A Blaze of Sun Read online

  “Is it just me or is Derek Novak’s bossiness rubbing off on you?” Gavin squinted an eye at me. Ian and Kyle were chuckling.

  “It’s not just you, man.” Kyle shook his head. “She wasn’t this bossy when she first arrived here. She’s definitely getting a lot of Derek into her personality.”

  I rolled my eyes as they found amusement at my expense. “Whatever,” I mumbled before finally digging in to my breakfast. They bade me goodbye and left me to eat in peace.

  I enjoyed the silence and the solitude, but it also made me sense Derek’s absence a lot more keenly. We hadn’t been spending much time together and I couldn’t help but miss him. I kept telling myself that he had a lot on his plate, that he was the king of the island and was responsible for keeping the whole place together. That’s a good enough excuse to not spend time with his fiancée, is it not? Still, I wanted to be with him, but knowing that there wasn’t anything I could do about it, I finished my breakfast and hoped that I could somehow manage to spend some time alone with him later that day.

  After I put away the dishes, I headed off to The Cells, where my father was still being kept captive. Aiden was more famously known in the vampire world as Reuben, one of the most ruthless and notorious hunters alive.

  To say that my father was unhappy about me being in love with a vampire was a huge understatement, but then so was he… After all, my mother was now Ingrid Maslen.

  Aiden was doing push-ups on the ground when I stepped into his cell. For a man who was well into his forties, he was still extremely fit and worked at remaining so. I waited for him to finish his set before clearing my throat.

  He didn’t even bother looking up to see who his visitor was. He knew it was me. “How long are they going to keep me here, Sofia?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to Derek about you yet.”

  Aiden ended up in The Shade after he fooled me into believing that the hunters had found a cure to turn vampires back into humans. I was disappointed to find out that it was all, in fact, a ruse. When he was forced to reveal to Derek that there really was no cure, he ended up getting thrown into prison.

  “The hunters will come for me, Sofia. I’m too important to the organization for them to just forget about my disappearance. The longer you keep me here, the longer you’re putting the island in danger.”

  I knew he was bluffing, so I just stared at him blankly. “They won’t know how to get here, Aiden. Your tracker was disabled, protected by Corrine’s spell, the moment you came within the boundaries of The Shade. You know that. Besides, isn’t it hunter protocol to consider anyone caught by vampires dead?”

  A muscle in his face twitched. He heaved a deep sigh and sat on the edge of his couch, tapping the space beside him to encourage me to sit.

  Despite my apprehensions, I took a seat beside him and we sat in silence for a while before he broke it.

  “I’m sorry, Sofia.”

  I wasn’t expecting an apology. Not from him. I’d been putting off seeing him for days because I felt betrayed by him. Right after I thought we were becoming closer to each other and forming a bond as father and daughter, he betrayed me. He knew that I wanted to find a cure to turn vampires back into humans and he used that desire against me. I had no idea how to even begin forgiving him for that, and yet, I found myself responding with a nod and saying, “I understand why you did it.”

  “I was doing what I thought I needed to do to get this idea of a cure out of your system. You have to accept, Sofia, that there is no cure.”

  I shook my head, refusing to accept what he was saying as truth. “No. There is a cure. I’m going to find it.”

  I saw how his face turned into a bitter, grim expression. “Stubborn,” he muttered. “Just like your mother.”

  I remembered the last time I saw Ingrid. She was looking at me with so much hatred, because I had just killed the man who turned her into a vampire – Borys Maslen. She was loyal to him above all – a loyalty that transcended even her love for her husband and her daughter.

  I shook my head as I stood up and motioned to leave. Before the guard could open the door for me, I turned back to my father. “I am nothing like Ingrid.”

  I left his cell with a heaviness in my heart that I couldn’t quite describe. I wasn’t sure why but I felt within me an overwhelming sense of loss. Perhaps it was just the recent events catching up with me – all the deaths that The Shade suffered, losing not just my foes, but also people I cared about. Whatever the reason, I couldn’t just sit around sulking and I knew it; so I picked myself up, tried to ignore the melancholy and moved on with my tasks for the day. I headed to meet with two of the most intelligent people in The Shade – the island’s resident genius, Eli Lazaroff, and Corrine, The Shade’s witch.

  The challenge that Derek placed upon me when we last spoke of the cure weighed heavily on my shoulders. He was prophesied to be the man who would bring the vampires to “true sanctuary.” I, on the other hand, was believed to be the woman who would help him do it.

  I believed with all my heart that the cure was “true sanctuary.” Derek had already lost hope that the cure could even be possible. His words still rang in my ear.

  “Don’t ask me what true sanctuary is, Sofia. I fought for it for an entire century, practically gave up my soul for it. I thought I already got sanctuary after establishing The Shade only to find out that I didn’t… I just don’t understand the prophecy. What I do know is that war is brewing. That’s what’s going to happen.”

  “So that’s just it? More bloodshed?”

  “Did you think there was ever any other way?”

  Eli and Corrine were supposed to help me discover if a cure could even be possible. Our meeting proved fruitless, with Eli and Corrine scouring what resources they had to find any indication of the possibility of a cure and the existence of immunes like me. Immunes were humans who couldn’t be turned to vampires – for reasons no one knew about. In The Shade, we suspected that aside from me, there was one other immune. Anna.

  I made a mental note to speak with Ian and Kyle about her. Recently, it seemed the two men had placed it upon themselves to look after the young woman’s well-being. Hence the reason behind the tension that always seemed to exist between them.

  The cure was still on my mind, right along with everything else going on in The Shade. When lunchtime neared, I found myself returning to The Catacombs to have my midday meal. Over the past days, I found myself looking forward to this time, a time I got to spend with Rosa and Ashley.

  Rosa and Ashley were abducted and taken to The Shade the same time I was. Along with two other girls, Gwen and Paige, who had met their demise on the island. We were given to Derek as a part of his harem. He had just woken up from a four-hundred-year sleep and we were placed under his care. Because of this history, we managed to form a strong bond with one another.

  “I am so exhausted,” Ashley complained, as she leaned back in her seat and laid down her glass of animal blood. “Derek has been putting us through hell in military training.” She shot me a look. “Can you talk him into being a bit more lax? Every bone in my body hurts.”

  I grinned. “I am not going to interfere with that,” I said, throwing my hands in the air in surrender.

  “What good is it that the ruler of this island is in love with you, if you don’t use your connection to him to help your friends out?” Ashley frowned.

  I rolled my eyes at her and, deciding to ignore her, directed my attention toward the more soft-spoken Rosa. “What have you been busy with today, Rosa?”

  “The usual.” She shrugged. “Lily and I have been busy going about our rounds here at The Catacombs. We really need to do something about those who are sick, Sofia. Also, there are a lot of orphans who need care. Isn’t it about time that we get both a hospital and an orphanage here in The Shade?”

  “That is something we ought to mention at the general assembly,” I said. I wasn’t blind to all that had to be done at The Catacombs, but e
verything was taking a backseat due to the incoming war. Thinking about all of it at once just felt overwhelming. “Gavin, Ian and Kyle are working it out right now.”

  “Kyle?” Ashley narrowed her eye at me. Kyle was the one who turned her into a vampire, so technically, she was part of his clan. “Why Kyle? Isn’t he supposed to be involved with preparing for the war?”

  “Derek allowed him to focus on the humans upon his request,” I explained.

  Ashley scowled, seemingly not pleased with the reason behind his request. “Looks like he’s deeply enamored with Anna…”

  “You have a problem with that?” I asked, surprised.

  “I don’t know,” she admitted with a shrug. “I guess I have to support whatever makes Kyle happy, but Anna… I don’t know. She’s kind of messed up.”

  I was hurt by that. I knew that Ashley had every right and reason to give the comment, considering how Anna had lost her mind from trauma and acted like a blubbering child, but my heart went out to the girl. Perhaps I held Anna close to my heart, because she was the only other immune I knew. I didn’t have to go into that with Ashley though. For some reason, I didn’t like talking to them about the cure or being an immune. Those topics were too heavy, too close to heart, and the time I spent with Ashley and Rosa were times in my day when I could just relax, chat and laugh with them.

  It was with them that I could still feel like an eighteen-year-old. Lunch with Ashley and Rosa gave me a sense of normalcy, something that was a rare commodity in a place like The Shade.

  That day in particular, I hated that lunch had to end. “Lunch was lovely, Rosa. You really are a great cook.”

  Rosa smiled. “Thanks, Sofia.”

  Ashley wrinkled her nose as she stared at the animal blood she just finished drinking. “I miss eating food. Pizza in particular. Don’t get me wrong… Mozzarella and pepperoni don’t satisfy me as much as human blood does, but considering that we’re on a strict animal blood diet lately, I keep craving.” She narrowed her eyes and grinned as she eyed both mine and Rosa’s necks, implying that she wouldn’t mind having a drink of our blood right then.

  “I don’t think Derek would be happy sharing my blood with you,” I told her with a grin.

  Ashley turned her eyes toward Rosa, who just smiled sweetly in response. “You can never do that to me, Ash,” Rosa said confidently.

  “That I could believe.” I nodded. Ashley had the tendency to be protective of Rosa, perhaps because we were all aware what a beauty Rosa was starting to become and it was obvious that more than just one man – human and vampire – found her attractive.

  I blew out a sigh. “I have to go now. Derek called a council meeting.”

  Ashley’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Does that mean there won’t be any training this afternoon?”

  I chuckled. “I doubt it. I’m pretty sure he’s going to send either Xavier or Cameron to take over.”

  I rose to my feet as I watched Ashley’s face fall in disappointment, mumbling that Xavier and Cameron were just as harsh as Derek when it came to training. I tuned out the complaints she was spouting out, as I began to feel a sense of excitement at the prospect of seeing Derek.

  I headed to the council meeting and, upon arriving, I immediately caught sight of Derek at the head of the table. I took my seat on his right side, his twin sister, Vivienne, sitting across from me. Derek merely glanced my way before clearing his throat and calling the meeting to order.

  I swallowed back the disappointment as we began to discuss the war and all the other issues that seemed to be mounting up in The Shade. I reported on the situation at The Catacombs and what we were doing about it. The meeting lasted several hours and by the time it was over, I felt mentally exhausted. I couldn’t help but sigh with relief when Derek finally dismissed us all.

  I waited for everyone to leave, patiently standing by as the others had their final words with Derek, before approaching him.

  When our eyes met, he gave me a tired smile.

  “Exhausted?” I asked him.

  “More than I can explain.”

  “I miss you…”

  His bright blue eyes softened as he brushed his fingers through my hair. I stared up at him, admiring him. The dark hair, the blue eyes, the pale skin and tall, lean, muscled physique… I never quite got used to how attractive he was or how small I felt whenever I was standing next to him.

  His large hands engulfed my waist as he pulled me closer to himself. His lips pressed against my forehead. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, Sofia. I hate that we can’t spend as much time together as we did before.”

  I wanted to assure him that it was alright, that I understood that he was under a lot of pressure, but at that moment, I felt a possessiveness toward him that I had never felt before. Since when were you so selfish with Derek, Sofia?

  I was so sick of all the tension and all the drama. I was so tired of the political and social problems in The Shade. I was eighteen years old. Normal eighteen-year-olds were busy filling out college applications, moving into their dormitories, falling in and out of love ... I, on the other hand, was trying to figure out how to support a monarch in running his kingdom. And he wasn’t just any other monarch either. He was a vampire. Of course, I couldn’t blame anyone but myself for the mess I’d gotten myself entangled in. It’s not like anybody forced you to fall in love with a five-hundred-year-old king in an eighteen-year-old’s body.

  “What’s going through your mind, Sofia?” he asked.

  “A lot,” I admitted. “I’ve been finding it hard to cope…”

  I could sense him tense at my admission.

  “It’s unfair, the pressure I’m putting on you with all the responsibilities that shouldn’t be yours in the first place…”

  I frowned. “I’m not complaining, Derek. I hope you don’t think that I am. I can still handle it all. I just… I miss laughing with you. I miss seeing you smile. I miss trying to figure out how to teach you to use a phone or how to drive…” I chuckled at the fond memories. “I miss us.”

  The sadness on his face broke my heart. “I know… I miss us too…” he admitted.

  I was waiting for him to promise that things would change, that we would return to what things were like before, but no. It dawned on me how unsure Derek was about the future. He no longer had the confidence that inspired him to fulfill his prophecy. I saw behind his eyes anxiety and self-doubt.

  I grabbed his arm, my brows furrowing, as I studied the expression on his face. Something’s wrong… He looked away, seemingly bothered by my scrutiny. Had I not been so tired, I would’ve pried… I would’ve asked him what was the matter, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I wasn’t sure if I could take it. “We’re both obviously tired.” I nodded my head slowly, smiling at him bitterly. “Maybe it’s best we retire to our quarters and have a good night’s rest.”

  “I love you, Sofia.”

  His proclamation felt weak, practiced and routine. It didn’t move me the way it used to and that bothered me. I couldn’t bear to look at him even as I nodded my head curtly. “I know. I love you too.”

  I felt empty as I returned to The Catacombs, escorted by Ashley and her boyfriend, Sam, who Derek asked to get me home safely. I hated that he didn’t do it himself. There was a time when he would’ve done it no matter how tired he was.

  My two companions were both exchanging some lighthearted banter all the way to the caves, but I remained silent, lost in thought.

  A deep sense of loneliness and abandonment took over me. I shivered against the cold night breeze and practically tasted the scent of the pine trees. I was so consumed by my emotions and my surroundings, I barely gave Sam and Ashley a cohesive response when they bade me goodbye.

  I dragged myself through the routine of getting myself ready for bed. Everything about The Shade had begun to feel exactly like that – routine – and I was finding myself weary of it all. I had just climbed into my bed wearing a silk nightgown when the door creaked ope
n. I lifted my head and drew a breath when I saw Derek standing inside my bedroom, closing the door behind him.

  “Derek?” I said, wondering what could’ve brought him to my chambers. Despite my surprise, my heart leapt that he did come. I longed to be in his embrace.

  However, when I saw the stare he was giving me, I realized why he’d come. The way his Adam’s apple moved as he gulped at the sight of me made it clear enough exactly what he came for. He’s craving.

  I knelt up on the bed and forced a smile as I pulled my long red locks away from my neck in order to give him the go signal he was waiting for. He didn’t hesitate… The moment my neck was exposed to him, he sped toward me and sank his teeth into my skin.

  I bit my lip at the pain it caused, but I was already so used to it. As I sat there waiting for my fiancé to have his fill of my blood, I couldn’t help but wonder.

  What has become of us?

  Chapter 2: Derek

  Her laughter was contagious as she held my hand. Her long, auburn hair was bunched up over her head in a bun, strands of it falling down her lovely face. We were at a beach and the sun was shining on both of us, our wet bodies glistening as we took a walk along the shore.

  Sofia had a huge smile on her face, one that I missed seeing.

  “Let’s make a sandcastle, Derek,” she suggested.

  “What for?” I asked. “No matter how beautiful a sandcastle is, the ocean swallows it up and ruins it.”

  She rolled her eyes at me as she wrapped her arms around my waist. “Because beautiful things, even when they are temporary, still manage to leave a part of their beauty with you… even after they’re long gone.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “What does that mean?”

  “Keep the beautiful sandcastle in a memory, Derek, and it will remain with you long after the ocean destroys it.” Her green eyes were twinkling with delight. “So? Make a sandcastle with me?”

  “How can I resist?” I grinned.

  “Perfect!” She skipped all the way to the spot of her choice. My ray of sunshine, a sweet reminder of what it was like to be carefree and full of mirth… We began building the sandcastle, with me stealing glances at her, admiring her beauty, loving it when she peered at me from beneath those long lashes of hers.