A Blaze of Sun (A Shade of Vampire #5)(35)

“I waited hundreds of years before my transformation was complete. I waited until the time he would wake up and find that he’s supposed to be with me, but then you brought that redheaded spitfire into the island and took everything away from me. You ruined everything, Vivienne. I really should punish you for that.”

Suddenly, I understood what Xavier was trying to tell me earlier. I realized right then and there that I did value my life. I’d always been willing to lose my life for my family and I realized why. I hadn’t actually lived it. I didn’t have a life of my own, and at that moment, I desperately wanted to have one, but it seemed Emilia wasn’t going to make that possible.

I was trying to comprehend what she was telling me. If I could actually move, I was certain that I would be shivering with terror at what she was saying, but I could only watch her, wondering what she had in mind for me.

“It’s a shame I can’t kill you, Vivienne. I love Derek and I know that if I ever harm his twin, he’ll never be able to forgive me. I can’t have that. I can’t risk losing his love for me.”

Losing his love for you? He doesn’t love you, you crazy bitch.

She brushed her fingers over my cheekbone and the moment her skin touched mine, I saw a vision that revealed to me who Emilia really was. She was no ordinary vampire, and it wasn’t just because she was the original vampire’s daughter. Terror took over as it sank into me how much of a threat she really was to Derek.

“No, I won’t end your life, Vivienne. But I can always do the next best thing.” She grinned before snapping her fingers.

The sound hadn’t even registered in my brain yet, when I found myself in my bedroom, lying down in the middle of my bed. Once again, I tried to get out of the bed, but I couldn’t. Instead, I found myself battling the urge to fall asleep, a battle I knew I was about to lose. What has she done to me?

It didn’t take long for me to figure it out. As I drifted off to a deep sleep, I knew that she cast the same spell that she placed on my brother four hundred years ago, and right before I lost consciousness, two thoughts circled in my mind…

Will I ever wake up?

Emilia is one of the most powerful witches that ever lived. She is The Shade’s original witch. She is Cora.

Chapter 20: Sofia

I was snuggled against Derek on his living room couch, my head leaning against his shoulder. We were both exhausted, because we just spent hours searching for Vivienne and failing to find her. I was sure that Derek had already scoured every single nook and cranny of The Shade to find his twin, but only got frustrated when there was absolutely no sight of her anywhere. Nobody saw her at all.

“I feel so bad about not hearing her out,” Derek muttered, as he brushed his fingers over my hair. “It’s Vivienne. She doesn’t freak out like that for just no reason.”

I didn’t voice out my thoughts in fear of how Derek would react, but Vivienne had been in pretty bad shape back at hunter territory. The hunters had been brainwashing her in order to try and extract information from her regarding the location of The Shade. She was far too loyal and too intent on protecting her family and the kingdom that she managed to block out all information that would compromise The Shade. The hunters never got anything from her, but she was a paranoid mess when she was first brought to me at Hawk Headquarters.

“Don’t torture yourself, Derek. We were doing what we thought was right. I’m sure Vivienne is okay. She probably just needs time to herself.”

“I just don’t understand where she could’ve gone. Why can’t anybody find her?”

“Is there any possibility that she could’ve left The Shade?”

Derek shook his head. “I doubt it. Vivienne would never risk that. I don’t see why she would have any reason to leave. Besides, people at the Port would know. If she didn’t pass through the Port to take one of the subs, then she would’ve been swimming in broad daylight.”

Right then, Xavier burst into the room without even bothering to knock first. “We’ve found her,” he announced.

Derek and I jumped to our feet.

“Where? Where is she?” Derek asked.

Xavier’s jaw clenched. “Inside her bedroom. Fast asleep. She refuses to wake up, Derek.”

Derek immediately took hold of me and carried me as he sped toward his sister’s bedroom. Corrine was standing by Vivienne’s bed. She immediately set her eyes on us the moment we arrived.

“What’s going on, Corrine?” Derek asked. “What happened to Vivienne?”

“She’s under a spell,” Corrine explained. “The same spell you asked Cora to place on you. This is definitely her sleeping spell at work. I would know it anywhere.”

“Did you do this?” Derek spat out at the witch.

Corrine glared at Derek like he’d gone mad, but as usual, she remained unaffected by his burst of anger. If anything, she appeared irritated more than intimidated.

I grabbed his arm. “Derek! Corrine is on our side.”

“Well, who else would know how to use that spell?” Xavier, who had followed us to Vivienne’s bedroom, fueled Derek’s suspicions. “There aren’t any witches in this island aside from her!”

“Why would I do this to Vivienne?” Corrine rolled her eyes. That’s when I noticed that she was feeling tense about something.