A Meet of Tribes (A Shade of Vampire #45)(60)

Jerk.

“You’ve assumed well. I’m impressed. Only one who is brave, strong, and patient enough may gain access to the book,” Inon explained. “It has been bound by ancient Deargh craft, Druid. Not anyone can get to it, only the worthy, and the black diamond decides who is worthy.”

“That’s fine. I’ve been preparing for this battle my entire life. I’m the one to earn it,” Draven replied.

I snorted, amused by his sudden bravery. He stilled and looked over his shoulder, his gray eyes finding mine. Soon enough, all eyes were on me, including the Dearghs’. I sighed, obviously required to explain my reaction in order to not come across as a lunatic.

“Draven will let a gloomy vision of a possible future keep him away from what he wants. I figured that’s called being a coward, not someone who is brave, strong, and patient.”

The look on Draven’s face was priceless. I had really pissed him off, and he couldn’t do anything about it. Bijarki smiled mostly to himself, while Hansa pulled herself closer to me, visibly impressed. Any time a woman held her own with a man, even if just with words, she seemed delighted.

“You can try, then,” Inon said to me with a half-smile.

I froze. I really didn’t think Draven would pull it off. He was scared to get close to me and scared of losing the battle against Azazel. He had said so himself. It was the very opposite of what the Deargh had described as prerequisites to get the book, and we couldn’t afford any kind of failure at this point.

“That’s not going to happen,” Draven interjected before I could open my mouth. “She’s in no way qualified to do this.”

And that was enough to make me snap and think with my pride, rather than my brain. I stepped forward, bumping into his shoulder as I stopped in front of Inon. My newfound courage, fueled by childish pride, was enough to make me take the lead.

“My friends, my family, my whole world depends on me right now. I’ll do it,” I said.

“Serena, this is dangerous. Don’t be foolish,” Draven replied.

“Oh, please. Between the two of us, I’m the one with the spine,” I shot back with a sideways glance.

“Serena, maybe you shouldn’t,” Hansa interjected.

“I have to! I have everything to lose in this war unless I get that book! We need all the help we can get!”

She sighed, and the shadow of a smile passed over her face. She understood what was at stake. With each second that passed, the more convinced I was that I had to do this. Not just to prove to Draven that I had more courage than he did, but to prove to my friends and my brother that they could rely on me in the darkest of times.

“So it shall be, then,” Inon proclaimed.

He guided us through a tunnel that took us deeper into the mountain. It ended in a massive black marble wall. I was first in line behind him when he placed his hand on the wall and muttered something under his breath. The wall trembled and slid to the right, granting us access to a small chamber.

Inon walked inside, clearing the path for me to see inside. The walls were smooth and black, reflecting everything inside. Thin cracks scattered across the floor, allowing the lava beneath to shine its amber light into the chamber.

In the middle, resting on a black marble cube, was a black diamond box, its edges polished to perfection. Inon stood next to it.

“The box will ask you questions. If you answer truthfully, it will give you the book. If you lie or give half-truths, it will seal you in this chamber until you die without food or water,” he said solemnly.

I needed a minute to fully process the terms of this trial. Was I really ready to risk my life like that?

Draven came up behind me, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“Serena, please don’t do this,” he told me.

I could sense the urgency in his voice, the trembling pitch. His fear for my safety only fueled my determination. I pushed him away. I stepped forward and entered the room. Inon left and stood beyond the entrance with Draven next to him.

I looked over my shoulder and saw the Druid’s face mortified by despair. He shook his head. “Serena, please.”

“Somebody needs to teach you how to stand up for those you love, so it might as well be me, Druid.”

I was shocked by my own brazenness toward him. Where did all that come from?

The black marble wall slid back into place, sealing me away from the rest of the world. I would have enough time to answer that question later. I took a deep breath and looked at the black diamond box.

“Okay then, let’s do this,” I said, mostly to myself, wondering if the box would respond.





Aida





I spent most of my time in the attic, constantly working through snippets of visions. Most of them were useless, as I was unable to hold on for long enough to see more.

I delved deep into a state of relaxation, sitting in a meditation pose and carefully measuring my breaths. Another vision began to unfurl before my eyes. Inside Azazel’s dungeons, Marchosi stumbled along a black stone hallway lit by green fires overhead. He had trouble standing up, constantly shifting from Druid to serpent form, unable to keep himself steady.

Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. He scratched his neck where dark green scales spread out like a rash. He cursed and punched at the walls until he reached a wide chamber swarming with Destroyers. They all looked at him and hissed, grinning from ear to ear.