A Rip of Realms (A Shade of Vampire #39)(35)

I could see the muscles of her entire body tensing, her small frame trying to expel as much energy as she could. A small, delicately blue vein on her forehead started to pulse with the effort, and I clenched my hands by my sides, restraining myself from leaning forward and pressing my lips against it.

“I got it! Well, a bit, the outline of some of the kids. It’s still a bit blurry, but in black and white—do you see it in color?” she asked excitedly.

“Color will come, keep trying,” I murmured.

She turned her attention back to the wall with renewed energy, a small smile playing on the edges of her lips.

After a few moments, she slumped back, sighing.

“It’s still black and white.”

“It takes time, don’t worry. You just need to keep practicing.”

“I want to stop taking the potion. I think that will help. My energy feels almost non-existent, it’s really frustrating,” she implored, turning toward me.

I was tempted to agree with her. I didn’t like the idea of her taking an unknown potion concocted by Abelle, a woman who had always struck me as hare-brained and foolish. However, Hazel was happier being able to spend time around her friends, and less alienated. Selfishly, I didn’t want her transformation and first experiences of being a sentry to be more painful than they needed to.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I replied eventually.

“But I think I can control the hunger—now that I know what it is, what it feels like…I’m more prepared.”

I raised an eyebrow at her.

“Are you sure this isn’t wishful thinking?”

Hazel was silent.

“Maybe.” She leaned her head back against the wall, dejected. “I just don’t want you worrying about me, worrying that I can’t protect myself, now that you’ve got this new position. You’ll need to look after everyone, not just me—and I don’t want to be in the way.”

I laughed out loud. “Hazel, you could have powers beyond my imagining—superhuman strength, the skills of a deadly assassin—and I’d still worry about you. I’d still want to protect you above all else.”

She sighed. “Okay then… I’ll keep taking the potion.”

I nodded, satisfied.

“Thank you,” I replied.

“What for?”

“Allowing me to continue to do this.”

I dragged her toward me, pulling her up onto my lap and wrapping myself around her. Her head nestled into the crook of my neck, and I sighed at the warmth emanating from her body.

“Get some rest,” I murmured. She nodded, yawning as if on cue, and snuggled deeper against my chest. I watched her sleep, feeling content, until the first streaks of dawn broke through the night’s sky.





Julian





“You would have thought that Ash and Tejus would have learnt by now. Seriously, I almost died, for like the fifteenth time—obviously, it’s not a good idea. I should come, I can help look!”

I waited for Benedict to finish his rant while I tried to find a clean sock.

“Speak to Ash, not me,” I replied, distracted.

“Fine—I will.”

The door banged shut just as I found my sock. It wasn’t exactly clean, but it would do. It wasn’t like my mom was around to disapprove.

“Are you ready?” Ruby poked her head around the door.

“Yeah,” I replied. I felt like I was still half asleep. The sky was still mostly dark. It was going to be hard enough looking for a single book in the pile of stones that had once been Hellswan castle without doing it in the dark.

“Why are we leaving so early again?” I asked as I followed her down the stairs.

“Because it’s kind of a big deal?”

“Oh, yeah, right.”

Ruby snorted with derision.

“Why are you so tired anyway? Didn’t you get any sleep?” she asked, now looking concerned.

“I’m fine. It’s just that some of the kids snore. And Benedict. Benedict is the worst of them all.”

Ruby laughed. “Yeah—I remember that from the castle.”

I was about to ask her where she was sleeping now, but then thought better of it—I didn’t want to know. No doubt she and Ash had bagged the best room, one that probably had an actual bed, rather than a dusty floorboard.

We made our way out onto the lawn in silence. Ash, Tejus, Hazel and a small group of guards and ministers were gathered at the far end, standing by bull-horses and three vultures.

“Hurry up,” Tejus snapped, busying himself with helping Hazel up on one of the bull-horses. I bit my tongue, wondering if I’d be permitted to ride with one of the sentries who would be traveling with a vulture.

“Come on, kid.” One of the guards looked me up and down. He didn’t look impressed, and no wonder. I knew I had a bruise the size of a walnut on my face, I was squinting like a new-born mole thanks to my broken glasses, and my robe was too big. I felt like an idiot. The guard had obviously decided to take pity on me.

“I’m flying—you’ll be all right with that?” he continued, the same skeptical look on his face.

“That’s great.”

I suddenly didn’t mind what he thought of me—I’d be flying, and that was all I cared about. We’d probably be able to chase the dawn as it rose. I climbed up on the vulture, feeling the soft feathers run beneath my hands. The guard sat himself in front and a moment later we were off, soaring high above the palace.