“You wouldn’t say that if you’d seen what I have,” Raul says softly.
Smithson stares at me.
“She’s the one they want,” he says. “Isn’t she? But what is so special about some newly-turned vampire—”
Morgan slaps him. Full on, across the face, she slaps him. “Don’t be a fool! You feel her strength. No, if they’ve come after Eleira, we must do everything we can to protect her. And that includes carting her out of harm’s way if she’s threatened.” She looks at her two sons. “Can I trust you both to that task?”
The brothers nod.
“Wait!” I protest. “I don’t understand. How does one small earthquake possibly mean we’re under attack? It doesn’t make sense.”
“She’s right,” Smithson says grudgingly. “It could be coincidence.”
“You think it’s coincidence that the humans all heard a voice?” Morgan seethes. “No. Somebody—or something—is trying to undermine my rule. And the force is coming from the Outside.”
“You believe there was a voice!” I gasp.
“Of course, I believe it,” Morgan hisses. “I’d be an idiot not to.”
“But you said… you killed the boy…”
“To stem the humans’ discord and to show that I won’t be swayed or influenced by them,” she says. “It calmed them down, didn’t it? It got them to conform?”
“That’s horrible,” I whisper.
“That’s what being a ruler is!” The Queen glares at me. “We’re vampires. You’re a vampire. We’re all creatures of the night! You’re also a witch—the trials of humans mean nothing to you.”
“You rely on them,” I begin.
Morgan slices a hand through the air. “Enough of this. Smithson, what are you still doing here? I told you to run!”
“I don’t think it’s wise for me to leave your side,” he begins.
“You think I’m under threat from my children?” She scoffs. “I don’t like you questioning me, Captain Commander. I won’t tell you again. Go. Now.”
He offers a quick bow and darts back the way we came.
Morgan turns to all of us. “Now,” she says. “On to James.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
RAUL
I stand on the outskirts of our group, looking into James’s empty cell.
The hole in the floor is enormous. Each of us have come up to the edge and looked down.
The fall into the water below would knock out the strongest vampire.
Mother tells us all to step back as she casts a probing spell underground. Just before she does it, though, she calls Eleira forward.
“You watch,” she says. “See if you can pick up on anything I do.”
Eleira swallows, clearly uncomfortable being around my Mother after their prior argument, but then comes close.
I turn my attention away from them and look at the crater. Who could have helped James escape like this? It’s definitely not coincidence.
How many allies did he make in The Crypts?
Phillip shuffles around the edge. “It’s a long way down,” he says. He lowers his voice. “Do you think James could have recovered from the fall fast enough to get away?”
“I hope so,” I mutter under my breath. “It’s the only chance he has.”
Phillip nods, deep in thought.
After a few moments, my Mother makes a horrible noise of frustration. “Gah,” she says. The light around her dies out. Eleira shivers and steps away. “The way is blocked. A pile of rocks came crashing down to block the river. That was the earthquake we felt.”
“And James?” I ask, hope rising inside me.
“Gone,” Mother spits. She turns away and strides toward the exit in a fury. “Looks like we have another vampire hunt on our hands.”
I don’t say anything out loud, but inwards, I cheer my older brother on.
Get as far from this place as possible, James, I think. No matter your faults, nobody deserves a fate like that sentenced to you.
Chapter Twenty-Three
SMITHSON
Fury takes me that the Queen would so easily dismiss me from her side.
My whole purpose in coming to The Haven is to ingratiate myself to her. I must make myself invaluable. I must have her absolute trust.
Without it, none of my goals are possible.
I scowl at a rag-tag villager who stumbles into my path. The man gasps, frightened, and trips over his feet. He falls.
I pick him up by the neck and jerk him close to me. “Don’t,” I warn, “get in my way again.” I shoot a disgusted glance at the burned-out huts and houses surrounding me. “Shouldn’t you be making yourself useful with repairs?”