Trials of the Vampire
Page 1
Trials of the Vampire
A Witch Between Worlds: Book #2
Emma Glass
Contents
A Witch Between Worlds…
Also by Emma Glass
1. Elliott
2. Clara
3. Elliott
4. Sabine
5. Elliott
6. Elliott
7. Clara
8. Elliott
9. Nikki
10. Clara
11. Elliott
12. Clara
13. Elliott
14. Clara
15. Clara
16. Elliott
17. Sabine
18. Elliott
19. Clara
20. Elliott
21. Elliott
22. Clara
23. Elliott
24. Elliott
25. Elliott
26. Clara
27. Clara
28. Elliott
29. Clara
30. Clara
The Unknown...
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Also by Emma Glass
A Witch Between Worlds…
A desperate attempt at salvation has brought tragedy to Stonehold Castle.
Clara Blackwell sleeps an unnatural sleep, led deeper into her dreams by a figure from her past. Driven into powerful mourning, Elliott struggles to balance watching over her slumbering body with ruling over a vampire civilization, in a world where magic enhances everything – especially the vicious, dangerous wildlife.
But events have begun to shift on the global scale. No longer can Elliott Craven ignore the threat of the other vampire lords – powerful enemies eager to get their hands on the world’s single human being, no matter the cost.
As Clara and Elliott triumphantly reunite, they must face down deception and danger both near and far, for the night is dark and determined to destroy them. By a cruel twist of fate, their greatest strengths may be the thing that threatens to unravel them…
Also by Emma Glass
A Witch Between Worlds Series
The Vampire’s Witch (Book 1)
Trials of the Vampire (Book 2) - Available Now
A Vampire’s Fate (Book 3) - Coming SOON
1
Elliott
The longer Clara Blackwell remained comatose in a medical bed, the deeper I felt myself fall into an inconsolable depression. Silently, I watched her through the glass and reflected on my mistakes.
The protection spell was used with only the best of intentions, I heard the reminder in the back of my head. Clara was in grave danger. Vampires have an insatiable hunger for human blood – you’ve felt it yourself. You have seen what it does to even the friendliest of people…
And someone had come looking for her.
But the spell backfired.
There was no telling what really happened. One minute, she was fine if not horribly confused; the next, everything seemed to go utterly wrong.
My wrath had no proper outlet. Without the truth, there was no clear person or circumstance to blame. There were simply just too many factors in play. The problem could’ve been the spell itself, the sorceress casting it, the unstable conditions, outright sabotage, or even…
My eyes closed with grief.
I could still feel that coursing wind that held me at bay that night. I remembered how hard it was to take one horrified step after another, pushing myself forward to desperately reach her.
You interrupted the magic, Elliott. Maybe you yourself are just as much to blame…
There were no answers.
That was the worst part.
There is always an answer, logic dictated. But here I stood, blindly grasping at straws. All the while, the one I’d meant to save lied on a medical bay bed – suspended in a deep, magical sleep that none of us could even pretend to understand.
“How?” Asking nobody in particular, I firmly planted my palms against the windowpane and lowered my head in sinking despair. “How could this have happened?”
A voice approached. “It’s simple, really.”
I glanced up. The regal, aloof woman that I reluctantly called a mother strolled down the hall. My disposition soured at the very sight of her. “We were all there, Elliott. It was–”
“Rhetorical,” I snapped an annoyed glance at Lorelei Craven. “It was rhetorical.”
My mother folded her arms, turning away in faint disinterest. “You were never of a particularly patient mind, Elliott – and in that impatience, you turned to dangerous and unproven magic.” She tilted her head curiously. “How, then, could you be surprised that this is the fruit you must reap?”
I hated that she barely cared.
I hated even more that she was right.
“Clara’s life was endangered,” I reminded her. Yet I could barely convince even myself that I’d been right to rush ahead with what she rightfully called ‘unproven magic.’ But I’m not about to tell her that – she seems to get angrier not when I make a mistake, but when I admit it… “What would you have had me do instead?”
“You have always been a creature of logic, my son. Desperation doesn’t suit you. Why you chose now to try it on for size, I have no idea.” Lorelei turned to the glass. “That desperation might have killed her. It’s likely we won’t know for sure until some time has passed – when she’s either woken back up, or dropped dead.”
While true, the observation only twisted the knife. My forehead slowly lowered to the window, and I sank further into bleak despair. Had I been of right mind, I wouldn’t have ever dreamed of letting the words fall from my lips.
“You’ve failed me lately.”
The change in the air was immediate. I heard a small, accusatory hiss seep from her crimson lips, but there was no going back now.
“Every time that I’ve asked you for advice this past year, you have feigned disinterest…” I pried myself from the glass with mounting anger. “You want to abdicate the throne? Fine, I’ll pick up the slack. You want to thrust it into my unprepared hands? Then ‘trial by fire’ it is.”
I took a few menacing steps closer.
“But you’ve done nothing to guide me, nothing to teach me. You offer me no support, only your constant criticism.” I glared into her eyes, forcing her to turn away. “You were never like this before. You’re like a stranger to me now. How have you so radically changed?”
For a brief moment, a flicker of regret crossed Lorelei’s face. But then came the aloof haze that I hated so much, washing away any accountability from her expression.
Fine. If you’ll be no help to me…
“Leave me,” I growled.
She couldn’t even be bothered to argue.
Without so much as another glance at Clara’s comatose body in the medical bay, Lorelei Craven casually sauntered back down the hallway.
The door quietly clicked behind me as I stepped back into the room, observing the six vampires I’d handpicked to save Clara Blackwell.
I had to be near her again.
Vampires had little need of medical staff, not with our regenerative systems. But the rulers of the Eight Holds, myself included, lived firmly in the public eye. With our stations of power, it was unreasonable to chance a coup leaving a lingering wound, or even a simple untreated mishap. Thus, we kept some of the most qualified professionals in the world at our employ, serving in our castles.
The two best nurses in Stonehold were here on the Isle of Obsidian, constantly tending to the human in our care. Clara’s vital signs beeped over a few antiquated machines as they carefully kept an eye on her. This was almost a formality, as I didn’t honestly expect them to be particularly useful to the cause. The nurses and their devices were used to v
ampire anatomy, after all.
Furthermore, nobody was fooled here. We all knew Clara’s unnatural rest was the direct result of powerful magic gone awry, something beyond the skill and scope of purely medical expertise.
Speaking of the Devil…
My gaze shifted to the sorceress. The newest visitor to my castle kept herself buried in the very spellbook she’d used to perform the spell. In an act of implied selflessness, the exotic Sabine was insistent on remaining near Clara, determined to find a way to bring her back to us.
Even with only fleeting interactions with her, I sense more to Sabine. I called upon a powerful caster from the mainland – looks like I’ve gotten one. But I can’t help but wonder why she offers her services so freely…
She hadn’t asked for anything; Sabine arrived in the castle with little more than meager supplies and a demonstration of her power. But dismissing her left only one other nearby vampire capable of discovering the truth: Sebastian, the elderly sage deep down in the castle libraries. Already, I had the old man digging in the ancient literature. The tragedy had shaken him, for it was he who found the spell in the first place…
Perhaps I’m wrong, I reasoned. If she truly acts in compassion, then Sabine is right to prioritize the danger over the perceived rewards. It was foolish, I know, but there was a part of me that didn’t want her anywhere near Clara.
The nurses kept glancing distractedly at the other three in the room, perched together nearby. Clara’s chosen guardians were formerly royal knights of mine that she’d personally picked to protect her: the ever-cheerful jokester Wilhelm, his peaceful and brooding partner Viktor, and the sensible yet blunt Asarra. I’d ordered the three of them to remain present here, in case any of the others gave into the legendary bloodlust that vampires held for human beings.
Even Wilhelm was uncharacteristically grim. Since Clara’s collapse, I hadn’t seen so much as a smirk cross his usually jovial face. If nothing else, his change in attitude reassured me that he was taking it seriously. If Wilhelm of all people can’t bring himself to crack a joke, then I can trust the others to work themselves to the bone over Clara…
Between the six of them, I truly felt that my adoring, otherworldly guest was in good hands.
I just hoped it would be enough.
The others barely acknowledged my presence as I checked on Clara. Good. I should be an afterthought in this room.
Standing over her with a heavy heart, I lightly tilted my chin towards one of her Knightly Trio. Solemn, thoughtful Viktor blinked to attention at my motion, still conditioned to serve his liege.
“Have there been any changes?” I asked.
“None, Lord Elliott,” he answered dutifully. “Clara sleeps peacefully as ever. Not so much as a fitful twist or a roll out of this one. She rests just as calmly as we guards do.”
Viktor referred, naturally, to the treatments royal guards were given during their training. One of their gained talents was a deep and restful pause they could activate or dispel at will. When he or she so chose, a royal guard could slip into a statuesque sleep to allow time to pass while they upheld their duties. Being former guards, the three guardians held that ability still.
I folded my arms wearily. “This couldn’t have possibly happened at a worst time. News from the chrysm mines grows bleaker by the day.” I turned to the guardian with a hint of irritation. “Soon, it will be expected for me to depart the castle and tend to the problem in person.”
His companions shared a meaningful look.
“You’re leaving?” Wilhelm asked.
My eyes trailed to the comatose girl. I took a step towards her and warmly stroked away a few stray strands of her hair. She looked so serene in her slumber – just as always in the fortnight that I’d spent waking up beside her.
“It’s the last thing I want to do right now. But the needs of the people tie my hands. If what Silas tells me is true...” I lightly stroked my knuckles against her rosy, flush cheek. With a small smile, I tried to memorize the tranquility across her face, so elegantly painted and composed. Reluctantly, I glanced back up at Clara’s bodyguard.
“I could have a full-scale revolt on my hands. I don’t need to remind you that our entire planet is dependent on the stuff – especially our reserves. If our chrysm harvest halts, we could stand at the brink of worldwide pandemonium.”
The room was silent. I realized that everyone was watching me, and I grunted with annoyance. “I can’t delay the inevitable any longer. The entire point of our spell was to ensure her safety while I was tending to this disaster. It’s already been two days… I can’t avoid my responsibilities as ruler of Stonehold any longer. I’m needed off the island.”
Wilhelm narrowed his eyes. The expression was one that I immediately hated. “With all due respect, Lord Elliott… you’ve ignored the pleas of your boring old chancellor for as far back as I can remember. Since when did you start caring about your responsibilities?”
Every pair of eyes focused on us.
“Since my time with Clara has shown me the lack of confidence my people have in my reign,” I replied coolly. “Case in point, that outburst. The only reason I’m not having you severely punished for that remark is the stress this situation puts us both under.”
I leaned forward with a look of pure malice. If my subjects are this willing to speak out against me, particularly after only a single year in my reign…
“Wilhelm, you above most others understand my thoughts on insubordination. If it wasn’t for your obvious care towards your human charge – and that I know you speak only in her defense – I’d happily relieve some of my crippling stress by personally whipping your back bloody.”
Wilhelm’s defiance evaporated in a heartbeat. I had never threatened one of my own subjects in such a way before, and the thought of it made my stomach turn. But the inexplicable arrival of a mythological creature on my world, and a human being at that, forced me to do a number of things I’d never done before.
Satisfied at his silence, I addressed the group. “Your orders remain. As far as any of you are to be concerned, Clara is my priority right now. Protect her while I’m stuck solving the damned problems on the mainland.”
The six of them respectfully nodded together. Even Sabine, the relative newcomer that she was, seemed devotedly committed to the cause, despite my thoughtful suspicions.
Innocent until shown otherwise…
“Good,” I noted appreciatively. “Now, I’ll leave you all to it. Keep her stable, keep her safe… and find a goddamn way to save her.”
With that order, I turned to leave. I only made it a few strides away before the weight in my core tugged my boots to a complete stop. No, I decided. There’s still something I have to do first…
They looked surprised as I walked back to the comatose human’s side. Quickly bending over her slumbering body, I planted my lips to hers.
Come back to me, Clara, I urged her.
I need you.
2
Clara
While my body slept faraway in a world full of vampires that lusted for my blood, my mind was elsewhere. In a distant land that felt like a distant dream, I walked alongside my grandmother.
In her company, I spent some time admiring the crisp waves and how they continuously rolled against the soft sand. But this isn’t a dream at all, is it? I thought as I basked in the sounds of the soothing sea breeze, and how it whipped in from over the ocean. Even if I couldn’t feel the salty air on my skin or the lapping water against my toes, the striking tropical sights didn’t suffer.
At any rate, this wasn’t like any dream that I’d had before. Even the recurring nightmares that had plagued me for weeks – so familiar to me by now – had nothing on my clarity here. While I usually dreamt in half-formed details, the world here felt as real as the vampiric world – and as the world I’d been calling home for seventeen years.
“Come,” she pointed towards a nearby trail in the treeline, one I could have sworn wasn’t the
re just moments before. “The ocean is beautiful, yes, but where we’re going requires less distraction.”
As Grandma strolled forward with her cane, her bohemian clothes and gypsy jewelry fluidly moved around her body. It was buffeted by a gust of wind that I couldn’t feel. It was just another reminder of the reality to my situation: No matter how realistic this all is, I’m not really here with her.
Sand still trailed up the slight incline into the jungle. As the crashing waves receded quietly into the background, I realized that the jungle around us stood completely still and silent. Without the slightest hint of wildlife, this entire place felt like it was somehow just for us.
In a way, maybe it was.
Either seconds or eons later, we were further up the trail. The sand faded to dirt; the surrounding jungle thickened to the point of near darkness on either side of our path.
I realized that my elderly guide was observing me from the corner of her eye, just as silent as the trees around us. While I wondered how long she’d been watching me for a reaction, a small smirk lit up her face.
“Tell me, Clara… what you see?”
“Everything is grayscale,” I observed quietly. “There’s no color in the moonlight. Maybe there’s just no color here altogether.”
“Perhaps. But perhaps you’re just colorblind.”