“It’s not Kat’s fault,” interrupted Professor Frewin, “a blood-bond is a complicated thing and of all people, you should know what it’s like to have your loyalties split down the middle,” he scolded Ulric.
“Yes, sir,” scoffed Ulric but his expression softened.
“As much as I have my own, very uncomplimentary opinions about the S.L.A., I’ve informed them of Elizabeth Bathory’s return,” said Principal Silverstone, trying to move on, “I did it because there is the chance of an alliance in these uncertain times.”
“What about Professor Frewin?” I asked.
“There will need to be some negotiations before I agree for the Silver Shadows to lend their support. His freedom will be part of the terms. But with our proximity to Cachtice Castle, the S.L.A. will do well to keep us on side under the circumstances.”
I made my way towards the dorm room, glad to leave the principal’s office and everyone in it behind for now. Safi and Natalie were waiting in the common area and they ran up to me, almost knocking me off my feet. The three of us stayed like that for a few minutes until I saw Rhonen waving sheepishly from the other side. I waved back and let go of my friends as he came over.
“I hear you’ve had quite the time,” he remarked, “we were all worried about you.”
“She’s back now,” said Safi.
“Of course, that’s the most important thing,” agreed Rhonen as Natalie shyly smiled at him, “anyway, I’ll leave you gals to relax,” he smiled back at Natalie and walked off.
We reached our room and I learned that Safi was now our fourth roommate. “Like old times,” she happily announced. Natalie looked content with Safi’s arrival but also completely exhausted. After the long inquisition in Principal Silverstone’s office, the sun was setting but I could tell by my friend’s pallid complexion that she’d been up for ages and sleeping less than she should have been.
“I guess,” I laughed. My face fell as I looked over at Valenthia, still asleep in her bed where I’d left her. I filled them in on everything with Moldark and how Professor Frewin had lied about being able to bring Valenthia back. I didn’t go into how mad at me Ulric was. Seeing Valenthia, it wasn’t my top priority. “She could be like this forever,” I lamented, laying back on my bed, “and all it would have taken was for Moldark to come here and break the spell he learned to cast in Kellum Bathory’s class. Plus, I bet even in hiding he would have found a way to get his hands on some bottles of blood – you must be starving,” I said to Natalie. I knew I was.
“I’ve always thought of Moldark as a dark horse,” said Natalie pensively, “but he seems to have some light that he keeps well-hidden, even if he does go about things the wrong way.”
“This time last year, I would have disagreed purely on the grounds that he’s a vampire but I’m unlearning my discrimination,” Safi said. There was a pause as we each watched Valenthia and I wondered if she could hear us. “I don’t know much about blood-bonds,” Safi deliberated, “but does it enable you to read each other’s minds?”
“We can sense if the other is in danger,” I replied, “but no, it doesn’t extend to reading each other’s minds. However, I can read his as he gave me permission.”
“That’s amazing!” said Safi as Natalie and I both waited for her to explain. “You’re both attached through blood, which is a majorly strong bond. And, now you are attached to him in another sense too, by reading his mind.”
“Okay?” I said, knowing that to my bestie’s brilliant mind, I must have come across as very dim.
“This is a complete guess but because you have both light and dark sides, what if you can use the mind-meld and the blood-bond to connect to him?”
“But even if I dip into his mind, there’s no way he’ll be randomly thinking about how to break the Soporatus Spell when I read him,” I said.
“No but what if you connect to him and try and channel his dark magic into yours? Kind of like a mixing of both sides?” suggested Safi.
“Elizabeth Bathory boasted of something similar with…someone she shared a blood-bond with!” I recalled, skipping who that particular blood-bond had been with, “Safi, you’re a genius!”
I went and sat beside Valenthia and closed my eyes. It took me a while to quieten my mind which was buzzing with excitement and nerves. Moldark had woken up and zoning into his mind, I could instantly tell he was in a sore mood after everything that had happened during the day. I knew interrupted sleep wasn’t the only thing that lent to his mood but my aim wasn’t to go into the minutia of his thoughts. It was to blend with his general mind enough to access a very small part of his knowledge at will. I rooted around his mind also focussing on our connection through blood. When I usually summoned my magic, silver swirls came off my body and mixed brightly with the environment. It felt empowering. This time, I felt a heavy energy come through me and ooze out. I felt drained and nauseous as words I didn’t recognize or understand tumbled through my mouth and my hands hovered over Valenthia’s still body. It was over quickly and Safi and Natalie steadied me and eased me back across the room, onto my bed.
“That was something serious!” said Safi, “What did it feel like, do you think you completed the ritual?”
“I have no idea,” I said still feeling dizzy, “I guess there’s a reason Moldark said he’d have to be there to make it work,” I sighed.
“Maybe she’ll…” began Natalie.
“Guys!” said Safi, “Look!” We followed her gaze and saw the Valenthia stirring slightly. All three of us sprang up from my bed and made our way over to her, although Safi kept a safe distance.
“Val!” said Natalie, stroking her hair as Valenthia slowly opened her eyes.
“What happened? How long have I been out?” asked Valenthia sitting up weakly in her bed, “Why is she here?” she said looking at Safi.
“All in good time,” I answered. A smile spread across my face as I held onto the moment where we were together and at least for now, we were safe.
Epilogue
I stifled a yawn, tired from all the classes that I’d attended and glad to be back in our dorm room. Ever since Samantha Silverstone had arrived, the academy had split into two distinct schedules as apparently some werewolves also preferred a nocturnal timetable and Samantha was in charge of co-ordinating the night lessons. This meant Natalie and Valenthia were no longer obliged to stay up during the day if they were to attend any of the core classes either.
I, on the other hand was finding my own body a mixed bag and since Safi’s arrival, I’d decided to go with day classes, having had enough experience of my Sanguine side recently. It was also giving us the well-needed chance to finally hang out together again and catch up. Despite that the supernatural world was on high-alert since the return of the Blood Countess, I was finding that being around Safi, gave me a carefree feeling I hadn’t known in a long time.
“Enjoy Moon Magic,” said Safi to Natalie and Valenthia who were just heading out of the door to begin their day.
“It’s History of Moon Magic and we’re vampires,” pouted Valenthia, “but thanks.” Yep, it was good to know that she was back to her old self.
“It’s actually quite interesting and as vampires, the moon affects us too,” quipped Natalie.
“That’s the spirit!” I held up my almost empty bottle of blood, happy to be turning in for the night. We’d ended up getting blood in copious amounts since Principal Silverstone had authorized it. Apparently, Professor Frewin had had a hand in procuring it and I assumed it was by way of apology for what he’d pulled at the castle. Even Ulric had changed his tune and had stopped bringing up the blood-bond. I was still a bit mad at him for the way he’d reacted but I knew that if I’d been the one sharing him with some other girl, I would have found it an equally bitter pill to swallow.
Safi threw a pillow at me, holding up her new moonstone with pride. I did a quick check for mine as well, it was still safe on my nightstand. “Hey!” I complained, tossing the pillow back
at her, “you almost made me spill my blood!”
“Night, lady,” she said, waiting for me to finish up my bottle and turning off the bedside lamp near her.
***
I must have slept for no more than a couple of hours when I was woken by the hoarse and searing screams in my head. I sat up soaked in sweat, as I tried to shake away the nightmare. My heart missed a beat as I realized that although the visions had ended when I’d opened my eyes, the screams of pain continued.
Dread circled like a ravenous shark in my stomach and as I closed my eyes again, I saw him once more. Moldark was being subjected to the most agonizing hexes by more than one dark magic practitioner and though I couldn’t tell who they were, I could feel his fear for their ruthlessness. I looked over at Safi who was sleeping soundly contrasted by my desperation which grew by the second. I had to go to him.
I took a few deep breaths and as the screams continued, I called up all my courage as I dressed silently. Placing my quartz crystal and the moonstone in my pocket, I attempted to momentarily block out Moldark’s distress before it overwhelmed me. He needed me but feeling his anguish, I equally knew I needed to go to him with every drop of my own blood. I summoned my magic and conjured up my invisibility shield so I could leave Silverstone Academy unseen.
THE END
I hope you enjoyed Sanguine Spell, the third book of the Bloodline Academy series! DUAL DESTINY, the fourth and final installment in the series will be available to pre-order very soon!
Sometimes the only way to beat the darkness, is to become it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ahava Trivedi grew up in the south of England and almost on a whim one day, decided to up and move to Toronto, Canada with her sister. She is mostly a fiction author who, similar to her hasty move across the pond, likes to dive headlong into writing the stories that she would like to read. Ahava’s love of all things magical and fantastical began somewhere between Dracula the Series, on Nickelodeon and Harry Potter. When she’s not writing, Ahava can be found chilling in a local coffee shop with her toddler or with a book in her hand, reading about anything with wings, fins, fangs or glitter.
If you’d like to contact Ahava, she’d love to hear from you! Here are some ways to get in touch:
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Sanguine Spell Page 27
