Dangerous Lovers

by Becca Vincenza

  Finally, she cleared her throat and said, “Is there anything you’d like to tell me?”

  I shifted a little, but managed to hold her gaze. “Um, I don’t think so.”

  Her sharp eyebrows shot up. “I see. So, you didn’t choke Victoria Talis yesterday in the school cafeteria?”

  I swallowed hard, but mostly I was just grateful that this wasn’t about Soraya and the village. It had hit me upon walking in her office that she might be calling me in because she knew about my trip through the forest. I could handle being in trouble myself, but I would have never forgiven myself if I’d gotten Soraya in trouble.

  I nodded slowly, pretending to think about it. “Oh, actually, yes, I did.” No point in lying.

  She took another sip of tea. “I see.”

  God, that was annoying. I wanted to tell her that she didn’t need glasses then. Instead, I asked, “Am I in trouble?”

  She set her teacup down on the table beside her chair and folded her hands in her lap. “Well, that depends. Would you mind telling me why you did so?”

  I took my time in answering. Because she poured a drink on me didn’t sound like a good answer, so I picked the only other one I had. “She made me mad.” Okay, that answer kind of sucked too, but it was true.

  “Do you get angry often?” she asked.

  I narrowed my eyes a little. I hate being patronized. “Sometimes… but only when it’s warranted,” I replied stiffly.

  She pretended not to notice my tone. “And you feel Victoria deserved to be choked in front of all of her peers?”

  Yes. “She deserved something,” I said. “She came looking for a fight.” As I said this, I realized I was right. I still felt like a monster for what I’d done, but at the same time, I wasn’t the one who initiated the confrontation. I just finished it.

  To my utter astonishment, the queen agreed with me. “True. She should have known better than to make enemies with a Warrior.” I nodded. “But,” she continued, and I sighed—there’s always a but. “Even a Warrior should be careful as well of whom she chooses for enemies.”

  I almost snorted, but caught myself. “You think Victoria could take me?” I know that sounded egotistical but… seriously?

  She gave me a look that seemed to suggest a little modesty. I raised my eyebrows and waited. I wasn’t about to take lessons on being humble from a woman who sat with a silver spoon in her mouth.

  “No, I don’t think she could harm you physically,” she said, her words clipped, “but because Victoria is the daughter of Lady Talis, she requires certain… finesse.”

  That gave me pause. “Her mother is on the Council?”

  The queen nodded gravely. “And you can imagine the outrage her mother was in yesterday when she found out her daughter was humiliated in front of the entire student population.”

  I looked down at my hands, but she continued. “She wanted to have you severely punished. I told her we would do no such thing.”

  My head jerked up, and I’m sure my face looked utterly surprised. I didn’t think it was the wisest thing, but I asked anyway. “Why did you do that?”

  She smiled then. “Because, you are more important than a spoiled little brat like Victoria. You are the last Sun Warrior left and should be treated as such, by everyone, even the daughter of a Council member.” She paused, then added, “You also saved my life, and considering the suggestions put forth by Lady Talis for your punishment, I would say this makes us even.”

  I was absolutely shocked. Not just because the queen had called Victoria a “spoiled little brat,” but because she had stuck up for me against someone on her own royal Council. Maybe I should save people’s lives more often.

  “But should happen again, you will be on your own,” she added.

  I nodded my understanding, still too floored to say anything.

  “Also, I want you to take today off from your studies. You need to take a day to just relax and enjoy your blessings instead of dwelling on the things that have so upset you over the last couple weeks.”

  I didn’t want to miss school, but I agreed. I had to take what I could get. “Thank you.”

  She smiled again, and I couldn’t help a small smile of my own. She had done me a huge favor, and I wouldn’t forget it. When I stood to leave, she called out to me before I stepped through the door.

  “And Warrior?” she called.

  I turned back. “Yes, Your Majesty?”

  “Let’s try and keep a hold on that temper, shall we?”

  I nodded and left. No need to tell her that I was always trying, and that it seemed to be getting harder and harder to hold on to.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  As I left the queen’s office, I found Mark standing at his post outside the door. He smiled upon seeing my completely astonished expression.

  “Just a slap on the wrist then?” he asked, grinning broadly.

  I shook my head. “More like a pat on the head.”

  He chuckled, making his usually serious face even more

  handsome. “You are one lucky little lady.”

  “Guess so,” I replied. If you could call all the things that had been happening to me lately lucky. I didn’t really agree.

  “The fight is on Saturday.”

  I gave a reassuring smile. “I’ll be there.”

  I exited the Council building, trying to decide what to do with my day. I had planned on visiting Kayden so that I could demand some answers from him, but if I had the whole day to myself, I knew where I should go if I really wanted answers.

  So, I headed to my room and retrieved the compass Soraya had given me. As I went to use the bathroom before I left, I caught a glance of myself in the mirror. I looked like I felt. I hadn’t eaten for over a day now, and it was starting to show. My skin was pale, and my eyes had dark circles under them. I felt like I could devour an entire cow. I knew I required a lot of food to keep me going, but I hadn’t known that it would suck this bad. I wasn’t even sure if I was up to the trip, but I had to try.

  I splashed some water on my face, pulled my hair back into a ponytail and headed out with my compass in hand. I went to the spot that I had entered the trees before and checked the compass to make sure that it pointed south. I wasn’t entirely sure if this would get me back to the village, but I figured that if I started in the same spot and headed in the opposite direction I’d taken to get back, I wouldn’t be that far off.

  I tried to move quickly because I knew that it was a long trip, but the heat of the day seemed to be more suffocating than it usually was. I felt light-headed and a little nauseated as I pushed through the trees. After about an hour, I realized that I should have packed some food for this trip. It had been foolish of me to think that I could use so much energy on an empty stomach.

  For some reason, I couldn’t recognize any of the forest, even though I had just been here yesterday. I was relying completely on the compass to tell me I was heading in the right direction. I kept going, though, and eventually, I came upon the lake. I sat down on the fallen tree that Soraya had led me to the other day. Resting my forearms on my knees, I bent my head between my legs and started dry-heaving.

  Spots danced before my eyes, and I felt as though I might pass out.

  “Alexa? Are you okay?” said a sweet voice behind me.

  I turned my head to see Soraya standing there. She had on the same clothes as yesterday, but the dirt that had streaked her face had been washed away. Her big black eyes were filled with concern, and her sharpened stick was clutched in her hand.

  I tried to give a smile, but it was difficult in my current condition. “I’m fine. Came to see you.”

  She smiled then, a smile made a little crooked due to her harelip. She came over and wrapped her small arm around my waist, trying to lift me to my feet. “Let’s get you to the village. You look awful.”

  I rose to my feet a little unsteadily. “Thanks.”

  She took my arm and began leading me toward the village. “You stop
ped eating the food, didn’t you?”

  I nodded. Talking was taking more energy than I had at the moment. Soraya was a strong little thing, because I leaned on her for support most of the way to the village. We crossed the rickety bridge, and its swaying made me want to start dry-heaving again. When we reached the hill overlooking her village, she told me to sit down. I fell to the ground and lay on my back. Closing my eyes, I took deep breaths and tried to regain some strength. Soraya ran off down the hill, calling to me that she would be right back.

  A few minutes later, she returned with a woman with curly dark brown hair like Soraya’s and big light brown eyes. The woman bent down to examine me. Her stunning eyes also reminded me of the little girl. Her skin was tanned from the sun, and her hand was rough when she reached down and felt my forehead.

  “Can you walk?” she asked me.

  I pulled myself to a sitting position, then pushed to my hands and knees, and eventually made it to my feet. “Yes,” I said.

  She studied me. “I can have someone carry you, if you’d like.”

  I shook my head. I didn’t want to be carried through the village like some injured duckling. I just hoped we weren’t going very far. “I’ll be fine,” I told her.

  She gave a small nod and a smile that said she’d expected me to say this. Then she wrapped an arm around my waist. “I’m Catherine, Soraya’s mother. Let’s get you to the house so you can rest.”

  I let them lead me to the hut that Soraya had pointed out the other day. As we descended the hill, the people who were moving about the village stopped and stared, their faces filling with wonder. The smell of dirt and body odor was almost overwhelming this close to the people. I tried not to look at them as they stopped in their tracks and let us pass. It made me so angry to see people living this way. Silently, I renewed my vow to help them. I couldn’t believe that I had almost forgotten how horrible the conditions were here. I wouldn’t forget again.

  Finally, we made it to the hut and Catherine pushed aside the dusty blanket that covered the entrance. I ducked under the doorway and found that the hut was exactly that, a hut. Straw mats lined the floor, and the only light in the room came from the holes in the sides of the mud walls, where the blankets that served as curtains had been pulled back. Against the wall, two sets of blankets were laid out neatly, and I supposed they served as beds. Catherine sat me down on a small wooden stool and left the hut.

  When she returned, she held out a large piece of bread and an apple. I took them and thanked her, devouring the meal in record time. Soraya and Catherine sat silently as I ate, and I felt much better after having gotten something in my stomach.

  “Thank you,” I said, wiping my mouth.

  “I’m sorry we can’t offer you more,” said Catherine. “Food isn’t easy to come by around here.”

  I looked down at my hands, suddenly feeling very bad that I had been as foolish as to come here in need of food. “I apologize,” I said. “Your hospitality is more than appreciated.”

  She waved off my apology. “There’s no need to be sorry for anything. I wanted to meet you, anyway. Soraya here wouldn’t shut up about you yesterday.”

  I smiled at Soraya, who was sitting crossed-legged on the floor, looking sheepish. “You’ve got one amazing little girl there,” I commented.

  Catherine smiled, and it made me notice how lovely she was. She looked like an older version of Soraya. “That I do,” she agreed. “Would you like something to drink?”

  I nodded and she went over to where a metal pitcher was sitting on a small table and poured some water into a wooden mug. Handing it to me, she said, “If you would like some blood instead, I’m sure I could scare some up for you.”

  “Um, no thank you,” I said, trying not to wrinkle my nose at the offer. “Water is fine. I don’t drink blood.”

  “Why not?”

  I shrugged. “I’m not a vampire. I don’t need it.” At least I didn’t think I did.

  “You’ve never had blood?” she asked, as if such a thing were unheard of.

  “No. Actually, until recently, I didn’t even know what I was.” I still didn’t really know.

  She considered this for a moment. “Why have you come here, Alexa? We are happy to have you, but I fear it’s not worth the risk you take.” It was nice to meet someone who addressed me by my name, instead of Warrior.

  I thought about the question before answering, but really, I knew why I’d come. “I want answers.”

  Catherine turned to Soraya. “Sweetheart, please go tend to your tasks while I speak with Alexa.” Soraya looked as though she was ready to protest, but after a sharp look from her mother, she got up and left the hut.

  Turning back to me, Catherine said, “What would you like to know?”

  I started with the obvious. “What is going on here? What is this place?” I hoped that didn’t sound rude.

  She gazed out the window and took a deep breath. “We are here because someone has decided we are of no use to our society. We are donors.”

  “What do you mean ‘donors?’”

  She pulled back the sleeve of her tattered shirt and turned her arm so that I could see the inside of her elbow. I was confused until I took a closer look. Her arm was dark with bruises where the veins webbed. I gasped and my hand flew up to cover my mouth.

  Shaking my head, my voice came out in nearly a whisper. “No.”

  She just nodded gravely, her face full of sadness. I took a shuddering breath. “Blood donors?” I asked, even though I knew the answer. I still hoped I was mistaken.

  “Yes,” she confirmed. “Blood donors.”

  I felt dizzy with anger. How could anyone be so cruel? “Who is responsible for this?” I asked. “The queen and the Council?”

  “That, I’m unsure of. No one here can remember their lives before coming here. Kayden has spoken of this queen and Council, but I can’t say I know of them. We are made to leave the donations by the far wall at the end of each week, and when morning arrives, the blood is gone. You are the only one other than my brother-in-law who has ever come here.”

  I tried to take this all in, but the more I learned, the more I was confused. “Why not just leave? What happens if you don’t make the donations?”

  Her eyes were so filled with pain now that I almost wished I hadn’t asked. “Many have tried to leave. They would be gone a day or so before they are returned to us. We never see who brings them back, but in the morning, we wake to find them drained dry and tossed out into the middle of the village. When we don’t meet our quota… our children disappear, and we find them having met the same fate.”

  I felt like I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t process what she was telling me. It was almost surreal to hear of such horrid things, almost too much to hear at all. It made me feel selfish and stupid for complaining so much over my own problems. This was worse than anything I had ever endured. It was extremely humbling, and I wouldn’t forget that no matter what hand fate dealt me. There was always worse.

  Most of all, though, I was infuriated. Catherine may not be sure if the queen knew about any of this, but I was certainly going to find out. After all, who else would be behind this? The village was within the walls, so didn’t that mean that the Council would know about it? The confusing thing was: Why would they need blood from other vampires? Nelly had told me that Two Rivers owned several blood banks in the human world that supplied the city with the blood they needed for survival. She would have noticed if it was blood from a supernatural, apparently there’s a difference in taste.

  Catherine must have noticed my fury, because she rested her hand over mine. Her skin was as rough as Soraya’s. “Easy, Alexa,” she said softly. “You mustn’t allow the fire to engulf you. It can be more dangerous than you realize.”

  I actually thought I had a pretty good idea of how dangerous I could be. I didn’t tell her that. “You said no one has ever come here, so how is Kayden able to?’

  “There is magic in the woods. An ancie
nt magic. It keeps most from being able to come or go.” She paused before adding, “I assume Kayden and you are able to because he is a Libra and you are a Warrior. Your resistance to such magic is much stronger than anyone else’s. Elite.”

  I thought back to the disoriented feeling I’d had upon leaving here. It had been difficult to remember anything about the village. If it hadn’t been for Soraya and the compass she’d given me, I might not have been able to remember at all. Also, on the way here, I hadn’t been able to recall the path I’d taken the day before, even though I was sure it was the same one. I’d started and ended in the same places.

  However, this wasn’t what caught my attention. “What’s a Libra?” I asked. I was almost afraid to hear the answer, but I had to know.

  She raised her eyebrows. “You really don’t know about yourself, do you?” I shook my head and she continued. “Kayden should have told you, but perhaps he was unsure as to how you would react. In fact, no one other than Soraya and I know of what he is. His race is as rare as yours, I’m afraid. Warriors, like you, are made up of a certain physiology; a perfect mixture of all the races. But Libras can be any race, Life Drinkers, Wolf Sons and the like. However, Libras carry an extra trait, one that makes them similar to Warriors, as well as dependent on them, and Warriors dependent on Libras. It is called the Ignis, which means fire in Latin. I would assume you are familiar with this, though.”

  Somehow, I wasn’t as shocked as I should have been, because really, that explained a lot. Like the way I always felt happy around Kayden and drawn to him in a way that was nearly undeniable. This knowledge also hurt me a little bit. I had thought that we were just attracted to each other, that he might just like me, even though I knew he’d never admit it. But now, now I wasn’t sure what to think. I couldn’t even be sure if I really liked him the way I thought I had, because it could just be the fact that our races were dependent on each other. This information shouldn’t have upset me, but it did.

  “How are we dependent on each other?” I asked, in a smaller voice than I’d intended.