“Well, whatever the reason, you’re not being yourself. As you haven’t been on guard duty for days, I came to give you something to do outside of the island, since you seem to like being away so much. If you choose to accept it, it will benefit us all here immensely.”
I looked into Matteo’s eyes. “What?”
“You remember we discussed the Black Bell vampires? The night I deceived you, I was supposed to take you there. I suggest we do that now.”
I didn’t think I could stand being on the boat even with Matteo. I still felt awkwardness around him over everything that had happened, and I just didn’t want to deal with it then. It was an extra burden on my already exploding head.
“I accept,” I said without a second thought. “But I’ll go alone.”
Matteo looked taken aback.
“But you’ve never been there before. You—”
“Give me a compass and the rough coordinates. I’ll figure it out.”
Matteo looked at me dubiously.
“All right,” he sighed. “If you’re confident you won’t get lost.”
I felt grateful that Matteo had come to me with this task. I was slowly driving myself insane circling the island each night. At least this will distract me.
“Once you’ve seen the approximate location,” Matteo explained, “I can better start discussing strategy with you.”
“Fine.”
I shot forward toward the port.
“You’re planning to leave right now?”
“Right now.”
Matteo showed me to a boat and gave me a compass and the coordinates. He also set me up with two of the strongest dolphins. He insisted that I take them in case something happened and I needed to make a speedy escape. I soon grew tired with his precautions and cut him off mid-sentence.
“Enough. Let me go.”
Matteo jumped off the boat as I urged the dolphins forward.
He called out after me, “Be careful.”
His warning barely registered.
All I could focus on was the relief that washed over me once I was away from the small island and racing toward the wide open sea, the strong wind and the lapping of the waves surrounding me.
Chapter 4: Mona
There was barely an inch of my cell that wasn’t wet with blood and sweat. As I sat with my back against the wall, the women in the neighboring cells eyed me.
“Have you been paired yet?” a young woman in the cell to my left asked.
Her question sent chills running down my spine. I kept my lips sealed. I understood the meaning of her words. But I wasn’t here to make friends, or offer comfort.
I was here to forget.
And to hide.
“How did you get here?” Another set of curious eyes rested on me to my right.
I shut my eyes tight and covered my nose with my shawl, trying to block out the abomination that was these women’s lives.
They must have thought I’d gone to sleep, because they didn’t attempt to speak to me again.
I opened my eyes only when—finally—the dungeon’s door unlatched. My limbs aching from the cold damp floor, I scrambled to my feet.
An ogress approached my cell. She didn’t look much different from the male ogre who’d carried me in here, except that she had large breasts. Frowning at me, she unlocked my cell, gripped my arm and tugged toward the exit of the dungeon. The women whispered to themselves as the heavy door shut behind us. Her nails dug into my flesh as she pulled me through one dark hall after the next.
“Let go of me,” I said irritably.
“Watch your tongue, girl.” The ogress sprayed spit on my face as she looked down to speak to me.
“I’m not going to run off. In case you’re unaware, nobody kidnapped me here. I came voluntarily to offer service to your leader.”
The ogress looked at me as though I was insane. I could have bet my life that no person had ever spoken those words to an ogre in the history of their kingdom’s existence. She stopped in her tracks and let go of me, placing both hands on her knees as she peered down at my face, examining me closely. She grabbed a clump of my hair and sniffed it, a flash of confusion crossing her ugly face.
“What are you? You’re not human.”
“I’m a witch.”
She stepped back, and let go of me. Fury filled her eyes. “You deceived us!”
“You don’t understand—”
Before I could finish my sentence, she gripped my neck and slammed my face against the rough stone wall.
“So you’re here to work some magic on our king, eh? That’s why you wanted to see him. You thought you could pass for a human? Well, I won’t let you harm our king.”
“No, listen—”
I screamed as she twisted my arms back until I was sure my bones were about to snap from the pressure.
“I-have-no-magic!” I prayed that she would hear my wheezing beneath her heavy breaths.
She paused and let go of me, sending me falling to the rocky floor. She cocked her head to one side, her fat hands planted on her waist.
“Prove it,” she spat.
“Why am I unable to fight you back with magic?” I panted. “If I was an ordinary witch, I could put a spell on you.”
“You might be waiting until I bring you to the king to display your magic.”
I shook my head furiously and gripped the walls, struggling to get back to my feet. She kicked me in the chest, knocking the wind right out of me and sending me crashing back down to the ground.
The door to our right creaked open and a deep voice rumbled through the hall.
“What is all this?”
A looming figure stood in the doorway.
“Your Highness, please, be care—”
“Out of my way, Mogda!”
Brushing Mogda aside, the figure walked over to me. Strong hands gripped the back of my neck and pulled me to my feet. I found myself looking into the bright orange eyes of a creature who looked very different from any ogre I’d ever come across. He was tall and slim, and although he had brown leathery skin, his features were more humanlike: a straighter, thinner nose, sharp jawline, no tusks. He had a regal appearance about him and was almost handsome.
“Your Highness,” I stuttered, taking the opportunity to speak before Mogda interrupted me. “I travelled here to offer service to your mighty kingdom. I am a witch, but I was born without magic. I was banished from my realm. That’s why I seek refuge here.”
It was hard to read the king’s expression as he stared down at me. Was it disbelief in his eyes? Contemplation?
Finally, his grip loosened. He turned his back on me and bellowed, “Anselm! Come here!”
Another ogre—if he could be considered an ogre—appeared at the door. The resemblance between the two of them was striking, although Anselm was younger. I assumed that he was the king’s son. The king gripped Anselm’s shoulder and pointed down at me.
“This girl claims she is a witch without powers. She tells me she wants to become a servant here. Would you have use for her?” the king asked.
Anselm crossed his arms over his chest.
“Hm. Witch offspring is vile, so she wouldn’t be able to provide us with food.”
Anselm paused and looked at me again. My heart beat thrice its usual pace.
“You can’t do magic,” Anselm said. “Your eggs are of no use. What can you do?”
“I’ll be a loyal servant,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll do any menial work that needs to be done around here. All I ask is that you offer me shelter in your kingdom.”
They both exchanged glances, took a few steps back and began whispering.
“Elyse!” Anselm called after a few moments.
A tall female stepped out, dressed in an emerald silken gown. Again, like the two males, she had straighter, more elegant features than a normal ogre. She looked down at me with cold grey eyes.
Perhaps the royal family is a different, more intelligent rac
e of ogres.
“What is it?” she asked.
Anselm took her by the hand and pulled her toward him. Elyse’s eyes never left mine as Anselm whispered into her ear. Those eyes got cooler and cooler each second they lay on me.
Anselm stepped back and looked at Elyse.
She nodded curtly and said, “We can try her out, I suppose. Though I’m not sure that a scrawny little thing like her could ever handle our children. Mogda, take this witch to their quarters and explain to her what to do. She will serve Elsbeth and Dorian. Attend to their every whim. And dismiss the current minder—she isn’t doing a satisfactory job and there is another occupation I have in mind for her.”
Mogda nodded. Although she glared at me, she didn’t have any choice.
The fat ogress caught hold of my wrist and led me away.
As we left that hall, the king chuckled. “Let’s see how long this one lasts with my grandchildren…”
I need to always remember that no matter how bad things get here, it will still be better than the life I risk living if he finds me.
Chapter 5: Kiev
It was close to dawn by the time I arrived at the coordinates Matteo had given me. But I saw nothing but black ocean for miles. Being protected by the witches’ spell—at least, if it was the same spell that had been cast over The Shade back in the human world—I wasn’t able to detect any sounds either. There were no signs of life anywhere. No boat that might indicate I was near their residence.
It was clear that the only way I stood a chance of discovering the island and reaching those witches was to get the vampires’ attention and trick my way inside—something neither Matteo nor his men had ever dared to do.
Matteo always spoke of these vampire as grave enemies. But, at least in theory, they had no way of knowing that I was affiliated with him. I would have to lie that I’d just escaped Aviary or Cruor and was seeking to join their clan. Of course, if they had heard that I’d joined Matteo and Saira, or if they had the slightest suspicion that I might have come to spy on them, they would show me no mercy.
It was a gamble I decided to take.
I made sure that I was directly in the center of the coordinates Matteo had given me for the best chance of being heard. Then I began shouting at the top of my voice:
“I, Kiev Novalic, request entrance.”
Despite my shouts, nothing stirred. I considered the possibility that Matteo had got the wrong coordinates entirely. How would he even know the coordinates? They would be almost impossible to calculate accurately, unless he followed their ship up close.
I was about to rein in the dolphins and move to another spot nearby when I heard a loud bump. The boat jerked forward and I almost my balance. I whirled around. A rowing boat had crept up behind me and rammed into the stern of my vessel.
A tall cloaked figure stood in the center of the narrow boat, his long hood casting a shadow over his face. I stood still, tensing my hands and extending my claws, preparing for a fight. But when he displayed no signs of gearing up to attack me, I relaxed my fists a little.
“Show yourself,” I demanded.
Clasping his hood between long fingers, he lowered it, revealing the face of a pale, balding old man with a white beard.
A vampire.
“Novalic.” His voice rasped. He bowed his head as he spoke my name.
I stared at him, barely blinking. I tried to remember if I had ever seen him before, and what I could have possibly done to deserve his reverence. But I couldn’t find his face in any memory I had. I could only assume that he knew that Kiev Novalic was one of the Elders’ original children.
“You’re a vampire of The Black Bell?” I asked.
He nodded, his eyes still fixed on me, almost in wonderment.
“You want entrance into The Shade?”
“What?” My insides flipped.
“The Shade,” he replied. “Our island.”
Oh… So that’s what they call it. I felt sure that the Novaks’ island in the human realm predated the time these vampires would have set up here, so they must have named it after the legend.
“Yes,” I replied, brushing aside my surprise and composing myself. “Take me there.”
I expected him to ask me why and on what grounds I wanted entrance. But he asked not a single question. Instead, he stepped back and gestured to the point where our boats were touching.
I shot one more stare at him, then fastened the dolphins securely to my boat so they wouldn’t separate from it. I hoped that these animals were trained enough to not wander too far from where their master left them. Mona’s dolphins had been.
Then, without further delay, I stepped on board his boat. He gave me a half smile and sat down on a bench in the center of the boat. He grabbed two oars and began rowing. I stood at the stern so I could keep an eye on him whilst at the same time looking around at our surroundings.
He rowed in silence for about half a mile before he stopped. He let the boat drift on the waves as he engineered a ninety-degree turn. Then he continued rowing in that direction for several more minutes. Finally, in the blink of an eye, where there had been nothing but an endless expanse of dark ocean, there was the silhouette of a large dark island surrounded by tall, thick trees. A gust of wind caught my hair, bringing with it a strong scent of tree bark.
I breathed in deeply and closed my eyes. Chills ran through me as the memory of Sofia Novak filled my mind. Queen of The Shade. I wondered if she still lived there now that her husband was a human—whether she might be living in an island almost identical to the one I was approaching now.
“We’ve arrived,” the vampire said, breaking through my thoughts.
The boat shuddered as we hit the sand. Looking around, I stepped out cautiously and followed him across the beach and into the darkness of the forest. I looked up at the tree tops, half expecting to see tree houses perched up there. But there were none.
All was silent, except for the occasional screech of a bat or squawking of a bird in the trees.
Focus now, Kiev. Focus.
The first thing I had to do was make sure that my life wasn’t at risk on the island. Once I had the vampires’ trust, it would be easier for me to venture out and possibly find the witches’ location.
Kidnapping a witch against her will was out of the question. Unless she co-operated, I had no chance of getting out alive—not to speak of having her cast a protective spell over Matteo’s island. I’d have to win one over, perhaps on the promise of a better life.
I was beginning to wonder where exactly the vampire was leading me. Just as I was about to question him, an opening came into view about a mile down the winding forest path. Once out in the open, I found myself standing at the foot of a tall black castle. It was massive and ornately carved, with a single wide turret reaching into the sky.
I followed the vampire through a small courtyard and up the castle’s steps. He withdrew a large key from his cloak and opened the double doors. I shivered as I looked around the empty entrance hall. Although this castle didn’t look much like the one that had served as my prison for centuries in The Blood Keep, buildings like this always made me nervous.
A grand red-carpeted staircase in the middle of the hall led upstairs. Colorful tapestries hung from the walls, and all the curtains were drawn. The place seemed well lit—dozens of lanterns hanging from the walls—not gloomy like my Elder’s home. It exuded comfortable luxury, rather than cold opulence. It was obvious that this castle was all the witches’ conjuring. No group of vampires could have constructed such an elaborate building on this remote island without help.
I was so surprised that it took a few moments for the obvious to strike me.
“Where are the other vampires?” I asked.
“They’re on a trip. They’re not due back for about a day. You’re welcome to stay until they return.”
I couldn’t have arrived at a better time. For whatever reason, this old man saw me as no threat, and he didn’t seem to be a
sking questions. That meant that while the others were gone, I might have free rein over exploring the place. He didn’t seem to be the type to get in my way. And the vampires would have had to leave at least one witch behind to keep up the spell.
“Who is in charge of this island? Do you have a leader?” I asked.
He opened his mouth to speak, but then hesitated, as if thinking better of what he was about to say.
“The Lord and Lady,” was all the reply he offered.
He might as well have remained silent, for his cryptic answer told me nothing about who they were. I didn’t press, however.
Instead I said, “I’ll wait. You’ll provide me with a room here?”
“Of course,” he said, looking taken aback that I’d even ask such a question of him. “Follow me.”
He led me up the carpeted staircase to the level upstairs, which was just as lavish, with its crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. We continued climbing upward until we reached one of the highest floors. We had already climbed up into the turret, and looking out of a window, I saw that there was only one more level above us.
“Our Lord and Lady occupy the highest floor of the turret, while this floor here is for guests of honor.”
I nodded with approval.
“How many vampires live here in total?”
“About fifty,” he replied.
It seemed a tiny number given the spaciousness of this castle.
He stopped outside a door at the end of a corridor and opened it. I followed him inside. The room contained a king-sized bed and had an ensuite bathroom. There were cabinets and a table and chair in the corner. Deep red velvet curtains hung by the windows and the bed sheets were made of silk. Like everywhere else in the castle, the room exuded comfort.
I walked over to the window. It offered a view of the forest and the sea in the distance. It was dawn now, and like in the real Shade back in the human realm—Sofia’s Shade—I could see where the boundary of the witches’ spell started, keeping the sun’s rays out.
“Are you hungry?” the old man asked.
I turned away from the window to face him. “No,” was my immediate response, for I hadn’t been hungry for several days due to my splitting headache.