A Blaze of Sun

by Bella Forrest

  “Maybe so, but I am, Vivienne, and lest you forget, a part of you is too…”

  That silenced me. How could it not? Ever since Sofia became a part of our lives, we seemed to be obsessed with getting our humanity back – humanity that we long ago tried to silence.

  Ashley looked from one person to the other, still clutching the bag of human blood in her hand. “Are we going to feed the blood to her or not? It’s not like she’s going to die if we don’t. It will just take her longer to heal, right?”

  “I don’t see why we should prolong her agony…” Sofia stood her ground. “It doesn’t seem right.”

  I knew her well enough to know what her greatest weakness was her compassion. She seemed to have a never-ending supply of it and although I respected that about her, there were times when we couldn’t afford to let our compassion get us into trouble. That was exactly what that woman was going to bring: trouble.

  Still, I was outnumbered and just by the look on Derek’s face, I could tell that he wasn’t going to abandon Emilia. Not knowing what to do, I stormed out of The Sanctuary. I couldn’t have imagined how big a mistake that was.

  I’d barely just walked out the large doors that led outside The Sanctuary when, as I expected, Xavier came running after me.

  “Vivienne! What’s going on?” He held my arm to make me face him. We were already in the gardens outside of the white temple-like structure. “It’s unlike you to object to helping someone – anyone – no matter what you feel about the person, and it’s not like you to just storm off like that. What’s wrong?”

  I wasn’t being myself and I knew it. I was known in The Shade as the calm and collected one, as the seer, but after my return from hunter territory, I couldn’t find that cool that I always managed to be in. I was afraid. Extremely afraid – in a way I never was before, and I had no idea how to handle it. “You saw how the original vampire killed my father, Xavier.”

  The memory of my father’s body, drained of all blood, impaled on a pole in the middle of The Vale’s town square was forever etched in my mind. None of us had any idea how the original vampire did it, but he was able to kill my father even while Gregor was locked up in The Shade. He left a message – carved into my father’s flesh: You chose the wrong side.

  I loved my father and I knew that he loved me. I knew that he was willing to start anew, to change. I saw it in his eyes the last time I got to spend time with him. The Elder robbed him of that. I was still mourning the death of my father and my brother, Lucas. I wasn’t about to mourn Derek’s. With Emilia being in the island, I couldn’t shake the feeling that my twin was in grave danger.

  “Derek is all I have left, Xavier. I already lost my father and I lost Lucas too… I can’t afford to lose Derek. I won’t have a reason to live if I lose him. I would rather die.”

  Xavier was taken aback and I could tell that he was hurt. I knew he cared about me. “Vivienne, I know you love your family. I admire that about you, but you have to open your eyes and start living for yourself at some point. You have people who care about you and have been loyal to you these past years – not just Derek or Gregor or Lucas. Liana, Sofia, me… We all care what happens to you, but it’s not even about that. There’s a reason you’re alive, a reason I’m still alive. You have to keep striving until you’ve fulfilled that reason. Live for you, Vivienne, because damn it… you’re worth living for and you’re worth dying for.”

  Xavier gently brushed a loose strand of hair from my face. He leaned over slowly and I was sure he was about to kiss me. I pulled away and shook my head.

  “I can’t, Xavier.” I stepped away from him, watching his eyes moisten at my rejection. “I’m sorry. I just… I need to figure out a way to stop Emilia.”

  I turned and ran, not exactly certain where to go. I needed space. I needed time to think. Because as much as I hated to admit it, Xavier struck a chord so deep, I had to get away from him to keep myself from crying. I lived the past five centuries for my family, and never for myself. Xavier’s words echoed in my head. Live for you, Vivienne.

  I had no idea how to do that, because I really had no idea who I was anymore. I ran for hours. I ran until my thighs began to throb. I ran and ran and ran until I ended up back at The Sanctuary, ready to stab Emilia with a wooden stake, only to find myself frozen and unable to move the moment I lifted the stake in the air.

  Emilia’s eyes shot wide open and a manic smile formed on her lips at the sight of me. “It’s been a while, Vivienne. It seems like you’re going to be a lot more trouble for me now.”

  I creased my brows, wondering what she was talking about. I tried with all my might to stab her with the stake, but my body wouldn’t budge.

  “Don’t bother, Vivienne. You won’t be able to move.” Emilia sat up on the bed. “After you left, they didn’t give me the blood. They were too alarmed by your reaction so they figured I could still wait another day while they discuss what to do with me. I didn’t need the blood to heal. All I needed was The Sanctuary. This is my temple, is it not? My power as a witch comes from this place.”

  I was so confused by what she was telling me. I tried to speak but I couldn’t even move my lips. Panic was beginning to creep into every bone in my body, but I didn’t have control. Corrine, where are you?

  “You may not recognize my face any longer, but you know me.” Emilia smiled. “I don’t blame you. I’m a far cry from the image you once knew. I was transformed into the woman of Derek’s wildest dreams, his ultimate ideal. No matter what your prophecies say, Seer, Derek does not belong with Sofia. He belongs with me.”

  She rose to her feet and began stretching as she walked around the bedroom. I knew her speaking to me wasn’t a good sign, because if she was confident enough to tell me her deepest secrets, it meant that she was planning to get rid of me.

  “I waited hundreds of years before my transformation was complete. I waited until the time he would wake up and find that he’s supposed to be with me, but then you brought that redheaded spitfire into the island and took everything away from me. You ruined everything, Vivienne. I really should punish you for that.”

  Suddenly, I understood what Xavier was trying to tell me earlier. I realized right then and there that I did value my life. I’d always been willing to lose my life for my family and I realized why. I hadn’t actually lived it. I didn’t have a life of my own, and at that moment, I desperately wanted to have one, but it seemed Emilia wasn’t going to make that possible.

  I was trying to comprehend what she was telling me. If I could actually move, I was certain that I would be shivering with terror at what she was saying, but I could only watch her, wondering what she had in mind for me.

  “It’s a shame I can’t kill you, Vivienne. I love Derek and I know that if I ever harm his twin, he’ll never be able to forgive me. I can’t have that. I can’t risk losing his love for me.”

  Losing his love for you? He doesn’t love you, you crazy bitch.

  She brushed her fingers over my cheekbone and the moment her skin touched mine, I saw a vision that revealed to me who Emilia really was. She was no ordinary vampire, and it wasn’t just because she was the original vampire’s daughter. Terror took over as it sank into me how much of a threat she really was to Derek.

  “No, I won’t end your life, Vivienne. But I can always do the next best thing.” She grinned before snapping her fingers.

  The sound hadn’t even registered in my brain yet, when I found myself in my bedroom, lying down in the middle of my bed. Once again, I tried to get out of the bed, but I couldn’t. Instead, I found myself battling the urge to fall asleep, a battle I knew I was about to lose. What has she done to me?

  It didn’t take long for me to figure it out. As I drifted off to a deep sleep, I knew that she cast the same spell that she placed on my brother four hundred years ago, and right before I lost consciousness, two thoughts circled in my mind…

  Will I ever wake up?

  Emilia is one of the most powerfu
l witches that ever lived. She is The Shade’s original witch. She is Cora.

  Chapter 20: Sofia

  I was snuggled against Derek on his living room couch, my head leaning against his shoulder. We were both exhausted, because we just spent hours searching for Vivienne and failing to find her. I was sure that Derek had already scoured every single nook and cranny of The Shade to find his twin, but only got frustrated when there was absolutely no sight of her anywhere. Nobody saw her at all.

  “I feel so bad about not hearing her out,” Derek muttered, as he brushed his fingers over my hair. “It’s Vivienne. She doesn’t freak out like that for just no reason.”

  I didn’t voice out my thoughts in fear of how Derek would react, but Vivienne had been in pretty bad shape back at hunter territory. The hunters had been brainwashing her in order to try and extract information from her regarding the location of The Shade. She was far too loyal and too intent on protecting her family and the kingdom that she managed to block out all information that would compromise The Shade. The hunters never got anything from her, but she was a paranoid mess when she was first brought to me at Hawk Headquarters.

  “Don’t torture yourself, Derek. We were doing what we thought was right. I’m sure Vivienne is okay. She probably just needs time to herself.”

  “I just don’t understand where she could’ve gone. Why can’t anybody find her?”

  “Is there any possibility that she could’ve left The Shade?”

  Derek shook his head. “I doubt it. Vivienne would never risk that. I don’t see why she would have any reason to leave. Besides, people at the Port would know. If she didn’t pass through the Port to take one of the subs, then she would’ve been swimming in broad daylight.”

  Right then, Xavier burst into the room without even bothering to knock first. “We’ve found her,” he announced.

  Derek and I jumped to our feet.

  “Where? Where is she?” Derek asked.

  Xavier’s jaw clenched. “Inside her bedroom. Fast asleep. She refuses to wake up, Derek.”

  Derek immediately took hold of me and carried me as he sped toward his sister’s bedroom. Corrine was standing by Vivienne’s bed. She immediately set her eyes on us the moment we arrived.

  “What’s going on, Corrine?” Derek asked. “What happened to Vivienne?”

  “She’s under a spell,” Corrine explained. “The same spell you asked Cora to place on you. This is definitely her sleeping spell at work. I would know it anywhere.”

  “Did you do this?” Derek spat out at the witch.

  Corrine glared at Derek like he’d gone mad, but as usual, she remained unaffected by his burst of anger. If anything, she appeared irritated more than intimidated.

  I grabbed his arm. “Derek! Corrine is on our side.”

  “Well, who else would know how to use that spell?” Xavier, who had followed us to Vivienne’s bedroom, fueled Derek’s suspicions. “There aren’t any witches in this island aside from her!”

  “Why would I do this to Vivienne?” Corrine rolled her eyes. That’s when I noticed that she was feeling tense about something.

  “What’s going on, Corrine?” I let go of Derek’s arm and began to approach the witch who had actually been a good friend to me throughout my time in The Shade. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t think I’m the only witch in this island. Not anymore.”

  “What are you talking about?” Derek frowned.

  “I think Emilia is a witch. I left The Sanctuary a couple of hours after you left. I did my routine visit at The Catacombs, went to check on Anna and how she was doing. When I returned to The Sanctuary, I couldn’t enter anymore.” She turned her eyes toward Derek. “I was about to tell you, but Xavier alerted me about having found Vivienne. I think Emilia had something to do with this.”

  Chills began to run up and down my spine, as question after question flowed through my lips. “What does that mean for us? How much of a threat is she? How could she have healed so quickly?”

  “Vivienne was right. We never should’ve let her on the island.” He turned toward Corrine. “Can you break the spell she put on my sister?”

  Corrine shrugged. “I can try, but I don’t think I have my powers anymore, Derek.”

  “What? If you don’t have your powers anymore then how is the protective spell still over The Shade?”

  “Either The Shade is no longer protected or Emilia is keeping it up. I’m sure of neither.”

  As if The Shade not being protected by a spell wasn’t enough chaos to contend with, Yuri and Claudia showed up with an alarming announcement.

  “The Shade is under attack.”

  Chapter 21: Derek

  I was overwhelmed beyond belief. I didn’t know what to do or where to go. Everyone present was looking to me for either direction or action and I had neither.

  I stared at Vivienne’s sleeping form, hoping that I could somehow communicate with her. I never should’ve second-guessed her. I knew, however, that I needed to come up with a plan of action and I needed to do it fast.

  Everything that was going on in The Shade was crashing down upon me. The Shade is no longer protected by the spell. That means that the hunters can now detect Aiden’s tracker. It also means that we need to finish the battle by sunrise. The battle. The Shade is under attack. My sister is under some sort of spell and Emilia has taken over The Sanctuary. What are you going to do, Novak?

  “I’m going to The Sanctuary…” I announced.

  Sofia nodded. “I am going with you.”

  I shook my head at her and was about to tell her why when Xavier stepped forward, eyes narrowed at me.

  “Derek, didn’t you hear? The Shade is under attack.”

  “I know that,” I responded through gritted teeth, trying to reel in my temper. “Xavier, you and Cameron pretty much think the same way that I do when it comes to battle. Yuri and Claudia are more than capable of helping. Lead the battle. I need to deal with Emilia, because I’m pretty sure that she will refuse to deal with anyone else but me. We can’t afford to keep The Shade unprotected. Corrine is coming with me.”

  Sofia was about to say something, but I shot a glare at her that made her quickly shut her mouth. I could tell that she was trying to be sensitive to the enormous pressure I was under. “Do you trust me, Sofia?”

  She nodded. “Of course I do.”

  “I want you by my side, but right now, I need you to go to your father. Tell the guards there that I’ve authorized his release. They will believe you. Get him to do everything he can to hold off the hunters. If the protective spell is gone, and I think that it is, I’m pretty sure they have The Shade’s location by now.”

  She gave me a quick nod and assured me that she would be on it. I was about to leave, but I took a step back to assuage my fears. “Make sure you have one of the guards with you, Sofia, okay? At all times. Sam and Kyle… I need to know that you’ll be alright…”

  Trying to secure myself in the knowledge that I had capable men and women going about the tasks that needed to be done, I grabbed a hold of Corrine’s hand and sped toward The Sanctuary. The moment we got there, I moved forward toward the door and found myself shocked to find an invisible force field blocking my entry.

  “She’s blocking everyone out,” Corrine said, staring at the temple.

  “Can’t you do anything about this?!” I didn’t want to lose my nerve in front of the one person who could possibly help us, but the panic was taking hold of me.

  Corrine shook her head. “She’s more powerful than I am. A lot more powerful. I think she’s suppressing my powers.”

  My fists clenched and every muscle in my body tensed. “Emilia! Emilia!” I began shouting the woman’s name out as if my life depended on it. Everything we worked for to build the kingdom was gone. With the spell lifted – if it was indeed lifted – I knew that I had to find another safe sanctuary for our coven. True sanctuary. I don’t even know what that means anymore. Where on earth am I going
to hide a bloodthirsty vampire coven of this magnitude?

  My breath hitched when Emilia emerged from The Sanctuary’s doors, a smile on her face, her eyes fixed on me.

  “Hello, Derek,” she greeted.

  I hated that even then, I could feel an almost magnetic attraction toward her. Images of what it would feel like to press my lips against hers began to invade my mind. I shook the thoughts away, thoughts I couldn’t allow myself to entertain. “What have you done?” I hissed at her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “I know what’s going on in your mind, you know.” She nodded knowingly as she wet her lips suggestively.

  I swallowed hard, horrified that she may have seen my mental images of her kissing me. To my relief, however, she quickly clarified exactly what she thought was running through my brain.

  “You’re wondering if the protective spell over the island is still up.” She shook her head and slightly rolled her eyes. “It’s not.” She directed her gaze toward Corrine. “You did a good job keeping it up this whole time, Corrine.” She said the words with baffling fondness, almost as if she were a mother speaking approval to a child. “But your work is done. It’s time for The Shade to have a new witch.”

  “And you think that’s you?” I spat out. Before I could say anything else, we heard a loud explosion and the ground shook beneath us.

  “The Shade is falling apart, Derek,” Emilia stated the obvious, before shrugging one shoulder and pouting like a teenager. “I can put a stop to all of this, you know.”

  “Then put a stop to it, Emilia…” My tone was controlled and calculated. I was facing a power far greater than my own and it was willing and capable of destroying everything that mattered to me. “What do you want?”

  Her eyes settled on me, blazing with fire and with more intensity than I knew how to handle. She said, “You, Derek. I want you.”

  Another round of explosions began to shake The Shade and I just stood there, not knowing what to say or do until Emilia motioned for me to come to her.