A Shade of Vampire 40: A Throne of Fire(44)

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before,” I whispered.

She didn’t say anything, but I felt her grip tighten on my shoulder. I closed my eyes, letting the hunger consume me, reaching out for my mother’s powerful energy. It was so pure and bright, just like Ruby’s was. As my energy leapt out to meet hers, I felt an outpouring of love, warm and comforting, flowing freely toward me—unconditional and as pure as her energy. I swallowed, feeling a lump in my throat. Of course, I had always known that my mother loved me, but to feel it, to have it cover me—smelling like our home, the trees in The Shade, the salt water from the sea—it made my heart ache.

I could see my dad and Benedict standing behind Tejus. They weren’t touching, but I could see that Tejus was growing stronger, feel the impenetrable wall of his energy growing strong.

It’s working!

The barriers started to thicken again. So powerful was the energy of the GASP members and the witches that were assisting, that the barrier was no longer translucent. It started to almost glow—a faint white hue coming off it that made me think of the immortal waters, and a sense that whatever gave the water its rejuvenation or healing properties, it also cleansed, washing away whatever darkness there was in this world.

Tejus turned toward me and smiled.

“Vampire energy?”

“Yep.” I grinned back.

“Impressive.”

“You’re welcome,” my father growled sarcastically, sounding very unsure about Tejus feeding off him. I guessed that most of the vamps would be disturbed by the sudden role-reversal.

The whispers had intensified, growing colder, more insidious, but I no longer paid them any attention. We could keep the shadow at bay. My mom’s energy felt never-ending, a deep well of light and power that would protect me for as long as I needed. I focused on the warmth of her love, and took another deep breath, pushing out all the energy I could.





Jenus





I lay with my cheek pressed against the cold stone, surrounded by my own filth. My breathing was labored and I had started to truly wonder if I was going to survive this dungeon. I hadn’t quite believed that my brother would leave me down here to rot, but perhaps I had been wrong. Perhaps I had underestimated how cold and ruthless he had become.

Without a doubt, something was happening above—the ministers the guards had requested had never come, and an hour previously, the extra sentries they’d brought down to watch me had all been called above. They had syphoned me aggressively before they left, taking every ounce of my energy. Leaving me close to death.

I no longer held out hope that my master was coming. What would he want with me? I was wretched, no better than an animal, sniveling on the floor, too weak to rise.

“What’s that?” one of the guards exclaimed suddenly, rising off the overturned barrel he was using as a chair. “Who goes there?” he called, swiveling around the room, then turning to look at his fellow guard with unease. No one replied.

A moment later I heard thumping from the corner of the room—something large and heavy was being dislodged. The stone floor trembled with the movement, barrels and crates being upturned.

“Announce yourself!” called the guard, unsheathing his broadsword and pointing it toward the barrels.

“Easy,” said the second guard, “easy—it might just be an animal.”

Both the guard and I turned to look at him with incredulous expressions.

Fool.

“That’s no animal,” the first guard replied angrily. “Nothing’s that strong!”

The second guard armed himself too, and they waited anxiously by my cage, their eyes darting over to my still figure every other second.

I laughed to myself. What did they think I could possibly do? I was as helpless as a newborn, and unless the noise was my master himself, I was done for.

A bang rocked the room, followed by the sound of a stone sliding heavily across the floor. Someone was coming in.

The guards instantly tried to syphon off the intruder, their faces contorted with the effort. It was having little effect. A large, heavy figure moved up from the darkness, stepping out into the gloom.

Master?

The guards started to scream. They fell to the ground, twitching and gasping, their swords forgotten in their outstretched hands. I tried to pull myself up, my arms trembling with the effort.

The figure stepped out into the light. I recognized her—a village woman, one who claimed to be some kind of apothecary.

“Jenus of Hellswan,” she noted with disgust, breaking the barriers that surrounded my cage with a single swipe of her hand.

“Who were you expecting?” I rasped, my mouth filling with bile at the disappointment. I had hoped I would be saved, but this woman was no friend of mine.