A Castle of Sand Read online

  “Way to kick a man when he’s down, Ben.” Zinnia laughed. I found her lighthearted jibes endearing, but I doubted the man I just sent writhing on the ground felt the same way.

  We were right in the middle of the glass-enclosed atrium, which served as the main martial arts training center at the hunters’ headquarters. I was going through a final test in order to qualify for advanced training at the hunters’ academy. Most hunters went through years of training before advancing into that level, but I’d already been promoted. I guessed that Reuben had something to do with it.

  Being the best friend of the boss’s daughter did have its perks. Of course, not everyone knew my connection to Reuben. It seemed as if only Zinnia and I knew that Reuben was, in fact, Aiden Claremont, Sofia’s father.

  Determined to prove that I was worthy of the special treatment I was getting, I positioned myself ready to deal one final blow onto my opponent.

  “Enough!” Julian bellowed, sparing the wincing hunter more pain.

  I stood to my feet, taking in deep, even breaths as I stood over the hunter. I couldn’t keep the smirk off my face. I got this in the bag.

  “So? What do you think?” Zinnia asked Julian. During my stay at the headquarters, she’d become everything to me from a friend to a tour guide to my closest handler. I could tell from the get-go that she was into me, and I’d already returned her flirtatious attempts with several quips of my own, but I wasn’t ready to get into anything serious.

  In every way, my heart still belonged to Sofia, and I doubted it could belong to anyone else. The slightest thought of Sofia, my best friend, my Rose Red, was enough to distract me from what was going on around me. I wondered where she was and if she was being taken care of. It sickened me to think that Derek Novak, the vampire she was inexplicably head over heels in love with, could be taking advantage of her.

  I wished I’d never let her go back in the first place. After everything I’d learned during my stay with the hunters, I knew that I’d made a big mistake letting Sofia go back to The Shade. The vampires were irredeemable monsters. I should’ve known that then, but I didn’t have the heart to keep her away from what she told me she wanted. I’d been too selfish with Sofia all my life and letting her go was perhaps the first selfless act I’d ever done for her.

  “Hello? Is anyone at home?” Zinnia was snapping her fingers in front of my face. She was accustomed to me spacing out on her by now, so I figured the annoyed look on her face was more on Julian’s behalf than hers. “Did you hear what Julian said?”

  “I’m sorry…what?”

  “I think you’re beyond any training we can give you when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. And I’ve never seen anyone master the use of a wooden stake as quickly as you did. The only thing I think you’ll need more practice on is firing a gun. In that vein, Zinnia is one of the best shooters we have. I think she’s more than capable of putting you through the training required in that area.”

  A smug smile formed on Zinnia’s face, her hazelnut brown eyes glimmering with glee. “Hear that, Hudson? The best…”

  “I believe he said one of the best, Wolfe.” I then turned my attention toward Julian. “So what does that all mean?”

  “I think you’re ready for your first mission. I’ll discuss this with Reuben and I’ll have Zinnia inform you of the boss’s decision.”

  I glanced at Zinnia just in time to see her mouth form into a surprised “whoa.”

  “When do you think we’ll find out?” I asked.

  Julian shrugged. “When it comes to Reuben, we never quite know. He’s always so busy—especially with the work being done to locate the Maslen and Novak covens, but since it involves you…who knows? His response may come quicker than normal.”

  I winced at the implication behind what he said. Even he was convinced that I was being given some sort of special treatment. I stood still, fists clenched, as I watched Julian walk away.

  Zinnia rubbed a hand over my elbow. “Hey. Don’t mind him. I’m sure you’ll be able to prove that any favors Reuben’s giving you are deserved.”

  “So you think that Reuben’s really giving me favors?” I asked.

  “Come on, Ben…you’re the only recruit staying in a guest suite. You flew right through training—and yeah… even I have to admit that you’re better than all the people you passed by—but still, your time here as a hawk-in-training is, let’s say, out of the ordinary.”

  I looked at the tattoo of a hawk on my wrist. It was the sign that I was now a hunter—one of them, part of the international order devoted to ridding the planet of vampires. I wondered to myself what Sofia would think once she saw the tattoo. I steeled myself for when I had to kill Derek Novak—even if I had to do it right in front of her eyes.

  It’s necessary, Sofia. He has to die before he totally corrupts you. When the time comes, I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me.

  “You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?” Zinnia asked me, her brown eyes set on my face. “Sofia?”

  I was surprised to hear her mention Sofia. I tried to recall the last time I heard my best friend’s name spoken out loud. Was it from Reuben? I couldn’t remember, but an unwelcome memory did haunt me. It was that of Vivienne Novak, Derek’s twin sister. As a last ditch attempt to pry information out of her, Reuben sent me into her cell to speak with her. She was bloodied, bruised and tortured, her fangs ripped from her mouth.

  Her words haunted me. You have no idea how much you mean to her. One day, Ben, you’re going to look beyond yourself and you’re going to see Sofia as she is. Once you see the world through her eyes, you will understand. You could be great, Ben.

  Ignoring Zinnia’s question, I shook my head and began walking toward the showers. “What happened to Vivienne? Is she dead?”

  Zinnia kept pace with me, having to take at least two strides with every one of mine. “I don’t know. I never thought to ask. Didn’t Reuben say that he had her executed?”

  “Yeah… I just…” I sighed and shook my head. “It’s nothing.” I stopped in front of the locker room and pointed toward the door. “I’ll just take a quick shower, okay?”

  I miss you so much, Sofia. As I took a shower, I went through for the umpteenth time everything that happened between us. She was into me for so long. I took advantage of that knowledge and in so doing, I lost her. She deserves better than me, but ‘better than me’ definitely isn’t Derek Novak. My gut clenched to think that she felt more valued being with the vampire prince than with me. I really screwed it up with her.

  It felt hopeless, like I could never get her back, but I refused to entertain that particular emotion. She was too important to me to just give up on. I was going to get her back.

  I twisted the shower’s brass knobs and the steady stream of water rushing down onto my body stopped. My resolution was clear. I’m going to get Sofia back. Right after I help destroy The Shade and every single vampire within it.

  Chapter 8: Derek

  The Catacombs were composed of several levels of intricately networked caves, located within the base of a giant mountain range known to the island as the Black Heights. The human population not housed within the vampire residences was given quarters within The Catacombs, and it was to be my beloved’s home.

  I couldn’t help but wince whenever I visited The Catacombs. It was no place for a vampire—this was made clear by the stares that came my way; some curious, and some tainted with blatant animosity. I couldn’t blame them. The Catacombs was their haven—their place away from our kind, and my presence there only served to remind me that they were a generation of captives—they and their ancestors before them.

  Still, I steeled myself against their glares, because I had work to do. If Sofia was going to live there, she wasn’t about to live the same way the others did.

  Corrine, witch of The Shade, served as the humans’ champion. Though one could never underestimate my own position and power within The Shade, she was one of the few people in that
island whom I was severely wary of.

  “You can’t be serious!” she exclaimed when I broached the topic of clearing out half of the entire top level so I could have it turned into Sofia’s quarters.

  “I want it done,” I responded firmly.

  “Derek…this is insanity. You do realize that, don’t you?” she asked as she paced the floor of the Sanctuary, her home.

  “My father made laws that I cannot defy, but if Sofia is to stay here, I will not have her live like a pauper. Not while I’m prince of the island and commander of its army.”

  “I understand that, Derek.” The brunette nodded as she planted her hands on her hips and took several deep breaths. “There’s really nothing any of us can do if you demand that this be done, but do you realize that this will only earn Sofia the other human citizens’ ire? She’s a Migrate, for crying out loud. To give her such lavish treatment is a slap in the face to those who’ve been loyal Naturals for generations!”

  “They know who she is to me. I will have the head of anyone who dares lay a hand on her.”

  “Does she know about this?”

  I shook my head. “I want it to be a surprise. A birthday gift.”

  “Derek, are you still so naive when it comes to what kind of person Sofia is?”

  My ears stung at her words, but I was unrelenting. I ran my hand through my hair in frustration as I responded to the witch. “What would you have me do, Corrine? Would you have me just send her there, living in the same dire conditions as the rest of them?”

  “If you help improve the living conditions of all the humans there, then she wouldn’t have to!”

  “That action could turn all the vampires against me. Everything I do for Sofia puts me and her in danger against the other vampires. If I start siding with the humans…” my voice trailed off, refusing to think of the implications. “Are you going to get this done or not, Corrine?”

  Her shoulders sagged in resignation as she looked at me from head to foot, not bothering to hide her disdain. “It’s not like I have a choice in the matter.”

  And thus, it was done. It took barely a week until everything was set up exactly the way I had specified. Her quarters were composed of a master bedroom, two guest rooms, a living area, a kitchen and a dining area.

  It wasn’t until everything was in order that I brought the girls—after having Corrine and the guards effectively distract Sofia—to the refurbished quarters. While Paige and Rosa were busy exploring the rooms, I stood beside Ashley, knowing that she would never withhold the truth from me.

  “What do you think?” I asked.

  Ashley crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. “It’s gorgeous. I’m sure she’ll love it,” she replied flatly.

  “That’s really what you think?”

  “I mean it when I say that the place looks incredible. I’m astounded at how quickly it was finished, but how many people were kicked out of this space in order to make room for Sofia? Have you even looked around The Catacombs, Derek? Half of the levels barely have electricity and you wiped out families from half of the one level that has stable electricity.”

  I gave Ashley the same reason I gave Corrine. Sofia chose to live in The Catacombs. She chose this fate. I wasn’t about to stand by and just watch her live an impoverished life while I enjoyed the comforts of my extravagant treetop villa.

  “I can’t just let Sofia live the way they do. If any of the people here have a problem with this, then they can take it up with me.”

  “You really do love her, don’t you?”

  I was surprised to hear softness in Ashley’s voice. It was the first time I could remember her talking to me in a tone that was free from spite.

  “I feel like I’m losing her,” I admitted, surprised that I would divulge something as private as that to Ashley. I realized at that moment that without Sofia, Ashley never could’ve been safe around me. She couldn’t stand in that living room with me without danger of me completely destroying her. I found myself wondering why, in spite of the constant thirst for her, the temptation to feed on her wasn’t as all-consuming as it was before. Love is a powerful force, I told myself.

  “She left everything for you. How on earth could you lose her?”

  “Time is our enemy.”

  I took a good look at the young woman standing before me. I wasn’t blind to her beauty. Some could even say that the former cheerleader was fairer to the eye than Sofia, but she wasn’t the girl I loved. Still, I knew she deserved happiness—something that The Shade had stolen from her.

  “I’m sorry for everything I put you through, Ashley. I truly am.”

  “Water under the bridge…” Ashley shrugged and shook her head.

  My eyes narrowed at her. “You’re a hunter,” I reminded her, the memory of the hawk tattoo on her lower back coming to mind. “Why on earth would you want to turn into one of us, the very thing you wanted to completely eradicate?”

  “You used to be a hunter too, right? I saw the tattoo on your back. Yet here you are…”

  “That’s different. I wasn’t given a choice when I was turned. You’re choosing to be one of us. Why?”

  She was silent but a moment as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Because I don’t ever want to feel powerless again… I don’t want to feel like I don’t have a choice.” She paused, her gaze distant. “More than that, I envy what you and Sofia have. I want to have that too…with Sam.”

  I almost choked at her statement. “Sam?”

  She looked at me with panic-stricken eyes. “You’re not going to tell anyone, are you? Only Kyle and Eli know how I feel for Sam…not even the girls know…not even Sofia!”

  I was having trouble wrapping my mind around the whole thing. I knew of her closeness to both Kyle and Sam, but I had no idea that she’d also developed a bond with the island’s resident scholar, Eli Lazaroff, who along with his brother Yuri, were part of the island’s Elite. I’d been sending Ashley to Eli for a while so she would divulge everything she knew about the hunters’ operations.

  “What do you think you’re doing, Ashley? Are you on some sort of quest to divulge your deepest secret to every male vampire on this island?”

  She hit me lightly on the shoulder and pouted in that strange way teenage girls have a habit of doing. “Shut up.”

  “You’re one of the craziest people I’ve ever met,” I teased. “That’s saying a lot, considering how long I’ve been alive.”

  “Come on…the four hundred years you spent snoring doesn’t count.” She scowled at me.

  “I don’t snore.”

  “M-hm…can you get Sofia to vouch for that?”

  I paused before changing the subject. “Look, Ashley, if you want to be with Sam, why do you want Kyle to turn you?”

  “Well, Kyle’s like a protective older brother to me. I’m not sure about the rules on the island, and you made it sound like whoever turns me becomes my family.”

  “What?! I never said anything like that.”

  “You told me that if you turned me, I was going to be Ashley Novak!”

  Hard as I tried, I couldn’t hold back the laughter. The look in her eyes was too precious, the secret she’d just divulged too sacred. Her face deadpanned as she watched me try to hold back the snickers.

  “I’m so screwed.”

  “Seriously…I’m just surprised that you would entrust me with information on this schoolgirl crush of yours.” Sam was in his mid-twenties when he got turned. I honestly doubted that he saw Ashley as anything other than a sister.

  Before Ashley could react to my statement, Paige and Rosa stepped in.

  “Could we please go now?” Ashley stomped a foot. “His highness has once again proven to be the most irritating creature on earth.” She began to walk toward the doorway.

  Paige and Rosa exchanged knowing glances, smiles forming on their faces. As they followed their friend out, brushing past me, I could hear both girls mutter, “What’s new?”

  C
hapter 9: Sofia

  The moment Derek stepped into the penthouse, I began tapping my foot on the hardwood floor, showing him my impatience. I crossed my arms over my chest, before demanding, “What’s going on, Derek? You’ve been acting really strangely lately.”

  Since Ashley announced that she was going to be a vampire and the subject of my eighteenth birthday was broached, it was almost as if Derek had been avoiding me.

  He was barely ever home. I was asleep by the time he arrived and he was gone when I woke up. He kept me busy with either the girls or the guards and when I began questioning him about it, he gave me a string of words that barely constituted a decipherable answer before sending me to Corrine.

  I wondered if it had something to do with my birthday, if he was concocting some sort of elaborate surprise. For a few days, that appeased me. Still, as far as I was concerned, it didn’t excuse how aloof he was being toward me. At a certain point, I just about gave up trying to figure him out. I wasn’t much of a fan of surprises when I was the one being surprised—even more so when I was left out of the preparations for the surprise. I told him that, but it didn’t seem to make a difference to him.

  Derek took a quick look at me, before diverting his eyes elsewhere. “I’m tired,” was all he said, his voice cold and calculated.

  “This is your way of making it up to me?” I took a couple of quick steps forward in order to block him from walking off toward his bedroom. That was another thing that had changed since that day. He’d moved me out of his bedroom. It left me utterly confused, but I obliged. A succinct “it’s better this way” was the only explanation I received from him.

  He tried to side-step me, but I blocked his way once more, staring him down. “I don’t care if you’re tired. You’re immortal. I’m tired of you avoiding me.”

  “I’m not avoiding…”

  “Yes. You are. You can’t just walk away from me. Not again.”

  His shoulders sagged and he looked at me with longing. I couldn’t help but feel butterflies inside my stomach at the sight of those blue eyes on me. It seemed I could never really get used to the powerful effect his mere presence had on me.