A Shade of Vampire 37: An Empire of Stones(51)

I tried to reassure him that it was all right, that I just wanted to get out, but his feelings were strong, and they overwhelmed the connection for a while. Then I felt a more reassuring emotion—determination. Ash was going to find me.

I kept my eyes closed, trying to focus entirely on the connection that had formed. Eventually an image flickered into my mind—it was of a carriage, one of Queen Trina’s, and Ash was riding alongside it. Through the window I could see that Queen Trina looked pale and weak, being held by another minister whom she appeared to be syphoning off.

It made sense. Queen Trina had somehow been weakened in the trial, and hence the barriers had come down. I sent back my anxiety that soon she would regain full strength, and I felt Ash’s response. It didn’t matter now, even if her powers did come back, Ash would do whatever it took to get me out of here. I could feel his resolve strengthening our bond.

I sighed in relief.

Not wanting to leave him, I stayed a moment longer, drifting around in my mind, just wanting to feel connected to Ash in some way. I smiled as he sent through an image of him rescuing me from the palace dungeons. In it we kissed, and it was so real that I could almost feel the sensation of his lips pressed against mine.

The connection started to break, the images becoming fainter and fainter until they disappeared altogether and I was left alone in my cell once more.

It no longer bothered me as much as it had.

For the second time since arriving in Nevertide, Ash was going to come and save my ass.





Hazel





I was woken by the sound of jangling keys before a crack of light appeared in the doorway. I shrank back against the corner of the stone room, shielding my eyes with my hands and making my body as small as I possibly could.

“Hazel!” Tejus’s voice splintered through my fear, and I lifted my head up in disbelief.

“Tejus?” I gulped, so grateful and relieved to see him that I wanted to cry. I crawled toward the doorway, my body aching from being cramped up for so long.

“What in Hellswan happened?”

“B-Benedict…under the control of the entity. It was awful.”

It was all I could manage to say about what happened. I didn’t want to relive the memory. Ever.

I stumbled out into the light of the room, and got my first proper look at Tejus.

“What happened to you?” I cried. His bare torso was covered with blood and his face ashen.

“Trials,” he replied with a sardonic grin. Then he reached out to hold me at arm’s length, and his expression turned painfully solemn. “Hazel, I’m so sorry I left you alone. I shouldn’t have done it. It was foolish and irresponsible.”

I couldn’t really take in what he was saying—my gaze was entirely fixed on the blood seeping from his chest, and the taut muscles of his torso as they quivered in pain. He was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and looked feverish. What had they done to him?

“On the sofa, now,” I replied sternly.

He nodded, and dropped his arms. He turned to walk slowly across the room and I could see bruises starting to form on his back, and more, shallower, cuts.

I helped him lie down, making sure there was a cushion behind his head, and removed some of the books that I’d left lying around.

“Shall I fetch the ministers?” I asked, not knowing who else was going to help heal him.

He winced. “No—I think I’ve had enough of the ministers for one night. I’ll recover fine on my own, I just need to rest.”

“Okay, but I need to clean your wounds,” I replied, eyeing the unhygienic-looking shirt tatters that seemed to be holding him together. I stood up to get a bowl of hot water from the bathroom, but he grabbed my hand.

“Wait—there’s something I need to tell you. It’s Ruby. Ash doesn’t know where she is. She was with Varga, and heading back to the palace, but she didn’t arrive.”

“What?” I gasped.

I tried to steady the panic that was building up inside me. If she was travelling with Varga then perhaps she was with his killers now—and in serious trouble.

“Tejus?” I swallowed, wanting him to say something that would put my mind at ease. Maybe he had a theory that was more optimistic than mine?

“We’ll look for her as soon as we can.” He sighed. “But I can’t keep hunting down your friends like this. Can’t you keep them in one place?” He managed a weak smile at his own joke, and I squeezed his hand.

“Hopefully she’s okay. Ruby’s pretty capable—w-we’ll find her when you’re better…and hopefully Ash will have enough sense to start looking for her too.” I tried to reassure myself as much as Tejus. I didn’t want him thinking that he needed to somehow miraculously speed up his recovery to help me and my friends once again. He had been through enough.