Sapphire Scars - Page 272

He hadn’t moved.

Gaunt and blinking at the knife in his shaking hands.

Victor returned to him.

He slung his arm around Henri’s waist. “Come now, my friend. You won this. I saw you find the chit and also saw you tear it up. That was the moment I knew you had to do this. Not because I wish to cause you pain but because this is the only way you can be free of her.”

Grabbing Henri around the nape, he said kindly, “I know this is hard. Believe me, I loved once too. And you know what cured me of that nasty affliction? Death. The moment I drove a dagger into her heart, I felt such relief, mon ami. No more humanity holding me back. No more doubt. No more fear. I stepped into my power. And now…it’s time for you to step into yours.”

Taking Henri’s wrist, he dragged him toward me.

He pushed and directed until Henri stood over the altar, his shoulder brushing Peter’s.

I couldn’t look away from him.

I couldn’t read him, hear him, feel him.

He’d checked out. Burned out. Gone.

Please be okay.

Please don’t let this break you.

No response.

Not a single blink.

“It’s time, mon ami.” Victor guided Henri’s hand and the knife to my belly. “Allow me to tell you how this will go. With that knife, once you’ve faceted and transformed her, you will cut right here.” He drew a line with his finger over the softest part of my belly.

I gasped.

Twitched.

Bit my bottom lip until I tasted blood.

“You will slice through her stomach and reach up through her ribcage. While she is still alive, you will grab her beating heart and tear it from her. As she dies in your hand, you will kiss those beautiful lips and let her go. And then…” Pulling a huge diamond from his pocket, Victor held it up. “You will insert this into her empty cavity. A heart for a heart. Meat traded for a gemstone. She’ll become priceless, and you? You will finally be free.”

With a wicked smile, he backed up and bowed. “She’s ready for you, my dear friend. Make the first cut. Let’s begin.”