Kiev groaned. “Don’t deprive me, Sofia. You’re a morsel too sweet not to partake of, and you know it. Even your beloved wasn’t able to resist taking a bite.” He steadied my head with a firm hand and once again sucked on my blood.
I scanned the part of the room that I could see considering the angle. I saw a vase on the bedside table nearby and tried to reach for it. His weight was on top of me and it was a struggle just to move but I was determined to not just lie down and take it. I wasn’t going to become the victim again. Not anymore.
He seemed too wrapped up in drinking my blood to care what I did so I was able to get a hold of the vase. I slammed it over his head as hard as I could. The instant I did, red eyes—blazing with rage—looked down at me.
With my blood still dripping from the corners of his lips and one hand gripping a fistful of my hair, Kiev was a terrifying sight to behold.
I couldn’t give in to my terror. You have got to be used to this by now, Sofia. I collected myself, grabbed a shard from the broken vase and stuck it into his neck.
Since he would heal immediately, especially with my blood running through his system, I was doing nothing other than annoying my captor, but I would make this as difficult for him as possible.
His surprise was to my advantage so I pushed his hand away from my head and bolted toward the door. To my shock, I came face to face with a creature whose fur was black as night, eyes shining bright yellow. It was a huge dog, taller than my waist when crouched on all fours, probably taller than I was when forced to stand on only two feet.
This must be the beast Kiev was referring to.
“Move one more step, Sofia, and you’ll be the mutt’s dinner.”
“What is it?”
A fist grabbed a clump of my hair and pulled me right back to the bed. Kiev knelt over me, straddling my hips. His grip on my hair tightened, my scalp burning with pain. I yelped.
“It doesn’t matter what it is. What do you think you’re doing? Do you have a death wish, Novak?”
My lower lip twitched. All curiosity toward the creature faded away, because for a split second, I thought he was referring to Derek. I still wasn’t used to being Derek Novak’s wife. No matter what happened to us, no one could take away the fact that we’d gotten married, that we were a family. We had each other. I bit my lip at the thought of Derek’s smile and his kisses. I could practically hear his laughter, and before I knew it, I smiled.
That took Kiev aback. His grip on my hair loosened as he took the shard I’d stuck in his neck out with his free hand. He stared down at me. I was intimidated by the anger on his face, but I couldn’t keep myself from smiling.
“Crazy girl, why the hell are you smiling?” he hissed, his fist tightening around the clump of my hair he seemed determined to never let go of.
“Your eyes. They’re red. Why?”
“I asked you a question.”
“I asked you a question too.”
“How does he stand being around you?”
“Why do you keep asking about my relationship with Derek?”
“Do you always answer questions with questions?”
I shrugged.
“You are one agitating woman. Do you know that?” He finally let go of my hair, staring at me like I was some sort of oddity he was trying to figure out.
“Agitating isn’t usually the word used. Charming is the more suitable word I think.” I pressed my palms against his chest. The way a muscle on his jaw violently twitched didn’t escape my notice. I pushed him away from me. “Could you get off me now?”
He didn’t budge. “I don’t think you see the gravity of the situation you’re in. Do you not realize how powerful I am?”
“I’ll say it more slowly. Get. Off. Me. Now.”
We had a staredown of sorts before he eventually looked away. He got off me, sitting on the edge of the bed beside me. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing with exasperation.
“Don’t even think of trying to get away. The beast will eat you alive before you get anywhere near that door.”
I sat up, my hand over my bleeding neck. The creature paced near the door. Its yellow eyes were fixed on me. Hungry. Eager to devour. I swallowed hard.
“What is it?” I repeated my question.
“I told you. It’s a beast.”
“What is a beast?”
“You ask too many questions.”
I backed up on the bed, my knees propped up. I was unsure what to do. “I need something for my neck.”
He bit into his wrist and offered me his blood to drink.
I grimaced. “I would rather bleed to death.”
He growled at me, monster that he was, but he didn’t insist. He grabbed a sheet and ripped it. He then began tending to the wound that he’d caused. The way he swallowed whenever he saw my blood intrigued me. I recognized that hunger in his eyes, that struggle to maintain control.
Maybe he’s not as much of a monster as I thought.
“You know how to tend a wound.” I was surprised by how gentle he was.
“You don’t know me. Who I was…”
“Then tell me.”
He looked at the bandaged wound with a satisfied smile on his face.
“You seem awfully proud of yourself,” I said.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “What is it about you, Sofia Novak? How is it that you are so unaffected?”
Right. Me. Unaffected. I fought the urge to laugh. He held my future in his hands. He was capable of taking everyone and everything I loved away from me. How could I be unaffected? I remembered that I’d been in the exact same situation with Derek. Bothered by the thought, I pretended not to hear him.
I gave him a close look as he turned to face me—dark hair, handsome face with lines hardened by time and experience. He had a tired look about him, a stare that told me that those eyes had already seen more nightmares than I could imagine.
“You’re right, you know. I don’t know who you were or even who you are now, but I do know how powerful you are,” I told him. “I’m married to Derek Novak. He was once the most powerful vampire of our time. I know power when I’m around it.”
“And yet you don’t tremble.”
“Is that what you want? For me to shake at the sight of you? Do you really want my terror?"
A muscle on his jaw twitched. He remained silent for a couple of seconds. “The Elder turned my eyes this shade. Blood red. He wanted me to remember how much blood I’ve seen, how much blood I am accountable for, every time I look in the mirror. It was his way of reminding me that I can’t escape from everything that I did. He wanted me to remember that I’m a monster.”
I didn’t know what to do or say. I wasn’t sure how to handle bonding time with the Elder’s son. Was I supposed to reassure him that he wasn’t a monster when I saw one in him?
Or do I? This version of him seemed a lot more human than the monster who took me out of Derek’s dungeon.
I tried to remember how my relationship with Derek had started. Did I at any point see him as a monster? Was he? Was it just by instinct that I knew that there was good in him? I accepted Derek in spite of all the atrocities he’d committed. Even after I’d learned about the history of The Shade, even after he’d ripped out another vampire’s heart right before my eyes, I’d never seen him as a monster. I’d forgiven him. What was it about Kiev that was so different?
“Isn’t he supposed to be your father?” I asked. “The Elder? Why would he do something like that? Why would he want you to always see yourself as a monster?”
“He’s my father because he turned me at the most vulnerable point of my life. Beyond that, the Elder is the most cruel being I’d ever known.”
“Won’t you get in trouble for saying that?”
“Maybe.”
The door swung open and we both jolted in surprise. The beast positioned himself to attack.
Clara appeared. She looked at the beast, grimaced, and ignoring the snarling creature, eyed her brot
her—in a way that was far from sister-like—before staring at me. “Having a little chat?” she asked. “I have to admit I’m disappointed. I was hoping to walk in on you acting on your attraction toward her.”
Kiev looked agitated. “Why are you here, Clara?”
“Well,” she purred as she sidestepped the beast and slunk toward her brother, running her hand over his torso, “I was getting the juiciest information from my little Abby”—she stared at me triumphantly, seeming to revel in my flinch—“when Father came and asked me to get you.”
Fear flashed in Kiev’s eyes, bright red turning into a dark crimson as he stood up. “Why?”
“We’re taking a trip to The Shade.” Clara snuck her hand beneath his shirt, her eyes focused on his body. “They refuse to cooperate. Apparently, they would rather cross us than save Derek Novak’s life.” This time, she looked at me, smirking.
It took me a couple of seconds to comprehend what she’d just said as my eyes widened in horror. What on earth does she mean by that?
That seemed to get Kiev’s attention. He stepped away from Clara, pushing her hand away. “They actually refused a trade?”
“Apparently, they’re that stupid. Not that I’m surprised.” She rolled her eyes. She looked almost giddy. “We’ve been sent to punish them for their insolence and to open the gate ourselves.”
My mind was reeling. The Elder tried to propose a trade with Vivienne—Derek in exchange for something they want. What on earth could be at The Shade that’s more important than Derek? What could possibly drive Vivienne to refuse? What does Clara mean by opening the gate?
That Vivienne would think anything more important than her twin brother was beyond me. If she made that choice, there must’ve been a reason behind it.
What that reason was, I was too terrified to find out, but never had I been so afraid for Derek’s life.
Chapter 16: Aiden
We had a traitor amongst us.
“It must be Natalie. Who else could’ve informed them that we don’t want a trade?” Claudia hissed. She was pacing the floor, her face healing from a fresh gash.
We had all been at the Port, gearing up to attack The Blood Keep, when the attack had happened. We’d left the Port to find what was left of the Crimson Fortress completely demolished by multiple explosions. It was a miracle the Port still remained intact.
I’d turned toward Vivienne. I was preparing myself to take the helm should she crumble and back down from leading. But she hadn’t. Within minutes after the first explosion, she’d been pointing at people, barking out orders, putting protocol into place. After all, it wasn’t the first time The Shade had faced war.
“Liana, Cameron,” she barked at her best friend and her husband, “organize your team.” She pointed out several of the other members of the Elite, teaming them up in order to lead their own teams. “Gavin, Ian, please take care of leading the humans. You know what to do. Xavier and Aiden, come with me. You guys too,” she added, pointing at Sam and Ashley. “We need to protect the Sanctuary.”
“And us?” Zinnia asked.
Vivienne looked her over from head to foot. “Where’s Arron? I don’t care what you do, idiot. Just prove yourself worth something more than empty threats.”
I almost felt sorry for Zinnia as she looked around in search of her boss while the ground shook beneath us. I, too, was curious over where the head hunter could’ve gone, but I didn’t have time to mull much over it, because Xavier had already grabbed me by the shoulders in order to speed our way to the Sanctuary.
We arrived at the Sanctuary just in time to see Corrine walking out of the temple, fists clenched, eyes blazing fire.
“Who the hell did this?” she screamed, casting a glare at all of us.
“I don’t know,” Vivienne responded. “I think it’s the Elder’s vampires attacking. Who could’ve told them?”
“Natalie hasn’t moved an inch. It couldn’t have been her.” Corrine stopped between the two round pillars in front of the whitewashed edifice.
“Where is the portal, Corrine?” I asked, growing impatient.
Corrine hesitated to answer. I could understand that, considering how any of us could be the traitor.
“We want to protect the portal, Corrine. You have to trust us.” Vivienne sounded desperate.
“It’s…” Corrine took another step forward only to fly back, landing on the ground with a thud.
“What was that?” Xavier ran toward the building only to be thrown back just like Corrine.
“It’s a force field,” Vivienne blurted out as she looked at the Sanctuary in horror. “Only Emilia was powerful enough to do this.”
“My sister had many tricks up her sleeve. After spending hundreds of years with her, I managed to learn more than a few of them.” A red-eyed vampire appeared from behind the Sanctuary, a grin on his face.
Corrine’s eyes widened in horror. “Kiev,” she hissed.
He grinned, cocking his head to the side. “You know me.” He seemed delighted.
“You’re notorious amongst the witches and you know it.”
He chuckled before turning his gaze toward me. “Your daughter’s fine, Claremont. You need not worry about her. I’ll take very good care of her… during her pregnancy.”
My heart stopped. Before thinking it through, I drew my gun and shot him, trusting in my accuracy. The bullet hit the force field and boomeranged towards us, grazing Ashley in the arm. The young vampire began swearing loudly.
I couldn’t think straight. “If you ever do anything to hurt Sofia…” I choked, unable to imagine what it was like for her being under the Elder’s captivity while pregnant. I wondered if Derek even knew that she was having a baby. I wondered if she knew.
I knew for a fact that she hadn’t slept with Derek until after their wedding. She can’t be far enough into her pregnancy to already have symptoms.
“I told you. She’s precious to us. She’s carrying the spawn of a vampire-turned-human and an immune… Worth far more than father and mother combined.”
Vivienne’s moistened eyes met mine. We were both helpless and we knew it.
While Kiev was busy taunting us, Corrine was whispering something beneath her breath. Within minutes, a whirlwind began to form from the sky, forming a funnel whose end was about to suck Kiev in.
Kiev looked up, laughed and snapped his fingers. The whirlwind immediately disappeared. “Nice try, baby witch, but very amateur. You should’ve just agreed to the trade.”
Corrine smirked. “We both know a trade isn’t possible.”
Kiev flinched. “Really now?”
“You don’t fool me, Kiev. Stop trying.”
The expression on his face told us all that Corrine knew far more about him than any of us did. Vivienne’s face hardened. I could tell that the same question that was running through my mind was running through hers. What is Corrine talking about? Clearly, she knew far more than any of us did.
“Corrine?” Vivienne croaked through choked breath. “What’s going on?”
Corrine had a wild-eyed, almost manic, reaction in her face as she stared at Kiev. “You ruined Cora. If it weren’t for you, she never would’ve become Emilia. I’m sorry, Vivienne, but this was the only way I saw to get this monster here and still keep the portal safe.”
Kiev snickered. “Corrine, you really are like your ancestor. A naïve little fool.”
I had no idea what was going on—especially with the witch the vampires seemed to trust with their lives. One thing, however, was clear. Everyone had an agenda of their own.
All this was made even clearer when Ian arrived, out of breath. He went straight for Vivienne.
“Arron’s gone.” he announced. “He abandoned the hunters.”
I had no idea who Kiev, the red-eyed vampire, was, but he couldn’t have been more right when he cast Corrine then Vivienne an amused look. “All hell’s about to break loose, princess.”
Chapter 17: Sofia
Five month
s later...
Five months. I haven’t seen Derek in five months.
I stared up at the night sky, my arms spread wide on either side of me, so that my palms could reach past the embroidered blanket spread beneath me and touch the smooth grass. I wondered what it would be like to have Derek by my side, what it would be like to have his arms around me.
Over the past few months, I’d begun to love full moons. Those were the nights when the sky seemed to shine brightest. Those nights were no substitute for sunlight, but they were the closest thing to light that I had in a place like The Blood Keep.
Blood Keep. I grimaced at how appropriately named the Elder’s territory was. Even the name makes my skin crawl.
I shifted on the blanket and rested my head on a satin-covered pillow. I was still a prisoner at The Blood Keep, but I was treated far better than Derek had been during our first days of capture. I recalled the last time I’d seen him, held him in my arms, kissed him. I missed him so much, and yet the thought that he wasn’t in The Blood Keep, held against his will, ready to be tortured at the whim of our captors, gave me hope.
I recalled the night I’d found out that Derek was no longer at The Blood Keep.
“What have you done to Derek? Where is he? What have you done to him?” I pounded against Kiev’s chest with all my might. I struck him, hit him, pushed him. He didn’t budge. He just looked at me with that infuriating smirk on his face. “You promised me he wouldn’t be harmed,” I sobbed as I finally exhausted myself, my shoulders sagging in defeat.
“You done, Sofia?” Kiev asked.
I raised my eyes to meet his. I had every intention of showing him my defiance, but though it might have worked with the likes of Derek, I learned that night that the same thing wouldn’t always work with Kiev.
Kiev was as unpredictable as anyone could get.
When our eyes met, Kiev struck me in the face so hard, I was thrown to the ground at least a couple of feet away from him.
“Mention his name again, Sofia, and I will make you bleed.” The tone was almost seductive. He gripped me by the head so hard I screamed, my scalp burning with pain.
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