“Oh,” I said, knowing full well that we should have been more careful with our words. This wasn’t our territory and we never knew who was listening. No change for me but a total departure for someone like Valenthia.
“Yeah, no biggie,” said Xanthe cheerfully, “back to Rhonen though, he’s really interested in your other friend!”
“I’ll let her know!” I said happily enjoying the one piece of welcome news that I’d been given.
“Do you think she likes him too?” asked Xanthe excitedly, “because if she does, we could set them up!”
“I’ll ask her and let you know,” I replied, not wanting to be the one to reveal Natalie’s feelings.
“Okay!” said Xanthe and as I went to open the heavy set of doors she added, “by the way that door won’t lead you back in. In fact, it won’t exist the moment you’ve stepped through it.” Seeing the look on my face she continued, “look for the tallest spruce tree. There is a crescent moon carved into its’ trunk. Connect with it and you can re-enter the academy.”
“Thanks!” I said and as I impulsively opened the doors and stepped into the obscurity of the dreary forest, I briefly wished I’d asked Natalie and Valenthia to come with me, especially because Valenthia already knew her way confidently around the Unterlicht Forest.
I started to recognize little parts of the forest that were, as promised, identical to Silver Scape. However, there was an eerie darkness that pervaded the entire space. It was obvious not just because the forest inside the academy had been so different but also in and of itself. The heaviness of the atmosphere made the grounds of Bloodline Academy seem like a breeze. I quickly sensed that other supernatural beings dwelled here. And they were all fully dark-blooded.
Hearing a distant howl somewhere off into the depths of the woodland I froze, looking behind me. Yep, as Xanthe had informed me the doors of the academy had vanished as soon as I’d used them. How had Valenthia kept coming back here, I asked myself? Because none of us had a choice – especially not me. I warily closed my eyes and concentrated on calling to Moldark, hoping that my weakening vampire powers wouldn’t fail me. I should’ve practiced beforehand but I couldn’t very well call him to come to the academy. That would have been a grave mistake.
Nothing happened apart from that my acute hearing picked up on every little twig that snapped and leaf that bristled around me. As it happened, it was a moonless night here. Or the clouds were covering the moon. It wasn’t a good sign that I was at the point of guessing rather than knowing this. I closed my eyes again, concentrating on the blackness under closed eyelids. I tried to telepath my location to him as well as that I was hungry and so were my friends. I called out to him and I thought I felt a quiver in the air but couldn’t be sure.
What had I been thinking? How on earth was he supposed to get to me anyway? My mom had once called me and apparently it was a common thing that vamps did but we were on a different continent. Why had I expected him to appear at the blink of an eye? If Natalie and Valenthia had needed Professor Frewin to help move them here, why had I expected Moldark to simply up sticks and locate me?
I began walking through the forest with determination, despite having nowhere to go. I decided to find the tree Xanthe had mentioned and go back to the academy. If Ulric had thought my plans were half-baked before, this one was a joke. Only it wasn’t funny because it made me realize how out of my depth I was. In the middle of the mountains where the most feared vamps in the entire world lived, without a clue of what I was doing or how I was ever going to hunt down Kellum Bathory. Even thinking about him there alone in the midst of the denseness, so close to where Elizabeth Bathory had once resided, gave me the absolute creeps. He was an evil murdering vampire and here I was completely unarmed. Just like my mom had been. I shook free of the thought that I’d be another one of his victims.
Suddenly, I heard a whirring sound that literally made my blood run cold. My blooming prickled in response and I knew there was a vampire near by. A Sanguine. I ferociously sent out thoughts, like spells into the night, hoping that the one I was sensing was Valenthia. That she’d somehow found out through Xanthe that I’d snuck outside.
“Who is it?” I called, finding the nearest tree and purposely backing myself against it so I could look around, protected from behind. “Val, is that you?” I immediately regretted calling out, making my presence known to whoever it was. I knew in my bones that it wasn’t Valenthia. I jumped as I heard a howl that wasn’t as distant as it had been before. This had been a royally bad decision.
“Well, hello,” said Moldark, walking casually out from behind a nearby rush of some very slim and tall trees.
“Hi,” I called, breathing out a gasp of relief.
“Don’t you think this place has an awesome vibe?” he exclaimed, adjusting his perfectly styled hair as his charcoal eyes gleamed. “I knew I should have gone to Cachtice Academy from the beginning!”
“You heard me,” I said, genuinely surprised.
“Why not? You called me, didn’t you – or maybe I called you,” smirked Moldark. “Oh, and I got the shopping list too,” he said, pulling his backpack off his back and opening it to reveal several bottles of blood. “Hungry?” he smirked.
“Thanks!” I said as he handed me the whole bag. I opened it and surveyed the contents. There was more than enough for the three of us.
“So,” said Moldark watching me quizzically, “here we are.”
“Here we are,” I said feeling slightly awkward about how distracted I was by the contents of the bag.
“Don’t mind me, have one,” said Moldark picking up on how I felt. He gestured for me to open the bag and when I did, he felt around inside it, retrieving a bottle that was slightly larger than the rest. “Here, I recommend this fine vintage,” he smiled, handing me the bottle.
“Are you sure – would you like some?”
“I’m good,” Moldark smirked, a lopsided smile that echoed nothing but confidence and a bit of amusement. “Go ahead.”
“Thanks,” I carefully closed the bag and placed it on the ground. My body tingled in anticipation as I opened the bottle and I tried to disperse the muted silver curls of magic that floated off me.
Moldark continued to watch me as I put the bottle to my lips and began to down the warm liquid. A sense of peace immediately began to hit me. It felt like I was the only one in the forest and even in the whole world. With each hungry sip I took, the pain and angst that had been burdening me, dissipated. I could feel my magic surfacing, meeting my Sanguine side and strengthening it, showing me that I could conquer all. That Kellum Bathory would cower in my midst. Even as I drank, I realized that this hit of blood was having a far greater effect than the bottle Valenthia had given me before we’d left the Louisianan forest.
“Happy to oblige,” grinned Moldark as I shook the last few drops of blood from the bottle, breathing heavily as my hunger pangs were satisfied.
“Wow!” I said, louder than I’d intended, “That was amazing!”
“It’s because you were truly starving,” replied Moldark, “which is ironic because there’s such a high quality of blood to be had in these parts. Did you pick up on the blood group?”
“B?” I asked, although it was a complete guess as I’d been so hungry, the subtle notes were the last thing I’d been paying attention to.
“Correct,” smiled Moldark, “I remembered you liked it…thought it was sweet,” he said looking off into the distance.
“I do like group B – although I’m truly thankful for anything right now,” I said as the blood took hold and where I’d normally be self-conscious, I only felt brash.
“Indeed, how does it feel being a vampire fugitive?” said Moldark, gazing around like he owned the place.
“Weird,” was my honest reply. “You knew I was on the run.”
“Everyone knows you’re on the run. You and your two little friends.”
He only knew about Natalie and Valenthia because everyone at Bloodl
ine Academy thought Ulric was missing separately. Had I told him I was planning to meet with Moldark, Ulric would have insisted on coming along and that really would have been disastrous. “I’m really sorry if I’ve put you in an awkward position,” I said, remembering that I didn’t even know how he’d been able to get here. “How did you get here, anyway?” I added, not actually wanting to know the answer.
“Because you called me,” he replied, either not picking up on what I was getting at or pretending not to.
“But all the way from New Orleans?” I pushed.
“Oh, I’m not at St. Erzsebet’s anymore,” replied Moldark with a grin, “that’s probably why you were inclined to call out to me – you innately sensed my closeness and I, yours.”
“Since when?” I asked, floored. We only left a couple of weeks ago. How had he transferred so soon?
“Since the day you left and as a result of all the reasons that led you to come here, St. Erzsebet’s has been under heavy scrutiny for gross incompetence by the Sanguine Guild of Europe.”
“But the one whose fault it is that my mom died is a huge part of the Dark Legion!” I said indignantly.
“Okay, firstly I already told you once, the Sanguine Guild and Dark Legion have some overlap but aren’t interchangeable groups,” said Moldark like he was lecturing a toddler, “and secondly, that’s not why the academy and its’ profs have been called into question.”
“Fine, then why? And you still haven’t answered my question about when you left from there,” I said sounding as petulant as he’d made me out to be.
“I’m getting there. Has anyone ever told you, you look cute when you’re mad?” he smirked arrogantly. Yes, I thought to myself, Ulric had but it obviously wasn’t something I was going to get into with him. There was another howl from nearby that drew my attention. Even though the blood was coursing through my veins, making me feel invincible, it had also sharpened my senses. Moldark too, followed the sound. “Black Banes,” he said, “don’t worry, they follow orders from us.” Only from you, I thought but didn’t correct him.
“You were saying?”
“St. Erzsebet’s has gone overnight from being one of the schools every vampire wants to get into, to being a subpar institution that many are now looking to get out of. The reason? Its’ former Head of Security, a mediocre Novus vamp also known as Madame le Boursier was plotting against Sanguine vampires everywhere, right under the administration’s nose. And, had it not been for how things unfolded with you and your mom – may her Sanguine soul rest in peace – that third-rate Novus, le Boursier would have gotten away with it.”
“Oh,” I said, knowing no other way to respond.
“Yes. And why am I here? Because I wasn’t about to continue on at a school with anything less than a stellar reputation,” said Moldark like he was a paying customer who’d just cancelled his subscription. “I pulled some strings and the very next day, I packed my bags and moved to Cachtice Academy.”
“Are they looking for me?” I asked. What I really wanted to know was what exactly he’d meant that he’d pulled some strings? I’d assumed he had connections in the Sanguine Guild of Europe but now I was almost certain he did.
“Who?” he asked bemused.
“The principal and profs at St. Erzsebets,” I answered.
“Oh, Nadasdy’s in enough trouble with the Sanguine Guild that I think he’s got his hands full. Professors Duquette and Devin have done exactly what I’ve done – they’re now teaching at my new school – Cachtice Academy,” Moldark smiled at what must have been my look of horror.
“Are you going to tell them I’m here?” I asked.
“Would you like me to?” asked Moldark teasingly.
“Seriously? What do you think?”
“Come on, I’m a Sanguine,” said Moldark in an offended tone, “do you think I’ve got nothing better to do than to rat you out? Not my style.”
“Wait a second, if you’re at Cachtice Academy, is Kellum Bathory teaching there?” I asked in a hoarse voice.
“He’s my Dark Magic professor,” replied Moldark, “He streams away as soon as class ends – never hangs about. Too risky with his vampire-hunting niece hot on his trail,” Moldark winked. To him this was obviously all a game. Some free entertainment. To me, it was life or death.
“You know the Dark Legion is definitely looking for me,” I said wanting to move on, “why are you being nice to me?”
“Because vampire alliances are a complicated thing,” replied Moldark, “and because I like you.”
“How so?” I asked ignoring the second part.
“You’re here to take out Kellum Bathory,” Moldark said as I nodded. No point playing down a fact. “He’s got the loyalty of certain vamps in the Sanguine Guild of Europe and obviously of the Dark Legion.”
“Great,” I said. It was something I knew but it still peeved me to think how well-backed my poisonous uncle actually was.
“He’s a Bathory, it’s to be expected,” replied Moldark shrugging his shoulders. “Anyway, just because he has the Sanguine Guild’s loyalty doesn’t mean he has the respect of everyone within it.”
“Really?” I asked.
“There are two camps.”
“Aren’t there always?” I quipped.
“I don’t know,” said Moldark shaking his head like he was put out. I assumed he was annoyed that anyone had the gall to interrupt him while he was talking. “One side of the Sanguine Guild is a bunch of vampire supremacists – much like your uncle Kellum. They think what he did, was right on track. The other side…let’s say they’re very curious to get to know you.”
“Why?” I asked cautiously. Of course, this was exactly what I’d been looking for but still, vampire curiosity usually never ended well. If I was ever to get to Kellum Bathory, in this part of the world I definitely needed contacts in the Sanguine Guild. That much even Principal Silverstone had made clear. But it made me very uncomfortable if the interest was two-way.
“In case you missed the essence of our classes at St. Erzsebet’s, there’s a big reckoning coming,” said Moldark, narrowing his eyes like he couldn’t believe how slow I was to catch on, “this means we need everyone on side. And you’re one of the most powerful Sanguine vampires there are, in terms of age and experience. I know it, Duquette and Devin know it, the Sanguine Guild will soon know it.”
“I don’t know if that’s true but –”
“It’s true. It’s like the witch inside you, brings out the Sanguine in you even more potently,” he said summing it up accurately. “There was a reason you ended up at a vampire academy and now I think it’s being revealed.”
“So, what does that mean?” I asked, “That part of the Sanguine Guild is cool for me to slay Kellum Bathory?”
“He forced your mom to die because he thought he was stronger than her,” said Moldark, “no one understands the need for revenge better than a vampire. And, for the right alliance you might be the one who’s given the advantage over Kellum Bathory, making it possible to get your wish.”
“I – I still don’t get it,” I fumbled around with the straps of the bag as I hoisted it up on my shoulders, “you think the Sanguine Guild will just offer me everything I want?”
“No idea,” said Moldark, somehow lessened that he’d had to admit to not knowing, “but the Sanguine Guild is the powerhouse as far as we’re concerned. Get someone there on side and there’s not much to hold you back. It’s just a thought – and because I happen to know how vampire politics work, sometimes only too well.”
“You didn’t know I was going to call on you,” I said getting ready to leave but unsure how to make an exit without Moldark feeling used. It hadn’t been my intention and yet that was already how I felt. Like I was using him.
“No, but everyone knew it was only a matter of time before you’d surface.”
“According to whom?” I asked annoyed. What were they doing across the forest, taking bets?
“Professor Duque
tte. She instructed us to inform her immediately as she wanted to be the one to assist you. She also wanted to be the one to kick your friends’ sorry behinds for helping you to run away,” said Moldark shaking his head with a smirk.
“And you didn’t report me?”
“No one’s the boss of me. Certainly not Queen B,” said Moldark.
“Wait a minute, she knows Nat and Val are with me?” I asked uncomfortably, confirming how much danger they were in. They were of course, already on the radar.
“She wasn’t born yesterday. Yes, the three of you went missing within twenty-four hours of each other. It was pretty obvious. And became increasingly so when Valenthia was seen in this very forest – and get this – hunting mortals who are supporters of the Dark Legion!”
“What?” I stuttered, completely thrown off.
“Yeah, she practically used an X to mark the spot of which region you were all in,” said Moldark.
“She could’ve been killed!”
“Indeed. Or worse, hauled away to be questioned – I’d warn her about that, torture is a given when vampires are taken in by the Sanguine Guild for questioning.”
It bugged me how pleased Moldark was to be delivering this information. It also made me want to shake some sense into Valenthia. I got how hungry she was but how had she thought that stalking evil humans by waltzing into a dark and unknown forest – crawling with dark-blooded creatures – was the sensible thing to do? There was no way I wouldn’t be confronting her about this. It was too dangerous to simply turn a blind-eye.
“I take it you have a place to stay?” said Moldark, interrupting my anxious thoughts.
“Yes, but I can’t tell you where it is,” I snapped, unconsciously taking a step backwards.
“I’m not asking where but I take it you’re not camping out here – as nice as it is.”
“No.” I said. There was an awkward pause between us as he continued to stare at me. For some reason, my heart beat faster as he watched me. I concentrated on the background symphony of the forest, noticing that the werewolves had stopped howling and I could no longer sense their presence nearby.
Sanguine Spell Page 12
