That’s nothing like the Derek I knew.

“I don’t know how long my brother can keep himself from hunting her,” Vivienne kept clasping and unclasping her fingers. “Now that he’s had a taste of her blood, I’m pretty sure he’s craving her. Even though she’s living with Kyle now, she’s still too close. He would still be able to sense her.”

The news she brought was more than I knew how to handle. “Why are you telling me all this, Vivienne?” Tears were threatening to spill down my cheeks.

“Remember the night when you arrived? When you were in the dungeon? I told you that you were nothing but a pawn.”

I could still remember her exact words and how mortified she made me feel: "Understand, girl, that you are nothing here. You’re nothing but a pawn, a piece used to make the board move. Your best chance at survival and proving your significance is to win Derek’s affections. Considering everything I know about my brother, I’m not sure that’s even possible."

I smiled bitterly. “How could I forget?”

“I was wrong.” Vivienne, in all her grace and beauty, looked me in the eye and said, “You’re not a pawn, Sofia. You’re the queen.”

Before I could fully make sense of the words, the vampire’s eyes widened with horror, as if she had just seen something behind me that gave her cause for terror. I looked back and saw nothing but a group of people having their coffee.

“Vivienne, what’s wrong? You’ve been acting strange ever since…”

“It doesn’t matter.” She cut me off. “The hunters are here. You need to go back to The Shade, Sofia. There’s no other way. You can stay at my home. You won’t go back as a slave. I’m going to give you some of my memories along with instructions on how you’re going to get to The Shade. They’ll know I sent you.”

“What are you saying?! How on earth are you going to give me your mem –“

She grabbed both my hands and I had to shut my eyes as a deluge of images flooded my brain, channeling from her to me. Vampires being burned at the stakes… A smile and a kiss on the hand from a handsome young man… The same man screaming as he was tortured… A symbol of a hawk branded with burning iron on Derek’s bare back… Imagery – some sweet, others confusing, most of it horrifying – flashed through my mind in one wave after another until finally, I saw a way back to The Shade and found myself once again engulfed by darkness.

Snapping out of the sudden influx of memories that didn’t belong to me, I opened my eyes to find Lyle in front of me, holding my face with both hands. “Are you alright, Sofia?” I heard panic in his voice. “What did she do to you?”

Behind him, I could make out Vivienne’s unconscious form on the couch across from me. Two men, who looked like paramedics, rushed to her. One of them stabbed her in the arm with a syringe before they carried her out of the coffee shop.

Where are they taking her? I wanted to ask, but realized that Lyle was moving his lips and I couldn’t hear what he was saying. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. Then my vision began to betray me, blurring before everything around me faded into black.

CHAPTER 28: DEREK

What the hell am I doing here?

The Black Heights was the last place I would expect to find myself. I hated the mountain caves and its complex network of dark tunnels. They brought about too many memories of more desperate times.

Still, despite the adverse reaction I had to the caves, I found myself inside them, following a guard, who guided me through well-lit stone corridors leading to the cell where Claudia was being held prisoner. The Cells had changed drastically since the last time I visited. Much had been done to develop the caves. Flat, concrete flooring, electricity, doors… those were just some of the modifications that made the place feel more like the interior of an actual building instead of what it used to be – dark, dank caves, void of life and light.

The guard stopped in front of a gate – or at least what looked like one – light white-blue rays formed the bars keeping Claudia prisoner.

“What are those?” I asked, pointing at the bars.

“UV rays, your highness,” the guard responded.

“How many of these types of cells do we have?” I was curious.

“Three. We rarely ever have vampire prisoners.”

Of course. The Cells are mainly for humans after all. He pressed a button and the rays retracted. I entered the cell and found Claudia sitting cross-legged on top of the small cot she was given for a bed. Her blonde mane made her round face look small. Her blue eyes were set on me. She was wearing a simple white smock – a contrast to the garish outfits I was used to seeing her in. The simple get up and the lack of makeup made her look like a regular teenager. A seventeen-year-old with old eyes, eyes that have seen too much…

I could hear the rays close in behind me, imprisoning me with her.

“Just call when you wish to leave, prince.”

I nodded and waved him off. I focused on the beautiful blonde I had before me.

“The almighty prince pays me a visit. What did I do to deserve such an honor?” If she was resentful of me, she was hiding it. Her golden lashes fluttered at me, a playful grin forming on her lips.

“I wanted to ask you a question.”

“Oh?” Her head tilted quizzically to the side. “Ask away then.”

I hesitated. Why am I here?

She stood up and moved toward me, studying me. “You’re always so tense, Prince Derek. That’s your problem. You don’t know how to loosen up like your older brother does.” She brushed her fingers over my cheek.