by F. E. Heaton
Running her hand down the side, the pages gave slightly under her touch but the book still refused to open. She picked it up and looked at it, staring at it until her eyes lost their focus.
There had to be a way in. Forcing it wasn't going to work, she'd already proven that. It was magically locked, which meant at some point it'd had a key. The amulet did nothing to open it, so it couldn't be that, and it was the only key that she could think of.
Or was it?
She stared at her hand and her eyes travelled downwards to her wrist.
Her blood was a key.
Biting into her wrist, she didn't stop to think about what she was doing. If there was the remotest chance it would work, she'd give every last drop of blood she could spare to the book.
She held her wrist above the book and watched the crimson spill from the wound. It trickled steadily onto the cover and she waited, staring at the book and holding her breath while she silently willed something to happen.
Her eyes widened when the blood that was on the cover leached into it, disappearing, and the magic sealed the cut on her arm.
She waited to see what was going to come of her gift of blood to the book.
After a minute, she realised nothing was going to happen.
Her temper frayed and she growled at the book, her fingers tightening around it so much that her knuckles turned white. She shook it violently in her hands, muttering a string of obscenities at it that only made her feel even more frustrated, so much so that she screamed and threw the book across the room. The force of its impact made the wall shudder and the ornaments on the table near it shake. She flinched when it hit the floor with a heavy thud that she felt in every bone of her body.
A chill swept down her spine and along her arms, disappearing when it reached her hands.
She felt as though she'd been thrown against the wall.
She glared at the book.
"Fine!” Storming across the room, she grabbed it and carried it back to the table. She slammed it down and then punched it. Her chest ached as though someone had hit her. “Oh ... so that's how it is? I give you blood, and you use it against me."
Burying her fingers into her hair, she wished that she could sleep or call her mother to her. Her mother would have the answers she needed. The only visions she'd had recently were of a strange house and Valentine killing her. It made a change from repeatedly seeing herself killing him, but it was still something that she could live without.
Walking over to the bed, she sat down beside Valentine and heaved a sigh. She cleared the hair from his forehead and smiled at him when he twitched in his sleep, the corner of his mouth curving into the tiniest fraction of a smile. She pressed a kiss to it and then curled up against him, closing her eyes and holding him. It felt as though she was cuddling up to a dead person or a statue. His skin was clammy and cold, his body hard and motionless. Taking a deep breath, she breathed in his comforting scent and held it inside of her, trying to put to memory precisely how it made her feel—safe, loved and calm.
"I'm sorry I haven't found a cure yet,” she said to his chest and then craned her neck so she could see his face. Her eyes traced his noble profile, moving over his fine brow to his straight nose and soft lips. She wished that she could lift her spell and have him look at her, but she couldn't risk allowing Elena's spell to take hold of him. He was fighting it, but it was only a matter of time before he lost what little strength he had left, and she didn't know what was going to happen then. “I'll find a way to save you, once I've found a way into the book."
She ran a finger down his forehead and over his nose, following the line of his profile. He stirred a little and frowned, his eyes opening briefly but long enough for her to see the green of them.
"Valentine?” she whispered, not wanting to startle him.
He moved his head and looked at her. She smiled.
"So cold,” he said with a sad look in his eyes.
"I know ... it's hard, but you have to keep going. You can't let her win. I can't lose you."
He gave her the slight smile of his that was such an intrinsic part of who he was and then closed his eyes again when she pulled the covers up over him and tucked them in.
"I'm sorry I can't let you stay awake.” She ran her fingers over his cheek and brushed her thumb across his lips before bringing her hand down to his heart. “Sleep ... be still. Rest a while and save your strength."
Her amulet glowed bright red as tears filled her eyes and her brows furrowed. Her lower lip trembled and she breathed out shakily, trying to steady herself and stop herself from crying.
The mark over her heart ached and burned with a fire that was stronger than she'd ever felt before.
It feared.
She shook her head and buried her face in his neck, clinging to him.
"I can't lose you."
Closing her eyes, she held onto him as though by that physical act alone she could stop him from slipping away from her.
She didn't know how long she'd been holding him before she heard the door open and sensed someone enter. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the room was darker now. Serenity moved into her field of vision and opened the curtains, lifted the sash, and let the cool night air in. Prophecy breathed deep, letting the freshness of it fill her and chase away the tiredness in her body.
"I didn't mean to wake you,” Serenity said with a concerned look.
"I wasn't asleep,” Prophecy said and sat up, rubbing her hair and looking at Valentine.
"Venturi says you haven't moved in three hours."
Her eyes widened. “Three hours? Impossible. I wasn't sleeping ... I was ... I don't know. I was just laying there seeing nothing, feeling nothing..."
"I don't think it's nothing that you're feeling.” Serenity pulled a chair out from the desk and sat down. “You're scared ... it's understandable. You're tired too, and pale. Get some fresh air and get out of this room for an hour or two. It might help."
Prophecy considered what Serenity had said. She was getting tired of being shut in the room and some fresh air and space could help her think of a way to get into the book, but she didn't want to leave Valentine. Her eyes roamed back to him and she sighed.
"I can't,” she said.
"I can watch him. Staying cooped up in here isn't going to do you any good, Prophecy. You need a change of surroundings.” Serenity's lips broke into a smile. “Besides, I think Venturi could use a couple of hours break. He hasn't been to see his men once since they arrived. People are starting to talk."
Prophecy frowned. Talk about what? She gave Serenity an unimpressed look when it dawned on her. The two houses were beginning to wonder exactly how many people were involved in a relationship with her. One was enough trouble. She'd never be able to handle two. It wasn't her fault if the houses were getting the wrong impression. She hadn't asked Venturi to stand outside her door, constantly waiting for her. But then she hadn't asked him not to either.
She looked at the door, sensing him on the other side with the three Aurorea guards.
She didn't have the heart to tell him to go away, not when he was there because he was worried about her.
"I'm sure that Valentine will be fine with me. If anything happens, I'll get word to Venturi straight away and he can find you."
Prophecy didn't like the way that Serenity had suggested that Venturi would be able to track her down the quickest, faster than herself or Tiberius. She sighed and took hold of Valentine's hand.
"He could use some blood to keep his strength up,” she said and then looked at the small wooden box on the bedside table. “He shouldn't wake up, but if he does, there's a syringe in the box and a drug that will knock him out for a few hours."
"What's holding him at the moment?” Serenity's voice was full of curiosity.
Prophecy smiled and looked at the intricate threads of red that were lacing hers and Valentine's fingers together.
"Magic,” she said, looking at Serenity. Her friend's expressio
n changed to one of awe. “It will last a few hours more but if it doesn't ... then get Venturi or one of the guards to give him the drug and then get someone to find me. I'll take Venturi down to see his men and go through the formalities, and then I'll go out to hunt. I won't be more than an hour."
"I can handle it, so stop worrying,” Serenity said in a gentle tone.
"I know you can. It's not that I'm worried about. I'm losing him a little more with each passing minute and I'm starting to lose hope at the same rate.” Standing up, Prophecy paused for a second to look at Valentine and then grabbed her coat and walked to the door. She stopped when she reached it but didn't look back. “Take care of him."
"I will,” Serenity said.
Prophecy opened the door and walked out into the hallway. She didn't stop to check if Venturi was going to follow her. He would. She was the reason he was standing guard. The other three were for Valentine.
"You are pale,” Venturi said and the gentleness of his voice made her eyes fill with tears.
She felt so weak around him. When she was alone or with Serenity, she had to be strong. Around Venturi, she felt as though she could let go of it all and give in to her feelings, and he'd be strong for her.
"I'm fine ... maybe tired and a little drained.” She tried to sound bright so he wouldn't worry and say things that would give her reason to surrender the fight and let him comfort her like she so badly wanted him to. “I hear we have new guests."
"We do,” he said and she could feel his eyes boring into the side of her face. She resisted looking at him.
"I hear you've not even been to see them."
He was quiet for a moment and then said, “I make no apologies for my actions."
She looked across at him, letting him see the tears in her eyes and how much she wished she could let him hold her and comfort her. “I see no reason why you should."
Facing front again, she didn't dare look at him until they reached the room where Serenity had placed his men. She paused outside the closed door and untied her hair. Pulling it back into a neater ponytail, she smoothed out her appearance and took a deep breath. She was about to open the door when Venturi stopped her. He brushed his fingers lightly across her cheeks just below her eyes and smiled at her.
"They do not have a right to see those tears,” he said in a quiet voice and she knew what he'd meant—they were tears that only close companions or lovers should see—people like him, not people like their families. Her eyes followed the motion of his fingers as he rubbed them together, wiping her tears into his skin.
"Not many do,” she said.
He had a right to see them. In part, they were about him, not just about Valentine. This time it was her turn to stop him when he went to move.
"Venturi ... I'm afraid I can't save him, that I don't know how. If I lose him ... I lose everything. The magic ... it's hard to explain ... it reacts to him. It feeds off my feelings for him."
"I know. I have seen it at work."
"Then you know that I'm weak without—"
"You are never weak.” He cut her off. “Even when you are without him, I have never met anyone as strong as you. In Venice and Oxford ... you were as strong as the woman I saw after Valentine's return."
She smiled shakily. “What I really wanted to say was ... this is all so confusing. Knowing that you were there if I needed you, that you were just ... outside that door today ... meant a lot to me."
Before she had a chance to lose her nerve, she wrapped her arms about his waist and pressed her cheek into his chest. When he placed his arms around her shoulders, she allowed herself a few seconds in which to take in all the comfort she could and then released him.
She didn't turn away immediately and neither did he. He looked at her with eyes that clearly expressed how much what she'd done had meant to him in return. The second he blinked, she opened the door and walked into the room.
The Tenebrae stood immediately and turned to face her and Venturi. They straightened up with their hands plastered flat against their sides and their eyes fixing on the wall behind her. Was it her or Venturi that had got this reaction from them? When she'd fought the Tenebrae at their castle in Romania, they had seemed like a well-regimented army. Maybe this was just their way.
"Lady Prophecy,” Venturi said and swept his arm out towards the gathered people in front of her. “These are my elite commanders."
They all bowed, most of them not looking directly at her, but in the eyes of the ones who did, she could see that they knew it was her who had killed their previous lord. If her family had been scared of her power when she'd taken over the role of master, then Venturi's commanders looked petrified. She smiled when she remembered Venturi saying that people had a right to be frightened of her.
"It's nice to meet you and I'm truly sorry it couldn't be under better circumstances.” She met some of their gazes when they straightened up. A few of them frowned, in particular a blonde haired young looking woman on the right of the group. Prophecy got the feeling that it wasn't the “circumstances” she'd mentioned that was making the woman look that way.
Prophecy gave a look to Venturi that asked for help because her voice felt suddenly tight and she didn't think she could speak about what had happened to Valentine without it upsetting her.
He stepped towards her with a concerned look in his eyes and placed his hand against her shoulder, his fingers stroking it reassuringly.
"Lord Valentine Aurorea has had a spell cast on him by the witch we must destroy. Lady Prophecy is working to save him. Has anything happened at the castle? We must be on our guard against this witch.” He addressed his family and it was so strange to see him in command for once. She'd never witnessed him like this, acting as the lord of his bloodline.
"The castle is safe, my lord. We have left a contingent there that is strong enough to defend it should anything happen.” A man stepped forwards and bowed.
Venturi nodded in evident satisfaction.
"Did you encounter any trouble during your journey?” he said.
The people in front of Prophecy were listening attentively while the man reported but she didn't need to hear the details. Her eyes wandered over their faces while they all looked at Venturi. All except one. The woman at the edge of the group was staring at her.
No, not at her. She was staring at Venturi's hand were it was resting on her shoulder.
Prophecy looked up at him and he moved his eyes to meet hers. She looked across at the woman and caught the frown that the Tenebrae tried to hide with a forced smile. Prophecy swallowed when Venturi's hand slid a little lower so it was touching her shoulder blade and the star on her skin there itched and prickled.
She didn't hear the words he said when she looked at him. She stared into his eyes, trying to figure out what was happening or had been happening between him and the female Tenebrae. He turned back to face the group and so did she. There were three other women in the group and none of them seemed interested in him in the way the other one did.
When he stopped talking, she caught hold of his hand and he looked at her.
"A word, please?” she said and gave a bow to the occupants of the room.
He nodded and followed her. She led him back out into the hall and far enough down it that they were out of earshot. Releasing his hand, she flexed her fingers, trying to ease the magical build up she could feel in them. It was strange that he'd affected her magic. So far it had only reacted to Valentine.
"I don't appreciate being stared at,” she said and watched his face closely.
"I shall see to it she's punished.” He glanced up the corridor towards the door.
She smiled at the way he'd known exactly who she was talking about. “I never said it was a girl staring at me. I might have been referring to all your commanders."
He frowned at her.
She frowned back. “Who is she? And why do I get the feeling that she doesn't like me?"
He cleared his throat, hesitated awkwardly f
or a few seconds and then put his arm out and leaned against the wall. She smiled at his attempt to look casual.
"She's my child.” His voice quavered a little.
"Oh ... I'm starting to think that siring someone of the opposite sex is a bad idea. Feelings seem to develop. I've watched it for years with Serenity and her love for Arkalus, and now I witness it in a young female Tenebrae and you."
"I do not love her,” he said with a laugh and then gave her an odd look that made her frown harder.
"What?” she said.
He smiled with just one side of his mouth. The corner of it tugged into a look she didn't like and she felt as though she was being scrutinised as his eyes bore into hers.
"You sound jealous."
"Venturi ... this really isn't the time for this."
His smile faded and he frowned, as though he'd forgotten the man lying sick in her bed.
"I apologise. It is in poor taste to tease you when the one you love is so ill."
She could still see the smile in his eyes. It spoke of triumph. Not only had she taken the comfort he'd been silently offering her, but she'd shown a hint of jealousy about his relationship with the woman in the other room.
"I have to hunt,” she said flatly and started to walk away.
"Prophecy.” He didn't have to catch her arm in order to stop her. She stopped dead and looked back at him. He ran his fingers through his dirty blond hair, tousling the long lengths of it and making some of them fall down the sides of his face. “I am sorry. Forgive me?"
She didn't know what to say to him or even why he was sorry. Was it the way he could so easily forget Valentine's plight, or was it the woman in the other room he was apologising for? Or maybe it was something else. Was he sorry about them, about the fact that there wasn't a relationship between them like he wanted?
She shook her head in confusion and then turned away from him.
"I'll be back in an hour,” she said without any trace of emotion and walked down the hall. Leaving him in such a cold manner was beginning to become a habit with her. Whenever he made her feel any affection for him, or brought her feelings to her attention, she ran away.
