“No,” she whispered to herself, her face contorted with anguish. “I can’t leave again.”
She looked around, as if scared that someone might’ve heard her. She staggered to her feet and approached the ocean. She bent down and splashed water over her face. She bit down on her lower lip, shaking her head furiously as though she was having an argument with herself. She seemed to lose her own battle, because barely moments later, she heaved a deep sigh and vanished. When she manifested again, she appeared to be in the middle of a dense forest, so dense that barely a single ray of the moon could trickle down through the towering canopy above. Nevertheless, she launched into a sprint, racing harder and harder until the trees began thinning.
Soon she reached the end of the forest and found herself standing in a grassy clearing at the edge of a cliff. Her face shining with sweat, her eyes wide, she looked around. She whirled around at the sound of a snapping twig.
“So you came.” A deep voice spoke from the darkness of the trees behind her. A tall man with pale skin stepped into the clearing. Like Lilith, he wore a long cloak, his hood pulled up over his face. I could barely make out his features in the shadows but for two bright blue eyes. Lilith remained rooted to the spot as he stepped further into the light of the moon, closing the distance between them. Slowly, he lowered his hood, revealing cropped black hair.
“I shouldn’t have come,” Lilith breathed.
“Then why did you?”
Tears glistened in the witch’s eyes.
Passion ignited in the man’s gaze. His arms shot out and he pulled Lilith against him, dipping his head and claiming her lips. Lilith flinched at first, but then she eased into his embrace. She wrapped her arms tight around his neck, pulling herself closer. His large hands traveled down her back, one resting on her right hip while the other bunched up the hem of her dress and slid beneath it, brushing against her thigh. Breathless, she gripped his hand and stopped it from traveling any further.
“No,” she whispered. “No. I came here to tell you that I can’t see you anymore.”
The man stared at her. “Why?”
“What do you mean ‘why’?” Lilith snapped, even as her voice broke. “You know what would happen if I was caught with a vampire. I have disgraced my kind enough as it is.”
He gripped her hands. “You love me.”
She winced.
He let go of her, growling in frustration as he turned to look down at the sea of treetops beneath the cliff.
She called after him, her voice faint and weak, “I’m sorry… Magnus.”
Magnus. A vampire.
To my frustration, the vision vanished. I need to find out more about this man. I was about to drink more potion when, to my surprise, another vision began overtaking me. I leaned back and closed my eyes.
Two elderly women, together in a room. One lay on a bed, apparently sleeping, while the other sat alongside her holding her hand. Incense burned on the windowsill, causing a light haze in the room.
The resting woman’s eyes shot open. She tried to sit bolt upright, but the other pushed her back down.
“Lilith,” she gasped, twisting her head to face the woman next to her.
“It’s okay, Shana. It’s okay.” The now aged Lilith patted her sister’s hand.
“I am sure that I won’t make it through the night,” Shana said, her eyelids fluttering. “Don’t leave my side.”
“I won’t,” Lilith said.
“Promise you’ll stay here with me like I stayed for Mother and Father,” Shana said.
Lilith nodded stiffly. Shana wheezed and coughed up a mouthful of blood, which Lilith cleaned up with a flick of her hand.
“I just had… the most frightful vision.” Shana gripped her sister’s hand so tight her nails made dents in Lilith’s skin. “I saw our future generations going astray. Growing complacent and neglecting all that we have worked for. Rejecting the very purpose of our existence… They will bring ruin to us all.”
Lilith placed a hand over Shana’s forehead. “Just rest now,” Lilith said.
Shana shook her head. “No. I can’t.” She looked Lilith straight in the eye. “You must hold on for as long as you can. It’s too late now for me and the rest of our generation, but you… you must try to hold on. I-I believe you were meant for this, sister.”
Lilith grimaced, guilt showing in her haggard face. Her jowls wobbled as she shook her head. “You of all people know that isn’t true,” she replied. “I am a disgrace to our kind.”
Shana scowled. “If you are truly sorry for the mistake you made, then now is the time to redeem yourself… Live on. One of us must.”
“But even if I wanted to, how would I?” Lilith asked.
“Find a way… If you don’t, then nobody will.” Shana gripped hold of Lilith’s arms and pulled her closer toward her until Lilith’s nose was but an inch away from hers. “Find a way, and this will be your redemption… Take the mistake you made and turn it into an advantage. You know the binding power of love… especially in Magnus’ case. He is an immortal.”
The warm glow of the bedroom disappeared along with Shana, and now the elderly Lilith was alone, crouched down over a cauldron in the center of a small grimy chamber. She stirred furiously as the liquid bubbled, fire licking the sides of the vessel and making her break out in a sweat. She began to recite a spell. Her words echoed around the room, her voice growing louder and louder, until the entire room was filled with thick smoke that was billowing up from the liquid. It became so dense that Lilith disappeared from sight.
But that haunting chant still echoed in my ears as I emerged from the memory. I played it over and over in my head, afraid that I might forget it. Scrambling to my feet, I crawled out of the cave and inscribed the chant on a slab outside. I stared at the words—now able to absorb them by sight as well as by hearing. Each time my eyes traveled across the words and each time they rang through my head, their meaning sank deeper, my understanding becoming clearer, until finally it dawned on me.
There were still questions that remained unanswered, but there was one secret I had now uncovered:
Lilith had used her love for an immortal to keep herself bound to this world for so long. That was how she clung on when others faded away.
Magnus is the reason Lilith is still here.
Chapter 35: Caleb
When we arrived back in The Shade, the dragons dropped us off near the Port before returning to their mountain homes. Aiden suggested that we head straight for Rose’s parents’ home to see if they had returned and, if so, inform them of everything that had just happened.
We didn’t make it that far, however. As we passed Eli’s penthouse, a number of voices drifted down from it—Derek and Sofia among them. Ascending in the elevator and arriving at the front door—which had been left open—we walked inside and found the living room packed with people. All of them were centered around the television set, which was displaying a scene of our visit to the beach. As soon as I’d seen those humans flashing their cameras, I’d suspected it wouldn’t be long before mainstream media picked it up.
“You’re back,” Sofia exclaimed, rushing toward us with Derek. She wrapped her arms around Rose before allowing Derek a turn. Then the two of them looked at the rest of us.
“Well? Tell us what happened,” Derek said.
Derek and Sofia sat down on the sofa with Rose in between them and she began to recount everything we had just been through. Every now and then, she would glance at me for support, and I would fill in details where she wanted me to. About halfway through, Ibrahim stood up.
“I need to go see Corrine.”
Corrine. All throughout our journey back from California, as I had traveled with Rose’s warm body pressed against mine, I had been thinking about how I needed to pay a visit to the witch. With Rose occupied here with her parents, I realized that this would be the perfect time. I stood up and motioned to follow the warlock. Rose looked up at me questioningly.
“I will see you in a bit, Rose. I’m stepping outside for some fresh air.”
She nodded, before continuing to recount our story.
I caught up with Ibrahim on the balcony before he could vanish.
“I would like to have a word with your wife,” I said.
“Uh, okay. Come with me then.” He placed an arm on my shoulder and vanished us both to the Sanctuary. My breathing quickened as I followed Ibrahim in through the door, and I realized that my hands were shaking slightly.
“Corrine!” Ibrahim called along the corridor.
“Ibrahim?” Corrine’s voice emanated from a room nearby. She raced out from a door and ran along the corridor, hurling herself at Ibrahim. Their lips locked in a passionate embrace. I looked down at the floor, taking a few steps back as they finished greeting each other.
“You must tell me everything,” she said.
“And you must tell me,” Ibrahim replied. “But Caleb here wants to speak to you about something first.”
I raised my eyes to the witch. “I’m sorry to disturb you.”
“That’s quite all right,” Corrine said, curiosity in her eyes.
Ibrahim continued along the corridor while Corrine gestured to a room to my right. A living room. I took a seat in an armchair while Corrine sat opposite me. But as soon as my backside touched the cushion, I realized that it was foolish thinking that I could remain seated for this conversation. I stood up and walked over to the mantelpiece, running a finger along the wood. I turned around slowly and fixed my eyes on Corrine.
My chest felt tight.
Just spit it out.
“I wanted to ask you… how might a man procure a ring on this island?”
Corrine’s face lit up as soon as the words left my mouth. She leapt to her feet and hugged me.
“An engagement ring?” she asked, squeezing my shoulders.
I nodded.
“Do Derek and Sofia know yet?”
“I spoke with her father.”
“Oh, goodness. My Rose, getting married… That girl is going to be over the moon.” She sat back down in her chair and, reaching toward the coffee table in the center of the room, picked up a notepad and a pencil. “Do you have any ideas about how you’d like the ring to look? Any colors, shapes or stones in mind?”
In truth, I hadn’t thought about such details. I sat down opposite Corrine. “I am not a jewelry designer. But I want something… bold for Rose.”
Corrine smirked. “Let me see what I can do.”
She sketched away on her pad for the next five minutes. I waited patiently, watching her design take shape. She lifted up her notepad, showing me the final result.
“Yes,” I said instantly. “That’s the ring for my girl. How long will it take you to make?”
“Well, when are you planning to propose?”
I paused, unsure of how to answer. The witch saw through my silence. “Let me just work on this now so you have it. It won’t take me too long. My discussion with Ibrahim can wait…”
“Thank you.”
She left the room, leaving me alone. I stood up again and began pacing.
Although there was no doubt in my mind that Rose loved me, and the fact that her parents had not objected was a weight off my shoulders, somehow I couldn’t keep my stomach from clenching at the thought of proposing to her. A nagging voice at the back of my head kept telling me that it was too soon. That I ought to wait longer. That she was still so young. Girls of this day and age typically waited much longer before tying the knot than girls of my time.
Yet amid all these doubts was a determination I could not shake: I wanted to make her fully mine, and I didn’t want to wait any longer to do it.
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I almost didn’t notice Corrine enter the room half an hour later. She was carrying a gray silk pouch in her hands. As she approached me, she placed it in my palm. I opened up the pouch and pulled out the ring—far more stunning than her sketch of it. Made of what appeared to be pure silver, it was encrusted with a gorgeous red ruby. I could already picture how beautiful Rose’s hand would look with this adorning it.
“Thank you,” I said again.
There were tears in the witch’s eyes as she smiled. “It’s my absolute pleasure… There is one thing that I simply must ask before you leave though.” Her eyes roamed my body from head to toe. “Were you planning to look like that when you ask her?”
Chapter 36: Rose
After I finished telling my parents and everyone else in the room what had happened to us while we were away, it was my parents’ turn. They recounted their trip to North and South America, ending with their encounter with a hunter.
Silence filled the room as we finished talking.
“Mona… Has there been any update from her?” I asked.
My father looked toward Kiev, who was sitting a few feet away from him. My father reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. Unfolding it, he handed it to Kiev.
“As you will see from the note, Mona left the island.”
I stood up and hurried over to Kiev, looking over his shoulder at the note.
“She didn’t say where she’s gone?” Kiev stared at my parents disbelievingly.
My mother shook her head.
Kiev stood up, anguish in his eyes.
“It seems that she didn’t speak to anyone before she left,” my mother said. “Derek and I went looking for her after arriving back on the island. We visited your penthouse. The door was unlocked but she wasn’t at home. We just happened to find that note lying on the dining table.”
“Dammit,” Kiev breathed. He balled his fists, crumpling the note, and stormed out of the room. My heart ached for him. He had been through so much recently. The last thing he deserved was to be separated from Mona again. Yet I couldn’t help but feel hopeful at the witch’s note. It seemed like she was onto something. Otherwise why would she have left the island?
“Let’s hope she returns soon,” I muttered. There were so many people in this room, I was starting to feel claustrophobic. I decided to follow Caleb’s lead and step out for some fresh air.
“I’ll catch you later,” I said, waving toward my parents as I headed for the door.
I wasn’t even halfway across the room before my father whizzed past me and planted his feet on the floor in front of me.
“Where are you going exactly?”
“Just… outside. I’ll join Caleb.”
My father obviously didn’t have the heart to chastise me for leaving the island given that we’d managed to save some humans, but he looked disturbed all the same. His electric-blue gaze pierced through me. “I don’t like the way you keep slipping through my fingers, Rose.”
I didn’t know what to say. I just looked at him. He stepped aside, though I could feel his eyes still on me as I left Eli’s apartment.
I made my way down to the forest ground but, before going to find Caleb, I decided to go and talk to some of my human girlfriends. I hadn’t gotten any time alone with them since the ball, and I was dying to know what they’d thought of those dragons. I headed straight to the Vale and, on arriving in the town square, I caught sight of three girls sitting by the fountain, chatting with each other. As I neared, I recognized them as Sylvia, Becky, and Jessica.
“Hey, Rose!”
They each gave me a hug.
“How are you?” Sylvia asked.
“I’m okay. A bit exhausted… I haven’t seen you since the ball. How did it go with those guys?”
Sylvia and Jessica giggled as they exchanged glances.
“That’s just what I was asking them about,” Becky said. “All I can say is that if I wasn’t so in love with Griffin, I would definitely be in the market for a dragon.” She winked at me.
“You saw what went on at the ball,” Sylvia said. “As for what went on in our confidential meetings”—Jessica’s and Sylvia’s faces flushed bright red—“well, they’re called confidential for a reason.”
“Oh, okay. Fair enough,” I said. “I guess what I really wanted to ask was whether or not you like them.”
“Are you kidding?” Jessica said. “Tyron has ruined me for life. No other man will ever compare.” She sighed dreamily. “He redefines the word gentleman.”
“Good,” I said. “I will be interested to know how your second meeting goes with them too. You have dates tomorrow, right?”
Jessica nodded enthusiastically. “We were supposed to meet today. But Jeriad informed us that they had to postpone it for tomorrow.”
“Okay,” I said. “Well, see you around.”
Although I’d suspected that the girls would be bowled over by the dragons, I still felt relieved to hear it from their mouths. As I made my way back out of the Vale, I couldn’t help but wonder exactly what had happened during those private talks… and if indeed talking was what had gone on.
I turned my thoughts back to Caleb. I called out his name once I reached Eli’s tree again, but he didn’t respond. I guessed that meant he wasn’t in the area. We’ll bump into each other sooner or later.
Instead of going to seek him out, I continued walking alone in the forest. I replayed the events of the past twelve hours over in my head. Before I knew it, I had arrived at the Port. I walked to the edge of the jetty and sat down, dangling my feet above the calm waves. I still couldn’t shake the feeling of how uncanny this all was.
The human world knows about supernaturals.
I tried to imagine what the consequences of this might be. And I wondered whether the day would ever come when The Shade was discovered. I shuddered at the thought.
I almost jumped as a deep voice spoke my name. I twisted around to see Caleb standing behind me. Something about him looked… different. It looked like he’d had a shower, for sure, but his clothes also seemed different than what I was used to seeing him wearing. He wore a white long-sleeved shirt, rolled up to his elbows. The first three buttons of the shirt were undone, giving me a peek at his muscled chest. He wore dark pants with a brown leather belt around his waist. Something about his appearance reminded me of a windswept sailor. Yet he was well groomed at the same time. His dark hair touched the sides of his face and he still had a shadow of stubble around his jawline, giving him a rugged, sexy look—but it looked a little tidier than usual.
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