A Shade of Kiev 3 (10 page)

N
ow that I
’d dealt with my siblings, it felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off my chest. I wasn’t completely alone in this madness. Although they were hardly enthusiastic, I trusted that they wouldn’t betray me.

As soon as they left, I hurried back into the bathroom. Anna’s head rested against the wall, her eyes closed, mouth hanging open.

I feared for a moment that I’d already lost her. I gripped her jaw and made her face me.

She was breathing lightly. She had passed out.

“Hang on, Anna,” I whispered.

I picked her up in my arms and hurried back into the bedroom to place her down on the mattress.

I grabbed a towel from the bathroom and wet it with cold water before proceeding to wipe her face with it. I rested it on her forehead, and sat by her bed, holding her hand. Willing her to come to consciousness.

I kept changing the towel when it became warm. Helina came in briefly to hand me her perfume, but didn’t stay.

After about an hour Anna came to. I breathed out in relief.

Her eyelids flickered open and she started coughing.

“How are you feeling?”

She laid her head back down on the pillow and looked up at me weakly. I wasn’t sure if she could understand me. Although her eyes were open, they looked unfocussed.

“I’m going to go down and find some more food,” I said.

She muttered incoherently.

I pulled the blanket higher over her, then left the room, sure to double-lock it behind me.

Of course, the lock would be useless if a vampire really wanted to come in. But I hoped nobody had any reason to. It was just there as a mild deterrent. If somebody knocked, they couldn’t come in without breaking the door of a Novalic down. And few people on this island would dare do that.

I hurried back down to the kitchen for the second time within the space of a few hours. Relieved to see that it was still empty, I raced around trying to figure out what the hell I should bring up for her this time that her stomach could handle.

Soup was one of the most easy things to digest. But perhaps the soup I’d given her had been too rich. Or perhaps it had contained too many spices for her fragile stomach. Whatever the case, I had to try again.

Baby food is what she needs.

Unsure of what I was even doing—for I had always been a useless cook even as a human—I found a sack of vegetables and hurled them onto the counter. I dipped my hands into the sack and pulled out a handful of what resembled potatoes and carrots.
These should do.
I washed them, then I boiled a large pot of water and dropped them in.

I waited impatiently by the boiling pot, sticking a knife into the vegetables every few minutes.

These things take so damn long to get soft.

Finally, I decided that they were soft enough to not cause Anna more stomach upset. I dropped them into a bowl and began to mash them up together with a spoon. Once they’d formed a thick paste, I found some milk in the cold cellar and warmed a few cupfuls. I poured the warm milk into the bowl of vegetable paste. I grabbed some salt from the counter and added a few pinches. Then I blended it all together furiously until it formed a smooth consistency.

I poured the liquid into a large bowl and placed it on another tray. I also added to it another jug of water.

No bread this time. Let’s just try this.

I cleaned up after myself, then rushed out of the kitchen and began walking up the staircase.

I thought that I might have once again gotten lucky by not bumping into anyone on the way up, but just as I was about to turn the last corridor to my room, Efren appeared round the corner.

He stopped short, a look of surprise on his face as he saw me. Then his eyes narrowed on me. He looked at the towel-covered tray I was holding. I was relieved when he let me pass in silence.

By the time I reentered my bedroom, Anna was taking deep breaths. I walked over to her and placed the tray beside her on the bed.

I felt her forehead. It was still hot. But at least she seemed to be slightly more conscious than when I’d left her.

Seeing that she was clearly still in no state to feed herself, I lifted her up to sit against the cushions. Taking the bowl and spoon, I began to feed her. She coughed at first, but to my relief she started lapping up the food I was feeding her.

I watched her closely as she swallowed each spoonful. I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination, but by the time she’d finished the bowl, I could have sworn that her eyes appeared less distant. She appeared calmer, more aware.

“Are you feeling better?” I dared ask.

There was a pause.

Then she looked up at my face and breathed, “You’re my angel.”

She’s still delirious.

I
stared
at myself in the mirror.

Apart from my eyes having turned a few shades darker, and my skin looking a bit more sallow, there wasn’t much difference. But internally, it felt like something had shifted.

Although I was aware of why I had set out on this path—to break free from my life with Rhys—I couldn’t connect with that motivation any more now that the Ancient had bestowed on me such a gift and responsibility. I couldn’t even conceive of betraying her and Rhys. And I had no desire to leave Rhys any more. Rather, it felt painful when I wasn’t in his presence. I wanted him. I wondered if his being there for me while Lilith inducted me had strengthened our bond.

It had been a few days since we left the Ancient’s cave, and I was still getting used to my newfound powers. Rhys was helping tame me. He said we couldn’t return to The Shade until I’d got a handle on them. I’d already almost burnt our bed to ashes and made a huge crack in the wall.

Only once he was confident enough that I wouldn’t wreck the place did we return to The Shade.

I looked around as we walked through the courtyard up the steps into the castle. There was nobody around. It seemed to be late. I’d lost track of how long we’d been away by now, although it felt like an eternity.

We reached our room. My bones and muscles were aching from exercising my powers with Rhys earlier that morning. I wanted nothing more than to lie down and fall asleep.

As I moved toward the bed, Rhys said, “Wait. We need to attend the ritual first. It starts in an hour. We’re just in time for it. If you want you can rest until then, but I’ll have to wake you—”

There was a knock on the door. Rhys went to answer it. His aunt stood in the doorway. Her dark hair was tied up in a tight bun. She stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

“I sensed your return,” she said, eyeing me as I sat down on the edge of the bed. “How did it go?”

“Mona’s one of us now,” Rhys said, placing a hand on my shoulder and squeezing it.

Although Isolde looked shocked that I’d returned in one piece, she didn’t voice her surprise.

“Hm. Good.” Her mouth formed a hard line as she looked me over.

“How have things been since we left?” Rhys asked.

“We’ve kept up the rituals, if that’s what you mean. But there’s something that I must talk to you about.”

“Oh?”

“I just heard from Annora. The immune is missing.”

“The immune?”

Isolde nodded, her eyes darkening. “While you were gone, and since Efren was in no mood to help me, I decided to take the Novalics to collect some more humans from Annora. Well, a day after our visit she discovered the immune missing.”

Rhys’ lips parted in disbelief.

“Of course,” she continued, “we don’t know for sure that the Novalics are behind it. It could have been one of Annora’s vampires. But even if they did, I think it’s best not to ask them outright. I’d rather we find the proof on our own before confronting them. If they have done this then we have a very serious situation indeed.”

Rhys rubbed a hand against his forehead and stared back at Isolde.

“You really think they’d betray us like this? After all they’ve seen of us?”

Isolde shrugged. “I’m just saying that this is an unfortunate coincidence.”

“Hm,” he grunted. “Well, we ought to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.”

“Yes,” Isolde said. “Because we can’t afford for something to happen to that immune. It would be a huge setback. We have to hope wherever she is, she’s still alive.”

“Have you told anyone else about this?”

She shook her head.

“Not even Efren. I’d rather keep this between the three of us for now. In case they are innocent, I don’t want to place unnecessary doubt in people’s minds. Annora is conducting an investigation of her own. There is one vampire she already suspects could be behind this, but she’ll get back to me about this.”

“All right,” Rhys said, his voice low. “I agree. It’s best to keep this between the three of us until we know for sure.”

“Well, I’ll see you at the ritual,” Isolde said. “The Novalics will all be there as usual, of course.” She turned on her heels and left the room.

Whereas previously I’d been feeling tired, now, at the mention of the immune being missing, I was as far away from sleep as I could be. I knew the importance of the immune.

“We need to start investigating this right away,” I said, walking over to Rhys. “There’s no time to lose. We can’t afford for anything to happen to that immune.”

He looked at me and a small smile formed on his lips. He placed his hands on my waist and drew me in toward him, kissing me tenderly on either cheek.

“You really have changed,” he said, his voice husky. “You’re finally aligned with us. With me.”

I stared at him.

“Of course I’ve changed. You think I could have survived what the witch put my mind through without changing?”

He continued staring into my eyes, as though he couldn’t have adored me more than at that moment.

“No, of course not.”

I
stared
around at all the familiar faces in the cave as everyone filed around the ceremonial stone at the center.

I scanned the benches for the Novalics. They had arrived later than usual and also sat in different seats, further to the left than I was used to. Normally they sat opposite us.

Erik and Helina Novalic sat together. Then, next to the girl, my eyes fell upon another dark-haired, green-eyed vampire I had never seen before. He was clearly related to them. Their brother, I assumed. He must have been a new recruit while I was gone. I looked away from him as soon as he looked up.

“That man next to Helina, he’s also a Novalic?” I asked in a voice barely louder than a breath.

Rhys frowned at me.

“Yes, Mona. His name is Kiev. Don’t you remember I already introduced him to you a while ago?”

“Oh.” No matter how much I racked my memory I couldn’t remember meeting him. So much had happened recently, I must have forgotten. Clearly, he couldn’t have made much of an impression on me.

So that’s three Novalics we need to watch.

I looked back at Kiev Novalic, whose eyes were now fixed on the slab in the center of the cave. Even though the vampire wasn’t looking at me, there was something about his presence that made me uncomfortable. It was hard to put a finger on. I just felt… disturbed. Restless.

I was relieved by the time the ritual was over.

“I suggest we stay back and wait until the vampires have returned to their rooms,” Rhys said.

I watched as the crowd made their way out. Kiev was the first to rush out.

Hmm. Interesting.

Isolde also stayed behind with us. We were now the only three people left back in the cave.

“I suggest we pick a vampire each,” she said. “We’ll wait until they’ve fallen asleep and then search each of their rooms tonight.”

“I’ll check Kiev’s,” I said. Though I wasn’t quite sure why. Perhaps it was because his body language had already piqued my interest, and he was fresh in my mind as he’d hurried out first.

“All right,” Isolde said. “I’ll check on Helina. Rhys, you’re responsible for Erik. We’ll all meet back in my room after we’re done.”

“Do you know where Kiev’s room is, Mona?” Rhys asked.

I shook my head.

“It’s on the floor below Helina and Erik’s quarters,” he said. “It’s the first door on your right as you climb up the stairs.”

“All right.”

We glanced at each other once more and then each of us vanished.

I appeared by the staircase and eyed the door that was supposed to be Kiev’s. I placed my ear against it. I heard the sound of water running in the bathroom. I assumed he was getting ready for bed.

I waited another hour or so, walking up and down along that corridor and checking his door again at intervals. Finally, all had become silent and I heard deep breathing.

I appeared inside. All the lights were turned off. I made myself invisible as I crept along the hallway toward the vampire’s bedroom. The door had been left partially open, just enough for me to slip through without having to touch it. Once inside, I looked around the bedroom.

The first thing I noticed was the smell of women’s perfume.

Strange
.

Kiev lay in the center of the four-poster bed, a sheet half covering his bare chest. He was perhaps the most handsome vampire I’d ever laid eyes on.

Again, I experienced the same discomfort I’d felt back in the cave. My throat felt dry and my heartbeat quickened.

I tore my eyes away from him and, forcing my mind back to the matter at hand, I continued searching the room. I ducked my head under the bed. I checked the bathroom. I walked over to the balcony doors and peered behind through curtains. Nothing.

Then I turned and stared at the cupboard a few meters away from the bed. That was large enough to store a body for sure. I eased the doors open and looked inside. Nothing but the vampire’s clothes.

I scanned the apartment once again but it was clear I wasn’t going to find anything. Slowly, I walked back toward the front door and vanished myself. Once I was on the other side, away from the vampire’s presence, I could breathe more freely. I decided to walk the rest of the way to Isolde’s room rather than transport myself there with magic, to clear my mind and gather my thoughts together.

Both Isolde and Rhys were already there waiting for me when I arrived.

“What took you so long?” Rhys asked.

“The vampire took a while to fall asleep.” I sighed. “And I didn’t feel comfortable going in there until he had. I wanted to be able to move around without him in the way.”

“So, any luck?” Isolde asked, looking at me impatiently.

“I found nothing. You?”

They both shook their heads.

“Then maybe it is one of Annora’s people after all,” Rhys muttered.

“We’ll have to see what she says once she’s conducted the investigation. But I didn’t think the Novalics would betray us,” Isolde said. “We still don’t know their older brother that well, but I doubt he’d put his and his siblings’ life at risk by doing something so foolish. Of course, it’s possible the Novalics have already destroyed the immune and hidden the body…”

We all fell silent.

“Well, there’s not much else we can do while we wait for Annora’s report.” Rhys stood up and held my hand, leading me toward the front door. “We’ll see you tomorrow, Aunt.”

We left the door and made our way back to our own apartment.

I removed my cloak, then walked over to the bed and sat down, removing my shoes. Rhys stood leaning against the doorway of the bathroom. His cloak and shoes still on, he stared at me with heat in his eyes.

I raised a brow at him.

He closed the distance between us and pushed me down against the bed. He caught my lips and unbuttoned my dress. Slipping his hands behind me, he ran them along my bare back.

I held his head and stared into his eyes.

“What?”

He pulled me up into standing position, letting my dress fall down my shoulders.

“You have no idea how enticing you are to me now.” He groaned as he ran his lips along my throat. “I want to complete us. We’ve delayed this long enough…”

Reaching into his pocket, he got down on one knee.

“Marry me, Mona.”

I took a step back, a gasp escaping my lips as I stared down at a sapphire ring.

He wanted me. I wanted him.

Why wouldn't I say yes?

Somehow, I hesitated. Although I knew Rhys was the one and only man I would end up with, the idea of marrying him alarmed me.

I guessed it was just the way he had sprung it on me so suddenly. I felt like I needed more time for the concept to sink in before accepting his proposal.

Perhaps sensing my surprise, he reached out and held my hand.

“You don’t have to give me an answer now, my love. I’ll wait until you’re ready. I’ll wait a thousand years if that’s what it takes.”

I sat back down on the bed.

“I think I just need some rest,” I murmured. “It’s been a long day.”

He nodded and placed the beautiful ring on my dressing table.

We undressed and I snuggled up next to Rhys beneath the covers. I placed my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, while he stroked my hair.

We didn’t speak the rest of that night as we drifted off to sleep. He gave me space to get lost in my own thoughts. But I was sure he already knew my answer.

Although it had come as a shock, there was nobody else other than Rhys whom I belonged to. He owned my heart and mind. My body and soul.