“Shit,” said Safi, indicating that she’d taken it seriously. More silence from her end.
“Hello?” I said replacing the book and looking around to try and find something else for my eyes to concentrate on. Anything to rid myself of the grotesque images that continued to flash in front of my eyes.
“We’re still here,” replied Safi solemnly. Before she filled me in on what was going on, I sensed in the way she tried to control her thoughts, that her answer wouldn’t be what I wanted to hear. “Professor Norden is here too and he’s talking tactics. He says he can’t risk his team for a bunch of mortals. It will be too risky and too complicated. I know it sounds lame but…”
“It sounds lame because it is,” I replied, feeling nauseous.
“Professors Norden and Frewin are saying there are a lot of considerations but because we haven’t yet had the chance to somehow alert the S.L.A. that Bathory’s returned, they can’t risk losing anyone from the team they have at Silverstone Academy.”
I knew she was just the messenger. I also knew that unlike the S.L.A. that had the best supernatural defense team available, Silverstone Academy was comprised of a few profs and students. Their team was skeletal by comparison. Yet it sucked beyond belief that when it came down to it, not all lives were treated as equal.
“Professor Frewin is bringing his team and they’ll be there in an hour to break you out safely,” said Safi after I failed to comment.
“You’re not hearing me,” I sent back frustratedly, “what about the fact that Moldark will eventually either die or lead a legion of vamps straight to Silverstone Academy?” I asked, “Thanks to our blood-bond, he’ll be able to find it.” Thinking of the young women who weren’t even a consideration, made me heavy from sadness. From what Moldark had shared with me, he wouldn’t be able to find me, not unless I was in danger at Silverstone Academy. And I figured that if he did sense that I was in mortal danger, it would be because we had already been found. But if I admitted this, I wouldn’t have much of a leg to stand on to convince them of what I wanted to do.
“Principal Silverstone says that the moment we have you back here safely, she’s going to alert my mom that the S.L.A. needs to start preparing for what’s to come. If need be, she’ll offer to ally with the S.L.A. in exchange for finding a way to keep you somewhere too safe for Moldark to find you,” came the reply.
“Are you guys insane?” I said, squatting on the floor to prevent myself from falling over. I pulled in a deep breath, exhaling it back out quickly.
“It’s politics and diplomacy and it’s what everyone does, Katrina,” said Safi. I knew she was now literally just sending whatever others around her said and I guessed this was Principal Silverstone. Still, I addressed Safi.
“You and Professor Frewin are stowaways – don’t you think your mom will guess where you both are if Principal Silverstone suddenly flags herself by contacting the S.L.A.? And that too, about me?”
“It’s a dire situation – one that hasn’t come along in over four hundred years – and as well-endowed as the S.L.A. is, they’ll likely leave us be for now,” replied Safi, “We don’t have all the answers but one thing everyone here agrees upon is that we need to get you out of there. Professor Frewin wants me to let you know that they’ll expect you in the Great Hall in exactly one hour. The threat of Black Banes will be big and a few of the same girls you were looking to rescue might even be working with the Dark Legion. They could alert someone of our presence so if we don’t find you within ten minutes, we’ll be forced to leave without you.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I said but in truth I wanted to tell them not to come at all. I signed off from Safi and the gang at Silverstone Academy, hoping the crazy idea that had just planted itself firmly in my mind would hold as I attempted to play it out in real life. I wished I could have shared it with them but I knew they never would have gone for it.
Chapter 25
About twenty minutes before it was all due to go down, I zoned into Ulric’s mind to try and find out whether he’d be accompanying the team that would be coming into the castle. I already knew the answer – of course, he’d be coming with Professor Frewin. I knew I had to see him but had decided that I wouldn’t let him see me. The thought of being there, in the same room as him – and all of them made me feel heavy. If anyone got hurt thanks to me, I’d never forgive myself. But my own plan was the one that made me really nervous. Because if what I was about to try failed, I would have nowhere to go. And Valenthia would be stuck in the clutches of the Soporatus Spell indefinitely.
I closed my eyes and felt for Moldark’s presence. To begin with things were completely silent and I couldn’t feel anything. I continued, concentrating on the blood I’d given him the night before. This time I picked up a very faint sign. The student dorm-rooms for Cachtice Academy must have been buried way down, deep below the castle. It was barely afternoon which meant that there were several hours before the vampire population would start to awaken naturally. If anything, this was the hour of the soundest part of vampire sleep.
“Wake up, Moldark!” I urged, to no avail. “Come on, wake up, we need to go!” I tried again. Nothing. He remained fast asleep. I hadn’t factored in how different calling out to him in the middle of the day would be. And then it came to me. I gazed around the Great Hall looking for something sharp. If he thought I was about to be harmed, then he’d have to come. I crossed my fingers that I could stop at the threat of harm and I wouldn’t actually have to do anything. The only makeshift weapon I found was a fireiron suspended to one side at the corner of the hearth which was located near the dining area. I walked over and reached for the rod. It felt icy in my hand and I closed my eyes, roughly pointing it in the region of my heart as I focussed on calling out to Moldark. This was the first time I’d ever imagine what my final death would be like. I envisioned the dull metal and felt the cold creeping sensation of my life ebbing away from me, picturing the scene I’d witnessed in the tower when Kellum Bathory had come at Moldark. It felt real. Too real.
Suddenly, urgent footsteps approached. I had been so immersed in my dark visualization that the fireiron jumped out of my hand and clattered to the ground. It was Caroline. “I’m sorry to bother you but there are two guys in the front wing looking for you,” she panted, “I don’t know how they even got in but they were making their way over here when I bumped into them. Should I tell them you’re asleep?”
They were already here. “Are they vampires?” I asked, feeling my own heart beginning to pound against my ribcage. I assumed the rest of the team were waiting outside, lest Professor Frewin and Ulric became trapped by Black Banes while they were here.
“No. I’m pretty sure they aren’t,” confirmed Caroline.
“Okay, let them come,” I said. I abandoned what I’d been doing and summoned my magic. My invisibility shield barely manifested in time as I heard footsteps and my heart skipped another beat. I wanted to see Ulric. I needed to see him. But I knew that if he saw me, he’d waste time trying to convince me to return with them. And I knew that Black Bane security was only sparse throughout the castle because no one really knew yet that Elizabeth Bathory was back. It would be a wholly different story once vampires like Vincent Whitlock and Aramastus Nadasdy knew that their plan had succeeded. In one more day, the place would be virtually impenetrable.
Professor Frewin came through first, decked out with a long, pre-emptive stake in each hand. Ulric was right behind him, gazing around, his amber eyes were wide as he took in the grandeur of the place. “Where is she?” he asked Caroline, who tagged behind.
“She was right here,” answered Caroline with a slight tone of aloofness. I felt terrible for her. Because she’d received them, she’d now be held responsible once it came to light that a warlock and werewolf had entered the castle and she didn’t alert anyone. I wondered if she’d even been briefed on what to do if other supernatural beings entered the castle.
“We don’t have long,” pushed
Ulric, voicing his frustration. He began briskly pacing the whole large area and more than once, I had to move out of his way. He froze as he passed the fireplace and I knew he’d smelled me. “She was here!” he announced and Professor Frewin went over to him.
“Maybe she went elsewhere?” offered Caroline but both of them ignored her. I began walking in random zig-zags to confuse Ulric’s strong senses. This way, he’d smell me all over the room and wouldn’t be able to put an exact location to where I was. I wanted to go up to him and touch him. Tell him I was safe and would be with him soon. But he wouldn’t understand – at least not yet.
My attention was pulled away from Ulric and Frewin who were beginning to get distraught as they realized they’d be returning without me. I sensed something. Moldark had woken up and he was entering some part of the castle. I slowly edged my way out of the Great Hall and the second I reached the hallway, I broke into a sprint, using my instinct as a radar to track down where I was sensing his location. I spotted him coming up a dim flight of narrow and curling stairs and grabbed him, pulling him down. He gasped not knowing what had happened and I quickly clapped my hand over his mouth to stop him drawing attention to himself. He tried to grapple with a force that he couldn’t see and I comprehended that my invisibility shield had held.
“It’s me,” I whispered.
“Kat?” he asked gazing right at me but not seeing me.
“Yes, just stay down!” I said, wanting to give Ulric and Professor Frewin time to leave.
“Let me see you?” Moldark asked. I dispelled my invisibility shield and our eyes met. “I thought you were in danger.”
“I needed to summon you. I need to leave here. There are no two ways about it. My boyfriend and a professor who are on the side of light magic are looking for me in the castle right now.”
“Okay, then why did you call me?” asked Moldark, trying hard to look indifferent rather than hurt.
“You need to leave with me,” I said, “keep up.”
“Wait, no way. I can’t just up and go like you did,” he protested.
“Thanks to our blood-bond, you have to,” I hissed, “because wherever we are, we share this bond. If your father or Elizabeth Bathory hurt you, they’ll hurt me. I’m not safe and neither are you!” That was the truth. He knew it and I knew it. No one back at Silverstone Academy would understand it, but that was another story. “And by the way, I can no longer read your mind,” I said, trying to get a gauge of what he was thinking but remembering that our connection had been cut when he’d been staked.
“Then we’re even,” he replied, “but if you want us to be even closer, I can think of ways other than you reading my thoughts.”
“We’re not even,” I argued trying to keep my voice down, “I gave you my blood to save you, it doesn’t mean I trust you!”
“Fine, it’s not a big deal – I Moldark Dragos Whitlock, grant you Katrina Snow Quartz permission to read my mind.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, somehow feeling better.
“So, if we’re together, we’re safe…” began Moldark, “I can get on board with that but where will we go?”
“You’re going to buy your refuge with the Silver Shadows by breaking the spell my friend Val is under,” I said.
“Hey, I’m not spending my thousand-year life span hiding out with a pack of werewolves!” argued Moldark.
“You don’t have a choice,” I hissed.
“Get up, Kat, you need to come with us now!” said Professor Frewin and I saw too late that he was standing at the top of the steps, poised with a stake, pointed straight at Moldark.
Chapter 26
We both scrambled to our feet but I made sure to put myself directly in front of Moldark. Ulric had managed to sniff me out and he stood behind Professor Frewin with his arms folded across his chest. I avoided looking at him. “I called him,” I addressed Professor Frewin, “he needs to come with us.”
“He most certainly does not!” frowned Professor Frewin, “We need to end this blood-bond he’s obligated you to, now.”
“It’s not that simple,” I argued, “Ulric?” I urged willing up enough courage to look at him. My boyfriend looked at me and saw only betrayal.
“What do you want me to do, Kat?” he retorted, “He’s not coming!”
“Then I’m not coming either!” I countered, “I told you, he can lead Bathory to me.”
“You know as well as I do, that that’s not true,” said Professor Frewin, “the blood-bond will only allow him to sense you out if you’re in danger and we’re not going to let that happen.”
“He can help save Valenthia,” I tried frustratedly.
“We don’t need his help, Valenthia will be fine,” said Professor Frewin, “it’s a dark magic spell and I’ve been working on breaking it. I’ve been a vampire-hunting warlock for a long time and I’ve learned a few tricks of my own.”
I didn’t know whether to believe him. I looked to Ulric, dipping into his mind to see if I could tell if it was true. Ulric was as clueless as I was. “He’s going to learn everything he can and then he’s going to kill us from the inside out,” Ulric stated, as Professor Frewin took a step towards us.
“And how do I know you won’t kill me – I mean one of you is a vampire hunter and the other is a disenfranchised Black Bane?” said Moldark from behind me. “I’m not going!”
“We’re bonded, remember?” I cut in, “I won’t let them harm you.” I felt the conflict swirl through me as I literally felt Ulric’s heart sink and Moldark’s swell of loyalty towards me that I felt towards him.
“Please?” I implored, Professor Frewin.
“There must be a way to break a blood-bond?” Ulric asked no one in particular.
“Death,” replied Moldark, like he was stating the obvious, “one of us has to die our final death and then the bond will be broken.” Professor Frewin nodded.
“That can be arranged,” said Ulric, withdrawing his own stake from his belt.
“No!” I screamed, “That’s not the answer!”
“You’re under his spell, my dear,” explained Professor Frewin, “what you feel for him isn’t real.” Maybe it was his way of placating Ulric or convincing me or even himself. But the bond was my reality no matter what anyone else said.
“We need to go – now – before our team outside is overwhelmed by Black Banes,” stated Ulric authoritatively, “we promised Professor Norden.”
“He’s right, you should leave,” replied Moldark, turning me to face him.
“But what about you?” I asked as unexpected tears stung my eyes.
“I’ll be okay,” said Moldark, “my dad’s too proud to let anything happen to me. It’ll make him look weak.”
Not if he’s the one who does it, I thought but said nothing. I begrudgingly accepted that my plan had failed. If only we hadn’t been sprung and I’d have been able to get Moldark to the academy independently, I knew that Principal Silverstone would have taken him in because of the gratitude she felt that Kellum Bathory was dead. In that case the details of who and how, didn’t matter. I’d promised her he’d pay and he had.
I leaned in and hugged Moldark and he held me back. Thanks to the fact that we each had the other’s blood coursing through our veins, my whole body felt a rush of heat and for a few seconds, I had no guilt or shame that what I’d done was inappropriate given that Ulric was standing right there. It was the oddest feeling. “Let’s go,” I said, forcing myself free. Professor Frewin shook his head in relief and Ulric stared at the ground.
Chapter 27
“It’s great to have you back, Katrina,” said Principal Silverstone as I sat in her office with Professors Frewin and Norden and Ulric there as well. “You know I owe you a huge debt of gratitude for avenging the death of my father.” She handed me a moonstone that she’d prepared for me and patted my shoulder with warmth.
I nodded silently. Kellum Bathory was dead but I couldn’t help flinch at the huge paradox that having walked
into a trap, I had unwittingly helped to resurrect the Blood Countess, who in the grand scheme of things was a much bigger threat than he’d ever been. And when she knew I was gone, all hell would break loose. I drooped in my seat as for at least a couple of hours, they debriefed on everything that had happened during the mission to get me back. Professor Norden’s team, who’d been guarding against the threat of Black Banes outside the castle, had successfully managed to act as a distraction and been chased all over the region, allowing enough time for our safe exit. Judging by the security’s numbers though, the Blood Countess’s return had been so new that it wasn’t something Nadasdy or Vincent Whitlock had been aware of. This would change tonight, I was sure.
The principal and both profs went on to discuss the brewing supernatural war that I’d been hearing about since I’d entered the coven. The time had come when it would finally begin and it would be because of me. And then there was Moldark. He could have been safe if he was here too, at least for a while. “How’s Val? Professor Frewin said he was on the verge of breaking the Soporatus Spell that Val’s under,” I said.
“Oh, really? That’s great!” exclaimed Principal Silverstone.
“I needed a way to get you to come with us, Kat,” replied Professor Frewin, glancing at me.
“You lied – I knew it!” I accused through gritted teeth.
“What’s this?” enquired Professor Silverstone, a frown creased her otherwise perfect forehead.
“Kat got bonded with a snotty Sanguine who probably heads up the youth chapter of the Dark Legion,” replied Ulric, “so she decided he was the only one who could bring Val back from the state she’s in and Professor Frewin had to act quickly as she was wasting time, arguing.”
I had no words for how livid I felt. I was sure my eyes would have burned with fire and my fangs would have erupted had it been nighttime. I stared at Ulric who stared back at me, his amber eyes were a mixture of anger and pain. He was the first to break away from our staring contest. Small wins.
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