Immediately, everyone’s focus shifted from their fist fights and ridiculous differences to the fire that was now threatening to kill them all. Gavin shot me a thankful look as he once again went about the task of finding his family, Rosa helping him like a wide-eyed, obedient little puppy.
“Rosa has a thing for Gavin, doesn’t she?” I asked.
Ashley and Sam chuckled.
“The only person who can’t seem to figure it out is Gavin, who is probably one of the densest people I’ve ever come across,” Ashley said.
We watched as everyone going at each other’s throats were now working hand-in-hand passing on buckets of water and sackcloth to try and save their homes. No questions asked. The fire would soon die with little or no casualties to account for.
All that was required was to get them to listen to one voice. I realized then what was the matter. The Naturals were used to being slaves. They were used to being told what to do by the vampires. Without the control of the vampires, they were left to themselves and what resulted was anarchy.
Corrine could’ve quelled this riot easily, but she never really meddled with things that she wasn’t personally invested in. The Naturals and their stupid lockout and crazy riot were things that didn’t move her personal convictions; thus, she stayed away. In her eyes, this was my problem and I needed to find a solution to it.
Truth be told, I wanted to just threaten to kill them all, but the only thing keeping my sanity in check was the thought of Sofia standing beside me. She would try to find the solution that would lead to the most lives spared. That was the kind of person Sofia Claremont was—life-giving.
I waited until the fire had been completely put out before once again speaking up, “Who is going to answer to me for this riot?! What is going on?! This is madness!”
I was met with utter silence.
“This riot and the lockout are over. If you want to discuss what you want, then there will be a meeting tomorrow at the Vale’s town square. If you don’t show up, you forfeit your right to be heard.”
“You just want us out so it would be easier to kill us all!” some anonymous voice hidden among the crowd cried out.
“If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead,” I bellowed. “Besides, you’re all doing a pretty good job at killing yourselves all on your own. The day after tomorrow, I expect everyone to be back at their posts, doing their work. If you have issues with this, then take it up directly with me.”
I began to walk toward the exit of The Catacombs.
“I guess that ends that,” Sam muttered under his breath as he and Ashley followed behind me. I heaved a sigh, knowing fully how false Sam’s statement was with all the threats pouring down on The Shade at the moment.
“No, Sam. This is by no means the end of anything. This is barely the beginning.”
Chapter 26: Sofia
I gently shut the door to my bedroom as I stepped out into the living room, relieved that I was no longer being kept prisoner in one room. I found my father seated on one of the wooden bar stools taking a swig of Scotch. I stared at him for a couple of seconds before moving forward. I didn’t know what to say to him, so I was relieved when he took the initiative to break the silence.
“How’s Vivienne?”
“She was finally able to get back to sleep. She’s a lot better now.” No thanks to you. I climbed onto one of the stools next to him. “Why are you here, Aiden?”
“I came to discuss something of importance with you…”
My thoughts began to drift away and his words just trailed off into oblivion. My mind wandered off to all the vampires who’d been tortured and killed at the headquarters. I couldn’t concentrate on anything coming out of Aiden’s mouth, because at that time, I couldn’t quite point out the difference between him and the vampires back at The Shade who shamelessly treated their captives as prey and devoid of souls.
“Sofia, are you even listening to me?” He began snapping a finger in front of my face.
“Is it true that you’re now doing to Ingrid what you did to Vivienne? You pulled out Vivienne’s fangs. Do you do that to all vampires? Is that what you’re going to do to Claudia too? I’m not a big fan of Claudia. I’ve seen her hurt many humans, but torturing her in that manner seems…inhumane.”
“Inhumane?” Aiden interrupted before I could continue my rant. “Are you listening to yourself, Sofia? These creatures aren’t humans. Nothing you do to them—no matter how horrible—can be classified as inhumane.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. Does he truly believe that? Does he think that they are irredeemable and they are completely without hope? “I want to see Ingrid. I don’t care if she’s a crazy freak trying to pawn me off to a vampire even crazier than her. She’s still my mother and the idea of you doing to her what Vivienne…” I choked on my words. How could anyone with a conscience treat others this way?
“You’re willing to just forget everything Ingrid did to you? To us?”
“I couldn’t forget even if I wanted to, Aiden. You both scarred me for life when you both abandoned me. She’s done worse things, but you are still guilty. Where were you that night when she came with Borys? Why was I home alone? I’ve been wronged by both of you, by so many other people—vampires and humans alike. That doesn’t mean I want to go around torturing and killing everyone who’s wronged me!”
Aiden looked taken aback by my passionate outburst. He opened his mouth in an attempt to respond, but he quickly shut it again as he processed what I was saying to him.
I was fighting the urge to cry. I was tired of being the victim. Whether or not I was at The Shade or back in California with the Hudsons or here with the hunters, I was always the one in need of saving, always the one who somehow needed someone to rescue her. I’m sick of it. This time, maybe it’s my turn to rescue someone. The thought came with so much conviction, I actually slammed my palm over the counter top making my father jolt back in surprise.
“Sofia, I…” His voice came with a squeak. Tears were beginning to brim in his eyes.
I stared at him, horrified by the thought that my father was about to cry in front of me and I had no idea what I was going to do about it. Looking at him try to swallow back his tears, I couldn’t help but ache with the longing I had for him. All those years growing up, I had wished that he would just look my way, let me know that I was precious to him, but he was never there. I had rehearsed so many times what I would say to him if I got the chance to confront him and let him know how much he broke me by leaving me. Now that I’d already done that, I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t stand hurting my father.
I came to an understanding of my own personality. This is exactly why I can’t understand the path of vengeance. No matter how much someone has hurt me, I still find no pleasure in seeing them hurt.
He finally managed to compose himself. “I never said sorry for leaving you. I thought it was the best thing to do at that time. I know that’s no excuse for not being the father that you needed, but I couldn’t look at you without thinking of your mother. I couldn’t even be in the same room with you without reliving the pain. After I left you with the Hudsons, I… I just… I got myself in too deep with the hunters. I didn’t want you to be a part of that world. I thought that I was keeping you safe by leaving you with them. I thought that maybe, just maybe…you could have some semblance of a normal life if I left you with them.” He gripped my hand and squeezed tightly. “I’m sorry, Sofia. Believe me when I say that I truly want to make it up to you.”
I knew then that I would remember that encounter as one of the most real and poignant moments that I had ever shared with my father. Overcome by emotion, I got off my seat and hugged him. “You have no idea just how much your apology means to me,” I whispered into his ear before placing a gentle kiss on his cheek.
He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me back. “You’re my little girl, Sofia. My precious daughter. I may have a crappy way of showing it, but I love you.”
He then k
issed my forehead and it was all I could do to keep myself from breaking down into sobs. I relished that embrace for a couple more minutes before finally pulling away from him.
We knew that we’d made a connection the likes only a father and daughter can have with each other. However, we were still keenly aware of our differences—something neither of us could escape discussing.
With him already having heard my rants, I figured it was time I actually listened to what he was trying to tell me. “So what were you saying before I interrupted?”
“I was trying to tell you that you may be right. There just might be a cure to vampirism.”
My breath hitched. I couldn’t believe my ears. Why wasn’t I listening the first time? Suddenly, I found myself holding my breath, hanging on to his every word.
“If you’re immune, then maybe there’s something in your DNA that makes you immune to the curse. If it’s alright with you, I’m going to have some of our scientists get a sample of your blood and we’ll see where that takes us.”
I stared at him for a couple of seconds, attempting to fully comprehend what he had just said, hope unlike any I’d known before rising up within me. This is it. This is the way Derek and me could actually be together.
“Sofia? What do you say?”
I nodded empathically. “Yes. Yes. I’ll give you whatever you need.” Before I could hold myself back, I threw my arms around his neck a second time. For the first time in eighteen years, it actually felt like I really had a father who cared and sought after my best interests. At that moment, I never could’ve been more thankful that Aiden Claremont was my dad.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
“I love you, Sofia. Don’t you ever forget that.”
“I love you too…Dad.”
Chapter 27: Derek
“We’re in the middle of a siege at the port and you pick tomorrow to call out a general assembly at the town square?” Xavier was obviously trying to reel in the flames of fury building up inside him.
Xavier was never one to treat me like the monarch The Shade portrayed me to be, but in this case, he really wasn’t throwing any deference my way. In fact, as he paced the floor of the room at the Crimson Fortress where we had decided to have our meeting in, he was talking to me like a father scolding his teenage son.
I calmly took my seat at the head of the table where Cameron and Liana, Eli and Yuri were already seated. Xavier, of course, was still on his feet, cooking up a storm. Words were coming out of his mouth, but it was barely registering in my mind. It was mostly about me losing my mind with the whole going on a drive thing and that he’d always known from the beginning that I was crazy.
“And yet, here you are, still fighting by my side.”
That halted him from his steamy tirade and the man paused to give me a pensive look. “Yes…well, you may be crazy, but the times you are brilliant make up for it.”
“Finally.” I threw my hands in the air. “A compliment. Now, could you kindly take a seat so we can get to business?”
Xander begrudgingly sat down before drumming his fingers over the table.
“We have three orders of business,” I began. “One, the general assembly. Two, the siege at the port. Three, the fact that it may take time before we are able to retake the port. This means that I may not be able to attend the meeting Natalie informed us about. The fact that it looks like we’re holding Natalie hostage spells a lot of trouble for us.”
“Can’t Natalie send a message to the covens that there’s a siege going on?” Liana suggested. “I’m sure she knows of a way to contact the other covens from within the island.”
I shook my head. “I’m sure she does, but the other covens are threatening to attack us. Is it really the best recourse to let them know that we’re on the brink of civil war? It’s exposing too much of our weaknesses.”
“We have to retake the port as soon as possible then…” Cameron concluded with the obvious.
“Right.” I nodded curtly. “How?”
“Let’s just go in guns blazing—so to speak—and just kill everyone. The island would be better off without the likes of them if you ask me…” Xavier said. Always the hothead.
Sounds great. Let’s do that. “We can’t afford to do that. We have to be able to do this with as little bloodshed as possible.” In this, I was firm, though I had no doubt in my mind that it was against my natural instincts. Perhaps that’s why Xavier and I got along so well. We’re both so trigger-happy.
“Why?” Yuri spat. “They’ve betrayed you. They’re out to ruin The Shade.”
I’m sure it’s what Sofia would have done. I straightened up on my seat. “These men fought and bled with us through First Blood. They may be misguided by whatever lies my father weaved to discredit me, but if we are to reach true sanctuary then we have to find a way to work together. Our military force is paralyzed without them. If the other covens attack without them on our side, it will be the end of us.”
Silence ensued. None of us knew what to do.
Xavier broke the silence. “Why is the general assembly necessary? And at the town square, Derek? The humans would be like sitting ducks there. What if Gregor and Felix attack?”
“What would they do?” Liana interjected. “Murder the entire human population? Even Felix isn’t stupid enough to do that. Let’s not forget that he’s one of the vampires who once was advocating better rights for the humans…”
“That’s because he was still in love with Anna at that time.” Yuri waved her comment off. “I honestly think that he wouldn’t mind killing her now.”
“Wait…” Eli lifted his glasses over the bridge of his nose.
I could practically see the wheels winding inside Eli’s genius mind.
“This could work to our advantage,” he spoke up. “If we could lure some of the vampires at the port into the assembly, then we’d have a better chance of taking over the port.”
“We still won’t be able to get in.” Xavier shook his head. “They’ll attack us the moment we’re at the narrow staircase.”
“No, no… This can work.” I shook my head before sending Eli an encouraging look. “We don’t have to pass through there. The port isn’t the only way out of the island.” I swallowed hard. The Lighthouse was my long kept secret. Only Vivienne, Cora and Sofia were aware of it. The shore near the lighthouse was where Cora and I drifted to the island from the shipwreck we were in five hundred years ago. Aside from the port and that small patch of shore near the lighthouse, the island was surrounded by rocky boulders and cliffs.
All eyes were on me, as they waited with bated breath, for what I was about to say.
“First off all,” I began, “who among us knows how to swim?”
I grinned inwardly as our plan took form. Gregor Novak won’t know what hit him. I couldn’t help but smirk at the notion. Well, what’s new?
Chapter 28: Sofia
Aiden escorted me to where they were keeping Ingrid. Anxious wasn’t too befitting a word to describe how I felt about seeing Ingrid again. I fumbled with my fingers nervously, wondering why on earth she had such an effect on me.
She’s your mother, Sofia. If what Zinnia was saying is true, then you’re about to see a tortured version of her—the same way Vivienne looks now. The idea made me sick to my stomach. I knew that no matter what Ingrid did, I could never really wish her wrong. No matter how insane she was, to me, she would always be Camilla Claremont.
I gave my father a glance, wondering to myself if he felt the same way. A wave of nostalgia hit me, remembering what coming home from school was like when we were still together as a family.
He always came on time. I never once had to wait. Whenever the school bell rang and I ran down the front steps of the red brick school building that I went to for my elementary education, I could always expect the black BWM waiting for me at the parking lot.
Most of the time, my dad wouldn’t be inside the car. Instead, he’d be leaning against the passenger
side door, arms crossed over his chest and a big smile on his face.
“Hello, baby,” he greeted me, before taking my backpack away from me and putting it on the passenger’s seat. “Would you like some ice cream?”
“Yes!” This was routine. We never went home without some sort of treat—ice cream, candy, perhaps a smoothie.
He would tell me to hush and not tell my mother, but once we reached home, I would tell her anyway and he would make a mess out of my hair for getting him into trouble.
After the afternoon snack, we would drive home together and he would ask me how my day was. He never once made me feel like he wasn’t listening. He always seemed genuinely interested and actually delighted with what I had to say.
More often than not, once we got home, we would find my mother in the kitchen or in her study. I loved her study. Of course, I wasn’t allowed to touch any of them, but there were so many interesting trinkets and artifacts in there. Every single one of them had a fascinating story behind it. The Red Orb was my favorite. My dad said that it was how he had gotten my mother to fall in love with him. I loved that story.
Dinner was never without laughter, and there were always plenty of hugs and kisses to go around. I was a happy child. I felt loved. I never would’ve imagined that things would turn out the way that they did.
I always felt like Aiden adored me and I still couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea that Camilla held any form of resentment toward me. We were a picture perfect family. Perhaps that was why it was all the more traumatic for me when they had abandoned me. It didn’t help either that growing up, I was diagnosed with so many psychological disorders—ranging from ADHD to OCD. It wasn’t until I reached The Shade that Corrine figured out exactly “what was wrong” with me. I had LLI or Low Latent Inhibition. It heightened my senses. No filters. I could hear, see, feel, sense everything going on around me at the same time. I wondered if this was the reason I felt deeply for those in pain.
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