Summoned

by Tricia Barr

  Anything, Leif thought. The idea of going on a date with Beatrice was so revolting, it almost shoved his desire to drink aside. Almost.

  Beatrice’s face fell, and she put the bloodmix on the desk next to him. Lifting his chin with her hand, her brown eyes filled his view. “It’s the copper, isn’t it? It subdues you—alters your thinking.”

  Leif nodded.

  “It doesn’t have to be this way, you know,” Beatrice said softly. “I can remove these shackles. You and I can still leave Heritage Prep. But you know my demands.” She tapped his chest, then hers as she said, “You and I—forever.”

  Leif didn’t blink, staring deeply into her eyes. Into her soul. At last, he said, “I will never meet your demands.”

  Her jaw tightened, and Leif heard her teeth grinding.

  “A date it is, then,” she said through clenched teeth.

  “Let me go,” Leif begged. “Please, just let me go.”

  “Your freedom will come when I have your heart,” Beatrice said. “It will happen sooner or later. And if it happens later... well, I have eternity to wait. I guess I’ve gotten used to quick results over the years.” She snatched the bloodmix and held it between them.

  “No vampire date can start without a little drink,” she said, shaking the cup ever so slightly, causing a little vortex to spin in the center of the crimson liquid. It was hypnotizing, and Leif had a sudden urge to rip the cup out of her hands and consume the entire glass himself.

  Taking a few deep breaths, he forced himself away from such animalistic behavior.

  Beatrice eased the cup forward, and as his lips closed over one of the straws, he closed his eyes and began to drink.

  A burst of flavor tickled his taste buds, bringing much-needed pleasure to his entire being. The blood was still warm—freshly extracted.

  His body tingled, and he found himself unable to pull away from the straw. Right now, the only thing in the word was him and the bloodmix.

  And then the flow of heaven stopped, followed by loud slurping sounds. His eyes flashed open, and he pulled away from the tall glass, shocked to see that he drank it all.

  Beatrice chuckled as she rose to her feet, placing the empty glass back on the desk. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen anybody chug like that. You must’ve been thirsty.”

  Leif’s eyes followed the empty cup, wishing it were full again. But his body still tingled, and he felt good. Not cured of the copper slowly poisoning him, but content. Life wasn’t so bad.

  “Now let me set the mood.” Beatrice turned her wrist over, tapping her smartwatch. All the lights in the room went dark, and Leif found himself blinded. It was as if Beatrice had placed a cover over his eyes.

  “Wh– what are you d– doing?” he stammered, trying to focus his eyes. Never had any darkness been able to blind him since he’d become a vampire.

  Beatrice didn’t respond.

  Slowly a small light appeared, revealing that he was no longer at Heritage Prep. As the light continued to brighten, he gasped at where he was: Frost Boarding House.

  He wasn’t shackled anymore. But more shocking was the fact that Beatrice wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

  Leif found himself sitting in the Frost’s wooden chair—the same one that resided at his apartment in Chicago.

  A cruel chill crawled down his back. “Beatrice?” he called, hoping she’d enter and explain what was going on. “What trick are you playing on me?”

  And then he heard her—not Beatrice, but her!

  “Gemma?” he whispered, his eyes widening and his heart beating so rapidly it threatened to jump out of his body. Her voice was coming from the dining room, and he leapt to his feet.

  And then he heard Camilla’s voice, a little louder than Gemma’s—just loud enough that Leif could hear what she said.

  “Leif is going to propose to you any day now.”

  “What?” Gemma gasped. “You are sure of this?”

  “He told me just today,” Camilla replied.

  There was a moment’s pause, then Gemma said, “What should I do?”

  “That is the great puzzle you will have to solve, I am afraid,” Camilla said with a laugh.

  “Would it be too rude to tell him to try proposing to one the trees in the orchard, since they are all he cares about?”

  Again, Camilla laughed. “I would love to see his reaction if that was your reply.”

  This isn’t right, Leif thought. Before he met Draven, he’d frequently re-experienced memories from his past. Draven had stopped them from emerging. But while this felt like a memory, it wasn’t. He’d never heard Gemma and Camilla talking about his imminent proposal, and he couldn’t imagine it would’ve gone like this.

  It wouldn’t have, right? The question was posed to the Gemma in his mind, but she didn’t respond. Her voice hadn’t come to him for quite some time, either.

  “What is quite sad,” Gemma continued, “is that he does not realize that I have only allowed him to court me out of pity. It is no small wonder that he let Beatrice Morton go without even thinking twice. Can you imagine, dear Camilla? Me falling desperately in love with that poor fool, then getting thrown out to pasture because of his duty to the orchard?” She laughed in a way Leif had never heard. It sounded too... wicked.

  “You have to admire his dedication, though,” Camilla said. “The orchard would not be as successful as it is without his hard work.”

  “Again, he really should consider proposing to one of the elegant apple trees that waits on his caressing hands every day,” Gemma said.

  Both girls must’ve covered their mouths, for their laughs were muffled. Leif’s heart slowed to a dull thump-thump. Hearing Gemma’s voice behind those words... It sounded so real. He tried to think about other memories that would disprove this conversation, but the effort was broken as Camilla spoke again.

  “Please let him down easily,” she said quietly. “Deep inside, he can be quite vulnerable.”

  “I might not have it in my heart to tell him ‘no’ right away,” Gemma replied.

  “Actually, that might be the wisest path to take,” Camilla replied. “Perhaps accepting his offer now, then allowing a slow rejection to occur would work out for the better.”

  Leif’s throat dried and his sinuses sparked, causing his eyes to water. You will not cry, he told himself, as if the command would actually work.

  “Quite alarming, isn’t it?”

  Leif whirled to find Beatrice in a lackadaisical posture in the Frost’s chair—her back against one arm while her legs dangled over the other.

  “You!” he growled. “You’re doing this!”

  She shrugged. “All I’ve done is tapped into your past.”

  “This isn’t my past,” he said, pointing toward the dining room.

  Beatrice swung her legs to the front of the chair, then leaned forward. “This is your mind, Leif. I’m just here to watch.”

  “No,” Leif said, shaking his head. “Gemma would never... This isn’t how it went.”

  “Are you sure?” Beatrice asked. “If this really did happen, would Camilla or Gemma have told you about it?”

  Would they have? The idea that Camilla—a sister in every way but blood—would speak in such a way was heartbreaking. But to think that Gemma had been faking their relationship? It was enough to kill him. He fell to his knees, tears rolling down his face.

  “You know what they say, Leif,” Beatrice said, bringing her face close to his. “The truth hurts.” She raised her hands to the sides as she leaned back. “And this? Sure looks like truth to me.”

  Leif sniffed, grasping at his emotions, trying to keep them from falling out of control. Closing his eyes, he felt the world shift around him. By the time he opened his wet eyes, he was back in Beatrice’s quarters, his wrists still bound and his head still swimming.

  “Thanks for the date,” Beatrice said, then kissed his cheek.

  Leif bit his lip, then let loose a pained groan.

  He felt Be
atrice’s hand rest on his shoulder. “There might be more for us to dig out of that ancient mind of yours.”

  Leif shook his head. “Please, no. I don’t want to know any more.”

  “For now, you don’t,” Beatrice consoled. “But maybe later you’ll want to check, just in case.”

  Leif felt empty, like a glove without a hand inside. Gemma was perfect, right? Or had he been blinded by love? Had she been hiding her true feelings? Even with all the effort she’d put into helping him? But she’d called it pity. Had she done nothing but show pity for him?

  He’d only known her for three months. Was that really long enough to truly know somebody? Their connection made it seem like their souls had known each other forever. But Gemma was a selkie—could she have simply put a spell on him? Was their relationship built on pure magic?

  It cannot be! Leif told himself. But the words felt hollow. Since knowing her, his whole life had been dedicated to Gemma. It tore him up to think that something that felt so real to him could’ve been nothing more than an enchantment—or charity.

  Beatrice’s hand slid down until it gripped Leif’s.

  “Hey, I know you don’t get much news up here, but I thought I’d inform you about some success we’ve had.”

  Welcoming the distraction, Leif sniffed as he looked back into Beatrice’s almond eyes.

  “We’ve got Draven’s daughter!” she said, a light sparking in her eyes.

  “Myreen?” he sputtered. His mind was a mess.

  “Yes, Myreen. She came of her own accord. And the best part is that it seems she and Draven are actually getting along.”

  His mind was muddled. How had Oberon let Myreen get caught? But Beatrice said she came all on her own? Why would she do that? After all Oberon had done to protect her, he just... let her go?

  “This is a game-changer,” Beatrice said, excitement building in her voice. “With a siren on our side, imagine what we’ll be able do. The shifters will obey our every command!”

  There was no way he was hearing things right. Beatrice was messing with him. “Why would Myreen... work with vampires?”

  She laughed. “It’s all about the cause. I think Myreen has seen Draven’s vision. They’ve been training together. Her skills are impressive—particularly with Draven’s guidance. Father and daughter, joining forces, working toward the same cause. Leif, it really is a sight to behold.”

  He couldn’t process it anymore. Leif’s brain overloaded. His peripheral vision faded, as if shadows were at the edges, slowly creeping their way towards the center, until darkness consumed him.

  Chapter 12: Myreen

  Myreen woke in her dark room and looked at the clock. It was nearly seven in the morning, though it felt like it was still the middle of the night. She wondered if her body would ever get used to west coast time, considering she spent her days in a building with no windows. Myreen sighed and turned over, not quite ready to face the day, but sleep had left her.

  She got up instead, wondering what she should do with herself. Exploring her ursa powers with Draven had been exhilarating, but she had no real schedule here, no classes to attend or job to perform. And she’d already explored a good portion of the citadel. Maybe she should go to the training room and try something else?

  A small voice sounded from outside her door, and Myreen’s ears perked.

  “Is she up yet?” It was clearly Ty.

  A matronly voice—Agnus, obviously—was trying to dissuade Ty, but she wasn’t getting very far with him.

  Myreen opened the door and peeked her head out. “It’s okay. I’m up.”

  “Do you wanna have breakfast with me?” Ty asked, and Myreen’s heart melted once more. Not only was he adorable, but he was so polite. It was hard to think she was speaking to a ten-year-old.

  “I’d like that,” Myreen said with a smile.

  Agnus pursed her lips.

  “Let me just go get dressed and I’ll be right over,” Myreen said, remembering she was still in her pajamas.

  Ty nodded, and he and Agnus left while Myreen changed. It still amazed her how much trouble Draven had gone through to make her comfortable. She still thought of her room as a gilded cage, but as she pulled the sky-blue cashmere sweater over her head—perfect for the cold halls of the citadel—it was almost difficult to remember why she hated Draven in the first place.

  Of course, at this point, maybe she didn’t hate him.

  She pushed the thought aside and made her way to the room below door. Her guards barely acknowledged her passing, almost looking bored. Maybe with a few more days they’d relax enough to let her do whatever she wanted without their attention.

  The table was already set with waffles covered in strawberries and whipped cream, crispy slabs of bacon on the side. Myreen’s mouth watered as she sat beside the little boy waiting patiently for her to start.

  “Where’s Agnus?” Myreen asked, looking around as she sat across from Ty.

  Ty wrinkled his nose. “I told her I didn’t need her this morning. I’m spending the day with you.”

  Myreen smiled as she cut off a bite of waffle. “And you can just do that?”

  Ty nodded and smiled, his own mouth full.

  She lifted the fork to her mouth and bit down on sweet, creamy, crispy goodness, closing her eyes as she did so. The Dome had great food, but their stuff was more utilitarian, stuff that could be easily cooked and served for a large group. This? Well, this was the stuff of special occasions.

  “What? No pancakes today?”

  “Nah.”

  “Do you get waffles for breakfast often?” Myreen asked as she swallowed another bite. “Because I could eat these every day.”

  Ty smiled and looked down. “No. Not every day. But today kinda counts as a special occasion.”

  “And why’s that?”

  Ty looked up at her, his cheeks reddening even as he met her eyes. “Because it’s the first day I really get to spend with you.” He looked back at his plate and poked the bacon with his fork. They’d had a few days together, but always interrupted by his classes. Apparently today would be different. “I’ve never had a sister before.”

  Myreen’s lip pouted as her wax heart melted further. “Aww, Ty, I’m so sorry.”

  Ty shrugged. “It’s not so bad most of the time.”

  “What...?” Myreen paused, unsure how to ask about his mom, especially when the loss of her own hurt so much. She decided to just bite the bullet. “Where’s your mom?”

  Ty’s face clouded, his cherubic features hardening. “Shifters killed her. Father says they would’ve killed me, too, if he hadn’t discovered what was happening.”

  “Oh. I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay. Father says when I’m old enough I’ll become a vampire, and then I’ll be able to take revenge, if I want.”

  Myreen felt the color drain from her face. To hear Ty talk like that—as if becoming a vampire was the most natural thing in the world—dispelled her growing comfort. “Do you... want to become a vampire?”

  Ty pushed his plate away, glancing at the hidden servant’s door. “Wanna go for a walk? I’ve got something pretty cool I wanted to show you.”

  Myreen took the last bite of her breakfast and swallowed. “Yes. Lead the way.”

  Ty led her to the stairs and they made their way to large room filled with the pillars—she’d since figured out there was only one of those.

  The guards followed at a distance and Ty soon pulled ahead, Myreen hurrying to keep up. When they reached the elevator, Ty swiped his card. When the door opened, he darted in, hit a button, then tugged on Myreen’s hand, leading her toward the far end of the floor, making sure to keep the pillars between them and the guards.

  Myreen’s brows furrowed as she tried to figure out where Ty was taking her. At the last moment, he took her up stairs—the same ones they’d just come down—to a blank wall. When she squinted, she saw the faint outline of a door, hidden in the same manner as the servant’s entrance into
Ty’s room. It was the entrance to the roof, the one she hadn’t been able to find! To think she’d been walking past it all these times, though the seams were really well hidden.

  And apparently Draven had wanted to parade her around for a moment when they first arrived, because he could’ve easily brought her up to her room, rather than taking her down and around. Myreen wasn’t sure how to feel about that little fact.

  Ty pushed on a stone, and the door eased open, revealing a twilight sky, the first blushes of dawn lending color to the horizon.

  The guards weren’t in sight, but the chime of the elevator sent her heart rate spiking. But it chimed again, and then there was silence. Ty was sending them on a wild goose chase. Smart boy.

  Myreen wrapped her arms around herself as she stepped outside, the chill winter air poking through the holes in her sweater.

  “Oh, hold on,” Ty said, and he darted back indoors.

  Myreen had a moment of panic as the door closed behind him, and she wondered if maybe he was playing a trick on her instead of the guards. But Ty came back a moment later with a couple of blankets, and he handed her one.

  “It’s almost always cold up here, so I keep some blankets near the door.”

  “Do they know you come up here?” Myreen asked, gratefully tugging the heavy fabric tighter around her shoulders.

  Ty looked at the ground and kicked at a loose stone. “You’re the first person I’ve brought here. You have to promise not to tell anyone.”

  Myreen nodded. “Cross my heart. A place like this, it’s probably nice to have a spot you can call your own.”

  Ty smiled big, warming Myreen more than the blanket could. “We can talk more out here. The guards will be busy for a while trying to catch up to the elevator. And being vampires they won’t be able to come out now that the sun’s rising.” He nodded toward the sherbet hues on the horizon, and Myreen smiled.

  “What you were asking before,” Ty continued, “about wanting to become a vampire?”

  Myreen nodded.

  Ty stared eastward, and Myreen waited, not wanting to burst the moment.