A Bond of Blood

  That’s it.

  I dare a tsunami to try and stop me asking that woman out on a date today.

  My muscles were still begging for rest after the ordeal I’d been through, but I washed and changed into clean clothes. I hurried out of my penthouse and began scouring the island for Adelle.

  When I was trapped in that dungeon, I’d sworn this would be the first thing I did when I got out. The experience had made me realize that even as a vampire, one could never take life for granted. On more than one occasion I’d believed that we would all perish in that castle at the hands of Annora.

  Even though the safety of our island hung in the balance now that Annora knew its location, I sensed that if I didn’t ask Adelle now, I might regret it for the rest of my life.

  It was time to realize that there never would be a perfect moment. It would only continue to elude me each time I decided to wait for it.

  My first stop was the school. I scanned the classrooms and offices. But the whole place was empty except for two caretakers cleaning up in the dining hall.

  I searched every corner of the Vale, asking people for her whereabouts as I went along, but nobody seemed to know. I checked the witch’s residence— a large cabin built into the side of the one of The Shade’s mountains—and then visited the Sanctuary. Neither Corrine nor Ibrahim had seen her.

  By this time, I was beginning to worry. I wondered if something could have happened during my absence.

  But continuing to go round in circles on the island was useless. I admitted defeat for the time being and decided to check back later. I walked back through the woods toward my apartment.

  And that was when I heard it.

  Adelle’s laughter. It was unmistakeable to my ears. Rich, musical, it called to me like a siren.

  I followed the sound of her voice through the bushes for about half a mile until I reached the border of the lake… the same lake where I’d first tried to ask her out on a date. My eyes travelled further toward the direction of her voice and settled on the boathouse. The same boathouse we’d stood in together.

  I saw her auburn hair through the window.

  Then I heard a second laugh. A male laugh.

  My heart skipped a beat. I ducked behind a bush and approached more cautiously, trying not to make a sound as I neared the open entrance of the boat house.

  I saw her, dazzling as always in a short summer dress, her long hair streaming down her shoulders.

  She sat against the wall of the boathouse. In the arms of Eli Lazaroff.

  Disappointment gripped my chest, jealousy squeezing my heart.

  Well, a tsunami wasn’t required. Just the island’s resident bachelor.

  Chapter 37: Abby

  Ashley and I sat in deck chairs beneath the shade of a wide umbrella. We were on the one stretch of beach on the island where the sun was allowed to shine. The beach was always crowded with the younger generation of humans at the weekend. Ashley was reading a book, while I was pretending to mark some of the juniors’ homework.

  My seat was directly in line with the sea where Ben was taking a swim. I kept looking up whenever he stood up, beads of water dripping from his dark hair onto his chiseled torso.

  I hadn’t spoken to him much since we’d returned to the island. Not that I’d really expected to. So much had been going on, we’d barely had a chance to catch a breath.

  I hoped that our excursion to the cave had helped bridge the gap a little between Ben and I. Although we’d both grown up together, he felt like a stranger. Truth be told, I felt the same about many others on the island.

  I’d grown used to living my life in the shadow of my family’s death. It was hard to look anyone in the eye without them feeling pity for me. Even Sofia. She still got teary sometimes when she talked to me. Perhaps it was my fault for looking so much like my brother. Like Sofia, most people on the island tried to be sensitive about it, but I always detected sympathy in their eyes.

  I’d grown so sick and tired of people treating me like I was fragile. They didn’t know that this damaged me more than if they’d just behaved normally. This made it take longer to heal.

  Eventually, I’d gotten fed up with it. I’d just retreated into my work. That was why, although I’d lived most of my life on the island, many of my peers felt like strangers. I’d distracted myself with study, and then once I was qualified under the tuition of the witches, I’d begun teaching others.

  People assumed my retreating into myself meant that I was even more broken and sensitive than they had previously imagined. It was easier to just avoid people and let them think what they wanted. I spent time with children because they were too young to pity me. Most of the younger generation didn’t know about my past.

  Then when tragedy had struck again on the island, with Anna disappearing, we’d all been touched by the mayhem. I’d been forced out of my shell as we all had to do what was needed.

  And when I’d ended up teaming up with Ben… I’d realized that I’d been attracted to him for a while now. I’d just not admitted it to myself.

  My mind drifted back to the hours we’d spent alone in the submarine.

  After I’d told him how I felt about my past, he’d treated me like any other person his age. It wasn’t something that other people found easy. Nobody was blatant about my misfortune any more, but it was these subtle undercurrents of behavior—their softened tone, the way they looked into my eyes as I talked, the way they looked for excuses to brush my shoulder—that I’d become hypersensitive to.

  But Ben hadn’t displayed any of these. He’d passed my test. I felt like I could let go with him, and I said things I wouldn’t normally say. I felt… free with him.

  Looking at him swimming around in the sea now, I was embarrassed to feel butterflies swell in my stomach.

  It would have been a lie to say that I wasn’t attracted to Ben Novak. There wasn’t a girl on the island who wasn’t. He was undeniably the best-looking guy of the younger generation on the island. But he was also smart, brave and kind. And despite his age, he was an old-fashioned gentleman that any girl couldn’t help but swoon over.

  I knew there were too many other girls on the island swooning for his attention for me to have a chance. I was just boring school-teacher Abigail. At least, that was the persona I’d put out into the world.

  People didn’t know that, inside, I was bursting with life.

  I wanted to run through the meadows at midnight. Climb the highest tree. Go for a swim during a storm. I wanted someone to laugh with. More than anything, I wanted someone to treat me as their equal, and not like I was a china doll.

  Throughout the years, Shadow had been the closest I had to this. I’d grown up with him and he never pitied me. When I wanted to unleash some energy, I’d take him for a long walk on the beach. I’d howl into the wind along with him, and play with him in the waves.

  He probably still was the vampire on the island I felt closest to, despite him being a slobbering dog. At least, up until those hours I’d spent alone with Ben in the submarine…

  A group of four girls in bikinis made their way toward Ben in the water.

  I sighed, smiling bitterly and averting my eyes back to my papers.

  “You all right, Abby?” Ashley asked, looking up from her book.

  “Yeah,” I muttered. “I’m fine.”

  I buried my head back in homework for the next hour and didn’t look up again until footsteps approached.

  My heart raced as I looked up to see Ben approaching. He wore swim shorts and now a damp cotton shirt that clung to his abs. He looked down at me and smiled. I put down my pen and papers down and sat up straighter, returning his smile.

  “Hi, Abby.”

  “Hi, Ben.”

  He reached his hands into his shorts pocket, then looked down at his feet as he kicked the sand. “Do… do you want to go for a walk with me?”

  “Oh. Yeah. Sure.”

  His gorgeous green eyes left me breathless. He reached out hi
s hand and I gripped it. He pulled me up. I brushed down my beach dress, knocking away the sand.

  “See you later, Abby,” Ashley said, giving me a wink.

  I rolled my eyes at her.

  As I left the beach alone with Ben, I caught sight of a group of girls scowling at me. I grinned to myself.

  I wasn’t sure why Ben had asked me to walk with him. But something told me that this was going to beat my usual afternoon walk with Shadow.

  Chapter 38: Sofia

  After Derek and I had finished discussing the situation with Vivienne, Xavier and our closest companions, we called our new guests in to join us.

  Goosebumps ran along my skin as Kiev entered the room. He took a seat at the opposite end of the table from me. Mona sat next to him.

  I looked down at my hands. I still found it hard to hold his gaze.

  Perhaps sensing my discomfort, Derek reached beneath the table and squeezed my thigh. Kiev’s two siblings, plus Matteo Borgia and Saira the werewolf, also entered the room and sat next to Kiev and Mona. It being daytime, Saira was in her human form—a short plump woman with grey eyes and bushy brown hair. These were apparently the leaders of their strange tribe.

  Once they were seated, Derek stood up. I could see he too was on edge in Kiev’s presence. His body felt more tense next to me.

  I still couldn’t believe we were trying to make an ally out of Kiev. It was chilling to realize how much we now needed them on the island. We’d already talked during our private meeting as to what other solution there could be, but the simple fact couldn’t be avoided: with Annora targeting us, we couldn’t survive without Mona.

  Kiev. The man I once hoped to only see in nightmares… now a man I can’t live without.

  Kiev drummed his fingers over the table as we all waited for Derek to begin.

  I placed my hand over Derek’s as it rested on the table. He cleared his throat. I could see how torturous this was for him. But desperate times called for desperate measures. Failure to keep them on this island would mean the destruction of all of us. It was time to put aside our pride and prejudices and just do what was best for our people — which was our responsibility as king and queen of The Shade.

  “I’ll cut to the chase,” Derek said, glowering at them. “You know we need Mona here on this island. We won’t survive without her… so we are all willing to come to certain compromises to make you stay here with us.”

  The party at the end of the table exchanged glances, but neither responded yet.

  “What is it that you are seeking?” Vivienne asked. “You claim that you found an open gate in the werewolf realm and entered the human realm, all to return Anna. So, what were you planning to do after that?”

  It was Matteo who responded first, his liquid Italian accent filling the room. I was relieved that Matteo had taken it upon himself to bridge the gap between Kiev and Derek. Like Natalie, Matteo seemed to have diplomacy in his blood.

  “Derek,” he said. “Let me also cut to the chase on behalf of all of us. The Shade is a legend among all creatures who inhabit the dark. Vampires not just in this realm, but even the supernatural realm speak of it as a legend. It’s described as some kind of heaven.” He paused, looking at his four companions. “Our original plan was to return Anna, perhaps stay a few days and then return to the supernatural realm to begin our search for a fixed residence. But I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we would be honored to make The Shade our home.”

  I already felt that Matteo and Derek were going to get on well. After all, his sister had been good friends with Derek too.

  Matteo looked at the others. Helina, Erik and Saira nodded. All eyes fell on Kiev and Mona. Mona had reached for Kiev’s arm as she looked to him for a reaction. She at least didn’t seem to object, but Kiev looked anything but honored. He kept a poker face as he looked steadily at Derek.

  “Kiev?” Mona pressed.

  His jaw twitched. He turned to look at her and his companions. Finally he gave a curt nod. “Yes,” he said slowly, his eyes falling on me again. “I believe I could make The Shade my home.”

  I breathed out.

  Now that they’d agreed in theory, it was time to nail down the details. First and foremost on my mind was how the werewolves and vampires fed. Especially the werewolves—creatures we were all quite inexperienced with. We couldn’t risk letting them out at night unless it was safe.

  “We can section off a portion of the island for you,” I said, steeling myself for the bomb I was about to drop. “We’re willing to come to many compromises in order to make sure that you’re comfortable, but there are some things that we won’t put up with. One of those is feeding on human blood. Now, I don’t know what you wolves and vampires are used to feeding on, but no humans are harmed on this island.”

  Surprisingly, they didn’t appear to be that fazed by this.

  “Animal blood,” Matteo muttered. “Our vampires and wolves are used to living on this. Humans are a rare commodity in the realm of supernaturals, you see.”

  I breathed out again in relief. “So your werewolves, are they safe around humans?”

  Saira chuckled and looked fondly at Mona. “This witch wasn’t always as powerful as she is now. She used to be not much different than a regular human and she lived among us for years. So yes… we’re house-trained.”

  This was turning out to be easier than either Derek or I had been expecting.

  “What about that ogre of yours?” Vivienne asked. “He’s now lurking in one of the caves by the beach.”

  “Oh, Brett.” Saira smirked. “He’s the least harmful of all of us. He was even kicked out by his own kind because he was too soft. He’s the last person you need to worry about. He’s also the easiest to feed. He’ll eat anything you put in front of him… as long as it’s not green vegetables.”

  “Yes,” Matteo said. “He’s a gentle soul, old Brett. A decent cook, too. And if you ever need any woodwork done, he’s your man.”

  We all fell silent as we stared at each other.

  What we’d just come to an agreement about still felt so surreal, I found it a struggle to pay attention as more details were discussed. But I managed to pay attention to accommodation. Although Saira had claimed that they were all house-trained, I wanted them as far away from the human population as possible. It was decided that Kiev and his people would inhabit the forest in the far north-east of the island. That was the least densely populated area. Witches would build more penthouses in the trees for them. And since Brett’s accommodation of choice was a cave, there was no problem there. There were plenty scattered along our beaches.

  Once we’d finished discussing details, we all stood up around the table. My eyes travelled from the Novalics at the opposite end of the table, to the Novaks next to me.

  So that’s what this is… A bond of blood.

  Chapter 39: Sofia

  After the meeting was over, I followed Derek as he made his way over to the other side of the table to talk more with Matteo. Mona stood next to us, in conversation with Saira. I cast my eyes around for Kiev and spotted him making his way toward the exit.

  Leaving Derek’s side, I held my breath and walked up to Kiev. I reached out and touched his arm. He stopped short and turned round, his eyebrows raising slightly as his eyes settled on me.

  Wordlessly, I walked with him out of the Great Dome and into the clearing outside. We stopped by a cluster of trees.

  His breathing became heavy as I stood next to him. I was thankful for the cool evening breeze drifting through our hair, making the silence feel a little less congested.

  “What the hell happened to you, Kiev?” I blurted out.

  He smirked, brushing his rough jaw with his thumb. “How much time do you have?”

  * * *

  We ended up walking down to the Port together, away from everybody, so that our conversation wouldn’t be interrupted. We sat on the edge of the jetty. He was tall enough for his feet to graze the water.

&nb
sp; I stared out at the dark ocean as he recounted everything that had happened to him since he’d been gone.

  We must have been sitting alone for hours. And by the end, I was speechless. At least now I could finally justify how he could have changed.

  “I still don’t understand how you knew to look in the werewolf realm for the gate,” I said.

  “We have a map,” he replied.

  “A map?”

  “Mona managed to get hold of it. It lists gates that were created between this human realm and the world of the supernaturals. Gates that were originally opened by the Ancients. Of course, we’ve no way of knowing if it’s a conclusive list.”

  I breathed out. This meant that the Ageless had lied when she’d said she’d closed the only gates. Even if they were hidden and little-known about, some gates had been left open.

  “I want to see this map. Derek will too. We need to know where all these entrances are.” I paused, my mind whirring at this revelation.

  I thought about the way he’d described the black witches. Stronger than those of The Sanctuary and abiding by completely different rules. Trying to regain the sinister powers their Ancients once had and the modern witches of The Sanctuary had lost due to complacency.

  I shivered at the few things he’d told me about them. They were ruthless and would stop at nothing for their cause even if it meant sacrificing their own lives.

  I began to worry what would happen if more black witches came down into this realm to assist Annora. I wondered if Mona was powerful enough to resist them all.

  We had to hope that she was. Or that The Shade wasn’t valuable enough to them to go to this trouble—but somehow I doubted that. Humans were valuable to them and they seemed to be in constant need of them. With us having such a huge stock of them, it would be too tempting.

  As I voiced my concerns to Kiev, he looked down at me seriously. He ran a hand through his hair, which had grown out of the short cropped hairstyle I’d grown used to him having.