“How exactly?” I asked, feeling triggered. What I held back was that I was finding his company increasingly harder to tolerate because thanks to his blood, I was completely and utterly attracted to him every time he was near. I couldn’t see how that was a benefit.
“I gave you my blood, which means I can sense when you’re in trouble,” he said plainly. “That’s why I really want you to think about it before you decide to reciprocate.”
“I’m not going to!” I declared, “also, there’s something you need to know – nothing is ever going to happen between us.”
“You sound sure of yourself,” mused Moldark but in that annoying way where he found my words so ridiculous that he couldn’t help but smirk as he said it. Of course, he didn’t believe me. he knew exactly what the blood had made me feel.
“I’m with someone,” I said. It no longer made sense to hide it. Whether or not anyone at Cachtice Academy had any inclination that Ulric was alive and had joined forces with me and the Silver Shadows, they would find out soon enough. He was in his territory now, no more a displaced fugitive.
“Oh, really?” asked Moldark, “In that case you work quickly.”
“I don’t. I’ve been in a relationship for a while now,” I said, enjoying not only the effect it had on him but it also felt good to say it out loud to myself. This attraction to Moldark was simply induced by his dark blood and the choice of whether to act upon it truly was mine.
“I take it he’s not a vampire,” deliberated Moldark after being quiet for a while, “and witches and warlocks have turned you away, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. You’d be nestled up somewhere safe within the Supernatural Light Alliance. Hmm, this is an interesting twist.”
“Not really,” I retorted, “because it’s none of your business.” He looked hurt, “Look,” I offered, “we can still help each other but I need to know you won’t pull anything like this again.”
“Fine,” replied Moldark, with an unreadable expression. I held out my hand and at first, he stared at it, scrutinizing it with that haughty expression that he nearly always wore. Then he reached out his hand and we shook on it. “What’s wrong with your friend?”
“Her name is Val.”
“Alright, what’s wrong with Val?” asked Moldark.
“She’s under something called the Soporatus Spell,” I replied, feeling a pang of guilt as I thought of Valenthia lying helplessly in her bed.
“I’ve heard of it.”
“Really?” I asked, “Because I was told it’s very rare.”
“It is. We only learned about it in class very recently,” said Moldark, widening his eyes as the penny dropped.
“Kellum Bathory was the one who had her attacked!” I exclaimed, feeling my cheeks flush in anger.
“It’s certainly starting to look that way,” replied Moldark. I scowled at his lack of care. “If I could see her, I know how to reverse it. But I take it that’s not about to happen any time soon?”
“Teach me how to reverse it! It’s basically a hex, right?” I said feeling hopeful. That was, if I ever got out of here.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” I asked, remembering that in Kellum Bathory’s Intro to Dark Magic class he’d said that a hex could be broken by incantations. It took all I had to stifle my urge to kick him. Hard.
“Because this is a little more complicated than the stupid chalk hex that your uncle once showed us in class.” Moldark rolled his eyes.
“How?” I was unconvinced.
“It takes a certain amount of interaction with the subject and their subverted life force. To show you how to do it, I’d need to do it,” Moldark sighed. “If you tell me where she is, I can go to her.”
“Nice try,” I answered, imagining him skulking into Silverstone Academy with every vampire in the Dark Legion behind him. I could hardly trust him, not after what he’d already pulled.
“Okay, park that for now. Let’s move onto something else. You’re a witch, can you sense feelings of others or read minds?” he asked.
“I can read minds which are normally a good window into feelings but only with permission, why?”
“Because we’re going to have to convince everyone around us that our blood-bond has become a full one – that you’ve offered me your blood and I’ve accepted and now we can both sense each other the way I can with you.”
“Right!” I said, realizing this could be a win-win for me. If I could read Moldark’s mind, I’d know if at any point he was double-crossing me again. “Wait, does that mean you can read mine too?” I asked feeling like I’d been completely sprung.
“No. I can only feel extreme emotions from you like when you’re in danger. It’s much vaguer. You’d have a huge advantage over me,” he added, instantly knowing where I was going.
“Okay,” I said relieved, “all you have to do is say out aloud that you give me permission. But I haven’t ever done it with a vampire so I have no idea if it’ll work.”
“Only one way to find out,” stated Moldark, his usual brooding look was replaced by a playful curiosity. “I Moldark Dragos Whitlock, grant you Katrina Snow Quartz, full permission to read my mind,” he announced into the silence. I couldn’t help but laugh at the formality of his statement but his smoky eyes stared seriously into mine with a red glint like two live embers.
“Okay, let’s try it,” I suggested, relaxing my mind. “Wait!” I said remembering that Safi might still be listening in, “I have to do something first.” Moldark nodded and I spoke silently to Safi, telling her I was safe for now and would message her soon.
“Sure, let me know then,” came back a somewhat sulky reply from Safi. I found it hard to blame her. What I’d entered into with Moldark was super weird, not to mention that she now knew everything including how I was feeling pulled to him over Ulric. Oh, and that I’d met up with him secretly for blood. Why was everything always so complicated?
When I was sure Safi had gone, I focussed on Moldark. At first, we just stared at each other which only made my desire for him stronger. “Stop, this isn’t working,” I said, “you’ve made this too serious and I don’t think I can have you looking at me like that.”
“Sorry,” he said, turning around, “how about now?” I couldn’t help but smile – I’d never heard him apologize to anyone about anything. I easily zoned into him and could tell he was thinking about his mom.
“Her name was Lenor,” I said, “your mom – and you were very close with her. She used to play violin for the Sanguine Orchestra in Prague. She was one of the world’s top violinists and when she was home, she’d play for you for hours. One day she disappeared when you were only a little kid and your dad tried to convince you that she’d left because she didn’t want to live together with the two of you anymore.”
“Correct,” he answered.
“But you knew the truth. You felt it. You missed her everyday and still do but most of all you miss the way she brought you the world through her music.” I saw Moldark’s pain and with it, a humanity that he’d tried so hard to extinguish. “I’m sorry.”
“It is what it is. At least we know the mind reading works,” he said solemnly, turning to face me. “If anyone asks, we’re fully bonded.”
“Okay,” I said, wondering how to broach the subject of what came next. There was no other way to say it, “Should we leave together or…?”
“Woah, leave?” he asked.
“I thought now that we’re pretending to be bonded, I’d be able to stay somewhere a little less like a dungeon,” I said trying to keep my voice even, “you know, as we help each other to cull the villains of the Sanguine population.”
“Kat, I completely get it, I do,” he began.
“But?” I said, beginning to feel taken for a ride once more.
“But think about it – if you leave right now, we’ll both be hunted down. The first thing my dad will do is ask me your whereabouts – which, if it’s to be believed that we’ve now fully bonded – I
should be able to tell him. And if I don’t...”
“If you don’t?” I pushed.
“Then they’ll either think I lied about the blood-bond to help you escape or worse, if they think I’m telling the truth…they’ll,” Moldark stopped and sighed.
“They’ll what?”
“They’ll torture me because once a full blood-bond is activated, the other vampire has no choice but to feel it if their mate is in trouble.”
“Great, so I just get to stay here?” I huffed out, angrily.
“Only for now. Until I can find out why you’re here and what their aim is,” said Moldark. He went to take both my hands but I moved away. It took all I was worth to do so. “If I can find out who’s done this to you,” said Moldark gesturing at my neck, “it will help us. I know vampire politics are growing more complicated by the hour but…where do you fit in and why?” He turned to leave.
“Wait,” I called.
“Yes?” said Moldark with a slight smirk.
“Don’t you dare rescind my invite into your head,” I answered. He nodded brusquely and once again, the drab stone wall that lay so near and yet too far from me was ablaze with crimson flames as he went through it. I felt instantly anxious to be left alone again and should have asked him to bring blood and food the next time he came. I’d need it.
Chapter 21
I’d filled Safi in on any blank patches she had in my interaction with Moldark. Not that there had been many. In fact, she’d been over-shared to and now knew of the longing I felt towards him. She also knew this was because of the clumsy, half blood-bond between us but I’d still felt judged when she’d quickly reminded me that Ulric, my boyfriend, was hatching a plan as we spoke, to rescue me from the crumbling, medieval tower that I had to pretend to be trapped in.
It hadn’t gone down well when I’d informed her that a rescue wasn’t part of my plan and Safi had accused me of being stubborn and backed off. She’d said that Principal Silverstone and Professor Frewin wouldn’t allow me to continue to risk myself now that things were beginning to get more intense. I’m pretty sure Safi had also mumbled something derogatory about my Sanguine side and meant me to hear it. Of course, she had. It had been an active part of the thought stream she had sent out to me. I’d quickly signed off as I didn’t want to go your momma on her.
An entire night and day had gone by without occurrence and I was going stir-crazy, pacing between the tiny opening that passed as a window and the stone walls. I longed to attend a class with Natalie and Valenthia with the rest of the Silver Shadows. Then I remembered that unless I seriously got back into the mission I was on, there would never be any classes where Valenthia would be present again. I was so driven mad by anticipation that at one point I’d hoped Lilith, Nyx and Riskel would surface just so I could show them how much my combat skills had developed during their absence from Bloodline Academy. Without the restraint of the iron cuff around my ankle, I could easily have kicked all three of their butts.
The daytime had been the worst because everything had been quiet on the vampire front but also with Safi, who I was sure had ignored my attempts at telepathic conversation. I’d zoned into Ulric’s mind and early in the morning he’d been training hard but by mid-afternoon, he’d gone to bed to be rested for the night. It wasn’t common for werewolves to sleep for long periods but Ulric must have been exhausted, given how he’d been going at it. How they all had. For me and for whatever was coming in the supernatural world. I found myself fading too by late afternoon, as the crisp rays of the sun lent some warmth to my otherwise sallow surroundings. More than once, I had the urge to walk through the wall that wasn’t really a wall. It would have been so easy to leave as the rest of the area lay below ground in a dreamless slumber. But if I did, I’d be the coward. I’d let both my parents and Valenthia down and likely get Moldark murdered. While I loved Ulric without a doubt, it was Moldark whose brooding face floated in front of my eyes as I too drifted off.
***
I awoke with a gasp, unable to believe that I’d fallen asleep and that too, for several hours. The golden glow of day had been replaced by the moon’s silver shimmer. I was grateful that the moon was waxing, otherwise, this wing of the castle would have been completely desolate. I dreaded to think how I’d bear it on a moonless night. I corrected myself – there was no way I’d be stuck here that long.
A new tray of food had been placed down near me again but as I was about to reach for the plate, the now familiar crackle of static interrupted my thoughts and instinct took over. As the wall burst into flames, with all my intent I urgently summoned my magic to bring about my invisibility shield. My blooming quickly responded and silver swirls lifted off me and surrounded me, competing with the crimson flames across the room, in ferocity. My spontaneous decision to do this was driven by memories or rather, nightmares of the other night that still haunted me. Someone had taken blood from me and the vision had remained in the recesses of my subconscious mind, even though it was so fragmented that I hadn’t managed to figure it out – or wanted to.
I watched the wall and crossed my fingers that my shield was as strong as I’d intended it to be. If Moldark was the one who walked through, I’d make myself visible – after giving him a fright of course. He deserved that much. However, I knew it wasn’t him because one quick dip into his mind had shown he was currently in class arguing away with Professor Devin. If it was Lilith and her gang, I’d be the one to have some fun with them this time. It would rile them no end to think I was gone. Within a few seconds, I saw the lone figure of someone emerging from the flames. It was that of a man. I froze as I realized it was Kellum Bathory.
As I looked upon the face of my parent’s murderer, so many emotions instantly heaved through my veins that I was sure I’d lost my shield. My focus immediately shifted from magic to the primeval urge to fight until only one of us were left standing. Before me stood the very reason I was here. I watched as my uncle’s expression twisted from pomp to spite when he searched the tiny little enclosure but couldn’t find me. I continued to watch as he found his way to the shackle lying discarded on the ground and kicked it in frustration. He was here to kill me, that much was sure. I could sense it from his every pore. He wanted to finish what he’d started almost eighteen years ago.
I spun out of Kellum Bathory’s way as he passed me, peering out of the small opening, trying to figure out if I’d somehow jumped outside. It was a desperate long-shot as the space was too small even to have fit my head through. He walked around the room, looking high and low. The daughter inside me snapped as I understood that this was my chance, not his.
“Because of you, I didn’t get to know my mother and I never even saw the face of my father!” I hissed, releasing my invisibility shield, so he could get a proper look before I acted. I could have attacked him when I was hidden but both my inner Sanguine and Crystal Witch told me that a vengeance wasn’t possible if I would do it as a coward. That was his style, not mine.
“There she is!” he snarled, coming to life as he saw me appear. He instantly took on a defensive stance, ready to fight.
“Trust you to show up when you think I’m helpless, you weak, pathetic fool!” I said. Or rather the words came out of my mouth, as my gums itched and my fangs grazed my lips. The Crystal Witch part of me receded as the Sanguine came out in full swing.
“You know, it’s funny,” Kellum Bathory spat venomously, as his own fangs protruded from his mouth, “both of your parents were killed by their misplaced sense of honour. Seeing you inherit their stupidity, makes this all the more fun!”
“What’s wrong, Kellum – couldn’t bring the zombified, snivelling human with you this time to do your bidding?” I taunted, feeling almost drunk on rage.
“I didn’t need to,” he answered, with narrow eyes that glinted red. He took a step towards me and pulled a large stake out of his belt. “Miscalculation seems to be a family tradition, doesn’t it?” he smiled as I eyed the weapon and retreated around
the stone slab in the middle of the room. I silently called out to Moldark, begrudgingly putting my pride aside.
“Coming,” he answered, with an arrogant signature-side of, “as I predicted.”
I backed off some more which only served to arouse Kellum Bathory’s appetite to advance quicker. “Do you know how lucky you are that you get to die your final death here?” he asked, excitedly.
“I wouldn’t be so sure that I’ll be the one doing the dying tonight,” I jeered.
“This exact location is where Countess Elizabeth Bathory was interred according to the legend that is history,” announced Kellum Bathory, “the beautiful monument, standing between this stake and your heart, was Her Highness’s very tomb!” He pointed down at the stone slab that I had been placed upon in my unconscious state. I cringed. No wonder I’d had such heinous nightmares here. “Something I never did get around to telling you as your Dark Magic Professor, was that ironically, the darkest magic was woven by none other than a measly Crystal Witch named Esmeralda Quartz. And I always thought you looked a little too much like her,” he stabbed through the air, coming within inches of me as I dodged the sharp point of the stake.
The room took on a crimson glow as the wall burst into flames. Moldark walked through, taking Kellum Bathory by surprise. “Moldark Whitlock, isn’t it?” he asked, irritated. “What is it, can’t you see I’m busy?”
“Kat and I have a full blood-bond,” stated Moldark, like he was issuing an instruction, “you mess with her, you mess with me.” He withdrew two of his stakes. From what I could tell they were the same ones he’d used to get rid of Lilith, Nyx and Riskel the other night.
“Why, on earth would you want a blood-bond with this little halfling?” responded Kellum Bathory, turning his stake in Moldark’s direction. “Besides, what would your father say?”
“I’ll quote him for you,” said Moldark smugly, “he’d say that by getting Katrina here, you’ve outlived your usefulness.”
“Vincent Whitlock is a man of his word!” argued Kellum Bathory, making a lazy attempt to skewer Moldark on the end of his stake. Moldark easily dodged him. “He promised me Kat.”
Sanguine Spell Page 23