Page 125 - Microsoft Word - FANG EMPIRE - NOVEL.docx

Sygnosis’ face contorted. Her pale skin flushed red.

“Are thee a Darkling?” asked GoGo. “Or are thee the Undead!”

At these blasphemous words, Sygnosis hissed like a serpent. Her back arched like a cat.

Her eyes twined and her triad of fangs snapped out from her gums like the spring-loaded blades of

a mummy’s trap. She struck out at GoGo; her long viperous fangs dripped and flexed only inches

from the queen’s neck.

“You will be the Undead!” said Sygnosis. “And I will make you eat those words like shit!”

GoGo ripped off her Berber necklace to give the vampire even more access to her jugular.

“Go ahead! Strike!” she said. “If fear is your appetizer you will drink bitter blood if you

bite me. Is this the only way you can love? Do you need the fang to force my respect?”

“You know nothing!” said Sygnosis.

“You know nothing—about being a woman. You are as spoiled as a carcass if you have no

integrity. Love is truth! It cannot be gotten from the fang, only from the heart.”

“Take care what you say to me. My fangs are sharper than thy words.”

“But a lie is sharper still. And neither blood nor lies will quench your thirst for love. Do

you love me, Sygnosis Sparth? Because I love you! You have enthralled me without the fang. Are

you blind to this? Do not un-enthrall me with a lie. You may puncture my flesh, but you cannot

puncture my heart for it will harden to stone and your fangs will break against it!”

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The next night, Omar, Sooth, Zuba, and Raki talked and strategized in the cavernous mountain

throne room. A large fire burned in an open metal furnace constructed in the center. Daka engaged

in swordplay with one of the royal guards, testing the finely forged and decorated Moroccan

scimitars they had salvaged from the raid. The ringing of the swords echoed against the high rock

ceiling of the throne room.