Ben and I were there in the courtyard outside the Sanctuary as Corrine called the meeting with the witches selected.
“Remember,” she said, looking at each of them sternly, “we have no idea what awaits you on these islands. And the fact that my husband seems to have been overpowered doesn’t bode well. He is the strongest among all of us. So it is vital that all of you work together and coordinate. And remember, you are not to do anything—just report back to us what you see. We can’t afford to lose you too. Do you understand?”
Although the witches looked nervous, they looked resolutely at Corrine and nodded. “Understood.”
“Please return as soon as you can,” I begged.
“I’ll expect you all back here within four hours.” Corrine turned to face the tallest witch. “You remember the location of these islands, Patricia? You were there alongside Derek and Sofia when they first stormed both islands searching for Ben and Rose?”
“Yes, Corrine,” Patricia replied. “I recall.”
“Good.” Corrine took one last look at them before saying, “Well, be gone.”
They all brushed shoulders and vanished from the spot faster than I could blink.
That left Corrine, Eli, Ben and myself standing alone in the courtyard. I shivered, imagining what they might meet at their destination, and prayed that they would return when Corrine had ordered them to.
If all goes to plan, just four hours and we will know what has happened.
The prospect of finding out what had happened was both relieving and terrifying. Something in my gut told me that they would bring back bad news.
But as it turned out, they didn’t return after four hours. Nor after twelve hours. Ben and I sat with Corrine and Eli in the Sanctuary waiting anxiously. But by the time the next day arrived and they still hadn’t shown up, each of us knew that they wouldn’t be returning.
“This time, I will go alone,” Eli said to Corrine, rubbing his head in his hands. “I’ll take the submarine. And since you can’t come with me, I will need one witch in case there are any spells to break through. How likely it is that one witch will be able to do it by herself, I don’t know. But we’ve no choice but to try.”
Corrine eyed him dubiously. “I think it would make more sense for me to go with you.”
Eli shook his head. “No. You’re the most powerful witch on the island right now. We need to leave at least that safety in place. As it is, we’ve lost our strongest forces. Without that, we’re vulnerable.”
When she opened her mouth to argue, Eli bulldozed over her. “Corrine, you can’t let your longing to see Ibrahim again blind you about this.”
She nodded and swallowed back her arguments.
“And if something happens to the two of you too?” I asked.
“Then it happens,” Eli said grimly. “But we’ll be as careful as can be. The second we suspect we’re in danger, we won’t wait around. There are only two of us to worry about so we’ll be more nimble. I suggest Adelle comes with me.”
“If you’re going with her,” Corrine said, “why do you even need the submarine? Won’t it be more likely to attract attention?”
“I need something to call base. Just in case—God forbid—something happens to Adelle, and I need to retreat.”
“I’m coming with you,” Ben interrupted. “It’s driving me mad just sitting here not knowing. Even if I end up in whatever fate they’re in right now, at least it will be less torturous than sitting here in the dark.”
“Out of the question!” Corrine seethed. “If there’s one thing I’m going to make sure of, it’s that you two keep your asses right here.” Her eyes burned as she looked at us. “You need your heads examined if you think I’m going to release you again after what you did.”
I already knew that there was no point arguing with the witch. I could sense Corrine’s moods well. I could tell when there was some leeway, but now, she was immobile as a mountain.
“Corrine,” Eli said. “If I’m going to do this, it needs to be now. Can you go and get Adelle? You’ll be quicker retrieving her than I will. In the meantime, I’ll begin making preparations.”
Corrine nodded and, still glaring at the two of us, vanished from the room.
My eyes followed Eli as he too left the room.
Ben was still fuming. I touched his shoulder and said, “I’m going to see Griffin. I need to take my mind off of all of this or I’m going to go insane.”
Ben grunted. I walked out of the room, and, once I was in the corridor, I began sprinting.
There was no time to lose.
I had no idea how long it would take Eli to make preparations, but I had to get to that submarine before he did.
Chapter 14: Rose
My heart hammering in my chest, I raced along the jetty, shooting back glances every so often to check nobody had followed me. I approached one of the two remaining submarines in the Port and, reaching out onto its roof, pulled myself up and unbolted the hatch.
It was the smaller, faster vessel, and I was positive that Eli would choose this over the other one.
I half expected Eli to be already seated in it making preparations, but breathed out a sigh of relief to see that he was not. I pulled the hatch shut above me and scrambled down the ladder. I rushed down to the lower level of the deck and hurled myself into the small storage cabin directly beneath the control room. I cast my eyes around for anywhere to hide. I rummaged around, throwing about old rope, tarpaulin, blankets, until I found what I was looking for: a metal chest. Large enough to fit a man. I pulled the lid open. It was filled with weapons: mostly wooden stakes, daggers and UV ray guns.
I looked at the weapons, then cast my eyes about the room again. Grabbing a blanket, I emptied the chest of all the dangerous objects and bundled them up in the fabric. I tucked them into a corner of the room, hoping that there were other weapons upstairs so that Eli wouldn’t need to come down here looking for them.
Then I curled up in the metal box and pulled the lid down over me. The metal seemed thin, but I hoped it was just thick enough for Eli to not be able to smell my blood. I also hoped there was enough oxygen to last me the journey, because as soon as either of them noticed I was there, I would be booted off, back to The Shade. I couldn’t afford to come out until they were both off the sub at our destination.
I waited with bated breath until I felt the submarine begin to move, slowly at first, and then it lurched forward. I suppressed a groan as the back of my head banged against the metal wall. I breathed in deeply, trying to calm my nerves.
You made it. We’re moving now. They haven’t found you.
Now that the vessel was moving and the pounding in my chest was beginning to subside, the implications of my actions were beginning to dawn on me. I hadn’t had time to consider how worried my brother and Corrine would be to discover that I had disappeared yet again. It was the last thing they needed—they had both already lost everyone else dear to them. I might be the straw to break the camel’s back.
But somehow, that just wasn’t as important as leaving with Eli and Adelle.
I also knew that I’d likely end up a prisoner again, dead, or worse. But, as crazy as it was to realize, I still preferred to take the risk than just continue sitting in The Shade.
I felt guilty for betraying my brother. I knew he’d want to go, but he wouldn’t have wanted me going. So I just couldn’t tell him. There was no time to argue with him and I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
My heartbeat quickened as I thought of Caleb. What had been a sore nerve was now a throbbing bruise.
I realized now more than anything why I had such an urge to come for myself. And it was more than discovering what had become of my parents.
I wanted answers. I wanted to hear them directly from that vampire’s own mouth.
And I wasn’t going to stop hunting that boy down until I got them.
Chapter 15: Rose
We couldn’t have arrived soon enough. When the submarine hal
ted, I breathed out a sigh of relief. I’d been trapped in that narrow trunk for hours, and the air was becoming heavier from lack of oxygen.
But even though we had stopped moving, I dared not budge yet. I heard footsteps overhead. Someone was coming down the steps.
The door unlatched and footsteps approached. Eli, I assumed. Perhaps he was looking for weapons. My breathing quickened. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the lid to open and Eli to discover me.
But just as hands clamped down on the box, there was a pause and then he stepped away, moving toward the right of me. I heard the clanking of wood and clinking of metal.
Eli had noticed the weapons in the corner just in time before he opened the chest. After a few more seconds of rummaging, the footsteps retreated and the door clicked shut again. The chest must have been thick enough to contain the sounds of my breathing, even to Eli’s sensitive ears.
I waited several minutes more until I could no longer detect footsteps above me. I heard the hatch opening and closing, the sound reverberating around the metal frame of the submarine.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the trunk and climbed out. I tried to stand up, but I crumpled to the floor. My legs had fallen asleep. I waited for the pins and needles to fade before getting to my feet again.
Bending down, I sifted through the weapons. I picked out two small stakes, a dagger, and a UV-ray gun. After checking that the gun was loaded, I scooped up a handful of extra bullets and poured them into my pocket. I fastened the weapons to the belt in my jeans and then left the room.
I crept upstairs and climbed up the ladder toward the hatch. Taking a deep breath, I pushed it open slowly, just enough for me to peek through.
We were back on Caleb’s icy island.
Even as I climbed out, I couldn’t help but feel confused as to how we had gained entrance so easily. Caleb had told me that there were heavy spells protecting this place, and I’d barely felt any turbulence. I could only assume that either Adelle was a more powerful witch than we had thought or they were now welcoming visitors.
I lowered myself down the side of the vessel until my feet landed on the jetty. I shivered as a harsh wind whipped past me, and pulled my collar up. I wished that I had had time to bring warmer clothes. I was still dressed to suit The Shade’s temperate climate: a t-shirt covered by a light sweater and jeans. My shoes were made of light cotton—the freezing snow was already seeping through them.
I hurried away from the harbor and dove into the first patch of shrubbery I came across. I looked around, squinting as I tried to detect even the slightest movement.
On seeing and hearing nothing, I hurried into the woods. I kept off the main path, sprinting from one tree trunk to the other and pausing to look around each time.
I managed to reach the end of the forest without bumping into anyone. However, when I looked up at the mountain upon which the castle was perched, I swore.
I was now in clear view of anyone who happened to look out of the front windows. And I had forgotten how high up the building really was. These shoes I was wearing hardly had any more grip than the slippers I’d worn during a walk with Caleb.
But now wasn’t the time for second thoughts.
I wondered where Adelle and Eli would be right now—whether Adelle would have been able to transport them directly inside the castle with her magic.
I began climbing the steps. Although I was sweating after barely a fifth of the way up, I kept going, my breathing more painful with each step I took.
My main worry throughout the ascent was that someone would notice me. I was wearing dark clothes amidst all this crisp white snow.
A quarter of the way up, I stopped, my eyes wide with terror. The creak of heavy doors echoed down through the cold air. I dropped to the ground, spreading myself out flat against the steps. I gathered up snow and tried to cover myself with it. I crawled to the edge of the staircase and looked down. There was a small overhanging ledge a couple of feet down. My heart hammering in my chest, I lowered myself down onto it. I gasped at how high up I was, and how narrow this ledge felt now that I was perched on it. I shuffled myself as far away from its edge as possible.
Now I just have to hope whoever has exited the castle doesn’t stop short at the scent of my blood.
After covering myself with snow, I closed my eyes. I barely dared breathe as I waited for the vampire to pass by. Quick footsteps grew louder and louder. The moment the vampire was level with me, I sat bolt upright.
It was Frieda, the ebony-skinned vampire Caleb had instructed to bring me food while I’d been staying in the castle.
I whipped out my gun, aimed it at the vampire’s back and hissed, “Don’t take a step further.”
Frieda froze. Whirling around, she locked eyes with me, her lips parting in shock.
Adrenaline coursing through me, I said, “This bullet will lodge itself in your chest and burn you alive from the inside out. Do as I say, and I won’t pull the trigger.”
Her eyes darkened. “I’m not in the habit of being threatened. Least of all by a human wench.”
I gulped, steeling myself against her glare. One wrong move could see me dismembered and the remains of my body left to freeze in the snow. I tightened my grip around the gun, my hands beginning to sweat despite the fact that my whole body was shivering from the cold.
Slowly, I sat up, careful to keep the gun steady. She continued glowering at me. But perhaps she’d witnessed the power of one of these guns before, because she didn’t try anything.
“Just do as I say,” I repeated, my eyes boring into hers, conjuring up confidence I didn’t possess. I made the jump back onto the steps, my heart leaping into my mouth as I almost slipped. By some mercy, I was able to gain balance. “Don’t make me prove this thing works,” I growled.
“What do you want?” Frieda hissed, staring at the barrel of the gun.
“First, hand me your cloak,” I said.
She scowled, but unfastened her cloak and chucked it at me. It almost knocked the gun right out of my hands. But I held on tight and aimed it at her once again.
Using one hand only, I tied the cloak around me and fastened it, pulling the hood over my head. I was already feeling warmer with it, but of course warmth wasn’t the reason I had asked her to give it to me.
“Now,” I continued, “you are going to carry me on your back up to that castle. Do you know of any side entrances?”
She kept her lips sealed, her eyes narrowing on me.
“Don’t push me, Frieda,” I said, attempting to make my voice sound deep and menacing. “Answer my question.”
She glared at me in defiance for several more moments but then nodded, her lips pursing.
“Turn your back toward me and bend down, so I can climb on.”
She turned around slowly and did as I’d ordered. Pressing the barrel of the gun directly against her temple, I said, “Now hold onto my legs and start climbing.”
She gripped my legs and stood up.
“Take me into the castle, though an entrance that will least attract attention. Once we’re there I will tell you what to do next.”
She started walking up the cliff, far too slowly. I gripped her neck and dug the gunmetal harder against her skin. “Faster, Frieda,” I whispered.
“I feed you every day and this is how you repay me,” she muttered.
Although I could practically feel her eyes rolling, she sped up and about a minute later, we had reached the castle. She walked past the main oak doors and crept round the narrow path that ran round the side of the castle. The path was so narrow and there was no railing stopping a person from hurtling hundreds of feet down the cliffs. I shuddered, feeling nauseous as I caught a glimpse of the fall.
I breathed out in relief when Frieda stopped beneath an open window. I gripped hold of her for dear life as she leaped upward. She climbed through the window and we both landed in the corner of a thankfully empty hall.
“Now what?” she asked through gritted te
eth.
Now what I really wanted was to be taken to my parents. But that was too dangerous right now until I understood what had happened to them. This would have all been a waste if I also got caught and imprisoned. I lowered my hood so that it covered most of my face. “Do you know where Caleb is?” I whispered.
“In his quarters.”
“Take me there. Avoid walking along corridors where there are likely to be vampires. Take a longer route if you have to. But remember,” I said, digging the gun against her temple again, “I’m watching you.”
I held my breath as she launched forward. She climbed up the main staircase in the hallway and hurried along the corridors. I was relieved that there weren’t many people about. I’d lost track of what time it was now. She climbed higher and higher until we reached the staircase I was so familiar with by now—the set leading up to Caleb’s apartment.
I began trembling as we approached. It wasn’t Caleb himself I was afraid of; it was hearing what he had to say. The truth. From his own lips.
My stomach fluttered as Frieda set me down outside his room. I reached for the door handle and knocked, not taking the gun off Frieda while I waited. I pressed my ear against the door.
Please be in. Please be in.
I reached for the door knob and twisted. It had been left unlocked. I slipped behind the door and locked it. I had to be quick now. Frieda would no doubt warn the witch and everyone else that I’d returned.
I crept along the dark corridor and entered Caleb’s open-plan apartment. I looked around, my heart sinking as I realized it was empty. I ran my hands along his instruments. They appeared to be in the same place as I had last seen them, untouched since. I walked around the living room, then entered the kitchen area.
He’s not here. Now what?
Now I was kicking myself for letting Frieda go before I’d laid eyes on him. She must have lied to me. I cast my eyes desperately around the room once again, then turned the corner toward the exit of the apartment.
My heart leapt into my throat as I saw a tall, dark figure standing in the hallway. His hands rested on either wall. Shadows fell across his face as he blocked the door.