A few moments later, the moth appeared.
Behind it, Aydin bent as he entered the broken door frame.
I twisted my fingers, and the moth illusion vanished in a puff of silver light. Then, I dropped the other enchantments and came back into view. This time, I let go of the appearance of the vampiress and the real me appeared: long, curly black hair, blue eyes, and the robes of a priestess of Umay.
Aydin smirked. “Spying on me?”
My stomach knotted. Focus. “No. Aydin,” I said then looked down at the tiny bundle I was carrying.
He stared at the baby. The blood drained from his face. “Pelin…what happened?”
“A human woman—I don’t know who she was—she and this baby were outside the safe zone at dusk. The Rift-cursed were out early. The woman tried to fight them off, but they captured her and the baby. I followed them. The vampires were taking them to the Dark Bazaar. I…I couldn’t save her. I tried. But I saved the child.”
“You saved the child? Do you mean you attacked the vampires? You could have been hurt!”
“No, I couldn’t have.” While I appreciated his concern, he was wrong. Vampires stood no chance against a full-blooded witch like me, especially not the Rift-cursed.
He shook his head. “Maybe not, but there are still consequences if Baran finds out you are outside the order walls at night. It is forbidden to both our kind, remember?”
“Yes, I do. But someone has to keep an eye on the vampires, watch over your kind. The Rift-cursed are all over the city, hunting humans before curfew. Something is wrong. Don’t you feel it? It’s like a terrible pain in the pit of my stomach. Something bad is happening just out of my sight. Why are Erlik’s vampires out at dusk? They’re breaking the law.”
“And you aren’t?”
“That’s different.”
Aydin shook his head. “Did anyone see you?”
“No. I disguised myself as one of them.”
“Clever witch. But you need to stop this. This is the third time this month you’ve intervened. They’re going to figure out that a—”
“A witch is spoiling their illegal hunts? That it’s a witch protecting humans? Good. I hope they learn it’s me. This needs to end.”
The baby cooed contentedly in her sleep.
Aydin looked down at the child, deep worry lines forming on his forehead. “I’ll go to Mehmet. He will learn who the child and mother are.”
“The baby is so little. Why would the woman be out there with her little one so close to dark?”
“I don’t know,” Aydin said, shaking his head.
“Mehmet should petition Emine and Baran to intervene with the vampires.”
Aydin grunted. “As if Baran has any concern for the welfare of humans.”
“Perhaps not, but Emine is the true voice of our order.”
“As things are, many would rather die than ask anything from your kind,” he said. I heard a sharp tone in his voice. Was it bitterness or sadness? I wasn’t sure.
“Except for our help with the barrier which keeps everyone alive,” I said, motioning overhead. “No one seems to mind that my sisters and I are asked to sacrifice our lives for that.”
“Pelin,” Aydin said softly, stepping toward me. “I’m sorry, I spoke rashly.”
I frowned. He had, but he was also right.
“Forget it,” I said then smiled down at the baby. “Sweet thing. I set a sleep enchantment on her. When I leave, she’ll wake. I’m sorry, I needed her to be quiet.” Moving carefully, I handed the baby to him.
“I understand,” he said. Under the moonlight and the glow of the dome, his face was illuminated blue. He stared down at the small bundle in his arms, an odd expression on his face, his forehead furrowing. He turned and looked at me. “Pelin,” he whispered softly. “When can I see you again? Not like this. I want to spend some time with you,” he said then moved closer to me. He reached out and touched my cheek, his thumb stroking my bottom lip.
My stomach lurched with excitement. “Soon.”
“When?”
“I serve Emine from sunup tomorrow to sunset the following day.”
“The third day, then? At dusk, meet me at the observatory?”
“Didn’t you just tell me to stop sneaking out at night?”
Aydin smiled. “I told you to stop putting your life in danger. You definitely need to keep sneaking out to meet me.”
Heat rose into my cheeks.
Aydin slipped his hand gently to the back of my head, softly stroking my hair.
My heart beat hard as I felt wave upon wave of emotion crashing over me. I leaned in to kiss him, but then the unexpected happened.
From my depths, my magic grabbed at him. I could feel myself tug at his essence, taking his energy from him.
Gasping, I pulled away.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t have control. I wanted you. My body got confused.”
He nodded softly then reached out, guiding me closer to him. He set his forehead against mine, moving carefully so not to squeeze the child between us. “I know you wouldn’t do anything like that on purpose. It’s all right.”
“Oh, Aydin. I’m so sorry,” I whispered. A terrible sense of guilt swept over me. This was why the humans hated us. We were no better than the vampires. We could just as easily drain humans of their life-force as the vampires could. The only difference was that we could suck out their souls. No need to mess around with their blood.
“It’s all right,” he whispered. “Pelin, I know you. You would never harm anyone. In fact, you’re far too reckless helping others.”
I chuckled softly. It felt so good to be close to him like this, to feel his body near mine, to smell the rose and lemon scents perfuming his skin.
“So, you wanted me?” he whispered.
“You know I do,” I whispered.
“You need to come see me again. Soon,” he said, his breath hot on my cheek. “Do you have enough to get you home safely?” he whispered.
Enough. Enough energy. Enough magic. “Yes.” I’d have to make the trek back to my order with my own magic stores, which were not insignificant, but my reserves were lower than they should be.
“I’m not going out tonight. Please, take a little,” Aydin whispered.
“I can’t. It goes against everyth—”
Aydin chuckled gently. “Pelin, stop. There is nothing wrong with what you are. Please, in case you encounter a Berkano, do it. I want you fully charged to zap their blood-sucking asses if you need to.”
Not answering, I gently pressed my lips against his. They were soft and warm. His mouth carried the flavors of mint and olive. I inhaled deeply, smelling the perfume of his body.
Then, I felt it. A strange tug rose from within me. My magic pulled on his life force. It was an odd feeling. Something deep within me was unspooling something long, golden, and exciting from Aydin and spinning it back inside me. Like inhaling joy, I felt Aydin’s spirit filling me. I felt his light and laughter and his desire for me. Images of his life in the zone passed before my eyes. I saw his small apartment, the fortress of Yedikule, the white-haired human leader who they called Mehmet the Wise, red roses, and a girl with dark eyes and long hair. The name Esmeray floated through his mind.
Aydin pulled back.
The line between us snapped.
I had encroached too far. “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “Are you all right?”
“A little dizzy,” he replied with a chuckle. “But I’ll be okay,” he said, putting on a brave face, but I saw him swoon.
“I didn’t mean for it to go so far.”
He shook his head. “No. You need to be safe. It’s all right.”
“Thank you. I…I need to get back. And surely the baby will be hungry soon.”
Looking down at the baby, I smiled.
“Don’t forget your promise,” Aydin whispered.
“Don’t break the rules, unless it means coming meeting you. Got it.”
He chuckled.
“I’ll be there,” I said. Reaching out, I touched his cheek. Then, I twisted my fingers and covered myself in darkness. I disappeared from sight.
Aydin grinned. “Show-off.”
“It’s your magic. I’m merely borrowing it.”
“Be safe, Pelin,” he whispered.
“You too,” I replied, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.
He jumped, startled by the unexpected kiss, then chuckled.
I turned and headed back into the night, pausing to look back at him one more time. Seeing him there, a child in his arms, made my heart ache. It was the picture of a future forbidden to me, but something I wanted most desperately. I was Pelin, witch and Priestess of the Order of Umay. I was married to the dome. The future the fleeting image presented wasn’t meant for a prisoner of her fate like me.
Chapter 3
I slipped down the streets, dodging rusted-out cars and massive cracks in the asphalt, all remnants of the destruction caused by the Rift. Moving quickly and quietly, I made my way back to Topkapi Palace, the palace of the Ottoman sultans where my order now resided. I cast a glance across the Bosphorus to the Asian side of Istanbul. In the light of the aurora cast by magical storms above, I made out the outline of the collapsed Bosphorus Bridge. Nothing was alive on the Asian side anymore. The Rift had destroyed everything. How had a vampire and a witch fallen in love? The thought was abhorrent.
A prickling up the back of my spine shook me from my thoughts. I sensed them even before I heard them. Three vampires were heading in my direction. They were leaping from rooftop to rooftop.
Lost in my thoughts, I had not felt them approach.
“There. I saw her there,” one of them yelled.
I frowned. I had let my shadow charm fade as I got closer to the palace. I hadn’t thought they’d be hunting this close to our order. I cast a spell on myself, changing my appearance. I changed my natural black hair to red locks and turned my blue eyes green.
“There,” one of them called, and with a massive leap, he landed on the ground in front of me. “Now, pretty little dove, what are you doing out after curfew?”
Two other vampires jumped from the roof and landed on the ground behind me.
I turned so I could face all three of them.
“Where are you going, pretty?” the tallest of the three asked. Caught up in the fever of the hunt, his sharp fangs were on display. He stepped closer to me, his eyes glimmering silver.
“Rift-cursed,” I sneered. “What, Erlik sent out the grunts to do the dirty work? Hey, why have you boys been hunting before dark? Isn’t that against the rules?”
“No one’s hunting before dark. What are you talking about?” the shortest and meanest looking of the group retorted angrily.
“Don’t let her big mouth get you riled up, Baris,” the tall one said. “She’s got fire, that’s all. I mean, look at that hair.”
“I like them like that,” the third vampire, a blond-haired beast, added. “The fight makes it more fun.”
“Let’s drain her,” the tall one said. “Come on, Baris. Let’s have some fun. No one has to know. Let’s drain her and dump her in the water.”
“Oh, she’s pretty though. Let’s play first,” the blond-haired one said.
“No. We don’t disobey the law,” Baris said then sneered at me. But he kept his eyes locked on me, eyeing me carefully.
I opened my second sight to him. He had a touch of magic, a remnant of the Rift curse, about him. Among the many odd side effects from the Rift, occasionally vampires had a touch of our power. And from what I could tell, that magic was screaming at him to steer clear of me.
“Let’s go,” he said to the others.
“Go?” the tall one complained. “What? Why? I’m hungry, and it’s almost time for the market to start. Let’s take her back. We can pick up a scab for each of us for the price she’ll fetch.”
Baris shook his head. “No. Come on.”
“But—” the tall one began, but Baris cut him off.
“Don’t you know where you are?” Baris hissed at his companion.
The tall one looked around then smelled the wind. “Fuck,” he whispered.
“What?” the blond-haired one said. “Who cares if we’re close to the order? She’s got no business out here either. God, look at her tits. Come on. My cock just wants a taste.”
I’d had enough. Twisting my fingers, I pulled magic from the ether and sent a searing blot of fiery magic toward his thirsty cock.
The blond-haired vampire yelled, grabbing his crotch. “What the hell?”
Baris glared at me. “Stop it. We’re leaving.”
I smirked. “Then go.”
“Dammit. Why didn’t you say she was a witch?” the blond-haired one said.
“Pretty obvious, wasn’t it?” Baris retorted.
“Not to me, it wasn’t.”
“That’s because your mother was a cow.”
“Shut it.”
At that, all three vampires turned and left.
Baris, however, stopped on the rooftop nearby and looked back at me. Much to my surprise, he inclined his head then he turned and followed the others.
Vampires. What a strange bunch.
I waited a moment, listening as the vampires moved away.
Once they were gone, I raced to the palace walls. The old Ottoman palace was now the home of our order. From here, we kept the dome in place and worshiped the old gods. Before Christ. Before Allah. Before them all, there was Tengri, the father, and Umay, the mother. And it was these old gods we honored. Like the dome itself, the walls of the palace were enchanted. A magical barrier kept everyone who wasn’t one of us out of Topkapi Palace. I rushed around the exterior of the palace until I reached the spot closest to the haremlik I shared with my sisters in the third courtyard.
I touched my amulet and called up its power. Magic began to glow all around me. I magnified the power, matching it to the frequency of the protective shield around the palace. I took a deep breath then passed through the magical perimeter.
The alarm didn’t sound.
Grabbing the stones of the real, tactile wall surrounding the place, I climbed over the edifice and dropped into the courtyard. I let my enchantments loose, taking on my regular appearance, then breathed deeply. I crossed the courtyard. Everything was still, almost tranquil. In the distance, a peacock called out and then became silent.
Before I went inside, I stopped and gazed up at the tower at the center of the grounds. A massive bolt of blue light crackled from the tower into the night’s sky. The swirling magic, all blue and gold and silver, shimmered upward into the dome then fanned out like an umbrella, reinforcing the barrier.
I imagined Emine, our leader, at the top of the tower, her acolyte attending her, as she spun in a trance, keeping the shield in place.
I pitied her.
She was a slave to the barrier. She had no life, no purpose, but to keep the shield in place.
The same worthless fate awaited me.
Feeling the urge to run from my future, I gazed back at the wall.
What would they do if I left? I could go to the human zone, seek refuge from Mehmet the Wise, and find a place among the humans. Find a place with Aydin.
But then I remembered the tone in Aydin’s voice as he talked about “your kind.” Did the humans really hate us so much? Aydin didn’t hate me. He couldn’t have been the only human who, at least, tolerated us.
Sighing, I opened the ornate wooden doors to the haremlik where I lived with my sisters. My boots were muddy from my trek across the city. I left them by the door then padded across the elaborately-mosaicked tile floor to the sleeping chamber. The walls, much like the floors, were beautifully designed. Blue and red tulips, red poppies, yellow blossoms, and other swirling geometric designs decorated the floors and walls of our bedchamber. The molding on the walls was trimmed with gold. Long ago, these were the chambers of the Sultan’s wife and daughters.
The rich teak wood and beautiful crystal and gold sconces on the walls hinted at a rich past. The light switches on the wall suggesting modern extravagances that had died with the Rift. Nowhere in the palace did we have electricity. Odd that the vampires had managed to relight the Dark Bazaar.
I gazed at my sisters sleeping in their narrow beds. Of course, they weren’t really my sisters. They were other witches like me, but we had been raised in the order together, trained in the ways of magic together. We were not blood, but we were sisters. And we all suffered the same fate. We were the Priestesses of Umay and keepers of the dome.
Moving as quietly as I could, I pulled off my robe and hung it in the tall wooden wardrobe beside my narrow bed. Stripping down to the thin chemise underneath, I slipped into bed and under the covers.
Lying on my side, I stared out the window. The sky above the dome was alive with magical storms. Sharp red and pinks shot across the heavens above the barrier.
I closed my eyes. Once more, a vision of Emine came to mind. I saw her thin form whirling, magic blasting from her fingertips. She was nothing more than a tool, a lightning rod to keep out the terror. But she was dying. Soon, someone would have to take her place.
And there was only one full-blooded witch left in Nazar.
Me.
Chapter 4
It felt like only a few hours later when someone shook my shoulder.
“Better get up,” Meryem said.
I opened my eyes a crack. It was still dark outside. “Ugh. Go away. It’s not even dawn yet.”
Meryem laughed. “Sounds like you’re forgetting something.”
I closed my eyes again, replaying the feeling of Aydin stroking his thumb across my lip. Reimagining the image of him holding the baby.
“Pelin,” Meryem called lightly. “You better get up.”
“Why?”
“Emine.”
Emine. It was my day to serve Emine. “Dammit,” I said, sitting up. I cast a glance out at the sky. I still had enough time to get ready. But barely enough.
Meryem laughed. “Go wash up. I’ll set out some clean robes.”
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