Ryder, Slade and Riot ran up behind me, all stopping short to witness the exchange between Rose and Derek. I could feel the anger rolling off them as he confessed.
“Anton did this? Because of some sick ritual?” Rose asked.
“It’s disgusting. I kept trying to figure out a way to stop it, but with Bradley and Carlisle and the others, it’s useless. There’s no accountability in this fucking town and you know that — not to mention your father. I’m so sorry, Rose.”
I heard his words and uncontrollable rage filled my veins.
I lunged towards him, my hands out and ready to rip his head off. But then I saw Maggie, her body curled up next to his, tears streaming down her face and fear filling her eyes and I stopped myself.
Derek looked up at me, his eyes filled with sorrowful resignation.
“You’re right to want to kill me, Blade. And you can, if you want. Just take care of my girls, okay? They belong to you now.”
I shook my head, words failing me. Rose ran over to me, and I wrapped her in my arms, meeting Derek’s gaze over her shoulder.
“Let’s fucking get Anton.”
He nodded, lifting his chin.
“I’m in. I need to do one thing first.”
“What the fuck is that?” I asked. He wasn’t exactly in any position to be making demands.
“I need to wake up Cherry.”
Chapter 54
DEREK
“You ready?”
“Yes, Dad,” Maggie said. “I’ve got this, don’t worry.”
She climbed into my car, arranging the skirts of the long white robe around her legs, before I closed the door.
We drove in silence to the cemetery, the moon following us the whole way. The streets were empty and quiet at this late hour. Adrenaline rushed through my veins and I reached over and grabbed Maggie’s hand, squeezing it tightly.
I slowed the car down as we reached the entrance of Bonaventure, maneuvering through the open gates. Normally, at this hour, the gates would be locked securely, but Anton had paid off the guard again and we had free reign of the place.
The sound of crickets chirping broke the silence, the heat of the day still lingering heavy in the air. The other’s cars were there, too. The shiny black exterior of Anton’s Rolls Royce shined under a dim light. I parked and we got out without saying a word.
I grabbed her hand and we started walking to the meeting place. When we reached the secluded glen, the men were standing in a circle in full regalia, their robes tightly closed with their braided red belts, heavy black hoods hanging over their heads as they held lit candles in front of their bodies.
Anton walked up and stood in front of Maggie, inspecting her, the candlelight flickering over her face in the dark.
“You’ve made a good choice, Davenport. Young lady, I’m impressed you’ve offered yourself up so willingly. If only more girls were like you.”
Maggie smiled up at him, her face open and innocent.
“It’s an honor to be chosen, sir,” she whispered. “When my father told me you wanted me, and why, I was in tears. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.” She did a little curtsy that we hadn’t planned and I suppressed a smile. Anton was impressed. He nodded approvingly, as did the others. Maggie walked over to her grandfather, Finley, and smiled at him. “I’ve missed you, grandfather.”
“I’m proud of you, Child. You’re a better disciple than your mother ever was.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said, flashing him an obedient smile. “I’m honored to offer myself to you.”
“Shall we begin?” Anton asked. “This way, young lady.”
We followed him and he led us down the edge of the glen, turning and trailing through the trees, and stopping when we got to the fountain.
“First, you’ll cleanse yourself, Child.”
I cringed, looking over at Maggie with alarm. Serenely, she nodded, and then climbed right into the fountain without hesitating. I wondered if she’d seen this part when she witnessed this before. I hadn’t been invited to their sick parties before and was only here now because they’d wanted Maggie so badly. If it wasn’t for my girls, I’d never been privy to their weird shit. I hated being involved now, but I also wasn’t sure entirely what to expect.
After she was soaked, hair, robe and all, Anton helped her out of the fountain. I wanted to peel his skeezy hands off my daughter but I kept my rage in check.
“Blood is life, life is blood,” Anton began chanting as he led us away from the fountain again. The others joined in, marching back down the pathway through the dark, chanting like a bunch of freaks. “Life is blood, blood is life, life is blood, blood is life…”
Their eyes glossed over as we reached a small meadow, a bonfire roaring in the middle of it. They began marching around the fire, chanting and chanting until Anton stopped, throwing his head back and howling.
I gasped in surprise, and then the others followed, joining in on the howling. Laughter bubbled up inside of me and I swallowed it down.
What fools they looked like. Just a bunch of old men, howling at the moon to somehow purify themselves. Purifying themselves from the same so-called sins they’d condemned others of doing for centuries. As if sacrificing an innocent child and bathing in her blood would wash them clean.
When the others started crowding around Anton, though, I realized what this was really all about.
Him.
The men fell to their knees, surrounding his feet, holding their hands up to him, worshiping him.
Finley spoke out first and for the first time in my life, I realized just how crazy Rose’s father really was.
“You are our leader, our master! Our blood is your life, your life is our blood. We bow to you, oh great one, we worship you, we honor you with an offering of eternal life, with the blood
