A Blaze of Sun (A Shade of Vampire #5)(45)

Before Vivienne could respond, a piercing scream echoed from outside. Our eyes met and we both got up and began running outside my quarters. I leaned into the wooden banister, which allowed me to see The Catacombs below. The first thing that struck my senses was how crowded The Catacombs were. With The Shade surrounded by light, every single vampire was inside The Catacombs, surrounded by humans they craved desperately. This can’t be good. I swallowed hard.

Ashley appeared beside me. Vivienne was on my other side. “What’s going on?”

“I’m not sure.” I caught sight of Ian carrying Anna in his arms, heading for my quarters where she had a bedroom.

“One of the vampires attacked Anna,” he explained when he saw my questioning glare. “Kyle’s fighting him off. He’s not Elite, but he’s definitely much more powerful than Kyle is.”

“Where are they?” Vivienne asked.

Ian pointed toward a level of The Catacombs that was beginning to get crowded with people.

“I’m on it,” Vivienne assured me, as she rushed toward the area where the fight was happening.

Ashley was obviously horrified by the idea of the vampire who sired her being in any form of trouble. She quickly rushed right behind Vivienne, leaving me to fend off my own frustration. Not wanting to be alone, I followed Ian toward Anna’s bedroom.

“We have to do something about the living situation, Sofia.” Ian frowned. “Having the vampires here every time the sun comes up is complete chaos. A week of this and every human of The Shade will most likely become vampire breakfast and lunch. Not all the vampires are as good at controlling their cravings as Vivienne.” He began applying some sort of ointment on Anna’s bitten neck before putting a bandage on it.

“I have no idea what to do. Where’s Gavin? Does he have any idea on what we can do about the situation?”

“He’s with Lily and Rosa. They’re trying to bring all the orphans and young women together in a safer place. With an attack already happening, the humans are panicking…”

“Well, we can’t just send the vampires out into the sun, Ian.”

“I know that, but we have to do something. No one will be able to control the vampires if they start blacking out. Derek’s not here and he’s the only one they respect enough to listen to. You know what happened the last time Derek wasn’t here in The Shade to run things.”

I shuddered at the thought. While Derek and I were trapped at hunter territory, The Shade, especially The Catacombs, descended into complete and utter chaos – with rebellions and riots going on. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Well then, find someone who does, Sofia. We need a leader.”

The Shade had always been ruled by a Novak. While Vivienne definitely had a voice at the kingdom, she never had enough sway to get everyone to listen to her. I knew that we were up against far more than we could handle, and though I had no idea why, the first and only person I knew who was capable of becoming a strong leader in a situation like ours was my father. I was well aware of the responsibility on my shoulders – that I had to step up and take the lead if I was going to be the wife of Derek and the queen of The Shade, but I certainly wasn’t going to do it alone. I needed Aiden. “I think I know who to ask,” I assured Ian before making my way to The Cells.

I found it ironic what I was about to do. I couldn’t help but wonder what Derek would think about the whole thing. I was about to ask Aiden Claremont, the infamous hunter, notorious for killing hundreds of vampires, to help me run The Shade.

Chapter 26: Derek

I was losing my mind and I knew it. I had no control over my actions. The darkness had somehow possessed me and though I was conscious that I did not want to do what I was doing, I still gave into Emilia’s every whim. I was a puppet on a string and she was my puppet master.

“Do you love me, Derek?” she whispered into my ear.

No. I love Sofia. “Yes. You know I do,” I whispered back into hers.

She smiled and even then I once again realized how unattractive she had become to me. She held my hand and led me outside of her room, which she hadn’t yet allowed me to leave ever since the first night I had to spend with her. I observed the corridors we were passing through.

High, stone walls, lit up by elegant fluorescent wall lamps. I was expecting to find elegant paintings or even elaborate tapestries gracing the walls, but was surprised to find it bare apart from some heavy burgundy drapery covering the windows on one side, each window reaching from floor to ceiling.

Our steps echoed through the corridor and I found myself staring at the woman who was holding my hand, leisurely walking a few steps ahead of me. What happened to you, Cora? How did you become Emilia? Despite my hatred for what she’d become, I could not deny the fact that Cora was my best friend. She was with me through some of the toughest and darkest periods of my life. It hurt to know that this was what she had become.

She twisted her head to face me and smiled when she realized that I was staring at her. She took it as a compliment I guess. I inwardly winced at the idea, but of course, I knew that my body and facial expressions were registering a completely different body language. To all eyes seeing us at that moment, anyone would’ve thought I was in love with her.

“You’re staring.” She blushed.

I wanted to strangle her. It’s not like I have any control over what I do, you crazy witch. “I just can’t keep my eyes off you. You’re so beautiful.”