Vampire Girl 3: Silver Flame (19 page)

The pain sends me to my knees, makes me shake and scream.

Levi raises his sword. One final blow. He strikes.

And the ice between us shatters, throwing both of us back. A serpent, massive and wild, rushes up from the water, roaring into the sky. Wadu.

She’s here.

I jump to my feet and run.

Wadu lunges forward, razor sharp teeth aimed to tear me to shreds. But Yami crashes into her head, clawing at her eyes. It’s the distraction I need. I can flee. Wait for Dean and Asher to reach me. To help me.

But I forget.

Where Wadu is, Metsi isn't far behind.

She springs from the ice before me, blocking my path, her dark skin gleaming against the white of the snow and ice.

"You're mine now," she says.

And then Wadu breaks through the ice below me. Wrapping around me. Pulling me under.

My lungs fill with water as I thrash and fight and try not to scream.

But the water is so cold. And thinking so difficult.

So I close my eyes.

And let the ice pull me in.

***

My lungs burn as water pours out of my mouth. I choke. I gag. I try to move. Try to break free, but I am shackled. Chained. My wrists and ankles immobilized. I peel my eyes open and see Metsi, the Water Druid, standing before me, using her magic to pull water from my lungs.

I inhale oxygen and try to clear my head. Try to remember what happened. The battle. Stonehill. Levi.

He fled. I chased him. Fought him. Stonehill was ours once more.

And then…

Metsi.

She knew where we were. Knew exactly when to attack. But how? Did Seri betray us after all? Was I a fool for trusting the Fae healer?

I look around, studying the building of green stone I find myself in. I see only one window. The room is dark. Guards block the doorway. I do not know where I am. Do not know how to escape or where to go if I do.

So I do the only thing I can. I calm my mind. And when my breath returns, I speak, though it hurts my throat and I am still light headed. "Where is Yami? What did you do with him?" I reach out to my dragon, trying to summon him, but I feel nothing.

"He is safe. Captured and caged until he can be wielded by one we can trust," she says.

"What do you want with me? To torture me like Oren did? Kill me?" I try to be brave through my fear, but this is not like the last time the Fae captured me. There is no illusion of respect. I am a prisoner. I am in danger.

"No," she says with a small smile, caressing my hair, and then my stomach. "I would never kill you. My magic would begin to fade. I need you alive. But… you have been far too much trouble. So I must keep you contained somewhere safe. Somewhere you can do no harm."

The torches flicker on the wall, and I realize I am in a dungeon once again.

Someone screams in agony.

"Keep the other prisoner quiet!" Metsi snaps.

"Apologies, Wild One. I think we went too far this time."

I stretch my neck to see who's speaking. It's another Fae standing over a man tied to a post. The man is naked and bleeds profusely as strips of his skin fall to the ground like shredded cheese. I don't even recognize him until he turns his face toward me.

Levi.

I turn back to Metsi. "Am I next?"

Metsi puts a hand over my stomach and smiles.

"I cannot risk it," she says. "After all, it wouldn't be good for the child you carry."

"A man walks out from the shadows. A man I have come to know over the last few weeks. A man I thought I could trust."

—Arianna Spero

The castle is
ours. People parade through the streets, feasting and drinking, celebrating the return of Fenris Vane. They curse Levi’s name and sing praises to the Prince of War.

But not everyone can be so joyous. Many fell in the battle, and the city fills with burials and funeral pyres, everyone honoring their dead in their own way.

Those who were injured are taken to the healing tents, and Seri works tirelessly to ease their pain and save their lives.

Kayla heals quickly, recovering her senses and strength after a few days. So does the new man. Tavian Gray. He is unknown to me, and that is troubling. But so far, he causes no problems.

The Keeper Kal’Hallen survived, though must live with a giant scar across his belly now.

Fenris heals quickest of all. Whatever power he unleashed to save Arianna did not drain him for long. And he seems to have taken an interest in the Fae texts since then. Once, I saw him on a balcony, speaking to Varis about something. I suspect it was about unlocking more of his abilities.

A week after the battle, Fenris, Dean, and I meet in the War Room. It is not the first time and likely won't be the last.  "We must find Arianna," says Fenris, motioning to maps of the Outlands. "We must send every warrior we can spare to look for her."

"Caution, brother," I say, adjusting my suit collar and finding no way to make it comfortable. "You forget, we never found Levi. Likely he escaped and is mustering an army with Niam to retake Stonehill. Zeb and Ace are likely to join them as well."

Fenris growls. "Do what you wish with your soldiers. But I go after Arianna."

Dean sighs, pulling off his shirt, though I cannot say why. "So do I," he says. "I will send my best men to search for her."

I shake my head at their foolishness. "Then I suppose I will be here, protecting the base of power we just sacrificed everything to reclaim."

"I suppose you will," says Fenris. Then he walks away, slamming the door behind him.

Dean shrugs, and we decide the meeting is over. I leave the warm room, passing the great hall on my way. Slaves toil with stone and wood, working to rebuild the ruined wall. It will take months of work, but I notice even vampires helping with the repairs. Perhaps they will speed the process.

Once I am in my chambers, I sit down on my bed, and pull of my suit. It is far too tight for my liking. I much prefer the feel of armor.

I put on a simple white shirt instead, and then I see her.

She materializes from mist in my window. Her skin is dark. Her blue tattoos shimmering in the moonlight. "Your plan worked," says Metsi. "Arianna and Levi are now under my power."

I grin and wink at her. "I knew you’d find a way to take advantage of the chaos."

"She is with child," says Metis.

This is news. "Good. Then we shall raise the next Midnight Star together."

"And the Fae shall be free once more."

"Yes…" I say, reclining in the soft bed. Too soft for my taste. "And all will be set right." I look back at the window, and see that Metsi is gone. Good. I dreaded a longer conversation. And besides, I have other important matters.

The night grows darker, and I leave my chambers, descending deep into the castle. I push a stone on a wall, and open a passage so ancient even Fenris doesn’t know of it; he wasn’t yet born during its making. Then I descend the spiral steps, deep into the bowels of the earth, until I reach a dark chamber, where torches cast wonderful shadows.

And there, in the center, a man sits on his knees, his arms stretched out and held up by chains.

There is the
real
Asher.

He looks up at me, his eyes sunken, his lip bloody. "You will not keep me here forever. I will escape. And when I do, father, I will end your life."

I laugh, dropping my illusion, and examine my own hands. Lucian’s hands. It is good to be myself again, even if just for a while.

I step forward and take a tray of meat and cheeses from the floor and place it before Asher. "One day, my son, you will understand the reasons for what I do. And you will thank me."

He spits in my face.

I wipe away the phlegm and blood and turn to leave. One day, he will understand, and he will ask for forgiveness. The pieces are falling into place. And soon, the power of the Primal One, shall be mine.

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