by M. K. ROZE
I gasped. “What are you doing?”
“I’m warming you up before we go,” he whispered.
I ran my hand across his soft wings. “This is unbelievable.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet. Hold your breath,” he said and shot up into the air with me like a bullet.
I closed my eyes and held my breath from the G-force until we got above the clouds. It felt like I was on a slingshot ride at a fun park, but much more forceful.
Mihnea lifted my legs and cradled me as we flew. We were over the Atlantic, sometimes skimming the water.
I glanced up at him, and our eyes met.
Mihnea kissed me as we flew toward an isolated island.
He landed on top of a rock and set me down.
“What a rush,” I said as I fixed my hair.
Mihnea smiled, took my hand and walked me over to the beach. He stopped and took a black velvet bag out of his pocket.
“What is that?”
He ignored me and poured a copper powder in the form of a circle around us onto the sand.
“That looks like the same stuff Muma poured before she entered the hut. Is it?”
“Yes. It’s a shield that she created from Malign and the others. They can’t know what I’m about to tell you. You must act normal and tell no one. Is that clear?”
I nodded.
We sat down in the center of the circle, and he had me straddle him.
I took off my sneakers and buried my feet in the cold sand. “Where are we?” I asked, looking around at the empty beach and woods behind us.
“A place where no one will bother us for a while,” he replied sorrowfully.
“Are you okay?”
Mihnea retook my hand and locked his fingers between mine. He looked at the ocean and exhaled sharply. “This is the part I’ve been dreading for eighteen years.”
“What can be that bad?”
His beautiful green eyes met mine. “Your decision is what scares me.”
“Decision?” I repeated.
He ignored me and placed his hands on each side of my face, running his fingers through my hair, until they locked into place.
“I want you to relax and try and clear your mind. I’m going to show you now.”
“How?” My voice cracked.
He kissed me softly on my lips then placed his forehead against mine.
“Close your eyes. This is going to burn, but whatever you do, don’t fight it.”
“Mihnea, I’m scared. Am I-I going to die?”
“No, but you will feel like it.”
I shut my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck, squeezing as tightly as I could.
Seconds later, Mihnea started to chant something in Romanian, then I lost control of my thoughts, and my eyes began to roll into the back of my head.
My brain felt like it was sizzling as childhood memories flashed through my mind, spinning faster and faster until I could feel my body shrinking in size.
A sudden rush took over me, and I experienced a womb-like warmth. I was sucking on my thumb, then a burst of electricity rushed through my little body, making my heart stop briefly. I could feel Mihnea hold me tightly as my body twitched, and my brain felt like it was on fire as I was being forced back further in time. I screamed from the pain, and within seconds, I could see everything through Mihnea’s eyes.
Mihnea was walking alone in the dark forest. He saw someone lying in the high grass, shivering and crying. As he approached her, I saw that it was me, except I had all black hair and emerald eyes.
Mihnea covered me up with his red velvet coat. “What is your name?” he asked me gently.
“Divinity,” I managed to say. I looked confused like I had no clue where I was.
Mihnea picked me up and carried me away.
I blinked, and now Mihnea was kissing me in front of the Bran Castle.
“Don’t be nervous,” he said, as we walked up the steep stairs toward it.
Mihnea knocked on the tall oak door.
Sorin opened. “Good evening, Divinity, it’s an honor to meet you,” he said and kissed my hand.
Sorin’s face faded as time seemed to be fast-forwarding. I came to another stop with Mihnea, and me getting married in a small church. I blinked again, and I saw myself lying on a bed, covered in fresh rose petals.
“Are you certain you want to join me?” Mihnea asked me tenderly.
“Yes.” I turned toward the window, looking at the full moon.
Mihnea grabbed my wrists and placed them apart over my head, holding them tightly. I didn’t look scared at all.
I could feel his eyes roll into the back of his head. He slowly placed is face against mine, and his sharp fangs pierce through my neck.
When he released my hands, my nails clawed down his back like knives, as he fought the urge to drain me dry.
“Mihnea, please, no more.”
He backed away, wiping my blood from his mouth and used his sharp nail to slice a small cut on his neck. “Drink, love, and you will become as immortal as I.” He lifted my head to his neck and moaned as I drank his blood.
“That’s enough,” he hissed and pushed me away.
I sat up. “Leave me. I don’t want you to see me transition.”
Mihnea looked confused but got up and stepped out of the bedroom anyway.
Time moved forward, and I heard myself screaming out in pain.
Still looking through Mihnea’s eyes, I flew toward my screams and saw myself lying on the cobbled ground with a sword sticking out of my chest.
Now looking through my own eyes, I saw Savina standing over me wearing a black gown.
Savina looked up at Mihnea flying toward us and grabbed the sword, ready to pull it out of my chest.
I screamed out in pain, trying to hold it in place.
Mihnea flew toward us and charged her.
Savina got out of his grip.
Mihnea ran to my side. “Divinity, drink of my blood so that you will be strong again.” He looked down at his wrist and sliced it, using his nail.
I pushed his hand away. “It’s much too late.”
Mihnea shook me vigorously. “Divinity! Please, don’t leave me, please I beg of you,” he cried.
Mihnea looked up into the black sky. “Father,” he thundered, shaking the ground beneath us.
“I’m still here, my love,” I said in the same accent as Savina and Latore.
Mihnea smiled.
Savina jumped onto Mihnea’s back and tried to rip the sword from my chest.
Sorin flew down, grabbed Savina, and began fighting her.
“Mihnea,” my voice cracked.
“Yes, love.”
“I’m not who you think I am.”
“What? What are you saying?”
“I was never human. This is the reason I asked you to leave the room while I transitioned.”
“Divinity, please stop.”
“No, you only know what I wanted you to know. Now listen closely. I’m a goddess from the realm of Divine. I came here to kill your maker, Latore, and retrieve the sword that is now in my chest. You must find Realm of Divine and go through the caves of the Scourge. There, you will find my uncle Malign. Give him this sword. He will know what to do.”
His brows arched. “You speak nonsense. There is no such place.”
“Mihnea, read my thoughts.”
He shook his head. “I can’t.”
“That’s because I wouldn’t allow you to. Now read them before it’s too late.”
He touched my head, closed his eyes and his body started to shake uncontrollably. After a few seconds, his eyes shot open and he fell to his side.
“Why did you marry me knowing you despise vampires?”
I touched his face. “Because you were different. I will always love you,” I whispered. My body felt like it was being sucked into a vacuum then everything turned into fire.
My eyes shot open, and I was back on the beach. I gasped and threw myself onto the sa
nd.
Mihnea fell to his side. He didn’t move.
I shook him. “Mihnea! Mihnea! Wake up!”
His eyes opened, and he sat up in a daze.
“This can’t be real,” I said grabbing my face.
“I don’t have the energy right now, but when I do, I can show you again if you’d like.”
“No way, I’ve seen enough.”
Mihnea placed his hand on my shoulder. “Now you know who you once were.”
I stood up but stayed within the circle. “I can’t believe I was a goddess, a vampire, and your wife. No wonder I kept having all those visions.”
“I was unaware until you told me when I was in Constin’s body.”
“I thought vampires could read our minds?”
“We can with others but just not with you.”
“Why?”
“You were born with silver eyes for a reason—to make sure that no one could compel you or read your mind. Not even me.”
“Then how did you show me my past?”
“It’s another one of my many powers. I wasn’t sure if it was going to work on you, but I’m glad it did. You’re a lot stronger than you think.”
“I am?”
He nodded.
“What else can you do?”
“I will tell you another time.”
I shook my head. “Can I step out of this stupid circle? I need to walk around.”
“Sure, if that’s all you want to know.”
I sat there in silence for a few minutes. “Why did you have me go to Muma?”
“Before I entered your dream while you were in Romania, I went to Muma and asked her for the shield that surrounds us. Muma grew angry and demanded I have you go to her first or she would tell Malign of my intentions.”
“Why would she do that?”
“I will tell you more about her another time.”
“Muma mentioned something about her wanting her dinner back.”
He chuckled. “When Muma threatened me, I took her food supply away but respected her wish. I’m sorry it took so long.”
“My accent was like Savina and Latore. Are they from my realm?”
“Yes.”
“Please tell me everything from the beginning.”
“Five hundred years ago, your grandfather had two sons named Malign and Potent. Before he took his life, he chose your father Potent to take his power, making him even stronger. Malign grew furious, turned evil and split your realm in half, then named his side the Scourge. Malign enslaved many of your people that were still on his side and turned them into creatures, then sent them to kill Potent for his power.”
I gasped.
“When creatures of all kinds kept crossing over to Realm of Divine, Potent created a sword, using part of his power and named it the Sicuro, meaning secure. It was designed to kill and trap any immortal’s soul, including any god. Potent made you the guardian of it.”
“What? Why me?”
“You were his only child who could gain its power unless another god impaled you with the Sicuro. If this were to happen, they would gain its power, leaving you an immortal just like your people.”
“How come Savina didn’t get my power when she killed me?”
“Savina and Latore weren’t gods. They were immortals.”
“What about my mother?”
“She ended her life and willed her power over to your father, so he could kill Malign and save your realm. I’m sorry.”
My eyes filled with tears. “That’s horrible.”
Mihnea continued. “Malign found out about the Sicuro and created the first vampire, you know as Latore. He knew Potent would kill him, so Malign had Latore and Savina go to Divine to steal the Sicuro. While there, they were caught by your father. Latore killed him, took the sword and fled to earth with Savina.”
“That bastard killed my father and took my sword?”
Mihnea frowned. “After you found out what had happened to your father, you came here to earth to hunt down Latore and retrieve your sword, but you became weak. When I found you, I was unable to read your mind or smell your blood, so I took you in and cared for you until you were better.”
“Why was I so weak?”
“In your realm, you need to drink from the lake of Divine before entering any planet. You didn’t that day because you were so furious. This made you lose some of your powers for a few weeks.”
“When you made me a vampire, didn’t you know I was already dead?”
“No, your blood was warm.”
“How?”
Mihnea looked away. “As I said before, you were different.”
“What aren’t you telling me?”
His eyes met mine. “Back when you were one of us, you wanted to hunt alone, so I agreed. I didn’t know you were killing us off one by one until after you allowed me to read your mind.”
“Oh, my God. I had a vision I was killing them after Kaylee, and I watched a vampire show. How many did I kill?”
“Thousands.”
“Seriously?”
He nodded.
“Why do you want to help me, knowing what I’ve done?”
“Because I love you, and I can relate to the hate you had for us.”
I lowered my head. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Would you like me to go on?”
I nodded.
“A few years after we got married, Savina killed you and trapped your soul in with your fathers. I retrieved the sword and did as you asked. I searched for nearly five hundred years for Malign and gave him the Sicuro. Malign grew angry and told me he didn’t want it. He wanted to raise you again instead.”
“How come Malign didn’t go after Latore and Savina when you told him of my death?”
“Before your father, Potent died, he put a spell on Malign, preventing him from going to any other planet or killing any more of his creations.”
“What does my father look like?”
“You’ve seen him before when you were sitting at the table with him with your people. Do you remember that vision?”
“Oh, my God! That was him?”
Mihnea nodded.
“Why did it take so long to raise me again?”
“I had to find the right witch who could summon the gatekeeper of your realm. You’ve met him twice before.”
“I did? Where?”
“Remember the man at the train station and the officer?”
“Yes. Was that him?”
Mihnea nodded.
“What’s his name?”
“Paladin.”
I thought of more questions to ask. “Why did Savina kill me when I became a vampire?”
“Because they knew you would track them down and kill them for killing your father.”
“Why do they want me dead now? I’m not a threat to them.”
“Yes, you are.”
“How?”
“If you were to become immortal again, you would gain its power from the Sicuro, and it would make you the strongest of all gods. This is the reason why Latore and many others like him will do anything to prevent you from becoming immortal again. They know you will destroy them all.”
“This is unbelievable. Why didn’t Malign just take my soul from the Sicuro instead of having me reincarnated?”
“Malign tried, but he was unable to. This is when he took your soul from the Sicuro and placed it into your mother’s womb.”
“Why?”
Mihnea sighed. “Malign needs you to become immortal again so he can take your power. I wish I had known of his intentions.”
“How will he take my power if I’m stronger than him?”
“As I said earlier, if any other god impales you with the Sicuro, they will gain your power.”
“Why the hell would I want to become immortal just to give him my power?”
“I don’t want you to, but if he doesn’t get what he wants, he will kill me.”
I gasped. “What? why?”
&nbs
p; “This was one of many of Malign’s rules. I was forbidden to tell you who you once were. My job was to protect you from the others and make you immortal again.”
“But you said Malign couldn’t kill his creations.”
“He didn’t create me. One of Latore’s people did.”
“Wait a minute. You said he couldn’t come here, so how is he going to kill you?”
“Malign might not be able to come through the tropopause, but he can still show himself. As for killing me, he has many creatures he can send here to do the job for him.”
“The tropopause is the lower boundary of earth’s stratosphere, right?”
“Yes.”
“So why would you want to work for my uncle?”
“If I said no, Malign would’ve killed me, and you wouldn’t be here today. This is the reason I’m telling you all of this.”
“I can’t become one of you. I want to live my life and die like a normal person does.”
“Viata, I know you do, but if Malign finds out I told you, he will kill both of us and reincarnate you again then have someone else complete the job.”
I sighed and looked toward the woods. “If I say yes, what is the process?”
“Once you turn into a vampire and then touch the Sicuro, you will get your mother’s, father’s and grandfather’s power. That is when you become a goddess again and—”
I placed my hand on his face. “And what?”
He gulped hard. “You will lose your memories of being a human.”
My heart sunk. “What? Why?”
“Because Malign wants it this way.”
“What about you and me?”
“You won’t have any memory of us. You will only remember up to the point where Latore killed your father and took your sword. You will want to retrieve the Sicuro and kill all Malign’s creations, including me.”
I embraced him. “No, I won’t do that,” I cried.
“You will, love, and I won’t fight you when you do.”
I pushed him away. “Why would you want me to turn immortal just to forget about us and kill you?”
“Because I love you, and it’s the right thing to do.”
“No, it’s not!”
Mihnea’s eyes turned black. “Don’t you get it, Viata? It doesn’t matter whether you are human or an immortal. Latore will seek revenge and kill everyone until he retrieves the Sicuro then traps your soul. You’re the only one who can stop him. If you decide not to turn, Malign will kill us all. No matter what, you will die, so you’re better off becoming immortal. You have a better chance of survival.”
