind assessed his position and his desperate wish to rid the world of Annabel for good. His nerves jumped and his breathing quickened as he turned the knob and pushed the door wide open.

Sebastian focused his startled eyes on Annabel, who was sitting in a large chair, watching him intently, a smug look on her face. She crossed her legs and clasped her hands in undisguised amusement.

“Welcome to your prison, my love,” she said. Her laughter rang with clear pleasure. “I’ve been waiting patiently,” she continued.

Sebastian was thunderstruck; her enthusiasm didn’t surprise him, but the fact that she’d known he was coming was a complete shock. His stomach muscles tightened and his teeth clenched.

“Did you really think that I was that stupid?” she asked while Sebastian tried to regain his composure. “I wanted you to follow me; that was my plan all along and you fell in my trap like an amateur.” Annabel laughed with disdain.

Sebastian looked straight ahead, avoiding her gaze and swallowed hard. His mind was spinning, trying to find a solution to a bad turn of events. He scanned the room, felt his skin crawl and icy fingers creep up his spine, when he realized that he was standing in the middle of a torture chamber.

He drew enough breath to utter in sheer revulsion: “What is it exactly that you want from me, Annabel?”

“Sebastian, why do you keep asking the same question over and over?” She studied him intently, waiting for an answer.

“I keep asking the same question because you seem to have a hard time understanding that you and I are never going to happen. I didn’t want you in my life then and I don’t want you now,” he replied, grinding his teeth. “So again, what is it that you want from me?” Sebastian gave her a look full of venom.

Annabel crossed her arms looking totally unruffled and leaning back on the chair, smiled with clear amusement. “You…You are what I want and nobody else will ever have you in this century or any other. You’re mine and you’ll be mine for eternity.” She smiled as she stood and approached him with a wanton smile. “You look scrumptious in that beautiful suit. Any special occasion?” she laughed spitefully.

“I hate you, Annabel, I’ve never been yours and I’d rather die, so let’s end this right here, right now.”

“What do you mean?” she asked smugly as she walked back toward the chair.

“I’m going to kill you, Annabel; I want you out of my life for good.” He hoped his expression painted a clear picture of determination.

“Sebastian…let me bring up a few things that you might’ve overlooked.” She was still smiling. “You came here alone with no weapons, and I know that you already saw the men in the next room, who are awaiting my signal to take you down. I know that you’re strong, but one against four? How are you planning on killing me?” She seemed to be enjoying herself.

“I don’t need weapons, Annabel, you know that, I’m a lot stronger that you and a better fighter, too.” Sebastian shot toward her, catching Annabel off guard. He grabbed her by the throat and threw her across the room. She crashed against the far wall face first and buckled to the ground where she remained unmoving for several seconds. She finally regained her strength and stood slowly, a startled look on her bloody face. She shook her head, leaning against the wall for a moment. Sebastian was now fully alert; he knew she wouldn’t give up that easy. He was still pondering her next move when she launched into the air and threw herself against him with so much force that they crashed to the hard floor with a loud thud and skidded across the room until the wall stopped them.

Annabel jumped to her feet and tried to run, but Sebastian was much faster. He reached up and grabbed the back of her jacket with one hand, making a hard fist with the other. Annabel span around to free her arms from her jacket and Sebastian’s fist landed right between her eyes, sending her flying across the room to crash on the ground in a daze.

Sebastian crossed the room in a slow stride and looked down on Annabel’s bloody face with satisfaction. He bent down, picked her up by the throat, and steadied her upright in front of him long enough to land another punch to her face that sent her crashing into the far wall with a loud bang. The sound of crushing bones was loud when Annabel’s body came in contact with the wall, giving Sebastian pleasure. She let out a growl and crumpled to the floor.

Sebastian turned his attention to the door and stilled, listening carefully, his body tensed, but he didn’t hear any footsteps and the door remained closed. Annabel stirred and moaned across the room; Sebastian turned to look at her. She was trying to shake off the confusion and clear her dazed head. She coughed and spat the blood that was dripping from her mouth onto the floor. She moaned again as she raised her hands slowly and touched her bloody face. She cursed with clenched teeth and, bringing her hands down, stared at the blood. She stood slowly, leaning against the wall and steadied herself. Sebastian knew she was going to heal extremely fast so he had to take advantage of her confusion and keep her in a state of haze.

He closed the distance between them watching her with fury in his heart and punched her one more time in the pit of her stomach. Blood gushed out of her nose and mouth and she crumpled to the ground with a snarl. She tried to grip his arm but he jerked free.

“I hate you, Annabel, more than you'll ever know.” Sebastian’s voice was full of venom. Annabel lifted her eyes to his.

“There's a thin line between love and hate, Sebastian, and that’s exactly where you stand with me, right on that line.” Her voice was barely audible, her face bruised, reflecting shock and repulsion and she closed her eyes, grinding her teeth.

“I want you out of my life,” he whispered, voice full of revolt.

Annabel opened her eyes and stared at him in defiance, her voice scarcely audible. “I still love you,” she sighed, grimacing.

Sebastian shoved her down one more time and walked over to sit on the chair, watching her intently and waiting to hear from Troy. He turned his head away from Annabel and closed his eyes, hoping to have this over with in a short time.

He was lost in his thoughts gazing at his feet when he was startled by a noise. He tried to keep the shock off his face when he saw Annabel leap toward the door and he reacted instantly. He practically ejected himself from the chair and dashed after her, catching her wrist and yanking her back. She swayed wildly back and forth and as her body turned toward Sebastian he lifted his free hand and slugged her between the eyes over and over again, dropping her to the floor, as she let out a blood-curdling scream. She was now a bloody mess and moaned in sheer agony.