Chapter 9 - Blood and Fire
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The two guards collapsed instantly.
Victor spun around, screaming in rage, raising his revolver toward Dominic.
But Clara didn't hesitate. She threw herself forward, tackling Victor with all the strength left in her recovering body. The gun went off—the bullet embedding itself harmlessly into the concrete ceiling.
They crashed to the floor. Victor snarled, striking Clara across the face, but the distraction was all Dominic needed.
Dominic was on him in an instant. He hauled Victor up by his collar and drove him back against the cold stone wall of the corridor. The sheer, terrifying rage in Dominic’s eyes made even the hardened warlord tremble.
"You came into my house," Dominic whispered, his voice low, guttural, and demonic. "You laid a hand on my wife."
"Dominic... wait... we can make a deal—" Victor gasped.
"The deal was closed the night she wore my ring," Dominic said.
A single shot echoed through the corridor.
Victor Costa went limp, dropping to the floor.
Silence returned to the ruined estate.
Dominic dropped the gun. He staggered, his strength finally giving out from loss of blood, and fell to his knees.
"Dominic!" Clara scrambled across the floor, catching him before he hit the ground. She pulled his heavy head into her lap, her hands desperately pressing against the bleeding wounds on his torso. "Dominic, stay with me! Please, look at me!"
Dominic opened his eyes slowly, looking up at her face. Despite the pain, despite the blood, his hand rose shakily to touch her cheek, leaving a smear of red across her skin.
"You lied..." he whispered faintly, a tiny, rare smile playing on his lips. "There was no... 'Song of the Silver Keys'..."
"I made it up," Clara sobbed, pressing her forehead against his. "I made it up to buy time. You stupid, arrogant man... don't you dare leave me now."
"I told you..." Dominic rasped, his vision fading at the edges. "Nobody gets through me..."
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His eyes closed, and his hand slipped from her face.
"Dominic! DOMINIC!"
