Chapter 1
The beautiful blonde vampire walked so effortlessly before me it was almost as if she was floating. Her radiant hair glistened from the overhead lights of the Manor hallway. She’d led me out of the headmaster’s office, and was marching me to the lonely tower where the other plague vampires were waiting—where the chairman was waiting. And I had no choice but to follow.
Dawn, the other vampire of my nightmares, walked in step with me, a hand tightly clutching the back of my neck. It wasn’t painful anymore, but she kept me close with steady pressure to remind me it was futile to try and escape. She was stronger, faster, and more capable than I could ever hope to be—unless I became one of them.
No freakin’ way.
The Manor seemed deserted, and I couldn’t understand why.
There were no dead bodies lying about, and we didn’t come across more vampires lurking the grounds, either. It was dark, but not even close to midnight yet. Everyone was just—gone.
When we got outside, we weren’t even greeted by the sounds of nature.
The air was uncharacteristically calm, the only sounds the crunching of our boots in the snow.
What is happening?
I slowed my pace, giving more distance between me and the blonde vampire. However, Dawn quickly caught on to what I was doing and forced me to lessen the gap.
“Stalling will not make things any easier,” Dawn said into my ear.
The blonde vampire glanced back and smiled, showing her fangs. “There’s nowhere to run and nowhere to hide.” Then she returned her attention forward. We passed the cafeteria, Shadow Peaks Hall—the sapient dormitory—then the infirmary and a few administrative buildings. Our path remained straight ahead.
As we approached the tall brick wall surrounding the Academy, I noticed the small shed Devon had used to travel beneath the wall. I’d followed him through the underground tunnel and to the lonely tower last year, the night I’d come face to face with Tarquin for the first time. Then we’d used the tunnel again during the battle of Spellcrest.
The thought of Devon now brought tears to my eyes. After everything we’d been through, I may finally have lost him for good. He’d been sent back to the catacombs with the soldier vampires—the ones we’d found feeding on Headmaster Bronze—with no means of escape. And with Dawn’s hand firmly around my neck, there was no way I could get back to him. As the seconds ticked away, so did the chances of him surviving those vile creatures.
The campus encompassing wall drew closer, with the shed on one side. Were we taking it to get out of the Academy? Dawn probably knew all the ins and outs of this place, so the usage of the shed shouldn’t have been surprising. But the blonde vampire didn’t turn toward the shed and continued straight for the wall. I was nearly waiting for her to leap into the sky, up and over the wall in a single bound. Or maybe she had a spiderlike ability to climb it.
However, when she reached the edge of the wall, she did neither of those things. She didn’t even stop walking. Instead, she continued straight through the wall as if it wasn’t even there.
The blonde vampire disappeared into the wall.
With Dawn still firmly holding my neck, she reached her free hand out to touch the wall, which also slipped right through the stone as if it was nothing more than a mirage.
I’d passed through objects like bleachers and floors during traumatic falls, but nothing so seamlessly and effortlessly. Before I knew it, I too was walking on the outside of the Academy wall, the blonde vampire still leading the way.
“It feels so good to be home,” the blonde vampire said without turning to address us directly. She may only have been talking to herself. “And it’s a blessing that Noctem Tower still stands, after several centuries. Are you familiar with Noctem City, Miss Rainley?”
“I can’t say that I am,” I said through gritted teeth.
“It was magnificent, and with help from Dawn and others, it shall be again.” The blonde vampire finally stopped and turned to face us. She reached into a pants pocket and produced what looked like a large golden coin the size of a silver dollar, then handed it to me.
The glistening coin had a man’s face on the front, with a curved foreign inscription along the bottom edge. The back of the coin had a picture of a castle in the clouds. And behind that castle was a taller circular tower. The lonely tower—or what the vampire had called Noctem Tower.
I flipped the coin back to the front and tried to decipher the inscription.
Imperium in imperio.
“What does it mean?” I asked.
“An empire within an empire,” the blonde vampire said. “Noctem City was an invitation-only city to outsiders. The permanent residents were just that—permanent. Given that you are a seamstress, not all the same rules apply. But Chairman Blackwater will discuss that in more detail.” Then she turned and continued toward the tower. “Come. It’s best not to leave the chairman waiting.”
I gave Dawn a sidelong glance, a heavy lump forming in my throat. The tower wasn’t far away, and I had no idea what awaited me there. The silver lining seemed to be that if the vampires wanted me dead, then I’d be dead already. There had to be something they wanted from me.
“Go on,” Dawn said, pushing me forward, her strong grip still tight against my neck. But then she let go, falling in step behind me.
Even with her hand gone, I still could barely breathe. My whole body shook from fear rather than the Rocky Mountain cold. I’d become good at controlling the temperature of my body, but controlling fear as it related to supernatural creatures was still a major sticking point.
I could feel the tip of the needle pricking my finger as if it wanted to emerge again. I focused on my breathing. If I could get my fear under control, I could transport myself—somewhere. But where? If Devon was still alive, then he needed my help. I needed to warn my friends and what was left of my family. I needed to get them out of Spellcrest. And I needed to find help. I was not prepared to face these monsters alone.
I breathed in deeply, then let it out, a ghostly white cloud enveloping my face. My racing heart needed to be tamed and the shaking in my tense limbs needed to stop. I had to focus on a single place. And I couldn’t give away what I was attempting to do. Dawn’s vice grip could return to my neck at any moment, making it infinitely harder to concentrate.
Devon. He’s my immediate concern.
I focused on the headmaster’s office, trying to recall every detail—right down to my crystal necklace with Tarquin’s soul lying on the hardwood floor. I closed my eyes as I continued to walk through the snow. The only thing immediately in front of me was the blonde vampire, and as long as she kept walking, I wouldn’t crash into her. I brought every detail into focus, including Devon’s torn face, even though he was no longer in the room. I couldn’t help picturing him.
I felt cold fingers close around my neck again, but only for a moment. My next step didn’t crunch into the snow. Instead, it creaked on what sounded like hardwood floor. My eyes shot open and I was back in the headmaster’s office.
I knew there wasn’t a moment to waste.
Chapter 2
I scanned the room to make sure I was alone. I was confident that I wouldn’t be for long, so I needed to hurry.
I spotted the soul crystal on the floor, ran to it and dropped to my knees; I knew what touching it would mean. Besides taking me to Devon, I’d be transported to the catacombs where more vampires were lurking and waiting—more vampires that were not hindered by the angel blood X across my chest.
I hesitantly reached for the crystal, my arm practically refusing to cooperate. But that was why I’d returned here. I was in control.
Touch it, damn you!
All I needed was for my fingers to graze the necklace, and when they finally did, I flinched, still not ready to be transported.
But I wasn’t.
I was still kneeling on the floor of the headmaster’s office. Shocked, I picked up the crystal necklace, still half expecting something to happen. Even with the necklace fully in my hand, I remained in the room.
No… I squeezed the necklace in frustration.
The hex was gone or the door was closed. I had no way of getting to Devon now. At this point, I knew my chances were slim that he was still alive, but I still needed to try.
Again, I nervously glanced around the room. Still alone.
I closed my eyes and pictured that dark dungeon cell where I’d first encountered the plague, then later had seen the body of Headmaster Bronze as soldier vampires feasted upon him. I knew there was powerful magic surrounding the catacombs, which had kept the plague imprisoned for God only knew how long. This wouldn’t be like just teleporting anywhere.
I’d gotten out once, so I had to be able to get back in.
The fear I’d encountered those times was very real.
I could feel their presence in my bones once again, and could taste the terror. I felt like I could reach out and touch them, not that I wanted to. But they were right there, within striking distance—ready to devour me like they had the headmaster.
Powerful hands clamped onto my arms, then I suddenly felt weightless as my body soared through the air. I was still in the headmaster’s office, now flying across the room toward open air. But my body didn’t keep going past the perimeter of the room. It hit the invisible wall, and I crashed to the floor in a heap.
“I let my guard down for one second,” Dawn said, standing where I’d previously been. Then she was beside me, lifting me off the ground by my neck. “Never underestimate a seamstress, even one as green as you.”
I fought to breathe, clawing at her arm to loosen her grip and let me fall. After a few seconds, she did—though it probably hadn’t been from my struggling. I crumpled to the ground, wheezing and coughing.
“I had a feeling you’d come back for your boyfriend,” Dawn said. “So, I couldn’t leave the door open, now, could I?”
Black spots and silver flashes exploded in my vision as I fought to remain conscious. She’d effectively killed my concentration again, and I needed to buy myself more time. I knew I wouldn’t be given much, but an extra minute would hopefully be enough.
I fell onto my side, continuing to cough up my lungs.
“Get up, Maeve. The Order is still waiting,” Dawn said.
I didn’t understand what she was talking about, and I had to keep from letting my curiosity distract me. I still had to cough, but as the seconds ticked by, it became more and more for show than need. However, if I waited too long, Dawn may insist on simply carrying me, which wouldn’t help my current situation.
I concentrated on another location, somewhere she wouldn’t immediately expect me to go and where I’d have help available. The first name that came to mind was Quin, so I focused on my parents’ townhouse. That was where I’d left her—and Finley. I didn’t want to put him in more danger, but Quin would be my biggest asset right now.
“Okay, now you’re just stalling,” Dawn said. “I didn’t hurt you that badly.”
But as she was still talking, I heard her voice grow distant and felt the flooring change, going from hardwood to carpet. I heard just the faintest shout of anger before I fully emerged into my new surroundings, leaving Dawn behind in the headmaster’s office—again.
My neck still hurt, and it remained difficult to swallow, but the real coughing had died down. I clambered to my feet. “Quin! Finley! Anyone here?”
I’d appeared in the upstairs hallway, where I’d found Finley upon returning earlier in the night with Devon and Quin. I opened my right hand and realized I was still holding my soul crystal. I’d gotten it back unhexed.
“I guess it’s you and me again, asshole.”
I hadn’t received a response, but I heard the television downstairs. Instead of yelling again, I bounded down the stairs and into the living room, where I found Quin and Finley both seated on the couch watching a movie.
Quin noticed me first. “Too good to use the door now?” she asked, sarcastically.
There wasn’t even time for witty banter. “We have a major problem,” I said, sounding out of breath.
“Where’s Devon?” Finley asked.
“Captured,” I said, unwilling to say the word dead aloud. Probably dead. Possibly dead.
“What’s going on?” Quin asked and muted the television. Her gaze fell to the bloody X across my chest.
“The plague has been released with no one controlling them. They’re making vampires that aren’t deterred by the angel blood marking,” I said and gestured to the bloody X. “They captured Devon and tried to capture me, but I was able to barely escape. Dawn can be here any moment. We need to get out of here and find more help.”
“Did you find anything out about your mother?”
“The headmaster’s dead.”
Both sets of eyes widened to nearly comical proportions as they realized how bad the situation had become in such a short time.
“Your father,” Quin said, jumping up from the couch. “We need to get back to him. He’ll be able to help. I’m pretty sure I can get us back to Ylagos.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” I said, afraid that Dawn would appear at any moment—or worse, the blonde vampire. I was the only one with an X. Quin and Finley would be fair game. However, I also needed to warn the rest of my friends. I couldn’t bear the thought of Dawn rounding them up to get to me. But I had to also assume she knew about the townhouse. There wasn’t time for arguing. “But I can’t go with you.”
“What?” Finley asked, shocked.
“I need to get to the others before the vampires do,” I said. “I remember where the building was in Ogginosh—the one with Headmistress Christi’s body. That would be a good safe house, away from what’s happening here. If we’re picked up by a patrol, then we can demand someone send word to my father or General Cruach.”
“I don’t really like that idea, but I also can’t think of a better one right now,” Quin said.
“Go. I’ll sew up your seam,” I said. “Then I’ll meet you in Ogginosh before you know it.”
I could see the worry on Quin’s face, but she unsheathed her Seam Dagger. Finley looked way beyond worried. He looked like he was staring death in the face.
“We’re going to be all right,” I said to my little brother. Then I removed the crystal he’d given me after I’d been revived before Thanksgiving and handed it to him. “This belongs to you.”
“What about you?”
I showed him the crystal I still had in my palm before placing it around my neck and tucking it under my shirt. It was rather hot against my skin, like the crystal was reacting to the octagram tattoo. Or more likely, Tarquin was reacting to me. “I finally got mine back.”
“Our ol’ friend Tarquin?” Quin asked.
I nodded.
Quin sighed and opened a seam in the middle of the living room, slicing a glistening blue gash in the air. She ushered Finley through, then gave me a desperate glance back and said, “Don’t try to be a hero. Get the others and meet us in Ogginosh as quickly as you can.”
“You have my word,” I said.
Quin hesitated as if she was considering saying something else, but didn’t, then turned and disappeared into the void.
As soon as she was out of sight, I pulled out my needle and began sewing up the seam from the top down—sewing as fast as I could—remembering the vampire arms reaching through the black emptiness.
And with that thought top of mind, a delicate, feminine-looking hand did reach through, grabbed my arm, and yanked me into what remained of the seam.
Chapter 3
I retracted my needle immediately to ensure nothing happened to it. As soon as I reached the far side of the seam, I was thrown to the stone floor. It didn’t take long for me to recognize my new surroundings—the exact place I was trying to avoid.
The lonely tower.
Somehow, instead of opening a seam to Ogginosh, Quin had managed to open a seam to the top floor of the lonely tower. And now Quin was being held by the blonde vampire. Finley was so petrified, needing no more than a threat to remain in place.
The person who had pulled me through was none other than Dawn.
“You’re a slippery one,” she said, sounding rather frustrated. “But the question is: will you dare to slip away with your friends in our custody?”
“This one has a Seam Dagger,” the blonde vampire said, now holding Quin’s blade.
“They’re extremely rare,” Dawn said.
We hope you are enjoying the book so far. To continue reading...
Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
Please log in to recommend or discuss...
