A Shadow of Light (A Shade of Vampire #4)(34)

“She’s not coming back. We should just accept that.” Even as I said the words, I found it hard to swallow. “Besides, what kind of a life would she live if she returned? What if I end up destroying her?”

“What if the love you have for each other is powerful enough to keep that from happening?” Ashley shot right back at me. “Don’t be a fool, Derek. Whether you admit it or not, you can’t really survive without her, so you might as well stop acting like a pathetic sap and get her back.”

I swallowed hard. To that, I didn’t have a response. I knew what Ashley was saying was true.

“Let’s go back.”

“We’re no longer going for a drive?” Ashley asked, tapping her palms over the dashboard.

“No.” I shook my head. “We have a riot to stop and a port to retake. Get ready for a fight, baby vamp.”

Her face lit up in a wide grin. “That’s what I’m talking about!” she exclaimed.

At that very moment, I remembered a promise I gave Sofia not too long ago, the promise that came with the heart-shaped diamond pendant I had given to her as a gift. Take it as a promise from me—a promise that I will find a way to be with you.

I wondered if this really would be a promise I had to break.

CHAPTER 23: SOFIA

“Sofia…” Tears began rushing down Vivienne’s face. She stumbled forward as I stood up from the bed to embrace her. When we hugged, I realized how thin she was, how emaciated. Her skin was deathly pale and lacking all luster. Her lips were chapped and dry and she had scars all over her arms.

“What have they done to you?” I whispered.

She shook her head. “Nothing. They’ve been good to me, Sofia. I’m really glad to see you again. Have they been treating you well?”

We pulled apart from each other and I gave my father a suspicious look. “Yes, Viv. I’m fine. We thought you were dead, Vivienne. We had a ceremony for you at the Vale and everything.”

She stared blankly at me almost as if she had no idea what I was talking about. “Dead? Me? Of course not… I just… Well, it doesn’t matter. You’re here now.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward a set of two couches with a round coffee table in between located near the windows of my bedroom. “Let’s catch up. Tell me everything that’s been going on since you came here to headquarters.”

I sat uncomfortably on my seat, wondering what was wrong with Vivienne. I looked at my father and found him nodding my way.

“I’ll leave you two to catch up?” he asked cordially.

I couldn’t help but frown as he left without waiting for my consent. I once again shifted my attention to Vivienne who seemed oddly perky—something she was never known to be back at The Shade. Vivienne was mysterious, serious and serene. She was calm and collected in a way no one I knew was. This Vivienne sitting across me was antsy and anxious. My stomach knotted at the suspicions rising up in my mind. What have they done to you, Vivienne?

“Derek was a mess after he found out that you died. He almost killed Ashley because of how the darkness took over him. What’s happened to you?”

“Derek…” The name seemed to register something in her mind. She shook her head slowly. “He’s my brother. I was wrong about him, Sofia. I thought he was some sort of savior. I was convinced that he was a hero, but I was wrong. I never should’ve helped you return to The Shade.” Agitation marred her lovely face even as she gripped both my hands. “I’m so sorry, Sofia. I’m sorry for anything he might’ve put you through after you returned.”

“Vivienne, Derek has been good to me. He loves me. You know that.”

She nodded and for a moment, I actually thought that she was about to make sense, but she just looked at me with a knowing expression on her face—almost as if she held pity for me. “I understand. It’s going to take a while before you can recover from the trauma he’s put you through. The denial is completely natural.”

I was trying my hardest not to slap her across the face so she would start making sense. What has gotten into you? “We’re talking about Derek, Vivienne. Your twin. The same man who rescued you from Borys Maslen.”

Horror showed in her eyes at the mention of Borys. “They told me that Borys got to you too. That’s why we need to stay here, Sofia. We’re safer here. Borys can’t get to us if we stay here. Sofia, you can’t leave this place. If Borys gets his hands on you, it’s going to be so much worse than what you had to go through with Derek.”

I leaned back on the couch, my eyes fixed on Vivienne. “What have they done to you? It’s like you’ve been brainwashed…”

At that, Vivienne chuckled like it was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard of. Her brilliant blue eyes settled on me with so much compassion. She brushed a hand over the back of my hand. “No, Sofia, it’s you who’s been brainwashed.”

The idea was so hilarious I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Is that what my father thinks, Vivienne? That I was brainwashed at The Shade so I would love Derek?” I couldn’t hold back the snickers escaping through my lips. It was like I was defending against the frustration I felt inside. I found myself deeply concerned for Vivienne. This isn’t her. This is just a shell spouting out words placed there by other people.