Chapter 35: Something Holy, Something Vile

Over the following days, the oppressive atmosphere did not abate.

Like a black cloud hanging over the house, the pair went through the motions and little else.

Casey felt troubled and by the third day, felt exhausted. She was barely sleeping, trying to parse out what could be done about Ardashir’s blackmail.

She was also aware that she was not alone in laying awake. Lavinia held her every day when they slept and Casey knew that she had been barely sleeping as well.

But there was almost no comfort to be had aside from what they gave each other, and even then, most days they ended up laying together, both pretending to sleep and both trying to figure out what to do.

On the fifth day, an invitation arrived. The vampiric court would meet in one month.

Ardashir arrived on the sixth, telling them to do it soon, as Adelaide living to go to court would spell the end of Casey and Lavinia’s charade.

That did nothing to improve their already spiraling state.