Darius then stood up, his hands behind his back, and bowed.
“I’ll go get my people ready then,” he said. “They will bring out horses, as well. Can we meet downstairs in the Main Square in, shall we say, half an hour?”
“Sure, we’ll be ready by then.” Jax nodded. “Thank you.”
“It is the least I can do, on top of the bravery you’re already demonstrating.”
The Mara walked out, followed closely by two servants. I glanced back at Caspian and noticed the defeated look on his face, while Rowan and Farrah seemed to deliberately ignore him, and Emilian was busy smiling at us.
We didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into, but my suspicion that Caspian was hiding something began to scratch the inside of my skull. I’d have to find out more about him, maybe even follow him, but I needed to go over this with Jax. Whether Caspian had anything to do with these disappearances or anything else that was shifty in Azure Heights, I didn’t know. But my instincts rarely failed me, and I’d learned to pay attention, even when there seemed to be nothing there.
Fiona
(Daughter of Benedict & Yelena)
After the dinner, Avril, Heron, and I walked with Vincent and Rowan to the Roho mansion. It was situated three levels above the Broken Bow Inn. The platform was huge, carved into the mountain’s limestone ridge to hold five large villas with three floors each. They were similar in design and architecture, with pure white facades, sculpted columns, and French windows, fit for kings and queens.
The Roho mansion was situated on the right side of the level, beautifully framed by dark green pines and flowering bushes, with a white marble fountain at the front surrounded by a narrow strip of beige slabs that contrasted with the brown cobblestone. We couldn’t help but stop and stare at the world that lay beyond the hedges bordering this top level of Azure Heights, including the Valley of Screams and the smooth plains, now glazed in darkness beneath Pell, one of the three moons of Neraka.
“By midnight, all three moons will be shining bright.” Vincent’s voice broke me out of my reverie. He stood behind me, his face surprisingly close to mine.
Our eyes met for a second before I turned around and moved closer to Avril and Heron. Rowan smiled, then climbed the white marble stairs leading up to the main entrance. We followed quietly, as did Vincent.
“You are all welcome in House Roho,” Rowan said as she pushed open the double doors and invited us into the sumptuous reception area.
The house looked even bigger on the inside, with white walls, beige-and-white marble flooring, and brushed brass details. The reception hall was tall and round, with two sets of stairs leading up to the first floor, and open archways on both sides leading into other parts of the ground floor. The candlelit chandeliers cast a delicate amber light, revealing a massive living room to our left, and the dining and kitchen area to the right.
Painted portraits of Roho family members were hung on the walls along the stairs, depicting them in their finest clothes. I recognized Rowan and Vincent in a family scene, accompanied by a beautiful young female Mara with bright jade eyes and red hair.
“I assume that’s Sienna?” I pointed at her, and Vincent followed my gaze, then smiled.
“Yes. We had that portrait made about ten years ago,” he replied, a hint of sadness in his voice. “She’d barely made her debut at the time.”
“Hers was one of the most beautiful debutante balls in the history of Azure Heights,” Rowan sighed, gazing at the image of her daughter.
Four Imen servants—two males and two females—came out, waiting at the base of the stairs with blank expressions and dull brown eyes. They seemed accustomed to their roles but unable to look us directly in the eyes.
“I must retreat to my quarters upstairs for the rest of the evening,” Rowan said, then waved at the servants and Vincent. “But please take full advantage of Vincent and our servants for whatever you may need. I hope you find whatever could help find my daughter. I have a feeling she might still be alive.”
“Are you just hopeful, or…?” Heron asked, and got instantly slapped over the shoulder by Avril.
“No, I can feel it in my soul,” Rowan replied, unaffected by the young Mara’s bluntness. “A mother feels these things…”
She then gave us a polite nod and went up the stairs, vanishing behind a set of walnut double doors. I glanced around the salon again, my gaze instinctively settling on the Imen servants.
“Did you know Sienna well?” I asked them. Vincent moved closer to my side. I could’ve sworn he was doing it on purpose. Maybe he’d noticed that I found him attractive, which could prove to be a problem for my mission here. I shook the thought away and focused on the Imen instead.
“We did, milady,” one female replied in a neutral tone. “She was the light of our eyes, our joy to live, in many ways.”
“She was soft, and sweet, and kind,” said the other female, “and always had a good thought for anyone she crossed paths with.”
“She was—” one male started to say, but Heron cleared his throat loud enough to interrupt him.
“How about we go see Sienna’s room,” Heron said, “instead of standing here and hearing about what a wonderful person she was? Don’t get me wrong, she sounds great, but we’ll never find her like this.”
“You are right.” Vincent gave him a weak smile, then walked up the stairs, motioning us to follow him. “This way, please.”
We went after him, and I gave the Imen a sideways glance as I passed them. They didn’t even bother to look. They seemed almost catatonic. I pulled Heron to the side for a brief second, while Avril moved up, following Vincent.
“Can you try to use your mind-bending on them when you get a chance?” I whispered.
“Yeah, I’ll definitely try,” he replied. “They seem fishy to you too, huh?”
I nodded, then quickly joined Avril’s side. We reached the first floor and were taken to Sienna’s bedroom. There was definitely something off about those Imen, but we all knew we had to be careful not to piss off our hosts. There was a lot we’d yet to understand about their way of life, so we had to be smart and discreet if we wanted to look into it.
Sienna’s bedroom was beautiful, its walls clad in emerald-green silk wallpaper with gold details, and a gorgeous canopy bed in the middle, its white organza curtains moving gently in the evening breeze. The windows had been left open, and the temperature was a little lower than the comfortable average. The furniture was mostly warm chestnut with brass accents, and the wooden floor was polished and laminated to perfection, the overhead chandelier’s reflection almost a mirror image.
“This is beautiful,” I murmured, gazing at the painted ceiling.
“Yes, my sister decorated it.” Vincent smiled. “She’s very good at this kind of thing…”
“You know, there’s no point in all of us checking one room,” Avril said. “Are there other rooms that Sienna used frequently?”
“The study.” Vincent nodded. “It’s the room next door. It’s open.”
“Thank you.” She grabbed Heron by the wrist and walked out.
I took a deep breath, trying not to laugh at Heron’s mischievous smirk.
“You know, you remind me of her, just a little,” Vincent said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Of whom?”
“Sienna. Though your hair is brighter, and your eyes are… different.”
“Different?”
“Stunning.” He blinked once, slow enough to make that message clear.
I nodded politely, then proceeded to scan the room, paying attention to every detail.
“So, you said nothing is missing from her personal effects.” I changed the subject, slightly alarmed by the tremor in my voice.
“Absolutely nothing,” he replied, also looking around. “It’s like she simply vanished.”
I reached one of the chests of drawers, pulling the first handle and revealing a plethora of lingerie articles, all fine lac
es and satins in a wide range of pastel colors. I couldn’t help but stare at them, wondering whether Sienna was wearing such sensual articles for herself or for someone else. Perhaps a lover.
“Do you wear these where you come from?” Vincent’s voice sent chills through my limbs. He’d moved so close to me without me noticing, I was beginning to think he really was doing this on purpose.
“What do you mean, where I come from?”
“I don’t know… Where do you come from?” He grinned. “My mother says you and your vampire friends are not from Eritopia. Neither are the fae and the dragon.”
“Let’s just say I’m from another planet.” I smiled politely.
“I see. And are there vampires as pretty as you on that other planet?”
There was a playful flicker in his jade eyes, one that invited me to entertain his sparkling curiosity. But I was here to investigate, and, given my personal ambitions regarding GASP, I didn’t want to be distracted by his flirtatious demeanor—as flattering and cheek-warming as it was.
“So, you last saw Sienna downstairs, in the garden, you said?” I asked, changing the subject once more as I looked out the window and noticed the manicured hedges and flower gazebo. Garden lamps had been lit by the servants and cast their yellowish light through the night, while fireflies twinkled between the trees flanking the property.
Vincent was cute, I had to give him that. But his sister was missing, and every second counted—and that alone left a hint of suspicion in the back of my head, as he should’ve been a lot more focused on that than me.
“Yes,” Vincent replied, as if snapping back to reality. “I saw her last down there, writing in her journal. It was early afternoon, if I remember correctly.”
“Did she seem happy, sad, worried?”
“Serene, I suppose. I only got a glimpse of her face, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.”
“What about the journal? Where is it?” I asked, glancing at the gazebo and noticing the drawers beneath the built-in bench.
“I left it down there, in one of the drawers,” Vincent said. “She had a few books and notebooks down there all the time. She loved spending her mornings and afternoons in the garden.”
“I’d like to go check it, too,” I replied. “And I’d like to speak to the servants again, as well. Particularly those who were here on the day she disappeared. Are they around?”
Vincent stared at me for a minute, a mixture of fascination and warmth in his eyes, before he nodded.
“I’ll escort you downstairs, then call them out. Not a problem.”
I turned to walk out of the room, and Vincent joined my side, his hand touching my lower back for a split second, enough to make my spine tingle. I had a feeling that he couldn’t really control himself, that he was interested in me. He seemed genuine and kind, and downright flirtatious.
Maybe I’d disrupted him. Maybe he’d spent the past few days worried sick about his sister, and I, despite my actual job of finding Sienna, had provided him with an unexpected distraction. I’d find out at some point. First, I had to find out what had happened to his sister.
Avril
(Daughter of Lucas & Marion)
“What’s this about? Are you trying to get some alone time with me?” Heron grinned as I pulled him into Sienna’s study.
Even with that self-assured smirk, I still found my temperature rising.
“No, wise ass,” I shot back. “I needed us to get away from him so we can get you closer to one of those Imen to do your mind-bending trick on them.”
“Sheesh, just trying to lighten the mood here,” he replied, feigning frustration and making me chuckle.
The study itself was as beautiful as the bedroom, its walls dressed in massive bookshelves, fully stocked with leather-bound prints of whatever the Exiled Maras had been reading for thousands of years. There was a writing desk in the middle of the room, and plush seating mounted by the large, shuttered French windows. For a species that didn’t do well in the sunlight, they sure loved their windows.
I heard Fiona and Vincent in the hallway, and motioned for Heron to be quiet so I could listen. They went downstairs and headed outside, meaning that the coast was clear for us to approach one of the Imen servants.
I moved toward the door, but Heron’s hand caught my wrist.
“Don’t think I haven’t noticed the tension between us,” Heron said, his voice lower than usual, making my skin tickle. “I know I was rude to you yesterday, and I feel like I have to apologize again. I’d hate for us not to get along because of my dumb mouth.”
I stilled, turning to face him. His pained expression poked my heart.
“I spent a long time inside Azazel’s dungeon,” he continued. “I didn’t think I’d ever get out of that cage. I didn’t think I’d be free again. I’m still sort of readjusting to civilization, if that makes sense… And I honestly meant no disrespect toward you. I’ve had females of all species throwing themselves at me since I’ve been out, and I’ve enjoyed the attention. I was under the impression that you’d react the same if I came on to you, and that was my mistake. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re hot, and you’ll probably get me in trouble one day, but I have nothing but respect for you and for the way you put me back in my place last night. It was an eye-opening moment for me.”
I blinked several times, not having expected him to say all this out loud. I’d guessed it already, but it was different to hear it from his mouth. I gave him a nod and a half-smile, hoping I’d help relieve some of the tension I, too, had sensed between us.
“I know, I kind of figured it out myself last night. Don’t worry. There aren’t any hard feelings, Heron,” I said slowly. “It’s okay, really. I appreciate you wanting to reach out like this. Thank you.”
“Also, well done on that slap.” He grinned. “I can’t help but appreciate a woman who can hit me as hard as you did. It made me feel all kinds of hot!”
I chuckled and rolled my eyes, understanding exactly what kind of creature I was dealing with as we left the study room. That was Heron, in all his might and glory—an oversized kid with nothing but playful mischief on his mind. While it was amusing to look at, it also made me wonder if he’d ever consider or even be capable of settling down with a soulmate.
“Yeah, your future wife will definitely have her hands full,” I chuckled as we descended the stairs, looking for the Imen servants.
“A wife? What can I do with a wife that I can’t do with all these ladies who are happy to welcome me into their beds at night? Why settle for a flower when I can have the entire garden?” Heron replied, rendering me speechless and leaving me somewhat disappointed, though I kept that last part to myself. “All I know is not to try and pull that crap with you again, because you’re clearly not that kind of girl. And I like that; I respect that. Although, be advised, that won’t stop me from being myself, Avril. I will make you blush once in a while.”
I chuckled again, though that tinge of disappointment was still lingering inside me, moving farther down into my stomach. I decided then that it was better to shove Heron into the friend zone, rather than get my hopes up and hurt myself in the process.
“That’s cool,” I muttered, “as long as you’re aware that for every action there will be a reaction.”
“Bring it on, vampire girl.” Heron smirked. “I know you can hold your own!”
I shushed him when I noticed one of the male Imen dusting porcelain figurines inside a glass cabinet in the sumptuous living room.
“Work your magic,” I whispered.
Heron nodded, then moved toward the Iman, his eyes flickering a beautiful gold. This wasn’t the first time I was watching Maras perform their mind-bending tricks, but it was the first time I was watching Heron do it.
“Milord, milady.” The Iman noticed us and took a short bow. “How may I be of assistance?”
“You can tell us the truth,” Heron replied, his voice huskier than usual as his golden gaze settled on the Iman. �
��Or face the consequences of a horrible life in never-ending pain.”
“Milord, I always tell the truth.” The servant seemed unfazed.
“How are you being treated here?” Heron asked.
“I am treated well, milord. Nothing is missing from my life.” The Iman’s face was blank, his eyes glassy. “And everything is good.”
I noticed Heron’s frown. It mirrored mine. Somehow, I wasn’t satisfied by the Iman’s answer.
“What do you know about the string of disappearances?” I asked.
“Little to nothing, milady,” the Iman replied. “Only that there are rumors around Azure Heights that it all has something to do with the Valley of Screams.”
“And what can you tell us about the Valley of Screams?” I insisted.
“It’s full of dark and…” His voice trailed off, and he started coughing. He grimaced from the pain, suddenly turning pale as he doubled over and coughed some more.
“Stop mind-bending him,” I said to Heron, moving closer to the servant. “It’s hurting him somehow… I think…”
“Oh, it’s definitely hurting him,” Heron muttered, and caught the Iman before he collapsed. He put one arm around his waist and helped him sit on one of the red velvet sofas in the middle. “And it’s not supposed to.”
The Iman shuddered and coughed more, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. One of the female Imen came in, noticed her colleague’s state, and frowned.
“Please forgive him, milord, milady.” She sighed. “Rauss has been feeling ill for a while.”
“What’s wrong with him?” Heron asked. I stared at Rauss, who rubbed his face with his hands.
“It’s a disease most Imen get after our fortieth year of life,” she said. “It’s an affliction that gradually weakens the body, until we eventually die. We call it ‘the slumber before Death’. We all go through it before we die.”
She shook her head then, apparently surprised by her own candor, then gawked at us with wide eyes.
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