Shattered - By Sophia Sharp Page 0,51
it was Logan’s turn to gawk. “They are younger than you? But the elders are supposed to be the oldest of all the Vassiz. That is how they ascend to the council.”
Rafael laughed again. “Do not be foolish, boy. Your pride blinds you to the truth. All your life, you have lived in fear of the elders, obeying their commands and abiding by their laws. Is this not true?” Logan gritted his teeth, but nodded. Reluctantly. “You were told it is how things have always been, and that without the elders there is only chaos and disorder. How our race would not survive without their guidance. Were you not?” Again, Logan nodded. And his jaw clenched a little bit more. “Not many have dared to defy them, but you have. And this girl… Laura… she will have a part to play yet. No, I believe your story is far from finished. In fact, I think it’s just begun.”
“What you’re saying… about the elders… it is blasphemy.”
“Do you think I am afraid of the elders? Or their little puppets? There are few things that scare me, boy, and the elders are not one of them.” Rafael’s tone shifted, and it became denser. More ominous. “But for now, you should be afraid. For the elders have visited my dreams, and the dreams of every other living vampire. Whole packs are coming after you, boy, and your darling friend. Packs of vampires enraged by the desecration of your crimes. They will be here soon.”
“Here?” Logan thundered. “You told them we were here! You lied to us!”
“No, I did not lie, nor did I give them any information. But I am guessing the untimely death of one of your pursuers tipped them off. Listen. They are coming.”
A silence came upon the enclosure. Laura strained her ears. She could hear nothing. She waited, holding her breath. Everything was silent. And then she heard… a distant thud. And then… another one. It was a rhythmic vibration. Low, and nearly inaudible. The thudding quickened, coming from the direction they had come from. Yes. She wasn’t imagining things. She could hear it.
“They have broken in!” Logan exclaimed. “Through the blocked entrance!”
“Yes. They’re coming after you.” Rafael smiled. “Your only chance lies with me.”
Chapter Twenty-One
~The Pursuit~
They ran. Hard.
Laura gripped Logan’s chest with all her strength. She was on his back, clinging for dear life. Logan was following Rafael, who was urging them on. Vampires were fast, Laura knew, but Rafael was even faster.
They stormed down into pure darkness. Laura couldn’t see past the black, but still her eyes were open wide, still straining to see. Her hair blew backwards as Logan ran on, and she struggled to catch breath against the wind in her face.
She could hear the vibrations behind them. They were getting louder. Whatever was making them was getting closer.
“Quickly, quickly!” Rafael yelled. Logan doubled his speed.
They sped through long corridors, down twisting tunnels, and into long paths. Laura gasped, trying to gulp down the air that streamed by her, but it was very difficult.
Suddenly the path they were on widened, and unfolded into an open space. The moon’s rays streamed in from a hollow in the distant ceiling, allowing Laura to see her surroundings. They ran on a single path that jutted out from the rock. A long, dark abyss lay on either side of them. One wrong move, one misstep, and they’d be hurtling down. But Logan was steadfast, and kept on undeterred at the same speed as before.
Ahead of them, Laura realized with alarm, was a large gap in the path. A place where the ancient rock had long since fallen away. She watched, stunned, as Rafael raced towards it and leapt into the air. He rose, higher than she would have ever thought possible, and landed deftly on the other side.
“Faster!” he yelled from the other side. “Go faster!”
For a second, Logan faltered, but quickly regained his step. Laura realized with horror that they would have to jump the gap as well.
Logan ran towards it, and sprang into the air. For a split second, Laura felt weightless – a feather rising on a cool wind. And then they started to go down. They were falling, down towards the other end. But they were coming short.
Laura screamed, and buried her head against Logan’s back while locking her fingers tighter. They slammed the edge hard, and the impact broke her grip. She lost her hold, and was knocked off Logan. She was falling.
Desperately, she grabbed