A Shield of Glass (A Shade of Vampire #49)(67)

Patrik raised his eyebrows with surprise, as I took a deep breath and actually saw the love of my life for the first time in days. He was tall and handsome, his silvery eyes twinkling with love as he smiled at me.

I immediately jumped into his arms and kissed him, holding him tight. He responded with equal hunger, oblivious to everything else around us.

“I must say, it’s so good to see you,” I giggled in his ear.

Bijarki shuddered and chuckled, holding my face and dropping more kisses all over. Patrik cleared his throat, politely looking away. We both stilled. I felt my cheeks catch fire while Bijarki’s skin glowed with embarrassment.

“Right,” he muttered, then took the invisibility spell ingredients out of his satchel and whipped up another batch of shimmering paste in a small wooden bowl.

“That’s the invisibility spell?” Patrik watched curiously.

“Yup,” I replied, and scooped up my serving with my bare hands.

Bijarki and I swallowed ours whole, then waited for about a minute. I felt a peculiar warmth spread through my body. Patrik watched with keen interest as we both gradually disappeared. He took a deep breath, then dropped the bedspread to the floor, prompting Bijarki to groan.

“Sorry, my friend.” The Druid smirked and shrugged. “Can’t do anything about it.”

He grinned, then morphed into the same small black cobra as I opened the doors. He slithered out and down the hallway, and we followed.

We followed Patrik up several flights of stairs and through a series of narrow corridors until we reached Azazel’s throne room. Two Destroyers kept watch in front of the massive archway leading into the large chamber, staring blankly at the wall ahead.

Patrik moved slowly behind them, and we snuck between the beasts in order to enter the throne room. At the far end on the north side there was a small wooden door, in front of which we stopped.

“She’s in there?” I whispered, and Patrik nodded with his little snake head.

My heart skipped a beat, and I moved back when the door opened. Thadeus came out with an empty food tray. He looked around, frowning slightly, then slithered away.

I waited for him to vanish into the hallway past the guards, then quietly went into the room, followed by Bijarki, whose hand I felt on my back, and Patrik.

The little Daughter was lying in bed, holding a doll in her arms and staring at the ceiling.

I moved forward, trying to find a way to talk to her without startling her.

“Nova,” I said slowly.

She immediately looked at me. It felt weird, as though she could see me. But I was invisible.

“Who are you?” she asked, then sat up with a grimace.

My heart broke for her. She looked so weak and fragile.

“I’m a friend, I promise you,” I replied gently. “I’m here to help you.”

“And who are they?”

I blinked several times, not sure what to think at that point.

“They?” I asked cautiously.

“The incubus standing next to you, and the snake,” she clarified.

“You can see me?” Bijarki gasped, and the little Daughter nodded.

It took me a couple of seconds to understand what was going on. She could, in fact, see us, despite our invisibility spell. It most likely had something to do with the fact that she was a Daughter of Eritopia, able to see past the swamp witches’ magic. Or perhaps any other magic, for that matter.

The little ruby medallion flickered green, hanging by a slim gold chain around her neck. Her hair was long, a beautiful reddish pink that reminded me of Viola.

“We’re here to help you, Nova,” I said.

“Help me how?”

“Well, you see, honey, you’re in danger here. You’ve been in danger since you were brought to this castle.” I decided it was best to just lay out the truth for her and hopefully persuade her to come with us.

“How can I be in danger? My daddy is looking after me…”

“You mean Azazel, right?” My lips tightened. I had to tread carefully here. She nodded and gave me a weak smile. “Honey, he’s not your daddy. You’re a Daughter of Eritopia, but you were taken away from your sisters too soon. The Daughters protect this world, and you were meant to do the same. But Azazel snatched you away and kept you hidden here, forcing your sisters to stay away and not intervene as he laid waste to the galaxy, as he slaughtered innocent people and caused nothing but pain and suffering. He’s not who you think he is, sweetheart…”

She sighed, frowning and shaking her head.

“No, no… He’s been nice to me…”

“Haven’t you ever wondered why you’re always ill? So weak and barely able to move?” I asked her then. “Don’t you want to be free and happy, and go anywhere you want?”

“I do.” She nodded with a pained expression.

“Azazel is draining your energy, Nova. He’s using your power for his dark magic. He doesn’t love you. The only reason he protects you is because you are useful to him.”

She didn’t say anything, but judging by the look on her face, she seemed conflicted, as if I’d been voicing some concerns that she already had.

“You can feel it, right?” I asked her. “You can feel that you’re different, right, Nova?”

She nodded again, looking at me.