by Sela Croft
“So, what happened? It seems that you won, right? At least, back then. You became a vampire, and the Fae are out there, not in your city.”
“A group of us banned together, swearing to do everything in our power to stop the Fae before it was too late. We fought day and night. They were powerful creatures, though. It became obvious that we could not win on our own.”
Callie’s eyes were wide as she leaned in closer to listen. A breeze swept up behind her, pushing her hair into her face and her scent into mine. A rumble of hunger surged through me. Blood bags were good for snacks but not meals. Being here with her, alone, without being properly fed was dangerous. But still, I couldn’t bring myself to leave her. Not yet.
I needed to finish the story I’d started.
“We joined forces with a very powerful witch who lived in the hills, just there.”
I pointed off in the distance and she turned to look. This gave me the chance to steady myself, as my head was beginning to swim from the temptation of being so close to her.
When Callie turned back, I continued. “We struck a deal with her. She is the one who created vampires. She gave us abilities and strength like none of us had experienced before. It was exhilarating…the feeling of power, the immortality, the courage to take on anything that came our way.
The witch’s magic revived us, and restored life to our cause. The line separating the light from the dark was strengthened, and a spell to keep the Fae out was cast.
“How did it work? The spell, I mean. What did you have to give the witch in return?”
I tried to remember but couldn’t. I shook my head. “It was a very long time ago. I doubt if any of us remember the details.”
“But I don’t understand,” she said. “Striking up a deal with that witch for power or the ability to fight the Fae or whatever made you turn into a vampire? Why a vampire?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you’re dead, right?” Callie put her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, that was insensitive.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “Go on.”
“Well, you had to give up so much. You don’t eat food. You don’t sleep. Your lives were completely changed. You feed on humans. You can’t leave this realm. You can’t grow old.”
“I don’t know that I would want to grow old.”
“Well, that’s you, I guess,” Callie said. “Still, you had to sacrifice who you were to become what you are.”
I knew she didn’t mean what she said as an insult, even if it did sound like one. She smiled and shrugged, trying to take the edge off her words, but didn’t retract them. She said what was on her mind. Yet another thing about her that added to her allure. She was outspoken, even if she was ignorant on the subject she spoke of.
In her own way, Callie was trying to learn.
“We needed power—a lot of it,” I said. “The greater the power, the greater the price. But we did what we had to, to protect ourselves, our land, and our world.”
“And after all of that, you’re still fighting?”
“Unfortunately,” I said. “We are strong. But as I said, the Fae are too. The curse did nothing more than put us on equal ground.”
“I saw some of it,” Callie said. “When I was out there. It was terrifying. Especially since I had just arrived, and I had no idea what was going on.”
“What did you see?”
She looked back at the sky, while recalling the event. “It wasn’t that long ago, but at the same time, it feels like an eternity since I arrived.”
There was sadness in her tone. Something inside me wanted to reach out to comfort her. She continued to stare off for a moment, while the struggle to define my own emotions resurged. It wasn’t like me to feel that way. She had once again managed to stir feelings that were better left alone.
“I guess I get what you mean by not being able to remember all that transpired,” she said, and turned back to me. “So much happens in this world. It’s overwhelming.”
“You get used to it.”
“I don’t want to.” Callie crossed her arms. “Because while I don’t remember every detail of the attack I witnessed, I remember enough to know that the one thing I want more than anything…is to get back home.”
“What do you remember?”
“Dragons,” she said. “A lot of dragons. They weren’t friendly like Kaida. They were huge and aggressive and swarmed down on us from all directions.”
“Us? You were with someone?”
“I met some humans while I was lost in the woods. They took me in. They protected me. The dragons were organized. It was as if someone was leading them. Wait, I remember that, too. Someone was in charge of them.”
I stepped back and turned away from her.
“It was a vampire, wasn’t it?”
I didn’t answer. I could feel where she was going with her question. I knew the attack she was referring to. It was one my brother had sent out. The unrest in the hills had grown too much for us to handle peacefully. There were too many risks involved with dealing with the humans living outside of the city. We had to gain the upper-hand, even out the numbers.
“Logan,” she said firmly, reaching out and resting her hand firmly on my shoulder. “Tell me. Did your kind do that?”
Slowly, I turned to face her then nodded.
She shook her head and took a step back. She stared at me as if I was a monster. I had seen that look in her eyes before. It hadn’t bothered me as much then. This time, it filled me with another rush of conflicting emotions.
I wanted to defend myself to her. Yet why should I have to? I had the power, and she was my prisoner. She should fear me. Yet the way she stared bothered me.
“The humans I met out there,” Callie said. “They told me how awful things are. Is that true? You said that you were on the side of the light, which means the good side. If that’s the case, then how can you justify tormenting those people like that? The dragons were there to kill them. How can you be okay with something like that? What did they do to you?”
“It is none of your concern how I run my realm.”
“It is,” Callie said. “They helped me. They took me in when they didn’t even know who I was. They are kind people, and don’t deserve this.”
She took a step forward, not taking her eyes from mine. She furrowed her brow. “After everything you’ve told me, after all that you’ve been through…how can you let something like that happen?”
I looked up at the stars, reflecting, one thing I hadn’t done much of before she came along. I remembered the feeling of being out there, alone and defenseless, shriveled in fear of the magical beings lurking in the forest. I remembered what it felt like to be powerless to control the things that went on around me.
“I don’t have a choice, Callie,” I said softly, not looking at her. “The Fae use the humans. They cannot enter our city, but the humans can. They have trained them as vampire hunters, taught them to kill us. We have no way of knowing whom we can trust. We can’t risk losing more of our kind…”
I let my voice drift off and turned my attention back to her. Her expression wasn’t as harsh as it had been before. Once again, I’d let my guard down. No matter how badly I wanted not to show I cared, it seemed impossible to avoid with her.
“You have to understand. I’ve been locked in an endless war with cunning, intelligent enemies, all my life. Danger lurks around every corner, even inside my city. My people are frightened. My kind is hurting. I’m duty bound to do everything in my power to protect them. If you were in my place, what would you do?”
Callie’s expression changed. “I don’t know.” She no longer seemed angry or afraid. Instead, she seemed to empathize, and I appreciated that more than I should have.-
Chapter 31
Logan
“That’s enough of the vampire story,” I said, needing to change the topic.
I had given her as much information as I cared to, and it was much more than I’d inte
nded to. I needed to take back control. I had more important matters to worry about. And my concerns seemed to be linked to her. I needed to know more about her.
“It’s your turn.”
“My turn?” Callie said. “My turn for what?”
“To tell me more about yourself.”
I took a step back to put distance between us. I assumed my role as ruler and interrogator. I stood tall, then crossed my arms over my chest. “I have shared a great deal with you tonight, Ms. Mayfair. It is only fair that you do the same.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Why are you here?”
“That doesn’t concern you.”
“My past doesn’t concern you.”
“You didn’t have to tell me about it,” Callie said. “You chose to. I’m choosing not to tell you why I’m here.”
Frustration surfaced. I’d done everything I could think of to get her to talk to me. I had allowed myself to be vulnerable around her. Her refusal to tell me what I wanted to know was infuriating.
“Ask me something else,” she said. “I promise I’ll answer the next question.”
“Tell me more about Astoria.”
“It’s a small town in Oregon,” she said. “There’s not much to do, so my friends and I spend time at an old church in the woods.”
“It doesn’t seem like a place a teenage girl would hang out.”
“I’m not like other teenage girls,” she said. “Besides, what do you know about what people outside of this place do?”
“Very little. I just imagined you would be spending time with friends or shopping or whatever other frivolous thing your kind does to pass the time.”
“Well, I find those things as frivolous as you do. They’re a complete waste of time. There’s so much more to life than just sitting around gushing over boys and shopping for yet another pair of shoes online. I’m an outsider though, and not like other teenagers. So, don’t take my advice if you ever pay a visit to my realm.”
“I don’t think I would be one to gush over boys or buy shoes online,” I said with a shrug.
She raised her brows. “Did you just make a joke?”
“I do have a sense of humor, Ms. Mayfair.”
“People that regularly refer to other people by their last name are not allowed to have a sense of humor.”
Our conversation had taken yet another turn. This was not going to help me discover her purpose. Although, it did seem that she had lowered her guard slightly. I could take advantage of that.
“Then I would be an outsider in your world as well, it appears. My lack of humor would be one reason. What is it that makes you an outsider, Callie?”
“I guess it starts with my looks, then extends to my personality,” she replied. “I’m not normal in either regard.”
“Your looks? What’s wrong with the way you look?”
I took a moment to examine her closely. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t see anything wrong with her appearance. If anything, she was nothing short of beautiful, in a non-traditional sense. I scolded myself for such thoughts. The girl might pose a danger, yet undisclosed. I should bear that in mind.
“Never mind,” I said, waving my hand in the air. “It’s not important. Tell me more about your life back in Oregon.”
“There’s not much more to tell. I only have one close friend. He’s nice, if a little protective, but I don’t mind. Other than that, I mainly just spend my time with my family.”
“Your family—” I started, but I was cut short.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Valter said, and strode toward the terrace. “You’re needed.”
Knowing that whatever he wanted to discuss would be better kept private, I excused myself to speak with him alone. I followed him toward the far end of the terrace. He didn’t speak until he was sure we were out of the human’s hearing.
“I have a report,” he said. “I expected to find you in your study. It’s not usually so difficult to locate you.”
“I apologize. I was otherwise engaged.”
“I noticed.”
“The report, Valter,” I said, preferring not to discuss Callie.
Valter would consider her a distraction, and perhaps he would be right. But I had my reasons for dedicating time to the human teenager.
“We’ve been able to round up most of the fugitives who escaped,” Valter said. “We are continuing our efforts to locate those that remain before they are able to spark a rebellion amongst the humans living inside the city.”
“That is sufficient for now,” I said. “The others must be found.”
“We are pooling all possible resources.”
“And the leader of the movement? Have you identified who is behind this mess?”
“Not yet.”
“Have you spoken to Natasha? Perhaps she has some information regarding the recent events?” I asked.
“No,” Valter said, shaking his head. “I’ve attempted to contact her, but she has yet to respond.”
“That isn’t like her,” I said. “It’s concerning.”
“I agree. I plan on going to her house to speak to her personally. Perhaps she is otherwise engaged, like you’ve been.”
My brother Valter wasn’t as intellectual or cunning as Florian, but he wasn’t a fool either. He knew the effect his words would have. A feeling of guilt rose in my chest. I should have been available to my brother when he needed me. We relied on each other. Our family was the only thing we could truly count on, in this time of turmoil.
I turned to look out over the horizon again, my eyes locating the home where my sister resided. The docks were quiet, the soft light of early morning barely illuminating them. Then something caught my eye. It was a flutter of wings, and not one but many.
“Birds,” I said, pointing in the direction of my sister’s home. “There are a flock of birds circling above Natasha’s house.”
Valter’s eyes went wide as he turned to look for himself.
“Get someone over there, right away,” I said. “And get Florian.”
Panic gripped me. This wasn’t an omen. It was more. I sensed that something dire had happened. This was more than human criminals and insurgents lurking about. “Something has happened, Valter. I need to know what.”
Chapter 32
Logan
My brother left, and I was alone with Callie again. The mood had changed. I no longer intended to worry about her comfort. I wasn’t going to play her games.
I ushered her from the rooftop and took her back to my study. I had to be available to receive any information, the second it came in.
In the meantime, I had work to do. “You need to tell me your reasons for being here,” I said. “No more stalling.” Something was going on out there, I could feel it in my gut. If she had any information, I wanted it without delay.
She slumped down on the couch. “I can’t tell you that.”
A snarl slipped past my lips, then I stalked around the room in front of her. My mind raced, pulling my focus in different directions. Where was my sister? And why was this human girl here?
Were the events linked?
Had I welcomed peril into my home? Had I invited danger into the heart of my family, the only family I had left?
“How did you get into Shadowland?”
She stiffened at my aggressive tone. “I told you, I don’t know.”
“The revolt in the prison, what do you know about that?”
“Nothing.”
“Enough! I’m done with your lies. You will tell me, Ms. Mayfair. You will tell me everything I want to know.”
“I’m not lying.” Her tone had become harsh. She looked at me, appearing confused and defensive. Her face scrunched up. “And I don’t appreciate your tone.”
“I don’t appreciate your refusal to follow my orders.”
“I’m not one of your subjects,” Callie said. “I’m not one of your human servants, or one of your feeding sources. I don’t have to follow
your orders, Logan. I don’t have to be here.”
“You have to be wherever I tell you to be.”
“Why?”
Motivated by rage, I flew across the room, then stopped inches from her face. My lip curled, and I showed my teeth. My appearance should serve to remind her of the reality of the situation. She was the mortal. I was the superior being.
Callie didn’t flinch. “I want to leave.”
Her gaze locked with mine. I held my position, fighting against the urges building up inside of me. The anger she elicited was overwhelming. The way she tempted me, her scent taunting me drove me mad with hunger and frustration.
“Your grace,” Henry said, upon entering the room.
I pulled back, attempting to compose myself. I turned to face him. His face was as white as a sheet, his eyes bulging.
“What is it?” I said.
“I’ve received word from your brothers.”
Henry’s eyes darted over to Callie. I turned to look back at her. She was still as a stone, obstinate as before.
I couldn’t allow her to hear what was going on. I couldn’t let her know how terrified I truly was. “In the hall,” I said, whisking the servant from the room. “Speak quickly.”
“She’s not there, your grace,” Henry said. “She’s not in her home. It appears as if there has been some sort of disturbance in the residence.”
My heart plummeted, my worst fear realized. I had lost so many of my family already. I would not lose another. My resolve strengthened, fueled by my rage. “Inform my brothers I’m on my way.”
As Henry hurried off, I struggled for self-control, but the effort was futile. My sister was in trouble, and I had spent my evening entertaining a foolish teenage girl. I returned to the study with renewed purpose.
“You will not leave here,” I said. “You will not regain your freedom, until you tell me what it is I want to know.”
It was clear that Callie understood. She wasn’t sympathetic anymore. She remained motionless, staring at me with those violet eyes. “I can’t tell you anything,” she said, “because I don’t know anything.”