Chapter 19

I press the blade against my chest in a silent prayer. Something slams by the side of my window and a yelp tears out of me. But I remember—they locked me in, so I’m safe, right? I try to stay calm and continue praying, but the same noise slams again.

“Who’s there?” I point the blade at the window, but there’s nothing there except darkness.

Maybe I’m imagining—

“It’s you, cursed child of the hunter.”

I scream in panic as a deathly figure—just like the one that tried to rape me that night—appears behind the glass, hands outstretched, thick liquid dripping down his mouth.

Don’t panic. He can’t get into the car, I tell myself.

But I can’t stop my legs from shaking as the creature drags its fingers, screeching lines across the glass, smearing blood in wide arcs as it stares straight at me.

“Look at me, golden one. Look. At. Me.”

“Nooo!” I scream, pressing my hands to my ears as sweat trickles down my face.

Where the hell is Don Rafaele? Matteo?

I can’t see them—everywhe