A Shade of Blood (A Shade of Vampire #2)(72)

By the time I finished, Ashley’s face softened. “And you actually believe her?”

“At first, I didn’t, then she gave me some of her memories… random ones that told me of her story and the things she went through to protect this island. Then when I got here, Derek showed me the history of The Shade… the price they paid to have what they have… And I know for sure that Vivienne was sincere.” I inhaled and exhaled, hoping that I was somehow getting through to Ashley. “I’m not asking you to forgive him, Ashley. He put you through too much for me to ask something like that. I’m asking you to trust me, because we were friends. We are friends, and things weren’t so bad when we were here, and…”

To my surprise, Ashley cut my rambling off and pulled me in for an embrace. She then whispered into my ear. “I knew you’d come back, Sofia. I wished you’d come back to get us out of here, so it was disappointing to find out that you came back mostly for him. That still doesn’t mean that we didn’t miss you. And if I have to stay in this black hole of an island, I’d rather that you’re here than not.” She chuckled. “After all, I was a lot safer from him when you were here.”

I smiled at her, hoping that what was going on between Ashley and I was a road to reconciliation. When she stopped hugging me, I was relieved to find a smile on her face too.

“What do you want to know, Sofia? If it gets me out of here, then I’ll tell you…”

“We want to know any information you have about the hunters, Ashley... You were one of them.”

“There’s not much I can tell you, Sofia, but what I do know for sure is that if the hunters have had her for more than twenty-four hours, she’s done for. They never keep vampires alive for too long.”

“What reason would they have for keeping one alive?”

Ashley shrugged. “To get information out of her. I’d imagine that Vivienne would be a pretty huge catch, considering that she’s princess of this island… They’d probably be torturing her by now.”

“How can we find her?”

A sad smile formed on her face. “You’re asking about the location of the hunters’ headquarters…”

“Yes.”

“I’d tell you, Sofia, but I don’t know. Look… I belong to a family who’s had generation upon generation of hunters. I couldn’t even track down how far back our family had belonged to the order. Our parents tried to raise us to hate vampires, and it worked with my brother, but it never worked with me. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of hating creatures who harmed some great ancestor of mine and now several generations after, I’m still supposed to harbor hatred against them?” Ashley heaved a deep sigh before proceeding, memories of the past haunting her eyes. “I didn’t want to live the life they were living, so when they sent my brother and I to the hunters for training, I begged him to not tell mom and dad that I didn’t go. I got a tattoo of the hawk just so I could show it to them when they asked about the training, but I never once set foot at the hunters’ headquarters, so I don’t know where it is or how things are run there.”

“How then were you going to get there in the first place?”

“We were sent to a runway where we were to be picked up by a hunter via a private plane. That’s all the information we were given.”

I nodded. “Okay. That’s all I have to ask now, Ash. I believe Derek will have one of the other vampires ask you further questions. I’m hoping he’ll release you soon.” I grabbed her hand and squeezed, relieved that she didn’t pull away.

“Thanks, Sofia.”

I shook my head. “I’m just glad to have you back.”

When I left her cell, I felt pretty good about myself and what was accomplished. Even though Ashley didn’t have any helpful information, she had been willing to tell me what she knew – that had to be enough for Derek.

But something else was grating at me. I found myself looking back to the conversation I had with Derek earlier. He pulled rank on me. He was prince of The Shade and he had every right to do what he wished to do. Still, just because he had the right to do it, it didn’t mean he was right. Ashley was only one human being who suffered abuse under Derek’s hands. As my feet led me to the Catacombs, I shuddered at the kind of atrocities I was about to find.

Derek revealed to me back at the lighthouse what The Shade was and how it came to be. I’m about to find out what The Shade is and what it could become.

CHAPTER 42: BEN

Reuben’s office had a distinct masculine feel to it, the air smelled of mint with hints of rum and tobacco. The carpeted floor and the white-washed walls, with a few select paintings adorning them, provided for a minimalistic feel to the large office interior. At the center of it was a large glass desk – one Reuben, Zinnia and I surrounded as they once again pushed me for any information I could provide them regarding The Shade.

“That’s it? That’s all you know?” To say that Reuben looked displeased was a huge understatement. “There’s got to be more you can tell us.”

“I told you everything I know.” I shrugged. Apparently, I don’t know all that much. Most of my time spent at The Shade was inside Claudia’s home – in her bedroom or in one of her dungeons. The only time I went out was to be brought to Derek’s house. I knew the way to the port but how to get out of the island and how to go back there was beyond me. Reuben was livid.