Vampire Girl 3: Silver Flame (18 page)

Before I can object, he kisses me chastely on the forehead and walks back to his room, Baron whining at his heels as the wolf steals glances back at me and Yami.

I sigh and let myself into my room. "I guess that's that, my little dragon. He's a stubborn ass sometimes."

I fall asleep quickly, my dreams peaceful without potions for the first time in weeks. And I am heavy with exhaustion when something wakes me. It's the door to my room, opening. A figure slips in. I'm about to reach for my sword when he speaks from the shadows. "Ari, it's me."

"Fen!" I sit up as he walks over to my bed. "You came back? But I thought—"

"I changed my mind."

Those are the last words we speak the rest of the night.

He rushes forward, grabbing me in a fierce embrace, his breath heavy against my ear, his heart strong against my chest. His mouth explores mine with a hungry passion, and his hands tear away my sleeping gown. Our bodies come together. Gently, at first, then with a desire I can barely contain. We lose ourselves. To all that we are. To all that we have wished.

It becomes like a drug, being with him. Our magic finds each other's, the powers blending into a radiant warmth that fills us both and molds us together into one.

And when we finally finish, falling asleep in each other’s arms, I look outside and see the sun begin to rise. And as night turns to day, I realize everything has changed, and I smile for what is to come.

"They wouldn't dream of turning on you."

—Asher

It nearly breaks
my heart to see what Stonehill has become when we arrive at the gates. Tavian uses an illusion to mask his Fae features, at my advice, as we walk through a gruesome display of torture and death. The roads are lined with wooden pikes sporting the heads of Fae and Shade. At first, the guards do not want to admit us into the city, because I am Shade. But when I explain who I am, they acquiesce.

Tavian is quiet, and I don't blame him. These are his people even more than mine. And what has been done to them is gruesome.

We pass a cart full of barrels and Tavian sniffs the air. "Powder. Explosives."

"Why?"

"Perhaps they are preparing for battle."

I nod, looking at what once was my forge. Now, men I don’t recognize forge crude weapons there, preparing for war with the Fae. I hurry forward, eager to remove them from my line of vision.

In the center of town, on a wooden platform that has become the stage for the cruelest of deeds, a group of soldiers torture two slaves, as more of Levi’s men look on and laugh. Tavian flexes, and I slip my hand around his arm. "We can't interfere," I say. "We can’t fight them all."

"I know," he says through gritted teeth. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Let's just find Fen and Ari and figure out what's going—" the words die in my throat as we approach Stonehill Castle. For there, on either side of the entrance, are two more pikes. With two more heads. Fires blaze in my hands and I feel my blood boil with rage and grief and shock.

"They're dead!" I turn to Tavian, my wrath pouring out of me as I misplace it onto him. "You said she was alive. You gave me hope."

He pulls me into his arms and though my flames singe his skin, he doesn't let go. I breathe in his scent, cling to his chest, and let the fire in me die as sobs tear through me. I hadn't realized how much I needed that hope until now. Until it was ripped away from me.

When I have myself under control I pull back to look at him. "I thought you would know if she were dead?"

"I would. I can't explain it, but this does not make sense. We need more information. All hope is not lost," he says, wiping a tear off my cheek.

"Dum spire spero," I whisper. "While I breathe, I hope. Ari always said that. She always had hope. Always believed things could improve."

"Do not yet speak of her in the past tense. We will discover the truth."

Something shifts in the air. I pull back from Tavian, and see that we are surrounded by men in red, their armor shining in the sun. Their weapons pointed at us.

Levi stands at their head. "Well, well. When I heard Kayla Windhelm had finally returned, I couldn’t believe it. Had to see for myself. But here you are. Alive and well. Took your time answering my summons, didn’t you?"

I clench my jaw, filling with rage. "You murdered Fenris and Ari."

"Now,  now. It wasn’t murder, but justice. Arianna was the Midnight Star. She was the reason for the Druids’ return. And Fen was Fae all along. His wolf was the Spirit of the Earth."

I flinch. "That’s not possible."

Levi smiles. "Oh, but it is. Our mother turned him when he was a babe, you see. I knew he was Fae from the beginning, but only recently did I discover he was Druid." He tilts his head at me. "Why the long face? With the Midnight Star gone, the Druids will soon return to slumber, and then we shall have peace once more."

I spit at his feet. "There can be no peace under your rule."

Levi rolls his eyes, then looks at Tavian. "And who might you be?"

"A traveler," he says. "I saved Kayla in the Outlands."

"And I assured him he would be well compensated," I add.

Levi nods. "You have my thanks. Kayla is a valued blacksmith." He motions to his men. "Now, I’m sure you will follow us quietly. It would be such a shame to upset the townsfolk."

I draw my sword. "We leave. Now."

Levi chuckles. "If you try, my men will beat you. They will cut into your friend and do far worse to you. I’ll make sure my entire garrison gets a turn. Who knows, maybe I will even partake at the end."

I glance at Tavian. "We can’t surrender."

He looks around, at the traders running their stores, at the wives drying their clothes, at children playing with stones. "I’m sorry," he says. "But I cannot fight here. I cannot harm these innocent people."

I remember last time he shifted, how he attacked without cause and reason. I remember how he almost killed me.

And I drop my sword.

Levi smirks and opens his hand, revealing a vial of purple liquid. "Now, would you be so kind as to drink this? It will help make things more manageable?

I grab the vile and swallow my share, then pass it to Tavian. His emerald eyes are the last things I see before my strength fades, and I fall into nothing.

"They are strong, Ari. Powerful. We are the Fallen. The first of our kind to come to this world. The original cursed. You wouldn't stand a chance against them. Against any of us."

—Fenris Vane

I say goodbye
to Es and Pete, and then we march north. Varis does not follow. "This is a fight between vampires. It does not concern the Fae." I try to argue with him. To convince him that defeating Levi is good for all, but he does not listen. In truth, we’ve barely talked since I unleashed the Darkness and burned down the grove. And we barely talk now. "Goodbye Arianna. May we see each other again." Then he leaves, flying off on Zyra into the sunrise.

It takes a day to reach the outskirts of Stonehill, and we set camp in the forest, making no fires in fear of attracting attention. Our army is not great. Only a few hundred. So we will wait for tomorrow, when the rebellion begins.

Fen and I share a tent, but we do not repeat lasts night's romantic interlude, nor do we speak of it. I think, perhaps, we both worry that to do so would be to break the happiness we have found. And so, we simply enjoy each other’s company, joking and laughing, falling asleep side by side.

The next day, I am jolted awake. "Grab your gear," says Fen. "The rebellion started early."

I don my armor and grab Spero, then find my horse. Dean, Asher, Fen and I lead the front lines as we emerge from the forest and onto a hill overlooking the city. The sun has just begun to rise, casting everything in dark orange and leaving long shadows.

We wait.

We wait for the gate to open.

And when it does, we charge forward, shouting battle cries and screaming to the heavens. Our soldiers cut down everyone in their path. Blood and mud slashes through the air. Men and women scream in pain, clutching wounds and dismembered limbs. Buildings are set on fire. Horses lose their riders and flee in panic, trampling people to death. It is chaos. Everywhere. And I can only hope the innocent are safe, for I cannot tell. It all looks like madness and death.

Amidst the turmoil, Fen leads me and his brothers to the side of the castle, to a secret passage behind a waterfall few but him know of. He taps on a rock embedded in a stone wall, and a doorway opens. Quickly, we rush inside, and Fen closes the passage behind us. Dim torches light our way, as we run through cramped tunnels and over small stairs. When we reach a dead end, Fen taps another rock in the wall, and the way before us opens. I cast an illusion on us all, muffling our steps, and we creep into the castle.

I know this place.

The dungeons.

The Warden sits at a table, eating a loaf of bread, his hands still bloody from his nasty work of torture. He starts to turn, about to see us, but then Fen leaps forward, and in one movement takes off his head. "One of Levi’s" he says, spitting on the dead corpse.

"We need to make haste," says Dean. "Before Levi realizes we are in the castle and tries to flee." I nod, and we move for the stairs. But something catches my eye.

A man in the corner, broken and bloodied, his back shredded into ribbons of flesh and skin.

Marco!

I run to his side and break the chains that bind him with my sword. "Fetch him some water. Now!"

Asher obliges, brining me a jug from the table, and I pour the cold water down Marco’s throat.

He gulps down what he can, then turns away, signaling he is finished. His face is bruised and purple. Barely recognizable. When he looks at me, he smiles. His voice is barely a whisper. "Arianna… you came back…"

I nod, stroking his hair in soothing motions. "Yes. You’re safe now."

"Levi… he… after I helped…"

"I know." Levi did this to him. Because he helped me escape. Tears well in my eyes for the man before me. For the pain he's endured. Levi must never cause such pain again. No matter what happens, today I capture the mad prince.

Marco tilts his head to the side. "There… friends…"

I follow his gaze to the back of the dungeon, where large steel cages stand covered in shadows. "Make sure he’s comfortable," I say to Asher, and then I run to the Warden’s corpse, grab the keys off his belt, and open the cell in the back.

Inside, I find a woman. Dirty and bloody. Curled into a small ball. Shaking and murmuring nonsense. I step closer to offer water. And then I see who she really is. "Kayla?"

Kayla scrambles back, her eyes wild and bloodshot. "No. No. No! Don’t punish me again. Not again. I’ve been good. I swear I’ve been good."

I sit down, bringing myself to her level. "Kayla, it’s me. Arianna."

She brushes her messy hair out of her eyes, squinting. "Arianna? Arianna!" She jumps forward, grabbing me and holding me tight, weeping against my chest. "I saw your head on a spike. You were dead. You were dead!"

I grab her shoulders and make her look at me. "It was only an illusion. I’m here. I’m alive. You’re safe."

She nods, then looks away, to the cage. No. The cage beside hers. She reaches for the bars. "Tavian. Tavian!"

I don’t know who she speaks of, but I understand what she means. I run outside and unlock the second cage. A man lies within, unmoving, his back bloody, his gut covered in recent wounds stitched back together. I check his pulse. "He’s alive!"

Kayla falls to his side, clutching him dearly. "Oh, thank the Spirits. Tavian. Tavian, please wake up."

Someone grabs my shoulder from behind. Fen. "We must go. Before it’s too late." He glances at Kalya. "I am glad you are safe, sister."

She looks back at him. "Go. Make Levi pay."

***

When we reach upstairs, it's chaos. The slaves have taken advantage of the rebellion and attack the guards using kitchen knives. Brooms. Anything they can grab. Some manage to kill a vampire and take their sword. Baron joins the fray, tearing out the throat of a soldier. Viscously striking at anyone he deems an enemy.

Our party carves our way through the hallways, avoiding as much combat as possible. Sometimes soldiers rush to fight us, but then they see Fen, drenched in the blood of his enemies, Dean, with the thrill of battle in his eyes, and Asher, swift despite new wounds. They see me, clad in the colors of midnight, a dragon upon my shoulder. And then the soldiers flee.

A group of Fae block the path ahead. And I recognize Kara with her golden hair and Julian with her green eyes, the Fae girls who tended to my needs in Stonehill and later at Sky Castle. They fight off their attacker, a man soaked in blood, a sword in his hand. Before he can strike I rush forward.

And cut off his arm.

The girls scream. Then they see me. And their eyes fill with hope.

"Go," I say. "Find a room and bar the door. Don’t come out until you hear no more battle." They nod and disappear down the hallway.

Something nudges at my feet.

I look down and see Kal, laying against the wall, clutching his belly.

"How bad is it?" I ask, already examining the wound.

He chuckles. "Nothing a Keeper can’t handle. I’ll be fine."

I can’t tell if he’s being honest, or just saying what I want to hear. Kal was one of my only friends when I arrived at Stonehill, one of the few who understood my struggle to help the Fae. I reach down and kiss his head. "May the Spirits bless you," I say, casting an incantation to heal. Then I stand and walk away. I have done all I can. No point in worrying now. I must focus. Levi awaits.

A few more steps, and we reach the entrance to the grand hall. A dozen elite guards protect the door, slaughtering all Fae who try to break in. Fen and Dean rush forward, engaging them in battle. But I have other plans. As the brothers fight, I dash through the opening they create and ram open the door. I seek the head. Cut it off and the body dies.

I jump into the throne room, and find myself away from the chaos, in a hall empty and quiet. Leaves cover the floor, fallen from the great tree that stands in the center of the room. Once, this was a place of happiness. A place of comfort and safety. Now, it is a barren field, rotten, corrupted. I move through the hall, sword raised. And then I see him. Sitting on the throne in gold and red robes. Running his pale fingers through his long white hair. He studies me, and then he laughs. "Oh, well played, Princess. Well played. You made it all the way here. But you have yet to win."

He stands, drawing his sword, a giant silver blade with a ruby in the pommel.

I glance back, searching to see if my allies have caught up with me. They haven’t. The elite soldiers are keeping them at bay. I start to turn back to Levi.

And see his sword lunging for my throat.

I spin out of the way, then strike back. Our blades clash, and the ring of steel echoes in the empty hall. Levi pivots, then strikes for my legs. I parry and strike for his hands. Yami screeches, and Levi flinches in surprise. I see an opening. I strike.

And stab Levi in the heart.

He collapses, blood pouring from his lips, his eyes fading.

I tremble, unable to accept that this is over. The war with Levi is over. Stonehill is reclaimed. Tears of happiness well in my eyes, mixing joy with shock. I had heard Levi was a master swordsman, but it must have been a jest. A lie to scare his enemies. He was weak all along. As weak in body as he was in mind.

I look at the Prince of Envy one last time. And I watch him fall.

And then…

Then I see the blood begin to disappear.

I see his clothing fade away.

I see his face change.

No. It can’t be.

The man at my feet isn’t Levi. He’s an imposter. A decoy. Masked by illusion. How could I have missed it?

I look around, shaking with dread. If this is a fake, then where’s the real Levi?

I flinch at every shadow. Shake at every sound. And then I glance at the windows.

And outside, at the top of a snow-covered cliff, I see Levi.

His red cloak sways in the wind. His white hair falls over his dark eyes. He lifts a hand.

And the throne room explodes in fire.

***

I feel the force of the explosion first, pushing me back, throwing me against a wall, crushing my bones. The hall before me rips open, stone and wood splintering into oblivion. Next, comes the fire. It shines like the blazing sun, setting flame to the great tree, burning stone itself, and it makes it way forward. Forward. To me.

There is no time. Nothing I can do.

I glance at Yami once last time, and then I smile, facing my end. I will not fear the flames as I did before. I will fall into their warm embrace. I will see Daison once again.

I sigh, letting go of all my fear and hate. Forgiving all those who I had yet to forgive. I do not know how I do this in a blink of an eye, but I do.

I surrender myself to what comes next. The fire falls upon me.

And then he is there.

Fen.

He jumps in front of me, his face twisted in pain and effort. He throws up his arms, and a wall of stone rushes up from the ground. It blocks the fire. It blocks the end.

And finally, time seems to move at a normal pace.

I grab Fen as he falls to the ground, panting heavily and shaking. He used too much power to control the earth and summon the wall. He needs to rest. Without proper training, the act could still cause his death.

Dean and Asher run in behind me, Baron at their heels. "Get him to a healer," I say. And then I run.

I run past the wall of stone.

I run over the burned and shattered floor.

I run through the torn away window.

And I jump.

I fly through the air, Spero raised high. I come for justice. I come for Levi.

He sees me, and his eyes go wide. He dashes forward, jumping off the cliff, down below to the frozen lake. I fall after him, pulling back my hands to speed my decent. And then I feel Yami against me. He is bigger than before. Not as giant as when consumed by the Darkness. He is more my size. And I grip the spikes on his back and let him take me down and forward. Together, we glide over the frozen lake. Over Levi.

I leap off Yami.

Striking at Levi as I fall.

He dashes out of the way, and Spero pierces the ice. I rend my blade free and strike again. Levi parries, then retaliates with a series of attack so fast I barely avoid death. This is the real Levi. The sword master.

Yami swoops down, striking at Levi from behind, but he avoids the assault, and I need to dodge to evade the dragon myself. I regain my stance and lunge. But no matter what attack I try, Levi is always a step ahead. He fights both Yami and me at the same time. And he’s winning.

There’s a reason the vampires won the war, I think. Even the Midnight Star could not stand against them.

I spin forward, lashing out with my blade. But Levi sees a weakness in my technique. He slashes through my assault.

And cuts into my shoulder.