Encounters (The Elder Origins #3) by Bre Faucheux Read Free Book Online Page B

the center of them that she was being dragged to. The other pillars lay bare with no souls tied to them. All these people were awaiting her death and hers alone. 
    When she looked up again, she saw their faces, unsympathetic and hungry. It was a true likeness of the creature she had been turned into, and what Caspar and Lyndon were now. Killers without remorse, and starved for blood. This new entity she had become was practically a condensed version of what these people were at heart, and what the Vam-pyr-ei-ak had feared.
    The men gripped her arms as she struggled. Her limbs were all healed and she tried with every muscle within her to get away from their consuming strength. But she was vastly outnumbered.
    Her back hit the stake hard and her arms were yanked behind her. The same spiked chain was wrapped around her arms, chest and ankles, making it impossible for her to escape. She tried to pull away and felt the linked device tighten once more. She had no choice but to stare out and hear the voices cheering and faces jubilantly crying out for her death. Some threw extra shards of sticks and hay onto the timber surrounding her.
    Madison looked to the woods before her. She only hoped that Jayden hadn’t followed her. But she took reassurance in the knowledge that he had gone forth to find Caspar, and hoped that the trail had led him away from this place. And she knew he was stronger than her. Even in their games he had always held back slightly to appease her. He could defend himself against Lyndon.
    If the Jews within the cathedral’s dungeons had escaped, they had their own or a sympathizer to rescue them. No one had come for her.
    Caspar came through the throngs of people with a torch in each hand. He handed one to the creature had created. Together they went to each side of the piled wood and logs, and lit the pyre. He took a spot in front of all the people and crossed his arms before her, intending to watch every second. The other men leapt onto horses at the edge of the outside crowd, waiting for any movement from the woods. Madison felt one final sense of satisfaction from knowing that Jayden wouldn’t suddenly appear. They wouldn’t catch him, because she refused to make a single noise. Even as the sharpened spikes penetrated deeper into her skin and she felt the flames start to reach her feet, she would not make a sound. But it wasn’t without effort. She had never placed so much exertion into one action in her life. She refused to give Caspar the pleasure of hearing her cry out in agony. Her mouth contorted and she looked as though she could scream, but no noise left her throat. Each limb began to twitch and move as the scorching heat touched her skin. The hem of her dress caught fire and traveled up her back. By that time the people could hardly see her face anymore. The furnace of flames reached too high. The tips of her hair began to catch fire and touch high on the lengths of her dress.
    The burning abruptly reached the back of her hands, her chest, and tremendously across her thighs. Along with the ripping her skin, she felt herself giving way to the reaction Caspar so desired. She let out an ear piercing scream that even startled the crowd of onlookers. Her voice carried the sound farther than she was previously able. But when she looked at Caspar through the fire, he wasn’t there. None of the guards were there. The people had stepped back and weren’t even watching her anymore, but something behind her.
    Madison felt the earth move from under her and she fell forward, not yet having control of her burned and ripped skin. Strong arms caught her just before her body touched the pyre. She was lifted up towards the sky and carried in someone’s arms. She couldn’t make sense of what was happening. The movement around her was faster than she could see, and her eyes were completely blinded by the smoke.
    She was lifted upon something heavy. It held her weight with little effort. The arm that had gripped