Vampire Girl 2: Midnight Star(26)

"Thanks, I think."

Yami returns, the platter empty of meat, and sniffs at my drink. He makes a gagging sound, then runs back up to my neck and hides behind my hair. I giggle uncontrollably and Durk frowns.

"Do ya know why this matters?" he asks, his voice low.

I stop laughing and look at him. "Why what matters?"

"This!" He waves his arms in the air as if to encompass everything. "You. The Midnight Star."

"I know why it matters to me," I say, thinking of peace, of Fen. "Why does it matter to you?"

"I had a younger brother once. Nat was his name. I remember a time we were little, playing by the gryphons. He wanted to ride one and I didn't stop him in time. Nearly broke his neck, and our mother nearly broke my bum after that. I swore I'd never let anything bad happen to him again." Durk sighs and takes another shot, and I wait, silently. "He was taken captive long ago. Taken by the vampires. I don't even know if he's dead or living as a slave. But he is the reason I helped start this rebellion. To find my brother. To bring him home, or put him to rest once and for all."

I think of all those Fae held captive by the vampires. By Fen. I reach over and place my hand on Durk's. "I'm so sorry."

He nods. "So you see, this is why you are important to me, Midnight Star. I do not want war. I want peace, a world where I do not have to fear for my family. And you are the only way I see."

I force a grin, though inside I do not know how I will ever succeed. Yami will not listen to me. The Druids will not follow me. And Lucian… I still fear what the king will do if he decides my worth is gone.

I look over at Madrid, who is still drinking alone, her silver gown dirty with specks of dust and wine. "What about her? Why is she so sad?"

Durk pours me another shot. "Long ago, Madrid and Oren, the Fire Druid you met tonight, were Karasi—spirit of the heart. She has waited for his return for many, many years. But Oren made her choose: You—the Midnight Star—or him. She chose you."

Maybe it's the liquor, or the disaster of an evening, but his words break me. She sacrificed her heart to do what she thought was right. I can't even imagine the strength it took.

I stand, excusing myself from Durk, and walk over to Madrid. I sit across from her, at a table full of uneaten food, stained with spilled wine.

"Hello, Ari," she says, forcing a flat smile onto her tired face. "I'm sorry tonight didn't go as we'd hoped."

"Don't worry about that," I say. "Are you okay?"

She looks about to answer with a polite yes, but then her face collapses into grief. Her eyes well with tears and she takes a sip of her glowing blue drink. "I apologize for showing so much emotion. It's unseemly."

I hold open my hands, an idea forming in my mind. Yami hops into them. "I think we can help her, Yami, what do you think?"

Yami looks over at Madrid, then back at me. Hoping he understands, I focus my intent on what I want him to do. "Let's give her some love."

Yami hops off my hand and walks slowly over to Madrid. He studies her face. He glows brighter, his body more clear.

And I know he has shown himself.

Her eyes widen and all the pain and sadness is erased from her face. "I… I can see him!"

Yami reaches for her hand and licks her fingers. He climbs onto her shoulder and purrs in her ear. Madrid's face is euphoric. Tears fall from her eyes, but they are tears of joy as she gently pets Yami's back. "Thank you. Thank you, Yami." She looks up to me, her eyes full of wonder. "And thank you, Princess Arianna."







The next day, my training begins with the world's worst hangover. I blame the glowing silver stuff Durk served me. Or maybe it was the glowing blue drink I shared with Madrid. Either way, lesson learned. Don't consume beverages that glow.

Since we are no longer in the Air Village, we have a new training location: a bridge of black stone spanning an underground chasm. Deep below us, magma floats in a river of red.

Varis sits across from me in lotus, drawing symbols into the dirt with a stick. "You look tired. Go back to your room, rest."

"I'll be fine," I say mid-yawn.

"Leave. I have no time to train someone unprepared."

I straighten my back, crossing my legs into lotus. As much as I would like to sleep, I would like to learn Illusion more. I need to before I can return to the Seven Realms. "I'm not going."

I expect Varis to bark more commands, but instead he grins. "I am glad to see you are committed." He whispers something, and the symbols he drew between us turn into a pool of water.

I gasp, seeing my reflection in what was just dirt a moment ago. "How?"