Pale Horizon

by Heather Renee

  Evander fell to his knees, clutching his head. “I will tell Prime nothing,” he replied, looking up at me with a mixture of awe and fascination on his face.

  “Lavinia,” Solomon whispered in my ear, and I turned to find him staring at me in disbelief. “You just used compulsion on him.”

  I didn’t know what it meant that I had used compulsion, but whatever essence had awakened within me was happy about that fact. Worry filtered through my chest at what was happening to me. I was losing control and, with what the Sea Witch prophesized, I couldn’t afford for that to happen. Especially without Jameson around to keep me grounded.

  “Remarkable,” Evander whispered before staggering to his feet.

  “Why did Prime take Jameson?” Solomon asked, while I pulled myself together. “Why didn’t he just attack and kill us when he had the chance?”

  “Prime didn’t attack, because he is trying to be a better person. He mentioned something about making someone happy. Yet, he also has plans to cut Jameson apart with his cursed sword, unless Solomon agrees to take his place. The teacher sacrificing himself for the student. I think he believes with Solomon out of the picture, he can sway the hunters to his side and use them to grow his army and territories.”

  My brow pinched in confusion. If I was dead, then who did Prime want to be better for? I didn’t understand his motives, but then again, it was probably a good thing I didn’t understand that level of madness.

  “And he doesn’t know Lavinia is alive?” Henry asked, obviously needing some clarity.

  “He smelled something that gave him pause when we first approached the island, but it was too different from her previous scent to connect them. He has no idea that she could possibly be alive. We didn’t know she could die and come back without being fully turned,” Evander explained, his eyes never leaving my face as he answered. Finally, he turned away but paused to look over his shoulder at Solomon. “You have two days before we plan to return. If yer not here ready to trade places with Jameson, then he will pay the price.”

  We remained silent as we watched Evander move across the sandy beach. He blurred for a moment, and then he was gone.

  “How did you do that?” Solomon turned to face me after Evander had disappeared.

  “I’m not sure,” I replied, trying to process what had happened. “I felt so much all at once that something snapped inside me, and then I was calm, but I’m not sure it was a good thing.”

  “Evander is going to tell Prime the first chance he gets,” Henry added, then swore, running his hands through his hair.

  “No, he won’t,” Solomon replied with absolute conviction.

  “You can’t know that,” Henry argued.

  “Lavinia has gained a new ability. Her eyes dilated, and I felt the heaviness in the air as she used the magic on Evander. He won’t have any choice but to obey her command.”

  That information gave me pause. I wasn’t sure that was an ability any person should have. The darkness within me had given me the power to use it and, as my emotions calmed, my internal warning awoke. Compulsion needed to be used only as a last resort, or I feared the darkness could change not only my abilities, but who I was as a person.

  Chapter Fifteen

  When we headed back to the ship, it took everything I had to not lose control of myself. Jameson was gone, my erratic emotions had awoken something dark within me, and the tremors rocking my body wouldn’t cease. I headed straight for my room and decided some time alone to sort through what had happened was what I needed. It was not what I received, though.

  Alice was waiting for me at my door, empathy filling her eyes as she stared at me. She opened her arms, and I fell into them, letting her hug ease some of the tension from my body.

  “It’s going to be fine. We’re going to get him back,” she whispered in my ear.

  We stood there for several minutes before I straightened and pulled away. “Thank you. I needed that.”

  “Your eyes still have the swirling red color.” Her smile showed me she wasn’t afraid like Henry had seemed earlier, but then again, I had also been more emotional before, so I didn’t fault him.

  I nodded, not surprised anymore and thankful my eyes hadn’t caused her concern. “I would expect them to stay that way until I have Jameson back. Something happened earlier, and I don’t think it was a good thing.”

  “Henry came straight to me and told me to check on you but didn’t say anything about what happened. If you want to talk about it, I’m happy to listen.”

  Taking a deep breath, I nodded and led her into the room. This wasn’t a conversation we needed to have in the hallway. We sat on the bed, facing each other, and I took comfort in the fact that she didn’t ever seem to judge me, just accepted me as I was.

  “Every time my emotions have heightened, or I have died, I acquire a new ability, becoming stronger. Last night, I lost control, and when I woke up, I believe I fully transitioned into some version of a vampire. When we saw Evander, darkness rose inside me—something powerful and overwhelming. Yet, it made me fearless, and I was able to do something I didn’t know was possible.”

  Her hand reached out to mine. “Jameson spoke of the same darkness after he finally told us what he was while you were gone. He believed it had something to do with the venom within him. If he could overcome it, then I know you can, too. What else happened?”

  “Solomon thinks I was able to compel Evander not to tell Prime I am alive.”

  Her eyes widened. “How?”

  “I don’t know. I let the darkness guide me, and it just happened. I don’t ever want to do it again, though. I didn’t like the way it made me feel after I regained control.”

  “Nobody will force you to do it again. Though, I wouldn’t advise telling anyone else about it, just to be safe.”

  I had no intentions of repeating what had happened to me, so that wasn’t an issue. I probably should have mentioned that to Solomon. Hopefully, he would know to keep the information to himself.

  “How are the children doing?” I asked, happy to change the subject.

  Alice smiled brightly. “They’re doing well considering the circumstances. They’ve really grown on me. Does Prime showing up early mean we don’t have to leave?”

  “I don’t know. I’d rather not bring them with us when we go to get Jameson back, but I don’t want to leave you all behind in case something goes wrong. Neither choice is very appealing at the moment.”

  “We can talk about it later as a group. Let’s not worry about it now. Why don’t you rest, and we can meet again tonight to make a plan? I’m assuming we will be leaving soon to get Jameson?”

  I nodded. We hadn’t talked about it, but I wanted to leave right away. Though, acting without thinking wouldn’t get Jameson back safe and sound. It would only get more of us killed in the process, and I wasn’t willing to sacrifice our crew by acting irrationally.

  After Alice left my room, I laid down and tried to keep the darkness at bay. I also realized that I might not have any other choice than to embrace it in order to get Jameson back to me. The only question left was whether or not I was willing to sacrifice my humanity to bring Jameson back safely.

  After speaking with Solomon the night before, he agreed we needed to act first, not wait for Prime to come to us. We decided to take both ships and our entire crew. The risk was greater by leaving them behind with no defensive means. Instead, we split everyone up strategically. Half of the newer pure vampires were on one vessel with Alice and Henry, as well as the children and three of our regular crew members.

  Solomon and I took charge of the ship Jameson and I had arrived on. The younger one, whose name I learned was Neil, joined us with Joshua and two other vampires from our new arrivals, along with the rest of my original crew. We didn’t have the numbers I would have liked to face Prime, but we had the element of surprise. That would have to be enough.

  Solomon told me the night before that he believed my compulsion magic had left traces
of my essence on Evander, giving me the ability to track him, but I had focused on it for most of the evening with no success. Solomon hoped that it would get easier once we hit open waters. If I wasn’t able to track Evander, then we could spend days searching for Prime’s ship, and Jameson didn’t have that much time.

  We set sail before the sun crested the eastern horizon, and once everyone was settled, Solomon came to see me in Jameson’s office to finalize our plan. We had an advantage. Prime didn’t know that I was alive, and not even my scent could give me away, because it had changed again. I planned to stay hidden for as long as possible, and when the time was right, I would sink Jameson’s dagger into Prime’s heart.

  I had found the hunter’s dagger when I was looking through Jameson’s clothes for something to wear. I couldn’t walk onto Prime’s ship in a dress if I wanted to stay unnoticed. I would have thought he had his dagger on him at all times, but he must have thought it would make the new vampires uncomfortable. It was pure luck on our part.

  After we went over the plan one last time, I asked him about my compulsion. “Have you ever seen anyone else use it before?” I felt like a child again, always asking him so many questions.

  “I’ve only heard rumors of Prime being able to use it, but even that seemed to be exaggerated. I don’t believe he has compulsion like I saw you use; it’s more likely the people who follow him do so out of obligation. He is their creator, and they have formed a bond that inspires loyalty most of the time, unless they have a strong connection with another prior to being changed.”

  I thought of Jameson and how I was able to help him control his urges just by being in his presence. Our feelings for each other prior to him being turned must have been the only reason he was able to remain pure.

  “How does the compulsion work?” I asked.

  “When you compel someone, you are manipulating the very thing that makes them what they are. The venom that transformed them, made them stronger, immortal, is turned against them and forces them to do the bidding of the person who is giving the command. Evander will never betray you to Prime. The magic from your compulsion now links him to you.”

  “Are you sure Prime can’t compel any of us?” I didn’t think he could. Otherwise, he should have already taken advantage of that particular ability, but it didn’t hurt to double-check.

  “It’s possible he could manipulate any of us, but not on the same level as compulsion. It’s more like a paternal bond he has with any vampire he has sired—his children. If you didn’t have a connection to Jameson, or even me, then he could possibly get through to you more easily. For Jameson and me, it’s different. We are pure, and we knew love before we were turned. We are an unknown force, and Prime cannot afford to have us oppose him. The choices we made negate his power.”

  Tentatively, he reached out and grasped my hand in his. He observed me with bright eyes, full of love, pride, and a touch of regret for the life that I now lived.

  “Regardless of how Jameson or I might threaten his existence, it’s you he should be most afraid of. If anyone can defeat Prime, it’s you. You are his equal in every way.”

  I didn’t respond to him. I didn’t want to be Prime’s equal. I wanted nothing more than to be normal and to live out my days with Jameson by my side. Nevertheless, Solomon’s words kept circling in my mind long after he left.

  Never did I imagine that I could be my father’s equal. He was everything that my very being rebelled against. We were on opposite sides of a coin that kept tumbling through the air. Whichever side landed face up would be the victor, and I had determined that it would be mine, because I had something Prime didn’t, something worth fighting for.

  Jameson was worth all the blood, sweat, and tears that I had experienced over the last couple of months, as was everyone else I loved. Little Nettie with her bouncing curls, Alice and her steadfast friendship, Henry with his quiet understanding and acceptance, and even Solomon, who seemed to have never stopped caring about me.

  All of the people close to me that I had met after vampires had ruined my life were who I was fighting for. I would not let Prime take any of them away from me, which meant that it was time to get Jameson back.

  Suddenly, my chest tightened, and a sharp pain ran through my head. I cried out, pressing my hands to my temples. My eyes squeezed shut as I tried to breathe through the discomfort. I heard footsteps around me, but I paid no mind to whoever it was as I focused on what was happening to me.

  One deep breath at a time, I relaxed my body and my mind. Once the tension left my body, the darkness began swirling again. I pushed it aside, focusing on where the pain had originated. There was a pulsing sensation in its place. It urged me forward, and I finally realized what was happening.

  When I opened my eyes, I saw Solomon and Neil standing before me. Solomon appeared calm, as usual, but Neil looked like he was about to lose his sanity. His burgundy eyes were wide, and his pale skin was almost translucent.

  “I found Evander.”

  Solomon nodded. “I knew you would. Come to the helm, so you can guide the ship.”

  When I passed Neil, I placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to flinch. “You better get used to odd things happening if you’re going to survive this world.” Offering him a smile, I continued after Solomon. The poor kid had no idea what he was in for.

  With each step I took toward the deck, the feeling of Evander became stronger. I didn’t like being connected to him, but it was the only way for us to find Prime. I would figure out how to remove whatever link I created as soon as I had Jameson with me once more.

  “What is it like?” Solomon asked, while we walked up the stairs.

  “The darkness wants to take over, but I’m keeping it back. There’s a pulsing that seems to be pushing me in one direction. Each time we turn the ship, it tugs a different way. I’ve never felt anything like it.”

  “It’s incredible. What you can do, it can change the world for all vampires.”

  Joshua was at the helm when we arrived. I wasn’t sure I was comfortable with him being our navigator, but Solomon spoke with each of them after Jameson had, and whatever transpired between them all apparently gave Solomon a reason to trust them. I didn’t have the time or energy to fight him on his decision. I just had to hope I wouldn’t regret it.

  “Lavinia is going to give you directions. She could come up here at any time and change the course, so you need to heed her instructions, even if they don’t make sense.” Solomon used his fatherly voice, and I wanted to laugh. His impressive height made the situation even more intimidating for Joshua.

  “Of course, sir. Whatever she says.” He cast his eyes down, and my curiosity piqued. He hadn’t been that submissive when they arrived back on the island, which made me question what Jameson or Solomon had done to change that.

  Moving to stand in front of the wheel, I closed my eyes and focused on the direction I was being pulled. My hands grasped the wheel, turning it ever so slightly northward. I paused, waiting to see if that helped. After a few moments, the pulsing stopped, and I knew we were on the right path.

  “This route will take us to Prime’s ship. I have no idea how far away it is, but we will cross paths soon if we continue onward.” I glanced between Solomon and Joshua. Neither of them said anything, and a yawn escaped me. “I’m headed to bed. If anything changes, I’ll be back up here. Wake me if you spot the ship before I return.”

  Solomon reached for me but dropped his hand at the last moment. I had noticed lately that he had been taking every opportunity to make contact with me, but I wasn’t ready yet, and he needed to have patience. I could only handle so much at once, and Jameson took priority over my long-lost father.

  When I arrived back in my room, I spotted a plate from two days ago that I had forgotten to take back to the galley.

  Is that the last time I ate?

  The thought crossed my mind as I settled into bed. It was. I hadn’t eaten since the night I went into hysterics and lost c
onsciousness. That was also the night my skin changed and my eyes began swirling with red.

  I hadn’t craved blood. I’d been around Alice and Henry, and nothing about them called to me, but I also hadn’t thought about food. As I stared at the ceiling, I considered heading for the galley to try to eat something, but sleep called to me more than food did, and I decided to deal with whatever was going on with my appetite the following day.

  Waking several hours later, I sat straight up in bed. The pulsing sensation was back, but stronger than before. I crawled out of bed and headed for the door. When I opened it, Solomon was standing there with his hand raised, as though he had been about to knock on it.

  “We’ve spotted Prime’s ship. It’s time.” His voice was still calm, but I could see the tension in the rigid set of his shoulders and the tick in his jaw. Solomon was nervous.

  “I’ll change into Jameson’s clothes and meet you on deck.” Part of our plan included me blending in with our group for as long as possible. If Prime couldn’t scent me, then changing my clothes would help to keep me hidden until we were ready to act.

  After Solomon left, I grabbed the garments of Jameson’s that I had set aside. I had chosen the smallest items I could find, but I would still be swimming in them. He was at least six inches taller than me, and twice as wide, but I hoped I would just look like a starved crewman instead of a woman. Solomon had also given me a cloak of sorts, which would mostly hide my hair and face.

  Once I was dressed, I grabbed the hunter’s dagger and marveled at the power I could sense coming from it. It had a black hilt with a silver pommel at the end and shiny embellishments toward the top of the hilt. The blade itself had wave-like indents above the hilt, then straightened out and ended with a sharp tip that never seemed to dull, no matter how many times Jameson used it.