A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 107: Marked!

"El?" He called and run over to where she had fallen. Her eyes were still closed but her skin was no longer pale. The radiance that had once left her face came, glowing even brighter than before.

He held her crumpled legs and straightened them before he crawled to caress her face. His lips parted slightly as he waited for the magical moment when she’d open her eyes and return back to him.

There was no heartbeat still! She was in a state of purgatory where she belonged to neither life nor death.

Allicent forced herself up, every fiber in her body now wasted. Her eyes had sunk inside her skin and turned a shade darker. She saw Gabriel holding Elena’s hands not far away from where she was, a wry smile painting her face. It had worked! But there was one little detail she hadn’t briefed Gabriel on. And it was the final and most important.

"What now?" Gabriel asked, holding Elena’s hands helplessly. There was no sign of life in her, and death too. This made it all strange.

"Gabriel?" He heard his mother call weakly. On turning, he saw her crawling, her hand stretched out. His eyes narrowed in guilt when he saw her in this condition. He had literally forgotten about her the moment he thought Elena alive.

Slowly placing Elena on the ground, he walked towards where Allicent lay and helped her into a sitting position.

"You’re pale," he pointed. "I’ll get you some water." Just as he was about to leave, Allicent gripped into his arm with the little strength she had.

"The mark of the demon. It’s the only thing that can wake her," she said, slowly leaning back when the pain shot through her body. Gabriel held her by the neck before she could land on the hard ground.

"Do it now before it’s too late," Allicent added as he placed her on the ground. The intensity in her eyes commanded earnestly, making Gabriel keep the contrary thoughts to himself.

"Go!" She urged.

He nodded at her before trotting back to where Elena lay. He tucked the stray strands of her hair behind her ear to expose her neck.

And now that he had the intent to bite her, he felt the monster range inside him. Her exposed vein only acted to worsen it. His primal instincts kicked in. It started with a low grunt before his breath came out labored. His fangs lengthened without his vampiric instincts and her blood had never been this alluring.

’Don’t fight it, embrace it,’ he heard his mother say in the background. His eyes turned a shade redder and before he knew it, he had held Elena by her neck and sunk his teeth into her flesh.

Gabriel had tasted many flavors of human blood but none could beat Elena’s. It started slow, the taste filling his mouth and slowly enveloping every part of him. It was the kind that invites his soul for a taste.

Then it turned into an insatiable spring, one he was not willing to let go off any moment soon until his prey turned stiff and lifeless. That was his beast talking within him.

’Drown her to the very last drop if it pleases you,’ were the words in his brain at the moment. Even Allicent’s eyes grew wide in concern. She had trusted him to do it as any other demon would: mark their mates. But she had forgotten he was a vampire too. And nothing tasted better to a demon than the blood of their mate, the urge to place or renew a mark!

She tried to force herself up but the spell had taken quite a toll on her body. Her very limbs defied her will to sit, let alone stand. She could only watch in horror as he drained the very life he had so much tried to bring back.

It was up to Gabriel. He had to find it in him to stop or else he’d lose her forever.

Elena’s fingers moved as she slowly regained her consciousness. Her eyes opened softly as the blurry sun came into view. Her lips moved but she felt a sudden pain, searing, burn across her neck. His head was the first thing that came into view. She tried to move her hands but they felt too heavy to lift.

As fast as everything turned clear, the world started spinning around her and the sun appeared blurry again. Everything was happening so fast!

She moved her lips with the little strength she had and whispered his name across the wind.

"Gabriel." It came out soft and hoarse. The sun vanished in her periphery now replaced by a familiar face in front of her. He appeared worried, blood laced on his fangs as he stared at her half closed eyes. She could have lifted her hands to touch his face but the thought alone made her to pass out.

When she later came to, the sun was vanishing in the horizon. Allicent was seated by the fire smiling at her while a huge chunk of meat roasted behind her. She was on a... beach!? She looked around searching for that familiar face.

"Where’s Gabriel?" She asked, forcing herself up into a sitting position. She leaned on a tree letting her eyes adjust to the sudden light.

"He went on the other side to watch the sunset. Probably feeling guilty of what he’s done to you," Allicent replied.

"I have to see him," Elena replied, now standing. For some odd reason, she suddenly felt the energy surge inside her.

"You need to take some rest. You’ve lost a lot of blood," Allicent countered already on her feet.

"On the contrary," Elena said, her brows furrowed, "I feel extraordinarily strong." She stretched her hands as if that would expose the energy surging through her muscles.

Allicent frowned. She had seen a human get marked by a demon before and the results were catastrophic. Elena had lost a lot of blood in the process but she appeared in form. Something must have gone wrong somewhere!