A Shade of Vampire 37: An Empire of Stones(33)

“Neither do we,” I replied sadly. “When I got to the human quarters this morning, you were out cold. Can you remember what happened last night?”

She shook her head.

“Do…Do you think it was Benedict?” she asked.

I squeezed her hand again, unable to formulate a reply. We both knew that it probably was.

“I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful,” she continued. “I just…It’s all blank.”

“Don’t worry. It’s okay. I’m just so sorry I left you here. I thought you’d be safe.”

“Not your fault.” She tried to smile at me. “I knew he’d be back anyway—he said so.”

I glanced up at Tejus. His expression was grim.

“Yelena,” he asked slowly, “would you let me look into your mind? I might be able to access memories that you can’t.”

Yelena had jumped at the sound of his voice, unaware that he was standing in the room. I watched as she calmed herself, but looked nervous at his suggestion.

“She’s just had her energy syphoned, Tejus, I don’t think that—”

“It’s all right,” Yelena interrupted. “I can do it. If it’s going to help Benedict, then I can do it.”

Once again, Yelena’s bravery impressed me. I owed the little girl big time, and I hated that she had gotten so wrapped up in the entity’s plans. I didn’t think I’d ever come across a human who was so calm and sensible in the face of overwhelming danger. My mom would love her.

“Yelena—thank you,” I whispered. “Really.”

She nodded, her smile less afraid now as she waited for Tejus to begin.

“Be careful,” I warned him. “Go easy on her.”

“I will,” he replied.

Tejus and I swapped places, Tejus sitting down on the sofa with Yelena while I paced the room, keeping an eye on the girl for any signs of distress.

It took a while, the room perfectly silent apart from the sounds of my footsteps wearing away the carpet. When the connection broke, Yelena leant her head back on the arm rest, her face even paler than it had been before.

“Yelena, are you all right?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine…just a bit woozy.”

“She needs to eat,” I said to Tejus. “Will you send someone to fetch her food?”

He nodded, and swiftly walked out of the door to speak to the guards who were stationed outside.

“Try to get some rest,” I murmured to Yelena as I saw her fighting to keep her eyes open.

“Okay,” she said sleepily, her eyes closing a second later.

When Tejus came back into the room, I beckoned him into one of the empty bedrooms so as to not disturb her.

“What did you see?” I asked.

“Next to nothing. Her mind’s been wiped completely. All I could see was a shadow coming toward her—human-sized, I think. Then your brother’s face peering down…I can’t tell if the expression was concern or something else…and then nothing. Just a blanket of darkness, and I can’t break through it. I’m sorry, Hazel.”

I nodded. I had known all along that Benedict would have been involved. He might still be under the power of the entity, but at least he was alive. But it also meant that my brother was completely out of it—had even part of his mind still been his, then this would never have happened.

I had to face the horrific, terrifying reality that Benedict was, at least for the time being, completely lost to me.

“We need to locate him. He might be under the influence of the entity, but if we can keep him safe, then at least he won’t be able to harm himself or others.”

“We can search now,” Tejus agreed. “I’ll get us another vulture. Meet me outside.”

He looked like he wanted to say something else. Our eyes met, and I gave him a weak smile. I didn’t need his reassurances—nothing he could say was going to make this situation any better. Tejus left the room.

I waited until Yelena’s food had been brought up. Thankfully it was Jenney who appeared with the tray, and I left the girl in her care. I made my way to the courtyard, relieved to find Tejus ready and waiting with another bird.

“An offspring of Aria” he announced. “Are you ready?”

In reply, I lifted my arms to his shoulders and he helped me up onto the bird. He jumped on behind me, and in a matter of moments we were soaring through the gray sky back to the cove.

We landed on the sand, and Tejus helped me disembark. I immediately made my way to the temple that I’d fallen through days before, only to find the hole that I’d created in the ground completely covered up.

“Tejus—look at this!”