A Shield of Glass (A Shade of Vampire #49)(29)

Patrik pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow, nodding slowly.

“Surprisingly accurate,” he replied, his shoulders slumping. “I was a good Druid, and a faithful one, too. After I earned my fiftieth circle, Almus offered me a position in his kingdom. I was one of his top lieutenants, and was in charge of diplomatic missions across Eritopia. I believed in him, and I held the Grand Temple Druids in high regard. When Azazel first started acting—”

“Crazy? Maniacal? Genocidal?” I interjected sarcastically.

“All of the above,” he huffed. “I was one of the first to warn Almus of the potential dangers we faced with him on the loose. But even I saw the signs too late. By the time we realized what was going on, the Grand Temple had been destroyed, Genevieve had died in childbirth, along with the child, and Almus had vanished.”

I wanted to tell him about Draven, but kept my cards close to my chest, aware that he was still subject to Azazel’s control spell and couldn’t do anything against his master. Besides, I wasn’t sure how much they actually knew about him, and what they’d uncovered in the mansion after the shield came down.

“I fought for as long as I could before I was captured and brought to Azazel,” he added. “He showed me Kyana in chains, trapped in a cage, and offered me a deal. Her life spared in captivity if I accepted his dominion. I love her. I’ve loved her from the moment I caught her sneaking around the Grand Temple, eavesdropping on Druid lessons of the tenth circle. I couldn’t. I just couldn’t…”

His voice broke, and he took a deep breath.

“I couldn’t let her die. So I told him yes,” he continued. “I was forced to become what you see today, Vita. I had no other choice.”

“I understand,” I replied slowly, then laughed humorlessly. “Love, right?”

“Indeed. But it was the same love that kept me going through all these years without losing my mind. It’s been my love for her that has fueled me into fighting the control spell Azazel cast on me. I’ve been working on it from the day I was turned. Building up resistance to the pain it causes me if I do something to the detriment of my master. I’m close to breaking out, and I have to say, knowing Kyana is free is one incredible incentive.”

“Then keep fighting. Don’t stop until you break free,” I encouraged him. “Is there any way I can help you?”

“Haven’t you done enough, little Oracle?” He smiled gently. “I’ll get through it, worry not. You’ve done your part. It’s time for me to do mine…”

“I don’t get why you people keep calling me that,” I muttered, slightly irritated.

“Because you are a little Oracle.”

I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest.

“But that’s not a bad thing at all,” he continued. “You have so much courage and fire inside you that your stature is meaningless.”

I nearly smiled.

“You have no idea how much fire,” I replied. “Can you tell me about Azazel’s pendant?”

He frowned, taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out.

“I don’t know much about it, to tell you the truth,” he said. “But I suspect it’s old, forbidden Druid magic, and definitely a primary source of power for him.”

“You mean, besides the volcanoes and the little Daughter he keeps hidden somewhere in this castle?”

Patrik gaped at me for a good minute.

“You know about them, too?”

“I’m an Oracle, remember?” I winked in response.

“Fair enough,” he said. “Azazel is very attached to that pendant. He killed Lorenz, Master Druid of the Tenth Kingdom, for it. He won’t let anyone get near it. One might lose a hand if they tried to touch it.”

He then sat on the bed, a defeated look on his face as his broad shoulders dropped further.

“I haven’t been able to do much in my Destroyer form,” he sighed. “I haven’t been able to look into anything related to Azazel’s potential weaknesses. There is enormous pain that comes with each endeavor. You see, the control spell that he uses on us cuts off our Druid magic abilities; it’s like blood poison. It causes pain whenever I try to do something against him, or try to escape, or even try to take my own life. I’ve tried it all.”

“Then how are we talking about him now? You clearly know I’m not an ally here.”

“I’ve conditioned myself to withstand certain amounts of pain,” he replied. “Speaking to you about him feels uncomfortable to say the least, like a kind of headache, but it’s nothing compared to what I’d go through if I tried to attack Azazel, for example. ‘Agony’ wouldn’t even begin to describe the sensation.”

“So what, the pain is graded based on the gravity of your actions?”

“Sort of, yes.” He nodded. “The bigger the crime against the master, the worse it feels. I’ve been fighting it for years, gradually getting myself accustomed to increasing levels of pain, chipping away at his spell. With Kyana now gone, I no longer fear Azazel. He has lost his leverage over me.”

I stood up from the windowsill, the chain on my ankle rattling and reminding me of my status there. It didn’t depress me; it merely poured gasoline on the fire already blazing through me.