by Gaja J. Kos
Val Claret was mostly as she remembered it, even the shops—aside from a fancier sports one she had spotted while getting some fresh bread in the morning—remained the same. The Le Lac settlement, on the other hand, she hadn’t had the opportunity to scout with her own eyes just yet.
The man told her of a fantastic new restaurant the young, loud free riders hadn’t yet sniffed out that supposedly served the best dishes in town. Despite having eaten a fairly substantial meal just over an hour ago, Rose’s stomach rumbled at the thought. With Serafina’s appetite nearly matching her own, a second lunch seemed like a great idea after a little bit of strolling around.
After all, they were on holiday. And she had learned long ago to trust the locals’ judgment when it came to matters like this.
She thanked the shop owner, slightly regretting that she couldn’t listen to him speak for hours, then set out on the street. There were a few more people out than before, obstructing her view of the witch. The Tabac was located nearly at the crossroads, so Rose turned left, following the sidewalk lined with shops.
Serafina was nowhere in sight, only strangers crossing Rose’s path. She sighed. Without a cellphone or mind link flowing between them, finding each other was sometimes an achievement on its own.
Rose frowned, breathing out a half snort. Serafina didn’t have a phone. And she wasn’t one of the pack. But that didn’t mean the two of them didn’t share something.
Rose moved into the shade, leaning against the storefront of a closed establishment. Pressing her eyelids shut, she plunged inside herself, finding the essence of Mokoš that pumped through her veins. She filled those whispers with a hint of golden light, giving them more potency and willing them to rise to just below the surface.
After all the playful exercises she and Serafina had done, Rose had gained enough confidence not to fear an accidental display of power sprouting to life for everybody to see.
The humming energy remained confined within her body, yet blended perfectly with everything Rose was. The serene feeling of being whole washed over her in silent gratitude, and she couldn’t keep a small smile from curving the corners of her lips.
Without any effort at all, Rose felt the pull only another daughter of Mokoš could emanate. She followed the path that was now laid out in front of her clearly, not second-guessing the directions when they took her away from the bristling street and into the smaller, nearly abandoned alleys only locals used.
Rose had no idea what drove Serafina to this part of the village, but according to the ethereal pull, the Koldunya was standing in place.
Turning around another sharp corner, Rose found herself on a dead-end street.
But she wasn’t alone.
And neither was Serafina.
Her red hair was disheveled, the rose pink tunic shredded down the sleeves and on the side of her chest. But worst of all was the blood.
It trailed down her neck, darkening the fabric of her clothes into a deep red.
Rose could hear the Koldunya’s heart pounding, could smell the sheen of sweat that coated her skin. And Rose felt regret.
Regret that twisted her stomach, dissipating any joy she had felt during these past two days.
Because lying around Serafina’s feet were three vampires.
Unmoving. Their skin paper-thin, drained of every inch of their lives.
Serafina lifted her head, her whole body shaking violently, and met Rose’s gaze with watery eyes.
Chapter 11
“Shit, shit, shit.” Rose went on and on as she dashed towards Serafina, jumping over a corpse that lay right in front of the Koldunya’s feet.
Though Rose’s eyes were focused purely on the witch, she had left her other senses open, alert for any sounds that might indicate a new arrival. But much to her relief, the streets remained quiet, those nearest to the alley as isolated as they were when she had first crossed them.
Rose pulled the Koldunya into an embrace without another second lost, ignoring the blood that transferred onto her bare skin and dark brown tank top.
“Are you hurt?” she whispered, pulling back just enough to take in Serafina’s startled eyes and strained expression.
Although her tunic was torn, the blood on it didn’t seem to have come from the witch. Not unless her healing abilities were similar to Rose’s own. She didn’t think that was the case; however, she still had to ask, had to be certain.
The Koldunya shook her head but didn’t stop trembling. She curled into Rose’s embrace, her pale cheek digging into the nook between Rose’s neck and shoulder, seeking the comfort it offered.
As she held Serafina, faint traces of spring caressed Rose’s skin. Good. If the magic was there, the reaction was only psychological. The Koldunya would need time, but she’d recover eventually. They all had at some point in their lives—including Rose.
Supporting Serafina’s weight, Rose scanned the alley, her gaze falling on the dead vampires. Whatever the witch had done to them, they now eerily resembled bodies halfway through the process of mummification. Even the scent coming from them was so faint that Rose had to strain herself to get a proper reading.
Rose took a deep breath, her own heart beginning to pound.
Faint, but not unfamiliar.
“Fuck.” Rose exhaled, pressing Serafina closer to her body. “FUCK!”
The witch stirred in her arms, but Rose didn’t give her a chance to speak, nor to turn around and see the aftermath of the fight once again. Instead, Rose pulled Serafina towards the exit of the alley, casting one final glance at the bodies on the floor.
At least now she knew what the chatty vampires from Val d’Isère had looked like.
“We need to leave,” Rose whispered as her fingers found Serafina’s wrist, wrapping around it with a solid grip. She gave her a squeeze, willing as much reassurance to flow into the touch as was possible.
The local authorities could take care of the bodies. Rose only hoped, for the first time in her life, that the police wouldn’t put as much effort into solving vamp murders as they did for human victims.
At the very least, the state the corpses were in didn’t point to anyone in particular. Rose doubted people here knew of the Kolduny. And even if they possessed some knowledge… Koliada, even she hadn’t been aware that their magic could do that to a person.
Yet one thing was certain. It was imperative to put as much distance between them and the crime scene as they could.
Rose breathed easier once they left the alley behind them, but her whole body remained tense nonetheless. This was far from over. She needed to get Serafina someplace safe. Now.
Half-blocking Serafina from sight with her own body, Rose steered the witch deeper into the quiet parts of the village. The fact that the Koldunya was unable to walk on her own worried Rose, yet that solution-oriented part of her was glad for it. Walking around in the shadows, wrapped in an unyielding embrace made covering the revealing traces of murder easier than Rose had imagined it to be.
The tattered clothes and blood were, for the most part, conveniently located right where their bodies touched, the rest easily covered by unbound hair or a well-placed arm.
From afar, the two women likely looked like a couple, searching for a dash of privacy.
Rose snorted inwardly. Not that that was far from the truth. The desire to be alone was motivated by a very different reason.
She kept to the western side, hoping to cross into the mountainous terrain once they reached the edge of the village. Since they were in the middle of the off-season, stalking back to Val Claret across the slopes and under the ski lifts was relatively safe. She would have to be on the lookout for downhill riders, but those were easy—and loud enough—to spot.
There was just one final road to cross, and they would be out of the populated area.
Rose felt, rather than saw, Serafina gradually easing out of the shock. The witch still clung to her, but her legs were beginning to obey. She followed the path Rose had laid out, he
r feet supported by that ethereal wind that had returned the very instant Serafina had regained some composure. They stalked around a wide apartment building, keeping close to the walls and seeking the cover the balconies protruding over their heads had to offer.
Just one last road to cross.
Rose’s grip on Serafina tightened as footsteps pounded against her ears. Rose lifted her nose, catching the scent that rode the currents of mockingly fresh, pleasant air.
Humans. Only humans.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly, but the moment dissipated in a blink of an eye when the footfalls became louder—and headed straight in their direction.
It didn’t help that the rhythm didn’t sound rushed. It didn’t help that Rose hadn’t sensed that particular heaviness of uniform boots.
Even if they were just casual strollers, seeing two bloodied women would have them calling the paramedics or the police before Rose or Serafina could do a damned thing to stop them.
And they were running out of time.
Rose swore.
Once the pedestrians reached the corner, she and Serafina would fall directly into their line of sight. Too close for comfort. Too fucking close for comfort.
With the shock still rooted in the Koldunya, preventing her the full use of her powers and with Rose possessing no glamor of her own, there was not a chance they could remain hidden. Cursing a blue streak, Rose wished she had one of Frank’s enchanted stones on her body, the ones that kept a layer of glamor around Pri Sojenicah at all times.
She rarely used all of them together, since two or three sufficed to keep most humans away. Which meant the stones were just sitting there, more than four hundred miles away, doing absolutely nothing in bloody Ljubljana.
Even one could make a difference. Change the humans’ perception of what they were seeing just enough to divert their gods-damned attention elsewhere.
Letting out a growl, Rose pushed the Koldunya against the wall, adamant to do the one thing that might still save them. She molded their bodies together so tightly that she could feel the generous curve of Serafina’s breasts pressing against her own. Not giving the witch any time to object, Rose buried her less-bloodied hand in Serafina’s red curls and trapped the Koldunya’s lips with her own.
Just as the footsteps sounded to their right, Rose drove her tongue into Serafina’s mouth, her own body starting to relax as the Koldunya played along with the scheme after less than a second’s hesitation. The witch leaned against the wall, giving Rose a chance to hide even further in the slight shadow cast by the balcony looming over them.
Their lips never parted as the steps thumped behind their backs, and though Rose’s ears were tuned to their frequency with predatory sharpness, the soft moan that spilled from Serafina’s lips didn’t go unnoticed.
The firm resolve Rose had made in Val d’Isère didn’t matter now.
She released her grip on the barrier she had put up between her and the witch. They were caught in such a messed up situation that rules didn’t apply any longer.
She ran her tongue across Serafina’s lips before thrusting it into her mouth again, the Koldunya eagerly accepting each stroke, each caress. Rose felt the soft but firm grip of the witch’s hand wrap around the curve of her butt, inviting Rose to brush against her body until there was no space left between them.
Obliging, Rose allowed the palm that she had braced against the wall to move freely. She trailed the path running down the side of Serafina’s body, tentatively following the seductive line of her ribs then curved inward until her fingers rested against the mound of Serafina’s breast. The witch arched her back, any stiffness that might have still been lingering now completely nonexistent.
A small bite landed on Rose’s lower lip, tipping her over the edge. Her fingers dug into the supple flesh of Serafina’s breast, teasing it through the torn tunic, as the Koldunya tightened the grip she kept on Rose’s butt. Their bodies clashed together in a fervor of kisses, the reality around them slowly fading away.
When they finally broke apart, the footsteps were long gone, and Serafina’s cheeks were bright red in contrast to the matted, dark streaks of blood that marked the side of her neck. The Koldunya’s breath was labored, but her gaze was clear.
Taking it all in, Rose couldn’t help but laugh, the crushing weight of her concern becoming bearable.
Without a word, the two women sprinted across the road and up the green slope.
Dripping wet from the stream they had jumped into to wash away the worst of the blood, Rose and Serafina zigzagged across the grassy ski slopes as they made their way through the outskirts of Val Claret. The few people who traveled down the village’s streets were either far enough away to not notice the soaked pair, or they paid them no attention at all, focused purely on their own business.
But most importantly, Serafina was moving on her own.
“I knew there was a good reason I chose this place,” Rose remarked with a bittersweet smile curving her features, her gaze already drifting across the wide apartment building just down the slope.
Serafina returned a sympathetic smile. It was the best she could manage under such circumstances, but for Rose, it was enough. She understood the Koldunya was still shaken from the attack—she hadn’t said a word about what had transpired in that alley, and Rose knew better than to force the conversation on her.
Rose would have preferred any other reaction, even hysterical crying, to the nearly catatonic numbness that had taken hold of Serafina right after the attack.
Fury. Fear. They were the first steps of coping. And they opened up the space for dialog.
If Serafina continued to retreat into her own thoughts, the road to facing what had happened to her—and what she had done—might prove to be difficult. For both of them.
Aside from that, Rose was overjoyed to see the witch had lost some of her jumpiness. Even if it hadn’t been enough to push her into a state where she could use her magic freely, it was progress that didn’t go unnoticed.
And, thankfully, the ethereal winds aiding the Koldunya on each step of the way had persisted throughout their retreat.
Whether it had been the trek through nature filling the Koldunya with life, or if it had been the kiss, Rose was glad that at least something had succeeded in taking the edge off.
They ran the remaining distance down the street and across the steep slope leading to the back of the apartment building—and right to their balcony. Despite their luck so far, Rose didn’t want to chance going in through the front. The reception was positioned on the opposite side of the inner courtyard, overlooking the entrance; and their own part of the building was just slightly too busy to risk a maddening dash through the hallways.
So Rose picked the lock on the balcony door with her claws instead, and eased the glass sideways, finally blowing out that small breath she had never truly gotten the chance to release. Serafina stumbled in behind her, propelling herself straight onto the couch and buried her face in the cushions.
As grave as the situation and all its implications were, Rose couldn’t hold back a chuckle at the sight, the adrenaline in her veins gradually loosening the grip it had over her.
“Are you all right?” she asked, a small laugh mixing with the words as she came to kneel by the witch. With an unsteady hand, Rose brushed away the strands of red hair that dangled down the side of the couch until Serafina’s face became visible, her cheek adorably squished against the cushion.
“I don’t suppose we could open a bottle of wine and hide in here forever?” the Koldunya mumbled, peering at Rose with one eye.
Allowing herself to stroke Serafina’s hair one final time, Rose shook her head. “We have to get going. They’ll find the bodies soon, if they haven’t already, and we don’t want to be anywhere near the investigation. Besides, we don’t know if more vamps will come…”
Serafina grunted but braced herself on her palms and pushed her body up into a sitting position. Rose joined her on the couch, neit
her of them trying to find the other’s gaze.
“I have no idea why I thought being here would be different.” Rose snorted, tilting her head back until her neck rested against the curved top of the cushion. She could have slapped herself for being so naive.
“It hadn’t even crossed my mind that I’d ever use my powers for murder,” Serafina whispered from the side.
“Self-defense,” Rose corrected without as much as a glance in the witch’s direction, then straightened her back again.
Serafina braced her chin on her hands, red curls spilling over her slumped shoulders. “And I can’t believe it actually worked.”
“Gods, I’m sorry,” Rose breathed, her eyes fixed on an imaginary spot on the opposite wall. It was too much. All of it was too much. “I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. I shouldn’t have dragged the pack into it, either. It would’ve been so much easier if I left when the shit began to trickle, and not let them, not let you, weave through the fucking flood I’ve caused…”
Beside her, Serafina bristled but her tone was warm. “You’re The Dark Ones, Rose. You can’t leave them. And I don’t think your pack would stop protecting you even if you did.”
Burying her face in her palms, Rose let out a frustrated growl. “At least I could’ve spared you…”
She turned towards the Koldunya, taking in that flawless tanned face, and found no judgment, no resentment lingering on her features.
That, out of all the things she had expected, perhaps hurt the worst.
Serafina had killed three vampires because of her, had been made into a target simply because of the company she kept. And yet the witch didn’t blame her.
Rose exhaled.
Serafina knew of her Vedmak father, knew of the energy woven into Rose’s very core. But there was still so much Rose had kept from her, thinking ignorance might spare the Koldunya.
