The Blood Contract

Chapter 22: Torture

Gem felt like clawing the eyes of Pierre Monet out. She had almost forgotten him.

Almost.

Until he showed up like a fucking pest waiting to be killed.

"I've dearly missed you, Pierre," she growled. "So much that I want to fucking end your life and send you to death."

Pierre laughed manically and his hold around her throat tightened. "You must feel so important little Gem. This whole invasion was designed to kill you. That's my only goal when I embarked on this suicide mission."

"Then why did you do it?" Gem shouted. Pierre Monet knew. Of course he knew that he wouldn't survive by attacking the Order. Luke Garon would have had him tried and executed. But what pushed him to resort to such desperate measures?

"Haven't you heard?" Pierre said angrily. "Oh I forgot. You were enjoying your little vacation in the imperial palace. You didn't realise that Luke Garon had crushed me. He ruined my whole life by sending an army to kill off all my vampires and underlings and he warned everyone in the vampiric world to not sought my blood business."

Gem couldn't help but raise her eyebrows. She wasn't aware that he had done that but she shouldn't have been surprised. He probably did it to uphold the law and order. No other reason.

"I'm ruined because of you," he shouted anguishedly. "My life, my dreams and my business are gone because of a useless half-breed like you."

"Hold your horses, you lousy old man," Gem gritted through her teeth. "What has got to do with me? Blame it on you wanting to take over all the blood businesses and resorting to underhanded methods. It's your retribution."

"Shut up!" Pierre roared and he took out a knife from his pocket. He dragged her out of the chaotic ballroom into the isolated hallway.

"Now, we shall see how our dearest Dark Lord would like you disfigured." He smiled evilly and lightly touched her face with the blade.

"Fuck off." Gem wrenched her hand from his grasp and kicked his crotch. The knife flew out of his grasp and she grabbed it. 

"You sly little bitch." Pierre lunged at her and pinned her against the wall. "I've changed my mind. I will kill you right now instead of disfiguring you. That will make Luke Garon pay."

"Hahaha," she laughed. 

"Why are you laughing?" He narrowed his eyes.

"You must be delusional to think Luke Garon will care about my death," she laughed humorlessly. "I'm an insignificant half-breed. My death wont mean a shit to anyone."

"Oh little Gen, how misguided you are," he mused. "Your death will be instrumental in destroying Luke Garon."

"And why is that so?" Gem glared at the ugly old man. She wanted to stab him so badly and burn his body. For all the pain he had caused her. For transforming and manipulating her mother.

Her mother.

She didn't know if Rebecca Monet was here but she didn't want to know.

"He loves you, you disgusting filth for some strange reason."

"You are mad, old man," she spat out. "No one loves me. Not my father who abandoned me for his dream to overthrow the Order. Not my mother who abandoned me for power and lust and certainly not the Dark Lord. I'm a broken and fragmented person. No one can fix me."

I'm broken because of Sam. Because of what he did to me. 

"Enough of this nonsense. Say your goodbyes, Gem Austen." He squeezed the life out of her.

Gem closed her eyes. She wanted to fight but he was too strong. She could feel her windpipe being crushed slowly as the air was slowly sucked out of her. There were so many things she hadn't done. Her life so far had been miserable at best and she always thought she could live that way. But now that she was at death's door, she realized she wanted her life to be so much more.

She wanted to love and to be loved. She wanted children. She wanted a life filled with happiness and contentment. 

And for some strange reason, she suddenly thought of Luke Garon. His brown eyes. His soft lips. His dark hair. Her mind was fixed on his image and she suddenly felt herself wishing she could see him one last time before she died. 

Suddenly, she felt the pressure lift off her neck and air suddenly rushed down her windpipe. She choked and forced her eyes open. 

Had Luke come to save her?

But what greeted her wasn't the image of Luke Garon.

Instead, it was Decker Garon. The Prince of Darkness. He had thrown Pierre Monet against the wall and was smiling evilly at him.

"Oh Monet, it has been a long time since we met." 

Pierre Monet's eyes widened at the sight of the prince and even he seemed scared. Terrified even. Who wouldn't be honestly?

"Prince...Prince....De....Decker....." Pierre Monet's voice crackled.

"Oh how foolish you are, Monet. Messing with my brother and the Order," Decker Garon mused.

"I'm sorry...Prince Decker...if you will let me go...." 

"Silence!" Decker Garon's voice boomed. And then he smiled. "I'm here to recollect your debt on behalf of the Devil."

Pierre Monet's face turned pale.

"25 years ago, you sold your soul in exchange for immortality as a human. But the Devil wasn't pleased with the bargain and wanted your first child but you fled and protected your first child with protective charms. Now, the Devil wants to reclaim his debt. By taking your life," Decker Garon hissed ominously.

Gem stared at Pierre. He had a son? With whom? Her mother? But her mother hadn't been with him 25 years ago. So who was this son he had?

And Decker Garon...he was consorting with the Devil. Directly. He was truly evil.

"Please, Prince Decker, I...I'm sorry...."

"I've exhausted my patience with you. Au revoir, Monet. It was fun working with you." Decker Garon's yellow eyes gleamed and maggots suddenly appeared on Pierre's skin, chewing on him. Pierre howled as the worms crawled all over him, eating his eyes and skin. 

Although Gem had seen enough torture and death in her years in blood business, she had never seen death as gruesome as this.

Pierre's howls and cries rang through the hallway as the maggots took over his whole body, gouging on his intestines and internal organs. Until the cries were silenced.

Gem saw that Decker Garon had a self-satisfied smirk on his face. She would never forget this scene for the rest of her life. She was permanently scarred by the way Pierre died. At this moment, she realised that Decker's cat-like eys slid to her and she gulped.

He was coming for her. 

He stalked over until he was right infront of her.

It took every inch of effort and willpower to not faint and sink to the ground but this could be the last moment of her life. If it was between Pierre Monet and Decker Garon, she would rather die in Pierre's hands. At least it would be quick and not torturous just like in Decker's hands.

"Now, what should I do with you now?" He smiled.