Marine, took hold of my hands and closed her eyes. I could feel the same energy that surrounded Sorin but it was weaker. After a beat, she opened her eyes.
"I know where he is," she gasped. "It's an abandoned home on Cave street."
That sent chills down my spine.
"What? What is it?" she asked.
"That's the street Sorin lives on."
We all went pale before heading off. Marine joined me in my car whilst Luca rode with Rodgers. She pulled out her phone and started texting.
"I'm going to tell my dad we are on our way. Don't worry, he will try and help us."
It made me feel less uneasy knowing Sorin wasn't all alone. Within five minutes we pulled up a block away from cave street, just in case. In silence, we headed towards the empty house, Marine pointed to.
"I can feel him inside, he's scared but ok."
I nodded feeling a little reassured that he was ok.
"Do you guys know how many are inside?" Detective Rodgers asked.
"Four, that I can sense, Dante?" Luca asked.
"Same, Marine said their father is inside to help us, so at least one of them is friendly and the other must be Sorin."
'Dante, please hurry! They're going to break the bond between us!'
I paused and then growled low.
"What is it?" Luca asked.
"They are trying to separate us!"
Marine turned to me and nodded. She pulled up her phone and dialled.
"Hey dad, are you alone? …. Good, go to Sorin and get him ready … no, just be in the room with him … where abouts is he? … ok, ok … yeah we are coming in now."
She hung up and looked at us.
"Ok, Dad said Sorin is in one of the small bedrooms. It's the first door on the left as you go up the stairs. The fact that they are trying to break your bond is a good thing …."
Luca and I stared at her in shock.
"Just hear me out," she insisted. "In order to do that they have to create a specific and intricate potion for him to drink. Salazar will need to practise the incantation to say after Sorin has drunk it. Which means both of them are distracted right now."
We all realised what she was getting at. It means we could get inside without too much fuss.
"Ok, I get it. Let's go in, quietly."
One by one we headed to the front door. I led the way with Luca at the end, putting the humans in between us just in case. As predicted the downstairs was empty so we headed for the stairs.
I could sense Sorin the closer I got. I could also sense the other two. Both were in different rooms at the opposite end of the hall.
"Wait," I whispered and everyone paused. "Salazar can manipulate someone closest to him, does it work on everyone?"
Marine raised her eyebrow at me.
"I mean, is it only humans he can manipulate or vampires as well?"
Realisation struck her face and she thought for a moment.
"Definetley humans but I don't know about vampires."
"Ok, Marine and Rodgers you get Sorin and his father and you get them out of here. Leave the other two to us."
Everyone nodded and split up. I wanted to go with them, to see Sorin alive and safe but I knew we had to deal with the others. I sensed the woman in one room and told Luca to go to that one. I wanted to deal with the man.
The door creaked as I slowly opened it. The sound was loud to my ears but it didn't register to the single male inside. He sat crossed legged in the centre chanting.
With careful steps I advanced on him but just as I neared him the floor creaked loudly. The man opened his eyes and glared. I pounced before he could do or say anything.
My hands gripped his neck as I pinned him to the door. I could feel magic surrounding me as I squeezed.
"Release me!" he gritted.
I could feel the urge to obey but I resisted.
"I said release me!" he growled and I had no choice but to comply.
Fuck, he had control over me. I sat back and waited, my mind screamed but I could do nothing but sit there and wait.
"Good, now tell me what are you doing here? How did you find me?"
I tried to resist, tried to refuse but it came spilling out. About how Marine came to me, how she has power stronger than her mothers and how we discovered where he was.
"That little bitch! How dare she hide this from me!" he growled as he paced.
My back was to the door as Salazar came to stand behind me. I could feel metal at my throat and knew this could be the end.
"I will deal with her later, but first I'm going to end you. It's an even better way to break your bond with Sorin. Then once you are gone, I'm going to force him to bond with me and then fuck him senseless so he forgets all about you!"
'No!' I screamed but could do nothing as he tipped my head back.
The blade slid across my throat and I choked. Blood gushed but there was also a stinging pain. It was preventing me from healing.
"Good isn't it, the blade is dipped in a potion that prevents the skin from healing. I find it's a good weapon to use on the beasts like you who can heal themselves instead of just dying like they should."
I couldn't clutch at my throat, all I could do was choke.
"No!"
Sorin's voice broke through the fog. I felt an immense power ripple around me. The pain and the blood ceased as I felt my skin knit together.
"What are you doing? Stop now!" he ordered. "I said stop!"
Salazar's voice sounded commanding at first but then became strained and panicked.
I heard a thud and painful cry then my body collapsed.
"Dante!" I heard a cry but didn't register who it came from.
I felt myself being lifted before I completely succumbed to the darkness.