A Gate of Night (A Shade of Vampire #6)(14)

“Sofia.” I spoke up. “I need you to listen to me. We’re being held captive by the Elder and his children. The vampires who took us at the hotel—they’re his children. The red-eyed one is Kiev. The brunette is his sister, Clara. I think they want to kill me.”

“Derek, don’t…”

“Listen to me.” I cut her off. “There’s little chance we can get away from this, Sofia. I’ll be honest with you. Even as a vampire, I was already vulnerable against them. Right now…” I tried to choose my words carefully, to assure her that I wasn’t blaming her for what I was now, that I adored her for finding the cure and making me feel like normalcy was a possibility. “Sofia, whatever they ask you to do, don’t give in.”

“Of course. I would never—”

“Even if they threaten to kill me.”

Her breath hitched. I could almost see the wheels turning furiously in her mind. I knew then that no matter what she said, even if she promised me that she wouldn’t risk her life or everything we worked for to save me, she wouldn’t be able to help herself.

I wondered then if the prophecy that we were strongest together and weakest apart was true, because I had become Sofia’s greatest weakness and she had become mine.

I would do anything to keep from losing Sofia and from the looks of it, the same was true of her.

Chapter 10: Vivienne

Aiden Claremont had knocked me to my senses. Our confrontation had shaken me and the full reality of what was happening sank in.

Derek and Sofia aren’t going to return soon enough to spare you. Get it together.

The moment Aiden and I arrived at the Sanctuary, I resolved to just suck all my fears and weaknesses in and channel as much Derek Novak as I could. My twin brother had a way of silencing people with the full force of his presence. I wondered if I could do the same thing with the calmness of mine.

We arrived at the Sanctuary to find Zinnia and Xavier standing face to face, fists clenched, both warriors geared up for a fight. Aiden took a step forward, about to say something. I raised my hand to silence him.

I walked forward, stopping between my old-time friend and the petite hunter. I glanced Xavier’s way, flicked my head to the side. He knew the gesture all too well already. He’d seen it many times over the centuries that we’d been working side-by-side. He followed me as I continued to walk forward, ignoring Zinnia. She didn’t like that.

“Hey. I have a score to settle with your man.”

I spun around and glared at her. “I suggest you be silent, little girl. I don’t care how many wooden stakes you have or how many UV-ray guns you wield, trust me when I say that I can take you. Say another word that irks me and you will have a score to settle, but not with my man, as you so aptly put it. The score you’re going to settle will be with me.”

The fool actually smirked. “Like you’ve ever been a threat to someone like me.”

Within seconds, my hand was coiled around her neck, her petite body raised two feet above the ground, her back against a marble pillar. She retrieved a wooden stake with one hand. I used my free hand to knock the weapon out of hers. I let go of her neck and quickly pinned her wrists above her head, using my own legs to keep her from kicking at me.

“I know your moves. I spent enough time at your headquarters to observe your training. Don’t mess with me.”

“We broke you,” she mocked.

“Oh, yes, you did. All the more reason for me to break you now. Revenge, that’s what you want, right? We both know how defenseless you are against me right now. Perhaps I should do it. Take revenge. That’s what you would do, right?” My fangs appeared. The act was painful in itself, considering that my fangs were removed at hunters’ headquarters, but back at The Shade, without the suppressing chemicals that the hunters had injected me with, the fangs had been growing back. I hadn’t used them yet, but at that moment, I couldn’t think of a better way to use them.

It seemed like poetic justice. Truth be told, I wanted to do it. Teach her a lesson. Sink my teeth into her neck and show her that we weren’t to be messed with. But I knew that all I could do was threaten her. It was a bluff, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she knew it.

“Go ahead,” she challenged. “Do it. Go against what your king told you. Let’s not play around. We all know you’re just your brother’s pawn.”

“Maybe so, if he was here, but he isn’t, is he?” I pressed my teeth into her neck and she gasped. I don’t think she’s ever actually had a vampire suck her blood before.

“Vivienne…” Aiden spoke up. “Don’t. We have other things to take care of.”

I guess the bluff is working. I stepped back and stared Zinnia down. Rage flashed in her eyes and for a moment, I could have sworn that she would be foolish enough to try and fight back.

“Don’t be a fool, Zinnia.” Aiden spoke up.

“Listen to your boss, baby hunter.”

Her eyes darted across the room. Save for Aiden, who was more on our side now than hers, she was the only hunter present. She had to choose her words and actions carefully if she wanted to survive.

Her shoulders sagged. Even though she was clearly attempting to reel back her temper, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles had already grown white.

I smirked at her before glancing over at Aiden. He had a serious expression on his face, although I thought I saw a hint of amusement—perhaps even pride—behind his gaze. He nodded my way. I found myself missing my own father. It was probably wishful thinking on my part but I could swear that there was a trace of Gregor Novak in him. I turned toward Xavier.