“Are you all right?” Koa asked softly. She had known him long enough to genuinely care about him…and now…he was linked to her by blood.
He nodded, but kept looking out into the darkness of the countryside. They passed mountains and thick forests on either side. “I just forgot something is all.”
Koa noticed the sadness in his voice. He looked at her with those large, puppy dog eyes that made her want to just hug him. “What is it?”
“I won’t ever see the sun again, will I?”
Koa took a deep breath. Her eyes went up to the sky. She felt ashamed that she was able to walk in the sun and she had just stolen that privilege from Ian. She gave a regretful look and shook her head.
Ian shrugged, but Koa could tell that it was still bothering him. He was being nice, to not make her self-conscious. “I guess that isn’t too awful. I could be dead, right?”
Koa paled.
He made a face. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I don’t blame you. I promise.”
Koa put both hands on the steering wheel and focused on the road. Her brows furrowed. He should blame her. He was right. She’d nearly killed him. Halston had always warned her. She winced. “No. I’m the one that should be sorry. I’ve been reckless lately. I lost my self-control.”
He tucked a hair behind her ear and Koa gave a half-smile. He was too sweet. He didn’t know that he was only making her feel guiltier.
“I think I always wanted this. There’s been enough death in my life already. Death scares me.”
Koa nodded. She’d seen too much death in her short life as well. “Me too.”
“I just realized that I took the sun for granted.”
Koa realized just how much she had taken from him.
They drove the rest of the time in silence. Ian finally fell asleep and Koa hated to wake him when she pulled into the driveway of the cottage.
Koa watched him sleep for a moment and saw the sky start to brighten. She quickly got out of the car and ran around to his side. She opened the door and gave Ian a shove.
“Come on, let’s get you inside.”
He groggily nodded and took her hand. She pulled him along to the front door. Koa was surprised to find that Raven was waiting for her at the door.
Koa took a deep breath. Raven looked really confused when she saw Ian but she didn't question her when they came inside. She seemed to be happy just to have her daughter return.
Ian stepped inside and looked around in awe. He seemed to wait timidly beside the door, holding his backpack and looking around into the darkness of the cottage. Koa smiled and took Ian’s hand in hers, much like Halston did when they were together. She knew the power such a gesture held.
Ian’s hand was no longer warm like Halston’s. It was cold.
She hid a frown and led him inside. She would have to get used to all of the changes Ian would undergo. She rubbed his back for encouragement.
Raven looked him up and down. “And who are you?”
Ian jumped when he noticed the black cat waiting in the shadows. He looked at Raven in surprise, and he gave Koa a wide-eyed look. “The cat talks?” He shook his head in bewilderment. A smile came to his lips. “Remarkable.”
Koa laughed to herself. She smiled at her mother, hoping she’d see Ian’s charm, his childlike innocence.
Raven didn't look amused. She merely stared at the young man, assessing him.
Koa cleared her throat. She whispered close to his ear, remembering how vehement Raven got when she mentioned their secret, even when they were alone at home. “Well, Raven is…special. Ian, meet Raven.” She pointed down to the cat.
Ian was speechless.
“Well.” Ian scratched his temple as he examined the black cat before him. “I always knew you were different, Koa. I always thought you were enchanted and so forth, but I can’t say that I expected this.” He gave a half-smile as if he still didn’t believe it. “Wow.” He knelt down and rubbed Raven on the head. “Nice to meet you...Raven.”
Raven blinked at him. Koa could tell that she didn’t approve.
Koa sighed. “She’s not really a cat, Ian.” She lowered her voice again. “She’s my mother…”
Raven shook her head and licked her paw.
Ian’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What?”
Koa waved her arms. “There’s a whole curse and everything, but I don’t really want to discuss the details right this instant. We have an eternity to go over such things.”
Koa pulled Ian along towards the staircase that led to the guestrooms on the second level. She looked over her shoulder at Raven. “And, Raven, I'll explain everything to you in just a moment. Please don't be angry.”
She led the way to the staircase that led to the cellar.
Koa heard Ian’s footsteps stop, and she turned around. “What’s wrong?”
She was a little disappointed that she couldn't give him one of the grand guestrooms of her father's manor and that she only had a cellar to offer him. She could see reluctance on his face. “What’s wrong?”
Ian shrugged. “Nothing. I’m fine.” He squinted as he looked down the staircase.
She could tell that you didn't like the idea but he didn't want to seem ungrateful. Koa sighed. “It's not what you think. I'm going to make it lovely for you. I will have a decorator in here tomorrow and she'll make it into the grandest one bedroom apartment you've ever lived in.”
Ian looked a little nervous. “I didn't mean anything. I’m really very appreciative. I just…don't really like cellars.”
Koa lifted a brow.
“You see, in every horror movie I ever saw when I was a little boy, the cellar or the basement was always where the monsters lived.” Ian’s shoulders slumped. “I guess I'm the monster now.”
Koa’s lips parted. She didn’t know how to respond to that. The comment was heartbreaking when she thought about it. She shook it out of her head. She couldn't bear to feel any guiltier than she already did.
She nodded. “I understand. Just take a look. It’s not what you are imagining.”
Ian grinned as he looked from the cellar to Koa. “This is a pretty old house. You sure there aren’t any ghosts here?”
Koa shook her head and chuckled. “I can assure you, there aren’t any ghosts.” Koa was surprised to learn of Ian’s fears. She felt drawn closer to him. She had her own fears. After everything she had been through, she was still afraid of the dark. Koa wanted to protect Ian from such fears.
“Just checking. With you, I can never be sure,” Ian joked.
“Trust me.”
Ian followed behind her. He kept talking and she could tell that he was trying to not think about how afraid he was. “I'm not really sleepy. I guess I'll get some homework done.”
Koa paused on the stairs and looked back at him. Her face eyebrows furrowed. “You're going to try to go back to school?”
He gave her look. “What? I can't go back to school now?”
Koa thought a moment. She shook her head. Even though she could walk in the sun, Koa had never been to school. She’d been taught by her mother at home and later by a tutor her father had hired to come to the manor. “I don't know how you're going to do that. You cannot go out in the daytime. No vampire can.”
Ian looked a little defeated. “Why can you go out in the daytime?”
Koa shrugged. “I really don’t know why, Ian. No one knows for sure. I think it’s because my mother was human.”
Ian looked perplexed. “Your mother is a cat.”
“Cursed. She was born a human.”
“If you say so,” Ian said thinking. “I don’t buy it.”
Koa frowned. No one had ever questioned her mother’s humanity, but something made her bite her tongue. She almost argued with Ian that her mother had been human, but then she paused.
How could she be sure? Koa was certain that her mother had done something to those vampires when she entered Bund’s lair. Bund had been afraid when he saw her, even after
all of his incessant taunting.
Bund had been afraid.
“I guess you're right.” He put his hands in his pocket, “I didn't realize how much I would give up.”
Koa stroked his cheek. She gave him an encouraging smile. “We will figure something out,” she said with a smile. “Don't worry about it. Don't worry about anything ever again. I'm going to teach you everything. You don't even really need school anymore. You're a smart guy and now you're immortal.”
Ian nodded. “You’re right. Now, come on.” He nodded for Koa to continue down the stairs. “Show me this grand cellar that I'll be spending the night in.
Koa walked down the stairs and entered a large room that covered pretty much the entire expanse of the cottage. The walls are made of stone and the floors were a dark concrete color. Koa could see what she could do with the room. She could only hope that Ian could see it too.
There were boxes still everywhere. She felt a little bad but it was only temporary.
There was an antique sofa and a few tables strewn about. Koa hadn't quite set anything up down there yet. Her books were still lying on a desk, waiting to be put away on her bookcases.
She played with her hair. She was a little embarrassed. She prided herself on her cleanliness and preferred everything to be neat and in its place. She just hadn’t the time with everything that had happened.
Ian didn't seem to mind. He sat on the sofa and set his laptop on a table. He leaned back and took a look around the cellar. “I admit, it’s not as dark down here as I imagined. Still, a little creepy but I will survive. I don't think I am going to sleep tonight well...this morning I mean.”
“Do you want some company?” Koa didn't know if she could sleep either.
“I'm all right, thanks. You get some rest. From that wound you had earlier, it looks like you had quite the night. I am just going to do some research on vampires.”
“Sure, you do that, but I think I could tell you a lot more about vampires than what you will find on the Internet.”
“I'm sure you can, but I just want to do a little research myself, see what the humans know and we can compare notes later.”
Koa nodded. “You big nerd,” she teased.
Ian beamed. “Thank you. I take that as a compliment.”
Koa rolled her eyes and laughed. She started up the stairs. “I’ll come back for you at sunset.”
“See you then.”
She went upstairs and closed the door behind her. The sun was rising and the house was starting to brighten. She leaned against the door and Raven was waiting there for her.
Koa sighed and took a step towards her. She prepared herself for the scolding.
Raven surprised her. “He’s a nice boy, Koa.”
Koa was taken aback. She never expected that from her mother. She expected a major scolding.
Raven tilted her head. “I always knew you’d sire someone. I am surprised you didn’t do it sooner.”
“How did you always know that? I kill vampires.”
“I can tell he’s a good person. Therefore he’ll make a good vampire.”
Koa felt relieved.
“But now you have yet one more person to worry about. For instance…Bund will be seeking out revenge. Who do you think he will target if he can’t get one of us?”
Koa swallowed. She didn’t know what to say. She looked at the cellar door.
It was her duty, to protect her family. Raven walked into the darkness of the den. Koa looked up at the sky. She did something she rarely did anyone. She prayed.
Chapter 14
Strange things happened at night. Koa was aware of most of them, but the Netherworld was new to her. She knew she’d been there once before with her father, yet she couldn’t remember it. The Netherworld remained a mystery to her, and she was determined to unlock its secrets.
Koa knew she was dreaming. It was the same dream most nights, and so she let herself explore this world. She stood in a thick white mist and felt her hair flapping around her face. Drops of dew made her face slick and her bare feet touched cool stones.
She looked up. Someone was playing a violin. She knew the tune and started to hum along. The song grew louder and yet Koa couldn’t see who played the beautiful melody. She strained to see who played from somewhere in the clouds above, and then, she saw it.
The Gate, where the nephilim were escaping the Netherworld. Koa stared at it with wide eyes. She’d never gotten this far in the dream before. Now she looked at the stone gate and felt her skin crawl with anxiety. She knew she shouldn’t be there, and yet, she felt as though it called to her.
Koa wanted to wake up. The violin was starting to play so loudly that she had to cover her ears. Koa felt weak. The Gate started to glide closer to her and she panicked. She couldn’t move. Her feet were stuck to the ground. Koa gasped and tried to pull her feet free as the Gate continued its way towards her.
Something terrible waited inside that door, and she wanted to run from it. She knew it meant her harm and felt herself sweat with terror.
Shadows, like the ones Halston had managed to control, lunged at her. They grabbed her with their frigid hands and yet her skinned burned to the bone. Koa screamed. The hot, searing, pain was unbearable and she fell to her knees. The Shadows held her steady, and she squeezed her eyes shut as they brought their faces closer to hers.
“Come with us, Koa.” They chanted. One of the Shadows leaned in close. The black face morphed into Bund’s. Bund grinned at her. His tongue reached out to her and she screamed.
Someone shook her awake.
Koa grabbed Ian by the neck and he had to peel her fingers from around his throat.
“Koa,” he gasped. He looked at her fearfully. “It’s me!”
Koa realized who he was and quickly scrambled away. She was covered in sweat. “Ian! I’m sorry.”
Ian sat up and rubbed his neck. “You’re strong!”
Koa forced a smile. “Forgive me. I was dreaming.”
He frowned but nodded. “You were screaming.”
Koa pulled her hair off her neck and grumbled at how heavy with sweat it was. She pushed herself up to her feet and sat on the edge of the bed. “What time is it?”
Ian put his hands in his pocket. He gave her a sheepish look. “I think it’s time to eat.”
Koa came to her feet. “Oh shit! Yes. Our appointment is tonight!”
Ian didn’t budge. “Appointment?”
Koa quickly pulled her shirt over her head and tossed it to her hamper in the corner of the room. She darted into the bathroom to heat the shower. Ian avoided looking directly at her exposed body and turned away.
What a gentleman, she thought. She stood in the bathroom doorway.
“We choose our pets tonight, at Wryn Castle.”
Ian perked up then. “I get my own? Like I was to you? A pet?”
Koa nodded. “Exactly.”
“Whoever I want?”
“Whoever you want.”
Ian grinned and Koa smiled as she hopped into the shower. Once she closed the shower curtain, her smile faded. The fear from her dream still lingered. After all of those years of having the same dream of the mists and the violin, she’d never seen the Gate or the Shadows that waited for her inside of it.
Koa washed her hair and tried to forget the pain she felt when they touched her. The hot water ran down her body, and she closed her eyes. If only she could talk to Halston about things. She covered her face and sighed. She missed him so much that she felt physically pain.
She hurried and finished her shower to see that Ian had decided to wait outside. Koa didn’t mind him seeing her nude. They’d have an eternity together, such things were trivial now.
She was surprised to see Raven waiting for her on her bed.
Her big green eyes looked up at Koa.
“This is a nice little house, Koa,” Raven said.
“Perhaps.” Koa sighed and continued getting ready. “It is a bit small.”
“It is
only the three of us now that you’ve increased our family,” Raven pointed out and Koa couldn’t help but smile. “We don’t need a massive house with dozens of rooms. Never did.”
“It reminds me too much of our old house in Korea.”
Raven didn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up!”