The Vampire Gift 2: Kingdom of(22)

“I know,” Phillip responds. “But she hasn’t been rational. Her grip on the throne is crumbling. She’s scared.”

“I suspected as much,” Raul murmurs.

“Wait a minute,” I say. “You said you saved Patricia. What about Jacob?”

Phillip looks at me and shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Eleira. There was nothing I could do. Morgan held me prisoner.”

“She killed him?” I ask. “No. No, she wouldn’t do that. She made him a Convicted, didn’t she?”

Raul and Phillip share a look. “You don’t yet know our Mother,” Phillip says.

“Then what?”

“She severed his soul and bound it in a painting,” Phillip says. “She did it right before my eyes.”

A sick feeling washes over me. “No.”

Phillip nods. “April was so brave. Mother gave me a choice. Feed, and spare Patricia from the same fate. Or resist, and…” he trails off. “You know what the alternative would have been.”

“That’s horrible.” I breathe.

Raul, meanwhile, seems to have withdrawn into himself. “This is my fault,” he whispers softly. “All of this falls on me.”

Suddenly, April stirs in Phillip’s arms. Her eyelids flutter open. Her head falls to one side, and she looks at me.

There’s only a second of recognition in her eyes. “Eleira,” she says. “You came back.”

And then she drifts back into delirium once more.

“I need to get her somewhere she can heal,” Phillip says. “I’ll find you two later. You’ll need to tell me everything that happened.” He looks at me. “Especially how Eleira became so strong.”

“We’ll do that, brother,” Raul promises.

“Then by your leave,” Phillip says, and rushes past us out into the ever-present night.

After he’s gone, I look at Raul. “What did you mean that this was your fault?” I ask him.

His eyes darken and he shakes his head. “I wish I could tell you. But some burdens are mine to bear alone.”

I wish I could disagree, but I’ve had that exact same feeling for the longest time.

“Come on,” Raul calls, taking my hand again. “I’ll show you to the blood banks. Once you’ve had your fill… then we can discuss what happens next.”





Chapter Twelve




PHILLIP



As soon as April is secure in the infirmary, and being taken care of by our resident vampire doctor, I set about looking for Mother.

I have a bone to pick with her. The old Phillip, the one who was meek and passive, the one who never stood up for himself, is long gone. With April’s blood flowing through my veins, I feel like a new man. One who won’t take things as they are handed to him lying down. One who will stand up for what he believes in and let all those around him know.

The first step is to find Patricia and make sure Mother held up her part of the bargain.

I’ve managed to tame my thirst for now. I thought that tasting April’s blood would open up the floodgates and turn me into a veritable monster, no better than one of The Convicted in my lust for blood.

But something about the connection I felt with April—imagined or not—tempers that hunger. My body feels invigorated, and strong. Most of all, however, it still feels like my own.

I’m still in control.

Did Mother know this would happen? If so, she deserves more credit than I’ve given her.

I run through the forested paths of The Haven. On a whim I decide to take the route through the village. I want to see what progress has been made—if any—in repairing it while I was locked away.

When I arrive, I’m left bitterly disappointed. It is in exactly the same state it would have been after the fires died down. No repairs have been made. Nothing’s been fixed or salvaged. It just looks like a charred mess.

Where are all the humans?

I run through it quickly, hating the vile smell of ash still lingering in the air. All of this for Eleira… only to have her boomerang right back into our midst.

Well, now that she’s transformed, I won’t have to worry about the antidote Raul had me searching for.

I come to the vampire compounds high up on the trees. There’s movement up there—I feel the presence of others like me mingling about.

I take a deep breath and start to climb. I’ve never been close to many of the other residents—but even so, they’ll all notice a difference when they see me. They’ll know immediately that I’ve fed.

I can’t imagine the sort of scandal it will start. Phillip Soren, who has held out fueling his vampiric side ever since his creation, is now a true vampire?