“Esme, honestly… what do you think of all this?” Sofia asked.
Lumi and I exchanged glances, and I had a feeling we were both on the same page. “I don’t trust Petra. I will never trust her. There’s always an endgame with her, and more often than not, those closest to her are the ones getting hurt,” I said.
“Even if she is being truthful, she’ll have stirred the wrath of Danika and Corbin. By now, we’ve all learned how cruel and spiteful the Darklings can be with the people they consider traitors or enemies,” Lumi replied. “Remember what they did to one of the Unending’s reincarnations. They killed her entire family for no reason at all. That alone should tell us everything about what kind of retaliation we can expect from the Darklings.”
I broke out in a cold sweat. “The boys will never be safe until we destroy the Darklings completely.”
“Do you really think Petra would kill Kalon?” Sofia asked, her green gaze fixed on me. That was a tough question. It certainly wasn’t impossible. Danika was proof that a mother could kill her own child, and she and Petra would be sharing the same motivation—sacrificing their sons to complete the soul shard ritual and ensure their own survival. For that to happen, however, Petra needed certain conditions.
Me out of her way was one of them. “Not while I’m still alive,” I said.
“I find it unimaginable.” Sofia sighed. “I still can’t believe Danika is coldblooded enough to commit such an atrocity. One’s own child… no. Just no.”
And yet, it was true and horrifyingly real. Danika was looking to kill Thayen. Why wouldn’t Petra do the same? After all, immortality could easily make people do crazy things. Selfish and awful things. For millennia, Petra had been serving the same cause as Danika. Had she really turned herself around this time? I’d have to find out. And in the meantime, I’d keep her in my sight. I’d watch her closely. If she was going to try something, I’d be there to stop her.
Ahead, Derek walked Petra up the main cobbled road. They were headed toward the western tower, and I tried to ignore the knot forming in my stomach. The western tower wasn’t much to look at, but Lumi had assisted with building a few rooms from its foundation. It was one of the more secluded parts of the city. Knowing Derek, he probably didn’t want the others to see Petra here—not yet, anyway. We certainly didn’t want Petra to be anywhere near Kalon, and the western tower did seem like a safer bet, since it overlooked the raging ocean and limited her options in a worst-case scenario.
I wondered what this would lead to. My instincts told me to be careful, and I’d be a fool not to follow them. Petra Visentis was in town, and that meant trouble no matter what. But she had information, and we needed it more than anything.
Derek
The tower was only halfway up, thanks to Lumi’s swamp witch magic. It reigned tall over the surrounding ruins of a once majestic city, though—a quiet, slender stump that held several rooms used for storage.
I could see the north tower from here. At the very top, Valaine was busy tapping into her past lives with Tristan, Phantom, and Morning’s help. A level below, Time kept Kalon in another spell where deep sleep and death magic slowed down his metabolism in a bid to resist the Black Fever.
As Petra and I stood before the western tower, however, I knew I had to make sure she didn’t go a single foot outside this place. There was a room at the base of the tower that I planned to use for Petra. I needed to keep her away from our people, as well.
“I thought this tower crumbled a long time ago,” Petra muttered, tilting her head back to look up, hands cuffed behind her back.
“We rebuilt parts of it, as you can see,” I said. “It provides a better vantage point at the top. We can see the enemy coming.”
“You fully rebuilt the north tower, as well,” she replied, gazing out into the distance.
“We need that for tactical purposes,” I shot back, my tone clipped. “Is this some kind of recon, Petra?”
Changing the subject worked. I didn’t want her making inquiries about the north tower. She flashed a cold grin. “I’m just curious.”
Like I would believe that… Esme joined us, but I couldn’t see Time anywhere. He must’ve gone back to watch over Kalon. For better or worse, Valaine had backup inside that interdimensional pocket. Kalon was on his own. The night was gradually fading, and a faint light slowly emerged on the eastern horizon, spreading across the starry sky and sending the moon to the other side of Visio.
“Where are my sons?” Petra asked.
“Sofia is talking to Ansel, Tudyk, and Moore right now,” I replied. “It is up to them whether they wish to see you. If they decide against it, I will not let you near them.”
Petra shot me a cold glare. “You won’t keep me away from my boys.”
“Your boys might reject you,” Esme retorted, giving her a nudge. “Better get used to that thought. It’s what you get for killing and lying for an evil cause.”
“What you call evil, we call survival,” Petra said. “You keep professing your opinion about matters you have little to no knowledge of. I can’t see what Kalon ever saw in you. Speaking of, where is my eldest son?”
I wasn’t sure what to tell her, but Esme was quick to answer. “He’s on a mission with Trev and a few others in our group. But trust me, he definitely doesn’t want to see you.”
Lying made sense. It also came easier to Esme, and I appreciated that about her. Usually, the consensus was that good liars made excellent villains, and that terrible liars were so adjusted to telling the truth that deceit was basically impossible for them. But that wasn’t always true. Esme was one of the kindest and most noble people I had ever met—she just had a knack for making things up without getting caught.
She glanced my way and offered a faint nod, while Petra looked up again.
“What are we doing here, Derek?”
“We’re going to keep you somewhere safe and away from our people,” I told her. “I don’t trust you for a single second, and I’ll sleep better knowing you’re here under lock and key. And constant supervision.”
“I’m one person against how many?” Petra scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You should be flattered that I’m not underestimating you,” I replied, motioning for her to go in. Time had the upper levels of the north tower covered, and there were plenty of Seniors for Petra to fight off if she wanted to get there from here, so I didn’t worry too much. Besides, I’d be with her around the clock. Chances were, Esme wouldn’t let the Whip leave her sight, either.
Petra muttered under her breath but did as instructed and entered the western tower. Once we were in the room, Esme linked a chain to the ring connecting the cuffs, which she then attached to a curled spike in the wall.
I crossed my arms, watching as Petra scowled at Esme. “Are you going to bring me a chair?” the high priestess asked.
“It’s all yours,” Esme replied, pointing at the floor. “One big chair.”
“Start talking,” I said to Petra. “Where are the other Whips?”
“I’d like to see my sons first.”
“I told you, that’s not up to us. Sofia is with them. Should they wish to see you, they’ll come here. In the meantime, start talking.”
Petra let out a heavy sigh and settled on the floor. She looked uncomfortable with her hands bound behind her back, but it was one of the few things that gave me comfort. I couldn’t afford any compromises with this Aeternae. None whatsoever.
Her cold blue gaze settled on me. “I know Trev Blayne gathered a significant amount of intel when he was pretending to be a Darkling initiate. Since he was ousted, however, the Whips have changed their movement patterns and safe houses for their own security. You see, Derek, we’ve become very good at anticipating the enemy’s movements. The moment word of your escape reached my ears, I knew you’d tell your people everything—including what you learned from Danika and me.”
“It wouldn’t take a genius to figure that one out. How did you hear a
bout my escape? You had already run off,” I said.
“That doesn’t mean I’m isolated from my empire. I have eyes and ears everywhere. Death magic has made a lot of things easier for me.”
“Okay. Then what can you tell me about the Whips’ more recent movements?”
Petra scrunched her nose, frowning slightly as she thought about my question. I had a feeling she was doing some kind of math in her head. “Let’s see… well, Drezel, Rodique, and Icklas are dead. Danika was very effective on that front. That leaves us with Ramus Malfa, Fennel Ferris, Marios and Silla Levantes, Lyriana Amos, Jolie Jasperstone, Rennert Gauss, yours truly, and of course Thayen. Each of us listed carries a shard of the Spirit Bender’s soul.”
“I’m not interested in you or Thayen. I asked about the Whips.”
“I know, Derek. But I felt you could use a small recap.” Petra chuckled.
“The Whips, Petra. We only need the Whips,” Esme replied. “What can you tell us about the remaining ones?”
“Ramus Malfas has a few properties he’s kept off the record. His dead mother is still listed on the deeds, and he has yet to change them in the imperial registry,” Petra grumbled. “Of these properties, there is one I think he’ll consider safest now that Danika is after him.”
I remembered Ramus from when he’d first come into my cell along with the other Whips. A handsome fellow with a dark, piercing gaze and an affinity for fine silks and velvets. Of course, all the noble Aeternae shared that affinity, but Ramus had an extra sartorial flair about it that made him easier to remember.
“Where is this property?” I asked.
“North of here and deeper into the mainland,” Petra replied. “Fifty miles past Azten, there’s a road that leads up to the snowy mountains. As you follow the road deep into the woods, it splits into two paths. One will lead you around the peak, down the other side of the mountain, and into the next town, which is called Mayn. The other, however, will take you into the very heart of the forest. Ramus’s father cleared that path when he first built his house there. You can’t miss it. It’s the only one on the ridge, surrounded by trees and jagged rocks.”
“And you say Ramus will be there,” I said, eyeing her carefully, searching for signs of deception. Speaking of good liars, Petra was an expert.
Her means and ends were equally nefarious, but I had to appreciate her talent for deception. Perhaps it was part of the reason why she loathed Esme with such passion. In certain ways, Petra and Esme were more alike than they thought. They fought for different causes, but they both put their souls into their work. They were devoted. They were excellent manipulators and smooth talkers. They were beautiful and fierce. Maybe Petra didn’t want someone who was so much like her to take her son’s heart. But if so, she was wrong—Esme and Kalon were made for each other. I couldn’t imagine building a better bridge between our civilizations.
Had Petra not been such a monster, I would have sought a friendship with her. I knew there was plenty to learn from an Aeternae with her knowledge and experience.
“Ramus will be there. I’m certain of it,” Petra declared.
“And the other Whips?” Esme asked, unmoved by Petra’s deliberate animosity toward her. I admired her courage. It took guts to stay so calm around a powerful Aeternae with dangerous death magic skills who wanted you dead. Granted, Petra was bound, but some risk remained.
“Fennel Ferris is probably back home in one of his district’s poorer villages. If you have a map handy, I’ll point out the rest.”
“Which is Fennel’s district?” Esme asked. The more she spoke, the more irritable Petra became. And the longer I spent in their presence, the better I could feel the sheer hatred that the high priestess harbored toward the vampire she blamed for stealing her son. It was equal parts interesting and disturbing to watch. Little did Petra know that her demeanor toward Esme told me more than anything she could possibly say about her.
“Bring me a map,” Petra hissed.
The door opened, and Sofia appeared in the doorway. Her brow furrowed as she looked at Petra, then at me. “The boys are here.”
“Ah, finally!” Petra exclaimed, her face lighting up.
Sofia stepped aside, leaving room for Ansel, Tudyk, and Moore to pass. The Visentis boys didn’t appear happy to see their mother. Anger flared in their blue eyes. They were deeply hurt, and Petra’s presence wasn’t making anything better. Nevertheless, Sofia had given them the option to come here, and they’d all decided to take it.
Petra cried softly and tried to smile at her sons. “My darlings… I’ve missed you so much.”
“Where have you been?” Ansel asked, scowling at her.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m here now,” she replied.
Esme, Sofia, and I stood silently and watched the interaction unfold. Of the three boys, Ansel was the least excited to see his mother. He was closer to Kalon in that respect. Tudyk seemed to be somewhere in the middle—torn between resentment and longing. Moore had it the worst. Tears welled in his eyes, but he held back, staying close to his brothers. Petra tried to get them to come closer.
“Won’t you give your mother a hug?” she murmured, her eyes twinkling with a mixture of grief and affection. I doubted even Petra would fake those emotions. Despite her many faults, she was a dedicated mother, though even that had fallen under scrutiny lately. I’d heard her tell Danika she would give her shard to one of the boys so he could die in her place. Petra had insisted it was a lie from the beginning, but she was extremely untrustworthy. Everything she said was to be taken with a grain of salt. “Moore, my baby…”
“You lied to us,” the youngest boy said, unable to contain his emotions. His hands were balled into small fists, and he was shaking, tormented by the sight of her. “You lied to us, and now you want us to be happy to see you?”
“I did what I had to do to make sure my family survived,” Petra replied, swallowing back tears of her own. “I will never apologize for trying to protect you.”
“By making us Darklings? That was your way of protecting us? With lies and half-truths?” Ansel scoffed. “We know everything now, Mother. We know the truth about the Unending and what our forefathers did to her. What the Darklings are still doing to her.”
She sighed, lowering her head in a gesture of piety. “I always believed I was doing the right thing. I stand by my actions on the matter, but what Danika wants to do is… well, it’s too much. I had to draw a line.”
“She wants to bring back the Spirit Bender,” Tudyk said. “You don’t want that?”
“Not at the expense of my life. I can’t bear to leave this world, not while my children still need me. And I can do so much better,” Petra said. “If you’d just give me the chance to explain…”
“You lied to us our whole lives,” Ansel insisted, and I felt a surge of pride. He’d come a long way in a short amount of time. If Petra was seeking forgiveness, she’d come to the wrong people for it. “You poisoned our minds, just like Kalon said. You turned us into evil creatures. There’s no coming back from that. The things we did to serve you and the Darklings—Mother, it’s horrific.”
“I know. But remember, Ansel, I never said it would be easy. In fact, I specifically remember telling you there would be tough choices to be made along the road. That the mission required strength of character. Being a Darkling means having no hesitation. If murder is required, you do it. Period.”
I cleared my throat, drawing her attention for a moment. “You taught your children—mere boys as young as six—that murder is okay. Petra, you’re definitely not winning any parenting awards. Cultural differences aside, killing other people should never be considered okay.”
“You’ve never killed anyone?” Petra sneered. The boys watched me with renewed interest. I had to choose my words carefully.
“I’ve killed plenty. But I never reveled in it. I still see their faces when I go to sleep, and I will forever remember each and every one of them. Taking a life is a wretched
and awful thing to do, and while I admit it is sometimes necessary, the Darklings take it far too lightly,” I said.
Petra rolled her eyes, clearly in no mood for my sermon. But Tudyk had gotten my message. “He’s right, you know,” the boy said to his mother. “You never talked to us about it. All we’ve ever been taught was that people who got in the Darklings’ way had to die. Our mission was sacred, and nothing else mattered. Well, it turns out our mission was a lie.”
“I, like my ancestors before me, made sure the Aeternae remained immortal. We stopped the Black Fever from destroying us all!” Petra said. “Yes, we had to kill people along the way, but in the end, we save more than we lose.”
“There was always another way,” Ansel cut in. “You could’ve set the Unending free and offered your heartfelt apologies. She gave us immortality, and she could take it away. But don’t you think she’d forgive us if we released her? If we stopped all these bloody games?”
Petra laughed as if Ansel had delivered the punchline to a clever joke. “Oh, my dear, sweet Ansel. The Unending cursed us with the Black Fever, remember? If she’s set free, she will wipe us all out. It’s not that she’ll take our immortality away. No, she’ll do so much worse.”
“Valaine is our friend,” Ansel replied. “She would never—”
“Valaine is not the Unending. She’s merely a shadow of that great power. A manifestation of the first Reaper,” Petra said. “Whatever Valaine wants now, it will fade away when Unending takes back the mantle. And trust me, after about five million years, there aren’t enough apologies in this world to make up for what was done to her. Our only option has always been to keep the cycle going for as long as the Aeternae breathe.”
Ansel shook his head. “That’s not right. It wasn’t right then, and it isn’t right now.”
“As it turns out, the odds are more in your favor than mine. I’m merely trying to make you understand what has driven the Darklings up to this point,” Petra conceded with a shrug. “I’m not willing to get myself killed for the Spirit Bender, so I’ve switched sides. I’m here with you now, and I’m no longer a Darkling. You will bring the Unending back, and maybe you’re right and she won’t kill us all. But she definitely won’t grant us immortality anymore. We will die someday.”
A Shade of Vampire 84: A Memory of Time Page 18