A Vial of Life (A Shade of Vampire #21) (14 page)

D
espite the sheer
size of the ogres, they were surprisingly adept at climbing down mountains. Their hands and feet were wide and tough, their skin so thick that it was almost like padding, allowing them to fearlessly gain a grip on even the sharpest rocks.

After I followed the beasts down the mountainside, it wasn’t long before we arrived at the borders of a human settlement. A ski resort of some sort. We arrived in the midst of a blizzard, which worked to the ogres’ advantage.

As soon as we reached buildings, they headed down an alleyway. I had no reason to follow them anymore. I scoured the small town, looking for a tourist shop of some sort. I found one next to a coffee shop in what appeared to be the town square. It was small and warmly lit, displaying all sorts of trinkets, but most importantly souvenir compasses, postcards, and maps. I was in Canada, not far away from Mount Logan, by the looks of it.

At least now I knew where I was. The next thing I had to do was figure out how to reach home. It was endlessly frustrating not being able to pick up any of the maps in the shop. Somehow, I was going to have to figure this out myself.

First, I had to make my way to the west coast of the country, but then once I arrived at the shores of the Pacific Ocean, I had no means of navigation. I could find The Shade in a submarine or almost any type of vessel, but without any navigation equipment? I had nothing now, just the knowledge that I needed to head westward.

Feeling overwhelmed, I reined myself in and forced myself to take things one step at a time. First reach the ocean, then figure out how to make it back to the island.

And so I headed west with as much speed as my subtle body was capable of. At some point, I had to reach the shore.

I did, in far less time than I could have anticipated. I arrived at a deserted beach, and, scanning the length of it, I knew that now I needed to find a harbor. I continued traveling and came across a large commercial port after an hour or so. I roamed around the ships, listening in to conversations and trying to figure out where each one was headed. I found one captain discussing his pending journey to Hawaii. Since this seemed to be the ship going nearest to The Shade, I stuck with him for the next few hours, until his break was finished and he returned to a massive cargo ship.

I moved on board and headed to the front of the ship, waiting for the journey to begin. To my annoyance, I waited another couple of hours. When the vessel did finally set off, its pace was horrifyingly slow. Slower than I’d ever imagined even a cargo ship traveled. I waited another couple of hours, and then, frustrated out of my mind, I found the control room and took a look at the maps and navigation equipment. I found myself again aggravated that I couldn’t reach out and touch anything in my search for directions. All I could do was gain a general sense of direction from the display monitors—though it hardly helped even in the slightest. I already knew the general direction of Hawaii, and, consequently, the general direction of The Shade.

Although the idea of getting lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean chilled me, even that was a more tempting proposition than staying here on this snail-slow ship. With my supernatural speed, I couldn’t help but wonder whether, even with no means of navigation, traveling alone might be faster than remaining here. The vessel, in addition to being slow, wouldn’t even take me to my final destination. It would take me to Hawaii, closer to home, but I would still need to figure out the final stretch by myself.

I gazed out toward the ocean, stalled.
Am I really mad enough to try this? This is the Pacific Ocean I’m talking about.

I should’ve tried to reach an airport to get a ride on a plane to Hawaii. But I was already on the ocean now. I didn’t want to spend more time searching for an airport on land—I had no idea where the nearest one would be, nor any immediate means of finding out.

Leaving the control room, I hovered upward into the air and looked down on the massive ship. Even if straying from the vessel did end up getting me lost, what was the worst that could happen? I was already a ghost. I no longer had the restraints of a physical body holding me back. The sun could not harm me. I didn’t need blood, food, or water. I could survive… forever, I guessed. Even if it took me weeks to find The Shade, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

My mind made up, I drifted apart from the vessel, and as I sped up my sprint over the waves toward the endless blue, I looked over my shoulder and watched it fade into the distance.

I lifted myself higher up in the air. Since the sky was clear, I had a bird’s eye view of the ocean and any surrounding land formations that might crop up.

Judging by the sun, I was racing southwest—or what I hoped was southwest—the entire afternoon before something made me slow and freeze in midair. A sound. A tune? Drifting over the waves came a faint, enchanting melody. I tried to place what instrument it was. It sounded closest to a flute, though this guess was not quite right. The melody was soft and somber, distant yet haunting… breathtakingly beautiful. It spoke of life and promise, like the singing of a nightingale in spring. Even as I listened to it, it filled my heart with unexpected hope. Hope for what exactly, I didn’t know, but the soulful tune so completely possessed my mind that I felt like I could hope for anything.

Where is it coming from?

I gazed around the water again, as if expecting to see a Pied Piper floating toward me on a fishing boat. From what I could see from my elevated position in the sky, there was no land for miles, nor any vessels on the waves. And yet the sweet melody continued. I wasn’t sure if I was just imagining it, but it seemed to grow louder, penetrating the atmosphere and engulfing me, as though it was reaching inside me, touching my very soul, and filling me with an unexpected warmth.

It was coming from the direction I was headed. Southwest.

I continued on my journey. Spurred on by the exquisite tune, my speed reached levels that I hadn’t even known that I was capable of. I wondered if anybody else could hear it, if they were present. Or was this just a product of my imagination? Was I just so desperate to reach home that I was imagining someone beckoning me back there? But, with the tune still in my ears, I wasn’t capable of thinking much. I just wanted to listen, the cheerful notes lighting my mind up like a drug.

I couldn’t have known how much time passed, but after what felt like an hour, the melody died as suddenly as it had started. Its absence sent my mood crashing down. The euphoria drained away, and I was left feeling hollow, alone in this world of dark, foaming waters. The sun had set by now. The moonlight trickled through my hands, making them appear paler and almost luminous in its reflection.

I felt more lonesome than I ever remembered feeling that night as I continued on my journey. But then, as dawn showed its first signs of breaking over the horizon, the melody returned. It called to me again, silently at first, then growing louder, until it grew to a pitch greater than ever before. Once again, the beautiful notes filled my mind and sent a rush of happiness flowing through me. Like an explosion of fireworks in my mind, the sound sent my mood soaring. I gazed out at the sun taking its place in the sky, and although I’d seen such a dawn arriving over the ocean many times before, I had never appreciated its beauty as much as I did that morning.

The melody grew louder still, until it was positively ringing in my ears, as though I was closer to it somehow.

I swept my eyes over the waves glistening in the early morning sun. And then I noticed it, far in the distance. A group of five grey ships. Large ships. Naval ships.

Excitement welled within me.
Could it be?
I feared that perhaps the hunters’ ships had abandoned their watch outside our island and moved to a different location. But as I scanned the water, my gaze fell upon a familiar rock that served as one of the landmarks for The Shade’s boundary.

I’m back. I’m back.

I could hardly believe it. I hurtled forward, racing over the frothing waves past the hunter ships, headed directly for where I knew our boundary was. As I came within what I estimated was twenty feet of it, a chilling doubt entered my mind.
What if I can’t enter it? I was able to enter and leave before, having been granted permission by the witches, but without my human body, will the spell keep me out? Or perhaps boundaries don’t work for subtle beings…

Thankfully, my fear was unfounded. I passed through the boundary and found myself on the other side, enveloped in the darkness of The Shade. As I set my focus on the island’s shore, the melody reached a feverish pitch, so loud that it had lost its soothing quality and become almost uncomfortable to hear. I found myself wishing that I could turn down the volume, or at least cover my ears, but of course, I could do neither.

As I arrived at the Port, the tune stopped once again. As before, it had only lasted a short while. Perhaps it would disappear for another day, or perhaps now that it had led me back, it wouldn’t play again. Again I found myself wondering whether it was the strange work of some fragment of my own subconscious before I shook the thought aside and focused on whizzing through the woods. River and my family. I needed to find them.

I wasn’t sure where River might be staying, but I guessed she’d be with the rest of the humans in the Vale—assuming she and her family had decided to stay in The Shade. Though, as a half-blood, I couldn’t imagine River leaving anytime soon. She had to discover a cure first.

I passed by the Residences first and approached the foot of my parents’ penthouse—my old home. Gazing upward, I almost yelled. Where the treehouse had been was the wreck of a fire. And scattered all around me in the undergrowth was scorched debris.

What on earth happened? Where are my parents? Where is Rose?

As I gazed around, all of the other treehouses seemed to have remained intact. Had this been an accident, my parents’ penthouse going up in smoke? But what kind of accident could have caused this? In all my life, we’d never come close to even a single accident involving fire in our treehouse. And how long ago had the fire been? From the looks of it, this destruction had been only recent.

I set my eyes on my aunt and uncle’s penthouse, wondering if they might be staying with them. Drifting through the front door, I searched all the rooms. The apartment was empty. Fear and confusion gripping me, I headed back to the ground. I knew that my grandfather was supposed to be staying in one of the mountain cabins with his girlfriend. That was the next logical place to visit.

But on arriving in the clearing at the foot of the Black Heights, once again, I was met with a sight of horror. Another home had been scorched, just like my parents’ had. A cabin on the mountainside. I didn’t know if this was my grandfather’s cabin, since I hadn’t had a chance to visit it during the brief period I’d returned to The Shade from The Oasis. But what was the cause of all these fires? I was about to begin moving up the mountain when voices sounded behind me.

I whirled around to see Ibrahim standing with… my father. Relief surged through me. I hurried toward them, calling out, “Dad,” as if by my sheer willpower alone, he would somehow be able to hear me.

He continued speaking with Ibrahim, oblivious to my presence. I set my eyes on the warlock. He was a channeler of magic. Was there any way that he might sense my presence? “Ibrahim!” I bellowed as loud as I could, even as I stood two feet away from him. I stretched out my arms and tried to grab him, but of course my fingers drifted right through his body. He, too, remained oblivious to my presence.

I fell silent and focused on their words.

“First thing after the funeral this morning,” my father said, his voice deep and sober, “we will begin the investigation.”

Panic arrested me again.
Funeral? What happened?

My father’s eyes rested on the wrecked cabin, a deep scowl marring his face. “Whoever is behind this will pay.”

“What’s going on?” I spoke aloud, even though I knew they couldn’t hear me. “Where’s Mom? Where is Rose? The rest of our family? River? Is everyone okay?”

There was a span of silence between the two of them as they both stared at the remains of the fire before they turned on their heels and headed back toward the woods. I followed them, hoping that they would lead me toward the rest of my family, where I could verify that they were all right. But then Ibrahim touched my father’s shoulder and they both vanished, leaving the trail cold once again. Though not as cold as before. Perhaps Ibrahim had taken my father back to the Sanctuary? I figured that Corrine’s place—particularly the courtyard outside—was usually used as the base for funerals. It made sense to head there.

I raced back through the woods and reached the courtyard outside Ibrahim and Corrine’s home. I stopped outside their front door and paused for a moment, attempting to steel myself for what I might find on the other side.

I glided through the door, emerging at the beginning of a long corridor. I heard the crying of an infant, but also that of a woman. I hurried along the hallway toward the source of the noise.

The baby’s cries were coming from the fifth room on my right. Its door was ajar. I moved inside to find my aunt lying in bed and cradling in her arms a beautiful baby.
My new cousin.
He or she was wrapped in a blanket, and I couldn’t make out the child’s gender. I moved to the foot of the bed. Vivienne appeared tired and drained, though her eyes were brimming with affection as she cuddled up with her newborn. I wondered how long ago she had given birth. I gazed down at the child’s face, and wished that I could have greeted my cousin.

Although I wanted to stay in the room longer, even if I couldn’t hold the baby, the crying of the grown woman was eating at my nerves. I left my aunt and cousin alone and returned to the corridor. The sobs sounded like they were coming from Corrine’s treatment room. My anxiety intensified as I approached it, trying to figure out if I recognized the voice.

I reached the end of the corridor and turned the corner to find myself standing in front of my grandfather, sister, and mother. The three of them sat on a narrow bench against the wall. Aiden’s head was resting in his palms, and his chest and back were shaking silently with… sobs? My sister and mother sat on either side of him, their arms wrapped around his midriff. I didn’t understand the source of my grandfather’s grief, but I felt relieved to have verified that all of my family was okay and had survived the strange fires—assuming that Xavier was somewhere around and in good health too.