A Shadow of Light

by Bella Forrest

  I remembered all the times that pain was inflicted upon me and I shuddered—even more so when I remembered seeing Derek in the dungeons of The Oasis. I couldn’t stand the sight of him. I could practically feel his agony. I knew then that I would rather die than ever be held captive by Borys Maslen.

  “You’re shaking, Sofia.” Aiden broke through my thoughts. “Nervous?”

  I nodded. “Kind of. I’m always antsy whenever I have to see Ingrid. She says the most disturbing things sometimes. Trips to her demented mind are never pleasant.”

  Aiden chuckled. “That’s true,” he said, the hint of bitterness in his voice hard to miss.

  “Do you love her still?” I asked.

  He gave me a short look as if to wonder if he ought to answer my question. He bowed his head and nodded, before giving me what seemed like an honest answer. “I think I always will.”

  I could sense his sadness. I would never really understand how my mother could’ve ever let go of him and what we had together as a family.

  By the time we reached Ingrid’s cell, I really couldn’t think about anything other than the question “Why?”

  When we showed up and the lights were turned on inside her cell, I was surprised by her appearance. She didn’t look as awful as Vivienne, but it was clear to see based on the blood stains lining her mouth that her fangs had already been ripped out. A group of scientists were already there—milling around her. They had her strapped to the cot, so she wasn’t able to move.

  Ingrid raised her eyes to see who had just graced her with a visit and a manic grin—that would most likely haunt my nightmares—formed on her face. “Well, look who came for a visit. Aiden and his beloved Sofia… To what do I owe the honor of your presence? Once again, it looks like I failed to bring you two apart.”

  I grimaced, not even certain if I wanted to know what exactly was going through her demented mind. Does that mean she’s already tried before? I stared at her, wondering if what we were about to do was right. Of course it is. How could it not be? This may be her one saving grace.

  Aiden ignored Ingrid and turned to me. “They have been here prepping her system for what has to be done, making sure all her vitals were as required. I’m going to administer the final stage of the process.” He pulled out a syringe and began shaking it.

  “How does this even work?” I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

  “We used the samples of blood that you gave us and mixed the first sample with vampire blood. Let’s just say the molecular structure of your blood began to battle that of the vampire’s blood. Of course, nothing happened, or should we say, nobody won, until we put the mixture through a heating process and added vervain roots to the mixture…”

  Ingrid had been listening and horror showed in her eyes when she realized what was about to occur. She once again fought against her restraints.

  “You sure you want to see this?” Aiden asked me.

  I nodded, although I wasn’t feeling as confident as I might’ve put on. “Yes. Let’s do this. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Wide-eyed terror flashed into Ingrid’s face. “What are you going to do to me?”

  “Relax, honey.” My father’s deep voice tried to soothe her.

  The scientists surrounding her stepped aside as she writhed against her restraints on the bed. “What’s that? What’s it for?” She stared at the syringe like it was about to bite her.

  Bite her. That’s exactly what it will do. Or perhaps, it’s more accurate to say that it will reverse the effects of a bite.

  In my father’s hands was the cure, and if the hunters’ scientists got it right, I was about to watch Ingrid Maslen turn back into Camilla Claremont—whether she wanted to or not.

  Chapter 29: Gregor

  The general assembly was far too tempting to pass up. I hadn’t had fresh human blood in weeks and the idea that the lockout was over and I could just grab any person at random and drain the blood out of them was hard not to bite into.

  “It could be a trap,” I told Felix.

  We were at the port’s control center, trying to figure out how we were going to keep ourselves fed. The moment we realized that we did the siege with just a few packets of blood to keep us from starvation, I knew that there was a possibility that Derek would just wait us out until we came out desperate for blood. Thus, I was pleased to find out that Natalie Borgia was in the island and keeping her hostage there wouldn’t bode well for Derek at all.

  Felix shook his head. “One of my men was there when Derek stopped the riot. He swore that Derek just came up with it in the spur of the moment. Besides, what are they going to do?”

  I stared at Felix wondering if I could trust what he was saying. He wasn’t the greatest strategic mind. Here’s to me hoping Eli was on my side. I grimaced, once again feeling the pain of betrayal upon realizing that my own subjects—ones I’d served for four hundred years while my son slept like a baby—could turn their backs on me. What I would do to them should I ever regain my power… They’re going to pay. I swear it.

  “I don’t get it,” one of Felix’s men muttered. “Derek could easily just speed his way down here and kill us all. Why doesn’t he just do that?”

  I raised a brow at him. “Interesting that you have so much faith in the capabilities of my son… I don’t care what you think. Derek Novak isn’t that powerful. It was I who sired him. I am more powerful than he is.”

  Obviously, he had something to say to that too, but perhaps he was able to see that talking about my son in glowing terms was most likely going to get him killed, so he shut his mouth. Smart boy.

  “So what are we going to do?” Felix asked.

  “We get ourselves a bunch of humans to prey on. Let’s see Derek quell another riot after we do that.”

  Our plan seemed perfect. I had no doubt in my mind that it would work. It was quite simple. Divide up the men. Some would stay at the port to make sure that we would keep it held, while the others would stake out the pathways that led from The Catacombs to the Vale. We didn’t need to attack the town square. All we had to do was create panic by killing the humans while they were on their way to the assembly.

  I wanted blood so I chose to be with the group that would stake out the humans. Felix stayed behind to lead the guarding of the port.

  As I hid myself behind a tree trunk from where the opening to the Black Heights was visible, I could practically feel the pleasure building up inside of me at the mere thought of once again drinking fresh human blood straight from a beating heart, pumping the liquid right to my parched throat.

  I wasn’t sure if I would be able to keep myself from jumping at the first human that emerged from the cave. I knew, however, that we had to let a good number of them come out and pass through before we could attack. We couldn’t afford to have them warn those who followed after. I had to hold back my anticipation as we waited.

  And that’s what we did the whole time. We waited. And we waited some more. Then we waited some more.

  It felt like an eternity and I was furious that I hadn’t laid eyes on a single human. Once I realized that none of the humans were about to emerge from the caves, I was livid. “Let’s go in!” I announced out of pure impulse.

  “Are you sure?” one of the men I was with asked. “What if there are vampire guards in there? The humans could still be in a lockout. It’s not the first time Felix would be wrong. I mean, he’s had some pretty messed up information before.”

  A slew of curses escaped from my lips. “I don’t care! I want blood and I am going to get it!”

  I should’ve learned my lesson. Anything I did out of pure impulse usually got me into a lot of trouble. We stormed the opening of the Black Heights and sure enough, the entrance that led to The Catacombs was sealed. They’re still in lockout. How?

  I turned to the other side—to the area of the mountain caves that led to The Cells, the island’s prison system. My heart sank when Xavier emerged with twice as many men as I
had. From outside, we could make out Yuri leading another group of vampires.

  “Do you really want to die tonight?” Xavier cocked his head to the side. “Because I don’t share Derek’s beliefs that we ought to keep you alive. I really don’t mind ending your lives.”

  “You insolent son of a…” I began to spit out, but paused mid-sentence when the men surrounding me began lifting their hands in surrender. “You cowards! The lot of you! All bloody cowards!”

  I attacked Xavier and was able to send him crashing to the ground. I was about to rip his heart out but I was immediately held back by the other men. I knew I looked like a manic fool shouting out curses, but I didn’t care. I hated the idea that Derek had once again outsmarted me. The humiliation was more painful than the betrayal.

  “It doesn’t matter. We still hold the port!”

  At that, Yuri scoffed. “I wouldn’t say that. Derek’s a pretty good swimmer. So are Cameron and Liana.” He then narrowed his eyes. “Wasn’t it Cameron who rescued you from that shipwreck five hundred years ago?”

  “I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you all!”

  I had no idea how it had happened, but for the first time since I had established The Shade, I spent the night as a prisoner of the kingdom that I ruled. Sitting in a dungeon at The Cell, it felt like I was on the brink of insanity.

  How could my own son do this to me? Doesn’t he realize that if I fail at my mission to take over The Shade, it would be the end of me?

  I was whimpering like a child. How could I not? The darkness was never kind to those who failed. This is it. This is the end of me. He may not know it yet, but Derek just murdered his own father.

  Chapter 30: Derek

  The reaction on Felix’s face was priceless. He clearly never saw it coming. The swim from the shore of the lighthouse to the underwater portals of the port was long and exhausting, but all we had to do was stealthily get from the portals we used to get people transferred from the submarines to the port and recover our strength inside one of the submarines.

  Felix and his men were really lax in their guarding of the port, thinking the only way we could get in was through the staircase. Thus, when Cameron, Liana and I emerged from one of the submarines, they all looked shocked.

  Felix, whom I’d always known wasn’t much of a fighter and was more of a coward, immediately made a run for it.

  Those who weren’t able to run surrendered. It seemed none of them were willing to die for whatever cause it was that they were fighting for. I breathed out a sigh, hoping that Xavier and Yuri were able to take my father by surprise too.

  After we had finished our planning at the Crimson Fortress, we decided to postpone the general assembly. I instructed Gavin and Ian to spread the word that the general assembly was to be at a later date and that they were once again going on lockout until we could eliminate the threat Felix and Gregor were placing on them.

  What I would’ve given to see the reaction on my father’s face upon realizing that The Catacombs was still on lockout. I had just walked out of the port to breathe in the fresh night air when I heard a familiar voice calling my name.

  “You did it.” Corrine approached and as I turned to face her, I was surprised to see her smiling. When she usually looked at me, Corrine always seemed to have a look of disapproval on her face, so this was different.

  “We did it,” I clarified, although I wasn’t exactly sure what it was that we did. We regained control of the port and the riot at The Catacombs was over, but I still had to figure out how to get to Sofia and there was still a threat of attack from the other covens.

  “I’ll try to get a response back to the covens as soon as possible.” Natalie gazed at me with concern as if to ask me if I was sure I wanted to meet with the other coven leaders.

  I couldn’t help but wonder if there was some way she was being heard by the other covens. She seemed to be extremely guarded with what she said.

  She embraced me and whispered, “Don’t go,” so softly, I barely heard it.

  I nodded at Natalie before saying, “I’ve been thinking about the meeting and I think it would be better if my father goes on my behalf. He’s usually the one who speaks to the other coven leaders. He once was the ruler of The Shade. He’s more capable of handling these things than me.” And if Gregor goes, that means I won’t have to worry about him messing things up here at The Shade.

  “Derek, they want you.” Natalie shook her head. “If you don’t go, then they are going to attack.”

  I was momentarily confused by her. One minute, she was whispering for me not to go then the very next minute, she’s telling me that I have to go. I narrowed my eyes at her before finally realizing what she was doing. She was trying to warn me while still accomplishing her job of delivering a message—the other covens’ message that it was necessary for me to be there. I heaved out a sigh, knowing how difficult it was for her to stay neutral even despite the fact that she cared about me.

  “If what they want is a road to diplomacy, then they would accept my representative with open arms. It shouldn’t matter if I don’t appear in person.”

  “You were warned.” A hint of a smile appeared on Natalie’s face.

  I nodded. “Warning taken. However, it’s in my best interest to remain at The Shade for now.”

  Natalie nodded before a guard escorted her to one of the submarines that would lead her off the island and back to the mainland.

  “What was that all about? Sending Gregor Novak to the meeting with the coven leaders?” Corrine asked—perhaps more out of curiosity than concern for mine or The Shade’s wellbeing.

  I shook my head. “I’m just trying to protect Natalie. She’s gotten herself into a lot of trouble because of me.”

  “Yes. Trouble. It seems to chase you wherever you go.”

  “I have no idea how to get to Sofia, Corrine, and if I leave The Shade, there’s no telling what could happen again. This place is in chaos. Felix and Gregor could easily take over…”

  “Gregor is already detained at The Cells. He isn’t going to cause you any trouble now.”

  “He’s still my father, Corrine. I can’t just keep him locked in there.”

  “I guess Sofia had more effect on you than I initially thought. I know the Novaks’ loyalties to each other are very strong. It’s what kept you alive so long, but the Derek legends speak of wouldn’t have hesitated to destroy his own father. It’s why you were so feared.”

  “Every day is a battle to keep the ‘Derek legends speak of’ from emerging once again. I can’t afford to be that person.” The thought of Sofia’s hand clasping mine. Her smile. Her touch. I ached for her so much, just thinking about it made it difficult for me to breathe. “If the other covens attack, I wouldn’t know what to do. We could lose everything. There must be a way out of this. Do you think I should meet with the other coven leaders? Maybe it’s not too late…”

  “I think you should find Sofia, Derek. Prophecy is prophecy… You won’t be able to fulfill your destiny unless she is by your side.”

  I knew full well that the only reason I survived being taken by the hunters was because of Sofia. Aiden clearly warned me that should I ever return, he wouldn’t be as kind and accommodating. Dread filled me at the thought of dying in the hunters’ hands.

  I caught sight of one of the guards coming out of the port, recognizing him as one of Xavier’s men usually stationed at The Cells. I called on him to give him instructions. “Let Ashley and Eli know that I want them to come to my penthouse first thing tomorrow. Tell them that we’re going to locate hunter territory.” Of all the people who could possibly help me narrow down the location of hunter headquarters, it was them. “Also, check if the lockout has been ended.”

  “Of course, sir.” The guard bowed before heading off.

  “And what are you going to do until tomorrow?” Corrine asked from behind me.

  “Sleep. I haven’t had any of that since I arrived at The Shade. Come to think abou
t it, I haven’t had any blood either.” I flashed Corrine a grin and narrowed one eye at her. “Perhaps that’s the reason you look so enticing.”

  “Watch it, Novak. All it takes is one spell from me to end you.”

  I saw a hint of a smile on her twitching lip. I raised my hands in the air in mock surrender. “Not really you I’m afraid of. Some other woman already beat you to the punch and has already cast a spell on me.”

  She nodded knowingly, this time a full smile appearing on her face. “The magic of Sofia Claremont.”

  I chuckled, realizing the reality that no matter what happened, Sofia would always be a part of me. A mixture of sadness and affection came with the next thought: Perhaps that’s it. That’s how we’re going to be together. Sofia will forever be immortalized in my thoughts, in my soul, in my heart. Perhaps we don’t really have to be physically together.

  That night, for the first time since I had left her, I tried to imagine Sofia’s face and found that I could no longer picture her face as clearly as I had done before. I shut my eyes, holding on to whatever figments of her was left inside me. No. I need to find you, Sofia. I can’t let you slip away. Not ever.

  I dreamt of Sophia that night. The dream reminded me how beautiful she was, reminded me that Sofia Claremont would indeed always be a part of me.

  Chapter 31: Sofia

  Ingrid Maslen was human and she wasn’t happy about it. Aiden and I were watching from surveillance monitors in another room as she tore at her cot’s bedding and screamed her lungs out.

  A guard dropped by to give her a plate of food and she looked at the sandwich as if it were the most despicable thing she’d ever laid eyes on. The food tray and the meal were thrown straight against the wall.

  “How could you do this to me?!” she yelled into the camera, letting us know that she was aware we were watching her.

  “I guess the cure works,” was all Aiden managed to say.