A Shade of Blood (A Shade of Vampire #2)(78)

“If this is to be her home, she cannot be blind as to what happens within its walls.” Corrine was speaking to me in riddles as she always did, but I knew her words were full of purpose. She spoke with wisdom no one else had. “What she does after this will mark the difference between who she is and who you are.”

Through gritted teeth, I responded, “And what exactly do you mean by that, witch?”

“You were able to stand by and watch thousands of humans slaughtered over the span of centuries. We’re about to find out if she can do the same.”

Her words were a harsh blow in the gut – one that made my blood pound as it rushed to my head. “What then? What’s the point, Corrine?” I began to focus on Sofia who was walking several paces ahead of us. Watching the gentle sway of her hips and the grace she had about her, I found the idea of losing her sickening. Is that the witch’s intent? For me to lose Sofia?

“Vivienne’s prophecy about you can never be fulfilled unless the young woman Cora spoke about does her part. If that young woman is Sofia, she cannot accomplish what she has been tasked to do with her eyes blinded by affection for you.”

My mind began to reel. What is she talking about? “Cora spoke about a young woman?”

“I’ve said enough.”

“No you haven’t, Corrine. You said too much and too little all at the same time. You can’t just say something like that and not follow through.”

“Everything will unfold in due time.” Corrine stopped when she saw where Sofia was headed. “I believe she’ll want to have a private conversation with you.”

Sofia was taking steady, purposeful strides headed right out of the Catacombs. Her shoulders were heaving. I wondered if she was sobbing. Annoyed at the witch, I sped up in order to catch up with Sofia just before she reached the tunnel that would lead us out of the human slaves’ quarters.

“Sofia…”

I held her arm, but she shrugged my hand away. The idea of her being angry at me for any reason at all dragged my spirits down. I kept pace with her until we finally reached the end of the tunnel and she walked directly to the exit of the Black Heights. The moment we were able to reach the woods and breathe in the fresh night air, Sofia spun around to face me. The pained look in her eyes was a heavy weight on my chest. I gulped as I awaited the thoughts disturbing her mind to come rolling out of her mouth.

“You’re ruler of The Shade, Derek. Powerful vampire. Feared by everyone. I’ve seen them tremble before you.” She pointed toward the direction of the caves. “How could you allow this? Are they not your subjects too?”

Something caught in my throat and I found myself momentarily mute. I didn’t have to answer to her for the very same reasons that she herself had just spouted out. Why must I defend myself to her? She’s a nobody here at The Shade. I can bend her according to my own will just as I can everyone else on the island. I caught the thoughts roaming my mind before they could run rampant. Don’t be a fool, Derek. Vivienne sacrificed herself for Sofia and Corrine clearly hinted that the girl is of more importance than you originally thought. She is worth far more than all the humans combined.

I froze and gave her a lingering gaze, taking note of the agitation marring her countenance. She is worth far more than all the citizens of The Shade combined. The thought sent my mind spinning. Having someone mean that much to me brought forth an emotion entirely foreign to me.

“Well?” She was still waiting for an answer from me.

I realized then that I was incapable of giving her the answer she wanted to hear. “What do you expect me to do, Sofia?”

“I don’t know… something! Anything!”

“I’m not all-powerful, Sofia. I can’t stop the vampires from satisfying their cravings and feeding on humans. I can barely stop myself…” I stepped forward, wanting her to understand.

She lifted both hands in the air as if to ward me off. “In the chronicles of The Shade… back at the lighthouse… it was written that the first time most of you shed human blood was at the battle of First Blood. How were you able to survive before then?”

“Animal blood.” I cringed.

“You survived with that before the hunters forced you to take this murderous path… why can’t you do it again?”

“You don’t understand, Sofia. Animal blood nourishes, but never satisfies. Not many can embrace that kind of living.”

“Living?!” She was livid. “How can you call this kind of lifestyle living? You continue to kill even when there’s an alternative to all this bloodshed…”

I couldn’t come up with a defense. I knew that none would satisfy her.

“Is there not a single vampire here living on animal blood alone?”

“Vivienne. She never fed on a human… at least not that I knew of.” I found myself longing for the company of my twin. She would’ve known just the right words to ease my conscience. Then again, perhaps that was what Sofia was for… to drag me away from my excuses and escapes.

“If she was able to do it, why can’t the rest of you?”

“It’s not that easy… You have to understand, Sofia… The vampires will turn on us if we put the fate of humans over them… We can’t just…”

Sofia shook her head. “For a widow to look at her children and find only fear and sorrow because she finds them beautiful … something’s wrong with that and you know it.” She wet her lips and ran a hand through her long red locks. Her eyes momentarily fell on me. “I can’t even look at you right now.”