“I’m not bluffing. I can prove everything,” Gregor said confidently. “I have all the background checks to prove it. Ingrid Maslen was once Camilla Claremont, wife of Aiden Claremont. They only have one daughter—your pretty little redhead right there.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s not true. Ingrid Maslen is not my mother.”
“When was the last time you saw Camilla Claremont, Sofia?” Gregor continued to pry. “Did you actually ever even see her in an insane asylum? Or is that just the story you’re weaving to cover up your connection to the Maslens?”
“That’s not…I’m not connected to the Maslens.” My voice was weak, Gregor’s words shaking me up. The idea of my mother being anywhere but inside an asylum was already too much for me to even comprehend. The thought that she was a vampire was something I was certain would drive me insane if I entertained it.
I kept my eyes on Derek’s, wondering what was going through his mind. If Ingrid really was my mother, I wondered if he could ever look at me the same way again. He was slipping away from me and I could feel it and the worst part of it all was that I actually had no clue whether or not Gregor was telling the truth.
Derek gave me a hurt and confused look. “Sofia…is it possible that Ingrid Maslen is your mother?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted, my heart sinking as I did. “Aiden and Camilla Claremont are my parents, but apart from Vivienne’s memories, I’ve never heard of Ingrid Maslen before I came to The Shade. You have to believe me, Derek.”
“Why would you believe her, huh? For all we know, the only reason she came back might be because her mother sent her, so that they could destroy The Shade or perhaps even take over. She might be their inside person.”
I looked into Derek’s eyes, wondering if it were possible for him to actually believe that I would betray him in that way. I couldn’t read the expression on his face and the realization made my heart drop. “Derek…” was all I managed to say, searching for some sort of assurance that he was going to side with me, that he loved me still. I found none. All I could see was the blank expression on his face as the wheels inside his mind churned the information he’d just been given, perhaps wondering what he was supposed to do with it.
His hands formed into fists and his muscles tensed at the motion. He took a step away from me and that was all he needed to do to make me feel like I’d totally lost him. Tears began streaming down my eyes as I looked into his eyes, desperate to find words to get him back to me.
“Get her back on the pole,” Gregor ordered the guards. “She’s guilty of inciting rebellion within The Shade. That’s the sentence for rebellion.”
“No.” Derek shook his head and looked at me. “Did you know about the plan to hold a revolt?”
My heart sank. I couldn’t lie. “Yes, but…”
The betrayed expression on his eyes tore me apart.
“Derek…please…”
“She admits her guilt.” Gregor chuckled. “You never should’ve trusted her.”
“Her knowledge of the rebellion makes her guilty.” Derek nodded. His words were said with a tone of resignation. “The Shade’s law dictates that any involvement in such a rebellion is to be met with a punishment of fifty lashes.”
“That’s it then!” Gregor exclaimed triumphantly.
The guards grabbed hold of me and began dragging me back to the pole. I couldn’t control my sobs. I knew that my sandcastle would totally collapse one day, but I never would’ve guessed that it would be in this way.
They were about to bind my wrists over the pole. I’d completely lost all hope when Derek called out, “Wait!” My heart stopped. “I cannot go against the law, which clearly dictates that she is to be punished for her actions, but the law also states that a citizen of The Shade can volunteer to take on the punishment of another citizen upon himself. I will take on her sentence.”
What he said caused such a commotion among the crowd, we were barely able to hear Gregor’s angry protests.
“No!” he cried out, when the murmurs of the crowd eventually died down.
I adored Derek too much at that moment to even bother looking at Gregor, but the king of The Shade sounded livid.
“You will do no such thing! A vampire taking on a human rebel’s sentence is unheard of. You’re the prince of The Shade! You will not do this. I forbid it!”
Ignoring his own father, Derek pulled his shirt over his head and threw it on the ground. “Let’s get this over with.”